Posts tagged as:

risk management

Weather, relatively speaking

My post on the sailors who where towed by the USCG after departing into some lousy weather received a number of comments, and I was surprised that most of the comments were to scold me for “being to harsh” in my criticism of the MOONSHINE’s crew. (No one challenged the idea that the USCG might [...]

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January 12, 2009 Read the full article →

Are You Prudent?

Mariners speak of prudence all the time. What would the prudent mariner do? We criticize poor judgement when we say “he failed to do the prudent thing.” This week, David Brooks of the NYT wrote a column about politics – completely unrelated to anything maritime. But he wrote two paragraphs defining prudence that are so [...]

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September 17, 2008 Read the full article →

Bad Doug!

Yeah, everyone who wrote and mentioned that I wasn’t wearing my PFD while working off the North Reef at night is absolutely correct in pointing out my very poor behaviour and bad example. I should have had one of these on, which was hanging in my wheelhouse. I urge everyone to wear one, and I [...]

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August 31, 2008 Read the full article →

Public Safety Lights

Most towers use a Public Safety Light (PSL) on their towboats. The most common is probably a rotating light with red and amber bulbs that spin around inside a clear bowl. I’ve had a few debates with folks about the rules and legalities of these light, and the alternatives, like strobe lights. One individual insisted [...]

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May 2, 2007 Read the full article →

Tragedies and Changes

A story in this month’s Soundings (April 2007, page 17) updates the court battles surrounding the tragic sinking of the tour boat Ethan Allen, which capsized on a New York state lake in 2005. The company that owned the Ethan Allen, and the captain who was on board that day, have both pleaded guilty and [...]

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April 8, 2007 Read the full article →

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