- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- RO Number
- 12212
- Messages
- 12,219
TowboatUS vs Sea Tow... round 1
- Thread starter PascalG
- Start date
I guess we do know that:
BY STEPHANIE CHEN
schen@MiamiHerald.com
As the 46-boot pleasure boat began to take on water, slowly sinking into the ocean, two competing tow-boat captains stood aboard, arguing over who had the right to save her.
The argument, which turned physical, ended with one captain detained and another with a gash on his knee. The two captains were competing for potentially thousands of dollars in boat-salvage fees.
''Competition is competition,'' said Lisa Morgan, co-owner of Sea Tow, one of the companies that competed for the boat-repair tow on Thursday.
``It keeps everyone on their toes, but when it steps over the line, it's just not right.''
The U.S Coast Guard detained Larry Acheson, a captain with TowBoat/U.S., Thursday morning, but released him hours later. No charges were filed against him on Thursday.
The other captain, Scott Hale of Sea Tow, received medical treatment for the knee gash and for a possible twisted ankle, Morgan said. He plans to press assault charges against Acheson, Sea Tow's owners said.
FIRST ARRIVAL
Dana Warr, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman, said the agency will continue to investigate the incident.
Both companies claim their captain arrived first. But one thing is beyond dispute: Tow Boat/U.S. signed a contract to carry the boat away for repairs; Sea Tow did not.
TowBoat/U.S. ended up towing the boat, named Fortuna, in for repairs.
A lawyer for the TowBoat/U.S. captain said it's not which company arrives first that matters, but which one gets the towing and repair contract signed first.
Thursday's high-seas spat started after the owner of the sinking, 46-foot recreational boat made a distress call about 11 a.m., according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Two passengers inflated a life raft and hopped off the boat about one mile south of the Pompano Beach Pier and four miles offshore, BSO said.
A BSO marine unit arrived first, and discovered the Fortuna passengers on the raft without life jackets, according to the sheriff's office. They were not injured, and BSO took them to shore.
''It was clear that the boat was steadily taking on water,'' BSO spokesman Neil Birenbaum said.
At some point, both tow-boat captains showed up, and started arguing.
Morgan, who had just spoken to Hale on the phone at the time of the disagreement, said her captain did not provoke the other in ``any way, shape or form.''
She also said Hale arrived first. The U.S. Coast Guard said it did not detain Hale because he did not pose a danger.
Acheson's lawyer, Sam Fields of Ruden McClosky in Fort Lauderdale, said TowBoat/U.S. arrived first. He said TowBoat/U.S. already had six pumps removing water from the boat when Sea Tow arrived.
Tow boat companies typically listen for signs of trouble on a police scanner, and try to beat each other to the scene of the trouble when a distress call goes out.
DISTRESSED BOAT
Saving a distressed boat can mean earning up to a third of the boat's value, Fields said. A tow for a non-sinking vessel, such as one that has run out of gas, typically earns the company about $200.
A Jacksonville-based marine surveyor who did not wish to be identified on Thursday estimated that a 46-foot, 1984 Bertram boat -- one like the Fortuna -- ranges from $36,000 to $45,000, depending on its engine, condition and amenities.
''Sea Boat was just trying to get their foot in the door and to claim all the salvage,'' Fields said.
It was Larry A. from Boat US. I guess he still does own the area. Sometimes he acts a bit too much like a spoiled rich kid in my opinion, even though he's well beyond "kid" age.
BY STEPHANIE CHEN
schen@MiamiHerald.com
As the 46-boot pleasure boat began to take on water, slowly sinking into the ocean, two competing tow-boat captains stood aboard, arguing over who had the right to save her.
The argument, which turned physical, ended with one captain detained and another with a gash on his knee. The two captains were competing for potentially thousands of dollars in boat-salvage fees.
''Competition is competition,'' said Lisa Morgan, co-owner of Sea Tow, one of the companies that competed for the boat-repair tow on Thursday.
``It keeps everyone on their toes, but when it steps over the line, it's just not right.''
The U.S Coast Guard detained Larry Acheson, a captain with TowBoat/U.S., Thursday morning, but released him hours later. No charges were filed against him on Thursday.
The other captain, Scott Hale of Sea Tow, received medical treatment for the knee gash and for a possible twisted ankle, Morgan said. He plans to press assault charges against Acheson, Sea Tow's owners said.
