Disasters at Sea

Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical ; £19.99
Publication Date: 2008

The first thing that strikes one is the sheer quality of the volume about ¾ A4 very heavy weight paper satin finish pages inside, superb photographs. Although the type face is a trifle small, it is clear and easily read. First appearances do not let one down. Chapters are laid out logically; topics covered include stranding, storm, freak waves, fire, capsize and collision.

As well as Pike’s own narration there are reports from the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch). His examples of disaster are a well balanced mixture of large and small commercial craft, fishing boats, and leisure craft big and small, both sail and power.

Though critical of the slow pace of change by IMO and changes to the Col Regs, he admits that this has prevented many wild suggestions put forward by member states regarding the relationship of leisure to commercial craft, pointing out that few incidents occur between them except in harbour when separation is virtually impossible. The highest incidence of disasters occurs between big ships, and big ship and fishing boats. Pike concludes that human error is almost always the cause of disaster. Poor design, insufficient attention to safety measures, or ignoring them, fatigue, lack of attention too tighter schedules, too much reliance on technology, including the distraction of making mobile phone calls whilst navigating. - DWG