Nav wrote:
Just a couple of thoughts. Here it is a part of the responsability of
all masters to go to the aid of stricken _vessels_ -i.e. whether they
have people on board is irrelevant. The only excuse not to is where your
crew or vessel would be placed in danger by providing aid -it doesnt
sound as if that was the case but it was your call. I'm not sure if that
principle applies in coastal U.S... Second what about salvage laws? It
doesn't sound like it would have been a big deal to go after it.
Wouldn't at least a part of the vessel become yours under salvage laws?
I commend you for getting help for it -others might have just cursed and
hoped it went on the rocks for hitting your boat...

Cheers

46 U.S.C. sect 2304
(a) A Master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render assistance
to any "INDIVIDUAL" (my emphasis) found at sea in danger of being lost,
so far as the Master or individual in charge can do so without serious
danger to the Master's or individual's vessel or individuals on board.

He had no responsibility to the boat, other than the responsibility he
took to inform the USCG. Upon receipt of the call, the CG should have
initiated a "securite" or "pan", depending on their perception of events
...... course, it would also have been fine if the caller sent a securite.
Naturally, if there is any doubt as to someone being aboard, and in the
spirit of how we should act, it is always well looked upon when someone
tries to save a boat, people or no people aboard.
G FWIW, I'd say he did fine.

otn