Near accident - in Norway (Picture)

[Divemaster1]

Those overfalls and eddies in Saltstraumen (Norway) can be a challenge...

These just managed to get out .... and despite engine being totally submerged for a while ...the engine continued to run for the crutial seconds... Wonder if they will wear lifejackets in the future?

 

[Nautical]

Blimey if thats what happens to the boat doubt lifejackets would be much use /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Major Catastrophe]

How does that actually happen? I mean why does the boat lose buoyancy?

 

[Divemaster1]

Whirlpool ...!! then being sucked down the way.. much bigger boats has been dragged down in that area ... so very foolish to be there at that time with such a small boat...

 

[Divemaster1]

Some clarificaton...

"Saltstraumen is created when the tide try to fill the Skjerstad fjord. The height difference of the sea surface can be as much as 1 meter or 3 feet between the inside and the outside of the narrow sound.
In the attempt to level out the two sides, the water increase its speed and turns into something that looks like a very strong river. However this "river" has a twist , it runs both ways.
Within a time frame of 6 hours a massive 372 million cubic meter of sea water passes through a 150 meter wide and 31 meter deep passage.
The speed of the stream is estimated to be up to 22 knots or 40 km per hour, and it is about 3 km long.
Huge whirlpools are formed , sometimes they can be as much as 10 to 15 meters in diameter."

.... and the reason for being there in a small boat...

"Saltstraumen is one of the best places for sport fishing in Norway and the clean oxygen rich water hosts a verity of species both fish , plants and other sea creatures...."

 

[Major Catastrophe]

I see. Makes the Swellies seem a bit tame.

 

[Dyflin]

Video of the stream here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QifgPL--pG8

 

[KenMcCulloch]

[ QUOTE ]
How does that actually happen? I mean why does the boat lose buoyancy?

[/ QUOTE ] Because the water becomes aerated its density reduces and therefore you need a larger volume to displace a given mass so your boat will sink lower. A related phenomenon caused by the release of methane from hydrate deposits on the sea bed is thought by some to have caused ships to sink - for example in the Bermuda Triangle.

 

[ChrisE]

I've been there and with the best will in the world the streams are not that great. From memory the Admiralty Pilot gives 8 to 12 knots. Still a very impressive bit of water especially looking from the bridge above it

 

[Divemaster1]

The 22 knot was a quote from a website .... but here you'll find the official stuf...

http://vannstand.statkart.no/Engelsk/strom.php?var=side14_1

 

[Divemaster1]

Another one nearly caught out again ... even smaller one this time with engine failure... but escaped by sheer luck...when rescuers could approach safely... when between eddies..