B737-800
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Company Policy; Chart Or Publication; Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
[We were] taxiing out from our gate in BOS on taxiway Kilo for Runway 22L. We had a clear view of a very large cruise ship entering the channel at the departure end of Runway 22L. I asked the First Officer to pull up a Runway 22LS TPS for the tall ships in the harbor. We turned left on to taxiway Bravo and that was that last time we were able to view the ship until we crossed Runway 22R. We reset and re-briefed our departure using the tall ship TPS. There was no mention of the tall ships on the ATIS nor did we hear any mention of the tall ships on ground or the two tower frequencies as we taxied for Runway 22L. The channel was now at our six o'clock position so we could not observe the actual position of the tall ship but we could see that takeoff and landings continued on Runways 22L and 22R while we were taxing. When we were cleared to cross Runway 22R on our way to hold short of Runway 22L we could once again see the tall ship. It appeared to be dead center off the departure end of Runway 22L.We were switched to the Tower frequency for Runway 22L and given position and hold behind a landing aircraft. We were told that there was an aircraft on a five mile final. I asked the Tower if they were reporting tall ships. The Tower acknowledged the tall ship for the first time in response to my inquiry. As we aligned ourselves on centerline I could see that the tallest part of the ship was dead center off the end of the runway. I asked how tall the ship was as it looked like an obstacle that we could not clear if we lost an engine on takeoff. Tower told us that it was 190 feet tall and gave no indications that this was a problem. Our TPS gives us no information on how tall a ship the Runway 22LS TPS covers. I asked the Tower if there was a limit on how tall the ship could be. After a short pause he said that we could not depart due to the height of the ship. He had us taxi clear of the runway as the other aircraft was now on a two mile final. All departures were suspended for approximately 20 minutes while the tall ship did a 180 degree turn in the channel and backed into its dock. I believe there is insufficient information available to flight crews regarding tall vessels operations for both landings and takeoffs. It appears that the same could be said about the Tower procedures for authorizing operations in these conditions. I believe we managed to avoid a potentially tragic situation had we lost an engine after V1 and attempted to climb over the ship. The ship's height and length along with its position in the channel left no room to maneuver off the end of the runway. This was the tallest ship I have ever personally observed in the channel. I do not believe we could have climbed above this ship if we had lost an engine on takeoff and continued an attempted climb out. I believe this is a very serious situation with a high probability for re-occurrence. Aircrew need more information on the height of the ships the TPS covers. More importantly this situation should not fall on the flight crew to have to ask the Tower if this was a legal operation giving the obvious size of the ship after they have been cleared into position for takeoff without any notice; warning; or mention of the tall vessel operations. Especially when the flight crew has had little to no time themselves to observe the vessel or its location prior to being cleared on to the runway. This was my second experience with a tall ship interfering with the safety of fight within a short period of time. My last event was a go-around last month while on final for Runway 4R due to the height of a tall vessel in the same place. I have not received a response from the ERT for that encounter. I am familiar with the tall ship procedures. I also have listened to air-crews express confusion with what they are expected to do when ATC announces the presence of a tall vessel in the harbor. Give flight crews specific information regarding the maximum allowable height of tall vessels in the harbor for legal operations. Have Tower/Ground/ATIS report the actual height of the vessels well in advance of the vessel positioning themselves off the end of a runway where they become an obstacle to the safety of flight.
Training review for Tower personnel on the rules and regulations related to tall ships in the harbor; ATIS notification of tall ships in the harbor; as well as Ground Control notification to flights calling for taxi. This would allow flight crews time to request the appropriate TPS and ensure risk is assessed and mitigated appropriately. Tall ship TPS should contain the height limitations in order to provide crews with quick access for minimum heads down time during ground operations.
An air carrier flight crew reported the Tower failed to advise them of a tall ship off the departure end of the runway which prevented them from being able to safely depart.