AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Boat Accident

I was on a water taxi returning from Caye Caulker well after dark and in the rain a few weeks ago. I had a handheld GPS unit with me and I checked our speed - 33mph. That was slow - I've clocked 40mph on other occasions. I know from personal experience running a dive center that in these conditions other boats can be very hard to see, and I'm sure we were as well. If you're on a boat travelling at that speed, in the dark and the rain, then even if your boat is well illuminated so that others can see it, they can't judge your speed and direction precisely enough, and you probably can't see them.

I don't see how these speeds in these circumstances can possibly be safe.

"Now that the BPA is stationed on the island hopefully things will change.

What do they do?


We are just "dumb tourists" (the airlines will give you more tourists, so we are replaceable) - we visited recently, we have friends who are permanent residents.
Our party of 4 adults has a large amount of marine experience in power and sail and were really concerned by some of the (to us) at least 4 instances in a week, of dangerous boat operation by the water taxis and "tour " operators we saw.

we will not return to Belize because of it.

Some folks may say "Yeah!!", less tourists- I understand - my home town is overrun by tourists twice a year. So whatever size tourism you want is ok by me. I just dont want to get killed just yet- too many other caribbean places I can go to or go back to.

It seems that marine running lights fail a lot in Belize with the salty conditions.

For example, On our Belize boat, I have replaced Both forward running light bulbs and one of my two stern lights within a 2 year period, and thats on a New boat. (Yes I have two stern lights just in case one fails - call me anal).

I have replaced maybe 2 lights in my lifetime (long time) on my many boats over the years here in N.J.

The problem with this situation is that the Captain is responsable to make sure all equipment is in proper working condition on a vessel, PERIOD.

One way to insure that the lights will last longer is to purchase L.E.D. (Lite Emiting Diode) type lights as they have a much longer lifespan and can resist more "Shock" from bouncing around on the water than standard marine filament bulbs.

I can imagine that the LED lights would be quite a bit more expensive in San Pedro but I think it would be a good investment for anyone who travels often at night on their boat.


(Am I starting to sound like Peter Jones with this post?? )

not so much, you did not mention Britain once nor your brother, brother-in-law, good friend or 2nd cousin's 3rd wife's brother.

The BPA (Belize Port Authority) is here to check on ALL boats that operate here, including safety equipment and licenses both for the Captain and the vessel.
We can only hope that things will improve.

Sorry to hear you will not be back to visit us again.

Thanks.
- Is there a belezian requirement / law that boats that carry passengers for hire have lights (not running lights) - like flashlights or cockpit lights ? These lights would be usefull in nightime emergencies, breakdowns, and loading and unloading passengers.

- Some boats seem to have the bow lights mounted in the hull, rather than at the front top of the bow deck. Hull mounting gets makes them lower and less visible.

ed50,

The reason for the Red / Green running lights being recessed in the hull is to keep them from getting damaged while docking etc.

All docks are not all the same hight in San Pedro so sometimes the Bow of the boat can end up under a dock due to high wind conditions etc. theirfore causing a protruding light to be damaged or knocked off.

Over in Britain, my brother, brother in law, a good friend and my 2nd cousin's 3rd wife all damaged their running lights by hitting docks with a boat.

With shipping, (no knowledge of local Belize rules but I would think they would be the same) the running lights must be visible for a certain distance and so many degrees visiblity for each light which would include a red and green bow light an a white stern light. Other lights might be required in certain instances.

My instinct is that many of the hull mounted lights are too low limiting visibility, especially in a chop.

And all docks are not the same heighth everywhere

ed, I have never heard of a height requirement on any vessel but what you say is probably correct. It seems to me that the lights could be mounted on the deck to better affect and to be visible the degrees required.