Grounded ‘Mega Ship’ Blocking Suez Canal in Both Directions

[wingssail]

Seems like the Houthi's could drone-drop a bomb on that thing and block the canal for good. Or anyone, for that matter.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

I heard the problem had been solved..........
Cheers

beautiful

[IslandHopper]

EGYPT/SUEZ CANAL

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels entering or leaving Egyptian ports and for vessels transiting the Suez Canal, regardless of whether the vessels call at Port Said or Suez or not.

Pilotage services are administered under the local regulations of the subject port and the Suez Canal Formal Regulations. Suez Canal pilots are under the employment and authority of the Suez Canal Organisation, whereas the other pilots are not state pilots but subject to supervision of the port authorities concerned.

Liability: Pursuant to the Egyptian Maritime Code No. 8 of 1990 (Art. 279) as well as rulings of the Supreme Court in Egypt, the responsibility for pilotage operation in port and in the Suez Canal lies entirely with the Master of the guided vessel, even in case of the pilots error.


And just FYI, In the case of the Panama canal - Pilotage through the Panama Canal is compulsory and carried out exclusively by Panama Canal Commission pilots. Unlike most ports of the world, Panama Canal pilots do not act in an advisory capacity but take command over the vessel.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Pilots and Captains, at this level, are extremely experienced and competent mariners. I doubt the grounding was due to amatuerish error, likely something like you say, a major systems malfunction.

Pilots and Captains are human
Some are cautious, but some unfortunately have egos bigger than their ships.

Those older from Vancouver may remember an incident in 1979 when a Freighter "Japan Erica" collided with the second narrows railway bridge shutting down that railway line which supplied grain for export.

At that time, I worked as part time skipper on Pilot Boats and harbour tugs while attending Marine College.

The Pilot was well known to me.
Young, energetic, always in hurry and basically, a conceited ******* who would tell captains to raise their anchor before even getting on board, making my dropping him off more challenging

That night he should never have made that 2nd narrow transit in zero visibility!

Being on call, the Harbour Master paged me to meet him at our pilot boat dock around 2am

Still zero vis, we slowly got up to 2nd Barrows bridge with Harbour Master and City Engineer and the current now running hard.

Spotlight showed nothing but they needed to get thru to Indian Arm where the ship had re-anchored

So we chanced a quick run thru just as a railway sleepers came crashing down beside us, but made it to the Japan Erica.

I got to listen in on the initial chat with the Pilot.
All the Pilots bluster and bravado was now gone
He retired in disgrace to the delight of those on the waterfront who knew him.

...and that was one of the greatest lessons in my carreeer!







http://concernedengineers.org/second...sk-assessment/

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by Don C L

So, in flying there is something called a PIO, "pilot induced oscillation." Is this the ship-in-wind-in-channel version of that? Seems like it could be easy to overcorrect to compensate for wind and then not be able to recover or correctly judge how the ship is responding. And to my untrained eye it appears he's going too fast relative to course corrections.

Hi Don
This video explains bank interaction

What it does not explain is how speed can make it worse.

https://www.marine-pilots.com/videos...s-bank-effects

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Hi Don
This video explains bank interaction

What it does not explain is how speed can make it worse.

https://www.marine-pilots.com/videos...s-bank-effects

Interesting, thank you! Bank effect + wind, or maybe just bank effect and going too fast. I would gather from that that speed would definitely have an effect.

[desodave]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Hi Don
This video explains bank interaction

What it does not explain is how speed can make it worse.

https://www.marine-pilots.com/videos...s-bank-effects

Thank you


I am old enough to remember the Japan Erica too, and now understand much more about the dangers of increased oil shipments out of Vancouver harbour in the bigger tankers. And ... on topic ... about the Ever Given in the Suez Canal.

[Don C L]

I found this one too and it was even more instructive. In both cases of squat and bank effect, the correct action is to slow down, but there must be some minimum speed they have to keep to maintain steerage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXxF9kMzOk0

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I found this one too and it was even more instructive. In both cases of squat and bank effect, the correct action is to slow down, but there must be some minimum speed they have to keep to maintain steerage.

Excellent video Don... I'll save that[emoji1303]

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by desodave

Thank you


I am old enough to remember the Japan Erica too, and now understand much more about the dangers of increased oil shipments out of Vancouver harbour in the bigger tankers. And ... on topic ... about the Ever Given in the Suez Canal.

Yes that solution for shipping oil from Vancouver is really dumb.

Years ago I was assisting a Norwegian company laying cables between mainland and Vancouver Island via the bottom end of Texada>Lasqueti to Qualicum.

Always thought that was the perfect solution of an oil pipeline to a deep water port in Alberni Inlet

[double u]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

Here's the data from March 23. The forecast was for wind gusts to 40 mph. One boat carrying LNG decided to wait. Other smaller ships were using tugs. The Canal rules say that the captain and crew are ultimately responsible for the boat btw. It looks like the ship sped up to obtain better steerage. They were going faster than the speed limit but unfortunately this really rammed the boat into the bank.

40mph from EAST or WEST?

[Franziska]

Great find and good video. Especially from 7:11 onward.
I also like the simple yet sympathic way in which the graphics are done.

Originally Posted by Don C L

I found this one too and it was even more instructive. In both cases of squat and bank effect, the correct action is to slow down, but there must be some minimum speed they have to keep to maintain steerage.

[JPA Cate]

Tonight's news has the Ever Given partially afloat, with the bow still hung up on a very lot of mud.

Maybe get her off at high water tomorrow night? I'm pretty sure the salvors are trying like the very devil to get the dirt out from her.

Ann

[Franziska]

Here they have it right now in the morning :-) news that she is fully afloat and secured now.
Still they may have to clear out some silt alongside.

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Tonight's news has the Ever Given partially afloat, with the bow still hung up on a very lot of mud.

Maybe get her off at high water tomorrow night? I'm pretty sure the salvors are trying like the very devil to get the dirt out from her.

Ann

[IslandHopper]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW6mGW-yK1A