FIRST ARRIVAL
Dana Warr, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman, said the agency will continue to investigate the incident.
Both companies claim their captain arrived first. But one thing is beyond dispute: Tow Boat/U.S. signed a contract to carry the boat away for repairs; Sea Tow did not.
TowBoat/U.S. ended up towing the boat, named Fortuna, in for repairs.
A lawyer for the TowBoat/U.S. captain said it's not which company arrives first that matters, but which one gets the towing and repair contract signed first.
Thursday's high-seas spat started after the owner of the sinking, 46-foot recreational boat made a distress call about 11 a.m., according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Two passengers inflated a life raft and hopped off the boat about one mile south of the Pompano Beach Pier and four miles offshore, BSO said.
A BSO marine unit arrived first, and discovered the Fortuna passengers on the raft without life jackets, according to the sheriff's office. They were not injured, and BSO took them to shore.
''It was clear that the boat was steadily taking on water,'' BSO spokesman Neil Birenbaum said.
At some point, both tow-boat captains showed up, and started arguing.
Morgan, who had just spoken to Hale on the phone at the time of the disagreement, said her captain did not provoke the other in ``any way, shape or form.''
She also said Hale arrived first. The U.S. Coast Guard said it did not detain Hale because he did not pose a danger.
Acheson's lawyer, Sam Fields of Ruden McClosky in Fort Lauderdale, said TowBoat/U.S. arrived first. He said TowBoat/U.S. already had six pumps removing water from the boat when Sea Tow arrived.
Tow boat companies typically listen for signs of trouble on a police scanner, and try to beat each other to the scene of the trouble when a distress call goes out.
DISTRESSED BOAT
Saving a distressed boat can mean earning up to a third of the boat's value, Fields said. A tow for a non-sinking vessel, such as one that has run out of gas, typically earns the company about $200.
A Jacksonville-based marine surveyor who did not wish to be identified on Thursday estimated that a 46-foot, 1984 Bertram boat -- one like the Fortuna -- ranges from $36,000 to $45,000, depending on its engine, condition and amenities.
''Sea Boat was just trying to get their foot in the door and to claim all the salvage,'' Fields said.
It was Larry A. from Boat US. I guess he still does own the area. Sometimes he acts a bit too much like a spoiled rich kid in my opinion, even though he's well beyond "kid" age.
You just have to wonder what's in the minds of newspaper editors these days. Stephanie Chen obviously knows nothing about boats, has obviously misquoted the lawyers and the article is poorly written. I think she is trying to say that one third of the value of the vessel, a potential award, would run $36,000 to $45,000. However, that would be an unusually high award - more like 10 to 15% is the norm for a simple salvage. Speaking of that, there is no such thing as a "towing and repair contract." It's a salvage contract. Repair doesn't even factor in. And neither company is listening to "police scanners" - they listen to the VHF, like the CG.
Your towing membership does not cover salvage - your marine insurance policy does (you hope). Therefore, you can use anyone you like. And a salvage does not require a written contract, although, time and circumstances permitting, it's best to get one. If your boating is sinking, job one is to mitigate the damages - you need to get help ASAP. This situation was caused by a ten year old feud between Larry and Tim. BoatUS controlled Ft. Lauderdale before Tim came on scene and there has been a battle ever since. Frankly, it's embarrassing and Larry should be ashamed of himself. So should the Miami Herald if, in fact, Tim did get the job.
Phil, I've got no dog in this hunt. We don't even sell ST memberships any longer. From what I hear from those who were involved, Sea Tow was the first one there and was on board when BoatUS showed up. According to Dan, Sea Tow also got the job. The BoatUS guy, Larry, was also the only one detained by the CG. As I said before, there's a long history here. Luckily, in most parts of the country, the two towing companies get along quite well.
Incidentally, now that BoatUS owns Vessel Assist, when will they be changing over to all BoatUS?
Incidentally, now that BoatUS owns Vessel Assist, when will they be changing over to all BoatUS?
I wouldn't say I was "totally impartial..." I did work for Sea Tow for eight years so I know the ethical standards that were in place when I was there. I was also an eyewitness to some of the antics. In fact, one day we used my own boat with my wife on board to call Sea Tow from the middle of the turning basin. Not five minutes later a BoatUS boat showed up to try to get the tow. But, as I said earlier, the two companies are able to work well together in most parts of the country.