Posted on 07/29/2006 12:47:47 PM PDT by skeptoid
WINDS: Salvage tugs head for Cougar Ace as it is blown into U.S. waters.
A disabled, crewless ship loaded with nearly 5,000 autos has crossed into U.S. waters, drifting Friday toward Alaska's Aleutian chain.
The Cougar Ace was still listing on its side as it floated in choppy seas about 130 miles south of Atka Island, the Coast Guard said. The 654-foot car carrier had zigzagged more than 120 miles since it tilted sharply Sunday night, its crew rescued 24 hours later, said Petty Officer Richard Reichenbach.
The Coast Guard cutter Rush was tracking the ship as it slowly moved northeast.
"There's always concern, but we do have an asset on scene," Coast Guard Lt. Heather Neely said. "We're doing all we can, and it's not drifting very fast."
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
Do you 'spose that they have that friendly Gecko insuring them?
I dunno .... the 67 bug floated pretty high.
And the 73 model looks even more bouyant!
"CX-7 SUVs."
Arggh, that puts a whole new complexion on the matter.
SAVE THE SUVs!
or here if you see a red X.
Not what I'd call "dry humor".
I think you are right, somewhere someone pumped out what should have stayed aboard.
An oceangoing commercial tug was located by a helicopter fifty miles from the Enterprise formation, and in a remarkable set of circumstances, the frigate Gary took custody of the barge and dispatched the tug to the carrier, where she could relieve the Aegis cruiser, and, by the way, increase Big-E's speed of advance to nine knots. The tug's skipper contemplated the magnitude of the fee he'd gained under the Lloyd's Open Form salvage contract, which the carrier's CO had signed and ferried back by helicopter. The typical court award was 10 to 15 percent of the value of the property salved. A carrier, an air wing, and six thousand people, the tugboat crew thought. What was 10 percent of three billion dollars? Maybe they'd be generous and settle for five.
The USS Enterprise had been damaged and this salvage tug was used to pull it back to port. Now, that 10-15% may only apply in this case (assuming Clancy got it right) since he's just helping and it was still under command, even if disabled and needing a salvage tug to get anywhere.
I'm willing to bet that there's at least one lawyer with maritime law experience (or at least remembers their law school classes) who can provide info. I'll try to remember some of the folks who chimed in on the Dubai Ports deal from the professional lawyer standpoint and ping them.
Tin-foil hat only half on...
I find it hard to believe she crossed the ocean that way.
10% salvage fee, if I remember correctly.
I thought that ship looked fairly new. Looked it up and she was built in 2002.
Okaayyyyy!!!!!
30% suv's, must be liberals did this
It looks like it's on a sandbar or something. Odd.
Look at how clean the hull is. It's either new or freshly cleaned and painted.
my bet is greenpeace harassed them and caused it to founder like this..they've been harassing Alaskan cod fishermen for months, interrupting supplies severely... they are modern day pirates...
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