Ferry in India sinks: When will they learn?

The Telegraph picture seems reasonably accurate though the actual vessel appears somewhat smaller.......

Remains picture here.......

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3373273.ece

 

Yes, this is what they use there. See my pics above.

 

I think you're starting to catch on.

Maybe.

 

Picture from the Hindu.com

Not even a full length structural deck?

 

No deck - those are open boats; on this one they carry vehicles on roof.

 

Thank you for that good picture Alik........Is the upper deck attached only with posts? Is there perhaps a bulkhead or two hidden away? Engine room wide open?

 

Yes, this is roof supported by pillars, no watertight deck. No bulkheads seen; engine - likely in box at middle of boat. I do not see any safety equipment also...

But You look at the boat - not the issue 'when they will learn'. The issue is 'can they afford better boats?'

 

So about $3800 to relatives of the deceased if I figured it right. How soon till they get it back in service, do you think?

 

You are right there Ad Hoc. The local government passed out ~10k (2 lakh) to the families for each person lost in this case. In other words, they acknowledge the government is to blame for the lousy boat standards and they just pay people off. This is a pitiful thing as it continues to ignore the core problems: overloading boats and poor vessel design/construction.

India is a rising nation now and it should overhaul the ferry boat rules and design standards across the nation. Builders & operators of a new, safer design should be given a tax break and other incentives to build a safer boat. I would put a 5 year time limit on establishing a new fleet. For existing boats deemed safe should have an Indian Coast Guard ID tag, which states the maximum capacity and other required rules. Any operators caught overloading a boat or using an unauthorized/certified boat should have a stiff fine and perhaps some jail time.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh and all others in the Indian government need to take these actions. There is simply no excuse for this careless government oversight. Good, cost effective designs are available. The boats should be built and loading rules strictly enforced as they are in other nations. Violators pay stiff fines and/or go to jail. End of story.

 

Right, like in the case of the Titanic, or that other boat, the Costa Concordia...

 

Overhaul ferry boat rules? Not possible. Have You ever been to India, have You ever seen their buses?? Their buses capsize every day due to heavy overloading on the roof.

I was talking with Indian Register of Shipping recently, they have up-to-date rules to same standard as leading classification societies. BUT there is no requirement to comply with those, and IRS say it is not possible to impose such for all boats.

 

Vessel operators are always stuck between costs and profits.
The boat costs money to build, but the passengers are all low income so the fares are very low and the vessel chosen extremely cheap as well to lower running costs, this ensures profit.
If building and equipping a modern ferry were done, the cost would be very much higher, fares could not be so low, and traffic would be a lot less, giving less or no profit etc.
Those who build and operate these bare-bones vessels are just reacting to local conditions and practices.
Of course a decked steel ferry with fire-fighting equipment, life jackets and all the other things we consider essential is operationally superior, just not economically so in these economies at this time.
We in the western world have little concept of the extreme crowding and poverty in third world labor economies and look down our noses at the 'inferiority' of others, not understanding the complex economic and social realities that lead to the situation.

 

Well said. And one more, westerners like to 'teach' and 'educate', having no clew on what is happening in 'third world' particular life reality...

 

Now I am convinced you've got it!

Hurray!

 

This is what I was saying above...

Many think unfettered capitalism is the solution. The less government interference the better, market forces, supply and demand will solve all problems. These ferries are privately owned, aren't they? Working under competitive supply and demand conditions? Although regulations may be in place, lack of enforcement in effect leaves the business unregulated. Are there monopolies that stop others from building ferries and engage in ferrying people?

Ayn Rand's