FISHING VESSEL STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

[Red_A]

This is an approximate 30 foot boat, and the seacock, I am told is simalar to the bigger blakes seacock 6 inches tall(150mm tall)

http://www.blakes-la...es_seacocks.htm

 

UK Coast Guard Press Notice

 

Press Notice No: 046-12

Friday, April 20, 2012

Posted 17:18 GMT

FISHING VESSEL STRUCK BY LIGHTNING OFF RAMSGATE

The fishing vessel Progress was struck by lightning this afternoon when fishing a few miles off North Foreland.

 

The lightning hit the wheelhouse shattering the windows. The strike also destroyed all the electrical equipment and navigation lights. Luckily, both crew members were on the deck at the time and so escaped injury.

 

Using a mobile phone the crew called the Ramsgate RNLI Lifeboat for assistance. They towed the vessel back to Ramsgate where the crew were met by the Coastguard Rescue Team from Margate.

 

Dover Coastguard Watch Manager Bob Giles said:

The crew of this fishing vessel were extremely lucky. They were fishing in an area with mobile phone reception and so still had a way to call for help when the lightning strike blew out their communications equipment, shattered the glass in the wheel house, disabled their engine and blew a seacock through the bottom of the vessel causing an ingress of water.

 

Dover Coastguard was called and Ramsgate lifeboat was tasked to attend and tow the vessel back to Ramsgate Harbour. The Fishing vessel was also equipped with the RNLI MOB Guardian which can be used to request assistance from the RNLI / Coastguard.

 

-Ends-

 

 

Posted By: Maggie Hill

 

For further details contact:

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office

023 8032 9401

http://www.dft.gov.u...CB01D2A08CC9661

[C James]

A lightning strike on a boat is a common hazzard: a boat at sea is the highest point, and so attracts lightning, especially true for a boat with a high metal mast. What it does when it hits varies a great deal; it can blow out the chain plates, fry the electrical systems, blast a hole in the hull, or just track down the mast's grounding wire and do little damage. It can even fry handheld electronics. A common trick amongst boaters is to put handheld devices, such as satellite phones, in the microwave; the metal shielding is thought to help protect them from the massive charge differentials.

 

[Gene Splicer PHD]

Well, you blow a charge through your seacock and see if you get ingress, if you know what I mean.