Comments and suggestions always welcome please email: clivecgedwards@gmail.com
WATERWATCH
SAFETY & SURVEILLANCE INITIATIVE
Merchant Navy Association Boat Club
(Affiliated to the Merchant Navy Association National Charity)
Examples of typical Incidents Responded to by Waterwatch Crew Members
•
People (none wearing lifejackets) pulled from the water after falling off vessels on the Broads. In one case the vessel
concerned had steamed away oblivious to the fact that they had a crew member missing!
•
Use of ladder fixed to the transom of boat to recover an elderly yachtsman who fell off the deck of his yacht into the
river whilst hoisting sail. Then calling an ambulance
•
Standing by to assist broken-down craft and escorting hire craft holed in a collision to the appropriate boat hire
operator’s base.
•
Alerting police and coastguards to incident involving theft of an expensive electric launch, subsequently recovered
undamaged and miscreant arrested.
•
Reporting to waterway authority several incidents of vessels speeding and/or helming without due care and attention
causing a danger to other craft
•
Towing grounded craft into deeper water to re-float.
•
Standing by to assist Broads Authority Ranger’s launch to recover grounded hire cruiser.
Incident Report August 2022
Sunday 07-Aug-2022, 13.00
Location: Colman’s Slipway, Oulton Broad, NR33 9LQ
The individual is a highly experienced boater who possesses detail knowledge of the risks of slipperiness, especially at this
location, yet nevertheless was himself subject to an accident.
Incident Description:–
Having finished sailboat racing with Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club I returned from Broad to Slipway to retrieve my dinghy
onto its trolley for parking in the WOBYC boat-park.
In light wind I left my boat in the water to collect my trolley which I ran into the water, close to low water on a rising tide.
Much of the following is 3rd-party report:–
Before reaching my boat I suddenly and without warning slipped on the wet marine growth on the concrete of the launch-way,
legs in the air and I am told I actually landed backwards on my head;
I quickly lost consciousness and lay face-down in a pool of blood at my head on the concrete, body half-in the water.
Several co-sailors helped pull me out of the water, recovery position etc, and I came-to after some minutes.
Ambulance to A&E James Paget Hospital; assessed, treated for head-wound and released after 8hrs.
Issues:–
Marine growth is a very well-known issue to regular boaters especially summertime within sun-penetrating waters; occasional
boaters or general public may be unaware of just how exceedingly slippery underwater surfaces (or occasionally drying surfaces
as tide recedes) can become.
During long hot sunny spells underwater growth is accelerated and evidences as a slippery ‘slime’ attached to any solid
surfaces.
For racing boats, such growth at moorings is an impediment to speed.
For launch-ways such growth is a hazard to walkers approaching areas which are or may have been under water at HW, and
extends under water.
Slipways are of necessity at a significant slope; some of the ‘better’ ones may be smooth concrete; both issues adding to risk,
while less well-kept locations in ‘rougher’ condition might actually be marginally safer to work on.
This slipway is owned by East Suffolk Council (ESC) as a Public facility;
ESC is acutely aware of slipperiness and has instituted a regime of occasional cleaning during the summer by Suffolk Fire &
Rescue at convenient ad-hoc times when they conduct waterborne training at the site.
In this case purely signage that, “Slipway may be Slippery”, were of absolutely no use since the individual was such an
experienced and knowledgeable operator.
Outcomes:–
The casualty was lucky to have many colleagues in attendance, all returning at the same time from a forenoon’s racing.
Had the individual been alone, out of normal hours, then landing unconscious in the water might have been catastrophic.
Immediately following this incident ESC Harbourmaster reported the event internally and initiated a local enquiry, potentially for
learning lessons;
ESC is also now in touch with Suffolk F&R to determine their hose pressure settings and methodology in order perhaps to
recommend more formal regime of cleaning.
A more detailed incident follow-up is scheduled for next week.
Report might be shared with BSMG if thought appropriate.
Where vehicles reverse into the water to launch larger vessels from trailers there may be risk of them losing traction and
consequent inability to extract themselves from the water.
Seemingly only ever a problem during prolonged hot sunny spells when marine growth is accelerated.
Incident Report August 2020
A
fatal
accident,
involving
a
person
falling
overboard
from
the
motor
cruiser
Diamond
Emblem
1,
occurred
at
Great
Yarmouth
Yacht Station in August
2020
.
This incident was fully investigated by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the report published in May 2022
MAIBInvReport 5/2022 -Diamond Emblem 1
Although
this
incident
involved
a
hire
boat
it
is
important
that
private
boat
owners
are
aware
of
the
circumstances
and
learn
from
the
relevant
parts
of
the
report.
