Container ship sinking in Channel

[fisherman]

Re: Container ship NOT sinking in Channel .... and still afloat

It's going to cost a fortune. The salvage bill will be astromonicleal. It may be that the decision to abandon was because of fears that the ship would capsize, or that it would start losing containers, making it too dangerous. Not sure if it would have been easier to lift off the ship: the end result will be a reversal of the policy following the Union Star, crews will be discouraged from leaving in good time if this proves to be a premature evacuation

 

[landaftaf]

Re: Container ship NOT sinking in Channel .... and still afloat

firstly - it seems the engine room initially suffered flooding through the shell plating - maybe ????????

the captain should have been aware of the bilging/damage control limitations of the vessel - but seemingly not, he cut and ran to the lifeboat/liferafts. a very questionable action when the vessel was still seaworthy

secondly - shedding (deck) cargo would be unlikely to cause the vessel to capsize, if anything it would improve stability - especially as she was not fully laden and probably loaded with a high proportion of empties

thirdly - events speak for themselves ........ the vessel was abandoned and re-boarded by the salvors to take her under tow ................... what does that tell us ?

finally - this is a british ship, and will figure in the british statistics - this debacle will further degrade the once proud red ensign

shame on us all /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Guest]

Re: Container ship NOT sinking in Channel .... and still afloat

[ QUOTE ]
if this proves to be a premature evacuation

[/ QUOTE ]
But what are the tell-tale signs of premature evacuation? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ParaHandy]

"DNV (not a classification society noted for containerships)"
Maersk's container fleet ...?

the mayday is timed at 10am which is when the storm reached its peak - although Napoli weren't to know that and the sea state deteriorated further for another couple of hours. So, a reasonably modern container ship sets off from Antwerp, knowing the forecast which it starts to meet around 0200, and starts to break up. this can't be the worse weather that such a ship's been through? will be interesting to read the MAIB's report if they get the ship back to port ...

 

[Twister_Ken]

Don't get the criticism myself.

Crew all safe, no lives lost. That may not have been the situation if they had stayed aboard and there had been a catastrophic failure of a ship which was, apparently, beginning to break up.

The captain has no deaths on his concscience. Good result.

 

[ParaHandy]

a ship breaking up through bad weather is quite rare which is what i'm alluding to. most casualties are from hitting each other or bumping into land. Could the ship be made like a frozen lump of snot and the only way it can survive is by scuttling round weather systems but this one it couldn't avoid ...

 

[landaftaf]

a result - but good by luck more than judgement and its judgement that counts when in a position of authority.

abandoning anything in a storm is fraught with danger and the risks to the crew were very high - especially to those in the liferaft, only imminent greater danger should force ppl to abandon ship ...... didnt you learn anything from the fastnet tragedy ?

the risks to the chopper crews, and especially the brave lads dangling from the wires - were very high ........ to expose these lads to such extreme danger unnecessarily is not acceptable - no, its not 'all in a days pay' just because they are military personnel

the risks to the salvage personnel in re boarding and securing the tow are again very high ....... and seemingly done with panache

so - good result ???????? lucky outcome in my opinion

I also look forward to the MAIB's report, it will reveal more than if the vessel was going too fast for the conditions, the sequence of events after water was found to be ingressing, the decision made to abandon a seaworthy vessel, the SMS system on board - and open up the company to scrutiny about ISM matters (timetable matters) /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Twister_Ken]

You weren't there. The captain was.

 

[landaftaf]

which is why I look forward to the MAIB report ..... to find out the circumstances leading to the abandonment, to then view others opinions and form my own opinions based on the facts - and possibly learn from others mistakes.
(though excessive speed, poor loading techniques exceeding the designed strength of the vessel, poor emergency response actions on board and poor crises management, possible language problems and differing levels of professionalism amongst the multinational crew all spring to mind - and of course commercial pressures)

I also welcome the call for a review of the manning requirements for british vessels (possibly being brought to the fore again after this incident) - it will be even more interesting to see if a certain percentage would be required on board a british vessel in the future - apart from the minimum token british 'cadets' to qualify for the british tonnage tax

as a matter of interest - it is now acknowledged the point of no return has been passed with regards to support our maritime heritage - that of having a self sustaining british maritime industry /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

finally - this incident also highlights the french approach to emergency towing vessels - in comparison to our british investment

 

[halcyon]

finally - this incident also highlights the french approach to emergency towing vessels - in comparison to our british investment


Assuming it's the Falmouth tug that went out, it is in USA coat gaurd colours, and on hire if I remember.

Brian

 

[graham]

The ship has had to be beached to prevent her sinking .Apparently huge cracks appeared allowing the sea to flood the engine room.Better to get everyone off early rather than too late in my opinion.

Penlee Disaster was a classic case of the latter.