GPS BATTLER

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Lifeboat took captain ashore who's wife was in early labour

A lifeboat crew came to the rescue of the captain of the "GPS Battler" trying to get to his wife who had gone into early labour. The crew at Sea Palling was called in to help the skipper of the "GPS Battler" off the coast of Norfolk in the night of Aug 3, 2017. The boat was too big and seas too choppy for the tug to come ashore. The lifeboat crew was on a routine training exercise in the North Sea when the Coastguard got in touch and asked if they could help. They got a message saying, 'Stand-by, this is not an exercise'. The Kent-based boat was nearing the end of a 10-day shift retrieving debris when the captain was told his wife was in labour - several days before her due date - and three days before the tug was due to dock. Besides getting the captain to shore, tThey also had to get a replacement captain on board the tug, so had to make two trips. The tug's skipper was then driven home to Kent by his employer. However, after all the drama, his company GPS Marine said Mr Bath's wife had not yet had her baby and they were all still waiting.

Alcohol Determined a Factor in Two Fatal Accidents Involving UK-Flagged Workboat

Alcohol played a role in two fatal accidents involving a UK-flagged workboat that occurred less than five months apart in Spain, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has determined. MAIB on Wednesday published its investigation report into the two fatalities connected with the operation of the workboat GPS Battler occurring August 13, 2014 and January 6, 2015. The report said that investigations identified that elements of the safety management system on board the workboat had not been followed; notably, that the alcohol consumption levels of the deceased were in both cases above the legal limit. The report said that the first incident occurred soon after the open tender returning workboat master and mate from the marina in Almeria, Spain to the anchored vessel became overwhelmed in choppy seas, sending both men into the water. The mate was recovered from the water uninjured but the master drown in the incident. Less than 5 months later, a mate joining GPS Battler fell into the water from the quayside in Marin, Spain. His body was recovered from the water almost an hour later. MAIB said that the deceased in the first accident was 25% over the UK’s legal drink and drive limit and the deceased in the second accident was almost four times over the limit.

Tug captain died as Zodiac was overturned by wave

The British captain of the "GPS Battler" died on Aug 13, 2014, after a Zodiac was overturned by a freak wave at Almeria. Paul Heritage, 66, from Gravesend was returning to his vessel on an inflatable dinghy after going to fetch a takeaway dinner with three crew members. He and a British colleague were tipped into the water when the wave hit them just after 7 p.m. at the entrance to Almeria Port. Colleagues hanging onto the stricken dinghy managed to get a life ring to the survivor. The two Brits maintained contact with each other for about 15 minutes as they tried to swim back to the boat. But contact with Heritage was lost, and his body was pulled out of the water half an hour after the accident by a passing police boat as a Coastguard rescue vessel was scrambled. The "GPS Battler" had stopped in Almeria for engine repairs after dredging work in Menorca. It was due to set sail for Galicia in north west Spain once the repairs were complete. GPS Battler was part of a fleet of tugs, barges and pontoons owned by Chatham, Kent-based marine contractors GPS Marine. No-one from the firm was available for comment It is not known where in Britain Mr Sydney was from.