Boats are durable vessels that are made to stay afloat even during tumultuous weather and otherwise bad conditions. Modern boats are pinnacles of engineering, with advanced structures and features designed to keep them more functional for longer. Most commercially available boats are exceptionally well-engineered and very safe, but that doesn't mean they're entirely free of risk.
As long as you're following proper precautions and staying aware of your surroundings, you probably don't have to worry about a modern boat sinking. That said, a couple of critical mistakes in a dangerous environment could still cause a sinking to occur.
You may have heard that recently, a major superyacht sank, killing multiple people on board. But how exactly did this happen? How do boats sink? And what steps can you take to make sure your boat doesn't sink?
The Bayesian Sinking
Last month, a superyacht known as the Bayesian sank. The yacht initially departed from Rotterdam, Netherlands, but would not return, as the arrival of a violent storm contributed to a tragic accident that left seven people, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, dead.
Lynch was recently acquitted of fraud charges and wanted to celebrate with his wife, Angela, his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, and several friends. Lynch’s attorney, Chris Morvillo, and Morgan Stanley International Chair Jonathan Bloomer were also in attendance, along with their spouses and colleagues.
The Superyacht, named after 18th-century mathematician Thomas Bayes, was 184 ft (56 m) long and had a rich array of amenities for guests. The idea was to cruise in and around Europe for some time, but after docking in Porticello, Italy, the yacht encountered trouble.
A massive storm whipped up, including what one witness called a “mini tornado.” The intense winds began to make the boat sway back and forth, and soon, it began to sink. Nearby, experienced Captain Karsten Borner of the Sir Robert Baden, a Dutch-flagged sailing vessel, stabilised his own ship and came to help. However, it was arguably too late.
“I have never seen a vessel of this size go down so quickly,” said Borner. “Within a few minutes, there was nothing left. Then we saw the raft with the 15 passengers. It was a tragedy.”
Within 16 minutes of the start of the storm, guests onboard no longer had any chance of escape. Fortunately, 15 people were able to be rescued, but another seven were lost onboard the vessel. According to recent reports, it is likely that these individuals died of asphyxiation as oxygen ran out in an air bubble in one of the cabins.
The sinking of the Bayesian is still being investigated. It seems that the vessel was in the “wrong place at the wrong time,” in a spot where an intersection of winds was at its strongest. Italian prosecutors are also investigating to determine whether the vessel’s captain and crew took all reasonable precautions necessary to avoid the sinking. With a raised keel and a hatch open during the storm, it is possible that the crew underestimated the severity of the storm. However, investigations are still ongoing.
Why Boats Sink
It’s interesting to note that boats are four times more likely to sink at a dock than they are to sink underway. There are a couple of major reasons for this.
First, when a boat is underway, it's likely to be crewed by knowledgeable people, while when a boat is at a dock, it's usually unoccupied. This tells us something important about boat sinking risks; they can often be easily mitigated by anyone with even fleeting knowledge of how to avoid sinking.
Second, boats simply spend more time docked than on the open water. If a sinking occurs randomly, it's much more likely to occur when the boat is docked.
Broadly speaking, we should also acknowledge that when boats sink, the sinking event tends to accelerate. If there's a leak on the boat, the boat will begin to submerge as it loses comparative density and takes on more water. As the boat begins to sink deeper, the rate at which water flows into the vessel will increase, dumping gallons of water in at a faster rate. Because of this snowball effect, it's very hard to recover a sinking vessel once it moves past a certain threshold.
So why exactly do boats sink?
These are some of the most common reasons:
- Low transoms. Transoms are meant to be a first line of defence against open water, but if the transom height is too low, waves can easily swamp the vessel. Motor wells are designed to serve as a backup line of defence when waves go over the transom, but if these wells are too low or improperly sealed, they aren’t going to do much. This problem often creeps up when passengers improperly distribute weight on the vessel; if heavy items, like scuba gear or large coolers, are near the transom, it can weigh the area down unnecessarily.
- Missing drain plugs. A drain plug is one of those obviously important aspects of a boat come up but it's easy to neglect if you're not doing a thorough inspection. It's a good idea to always have a spare drain plug and keep your drain plugs visible. Often, when boats sink due to a missing drain plug, it's because the vessel has already taken on hundreds of gallons of water by the time anyone notices it's missing.
- Cooling system leaks. There are many types of engine malfunctions and structural problems that can lead to cooling system leaks. If the cooling system on your boat begins to leak, it could fill the vessel with enough water to cause it to sink further. Corroded fittings, hoses slipping, and even engine backfiring issues can all trigger this. This is one reason why it's so important to be proactive in inspecting and maintaining your boat.
