Why Ships Sink (NOVA)

[billroddy]

If you missed the PBS show you can watch it on line at:

http://video.pbs.org/

 

In the Box "I'd Like to Watch" enter

Why Ships Sink

 

Bill

Ancient Mariner

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for posting the link Billroddy, but quite frankly I don't want to know.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Thanks for posting the link Billroddy, but quite frankly I don't want to know.

 

There was information about why they float, too, if that makes you feel better. Excellent explanation of stability, center of gravity, etc.

 

I did find it a bit un-nerving that they couldn't get a single member of CLIA to comment on the content.

[Seago2]

I thought it was a good program. The explanation of center of gravity was very good for my visual-only mind ;). The Oceanos part was incredible- never knew about that!

[IRL_Joanie]

If you missed the PBS show you can watch it on line at:

http://video.pbs.org/

 

In the Box "I'd Like to Watch" enter

Why Ships Sink

 

Bill

Ancient Mariner

 

Took me all afternoon to be able to watch it, had sail away to view and other things to do, but I was able to watch it finally. And it was GOOD!!!

 

BTW, did anyone besides me notice the carpeting in the stateroom hallway on the Oceanos (from the video being shot by the Guitarist)?? It was the same pattern that HAL has today:confused: Guess some things never change....

 

Excellent show by Nova!!

 

Joanie

[Indycal]

I liked it too, very informative on how ships float to begin with! Although it really bothered & angered me to see those 2 "Captains" that left everyone to fend for themselves during the sinking of their ships (Oceanos & Costa Concordia). To listen to those passengers explain how they had to find out on their own how bad the situation really was on those two ships was heartbreaking. I thought of the ones who did not make it, and I cannot imagine their fear:(

[Seago2]

Joanie, speaking of the guitarist, when they first showed him and his wife starting their show I thought "oh no... Is this the WORST cruise ship act in the history of mankind?" But then of course they turned out to be heros! Good for them and what an unbelievable story (sea water coming up through toilets and some ***** off smoking a cigarette- I mean, "captain").

[3rdGenCunarder]

I liked it too, very informative on how ships float to begin with! Although it really bothered & angered me to see those 2 "Captains" that left everyone to fend for themselves during the sinking of their ships (Oceanos & Costa Concordia). To listen to those passengers explain how they had to find out on their own how bad the situation really was on those two ships was heartbreaking. I thought of the ones who did not make it, and I cannot imagine their fear:(

 

I couldn't believe it when the Oceanos captain justified himself by saying that the "abandon ship" order means him, too, and if others choose to stay that was their business. Sure, like someone would CHOOSE to stay on a sinking ship. When the crew leave first, passengers stay onboard because they have no way to get off the ship.

 

On the other hand, he was more honest than Concordia's "Capt. Rocky" who claimed he fell into a lifeboat.

[TiogaCruiser]

Wow, he was amazing to intervene the way he did.

 

Hmm, he's been on two ships that sank.... we decided we'll check the entertainment before booking.....

[monina01]

arghhhh...I get the full commercial and then I get a message saying: we're sorry but this video is not available in your region due to right retsrictions.

 

:mad:

 

I hate that!!!

[kazu]

Wow, he was amazing to intervene the way he did.

 

Hmm, he's been on two ships that sank.... we decided we'll check the entertainment before booking.....

 

Now we ALL know the REAL reason that Ruth C asks who the entertainers are on the ships:):p:D

[kazu]

arghhhh...I get the full commercial and then I get a message saying: we're sorry but this video is not available in your region due to right retsrictions.

 

:mad:

 

I hate that!!!

 

I know the feeling Ina - we Canadian can't watch it either. There was a similar show earlier and from what i got out of it - the smaller ships that sit lower in the water (not floating hotels) are safer than say, an Allure of the Seas:) So, it makes sense to sail HAL:)

[edmusic]

I was somewhat disappointed in the story. A lot of fluff; not much substance. How many times to we have to see the cartoon of the Titanic sailing on the ocean or the Concordia hitting that rock, ripping open the hull? I liked best the description of how the center of gravity works and also the double hull explanation, but they didn't really explore those as much as I thought they should. JMHO.

[RuthC]

Now we ALL know the REAL reason that Ruth C asks who the entertainers are on the ships:):p:D

LOL!

(I haven't sunk yet ;))

[Hawaiidan]

That was posed....as ships get larger and larger do the risks to passengers increase... almost retorical. When they carry 6000 passengers and 2000 crew! " How is safety Possible". Even the engineers admitted they reallly dont know.... NOW THats Scary !

 

Titanic in her day, Concordia in hers. What did they have in common, size! Just like our massive high rises to a lesser extent.

To me big ship big problem.... I dont buy these maga ships as safe.

[bepsf]

I dont buy these maga ships as safe.

 

Perhaps they'll get so large that when they sink, they'll just hit bottom and a few decks will be left above water...?

;)

[mountainmare]

I was more concerned about the training of cruise ship captains. It does make sense that as cruising is more and more popular there are fewer qualified captains. True they may have experience on the sea, but a cruise ship is a different animal. They are higher and act differently, and the cargo is people---alot of people that need to be managed in an emergency.

[SeaSheep]

I was more concerned about the training of cruise ship captains. It does make sense that as cruising is more and more popular there are fewer qualified captains. True they may have experience on the sea, but a cruise ship is a different animal. They are higher and act differently, and the cargo is people---alot of people that need to be managed in an emergency.

