You almost lost a team member

[Fingers]

I work on a commercial fishing boat and I almost died on Friday. We were Sea Bass Fishing about 90 miles off the coast of Virginia when a Navy vessel starting practice firing in the area. We all heard three "bangs" then three sonic booms right over head and then three huge splashes in the water a few hundred yards from the boat. As soon as that happened we put the engine (detroit 8v92) to the pins with all the gear still in water and hauled at a swift 16 knots (knots * 1.2 = MPH). As soon as we left they stopped firing. All we can think of is that they mistook us for a dummy boat for target practice and as soon as we started moving they realized we werent the dummy. After a change of pants we started fishing again and began to wonder if it is possible to sue the navy.

I don't think fishing will ever be the same.

 

[ys]

Gosh, that was scary! Glad you are safe.

 

[conjur]

<< Gosh, that was scary! Glad you are safe. >>

:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q

Glad you're ok, though!!

 

[AppleTalking]

Wow, that really puts things in perspective I bet. Glad to hear that you're alright. You would think the Navy would have more sense than that . . . oh wait, never mind . . .

Nick

 

[Fingers]

So am I.

I think that was the single scariest moment in my life.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Glad to hear you are O.K. :Q I actually have a slight notion of what you must have been feeling. When I was at Cape May, New Jersey training for the Coast Guard, we rolled around to the Fourth of July. We were unaware as to the day, as they had made us all lock up our watches after someone's went off in formation. We were crossing the parade field and all of a sudden these incredibly loud cannons starting going off somewhere close by. We flattened in a field that had about four inches of standing rain water in it and looked around trying to figure out what the Hell was going on. Turns out it had just clicked over to 12:00 Noon and they fire off the cannons at the end of the parade field at that time on the Fourth.

 

[Smoke]

Sounds like the NAVY could use the practice. Couldn't hit a boat standing still in the water.









Glad you didn't get hit.

 

[mechBgon]

:Q Oh my gosh... I'd be looking around for my flare gun! Glad you're ok! :Q

 

[RaySun2Be]

<I work on a commercial fishing boat >

As if that is a "safe" job in and of itself, the Navy really had to add to your excitement! :Q

Glad you're ok, though!

 

[PieDerro]

Geez!! Glad to hear that nothing happened tho!

As far as taking legal action against the navy - it looks as though you may very well have a case. Especially if anyone has psychological problems stemming from the incident.

But regardless, the most important thing is that you are all well!

-PieDerro

 

[Fingers]

it's not that bad. You guys have seen the perfect storm right. Well those guys were just fine for most of the movie. That must mean it is safe.

 

[toft-dk]

Glad that you are safe

But the Navy should'nt make mistakes like that !!!

Someone must have VERY red ears

 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

<boggle> It is amazing how often these things occur. They also do not get on the News unless there is a death. I still believe Flight 801 over Long Island was shot down by accident. If commercial airlines burst into flames for no reason, noone would ever get onboard.

Glad you are alright and it is another leason in never taking things for granted.

-=GWN=-

 

[cakin]

at least there wasn't a submarine in the area!

 

[networkman]

Always the conspiracy enthusiast, it could well be that this was another incident involving trained dolphins that have recently deloped psionic powers allowing them to control the minds of the navy personel and thus attack those who are oppressing and otherwise killing off their brethren! :Q

Or it could simply be we've got some folks on a navy vessel that need some more training.. probably this 2nd explanation.

In any case, I'm glad you're okay, and besides, I like fish! Yum!

 

[ishmael2k]

Glad to hear you are ok also..



Rb (I hate insomnia...)

 

[Evadman]

Crap! Man, I would need my brown pants

Nice to hear your OK man. Geez!

 

[Confused]

:Q <---- All i can say!


Glad you're OK tho

ConfusedBW

 

[narzy]

Sorry Sorry my bad, me and the boys got a bits tipsy down in the mess, thought it would be fun to fire off a few rounds...my bad...

 

[aphoenixrises]

This is terrible, Glad you are ok.
{Shrinking back a little when she tells you this story}
A few years ago a certain ship, with a certain bunch of men were also off shore sighting guns. When they told the certain person in charge of firing to fire when ready he refused. The Chief started yelling at him, and it went all the way to the Captain asking why this man could not follow orders and to find out what the hell was going on.
Well the man says, " Sir if you want to fire this gun you do it, but I wont be responsible for the hundred or so deaths that occur because of your actions." So the chief looks through the scope and sees a pleasure boat full of people directly in the target area.
Needless to say, they rerouted the ship and did their gun tests in a safer location.
All True and I know this to be fact.
So it happens more often than people think.
:Q

 

[dmcowen674]

Wow, Glad they missed and 3 times. Must have been conventional munitions, thank goodness. You were in International waters, hopefully it was the U.S. Navy that missed and not some other Navy.

 

[IJump]

Wow! :Q

Glad to hear you are OK!











So, did you catch any fish?

 

[micron]

:Q


Glad your Ok!

 

[Hellburner]

At a minimum make sure you report the incident to the Navy or Coast Guard. Did you get on the radio and yell at them at the time? Of course the fact that they didn't see you in the first place begs the question whether the Capt, Ops officer and lookouts are competent in the first place. They are required to guard the standard Maritime channels. Additionally, did you check your charts and Notice to Mariners, they often can help you keep out of firing ranges and the like...

 

[ChuckWits]

That must have been a really scary experience...glad you and your shipmates are all OK