Giving Assistance : the issues Giving Assistance : the issues involved and some tacticsinvolved and some tactics

27 Feb 201027 Feb 2010

Paul H. Miller, D.Eng. P.E.Paul H. Miller, D.Eng. P.E.Professor of Naval ArchitectureProfessor of Naval Architecture

United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy

Moral Obligation!Moral Obligation!

• Help when we can!Help when we can!

• Rescue fellow sailorsRescue fellow sailors

• SearchSearch

• Communications relayCommunications relay

• Log keeping obligationsLog keeping obligations

• You might be the only source of You might be the only source of help!help!

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Legal ObligationsLegal Obligations

Racing Rules of SailingRacing Rules of Sailing

1.1 Helping those in Danger1.1 Helping those in Danger

• A boat or competitor shall give all A boat or competitor shall give all possible help to any person or possible help to any person or vessel in danger.vessel in danger.

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Safety of Life at Sea Safety of Life at Sea ConventionConvention

Regulation 33:Regulation 33:

The master of a ship at sea which is in The master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide a position to be able to provide assistance…is bound to proceed assistance…is bound to proceed with all speed…informing them or with all speed…informing them or the SAR service that the ship is the SAR service that the ship is doing so.doing so.

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Safety of Life at Sea Safety of Life at Sea ConventionConvention

If the ship receiving the distress alert If the ship receiving the distress alert is is unable, … unreasonable or unable, … unreasonable or unnecessaryunnecessary, the master must enter , the master must enter in the log-book the reason for in the log-book the reason for failing to proceed.failing to proceed.

Good samaritan!Good samaritan!

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Risk Benefit

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What can you do to help?What can you do to help?

Rendering AssistanceRendering Assistance1.1. Keep other vessel and SAR coordinator Keep other vessel and SAR coordinator

informed immediately!informed immediately!

2.2. Prepare to recover personnel from the Prepare to recover personnel from the water or a liferaft.water or a liferaft.

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Rendering AssistanceRendering Assistance

Don’t make the Don’t make the situation situation worse by not worse by not thinking!thinking!

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Fire!Fire!

1.1. Evaluate Evaluate conditionsconditions

2.2. Wind and seasWind and seas

3.3. Danger of Danger of explosion (lpg)explosion (lpg)

4.4. Transfer – bow to Transfer – bow to bow, liferaft, in-bow, liferaft, in-water.water.

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Fire!Fire!

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TowingTowing1.1. Tow line – 5-10 x L Tow line – 5-10 x L

of your boat if of your boat if waves!waves!

2.2. Cleats/winches – Cleats/winches – use bridle (each use bridle (each leg >= to your leg >= to your beam)beam)

3.3. Slow! No more Slow! No more than √L of smaller than √L of smaller boat!boat!

Side tow in portSide tow in port

Fenders!Fenders!

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Stern TowsStern Tows

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Help when you can!Help when you can!1.1. Call for backup Call for backup

before you start before you start helping!helping!

2.2. Keep SAR Keep SAR coordinator coordinator informedinformed

3.3. Anticipate escape Anticipate escape routesroutes

4.4. Waiting may be Waiting may be best!best!

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