Megayacht Aground off Cap Ferrat

**gonzo** · 06-04-2009, 09:52 AM

Stvarno mi je za ali nisam uspija ubacit Sliku.
Nisam zna kako

Megayacht Aground off Cap Ferrat

The 40-metre motor yacht Pari went hard aground on the rocks off Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat around 4:30a.m. on Saturday morning, May 30. Strong wind from the east caused the yacht to drag anchor, according to local news reports, including an article published on Varmatin.com.

Eight people ??€“ six crew and the two owners ??€“ reportedly were on board Pari during the incident. First responders, including gendarmes from Beaulieu, Saint-Jean police and firefighters, evacuated the owners and crew. Three of the crew reportedly were taken to a local hospital, but luckily, it appears no one was seriously hurt. The captain of Pari remained on board to help with rescue operations.

Of immediate concern was the yacht??€™s load of diesel fuel, which reportedly is leaking from one tank due to damage caused by her grounding. ??€œAt 7 a.m., the odor could be smelled as far as Nice!??€Â exclaimed writer Guillaume Bertolino in his article on Varmatin.com dated May 31.

A team from the SDIS (Service D?Špartemental d??€™Incendie et de Secours) was dispatched to assess the threat of pollution but they pronounced it minimal. The tugboat Abeille Flandres arrived from Toulon, but according to Bertolino, but the hull damage was too extensive for towing. The salvage operation is planned for the coming days and, says Bertolino, everyone??€™s crossing their fingers for calm weather until then.

Built by Alucraft in Turkey to a design by Vincenzo Ruggiero, the blue-hulled motor yacht Pari was launched in 1989.

Related Topics

Blog: What a Drag (1/6/2009)

Another night, another nightmare. Once again, an anchored yacht gets caught with it??€™s metaphorical pants down, and goes aground on nearby rocks.

This time, the rocks belonged to Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat at the head of Beaulieu bay on the Cote d??€™Azur, where the 40 mt Maltese registered motor yacht ??€œPari??€Â ignominiously foundered in the wee small hours of Saturday morning, 30th May.?? Motivation was provided by a series of strengthening squalls of around 30/37 knots and local reports suggest that the road to disaster began from being anchored way too close inshore. Whatever, it appears that a distress call was received and co-ordinated by Crossmed, resulting in the deployment of gendarmes from Beaulieu, municipal police from Saint-Jean and around twenty fire and rescue workers on board a lifeboat.

On board Pari were the owning couple, the captain and five other crew and somewhat confusing information indicates that two of these went ashore in a tender. In the event, the lifeboat embarked the owners, who were taken ashore to a nearby hotel?? and three crew, who were moved to Saint Roch hospital for examination. The captain stayed on board with two of the rescuers and was later airlifted by helicopter. Although a local tug, the Triton from Nice, passed a security line aboard, it was later discovered when things calmed down, that three distinct holes were in need of repair, before she could be refloated.

In all such cases, it is usually impossible to directly interview?? crew or other ship??€™s personnel, on the basis of influencing insurance investigation.?? However, random remarks have inferred that, at the time when normal watchkeeping would have easily averted this mess, everyone was tucked up in their bunks. If such is found to?? be the case, then this may be legally construed as being in direct contravention of the rules and regs and, at very least, with no obligation for reimbursement by the insurance company.?? As an aside for those who may not know, the word Pari in French, means ??€˜bet??€™ ??€“ interesting oui?

Posted by peter boulton at 01/06/2009 21:25

There is no excuse for not having someone on watch in squally weather. No excuse either for not using technology to avoid such accident. When anchored, I always keep a portable GPS by my bed with the drag alarm set depending on scope/depths and conditions. It works thru fiberglass deck, I guess on a alum. or steel yacht you'd need an external antenna, small price to pay to ensure a good night sleep, and avoid a big insurance claim and a career screeching to halt.

Posted by: Pascal at 01/06/2009 23:50

Looks like that port side anchor was neatly tucked away...can anyone say two anchors on an overnight? Never mins a portable GPS, what about the alarms on radar and depth sounders? Repeaters in crew/owners quarters?

Looks like the proverbial "asleep at the wheel" or just asleep.

Posted by: 14Freedom at 02/06/2009 03:49

can someone please come up with a wind alarm!?!? I've been begging Coastal Explorer to do it and Furuno can't figure out why I would need such a thing, but a water temperature alarm? they seem to think it the neatest idea.

Posted by: CaptainJason at 03/06/2009 15:27

look,

at the end of the day, this was bad seamanship from the captain himself. I have been at anchor on smaller vessels and any change in weather I would be on deck asap to life my anchor and secure it further out. Until the weather calmed down I would be sharing watch with other crew.As captain that would be my responsibilty. On a 40m or so wouldnt you just think the captain would be alittle experienced???????, to know were he is and taking the weather before he tucked into bed?, if so that is the case. Forget technology here, this is common seamans sense!!! well at the end of the day, I wasnt there and dont know the details, the yachting world is small and gossip spreads like ''swine flu''.

Captain Alan

Posted by: bentlyal at 03/06/2009 20:13

After posting a watch, I use a baby monitor. One unit is placed in the bridge while the other is in my cabin. It picks up Radar, GPS and Depth alarm signals. You just have to remember to turn the VHF down low.

Capt Gardner

Posted by: joshnewman1 at 03/06/2009 20:55

I agree with all the above comments regarding a monitor, or a repeating drag alarm down in the crew area- most boats I've been on didn't have one and the owner wouldn't spring for it. Hence the need for the baby monitor. Having the captain's cabin behind the bridge is also helpful. Otherwise, if you are going to have 24 hour watches, then it comes down to how many crew are required? How many are needed for service for the guests. When will the issue of minimizing on crew to minimize on cost which is inversely proportionate to the levels of service expected these days going to be addressed? If you work for people who expect 24 hour attendance, then how do you comply with safe manning hours, especially when you are only running with the minimum number of warm bodies to keep things going? You can put your foot down, but we all know that in today's market, the simple solution for an owner is to fire the captain who brings up such an idea and hire someone else from the large pool of the unemployed.

Posted by: DC at 03/06/2009 21:53