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NO SOLOS

UPDATE Sunday June 10, 2012.

More good news this morning as the vessel MS Last Tycoon rescued Charlie Martell, so two down two saved.

This year there have been several solo seafarers who got themselves into trouble and had to be rescued.  They have been from various countries and sadly one a British male was lost.  Now comes news of two other British seafarers having to be rescued in the northern Pacific by the Japanese Coastguard fortunately the rescue of Sarah Outen was successful.  Further north eastwards from Japan in the northern Pacific a second British solo seafarer Charlie Martell awaits rescue.


As regular readers will know NAUTICAL LOG is absolutely against these voyages by solo seafarers regardless of their age or capabilities.


But why?


Any voyage which extends long enough to cause a solo seafarer sufficient tiredness as to require rest is extremely foolish.  If the solo seafarer has to get some rest it means of course that while underway there is no lookout posted.  This is very very stupid and is an absolute violation of the Rules of the Road specifically Rule 5 - no this time NAUTICAL LOG is not going to write it out for you go look it up.


The violation of Rule 5 means that as well as the solo seafarers life other seafarers lives are put in jeopardy this is an abuse of our privilege to use the seas for both pleasure and commercial operations.


Considering the dangers lurking at sea today additional to its usual hazards such as piracy one would hope that National Maritime Authorities and Yachting Organizations would discourage these solo seafarer voyages.  In addition of course we have National Rescue Services such as in these latest cases the Japanese Coastguard having to launch extensive and expensive rescue operations for which there is virtually no chance to get reimbursed by the rescued persons.

Perhaps if these solo seafarers insist on going on long voyages they should have to purchase a Marine Insurance Policy of Responsibility to cover the cost of their Search and Rescue (SAR) should that become necessary.  After all a Certificate of Pollution Responsibility must be purchased by all commercial vessels and many non-commercial vessels to cover that cost. No Policy no Clearance!


Good Watch.

There remain some 600 of our fellow seafarers held hostage by pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia.  As such they face mutilation and/or death every day.

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