Those floating Containers.......

[stiknstring]

What actually happens to all those containers? The Minister responsible (well not directly responsible for the partial sinking you understand, altho' I like to blame this Government for everything - anyway, I digress), has said there are 46 unaccounted for containers which they are looking for.

It is now a couple of weeks since the Napoli shed some of her load and the missing ones are presumably floating in the sea? Logically, some must have sunk after the subsequent storms - it's those containers stuffed full of ping-pong balls or whatever that worry me. Would not the seals, such as they are, in the containers have let water in by now and sunk the things?

Reason I ask everyone what is likely to happen with these, is I am due to take my new boat from Hamble to Plymouth later this month and I know how very unamused Pantaenius (and I) would be if we lost the boat on her maiden voyage!

So, what do you think? Will these containers still be afloat and if so, where are they likely to be?

Interested in your thoughts...


Thanks, Stiknstring

 

[Twister_Ken]

Must depend what they were packed with, if anything.

Only those with bouyant contents (or contents packed in stuff like polystyrene) would likely still be on the surface.

 

[fluffc]

...and fridges apparantly...

 

[Twister_Ken]

That'll be McFridges?

 

[tugboat]

A sonar survey is underway to locate missing containers.

 

[phatcat1]

Oh, trust me they float!

They float for a long time!

Google Earth the following and zoom in!
This is a long way from a shipping lane!

48°42'10.50"S 75°35'0.72"W

 

[Twister_Ken]

48°42'10.50"S 75°35'0.72"W

Puts me on a deserted beach in S America - Chile I suspect.

Still maintain the vast majority of containers sink very quickly. Think about the numbers lost vs the numbers recovered.

And they tell us off about dropping a beer can over the side!

 

[phatcat1]

Correct!

And a great big orange container right in the middle!

 

[Twister_Ken]

That must be the one that was full of cheap Taiwanese life jackets.

 

[phatcat1]

No, that sank!!

 

[JackIron]

Majority sink for reasons given above. Hundreds pitch over the side every year - nearly all sink. My comment was on your choice of insurer (or should I say broker) - bloody good. no connection to 'em other than cover, but are second to none for various reasons - even let me cross rather big bits of blue single handed and still maintain my cover, they let me add and subtract health insurance depending on location.
Flexible easy nice people.

Yours aye

JackIron

 

[stiknstring]

Thanks your post. I am getting easier with the thought of it. Having gone through the trauma of selling old boat, speccing new boat, waiting for new boat to deliver - paying for new boat (ulp!), the prospect of a bang this early on and at night, well.......

I really want to do the AZAB on the new boat in a few years time, Pantaenius' sense of humour has been tested over the years already, so I was interested to hear that you have done a solo under their cover. Did they jack the premiums up unduly? Where did you sail from/to?

Stiknstring

 

[Chris_Robb]

And when you make a claim???

Yes but - the proof of the pudding is in the claim - and many have heard some horendous stories - so much so that I changed from them - and found a much better contract with Navigators

 

[JackIron]

The AZAB eh? - Funnily enough last one was indeed from the Azores to Falmouth. I gave them a call from Horta, asked what the additional premium would be if indeed they would hold cover, they called their underwriter who covered me for no additional premium at all. Their only concern was that I had a radar fitted - which indeed I had. It took only a 10 minute phone call and it removed a great weight off my mind.....

Rgds
Jack