Passenger Drops Anchor of Cruise Ship - How ?

[avb3]

How the heck is this even possible???? Those chains are HEAVY!

[zeehag]

passenger was godzilla.....

[GordMay]

Page 3 of the Affidavit (2ND link) describes the general procedure he used to release the anchor.
➥ Anchor Drop Lands Cruise Passenger In Brig | The Smoking Gun

Affidavit ➥ Drunk Anchor Drop | The Smoking Gun

[TaoJones]

And this just in . . . video from the scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3WveEZykJ8

TaoJones

[avb3]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Page 3 of the Affidavit (2ND link) describes the general procedure he used to release the anchor.
➥ Anchor Drop Lands Cruise Passenger In Brig | The Smoking Gun

Affidavit ➥ Drunk Anchor Drop | The Smoking Gun

Interesting quote from the court proceedings (click on the thumbnail). You'd think that:

a) a large passenger liner had a bit more sophistication in their anchoring system than a 50' sailboat.

b) if he has his own boat, I sure don't want to be anywhere near it if he has this little disregard for safety of passengers and the well-being of the boat.

[wolfenzee]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Page 3 of the Affidavit (2ND link) describes the general procedure he used to release the anchor.
➥ Anchor Drop Lands Cruise Passenger In Brig | The Smoking Gun

Affidavit ➥ Drunk Anchor Drop | The Smoking Gun

Someone sabotaged a railroad track and the news paper very carefully described how to could remove the plate that connects the rails together and make a jumper so the sensor wouldn't know...the article went on to point out where on a curve would be the best place to do this....

[Unicorn Dreams]

Saw that same video clip about 6 or 7 years ago I believe it was.

The first thought I had was that I had never seen a cruise ship look that dirty, second thought was that she;s riding awful high out of the water.

Then on closer reading, the article says the cruise ship dropped her stern snchor in open water. I guess the video was just archive footage...

[Watermann]

Originally Posted by avb3

Interesting quote from the court proceedings (click on the thumbnail). You'd think that:

a) a large passenger liner had a bit more sophistication in their anchoring system than a 50' sailboat.

b) if he has his own boat, I sure don't want to be anywhere near it if he has this little disregard for safety of passengers and the well-being of the boat.

a) While you would think that would be the case, it really isn't necessarily so. Anchors need to be able to be deployed relatively quickly and easily if needed (probably why the area wasn't locked) and without the aid of ship's power. Most modern anchoring systems are quite simple and only require one person (albeit, an actual qualified crewmember) to release in an emergency.

All he needed to do was remove the buckler plate over the hawsepipe (if there was one), release whatever was securing the anchor for sea (could be a couple of turnbuckles with some shackles and chain - not many modern commercial ships use devil's claws or pelican hooks), make sure the windlass was disengaged (should be already), lift and secure the riding pawl and then release the brake.

That's it.

So, mechanically-speaking, it's very possible that this was similar to the setup on his boat. The obvious differences here are that this equipment is much heavier and less forgiving (in the hands of a first-timer he could have easily lost control and let the entire anchor and rode overboard - this can happen quite easily, especially in deep water) and he knew that he shouldn't have been there.

b) Ditto. This is also one of the reasons I have no desire to work on cruise ships. I know too many people who have stories similar to this of passengers doing dumb things from complaining about the weather to lighting their rooms on fire.

EDIT: After reading the Affidavit, it seems that this ship does utilize a pelican hook at the stern anchor and it's fitted with a fancy cable release mechanism. That makes this even simpler. That anchor could be deployed in less than a minute without having to mess with turnbuckles. Plus, your formal dining wear stays nice and clean!

[capngeo]

Hey Moe! No Brakes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ZKprRgxLQ

[Khagan1227]

Like the old saying goes... When the chain goes red.... you're dead.

I can't belive the camera operator didn't run.

[BLUEwaterchaser]

@ the first video HOLLY COW. I'm surprised that the tug didn't just sink\get a hole in the bowel....

@ second video. Wow that was rather alarming to say the least!