Super yacht sinking - did the crew bravely survive or did they abandon their the passengers

[mids2019]

So....most of the crew survived this tragedy but the passengers died. Do you think it will emerge the crew should have e done more to alrt the passengers and indeed put their lives in danger to attempt a rescue? Maybe it was all just too fast?

I just think there seems silence from the crew at moment despite being survivors of a sinking vessel who have a story to tell. Are lawyers advising they stay quiet on this?

I note that no mention of dragging the anchor for 15 mins was made in the press conference. Where is this from, please?

There is a press conference happening now. They are saying that those that died were asleep. I presume this means that those who were awake and/or on the deck had a better chance of survival. It sounds as if the sinking was extremely fast.

They ( crew) should have known a storm was on it’s way.
Why weren’t all doors and hatches closed?
Im no sailor, but “Batten down the hatches” is fundamental in approaching storms.

It seems more of a crew failure from what I hear - Crew complacency possibly as so close to land?

Time will tell.

She is reported as having being injured in the incident. I think this is quite an unsavoury comment given that.

This. Eyewitness accounts have the boat submerged in 90 seconds. There was no time to run about rousting people from their cabins.

Fair enough - I wasn’t quite sure how to phrase it. The point I was looking to make was against the feeling of some comments that crew should have risked their lives for strangers in an impossibly dangerous situation.

I will request my post is deleted.

That isn’t correct. Initial press reports were that the bodyguard had put his seatbelt on but the final investigation concluded no one had.

We know it happened very quickly. The passengers were in their cabins sleeping, the crew were on deck working. There is an investigation into manslaughter and culpable homicide, but no one individual is in the frame. The billionnaire was a mean, corrupt b'stard tho', so it's possible someone was paid to bump him off.

Was someone paid to create a downburst in the weather then, @mugglewump? Thor, maybe?

Sheesh.

Im no sailor

No it's very clear you are not, @oakleaffy . So what on earth is your speculation based on? Watching Titanic?

A truly ghastly Ferry Disaster not much known about, but with truly heroic Radio Operator who stayed at his post signalling til death is David Broadfoot.

M V Princess Victoria Disaster from Stranraer to Larne. 31st January 1953.

130 people died- not one woman or child survived despite the men ensuring the women and children were in lifeboat first-

The women’ s and children’s lifeboat was smashed against the hull of the foundering ferry.

The Captain was seen at the Salute as the Ferry went down.

It’s so little known about, maybe as so long ago, but design flaws in the ship ( small scuttles that could be blocked by shifting cargo ) and a guillotine door that let in water .

Nowadays no ferry would set sail in those horrible storm force seas.

The Captain and Radio Operator could definitely have saved themselves- but there were some passengers on board who were too seasick and frail to save themselves as the ferry listed.

By memory that was the Achille Lauro and I believe the captain was charged. Italian coastguard recordings of the conversation was pretty damning for him . He was repeatedly told to go back to the ship and assist and refused.

There should have been an anchor watch member of staff. There was bad weather forecasted and there had been a huge storm earlier in the week in Spain) - the water spout could not have been predicted.

BUT the hatches were left open and keel was not down which would have added to the instability of the boat and more likely to tip in strong winds. The keel can be retracted when anchored in shallow waters - it was not it was in 50m. The boat was setup for a quiet night at anchor which is negligence on the part of the captain.

Once the boat has capsized there is little the crew could have done to save the passengers. The boat would have filled up with sea water in seconds and the pressure and darkness would have prevented any attempt at a rescue.

Yes the crew have a responsibility to save the lives of their wealthy passengers at any cost to themselves. Their own lives and family responsibility are insignificant in comparison.

This was in the Great Storm of '53 wasn't it? They were the first victims, and possibly overlooked because of the extraordinary disaster and loss of life which then occurred as the storm swept down the North Sea.

I believe it.

The crew in hindsight could have got the guests out of their cabins and on deck in their lifejackets earlier. They had only 16 minutes to do it whilst the anchor dragged. I can imagine the fact that the guests were their employers could have contributed to the delay.

There was another smaller yacht Sir Robert Baden, next to the Bayesian that night which survived. I wonder what safety measures it took.

Ultimately the Bayesian was in the wrong place at the wrong time and this is a black swan event.

A decent watch would know of approaching storms and ensure that everyone was safe.
Hatches and doors closed, people alerted to possible risk-

But reason will come out for the rapid sinking and the reason for it.

It’s not like the crew would have been unaware of an approaching storm.

By the way, who is it that some
posters are sure are “telling the crew to keep their mouths shut” like that is some kind of PTB move?

I would see eg the Maritime Authorities telling crew and passengers to speak to them and not press as akin to police advising similar. There may be criminal charges to be brought, there may not, but obviously officials should gather the information they need before the press get it,

Where's your evidence for your comment about Mike Lynch?
He was found innocent in the recent trial. His wife and daughter have lost a husband, father and child, others have lost their parents. It's a horrible tragedy.

I thought that Bayesian was a innovative design with very unusual proportions? Surely that's the first place to look for answers!

It had the tallest aluminium mast in the world (the second tallest overall), with corresponding huge sails. That's got to be a liability in any storm, even before the waterspout or tornado. The mast breaking could inflict catastrophic damage. Or intact, it could exacerbate another issue, eg. keel position, or open hatches.

Even visually, Bayesian looked a bit odd unlike what we've come to expect.

Yes, that’s right- massive storm surge in Northern Europe.
I’d not heard of it until seeing a book about the disaster.

There was pitiful recompense to those families of those who died.

Captain had last word as to setting out that day-
Pride was also at stake -“ the Ferry always sails!”

Interesting read about one of the victims…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0k4751jrm8o.amp

Esp the last paragraph if you don’t want to read it all.

The survivors of the Titanic were mostly 1st class female passengers and children (Birkenhead drill) and crew members who had rowed the life-boats. Most 3rd class passengers did not survive. Most of the men, of whatever class, did not survive (Birkenhead drill - they either would not enter the life-boats or would have been prevented from doing so).

1/2 crew were probably “service” staff. Deck/steward(ess). Light on actual experience & not requiring any training or qualification.
Chef not required on deck in storm because his job strictly food.
Perhaps 4 of staff were with qualifications Captain, first mate, mate, engineer. May. have been hired just for this trip / temp contracts, we have no idea.

Look here for jobs in Med/Italy - some mate/deck requirements are “experience driving a 40ft tender”. Experience doesn’t mean same thing as competence or license/qualification.
Passengers would have no idea if they are in safe hands. Ship owner puts trust in Captain.

https://yachtcareerhub.com/jobs/GMRIQL/full-time-deckhand-50m-private-my-mediterranean

I’ve seen the super yacht tenders driven by people who clearly have no understanding of speed and safety when delivering passengers to small beaches in Spain, reversing into swimmers, going too fast. They look like housekeeping/serving staff who are now driving small boats with no license. Spain requires correct Powerboat license for everything with a motor, jet ski & up.
Certain if they had an accident would just speed off out into sea w Superyacht too far for anyone to be able to make a report.