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Dead Boat Manoeuvres
Dave Harris observed a large bulk cargo ship in central Vancouver Harbour with a lot of anchor rode out attempting to be towed/dragged by a berthing tug. The tug was checking to test the holding ground the freighter was anchored in. If the ship had lost power and a strong wind came up, would the holding ground be adequate? Thus professional mariners practice these scenarios. They call it “dead boat manoeuvres”. This exercise in our harbour may have been precipitated by the cargo ship Dali that lost power, destroyed a bridge and several died. How would this practice fit into a pleasure boater’s newsletter? Hence, why include this manoeuvre in a pleasure boating letter? Let me explain. Being realistic, dragging anchor can happen on any scale at any time.
At these emergency moments, you can be grateful that you have chosen boating versus flying. These “dead boat moments” can happen in critical situations, like under the Second Narrow’s Bridge at a maximum tidal flow. Or, they can happen off a lee shore while fishing on the open coast.
The actions taken will depend on a host of nautical propulsion options, nautical experience and safety of all on board. With some forethought and practice, you will not panic and in the situation remain composed. So, to prepare, think of the possible causes of propulsion loss. Have you been maintaining these propulsion items? Do you have auxiliary propulsion, oars, paddles, an auxiliary engine that starts? Next, I would think about your training and crew training, even to the extent if you have conducted some drills should this happen.
Are you familiar with your VHF radio, its functions and rage? A call to the Coast Guard may be in order. After all the people safety items are addressed, the Coast Guard will often ask you to deploy an anchor. Some mariners wait too long. They wait until too close to shallows, hazards, etc. An anchor must have scope and opportunity to set itself. Have you practiced deploying, setting and checking the effectiveness of your ground tackle?
Also, what happens when docking and you have throttled back and the engine will not respond? Are your fenders and boat hook mobile and the crew knowledgeable of where and how to set them? Each time there is an incident, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, it can be used as a training moment.
Next time out when you stop for lunch or fish, deploy the anchor. See how effectively it all works. Get comfortable with the use of this tackle. With this kind of mindset a skipper will be able to minimize and safely respond to “dead boat manoeuvres”
Rod MacVicar
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