Container Ship Rena Timelapse

[hpeer]

This is a 3 min. time lapse video of the stricken Rena on Astrolabe Reef.

You see the recovery effort and, near the end, the breakup.

Contiainer Ship Rena - Timelapse - YouTube

[S/V Alchemy]

I'm no expert, but should they not have offloaded the containers from the low side first?

[cdennyb]

In the end, nothing can survive the ocean and elements. So sad... It was quite an effort on the part of the crane operator though. I'm so surprised it took so long to unload the containers...

[cdennyb]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

I'm no expert, but should they not have offloaded the containers from the low side first?

My thoughts exactly.

[SabreKai]

Actually no. The reason they unload them from the high side first is to A) keep the barge safe if some of the cans break loose, and B) to take some of the strain off the cans farther down toward the low side. If the barge came along the low side and those retaining clamps let go, the entire stack would topple over onto the barge and crane. Those rods and bars can take a fair bit of strain but not like what you see here. This is why they still lose cans over the side in stormy weather.