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Could a float plan have saved Marquis Cooper and his passengers?

By Steve Lombardi

When you need to be rescued every minute counts. So if the boat sinks it is too late to be asking the question: What is a float plan?

A float plan is like a flight plan that pilot's use to advise potential rescue crews about the intended flight, the vessel, the safety equipment on-board and the means of communication available to the crew. In the case of a boat we are talking about the vessel itself, it's identification, the means of propulsion, telecommunications, navigation available to the boat crew, what visual distress signals rescuers should look for, what audible distress signals were available, what PFD's were on board, the ground tackle available and other gear for life saving measures. The float plan lists the operator's name, the type of boat and the names and addresses of the passengers expected onboard.

The Float Plan is free for the asking just follow the link. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary provides it and the Boating Emergency Guide for the asking.

Before leaving the dock fill out the plan and leave it with a responsible party who if you don't show up as planned can advise the Coast Guard and other available search and rescue operations.

The ocean is large, unforgiving and relentless in a storm. As the captain you owe it to your passengers to take every precaution to protect them. Those taking safety for granted gamble with the lives of those they've been entrusted. Being the captain means being in charge of the ship. Being in charge of the ship starts before you leave the dock.

Don't ever forget, it is always quiet before the storm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BFux2AAMso

Remember that the Marquis Cooper boat mishap was about time in the water, getting cold and finally giving up. Once in the water it was all about time. Time mattered in so many ways but in terms of being able to hold on just one more minute it caused some overboard to just give up. If you've ever been really cold, near hypothermia, you know the feeling of wanting to give up. You can feel the chill down to your bones and how it starts to affect how you think about living or the alternative. After awhile the alternative doesn't seem all that bad a choice.

And that's what a float plan is all about; how much time it takes for those searching to locate the survivors. If a float plan can shave one minute off of how long it takes to locate the sunken ship that may be the minute needed between you giving up or you being saved.

Before leaving the dock, take a minute to fill out and put in the float plan in someone's hands. After all it might just be the minute you need to convince yourself the alternative can wait just one more minute.

For more on the Marquis Cooper boating tragedy read these additional IB posts:

Last Titanic Survivor Dies, Lessons to Learn from the Marquis ... ... and west coasts. Mistakes like those made by boat owner Marquis Cooper on the Gulf Coast waters off of St. Petersburg, Florida on ... 101k
Retrieving Anchor Caused Capsize OF NFL Players' Boat ... Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, NFL free agent Corey Smith, and former ... Eventually they anchored Cooper's 21-foot fishing boat 50 miles off the ... 63k
Report Issued: Improper anchoring caused boat to capsize in Gulf ... ... They went more than 50 miles offshore in NFL player Marquis Cooper's 21 foot boat. About 5:30 pm they tried to pull up the anchor but it was stuck. ... 91k
A Sioux City Councilman was injured in a boating accident on ... ... have a driving maneuver that surprises the passengers, one in which they were not prepared for resulting in them being thrown overboard and struck by the boat. ... 101k
Lifejacket And Staying With Boat May Have Saved Rescued Boater ... ... hard to miss, they include Oakland Raiders linebacker Victor 'Marquis' Cooper, Detroit Lions ... a fishing trip in the Gulf and their 21-foot boat was anchored ... 98k
Boating Safety News You Can Use from around the Midwest ... ... July 14, 2009 10:23 AM Tags: boating safety, Titanic, Marquis Cooper, injury, death, on the ... Two women were being pulled on an inner tube behind a boat and one ... 101k
What is a float plan? | InjuryBoard Des Moines ... July 15, 2009 10:49 AM Tags: boating safety, Titanic, Marquis Cooper, injury, death, on the ... In the case of a boat we are talking about the vessel itself, it ... 101k

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on July 16, 2009 (boomark / email).