Messages

1

Shipping News and information / US Navy ships collide in Strait of Hormuz

« on: March 20, 2009, 03:41:47 PM »

An example of the difficulties and dangers of submarine ops in littoral waters with heavy traffic.  Unfortunately, this is probably another career-ending event:
Two U.S. Navy Vessels Collide in the Strait of Hormuz
Story Number: NNS090320-04
Release Date: 3/20/2009 11:08:00 AM
From Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs  MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, 2009.  The collision between USS Hartford (SSN 768) and USS New Orleans (LPD 18) occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time (5:00 p.m. EDT, March 19).  Fifteen sailors aboard the Hartford were slightly injured and returned to duty. No personnel aboard New Orleans were injured. Overall damage to both ships is being evaluated. The propulsion plant of the submarine was unaffected by this collision. New Orleans suffered a ruptured fuel tank, which resulted in an oil spill of approximately 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel marine. Both ships are currently operating under their own power. The incident is currently under investigation.  Both the submarine and the ship are currently on regularly scheduled deployments to the U.S. Navy Central Command area of responsibility conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

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Shipping News and information / Untold story of the Cougar Ace incident

« on: February 26, 2008, 06:11:51 PM »

Wired magazine has just published a dramatic telling of the story behind the Cougar Ace near-capsize, salvage, and the tragic death of naval architect Marty Johnson last year.  The article reads like a novel, focusing on the men who salvaged the ship even more than the methods used, although they too are described in detail.  IMHO the writing is on a par with Conrad and O'Brien.  I recommend the article to everyone http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/16-03/ff_seacowboys?currentPage=all

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Shipping News and information / Re: Tug Flying Phantom capzised

« on: December 25, 2007, 06:22:33 PM »

This is only speculation, but I witnessed a tug being tripped and capsized by a tow, and it can happen in seconds.

I was a passenger on a daycruise ship in Rockaway, NY as a boy.  The ship grounded at the pier when the tide went out.  To keep to the schedule, a tug was called.  The hookup was made to a mooring bit at midship and she was towed free.  Due to a horrible communications lapse, the ship began to gather way before the towline was loosed.  In seconds it came taut, swung over the tug's port bulwark, and pulled it over.  An alert seaman averted further disaster by cutting the line with an axe.  He was too late to save the tug, but prevented the hull from being dragged, which allowed the four crewmen to swim clear.  All four survived.  This incident happened in midafternoon on a sunny day.

The shortened towlines used in restricted waters mean that small changes in speed or heading of the towing vessel can result in very large force vector changes very quickly.  If Flying Phantom did go aground, it might have been less than a minute before the tow passed or ran down the tug.

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Shipping News and information / Re: Tug Flying Phantom capzised

« on: December 25, 2007, 05:40:18 PM »

Prayers and all good thoughts to the families of those who perished.  

This is a sad reminder that, while the professionalism of tugmen makes it look easy sometimes, there is always danger for a small vessel whose job it is to operate in close proximity to much larger ships and barges.  Routine operations can go wrong quickly, and usually the ship in most danger is the tug.

While nothing but prayers can help those gone, and nothing can remove the danger completely, a thorough investigation uncovering the sequence of events may be able to offer recommendations to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Again, prayers and sympathy to the surviving families.

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Shipping News and information / Re: Captain dined while Pasha Bulker moved toward disaster?

« on: October 16, 2007, 04:49:01 AM »

by gcaptain on 2007/10/13 17:49:42

"I just did an editorial on this subject for our maritime blog. Let me know what you think:"


John,

Good piece, well written.  As so often happens, more attention to preparation for the move, for example by discussions with other skippers and asking questions of the weather services, might have averted this disaster.

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Shipping News and information / Captain dined while Pasha Bulker moved toward disaster?

« on: October 13, 2007, 02:16:29 PM »

A report allegedly withheld by the Australian Government states that, among many bad decisions, the captain and chief engineer of Pasha Bulker ate breakfast away from the bridge, leaving the ship in the hands of junior crew while they attempted to move away from the lee shore as the ship was battling a major storm.

Story here: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/12/1191696173754.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

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Shipping News and information / Watch stander fatigue study

« on: August 28, 2007, 04:52:20 PM »

This is not good if valid:  http://www.shipgaz.com/magazine/issues/2007/12/1207_article3.php

What do the ships' officers here think of this report?

Is the study valid?
Is this as severe a problem as it appears in the article?
Recomendations for improving the situation, if the problem is real?

