Messages

1

Shipping News and information / Re: SeaCat collision!

« on: February 17, 2007, 01:35:04 PM »

I was on both of these, the Hoverspeed GB when it ran aground, the Express 1 when launched as Hoverspeed France. Like a car's bodywork, the aluminium hull crumples when run over rock, whereas steel would tear. So it's not that they're tough, but that the materials damage in a different way - believe me, some of the welding on the HGB was the worst I'd seen on a new vessel: one hull stiffener broke away when I stood on it after arrival in UK, & despite the inspector's "OK" written on it, there was no melt at one end & blowholes caused by too much current at the other end. Impressed I was NOT!