Originally Posted by JMR
Having boats run up and down the coast coming within 20 feet or so of the end of many of the piers is just wrong, unsafe and something that is endangering lives and the business of tourism in the country.


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In my mind, it would be simple to put out channel markers that keep boats out 200 to 250 yards off shore


Hi JMR, not sure if you're referring to the water taxis specifically or not but if you are you may want to read this account...

http://ambergristoday.com/content/s...oon-horror-san-pedro-after-boat-accident

You'll note that statements made by passengers clearly indicate they were in their normal route offshore. From my own experiences, as the water taxis from BC are our preferred way of getting to AC, the water taxis do operate several hundreds of yards offshore until they make their dock approach. The incident was about 2 1/2 miles south of town so no approach manuevers would normally have been in process.

Its also curious that early "eyewitness" accounts of them being 50 feet off the docks just doesnt jive when you compare that with statements made by the Captain of the Caye Caulker run (i.e. that the SP Express boat had just passed them and was ahead of them when the accident happened). I mean wtf? To have BOTH taxis that close in to shore operating at speed? That just doesnt makes sense particularly if one were trying to chalk it up to negligence on the part of one skipper.

Again I think waiting for the results of the investigation is incredibly important. What this has done in the interim is raise the concsience level for many owners and operators as to the need to inform and educate their visitors and guests who may not be aware or used to the kind of water traffic that occurs in the inner reef areas. They need to be made aware of the hazards not only in the main channels but of boat traffic in close to the docks as well.

Concurrently I would suspect that this incident would serve to act as a reminder to all boat captains; Swimmers are more likely to be in close to the dock areas and they need to keep a good weather eye out and steady gentle hand on the throttle is needed.

I too jumped all over this intially until I tried to make sense of some of the early information (vis a vis the Caye Cauker Captian statements). I was perplexed. Once I saw the story above it made me realise I obviously didnt have the whole picture. In fact until the official inquiry is completed and released I dont think any of us do and that hoepfully will include the state of awareness held by the swimmers thmeselves.

Last edited by Bear; 09/19/11 11:48 AM.