Donsan; said:IMHO, a grand waste of taxpayers dollars.
Interesting comments and certainly different from the professional mariners over on gCaptain who often have no say in where and when they sail.sbu22 said:Just goes to show how creative one can be when spending someone else's money.
"Let's not waste money" may have been the conversation that gave 33 people a burial at sea.
I don't have the answer.... but whometer is looking for answers at this point is paying the bills.
Way too simplistic.As Bernie Sanders would say, that is a low blow. The issue to me isn't the money, it is whose money. All the costs of this should be billed to the ships owner. They made the decision to send the ship out, not the taxpayer.
Assuming "they" made the decision to send the ship out, we spectators don't know the intricacies of that decision, nor who made what subsequent decisions over the day and a half following the departure.
Without an investigation we won't know anything about decisions or responsibility. With an investigation we still may not. But, in order to have any investigation, assess and attach culpability, the taxpayer ponies up first.
With up to 48 hours stored on the VDR, there could be a lot of "theys" to choose from. Or not.
Seems fair to me.
Correct me if I am wrong but is there not an element of "research" in a search of this kind? After all how would they have ever developed an AUV capable of 20,000 foot depths, without missions like this? Is there not some "public interest" in most recovery missions?psneeld said:Those tax dollars are funded whether spent on a specific search or not.
Following your logic, knowledge and beliefs then, Donsan, why not make the families pay?
All those things may be contributing factors, but still not the cause of the accident.
Probably why they are conducting an investigation vesus just doing a poll on TF.
Maybe the minority...but not alone...The condition of the vessel at the time of the sinking will certainly be a primary factor in the sinking. Having six Polish fitters on board making structural/piping repairs while underway is indicative of a cause of the sinking (possible compromised ballast/bilge piping, a structural member temporarily removed eg) and also provides a clue as to owners modus operandi (no delay for repair/must stay on schedule).
I am of the opinion (probably a minority opinion on this site) that a well found, properly maintained ship of this size and horsepower had little to fear from the storm as forecast or even as encountered. The only reason to divert should have been comfort of the crew and/or care of the cargo. The reason I say this is that ships are designed for the real world and cannot always divert from unexpected storms so the design has huge safety factors built in.
I have sailed on ships in storms with 90' (measured) waves crashing over the bow. The ship had no issue. Although more than half the crew was puking. Gotta stay on schedule.
I think we are looking at condition of the ship and dangerously inept management practices as the true causes of the sinking.
But the Captain will be crucified posthumously as the cause.
And now, after the fact, we learn from the hearings El Faro was about to be placed on a watch list for more frequent and thorough inspections.The condition of the vessel at the time of the sinking will certainly be a primary factor in the sinking.
And now, after the fact, we learn from the hearings El Faro was about to be placed on a watch list for more frequent and thorough inspections.
Also, and this is speculation on my part, reading between the lines of the hearing; CG seems to be raising one eyebrow at the lack of ship to shore emails during the event. Perhaps the motivation for a second VDR recovery mission?
You say what I was hesitant to and I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion. There was some telling, powerful and emotional testimony. I really do hope they find an intact VDR.BandB; said:(among other things said)TOTE has done nothing through this to help their credibility. I think TOTE may underestimate the investigative skills of the NTSB and USCG. Either than or I overestimate those skills.