Post by GO30 on Sept 10, 2024 13:11:15 GMT 12
PS I don't think we, or the wider public, are really aware of how close this incident came to being a major, major mass casualty event. I didn't realise the weather was that bad. Media at the time said they were drifting fast toward the rocky coast, and it was very lucky the anchors took. They didn't mention 30 gusting 45 and a 3 m swell. There was and still is zero assets available to assist in any meaningful way. No suitable tug boats, which was a recommendation from the Wahine disaster. Overall, there is a very limited number of boats that could even operate in those conditions on that coast. Maybe the Police launch Lady Liz, and a Coastguard boat, maybe 2 if one came over from Picton or Nelson. A handful of private boats could operate in those conditions, but the vast majority of private boats would just be a liability.
But no ability to save the ferry, and no capacity to get large numbers off it, other than a handful of people at a time.
All for a $130 fitting that should have been replaced at 2 years, and was 5 years 8 months old...
Even with all the gear in say Amsterdam, one of the biggest ports in the world, they wouldn't have floating assets capable of taking people off a ship in distress in open water and 40+knots of wind. So any report that says 'If we had a big XYZ all would have been fine' is great to calm the unknowing masses but in reality that's about all.
Sure the report says all manner of stuff but they have to say that purely for public consumption. The real reports with all the real good actual shit that went down and options around that will not be made public.
Having been involved in a few events over the years, from the rescue side, it's just as easy for Aunty Ethyl the been boating only twice in her 76years of existence cocky from deepest Waikato to be terrified and thinking she just seconds from death, as it is a long term knowledgeable boatie to see very quickly she's absolutely fine even if suffering from soggy bloomers.
It's 2024 people and feelings count far more than facts so we need to be careful that when there are Hearings into events like this that we, as concerned boaters, use facts not Aunty Ethyls feelings.
I'd think the only evacuation method would have been via choppers. The entire countries supply of those is a maximum of 3hrs away +/-, many only a few minutes.