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On Tuesday, 16-year-old Jessica Watson set off on her 10.4m yacht from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in preparation for a record-breaking solo around-the-world journey. By 2am Wednesday morning her journey had come to an abrupt end, after she collided with a container ship.
Master Mariner Richard Morris says the responsibility appears to ultimately rest with the container ship and Watson should keep following her dreams.
Q: Firstly, what is a Master Mariner?
A: It’s the highest qualification for a sea-going Captain. For instance, in aviation terms it’s like flying a 747. So I’m qualified to be Captain of the ship that hit Jessica’s yacht. I’ve spent 15 years at sea, half of which was on commercial ships like this one.
Q: Is it risky travelling by yourself like Jessica did?
A: Sailing single-handed or with a small crew is very common amongst small sailing yachts. These yachts are fitted with an automatic steering system which allows the person on the yacht to go and have some sleep downstairs and the yacht steers itself. While it doesn’t get you out of the way of anything it maintains a steady course.
Q: Was she prepared enough?
A: Yeah. She’s prepared as best as she possibly can. Her yacht has gone to a lot of effort to make sure that she’s seen by big ships. All little sailing yachts have fitted at the top of their mast what’s called a radar reflector — apparently Jessica’s yacht’s fitted with something called a vector which sends out a bit of a signal. The point of it is that it makes this little fibre glass yacht be seen by big ships really clearly on their radars.
Q: How could this collision have happened?
A: It’s 2.30am in the morning so the Second Officer is on watch. He does midnight till 4am. There’s also supposed to be another crewman on the bridge wing and he’s the lookout. The sole responsibility of the lookout is to look out with his eyeballs. Jessica’s yacht would’ve had lights on and those white lights would’ve been visible for 10 miles in clear visibility. Obviously the lookout wasn’t watching.
Q: Wouldn’t they have seen Jessica on the radar?
A: The Second Officer was probably in the bathroom or getting a cup of tea — he wasn’t looking out on the radar. The crewman who was supposed to be looking out was — for whatever reason — was not. And that happens. I’m sure the people on this ship are reasonable people and if they knew there was a crash they would’ve stopped. I have no information apart from what I’ve seen on the internet but it appears to me that the ship had no knowledge that they’d even hit her.
Q: Who would be responsible in such a collision?
A: The responsibility of the person on watch was not to hit the yacht. The International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea states at Rule 18(a)(iv) — Responsibilities Between Vessels: “a power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel.” Very, very clearly it’s a breach of Rule 18.
Q: After the collision is there any other requirement for the ship to help?
A: Of course. But that’s if they were aware of the accident. This is a big ship — an impact with a little sailing boat wouldn’t make the slightest impact.
Q: Should a 16-year-old be sailing around the world?
A: Why not? She’s qualified, she’s had the right training, she’s got the right boat. I saw her boat at the Sydney boat show — it’s the best quality boat. They’ve done everything right. When we were 16 we could rule the world, we could do anything. At 16 you’re allowed to get a pilot’s license and fly an aeroplane. Why can’t you sail a yacht? She seems to me to be a plucky girl. Go for it girl! That’s what I say.
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12 Comments
A 16 year old may be mature in many ways but will lack judgement. Such a situation is knowing when to decide that even though maritime law gives you the right of way discretion dictates giving way to the larger vessel because it may not obey the rules. Just as a pedestrian on a corner gives way to a car because the car may or may not observe the rules. Being in the right is of no comfort.
It is amazing that this girl is encouraged by those who should know better and who should be insistning on her getting an education and to learn how to interact with her peers and family. I am not sure where the current fashion for sending younger and younger children to sea by themselves to circumnavigate the globe arises - but it is a poor form of parenting that gives a child a toy of such value and then encourages them into high risk taking behaviour which could easily be fatal.
Correct me please but I thought that a commercial vessel on a commercial shipping lane had the right of way over sail boats? I dont know if the collission occurred on a commercial shipping lane or not.
I applaud Mr Morris’ derring-do attitude towards the life changing adventure young Miss Watson is embarking on. Mr Morris, as a competent seaman, knows the value of individual fortitude.
Jillian, don’t you think that even statistically speaking, at least one in twenty one million of us box-fed, tv-zombified cardboard cutouts of people should break free and do something actually challenging and inspired.. ?
She had radar apparently herself, if that was a
scanner just below the mast break. These units have
alarms that should have been on if she was taking a break.
No problem that she wants to sail around herself but serious
attention to detail is vital if she is going to make it
I’m really worried about this girl. Those of us who have observed her parents speaking on TV (particularly her mother) would see that the parents are living out some form of celebrity through their daughter. Re the prang, why was she asleep at 2.30 in the morning knowing she was in the very busy shipping channel of the SE Qld coast? Over the years, many small boats have been run down in this area - she should have known being a local. Her yacht is also damaged more that a broken mast, the hull is cracked and hopefully it will be repaired properly before she heads out again. God speed. Alex
Scottyea,
A 16 year old child should be under the care and supervision of her parents. This adventure won’t be gone if she waits a couple of years. A warning bell has rung and it seems that the adults in her life are telling her to ignore it. Irresponsibility all around.
