Survival Lessons from the Sinking of the Erik

[Bob Ballew]

First, the Erik was old and top heavy....especially with fishermen sleeping up high and pangas stacked on top of each other....They were hit by 3 huge waves at 2 am, during a sudden 95 mph blow that lasted less than 25 minutes, then, it was flat calm again...in less than 5 minutes: the boat's stern went under..caused by 2 things:...captain error in trying to run with the wind rather than into the wind and swells, allowing water to flood the low stern; followed by panga cushions floating loose and plugging the self drain deck openings as the water went out...the captain froze and never attempted to call the coast guard...the crew donned all 17 life jackets and none remained for the passengers..a couple of crew members tried to assist passengers, but, for the most part, it was every man for himself..the survivers either had their own inflatable life jackets or hung onto coolers for up to13 hours until floating ashore or getting picked up by search boats.. one passenger was sucked down deep by the boat when it sank..he was saved by his inflatable shooting him up to the surface..
,,,Lessons:.. in other countries, often no official training is required to run a boat and the crew may not be trained for emergencies.....carry your own inflatable vest when in remote places where primative equipment is common or, more common, is lacking....a personal eirb on your vest could alert the coast guard immediately and probably save some lives..at the first sign of trouble on any boat, do not stay in your bunk....once in the water, get the hell away from the sinking ship so you don't get sucked down into the tunnel vortex created by the swirling water...lastly, a battery powered $12 strobe light from West Marine, clipped on your inflatable vest, will alert rescuers from 2 miles away and perhaps, save you from long hours in the water..also, it will allow other survivers to swim toward your location so everyone can stay together..I attach whistles to all life jackets used by family members so I can locate them in the dark...once the giant octopus spreads it's tenacles, you are only one step from disaster...be prepared...

[Dawn Patrol]

What a shit show.

[Michael J]

Thanks Bob.
All great advise.
I as well have lights on the PFD's,and a mirror on one. I also have clips,and cordage to keep everyone together.

I have yet to make a ditch bag,but I'm starting my list.

Thanks for the heads up.
MJ.

[toptuna]

Bob thanks for all the info you are always giving
Everyone. It is appreciated.

[saltierdog]

I tell you one of the easiest things most can do when diving on a boat is clean your Sh#t up at the end of the day and put it away

if you put all your gear in a dive bag and clip on your float to the bag

not only does it help not to trip on gear all over the deck but in such an emergency all your stuff will be floating and ready to go

[ezcompany]

i wonder how long it takes to surface after you get sucked down the vortex.
jack from the titanic seemed to surface pretty easily. no, i did not enjoy that movie.

[YakAtak]

I tell you one of the easiest things most can do when diving on a boat is clean your Sh#t up at the end of the day and put it away

if you put all your gear in a dive bag and clip on your float to the bag

not only does it help not to trip on gear all over the deck but in such an emergency all your stuff will be floating and ready to go

That is very very sound advice...there's are reason they call it "ship shape".

[bajahunter]

When I used to go on the Erik I allways brought my own vest, but never slept in it, I think as divers we think we are undrownable.... I never use a vest on my boat...maybe I think I can swim forever...that's probably not good

[sticknrelease]

I put a whistle and knife on all of my PFD's, for myself or my passengers. Great post Bob.

[jondavies]

i wonder how long it takes to surface after you get sucked down the vortex.
jack from the titanic seemed to surface pretty easily. no, i did not enjoy that movie.

Not to detract from all the good advice but apparently there really isn't a strong vortex that pulls you down when a boat sinks:

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-sinking-titanic-minimyth.html

[Chris Oak]

Great advice Bob, should I ever go on one of those trips again I'll definitely plan ahead. BTW does anyone know if they found the last missing persons :(?

[Behslayer]

Good Post. It's especially true what you point out about being on a boat in a 'third world' country which might not have the same crew training and safety precautions in place. Not only are you more likely to have a problem, but you are much more likely to have a lack of prepared solutions.. Over here in Indonesia their seems to be a permanent column on the front page of the Daily newspaper outlining the day's terrible Ferry disaster, and I know personally about 2O people from several seperate incidents, who have found themselves floating in the sea at night after their Liveaboard Surf/Dive boat sank in minutes in the middle of the night. It's a very real possibility.
When I go on a Dive/Surf/Ferry boat trip here, I bring a hammock. I have a nice hammock which has a Rain Cover and Mosquito Cover. This means I can set up my hammock on the upper deck and sleep there. I have a dry bag. In this I have a Wetsuit, Hat, Water. I keep a Surfboard or my Dive Float nearby.

