Suez Canal blocked
Re: Suez Canal blocked
Just saw on my computer homepage that the ship that has had all of the trouble at the Suez Canal blocking it has finally been freed! It also says that it may takes several more weeks though to get things over there back to normal as well but at least for now the ship is finally freed!
Re: Suez Canal blocked
The vast majority of containers are under 40K lbs. Not saying helicopters unloading them in the middle of a desert will work however, it could be done with the majority of containers if it came down to it.
Re: Suez Canal blocked
One minor problem with that. Shipping containers can weigh up to 67,200 pounds (legally) and the world's largest helicopter is only rated to lift 44,000 pounds. Hopefully the heaviest containers are not on top. But you can't rely on the paperwork to give you an accurate weight, because it is estimated that one in five containers is overloaded.gjhunter01 wrote:It seems like some containers could be removed by helicopter to lighten the load?
Re: Suez Canal blocked
the same thing happened in the welland canal in 2020 with out mentioning any names a down bound vessel loaed with coal was going to fast and sucked the bank and veered in front of the upbound vessel
Re: Suez Canal blocked
It seems like some containers could be removed by helicopter to lighten the load? Another thought would be to block off the canal and flood the section to float the ship.
I'll bet after this event, the canal authority will develop a contingency disaster plan.
I'll bet after this event, the canal authority will develop a contingency disaster plan.
Re: Suez Canal blocked
There is a lot of speculation on the GCaptain forum that if that speed is verified (it appears to have been calculated from AIS positions, which isn't always an accurate speed) the pilot may have ordered an increase in speed to get better rudder response after they were caught by strong crosswinds and a sandstorm. I think I read that the speed limit in the canal is around 8 knots.
Re: Suez Canal blocked
if that was the case it was certainly a crazy speed and I am now convinced her pilots (2) did not realize how close to the side of the canal they got and bank effect would certainly take place and the photos of the impact in the opposite side of the canal showing deep indent is impressiveAlex wrote:Captain, an update around 12:30pm eastern time confirms they were making 13 knots in the canal to combat the wind they were encountering.Lakercapt wrote:The reports I have read indicated they experienced storm winds and reduced visibility due to a sand storm.
It is very difficult to say what actually happened until a full report is published.
It is my view the vessel suffered a strong leeward drift due to the wind and it was not noticed due to the visibility. The ship could maintain its heading and then it got caught with "Bank effect" causing the stern to be sucked towards the bank and the bow to sheer towards the opposite of the canal bank and if they were going at the usual Canal speed of about 7 knots would plow into it and with its inertia go on a fairway. Bank effect is difficult to counteract and to do so requires lots of power and rudder.
It is only my opinion and I am open to others with knowledge adding.
P.S. For the serious ones posting here, the comment about sending G Tugs was sarcasm.
The lake G tugs are toys compared to outside port and salvage tugs..
Re: Suez Canal blocked
Captain, an update around 12:30pm eastern time confirms they were making 13 knots in the canal to combat the wind they were encountering.Lakercapt wrote:The reports I have read indicated they experienced storm winds and reduced visibility due to a sand storm.
It is very difficult to say what actually happened until a full report is published.
It is my view the vessel suffered a strong leeward drift due to the wind and it was not noticed due to the visibility. The ship could maintain its heading and then it got caught with "Bank effect" causing the stern to be sucked towards the bank and the bow to sheer towards the opposite of the canal bank and if they were going at the usual Canal speed of about 7 knots would plow into it and with its inertia go on a fairway. Bank effect is difficult to counteract and to do so requires lots of power and rudder.
It is only my opinion and I am open to others with knowledge adding.
P.S. For the serious ones posting here, the comment about sending G Tugs was sarcasm.
Re: Suez Canal blocked
Alex wrote:Send some of our G tugs and others, step aside and let 'em at it!
G tugs just toys in this situation. Need more horsepower. Send some of our 7,000-10,000 horsepower tugs. They really need to figure out how to get her lightened to give the tugs a fighting chance. Just a thought from another arm chair pilot.
Re: Suez Canal blocked
The reports I have read indicated they experienced storm winds and reduced visibility due to a sand storm.
It is very difficult to say what actually happened until a full report is published.
It is my view the vessel suffered a strong leeward drift due to the wind and it was not noticed due to the visibility. The ship could maintain its heading and then it got caught with "Bank effect" causing the stern to be sucked towards the bank and the bow to sheer towards the opposite of the canal bank and if they were going at the usual Canal speed of about 7 knots would plow into it and with its inertia go on a fairway. Bank effect is difficult to counteract and to do so requires lots of power and rudder.
It is only my opinion and I am open to others with knowledge adding.
It is very difficult to say what actually happened until a full report is published.
It is my view the vessel suffered a strong leeward drift due to the wind and it was not noticed due to the visibility. The ship could maintain its heading and then it got caught with "Bank effect" causing the stern to be sucked towards the bank and the bow to sheer towards the opposite of the canal bank and if they were going at the usual Canal speed of about 7 knots would plow into it and with its inertia go on a fairway. Bank effect is difficult to counteract and to do so requires lots of power and rudder.
It is only my opinion and I am open to others with knowledge adding.
Re: Suez Canal blocked
This bathymetric map taken from My Ship Tracking is pretty revealing. It appears that at least 1/3 of the ship is aground, with the forward 1/4 in water only 0.5 meters deep. So it really pushed through a lot of mud or sand. Dredging and perhaps lightering may be more effective than tugs. As would ground tackle, but at the expense of time to set it up. It does sound like the ship was moved a few meters on Saturday, with more and bigger tugs on the way for probably more pulls on Sunday.
Re: Suez Canal blocked
1200 or 2000 HP per tug won't do it.Alex wrote:Send some of our G tugs and others, step aside and let 'em at it!
Re: Suez Canal blocked
I guess too big to fail might apply to container ships. Now they're saying if she is not unstuck properly, it could capsize.
Re: Suez Canal blocked
In the photos I've seen, the bulbous bow looks totally buried in the bank. And it almost seems counterintuitive to be working on the bow to free her up when it wedged in first. Eh, I'm just playing armchair transportation manger over here. I can't even imagine what it would take to get a big enough crane in there to lighter her. Could take weeks... I believe it.
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Re: Suez Canal blocked
That's a whole lot of 'sitting ducks' in a dangerous area of the world. Hope they get the ship out of there and nothing else happens.