Port of Brunswick closed

[Comodave]

I'll be involved in the salvage efforts on this. My company has been mobilized by Smit Salvage. We have a contractual relationship with Smit and have done many salvage jobs with them. My tug left NY yesterday with a crane/dive support barge. I don't go in until next Wednesday and don't have many details yet except the salvage master said expect to be there for several months.

Please keep us up to date as what you are doing, if possible, when you get there. Should be interesting to see how it is salvaged.

 

[mcboatface]

Good news! Three of the four missing crewmen have been rescued. The fourth has been located and is fine, but is trapped behind glass in an engineering room. They are working on a plan to free him.

In the meantime, our little island has turned into a media circus. Just praying this does not turn into an environmental story as well. Some small amounts of oil have been seen, including a couple of oily dogs after morning walks on the beach, but no significant spills yet.

This is pure speculation, but I would think they will find a way to re-open the port once the last crew member is safely removed from the ship. It's not actually in the channel, but literally yards away. I can't imagine the economic impact of keeping the port closed for the months it may take to re-float and remove the ship. There are five ships anchored near the sea buoy now and another on the way, which would seem to indicate that they have been told to stick around and await the port opening, though perhaps with some significant speed restrictions. Time will tell...

 

[menzies]

https://www.passagemaker.com/trawle...vxDlBa5Y-YivW6FpqB1nRPBb2zTVA_nAm7jU1U2JrF52Y

 

[BruceK]

https://www.passagemaker.com/trawle...vxDlBa5Y-YivW6FpqB1nRPBb2zTVA_nAm7jU1U2JrF52Y

He looks happy!

 

[menzies]

He looks happy!

I kinda think the other two, and hopefully three, will too!

Because you have to think that they didn't know what had happened and even that they were sitting on a solid base. Or even if they were above or below the water!

 

[High Wire]

Never mind. Good news!

 

[angus99]

I'll be involved in the salvage efforts on this. My company has been mobilized by Smit Salvage. We have a contractual relationship with Smit and have done many salvage jobs with them. My tug left NY yesterday with a crane/dive support barge. I don't go in until next Wednesday and don't have many details yet except the salvage master said expect to be there for several months.

Stay safe, Jack.

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

Last crew member rescued! Great Job to all involved.

 

[Wayfarer]

Thank goodness. I can't imagine being trapped in a dark ship that's listed over 90 degrees sitting on her beam ends. God that must have been a nightmare.

If I'm remembering right, there was another RoRo like this that was full of Mazdas back in 2006 or so. She listed way over just like that, and everything inside had to be scrapped. Even if there was no apparent damage, they crushed em all.

 

[Maerin]

Thank goodness. I can't imagine being trapped in a dark ship that's listed over 90 degrees sitting on her beam ends. God that must have been a nightmare.

We came across the Lanier bridge yesterday, the ship lying on its side is hard to miss. As with the news crews scattered around the area. Temps have been well into the 90's, that exposed hull in that Georgia heat.... trapped inside, so thankful all souls were rescued. Now it's just cleaning up stuff that can all be replaced.

It will be interesting to learn the back story, I don't think I'll ever look at one of those behemoths the same when I have one slide past me.

 

[BandB]

Thank goodness. I can't imagine being trapped in a dark ship that's listed over 90 degrees sitting on her beam ends. God that must have been a nightmare.

If I'm remembering right, there was another RoRo like this that was full of Mazdas back in 2006 or so. She listed way over just like that, and everything inside had to be scrapped. Even if there was no apparent damage, they crushed em all.

Here's the link to the Mazda deal. https://www.wired.com/2008/02/ff-se...WYqmT9DytLcCLFROBcK45TQLosYHah8Dqli-u6RcSXfPM

 

[FBoykin]

That is one fine article on the salvage of the ship full of Mazdas. DEFINITELY worth a read. More about the human aspect of the salvage crew and what it was like.

 

[BandB]

That is one fine article on the salvage of the ship full of Mazdas. DEFINITELY worth a read. More about the human aspect of the salvage crew and what it was like.

Wifey B: If it required me to do the things they do, the boat and cars would stay on the bottom.

 

[twistedtree]

Just curious, are the cars secured in any way on a RoRo like this, or are they all just parked like in a parking garage? If just parked then I expect there is a point of no return where if the ship tips enough for cars to start moving, it's all over.

 

[O C Diver]

Just curious, are the cars secured in any way on a RoRo like this, or are they all just parked like in a parking garage? If just parked then I expect there is a point of no return where if the ship tips enough for cars to start moving, it's all over.

The cars are secured with a heavy load binder from the frame in the front and back to deck pad eyes. On most new vehicles you can see the frame hook in the front. That said, the strapping would hold the vehicle in place maybe to 45 degrees or roll. Don't know what happens between 45 and 90 degrees.

Ted

 

[bluebyu]

Videos of other car carriers show the cars strapped down.

I wonder if that is done before leaving port? Or, maybe some before leaving port and the rest at sea....

It will be interesting to watch the recovery process.

 

[Action]

The vehicles are strapped down as they are loaded into the vessel. These straps would be similar to an over the road tractor that handles vehicles.
While the straps are strong, they are not designed to secure a vehicle up side down. Or even at a 90 degree.
The design is to secure the vehicle inside the vessel for normal vessel movement up and down and side to side such that no contact is made by any vehicle with anything else. In addition they are designed to be re-useable and swift to install and un-install.
Lastly the vehicles are loaded with the smallest amount of un-used spacing as possible to maximize loading.