If
they
have
not
already
done
so
,
appropriate
boat
owners
are
recommended
to
consider
the report and take such action as is necessary.
There
were
eleven
recommendations
made
but
probably
the
most
relevant
to
MNA
Boat
Club
members
are
those
regarding
the
importance
of
knowing
you
boat
especially
with
respect
to
such
things
as
dual
control
systems
where
the
functions
of
switches
and interlocks need to be known to relevant persons and clear labeling is advisable.
Secure handholds and railings are important especially in the areas above the propeller. The importance of proper and secure
storage of out of use mooring lines was also raised.
Incident Report May 2025
Clive – thank you for all your help today with the incident on the craft. Your help along
with the team of other people made a great help in saving Mike and we all wish him a full
recovery.
Eric Bishop, Manager
Heard from Eric Bishop, mnager of Cox’s Boatyear that the man (who I was told is called
Mike, the owner of the vessel involved “Arctic Tern” is now off a ventilator and out of
intensive care but will likely remain in hospital for a few more days
Incident Reports
BSS Smoke Alarm Consultation
Boat Safety Scheme Ltd (BSS) is a public safety initiative helping to protect people, property and environments across the UK’s
inland waterways. A not-for-profit company, working with navigation and harbour authorities to reduce the risks of boat fires,
explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning, and pollution.
The Boat Safety Standards Setting Forum (BS SSF) has asked the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) to host a consultation to on
proposals to introduce new safety standards for mandatory smoke alarms on boats with accommodation space(s).
MNA Boat Club Responses (to applicable questions)
Q1 – Do you support the general concept of introducing a new mandatory safety standard for the correct number of suitable working
smoke alarm(s) in good condition to help reduce the risk of fire spreading, and where relevant, to protect invited guests on
commercial and community boats (Non-private boats)?
Agree
Q2 – Do you agree that the BSS Check 6.5.1R is supportable (If the vessel has one or more accommodation space(s), is at least
one suitable smoke alarm provided?)
Agree
Q3 – Considering the proposed BSS Check 6.5.2A (private boats) / X6.5.2R (Hire Boats) / C6.5.2R (Non-private Boats) regarding
the audibility of installed smoke alarms by checking that they are fitted within 10m of each accommodation space that can be used
for overnight stays. Do you agree that the proposed check is supportable?
Agree
Q4 – Do you agree that the Check 6.5.3R is supportable (Are smoke alarms of a suitable type and located at at specified heights?)
Agree, but suggest amending
Q5 – Do you agree that the Check 6.5.4R is supportable (Are smoke alarms in good condition?)
Agree
Q6 – If you have amends to suggest or any comments on the proposed format of the checks, please give details:
Comments:
Q2 Minimum of 1 alarm per cabin space, more if a larger vessel.
Q3 Not clear - a detector should be fitted Within each appropriate space and audible throughout the boat. Audibility range may be a
bit high at 10 meter. (from the boat) but certainly should be audible without the boat. I bow to expert advice on this matter
Q5 Would note that Date of Expiry of the detector should be declared visibly, preferably on the front, so can easily be seen. I would
note that some Carbon Monoxide date of expiry notices are only visible when detector is removed for inspection, making people on
board less likely to be aware of whether they are valid. Boat owners should (? be required to) have their own safety check lists
which would include date of expiry of safety equipment such as detectors, inflatable life jackets, etc. These could the be available
for spot checking by appropriate water authorities. This would further enhance boat user’s safety awareness. One further comment
re the siting of smoke alarms that I think required further consideration in respect to vessels with windows that can be opened
where in some circumstances the actual positioning of the alarm may be crucial to its operation
Q7 – Do you have any comments to make about this consultation? Have we been clear? Have we given you the proper opportunity
and adequate means to contribute your views?
Comment:
Yes quite clear and sufficient opportunity and means to contribute Only criticism is that the reminder and extended date was actually
the first we knew of this survey!
Q8 - Can you see any further unintended consequences concerning introducing the proposals beyond those already mentioned in
this consultation?
No further unintended consequences
Q9 - Please tell us your name and indicate your sector of interest (for example boat owner, hire boat operator, navigation authority,
marine trader, BSS examiner, if other please state). Please let us know if you are responding as an individual or on behalf of a
company, representative group or trade organisation.
Name: Clive Edwards AMSAR, MIoS
Email address: clivecgedwards@gmail.com
Company name (if applicable): Merchant Navy Association Boat Club
Q10 - If responding for an organisation, may the organisation’s name and its response be made public?
Agree
Q12. In regard to your responses, do your responses/comments relate to any particular area of the inland waterways?:
No particular area
