hi jens
thanks for the info. Yep 16 kn,,OUCH!!!,,, exactly what I mentioned, nowadays it is a schedule matter. You miss the schedule and next thing you know someone from the charterer
or next port agent is on the telefon / e-mailing and has absolutely no understanding that there could be a situation to slow down. In the abbrevation of ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival, the "Estimted" is long time gone and considered as the fixed arrival time. !!!
It may be allowed to transit a 8 kn speed, but I have a bet that there are still the fog regualtion of the COLREGs in force, beside the inland waterways regulation, which state clearly that, when in the vicinity of another vessel and poor visibility to adjust to a safe
speed and if necessary to stop until the situation is cleared.8 kn speed on both sides is clearly not with 20m visibility a SAFE SPEED . From my point of view as Capt it is hard to understand that in conditions like that, with two pilots aboard, they did not slow down to 1 or 2 knots.
The 8 kn rule, to my knowledge applies to normal conditions would be very suprised if in the NO Kanal they really would permit 8 kn at any time and condition.
Big question is of course,,what is the defenition safe speed. Soemone with all the nautical
gimmiks nowadays (AIS-GPS-ECDIS- Day-light radars etc etc) might consider 8kn as still safe
speed, but guess this is one incident which may prove unfortunately otherwise.
btw: I changed to bulk carriers because I was tired of having my life dictated as Capt by
peoples ashore, who mostly don,t have even a clue what happens in reality. Here in general ETA still means ETA, specail in tghe container and ferry business that is long time history
brgds
capt ted