Floating containers. Do they exist ?

[Col]

A couple of posts down ( bowthrusters ) mr Cambell-Scott ( ccscott49 ) talkes about not wishing to loose strength in his bows incase of meeting a floating container.
I have heard there out there, floating just below the surface, but no one I know has ever seen one.
I have seen a lot of floating junk in the channel, usually discarded nets, rope etc: the worst for possible damage was what appeared to be a wooden pallet with a 3ft length of scafold pole sticking out of it at approx 45 degrees, ready to spear someone.
Has any one seen one of these containers, if so, where?
What is the worst floating hazard you have seen ? ( other that some of the boat owner on this forum of course! )

 

[ccscott49]

they certainly do!!

I've seen two whilst on board boat! missed both one only just, both in biscay! I have seen others whilst on rigs in different parts of the world, aswell as whales and other sea creatures, of a largish nature. The facts are there, thousands of the things are lost each year, most sink without trace, but things like tv sets and the like will float! Indefinitely! They are reinfoced steel, they freezer ones sealed and if newish even the normal ones are watertight! Night time is of course the worst time, but a good look out is needed all the time! If you see something awash, when in deep water or breaking water for no reason, then stay away from the damn things! Hitting one at speed the consequences dont bear thinking about!

 

[byron]

Damn right they exist and float with only a weeny bit showing above the surface.

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[Dave_Snelson]

Indeed they do!! There is a business on the Humber estuary that makes a living from salvaging these containers, then tarting them up and selling them. Maybe they get something for the goods if they haven't perished - I don't know.

What I do know is that I will be working on a project early in the new year to make and network a device that stays with the container and identifies its position globally and relays this info to interested parties.

Can't say more - but I will keep you posted.

 

[byron]

Sounds like a good idea Dave

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[Dave_Snelson]

Yes Byron, its an idea whose time has come. I work in the Internet business for Cable & Wireless and we are working with another company to harness various technologies and the Internet to track these beasties (and loads of other trackable hardware) down and deliver their whereabouts to maritime, shipping and insurance companies.

A good fiend of mine is commercial manager at Mammoet Ferry, the freight forwarding company and he likes the idea also.

I'd love to tell more and you can be sure that I will as soon as I can.

 

[byron]

I wouldn't admit to being with C&W Internet. Too many upset peeps around after they closed down as an ISP. Boltblue took over their phone connects but not a patch on the good service C&W was.
The Greek Co. I play a small part in does not run any container ships but will still be interested onlookers. Such a device would go far beyond mere containers and I envisage Insurers quoting special terms for 'protected' cargo.

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[DepSol]

Worst thing I nearly ran into was a telegraph pole approx 40-50ft long. Luckily I saw it and went to starboard by chance because if I went to port I would have had to travel 40 feet to get around it. I was doing 30knts at the time and it took me by surprise as I only saw it metres before I was nearly on top of it.

Got on the radio to a salvage team nearby apparantly a whole load had fallen of a ship and they were scoopig it up.

 

[Scubadoo]

Re: they certainly do!!

How do people get on with autopilot that so many of you have, surely a worry!

RM.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: they certainly do!!

Not sure what you mean, but you can switch it off to dodge things and if you need to go below for a loo call, you could always stop, in a motor boat or heave to! But I still don't understand the question!

 

[longjohnsilver]

auto pilot

Richard only fitted mine this summer, still keep as keen an eye on where I am going as before for that very reason. I only go relatively slowly at the best of times, about 10 - 12 kts , if I do need to go down below I'll slow down even more to say 5 - 6 kts so if I do hit anything hopefully won't cause too much damage.

 

[Scubadoo]

Re: they certainly do!!

Hi,

I mean autopilot allows you to go down below/not watch where your going etc - doesn't that worry you. I see Longjohn has a managed way, but I remember reading in the past that some of you guys travel more than 25knots under autopilot.

All I am saying, I would be nervous of not keeping watch and sinking!

RM.

 

[coliholic]

A raggie friend was in convoy to Holland last year, when one of the other boats hit a container in the middle of the night. Fortunately it was a quite rough crossing and when he hit it the bow was quite down and made a 3ft gash in the hull but quite high up near the gunwhale. Apparantly it was quite a bang and very frighteneing at the time.

They managed to bodge up some kind of repair and the 3 boats in convoy limped into harbour. Put him right off night crossings though.

Not sure what he would have done had it been below the waterline.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: they certainly do!!

Autopilot does not relieve you of the responsibilty of keeping watch! I dont travel at 25 knots, 10.5 is my max and thats expensive! But I see your point, but a night crossing single handed is a bloody liabilty!

 

[Col]

You would think these containers would have some sort of air vent arrangement to allow them to sink, after all if they are in the water the damage to cargo has allready been done.

 

[byron]

Re: they certainly do!!

Richie! I use my auto-pilot all the time but always maintain a keen watch too.

ô¿ô

 

[byron]

Col, it is the cargo that keeps the afloat ones up. It's amazing how much a million plastic ducks from Hong Kong will support ;-)

ô¿ô

 

[Col]

Yeh, but I thought it was fridges and Jap tellies etc: I heard about the plastic ducks, but I thought they were all free floating.
Two years to go around the world?? something like that.

 

[JohnR]

Look, its the season of goodwill and all that, so could someone please zap this thread because my 64 is coming over as deck cargo in March and I am getting nervous.

 

[coliholic]

Oh well to make you feel better

Did a Sheereness to Vlissingon crossing about 10 years ago on the Olau line. Really big ferries and probably the best I've been on. We had a really rough crossing, forecast was for a F9 and the ship was rolling and pitching something rotten. In bed at about 3am and there was an almighty crash. such a violent movement that a bottle of Brandy that had been on the table hit the cabin door five feet up and made a dent in it.

Next morning we went down to the car deck to offload, and there were a few damaged cars where they tie down chains had broken of the trucks and they'd shifted and my colleague got talking to a truck driver. His truck had been parked at the stern of the ship outside and well, it wasn''t there anymore. Some time in the night it had gone over the back of the ship. We reckon it was when we'd had the big crash but could have been any time I suppose.

Anyway we had a bit of a giggle, could just imagine him phoning up his boss and saying "my lorry's fallen of the back of the ship".

Just hope that's not the fate of your 64. BTW what is a "64"?