Has anyone ever seen a floating container at sea ? I was told the story by a mate a while ago, but would honestly have thought they sank almost immediately ?
Mike
Has anyone ever seen a floating container at sea ? I was told the story by a mate a while ago, but would honestly have thought they sank almost immediately ?
Mike
never seen one, but apparently thousands lost from cargo ships every year. I read an article about them once. Becoming more dangerous and no they don't sink (not all of them) - they usually sit under the water with not much showing. One of the biggest dangers to yachts around - many yachts hit them at night when on auto pilot. They will check radar, etc - know they're in the middle of now-where and go and have a shower, food, sleep, root - and BANG - rips the guts out of the boat.
ran a quick google search and scary
check this link http://www.cargolaw.com/2004nightmare_unstacked.htmlIt is estimated that over 10,000 ocean containers are lost each year over the side in the world ocean trades -- the result of high seas perils, improper stow, fire & even pirates.
The yearly financial loss due to ocean shipping container misfortune has not been calculated -- but the estimates are staggering -- in the US$ Billions.
Here (above) the photo shows the empty cell guides from which the aft containers have been torn to the sea.
or
"I saw one. (a floating container)....too late! Back in 1987, while returning to Newport, Rhode Island from Bermuda on my 42' racing sailboat. With a crew of 5, we were screaming along under spinnaker doing about 9 knots and surfing down the face of the waves at close to 12 knots when suddenly, KABOOM. We were stopped short, bounced once again into the unseen "immovable" object, then slid along side of what we could then see, a huge container!
The container was just low enough in the water that the forward part of the hull passed over it, but the keel what what slammed into it. We were not holed, the keel was still on the boat, but the force of the collision sprung the keel bolts and separated the keel from the hull somewhat, thus allowing a prodigious amount of water to come flowing into the boat. Fortunately, the three electric bilge pumps and the one manual pump were able to keep up with the incoming water. There was no way to stem the flow so we just kept up with it.
We retrieved the sails we had quickly doused and proceeded towards Newport with less speed but a greater sense of urgency. Fourteen hours later, we were in the slings at our marina, amazed at the amount of damage done to the keel.
The greatest damage, though, was done to my memory and mind. Ever since, while motoring or sailing offshore, about once or twice an hour, I think about hitting another container. This, as one might suspect, has put a little damper on my boating enjoyment ever since. As far as I am concerned, just ONE lost container was enough to ruin my day!"
G'day
I've never seen one myself offshore. But it was the greatest fear of my old skipper. Imagine cruising at 25knotts in a 44' cat and then WHAM. Possible split hulls. They will float 3 to 4' under the surface they think.
Dave
Have seen containers, palm trees standing upright (roots and dirt still attached), logs lost off wood ships, dead cows with their feet in the air.
If containers are lost (or anything else off a ship) a warning will be issued for the general area and for all merchant vessels to keep a good look out, not much for the rec guys though.
Mat
Guys ,
This sportfishing boat hit a semi submerged container and look at what the damage !
Jon .
It's not what you don't know that gets you into trouble , it's what you know for sure that ain't so .
Mark Twain .
and it made it back home, or was that after salvage?Originally Posted by Jonli
Jeremy
"The underlying spirit of angling is that the skill of the angler is pitted against the instinct and strength of the fish and the latter is entitled to an even chance for it's life."
(Quotation from the rules of the Tuna Club Avalon, Santa Catalina, U.S.A.)
Apathy is the enemy
Hi all,
a friend emailed me these photos of P&O's Flagship the Nedlloyd Barcelona in a big sea. The damaged recieved to the containers was conciderable. This ship is apparently over 200m long.
Makes Moreton Bay look tame!
How's this for wave action!
The sportsfisher was towed back to shore, bildges running![]()
It was about 3 to 4 years ago from memory.
during the last big flood in the hawkesbury( about 20 years ago) i saw caravans , mobile homes and tanks floating down the river. wonder what happens to these things