mister b wrote:
On Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:57:07 -0700, dougking888 wrote:

Sounds pretty bad. I can't believe that the Coasties were pulling a ~40'
boat and not keeping a lookout on the tow.

almost impossible to believe given the images I've seen of the sea ice
conditions they were transiting, and the fact that the towed ship had no
rudder...but a lack of a lookout is what is being alleged...hopefully the
truth will out in the investigation...in the meantime 4 souls are lost
and 4 sealing families are devastated


Been listening to the story on CBC radio this morning at work. They were
interviewing a Capt. of a trailing boat, he claimed that the Coast Guard
were not answering his calls on VHF. He was in visual range and watched
as the disaster unfolded, he alleges that he repeatedly hailed the CG to
warn them that the tow was going pear shaped but got no answer.


It's possible that the cutbacks to the Coast Guard that have been
imposed over the last few years have impacted the service so much that
the boats are now undermanned and there's just not enough crew to run
the ship through ice and maintain lookouts fore and aft?

Cheers
Marty
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