Video: on the bridge of Norman Arrow

[chrisg46]

Filmed back in 2009, this film shows Capt Simon Moore and his crew taking Norman Arrow out of the berth, departing for Boulogne.

Its on the videos page.

[Michael Brinkmann]

It's amazing! Esp. that the whole maneuver to leave the berth is running via a row of cameras and monitors with a back to front standing master since there is no bridge wing at all. 

[chrisg46]

LD moved her to the Portsmouth - Le Havre route in 2010, where she had a couple of minor, but expensive berthing accidents. The accident reports essentially said that she was difficult to handle without a tug in wind strengths of 25 knots or over, and that she would be easier to manage in close quarters with wings or wing baskets, so that the master would have a direct view of the situation.

[Michael Brinkmann]

Very interesting information! Must be horrible to berth or unberth such a large ship under severe circumstances like storm, heavy rain or fog without any direct view. It's not even easy to do so from a bridge wing some times.

[chrisg46]

Here's the full accident report:

http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/Norman_Arrow_Report.pdf

On just a quick reading, there seemed to be a question of understanding the wind direction correctly in the Le Havre incident, which reads like part of the problem.

[Michael Brinkmann]

This is REALLY interesting stuff! Thanks f

[Tore Hettervik]

Nice video chrisg46