 

To become a cruise ship captain you have to have sailed on passengers ships for years. If you are a captain on a cargo vessel you have to start as a first or second officer on a cruise ship. Which means that you have to be promoted at least twice. This is for two important reasons. First of all as already mentioned people that have to be managed. Second is the ship handling fact. As a cargo ship captain you do not arrive in port on a daily base as on cruise ships. Besides that a lot of cargo ships usually require tugboats, while cruiseships usually can do without.

 

Friendly Greetings,

SeaSheep

[billroddy]

In 1944 I was on a tanker leaving the Panama Canal for Aruba.

It was a great spot for German submarines to lay in wait and the Navy routed us very close to the coast of Venezula.. to close in fact. and around midnight we ran aground.

I was on watch in the radio room and it knocked me to the deck.

We finally got off the rocks, but the screw was disabled and the Navy sent us limping to New Orleans. Fortunately the subs did not find us.

Bill

Ancient Mariner

[dhill]

In 1944 I was on a tanker leaving the Panama Canal for Aruba.

It was a great spot for German submarines to lay in wait and the Navy routed us very close to the coast of Venezula.. to close in fact. and around midnight we ran aground.

I was on watch in the radio room and it knocked me to the deck.

We finally got off the rocks, but the screw was disabled and the Navy sent us limping to New Orleans. Fortunately the subs did not find us.

Bill

Ancient Mariner

Now that is an interesting story. What a time in your life that must of been for good or bad.I enjoy hearing stories like this thank you:)

[Hawaiidan]

Bills experience in WWII is pretty interesing so I thought I would share one if what can go wrong.

Back it the 60's I was an engineer on a Navy Destroyer Escort and part of a squadron of Fletcher Class ( larger) Destroyers, heading for Hawaii from Long Beach

The second night out, were steamin at a slow 22kts ( destroyers can easily do 32 kts) under a full moon 400 miles off California coast. We were steaming in eschleon formation, abrest of each other using our sonar to llook for Russian Subs , of which there were plenty in those day. ( closest one we found was 20 miles off San Diego which is another story in its self!!)

All of a sudden there is a valve failure in the hydraulic system that controls the rudder and it slams into the full port lock and we begin a wild lurch to the left that threw people from their beds.! What the Hell is going on !

Our ship was on a collission course with the Destroyer to our left 500 yards away, The OD/QM's did the plot...the rudder would not budge even from manual jacking and even at full astern with 2, 60,000 hp GE engines could only slow is slightly. The other Destroyer was asvised to turn... they didnt. It was about 3 looong min later when we met doing 6 kts rather than 22. Now, Our DE was a convoy duty vet from the north atlantic... a U-boat killer that had 8 kills to her credit. She was modified by filling the front voids around the bow with solid concrete.. This was so the ship could ram a surfaced sub and cut it in half and not have to waste ammo. ( This she did I learned on 1 occasions off Ireland.)

We were a seagoing battering ram in short.

 

We hit the Destroyer in the side in her #1 fire room and sliced a 20 ft deep by 30 ft wide gash in her side and bent our bow 4 ft to the right.

I woke to general quarters alarm.." this is not a drill". and came on deck to my battle station, We were listing 6 degrees to the left but the other ship was listing 10-15 to the right.

There was this roaring sound of water pouring into the other ships hull. I could see men climbing ladders out of the fireroom, through the water pouring in like a giant smooth river! You could see the lights still on in the fire room....itr was sureal. Well the other ship adjusted her ballast and with damage control didnt sink as was able to return to Long Beach. We on the other hand, with our bent bow, could not sail foward and basicaly backed all the way 400 miles 4 days to port and repair.

 

I was impresssed, Neither ship sank because of the training and teamwork. We arrived at midnight to avoid the press.:cool:

[billroddy]

I told you of my experience in a World War II tanker. Here is another one that has links to HAL.

 

The German Submarine Base at La Rochelle, France

-------------------------------------------------

Holland America Line has cruised from Lisbon with stops at La Rochelle, France.

This brought back memories of my stay there in late 1945 on a merchant ship. We were docked next to a submarine. One afternoon I met some German sailors on the dock and they invited me to go below. What a thrill.

They asked me if I had any cigarettes to trade for a pair of binoculars. I said sure and they brought out binoculars that were about two feet long and weighed 10 pounds or so. I expected the hand help type, but they were the binoculars that were mounted on top of the conning tower to spot fighter planes.

We made the trade and I took them back to New York. When I filled out the customs form I listed a pair of binoculars.

When I walked past the inspectors at the dock they spotted them and stopped me. "What have you got there?"

"These are my binoculars I listed on your form"

They said "That's captured enemy equipment, you can't keep them."

To make a long story short I gave them a hard luck story and they relented.

I kept them for 30 years but eventually sold them at a garage sale. I had got to the age when I couldn't lift them to my eyes.

Bill

[Seago2]

These stories are incredible. I hope you guys read Unbroken, by Laura Hillebrand. It's the story of Louis Zamperini and it is an incredible book.

[drgrinch]

The video touched on the fact, noted earlier here, that while US authorities mandate training levels for airline cockpit crew, no such requirement exists for ship's officers. Is this is an artifact of the "flag of convenience" practice in registering ships? If so, that situation needs to be addressed. Having the governments of Liberia or Panama setting the training standards for ship's officers responsible for thousands of passengers lives seems more than a bit crazy. Does anyone here have enough industry experience to know if this is the case?

 

As an earlier poster noted, all this makes me relieved that I am sailing with a line that uses smaller ships and whose officers are the products of centuries of maritime tradition (but then so was captain Smith!).

[QM2 Cruiser]

Great documentary, thank you for posting the link.