- Frozen seacocks. Seacocks are valves designed to let water in and out of the vessel. If they freeze or otherwise become compromised, they may not be able to serve their function properly. They may let too much water into the vessel, ultimately causing it to sink.
- Bilge issues. Similarly, any issues with your bilge pump could prevent your vessel from being able to pump out water efficiently. There are many potential issues that could affect this piece of important equipment, so it's a good idea to inspect it regularly.
- Striking other objects. One of the most popularly known reasons for why boats sink is striking another object. When a boat strikes another object at sufficient speed or momentum, it typically suffers hull damage. Almost any significant damage to the hull can cause the boat to take on water, rapidly accelerating the sinking process. These other objects could be other boats, logs, rocks, or pretty much anything else in the water, so you need to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Heavy storms. Finally, as was the case with the Bayesian, heavy storms can cause boats to sink. Strong winds can cause the boat to tip. Heavy rain can fill up the vessel and weigh it down. And inclement conditions can make it harder to take reactive measures necessary to stop the sinking. In the case of the Bayesian, it is not currently known exactly how or why the vessel sank, but it's very likely that the massive storm was a factor.
How to Avoid Sinking Your Boat
So how do you avoid sinking your boat?
Thankfully, it's relatively easy.
- Gain knowledge and experience. For starters, you'll want to gain some knowledge and experience about how to operate a vessel. If you don't know what a seacock is, you won't be able to determine whether yours are working properly. If you don't know how a bilge pump works, you won't be able to diagnose any issues with it. If you don't have much experience at sea, you won't know how to handle strong winds when they inevitably emerge. Of course, if you don't have knowledge or experience boating, you could always make up for this by hiring a captain and/or a crew.
- Thoroughly inspect your vessel before any voyage. Before leaving the dock, give your boat a thorough inspection. Look for any components that seem to be corroded, worn, or not functioning properly, and pay attention to any issues that could compromise the integrity of the vessel. If there's anything wrong, consider fixing it before heading out.
- Maintain your boat regularly. Routine boat maintenance can prevent a wide variety of issues. At least once annually, and perhaps more often if you use your boat frequently, you should give your boat a thorough, professional inspection. This is your opportunity to identify and diagnose any issues, so you can correct them before they pose a more serious problem. In addition to avoiding the risk of your boat sinking, this can save you a lot of money on fixing mechanical issues.
- Evenly distribute weight. Modern boats have serious weight capacities, but you still need to pay attention to how you distribute the weight on your vessel. Avoid stacking weight all in one area, especially where the vessel is most prone to taking on water.
- Pay close attention to the bilge. Your bilge pump plays a critical role in keeping water outside of your vessel, where it belongs. It's important to pay very close attention to the bilge on your yacht to make sure it continues functioning as it should.
- Always observe your surroundings. While operating your yacht, pay close attention to your surroundings at all times. Use your eyes, use your ears, and supplement your senses with technological tools. Striking anything could be disastrous for your boat.
- Monitor for bad weather (and avoid it). You also need to pay close attention to weather reports. If it seems like bad weather is even possibly on the horizon, it's probably better to sail or venture out another day. If surprisingly bad weather begins to manifest during a voyage, get to safety as soon as possible, even if that means compromising your other plans.
What to Do Onboard a Sinking Vessel
If you do find yourself on board a vessel that seems to be going down, these are the most important strategies to follow:
- Remain calm. A sinking vessel can be very scary, but you'll greatly increase your likelihood of survival if you can remain calm during this situation. Take a deep breath and focus on what the logical next step should be.
- Signal/call for help. Find a way to signal for help. Hopefully, you have a functioning radio, a flare gun, reflectors, and other tools to notify others that you're in need of assistance. Make sure you know how to make a Mayday distress call over VHF and keep aware of your position so you can relay this when making the call.
- Mitigate the issue if you can. Depending on the root cause of the issue, you may be able to mitigate the sinking and slow the process down. For example, manually pumping out water or replacing a missing drain plug could begin to rectify the situation.
- Throttle back. Once you recognise the boat is sinking, throttle back. This should buy you more time to get to safety.
- Beach the boat. If you have the option, consider beaching the boat. Beaching a boat isn't pretty, but it's better than the alternative of sinking underwater.
- Wear a lifejacket. If you aren't already, take this time to put on a lifejacket. This important device has the potential to save your life in a sinking incident.
- Stay onboard if possible. In most cases, it's best to stay onboard the vessel for as long as you possibly can. This should help maximise your chances of a successful rescue.
- Get on a life raft. If this is no longer possible, get on a life raft if you have one.
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