At last a voice of reason. Thank you Richard.
After the awful press coverage and everyone wanting to be her mother (you, Jillian) it’s about time someone who knows something about ocean going vessels made a pertinent comment. Bankerboy, exactly how many yachts have been run down in this area? Bugger all. James, she did have an active radar transponder as well as a reflector - the ship’s watch didn’t see it. Scottyea is right - she is more likely to come to grief being a dull sofa spud than roaming the high seas.
This was a fortunately minor incident, brought about by what I would consider negligence by the ship’s watch. Ms Watson got herself back to port amid a flurry of inaccuracies by breathless know-it-alls.
In the scheme of things, in a well found yacht and given Ms Watson’s competence as a sailor, this is not a high-risk venture. But it might seem that to people who spend their lives in a rut and desperately frightened by the 6pm news.
I have been sailing for 35 years and have travelled hundreds of thousands of sea miles under sail. I wish her well and only wish that I had the opportunity - to do it at that age. But my mum probably wouldn’t have let me.
I like this feature. It offers a considered, rational approach to issues that contrasts with the usual ‘shock, horror’ tabloid journalism.
A few questions:
Having a look at the Collision Regualations:
Rule 5: Lookout
Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.
How does a single handed yacht maintain a ‘proper look-out’ at all times? Or do yachts get a freebie due to the Rule 18(a)(iv) and just hope everyone gets out of their way?
Or
RULE 2
RESPONSIBILITY
(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master, or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.
(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.
Now wouldn’t (b) mean that young sailing girl, even though her vessel had right of way, should have taken action to avoid collision?
Makes about as much sense to me as standing on a pedestrian crossing, with a truck roaring towards you and you don’t see or hear it braking. The rule will not protect you.’
Thats all I wanted to say.
re Pat Miller, best not to assume noone else has many ocean miles. Whatever
the legal or technical position of each party, when at sea if you are small and
vulnerable its your lookout. Even if the ship had noticed the yacht, and a great many would not, 250m of ship cannot turn like a 36’ yacht. Who is in the wrong
is irrelevant, properly running a very long ocean passage is. None should be in
favour of restrictive rules re adventure either. Just consider the requirements.
Yeah well seems like it was an accident waiting to happen. Our young navigator was just fortunante that it happened here, not far from her home port, and not in some far off destination. Money, the best boat, all the wizz bang navaids and sponsorship can’t make up for the lack of experiance and good judgement at sea.
Not sure what she was doing down below (down stairs) at the time of the collision at 0237L but I had read she was asleep. If that was the case she should have got her head down for a sleep earlier and made sure she was fully awake when transiting through this area.
The area off Straddie Is where it happened would be one of the busiest sea lanes in the country with large amounts of shipping traffic. It is definantly somewhere where you need to be wide awake and on deck at all times, keeping a proper lookout both visualy and blind (radar) for other ships.
Old mate Master Mariner is correct that power vessel must give way to sailing vessels, but at 2 in the morning it’s pitch black. It’s a little hard arguing your case in court when you have been a long time dead. I have been ” at sea” for the past 24 yrs and apply Daisymay rule number 1: Might has Right.
Old mate Master Mariner is being a little selective with his applications of the rules. Whilst power does give way to sail except in an overtaking situation, there is also an obligation for every vessel to keep a proper lookout by sight and radar ( if fitted). Then there is the rule regarding actions to avoid a collision which appy to both vessels etc.
Tim from Doug Walters home town has even gone to the trouble to copy and paste some of the rules onto his blog just to confuse everyone. There once was a time many years ago that I new all the “rules of the road” verbatim. By the way when refering the the word “road” it is refering to the sea. Very confusing haha.
When you read, understand and apply the rules as laid down in the publication it is telling you that all parties will be held resposible if you have a collision at sea.
Our young navigator is a very lucky girl to be alive. I wish her luck on her upcoming voyage, and through life she certainly seems to have a ton of guts and a bit of luck. All of which she is going to need in spades. Just need to learn how to sail smart….Fair Winds and a Following Sea….
Regardless to what the “Rules of the Road” articulate you need to fully alert and ready to take whatever action needs to be taken to avoid being run down by something larger than you.
Before I forget, I don’t want to sound like a smart arse, but if Pat “I’ve been sailing for 35 years and travelled hundreds of thousands of sea miles” Miller thinks that this collision at sea is a “minor incident” then I think he should give himself an “uppercut”
I don’t know what that statistics are for the area in regard to collisions between yatchs/pleasure craft and merchant vessels, nor do I give a rats. But from my experiance when two vessels of the size in this case collide in the dead of night at sea somebody usually ends up dead or seriously injured.
I think luck had a pretty big part in our young lady friend being with us to sail another day. She should break open her piggy bank and invest in as many lottery tickets as possible