CHESAPEAKE
A sailboat has been freed after getting tangled in an overhead power line this morning at St. Julien’s Creek.
The sailboat, described as a catamaran, snagged the lines just before 7 a.m. and was freed shortly after 9 a.m. after the power company shut off the line, said Capt Steve Johnson, fire department spokesman.
Apparently, no one was injured, Johnson said.
Firefighters on a boat will check with the crew and give assistance as needed, Johnson said.
"They've been fortunate," Johnson said of the crew on the boat that hit the lines today.
In July 2007, two boats hit the lines in separate incidents and sank. One man suffered burns.
The line, owned by Dominion Virginia Power, has been there since the 1960s, a company spokesman said last year. The line is 45 feet above the creek which is about three to four feet deep and navigable mostly by smaller vessels.
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St. Juliens Creek Problem
Private citizens can establish Private Aids to Navigation. They have to conform to the rules for Federal Aids to Navigation. Now all you have to figure out is what kind of Navigation Aid will get the attention of the boaters who refuse to learn how to navigate. It will require somebody to read up on the rules and spend a little money.
It's Not Only 2 ft
Where the old trolley berm is shallow. At high tide boaters can't see the berm. Just about 15' on the North side is 10' of water! I know. I measured it. On the up-creek side, it is shallow and a mud flat at low tide.
The number of accidents in such a short time shows that: Current markings, signage, and even charts are not enough! There is room for more signage near the shallow berm marning shallow water and on this same pile a sign should be displayed warning boaters of the high tension wires above.
Sailboat Hit Elecrtical Wires Boater Rescued
Last June 24th, I filmed one of the sail boat accidents in Saint Julien's Creek. I posted it on YouTube.com Search under: Sailboat Hit Elecrtical Wires. I actually filmed the rescue of the sailor by a guy on a jet ski as the boat begins to burn as the high tension wire is in contact with the mast and is electrified staring a fire below. Look at the picture in this accident scene and you will see a man-made trolley tressel berm that is unseen at high tide but just visible in this picture. This is also a navigation hazard that also chokes off our Creek and creates sediment build-up on the residential side. This berm includes the rements of an old train bridge abandoned in place during the 40's. If I worked at the Risk Assessment desk at VA Power, I'd seriously consider restoring this area and putting up better signage and navigational piles directing the channel traffic and a surbmerged object pile sign right under the high tention wires and big posted WARNING SIGN HIGH TENSION WIRES ABOVE! Wait... I think that's the ACOE & USCG's job to initiate?
Changes needed?
The changes are needed with the people on the boats .
The channel is clearly marked with more than ample markers .
If you are on the water , you need to pay attention to your charts .
If they were reading their charts , they would have seen the river makes a hard turn to the north .
The power lines are clearly marked on the charts too.
One of the major "rules of the road" is to "maintain a sharp lookout" , if they were doing that , they would have noticed the turn in the channel and the low power lines . Two mistakes in a row .
Next time look at the chart
I'm thankful that no one (including the rescuers) were hurt, but this just another example of a sailboater failing to properly plot a safe course costing taypayers money and time. The 45 foot high power lines are clearly marked on NOAA Chart #12253. Also, there's only 2 feet of water.
Time to change something
Every few months a boat gets caught in there, typically catching fire and people end up getting hurt. Something needs to change to prevent this from happening. Whatever channel markers are there now are obviously not working.