Containers

[Mirelle]

Talks, Southampton area...

Unfortunately, I'm based on the East coast and our ships use Felixstowe.

However, a thought occurs...

You did not hear this from me, but having spent a day with him on a Clipper 60 on a corporate sailing day organised by the Hydrographic Office, I happen to know that Captain Stephen Bligh, the Head of the MCA, based in Southampton, is a very competent yachtsman.

Incidentally, that day out consisted of representatives of the remains of the British merchant marine on one boat, and the Editors of the major yottimags, plus the RNLI, in the other. We had two informal races. The "old salts" thrashed the assembled Editors, both times. This was because we had the courage of our convictions, /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif and set the spinnaker. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[jimi]

Re: I\'m in the business; I manage large containerships. Anyone want FACTS?

Last September on our return from the SB cruise to Cherbourg we passed within 5 cables of a floating container (95% subsurface) just outside a shipping lane, Robin also spotted in a close to that position a fridge floating (possibly from another container that had burst open). Had we hit it in the dark we would have sank and the chances of survival of those on board would have been low. Yes the chances are extremely low, but it is not fantasy, the risk exists and is real. Was'nt one of Ellen's problems in the Vendee due to a daggerboard hitting one?