Container vessel abandoned mid atlantic.

Weather looks good... But she is getting quite a list.... She could still easily be lost by the fire fighting efforts... Looks at SS Normady or the QE1....
 
They are designed to remain stable with 2 flooded compartments, so provided the fire's under control the list is just cosmetic; the spread beyond 4&5 seems to be just on deck.
 
Then unless the engine room is manned and warm she's in grave danger; if the firefighting water can be pumped out of the holds it would help(but a high risk of strums blocking with debris), but even counterflooding of ballast tanks to level her would help. Any and all of that requires generators running and access to the ballast control room(normally at the bottom of the accommodation block).
 
Please excuse me for being a bit flippant, and I hope I vaguely realise how serious the salvage job is, let alone two people lost already - but this strikes me as a good training opportunity for RN damage control teams, in a perfect world to take part or at least they could study the methods used / lessons learned, as no matter what the outcome this seems like heading towards being a bit of an example for years to come...
 
Seajet said:
Please excuse me for being a bit flippant, and I hope I vaguely realise how serious the salvage job is, let alone two people lost already - but this strikes me as a good training opportunity for RN damage control teams, in a perfect world to take part or at least they could study the methods used / lessons learned, as no matter what the outcome this seems like heading towards being a bit of an example for years to come...
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If we had a RN still... what's left is probably either in London or the Middle East.

PW
 
I can remember the days when the RN were very enthusiastic about salvage - a favourite, and effective, trick was to use the Wasp to carry the RGT (Rover gas turbine emergency pump) across to the casualty. Worked a treat. Salvage tugs don't carry choppers or gas turbine airportable pumps.

On at least one occasion the plans of a cash strapped shipowner from the eastern end of the Med's to collect from his underwriters were scuttled, scuse the pun, by a keen and bushy tailed Naval salvage team from a passing frigate.

Just not enough ships now.
 
They don't make 'em like that any more...

The recent devastation of the RN is going to come back and bite us, but no doubt Cameron and his co-fools will be well insulated...

I remember in the obituary of Admiral Percy Gick - who among other things flew a Swordfish biplane to torpedo the Bismarck, the only pilot & crew in that attack to achieve a hit - and in later life built Emsworth Marina virtually with his own hands - was in command of the aircraft carrier Bulwark and went to help when two ships collided; he took the 56,000 ton tanker 'Melika' in tow despite her being on fire, and gained a world record salvage fee which he shared equally around Bulwarks' crew...
 
UPDATE: Tuesday 24 July 2012, 12:24UTC

THE fire on board MSC Flaminia has been under control since yesterday afternoon, according to ship manager NSB Niederelbe.The company said it had received confirmation from salvage company.

The MSC Flaminia is being towed at 5 knots east to a harbour (yet to be decided) and is currently 320 nm west of southern Ireland. She is listing 10° to starboard. Fire suppressant equipment is operating successfully and arresting the fire from taking in Hold 7.

There are three fire-fighting tugs in attendance "Fairmount Expedition", "Anglian Sovereign" and the "Carlo Magno". They will all be visible on AIS in a few days and their progress up the English Channel will be interesting? ;)
 
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lenseman said:
The MSC Flaminia is being towed at 5 knots east to a harbour (yet to be decided) and is currently 320 nm west of southern Ireland. She is listing 10° to port. They will all be visible on AIS in a few days and their progress up the English Channel will be interesting? ;)
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So who decides where she goes? Is it clever to take her through the English Channel? Does HMCG have a say?
You go anda sinka somewhere else!
 
maxi77 said:
One suspects the Froggies wont let her anywhere near their shores unless ther is real money in it for France
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Probably end up Falmouth, we get all the rubbish. Mind you the trip boats will make a killing, trips round the bay to see the fire fighting :)

Brian
 
maxi77 said:
One suspects the Froggies wont let her anywhere near their shores unless ther is real money in it for France
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Maxi77,

as long as no people are in danger that seems fair enough to me, " do you mind awfully if we crash land this 56,000 ton thing full of god knows what which has already exploded at least twice on your beach, Old Bean ? " ! :rolleyes:
 
Seajet said:
Maxi77,

as long as no people are in danger that seems fair enough to me, " do you mind awfully if we crash land this 56,000 ton thing full of god knows what which has already exploded at least twice on your beach, Old Bean ? " ! :rolleyes:
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Don't really disagree, rather was pointing out the rather more pragmatic view about these things than we are, and as suggested will probably give the wreck free parking whilst the owners negotiate a repair deal with someone who will not worry to much about the cargo
 
Minn said:
Nice big subject. The UK has a system for dealing with this - a very good one - in which an expert salvage man has the final say - see link here:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga-environmental/mcga-dops_cp_sosrep_role.htm

but other European countries are much more backward.

Years ago I had to arrange to scuttle a perfectly good tanker (apart from, well, quite a lot of damage, really - but she was still floating) because no port would take her.
Click to expand...

I've just re-posted this because it answers the questions asked by AI Sailor in post 92.

Just click the link.
 
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