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/tritonnews | www.The-Triton.com | August 2017
Abrupt denial of B1/B2 visas leaves startled crew in a bind
BRAWN TO BOND
News Protocol can prevent diver deaths Deadly bow thruster accident stirs safety talks.
Career Help wanted
By Dorie Cox A yacht stew settled into her seat on a flight back to the United States after a recent overseas holiday. She had been working with the yacht for nearly a year and was rejoining the crew in Fort Lauderdale. As the aircraft readied for take-off, officials suddenly came on board and removed the surprised stew from the flight. They told her that her B1/B2 visa was not valid to re-enter the U.S. “It was traumatic; she was physically shaken,” said the captain of the yacht. The stew called him with the news after being taken off the aircraft. The captain arranged a flight for her to her home country, and he contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The identity of the yacht captain and stew is being withheld because the inquiry is ongoing, but the captain said he is working with DHS' Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP), a tool for people who have been denied U.S. entry or exit to seek redress. He said the stew had boat documents when she was on the plane, but she did not have the opportunity to show them when officials came on board with an email saying she was denied re-entry. “They said they found her CV online six months ago,” the captain said. “They talked about her looking for work and daywork. It seems they are accumulating this information and now cross referencing it with airline check-in upon return flights to the U.S.”
See B1/B2, page 37
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Dynamic, multi-tasking, smiling, able crew needed.
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Soft skills challenge millennials Training helps close the gap for digital generations.
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Crew News Rock, pole, hammer Former captain hoists for win at Highland games.
AN EXERCISE IN TEAM-BUILDING The crew on M/Y Sofia, a 137-foot Moonen, spend time working out together no matter where they travel. For PHOTOS/DORIE COX details, see Page 10.
Captains use training, threats, tales to emphasize safety issues From the Bridge Dorie Cox
Several yachting-related accidents were in the news right before The Triton’s latest From the Bridge lunch. A diver cleaning a yacht bottom was killed when a bow thruster was engaged, and an engineer died after sustaining brain damage from a fall while working over the side two years earlier. We asked the captains at this month's discussion how
they prevent these and other accidents in yachting. “We have a morning briefing every day,” a captain said, and most agreed that they do also. But one captain who regularly holds briefings said new crew, new boat and new operating procedures can be a problem. In the past, the captain worked a freelance job and did not know the crew well. The yacht had scheduled a diver to clean the bottom, as well as a technician to work on the engines.
See ACCIDENTS, page 24
33 Obituaries Industry loses two: a boat builder and a crew member.
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