Author Topic: Accidents and mishaps at sea  (Read 135288 times)

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Offline Rod

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #60 on: Oct 24, 2012, 11:48 PM »
It looks downright drafty!
More seriously - is it possible to get a 'bad batch' of aluminium?
And...just wondering if it's possible for a whole 'plate' could drop off....is it moulded, or flat plates?
Sorry to be so curious - it strikes me as being under so much tension, that it would need weeks to fix it, so that the same crack wouldn't keep reoccurring...
Thanks very much
Rosie.

Yes it is possible to get a bad batch of aluminium. I am sure a sample has been sent off for testing. Looks like they are flat plates. I would imagine anothe plate would be welded over the top on the outside with strenghteners on the inside. I would also imagine the designers are sitting at their desks as we speak asking the same question!

Offline Twynkle

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #61 on: Oct 25, 2012, 11:42 AM »
Thanks so much, Rod.
S'pose that as aluminium is an alloy, it's surprising that there aren't / weren't more significant mishaps due to bad batches.
With QE2's cracks (as opposed to hull damage) - do you know whether was she ever very, very close to being rendered unfit to sail until fixed - or was this always the case if it couldn't be fixed as she was sailing?

(Not for the first time has it been good to remember the magical nature of the Forum - together with the silent and immortal words, 'Answers on a Postcard, please'!)

Offline Rod

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #62 on: Oct 25, 2012, 02:27 PM »
As far as I am aware..no. Others may know differently! I believe that BoT or DoT were consulted on nearly every occasion and they would make the sail/no sail decision. If you look at the outside of the ship from Q deck up you will see numerous plates that are not original. VAST majority of these are crack repairs.
All repairs whether temporary or permanent would have been DoT approved.
What most people do not realize that aluminium does not do well under constant flexing. Molecular structure does not allow for it. Bend it once OK but each time after that gets weaker and weaker until failure occurs. If the flexing is always in the same place then as ShipPro said a new expansion joint will open up.
Also remember that loading on a ship varies constantly because of things like fuel, water and food consumption. Throw in the odd wave or two.....do we ballast the fuel tanks or not and run the risk of pollution when we pump the sea water out to make ready for more fuel.
So many variables.

Online Peter Mugridge

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Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #63 on: Oct 25, 2012, 03:20 PM »
What most people do not realize that aluminium does not do well under constant flexing. Molecular structure does not allow for it. Bend it once OK but each time after that gets weaker and weaker until failure occurs. If the flexing is always in the same place then as ShipPro said a new expansion joint will open up.

Easily demonstrated with an empty fizzy drinks can and your hands; flex the can backwards and farowards... it will probably take less than five minutes before you have two halves of a can.
"It is a capital mistake to allow any mechanical object to realise that you are in a hurry!"

Offline Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #64 on: Nov 01, 2012, 07:06 PM »
As most of us seem to be hearing far more about Hurricane Sandy than Cyclone Nilam (which occurred at the very same time), let us spare a thought for the sailors who perished off the Indian coast near Chennai :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20164400

Offline Rod

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #65 on: Nov 01, 2012, 08:47 PM »
At one time, working in the Merchant Marine was the most dangerous occupation in the world. That was in the 70's..... 1970's not 1870's. Even more dangerous than being in the military!

Offline Twynkle

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #66 on: Nov 02, 2012, 08:45 AM »
At one time, working in the Merchant Marine was the most dangerous occupation in the world. That was in the 70's..... 1970's not 1870's. Even more dangerous than being in the military!

Hi Rod
Wouldn't you say that this potentially could still be the case?
Yes - Drills, safety measures, better equipment and training etc must have made for a safer way of working, however there will always be the same risks of fire, fuel, water, wind and heat or cold, as well as human misjudgement - all of which could contribute to the maiming or death at any time?

During the disembarking of tenders a while ago, the poor conditions, the ship already under way - it was extremely risky for the crew, and pretty dodgy for the passengers....



 
« Last Edit: Nov 02, 2012, 08:51 AM by Twynkle »

Online Peter Mugridge

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Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #67 on: Nov 07, 2012, 11:16 PM »
Not sure if this counts as an accident at sea, but it is being unloaded from a ship, so...



Butterfingers!
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« Last Edit: Nov 11, 2012, 08:45 PM by Isabelle Prondzynski »
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Offline Chris

When cruise ships crash!
« Reply #69 on: Jan 23, 2013, 06:50 AM »

I've never seen anything quite like this before.
I sailed on Enchantment and have a real soft spot for her, so it hurts to see this!
🎥 Check out my QE2 & Cruise Ship Videos: https://www.youtube.com/chrisframeofficial/

Offline Tyne Turbine

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #70 on: Jan 23, 2013, 10:21 PM »
In view of the fact that this mishap took place in 2009 I thought I would try to see if I could see the findings of an official report on this incident as would be posted by the MCA in the event of it happening in the UK  - as yet I have not been successful but did come across this site which records many more collisions:

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/articles/collisions/
« Last Edit: Jan 23, 2013, 10:24 PM by Tyne Turbine »

Offline Graham Taylor

Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #71 on: Jan 23, 2013, 10:35 PM »
In view of the fact that this mishap took place in 2009 I thought I would try to see if I could see the findings of an official report on this incident as would be posted by the MCA in the event of it happening in the UK  - as yet I have not been successful but did come across this site which records many more collisions:

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/articles/collisions/

If memory serves me right that accident happened in Miami.

EDIT

does not serve me right it was Cozumel, Mexico. High winds and an out of position tug.
« Last Edit: Jan 23, 2013, 10:45 PM by Graham Taylor »
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Offline Twynkle

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #72 on: Feb 10, 2013, 04:17 PM »
BBC reporting that during a routine life boat drill for crew, on board the Thomson cruise ship Majesty ( in port in the Canary Islands), 5 crew members were killed and 3 seriously injured as the lifeboat crashed over the side...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21403419 

Also reported - the Tour Manager of The Fisherman's Friends (concert-giving 'shanty men' from Cornwall) has been accidentally killed in Guildford.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21401423
« Last Edit: Feb 10, 2013, 04:19 PM by Twynkle »

Offline Lynda Bradford

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #73 on: Feb 10, 2013, 05:25 PM »
Terrible tragedy for five crew members to lose their lives and others to be injured.   All the crew onboard the ship will have been affected by this accident, which has resulted in the loss or injury of friends

Captain Greybeard has also reported on this accident:
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/captain-greybeard/2013/02/five-killed-in-cruise-ship-boa.html
I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Offline Rod

Re: Accidents and mishaps at sea
« Reply #74 on: Feb 10, 2013, 07:16 PM »
A similar incident, nearly happened on QE2.
It was the practice at the time, believe in the late 70's to send a "Staff Launch" ashore as soon as clearance was give from local authorities, with the shore party, some Cruise Staff, Security etc to set up shop at the landing.
Night staff were allowed on this launch to get a head start, otherwise they would have to wait until "Open Gangways" was declared, ie all waiting pax were on their way!
The staff launch would be loaded on the boat deck with as many as 30 staff lowered and go straight into shore.
One day they lowered, the boat want to say it was #11, was about 1 deck when the brake drum housing basically exploded, leaving the boat...and people stranded at 1 deck level. They were there for about 3 hours as the had to be hauled up by use of chain blocks!
After that the staff launchs was loaded at the gangway! Thankfully nobody was hurt!