For an event like the ones posted in this thread, re-use of the tie down straps may not occur as the straps were subjected to loading outside of the design. Compromising the ability of the strap to fully function in the future with out failure. There may be a test the straps are subjected to after an event like this or they may be just destroyed. Not sure on that.

 

[SoWhat]

If I'm remembering right, there was another RoRo like this that was full of Mazdas back in 2006 or so. She listed way over just like that, and everything inside had to be scrapped. Even if there was no apparent damage, they crushed em all.

There was another one in England, 2016. Ballasting problems due to lack of calculations.
http://aerossurance.com/safety-management/solent-car-carrier-accident/

 

[PaulGel]

If they had a fire on the vehicle deck prior to the capsize it can melt through the lashings and the vehicles can then move. Chains are preferred by a lot of Navy vessels for that reason.

 

[Action]

^^^ Good point! As there was a fire.

I did not see if the fire happened first and the vessel rolled.
Or if the vessel rolled and then there was a fire.

Interesting to note, this 656 foot long 71,000 ton vessel has a single screw.

 

[Gordon J]

A big right up in wired magazine

Thank goodness. I can't imagine being trapped in a dark ship that's listed over 90 degrees sitting on her beam ends. God that must have been a nightmare.

If I'm remembering right, there was another RoRo like this that was full of Mazdas back in 2006 or so. She listed way over just like that, and everything inside had to be scrapped. Even if there was no apparent damage, they crushed em all.

About just that case. Hell of a good tale. Appeared three days ago in the on line version of Wired.

Gordon

 

[wkearney99]

The cars are secured with a heavy load binder from the frame in the front and back to deck pad eyes. On most new vehicles you can see the frame hook in the front. That said, the strapping would hold the vehicle in place maybe to 45 degrees or roll. Don't know what happens between 45 and 90 degrees.

And most vehicles aren't designed to spend any amount of time in a rolled position. Oil and various fluids tend to drain out or come to rest in places not designed for it. Washer fluid, antifreeze, lubricating oils in the trans, differentials, engine, etc. The potential for environmental disaster extends beyond just what the ship itself uses.

The wired article on salvaging the one with the mazdas... yikes.

 

[Fletcher500]

That is one fine article on the salvage of the ship full of Mazdas. DEFINITELY worth a read. More about the human aspect of the salvage crew and what it was like.

Agree, the article about the Salvage Guys who went aboard the other Ro Ro and managed to right it is worth reading.

 

[mcboatface]

Well, the port has reopened and four of the seven waiting ships have already come in. They are taking a slow, wide berth around the wreck, near the pier, and all are escorted by a tug. The tug crews have been working 24 hours a day since Sunday morning.

The first pieces of salvage equipment have arrived but we expect there will be many more. One of the challenges here will be placement of salvage assets as there are limited options. The channel is on two sides (west and north) shoals on the other (south) and a bit of room to the east.

No word yet on strategy but we are all hoping some genius figures out how to right it and float it. Given the ship draws 28-30 feet and is sitting in about 25-30 feet of water, I have no idea how they would do that, but watching the videos of other salvage operations, it is clear these are some clever folks, so who knows. One thing I do know after reading the Wired piece is better them than me.

 

[BandB]

And most vehicles aren't designed to spend any amount of time in a rolled position. Oil and various fluids tend to drain out or come to rest in places not designed for it. Washer fluid, antifreeze, lubricating oils in the trans, differentials, engine, etc. The potential for environmental disaster extends beyond just what the ship itself uses.

The wired article on salvaging the one with the mazdas... yikes.

Then there's the question as to what becomes of the vehicles. Mazda said they just didn't feel comfortable selling them as they didn't know the impact of the twisting and turning. How long and how far must they go to be junked or are they sold on the used market or at auctions or when do they try sneaking them through as new, undamaged? If the insurer pays for them then what rights do they have to dispose of them? The manufacturer sure doesn't want the insurer disposing of them as they wish and wants to retain control of distribution.

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

My company will be removing 3000 cars from the ship. Equipment arrived last night and more is on the way. I have few details because I won't be on the tug until next Wednesday.My tug arrived with one of our crane barges/dive stations last night. Extended boom section will be leaving NY shortly. We have 1 other boat enroute from NY, and another leaving tomorrow or the next day.

 

[mcboatface]

Wow! A few of us locals were discussing this at dinner Tuesday night and we just could not fathom how one would go about getting cars off the ship when they are spread among so many decks with little to no access to the outside. We also couldn't quite figure out how much draft is reduced by removing 7,000 tons of cars from a 70,000 ton ship. But, as I said, you guys are way more clever than us.

That plan does make it sound as if the idea is to remove weight, rotate and re-float. Or, re-float and then rotate. Either would be awesome. Can't wait to watch it all.

Please keep us posted though. And, let me know if you manage to find a few minutes for a beer while you are here.

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

I'm still in the dark about a lot of the salvage plans until I get in. Its going to be a bear,gas fumes from vehicles etc. No one is allowed to penetrate the ship yet as I understand it. I'm fortunate to get to work with talented divers/salvors and tug crews daily who constantly amaze me at their skills,creativity and hard work.

 

[angus99]

I'm still in the dark about a lot of the salvage plans until I get in. Its going to be a bear,gas fumes from vehicles etc. No one is allowed to penetrate the ship yet as I understand it. I'm fortunate to get to work with talented divers/salvors and tug crews daily who constantly amaze me at their skills,creativity and hard work.

Jack, looks like your guys could be getting a little added drama from “Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine” in a few days.

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

Jack, looks like your guys could be getting a little added drama from “Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine” in a few days.

yup, it will certainly add some excitement to the mix Ian. Watching closely.