Aonother filipino ferry disaster.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Another ferry 'Island Fastcraft' caught fire of Cebu and sank within two hours, the Ch Off and 2 others died in the fire, carrying 75 known passengers but no news n survivors at this time

[Keith Tindell]

ref post14, i can completely agree with some of the sentiments with regard to showing lights at night on a yacht, i believe that pretty much all yacht navigation lights are pretty useless, mostly powered by a 12 v battery, even mast head lights being higher are pretty dismal , even with modern bulbs. I think a good lookout, both in front, and most important behind !!, and the close availability of a strong searchlight, even shone up into the sails is useful. The most crass example of yachtsmen in the Solent was well pictured, and still is on you tube, was the yacht being run down by a bloody big tanker at Cowes week. The skipper has still to come to trial after pleading not guilty at an earlier hearing( but remember, him and his crew are professional RN sailors!!!!. I also believe that the unwritten collision reg, is, if he`s bigger than you, get out of the bloody way, KT

[Captain Kong]

I was watchkeeper on the ESSO NORTHUMBRIA, 256,000 Dwt. arriving in the Solent on first day of Cowes week 1976.
We had "CLEAR CHANNEL", deep draft, after lightering around 50 feet, broadcast on SPR now VTS. The Harbour Masters Launch ahead of us with strobe lights flashing, All along Mother Bank, and the Thorn Channel we hit several yachts, I was swinging on the whistle lanyard, made no difference. these idiots were all around us trying to bounce of our side many damaged and one or two sank. The screams of abuse was terrible.
When will they ever learn.?
From the wheel house , forward vision is, if less than half a mile you cannot seei It. The fore deck being 965 feet in length.
Brian.

[cappy]

morning brian seem to remember the esso Northumbria in the tyne in the 50s 0r 60sbreaking free from her mooringsand causing havock as she drifted down the tyne but I think she was a previous ship to the vessel you were aboard ......caused headlines in the shields gazette......also being anchored in the mouth of the tyne in thick fog on a wecoastal tanker one of everards and hearing this bloody greatships whistle blowing its balls of ...the engine noise getting closer couldn't see a thing and me banging on a gong for all my worth then haering a voice about ninety feet above saying alreet allreetwe can see you of course up there they could see everything that big lady even for those days was the Northumbria ......regards cappy

[Captain Kong]

Hi Cappy,
The ESSO NORTHUMBRIA was built in 1970 at SWAN HUNTERS and known as `Big Geordy`
Here she is below.
cheers
Brian

[cappy]

brian good photos looking back it cant have been the Northumbria that came close in the fog as the episode happened about 61 so not her the old memory only holds a big esso tanker ......but for those days on the tyne she was a biggy regards cappy

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates. Hi captain Kong, I had a drink on the Esso "Northhumbria" at Milford haven 1970 I was on the Esso Hythe we also was at solent Cowes week that year going to poole in dorset power station with oil dont like them posh boats, they get in your way and the Yacht crew ashore were a strange bunch old guys with young girls and old women with young men. plenty of money?