2:26 AM Sun 18 Apr 2010 GMT
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'MCA'
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The skipper of a yacht that caused an false international search by being 'missing' for seven weeks is to be investigated.
Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is reported to have launched an investigation into the the SS Columbia and its skipper Boguslaw (Bob) Norwid, a Polish born French national, after they were 'missing' off the coast of Chile for seven weeks with an Australian and two Canadians aboard before it finally arrived in Coquimbo last Saturday.
The yacht was flagged in Britain, and is therefore the responsibility of the British.
The families of the crew members had reported them overdue and the Chilean Coast Guard had been searching for them for several weeks.
What the MCA will investigate is that the yacht was reported to be sailing without essential safety equipment on board. This is relevant because the yacht carried fare paying 'passengers', and was hence acting as a commercial charter boat. Sailing on the yacht were Canadians Josee Chabot and Lisa Hanlon and Australian sailor Mitchell Westlake, who were all training sailors hopeful of gaining their skipper's ticket.
The yacht was caught without wind, probably in the ITCZ or Doldrums, and the skipper refused to start the engine, even though they were much overdue. The crew told of Norwid's 'Captain Bligh' methods and towards the end of the journey the two Canadians refused to assist any more on the yacht because he refused to allow them to contact their families.
Citing the Merchant Shipping Act and other international regulations such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention, Mark Clark of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency based in Southampton, England, said they are looking into allegations the S.S. Columbia did not have adequate means to call for help in case of distress.
Clearly the 13-metre vessel which was flagged in Britain was acting as a commercial charter, Clark said - it carried three passengers, who each paid $3,500 for what was supposed to be a 40-day trip, even if they were referred to as crew.
Clark told the Montreal Gazette, 'If this vessel is British, the long arm of Her Majesty's coast guard will come and find him.'
But a thorough investigation was to be the first step.
by Des Ryan
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