Recent fuel spill highlights possible need for additional system

About 10 days ago, a member's boat developed a leaky fuel tank. The bilge filled up with diesel- at which point the float switch kicked in and diesel was pumping into the marina. A few of us were on scene. The spill was beyond incidental, and by law we were required to report it. We realized that in order to minimize any liability on the member's part and any remote possibiity of liability attaching to QCYC, it would be important to shut off the bilge pump to prevent additional fuel discharge. The member was not at the marina.

The member was not answering his home phone.

The member was not answering his cell phone, either.

We sent the member an email and a text, alerting him that his boat was pumping diesel into the marina. Meanwhile, we had to do something about shutting off the bilge pump.

With Commodore Bedner's permission, we took a bolt cutter to the padlock securing the hatch on the member's boat.

Once aboard, we verified that the bilge was indeed filled with diesel and we disconnected the bilge pump. The USCG spill response team as well as SPD Harbor Patrol arrived to inspect the scene. They put out some oil absorbing booms and pads. The USCG went aboard the boat to confirm the presence of diesel and to confirm the bilge pump was shut down.

Once that was over, I went over to Hardwicks and purchased a new padlock to resecure the member's boat. We left one key with Deborah, and hid out the other key aboard the boat in case the member came down to the boat when the office was not open.

About that time, the member returned the cell phone call. He was pleased that we took action to limit his liability...

But this gets me to thinking. [smoke pours out of ears].

Would it make sense to have a "moorage jacket" for each boat on file in the office? It would hold the required copies of registration and insurance forms, PLUS either the combination or the key for whatever lock is on the boat. What if the member were enroute to Europe when this occured? What if we had not been able to reach a bridge officer to get permission to open the boat? Some boats would be much more difficult to enter without damaging the door, etc- not everybody uses a padlock to which we can easily take some bolt cutters.

None of us want people going aboard our boats, but if there's a fire, a fuel spill, or some other emergency most of us would be grateful if a fellow member did whatever he or she could do to minimize the damage and secure the boat after the event.