Unknown Sea Story lob sinks

[Dan]

Even with today's basic GPS systems, a captain should be able to pilot a boat through these areas blindfolded. I give it pretty good odds that many (locally owned) Red Sea liveaboards have compromised GPS systems, never mind the day boats.

Michael Miles, the 70yo survivor, said:
“that captain of the boat was quite young and didn’t seem very experienced. He was not taking the waves in the correct way and before especially not when it got to the big waves. I believe it was one of the biggest reasons for the boat to sink. If a boat isn’t positioned correctly in the waves it is not good.”

 

[Biotech Diver]

Michael Miles, the 70yo survivor, said:
“that captain of the boat was quite young and didn’t seem very experienced. He was not taking the waves in the correct way and before especially not when it got to the big waves. I believe it was one of the biggest reasons for the boat to sink. If a boat isn’t positioned correctly in the waves it is not good.”

That and the design of the boat was only good for operating the in a lagoon.

 

[Dan]

Than and the design of the boat was only good for operating the in a lagoon.

Pretty bad design if only got hit by 3m wave & capsized. I just came back from Antarctica on Seaventure. We got hit by 9m (30’) wave in Southern Ocean and survived. Now that’s a good design ship.

 

[Biotech Diver]

Pretty bad design if only got hit by 3m wave & capsized. I just came back from Antarctica on Seaventure. We got hit by 9m (30’) wave in Southern Ocean and survived. Now that’s a good design ship.

While I never dived in Antarctica, I was stationed in McMurdo, Operation Deep Freeze.

Before I joined the squadron there was a diver a year or two before me who died. The story was he didn’t have enough weights to keep him down and used some equipment to weight him down instead. Somehow he lost his grip of the equipment and shot to the surface. I knew the Corpsman who was there trying to save him.

Back on topic… there are many lessons to learn here, most importantly, choose your liveaboard wisely and be vigilant for your own safety.

 

[Jai Bar]

Even with today's basic GPS systems, a captain should be able to pilot a boat through these areas blindfolded. I give it pretty good odds that many (locally owned) Red Sea liveaboards have compromised GPS systems, never mind the day boats.

Even the best GPS is worthless if the reefs are not mapped accurately - and they aren't.

Add to that weather, rough seas, bad visibility/night it leaves zero margins for error.

The Red Sea in this area is littered with shipwrecks of all sizes.

It could have been moored for night, weather changed and the crew sleeping with no time to shift position, waves got them sideboards.

 

[Nick_Radov]

Few if any, of these liveaboards are SOLAS-compliant or built to any international standards. (SOLAS sets international safety standards for safety of life at sea.)

Is there any reliable way for prospective customers to determine whether a particular boat was built to SOLAS standards? Like is there a reliable registry or inspection list or something which isn't subject to bribery? I don't know much about naval architecture.

 

[Nick_Radov]

I give it pretty good odds that many (locally owned) Red Sea liveaboards have compromised GPS systems, never mind the day boats.

Could you clarify what you mean by compromised? Unless the Houthis or someone are actively jamming the GPS satellites, any boat captain should be able to open Google Maps on their cell phone and see their position within 10m.

 

[bvbellomo]

I am amazed by the variety of different stories. The boat sank either at 2am or 6am or in between, either immediately, in 10 minutes, or hours, after being hit by a wave, running aground or listing side to side. It may have been boat construction, operator error, weather, navigation equipment or some combination. Rescue was done by the military or by private individuals, and done either very well or very poorly.

We can conclude a UFO probably didn't land and abduct the missing tourists. Any other scenario still seems plausible.

 

[ijdod]

In the mid-90s, the Egyptians entered the diving
liveaboard market with a Pax-rate (what passengers are charged) half that was formerly demanded by incumbent foreign operators. Few, if any, of these liveaboards are SOLAS-compliant or built to any international standards. (SOLAS sets international safety standards for safety of life at sea.)

This is a bit disingenuous. This is an issue with liveaboards worldwide; not just Egypt, or even just poor countries. Conception, in the US, wasn't SOLAS-compliant either. There are a few, but they're rare. Doesn't mean there may not be addition issues in Egypt on top of that, or that this absolves anyone of any responsibility.

It's probably also the best way forward, though.

 

[ijdod]

Is there any reliable way for prospective customers to determine whether a particular boat was built to SOLAS standards? Like is there a reliable registry or inspection list or something which isn't subject to bribery? I don't know much about naval architecture.

They should have a visible IMO number on the hull (IMO 1234567). I think that's the easiest tell.