Reading "No Safe Harbor"

[james croft]

I have not read the book but knew a couple of the divers on the boat. One lived and one died.
The survivor is very bitter towards PH and they way the aftermath was handled. One thing is certain, there are some important lessons to be learned from this incident. Err on the side of safety over another days diving. You can always come back another day if you are alive.

Having been through a number of hurricanes and typhoons without much trouble it is easy to think you can ride them out. Sometimes you can't and the unexpected happens.

I was part of the Virginia Law Enforcement Task Force that was sent to Hancock Co. Misssissippi immediately after Katrina on a mission to bring the "law to the lawless" as we jokingly called it.
I patrolled Waveland area and it looked like an atomic bomb went off there. There was nothing standing and there were shrimpboats and tugboats high and dry and broken up a mile from the water. Nothing I had been through with other hurricanes and storms prepared me for what I saw. I knew the area would be totally devastated but it was thousands of times worse than I could imagine. The lesson I learned from this is that I will never attempt to ride out another hurricane. I will get inland and prepare for the worse. I am glad that the Wavedancer capsizing was not more deadly because it had the potential to take more lives.

 

[Allison Finch]

You know what IS really sad? That two captains, and their pissing match contributed to the ultimate tradgedy. Yes, evidently the WaveDancer was short on storm ropes. But, when he asked Aggressor for a loan (they did have extras), The Agressor captain was mad and refused to loan them. Yes, it is NOT his duty to loan them, but if he had been magnanimous........

 

[almitywife]

You know what IS really sad? That two captains, and their pissing match contributed to the ultimate tradgedy. Yes, evidently the WaveDancer was short on storm ropes. But, when he asked Aggressor for a loan (they did have extras), The Agressor captain was mad and refused to loan them. Yes, it is NOT his duty to loan them, but if he had been magnanimous........

the aggressor captain rang the owner (or boss or manager, im not near the book to look it up) and was told not to give WD any ropes

cheers

 

[robint]

You know what IS really sad? That two captains, and their pissing match contributed to the ultimate tradgedy. Yes, evidently the WaveDancer was short on storm ropes. But, when he asked Aggressor for a loan (they did have extras), The Agressor captain was mad and refused to loan them. Yes, it is NOT his duty to loan them, but if he had been magnanimous........

yes, I think there was waaaaay too much chest-thumping and not enough concern about safety by either captain.

 

[Scott M]

Yes, it is NOT his duty to loan them, but if he had been magnanimous........

I'm not so sure about that statement. I do not know international laws so I could be wrong but here on the Lake it is mandated that you MUST help a distressed boat and can be held accountable if you do not. Often times there is just no way to prove you could have helped or even knew anyone was in trouble but in this case it is pretty clear help was asked for and refused. In my opinion the aggressor holds a share of the blame in this also, any little thing could have changed the outcome and there comes a time when you have to forget about attitudes and business and do whats right for the good of the poeple. If nothing else just for utter disregard for human life. Sad situation to say the least.