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Shipping News and information / Re: Bourbon fleet supplier Athena in distress

« on: June 29, 2007, 08:04:05 AM »

This from Bourbon:

"Due to poor weather conditions, pumping and water tightness operations on the Athena, which was towed and anchored yesterday evening to the outer roadstead of Pointe Noire in the Congo subsequent to water entry into the engine room, had to be stopped during the night. The ship is resting on a sandy bed at a depth of 10 metres and is listing over 50

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Shipping News and information / Re: Kristina Regina in collision

« on: June 01, 2007, 03:24:07 PM »

I don't know enough about this incident to have an opinion, but there seems to be a lot of discussion over the application of Rule 19.

http://www.nautinst.org/colregs/letters/letters01.htm

http://www.pbo.co.uk/pbo/colregs_rule19.html

It would be good to hear the opinions of ships' officers on this subject.

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Shipping News and information / Re: Cutty Sark on fire

« on: May 21, 2007, 05:35:16 PM »

Looking at some of the photos of the fire, it appears that much of what is burning might be the shed protecting the hull.  I hope that's accurate and not just wishful thinking on my part.

Hopefully this great ship can be restored.

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Shipping News and information / Norway/Blue Lady update: possible return to SS France?

« on: May 04, 2007, 04:07:53 AM »

The Supreme Court of India issued a ruling in March granting another 90 day stay in the scrapping of Norway/Blue Lady, which will prevent any action on the ship until 11 June.  The purpose of the stay is for the various technical, maritime, and pollution control boards to report on whether the ship can be dismantled without creating an asbestos hazard.

http://www.indlawnews.com/2560b92ae843238cc77a96516c4eb7d3

According to ssMaritime News, there is still hope, although there are few details and neither of 2 reported groups has come forward with a firm plan.  There are reports of private negotiations with the present owners, and as of 30 April, negotiations continue.

http://www.ssmaritime.com/newsupdates.htm

Previously I was certain this was the end, but perhaps there is still a chance for another phase of life for this grand ship.

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Shipping News and information / Re: Mega Vsl Gunvor Maersk crashes into felixstowe crane

« on: May 04, 2007, 02:47:24 AM »

PilotB10,

Thanks for the report on the incident.  I have no doubt that the quick thinking and action of the pilot to reverse thrusters and move closer to the pier helped prevent further damage.  10 years ago in New Orleans, LA, USA, quick thinking and action by a pilot helped prevent possible injury or loss of life when Bright Field, a 68,000 ton dry bulk carrier lost power on the Mississippi River and collided with the riverside shopping mall building.

No one here criticized the pilot.  The only questions raised were about the decision to allow huge single engine ships to proceed in close quarters, adjacent to multi-million dollar/euro cranes that protrude out over the water below the level of the superstructures, without a normal complement of tugs.

I appreciate your analogy of cruise ship manuevering but, as you said, cruise ships have mutiple engines and azmuthing main propulsors.  The key, I believe, is the multiple engines, whereas most large container ships have a single engine.  Whether it is rated for 800 KW or 80,000 KW, a single engine that stops provides 0 KW power to manuever the ship.

I understand risk assessment; it is a common concept.  Risk must be evaluated considering the possible failures and their potential cost, vs the actual cost of preventive measures, like more tugs.  The general reliability of the powerplants in modern ships was a factor, I'm sure, in this assessment.  I believe this was a circumstance that was viewed as highly unlikely, very low probability.  Unfortunately, it happened, so risk gets reassessed, and maybe or maybe not changes are recommended.  Insurance companies will have a voice, I'm sure.

Again, I agree that the pilot probably prevented further damage once the power was lost.

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Shipping News and information / Re: Story behind M/V Astoria crewman death

« on: May 04, 2007, 01:55:35 AM »

CedricH wrote:
It's a person who almost got killed!
Regards
Cedric

Cedric,

Thanks for your support.  Just so you know, Pepito Flores was killed in the accident.  Several others were almost killed.

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Shipping News and information / Re: Story behind M/V Astoria crewman death

« on: May 04, 2007, 01:50:47 AM »

ssoastdav,

Thank you for having the courage to report this.  I admire you.  It is only when more people know about things like this that, perhaps there is a chance things will improve.

Like others, I hope you might reconsider your decision and go to sea with another line.  Officers like you might make things better for crews.

Whatever you decide, I salute you for what you have done in reporting this.

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Shipping News and information / Story behind M/V Astoria crewman death

« on: April 27, 2007, 03:08:18 AM »

According to a crewman, the April 5 fatal lifeboat accident on M/V Astoria that killed A/B Pepito Flores was the result of a known fault in davits that caused a similar but non-fatal accident less than a year ago.  The company reportedly refused to fix it because it was "too expensive to repair".

A few years ago, M/V Astoria was detained in Greenwich for filth in galleys, but slipped away.

Story and photo here: http://www.cargolaw.com/2000nightmare_singles.only.html#Pepito

This accident did not receive much publicity because it happened at the same time as the Sea Diamond incident.