This one only fell some 12,600 feet and it is really smashed.
Posted on 11/05/2015 6:36:36 PM PST by rockinqsranch
A major disappointment announced today in the investigation into the El Faro sinking with the NTSB now saying that the wreck of the ship was discovered with the navigation bridge missing and no sign of the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR).
(Excerpt) Read more at gcaptain.com ...
The ship must have broke-up pretty bad.
I keep waiting for an explanation why a modern ship with all the nav gear available was anywhere near a hurricane.
Five graduates of the Maine Maritime Academy were on that ship. Two of them were in one of my classes. One just graduated in May and this was his first job-he was on the
ship for three days before it sank. One of my current students was his girl friend and high school sweetheart.
I suppose you, and I will have a long wait. I’m going to keep following the news on this for some time to come.
My question is why was a forty year old ship being refit over multiple voyages to take routes on the West Coast as her replacement vessels came on line? Seems to me as it’s common practice to scrap these types of vessels at age 25-30 years this vessel at forty years of age was quite an extraordinary circumstance.
Most vessels or this type are scrapped after 25-30 years. Their costs to operate per voyage increase due maintenance factors, as well the wear, and tear on their structures lessens their resistance to the elements they are intended to operate in.
El Faro was scheduled to take a new route on the West Coast from Washington to Alaska. For what duration they intended to keep her in that route is unknown by me, but at her age it’s a curiosity she wasn’t destined for the scrap heap.
Very sad. Actually heartbreaking...the whole event.
According to articles El Faro was designed to operate in Alaskan waters. So a very tough and strengthened hull.
Ends up being cheaper to refit a ship like that over the course of a longer life than build a comparable replacement.
So sorry. Prayers up for everyone.
Thanks for that. It was a curiosity. I’d not read the vessel was specifically designed for the Alaskan service. Makes more sense, but still has my head spinning.
I keep waiting for an explanation why a modern ship with all the nav gear available was anywhere near a hurricane.
...
It was exactly where the captain intentionally steered it.
My theory all along was that he was under pressure from management to save time and money.
So sorry to hear how close the tragedy is to you. My condolences to you, your students, and colleagues.
We are going along fine now, but there was a great outpouring of prayers and community a few weeks ago.
A vigil was held one evening and about 300 people came, including 100 people from the village. Without any prompts, a few people started singing the Navy Hymn. Soon all 300 people joined in. When they finished there was not a dry eye
in the crowd.
Thank you very much. There are many on FR who have expressed condolences over the past month or so.
CGI of how Titanic sank.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSGeskFzE0s
Sorry for the loss of your friends.
The El Faro was moored in Baltimore where I saw it often. I keep looking for it when I pass the port.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
I rotated with another master on a container ship. I would come back to the ship to relieve him and find bent masts and rails, damaged containers and who knows how much internal container cargo damage. One voyage we found the main center line deck beam cracked and opening & closing with each wave.
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