As fas as the vortex, didn't Mythbusters bust that myth?

[Huntersmoon]

I remember from a previous sinking of another similar type boat in Baja, good advice to have the dive bag ready, and keep the weights separate so it floats. Sometimes these boats sink without weather caused reasons when underway and sleeping/passed out. I don't know about a vortex, but the ropes, fishing lines, fuel and more importantly a boat full of bait and fish would be enough reason to be far away. Shocked they don't at least provide lifejackets in excess of the maximum passenger load, even the Titanic had that, with a thousand extras.:scratch:

[U/C Spearo]

I always keep a headlamp next to me in the bunk. When the sh--t hits the fan it can get dark quickly. Most important, take a good look around your sleeping area, you need to know your exits, you may be exiting that area upside down, in the dark and swimming.

Be safe

[sticknrelease]

Great advice Bob, should I ever go on one of those trips again I'll definitely plan ahead. BTW does anyone know if they found the last missing persons :(?

I have been in contact with the family of one of the missing men. As of 1600 today (mountain time) there are still 7 men missing. The USCG and Mexico's Navy have called off their search efforts. The families are looking for other solutions now.

The survivors and families of the missing have a website here:

http://findourfathers.com/

[osfdrums]

CA ABC book learn it, live it, love it. Having required equipment is a must, it will save your life someday.

[Chris Oak]

I have been in contact with the family of one of the missing men. As of 1600 today (mountain time) there are still 7 men missing. The USCG and Mexico's Navy have called off their search efforts. The families are looking for other solutions now.

The survivors and families of the missing have a website here:

http://findourfathers.com/

Thanks for the update although that's terrible news :(. I was really really hoping they had found them after a few days :(

[Bob Ballew]

some of them are probably still in their bunk rooms at 300'....as far as getting sucked down...the info came first hand from one of the survivors who said his inflatable saved his bacon when he was pulled down as the 105' boat sank stern first...of course, for years, scientists said there were few to no, 100' rogue waves.....space views with gps measurements prove they are fairly common in the deep ocean..often wonder if some of the suction is caused by the prop still turning as the ship goes down?

[Chris Oak]

some of them are probably still in their bunk rooms at 300'....as far as getting sucked down...the info came first hand from one of the survivors who said his inflatable saved his bacon when he was pulled down as the 105' boat sank stern first...of course, for years, scientists said there were few to no, 100' rogue waves

I used to know Russ Izor and worked next door to him when I worked fishing tackle when I was a kid. You guys know him from izorline international and the boat "First String" which he had built and ran. There was a boat in san diego named "fish-n-fool" that I also fished on, the crew was on a exploratory trip and a rogue wave hit it and sank it, almost all of the crew died. I was talking to Russ said he was fishing somewhere, I could have sworn he said clemente but it could have been in baja. He told me out of no where a gigantic rouge wave came up and slammed the String, he told me why they were only saved because they were lucky but I forgot the entire story, maybe they were either at anchor facing the right way or were not anchored and he was able to turn quickly. That story really really scared the crap out of me, I didn't think things like that happened around here, at least until the fish-n-fool sank.

[Bob Ballew]

I had one hit my 24' Radon in a cove at San Clemente Island in the 70's...didn't see it, as I was underwater diving commercially for abs, but, it yanked me 50' across the bottom and put 200' of hose up on shore...moved the boat and anchor from mid bay, over rock boulders and up next to shore, dropping it into a pocket between the boulders in 5' of water.....amazingly, no damage to the prop or boat...

[cdog]

National Fisherman magazine has a column every month called 'Consequences' that has a CG analysis of why specific fishing vessels sank. It's worth reading.

[SBH20Man]

Here's a video of a boat capsizing that is worth watching. Luckily it has a much happier ending than the Erik, but the way things unfold is pretty interesting. I watched it and made a mental note of the things I would do differently (and some of the same mistakes I might make if not careful)

century capsize - YouTube

[Bob Ballew]

one issue: a large round 5 gallon bucket may not be as efficient at bailing, as a square one of smaller size that can scoop up water faster off the deck and is less tiring to use repeatedly..I have several Costco square laundry detergent buckets (blue) on board, used for storing filet knives, etc, as well as a round 5 gallon bucket with fresh water in it to wash salt off the windows with and rinse fishing jigs and masks...the buckets are Plan B.....if the batteries go, your bilge pumps (Plan A), won't work...

Nothing can save a boat, like 3 scared guys bailing with buckets as fast as possible...