Cargo Ship Missing in Hurricane Joaquin

iambecomelife · 10-03-15, 06:00 AM

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/...quin/73203942/

No word from this ship for quite a few hours...at this point, everyone is hoping it's just a communications failure. I wonder if any subsimmers with nautical experience could say how likely it is that a modern ship could lose all comms?

She's 40 years old and part RO/RO, like the "Estonia" and "Herald of Free Enterprise". 33 crewmembers. Last report said they had flooding and a 15 degree list.

Jimbuna · 10-03-15, 07:39 AM

Judging by the last report and the fact no new updates are forthcoming I'd be fearing the worst. Hopefully this will have a good ending and she will be sighted soon.

Oberon · 10-03-15, 08:33 AM

Nasty, a RO/RO in swells like that...not a good combination. Here's hoping the crew are safe.

Kapitan · 10-03-15, 08:38 AM

Worked on similar vessels she isn't like the Herald or Estonia as she loads from the stern only so in a way she is pretty safe.

But knowing what they are like sea keeping wise I would be fearing the worst.

Aktungbby · 10-03-15, 11:02 AM

The vessel has 391 containers topside and 294 trucks and trailers below deck. That cargo makes the listing problems even worse at sea, The Coast Guard is "very concerned" about the ship and is doing everything it can to locate it. Listing was at 15 degrees in 20-30 seas, force 4-5, and 'taking on water' with no power...

at that list the load will begin to shift. Don't the free-fall orange (Captain Phillips) life boats have radios or reliable position transponders? The ones in the photo are not enclosed type

but I don't know photo date.

kraznyi_oktjabr · 10-03-15, 01:18 PM

At my understanding SOLAS and other regulations require all commercial vessels to have EPIRBs (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) which should activate and deploy automatically when submerged. Ofcourse if ship rolled over completely before they could deploy...

Kapitan · 10-03-15, 03:47 PM

Even if the ship rolls over EPIRB will deploy and transmit

kraznyi_oktjabr · 10-03-15, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan

Even if the ship rolls over EPIRB will deploy and transmit

Yes, they should.

Quote:

The ESTONIA was equipped with two modern EPIRB buoys (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) of type Kannad 406 F.
The last check of the radio beacons was reported to have been made about one week prior to the disaster by the radio operator. The check confirmed that the EPIRBs were in full working order and it has to be assumed that both were left in "switched-on" condition after the test.
Nevertheless, no signals from the two buoys were received in the course of the rescue operation.

From this source, although I have heard this before and if I'm not mistaken it was stated in official report as well.

Buoys not being able to clear the sinking ship is most plausible scenario I can come up with. If someone has better explanation, please throw in your two cents.

EDIT: Previous statement is ofcourse assuming the ship has been lost. Hopefully it hasn''t and this is just an unusual communications problem.

mapuc · 10-03-15, 05:44 PM

I truly hope they will find the crew in some lifeboat or similar, thirsty and hungry but alive

Markus

kraznyi_oktjabr · 10-05-15, 10:36 AM

El Faro, Cargo Ship Carrying 28 Americans, Believed to Have Sunk

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBC News

Authorities believe a cargo ship missing since Thursday with 33 crewmen aboard was lost at sea and believed to have sunk in the teeth of Hurricane Joaquin, NBC News has learned.
The families of the crew, including 28 Americans, have been notified. The U.S. Coast Guard said at a news conference Monday morning that it will continue to search for survivors.
The El Faro was likely swallowed by the Category 4 hurricane at its last known location Thursday on the way to San Juan, Puerto Rico, said Coast Guard Captain Mike Fedor. The remnants of the ship are likely 15,000 feet underwater, he said.
On Sunday afternoon, a Coast Guard search vessel had found a 225-square-mile "debris field" of wood, cargo and other items. Fedor said crews also discovered human remains in a survival suit during their search for the ship, but they were "unidentifiable." ---

iambecomelife · 10-05-15, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

El Faro, Cargo Ship Carrying 28 Americans, Believed to Have Sunk

It's looking more grim with every update, although I still hope some of them got off...after all, some survivors in WWII spent months adrift with much more primitive lifeboats than the El Faro's.

If not, then this would be the first major US cargo ship disaster since the "Marine Electric" (correct me if I'm wrong).

In the days to come, hopefully we can find out what went wrong with the ocean routing service or the ship itself. I suppose we must never assume bad things can't happen to a large, modern ship.

August · 10-05-15, 07:00 PM

Eternal Father strong to save
Whose arm has bound the restless wave
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
It's own appointed limits keep
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in Peril on the sea

Jimbuna · 10-06-15, 08:41 AM

Certainly not looking good.

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt · 10-06-15, 12:28 PM

For the italian news, the cargo is with no doubts sunk; but is possible (however unlikely) that some crew people are survived.

Jeff-Groves · 10-07-15, 09:14 PM

Let's see.
That would be the Bermuda Triangle area?
In a Hurricane?

Cue Twilight Zone music!

10-03-15, 06:00 AM	#1
iambecomelife Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,706 Downloads: 300 Uploads: 0	Cargo Ship Missing in Hurricane Joaquin http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/...quin/73203942/ No word from this ship for quite a few hours...at this point, everyone is hoping it's just a communications failure. I wonder if any subsimmers with nautical experience could say how likely it is that a modern ship could lose all comms? She's 40 years old and part RO/RO, like the "Estonia" and "Herald of Free Enterprise". 33 crewmembers. Last report said they had flooding and a 15 degree list. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/WolvesoftheKaiser/

10-03-15, 07:39 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Judging by the last report and the fact no new updates are forthcoming I'd be fearing the worst. Hopefully this will have a good ending and she will be sighted soon. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-03-15, 08:38 AM	#4
Kapitan Sub Test Pilot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK + Canada Posts: 7,130 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 7	Worked on similar vessels she isn't like the Herald or Estonia as she loads from the stern only so in a way she is pretty safe. But knowing what they are like sea keeping wise I would be fearing the worst. __________________ DONT FORGET if you like a post to nominate it by using the blue diamond Find out about Museum Ships here: https://www.museumships.us/ Flickr for all my pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131313936@N03/ Navy general board articles: https://www.navygeneralboard.com/author/aegis/

10-03-15, 11:02 AM	#5
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 29,981 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	The vessel has 391 containers topside and 294 trucks and trailers below deck. That cargo makes the listing problems even worse at sea, The Coast Guard is "very concerned" about the ship and is doing everything it can to locate it. Listing was at 15 degrees in 20-30 seas, force 4-5, and 'taking on water' with no power... at that list the load will begin to shift. Don't the free-fall orange (Captain Phillips) life boats have radios or reliable position transponders? The ones in the photo are not enclosed type but I don't know photo date. __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!! Last edited by Aktungbby; 10-03-15 at 11:13 AM.

10-03-15, 01:18 PM	#6
kraznyi_oktjabr Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Republiken Finland Posts: 1,803 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	At my understanding SOLAS and other regulations require all commercial vessels to have EPIRBs (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) which should activate and deploy automatically when submerged. Ofcourse if ship rolled over completely before they could deploy... __________________ You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic. - Dr. House

10-03-15, 08:33 AM	#3
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Nasty, a RO/RO in swells like that...not a good combination. Here's hoping the crew are safe.

10-03-15, 03:47 PM	#7
Kapitan Sub Test Pilot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK + Canada Posts: 7,130 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 7	Even if the ship rolls over EPIRB will deploy and transmit __________________ DONT FORGET if you like a post to nominate it by using the blue diamond Find out about Museum Ships here: https://www.museumships.us/ Flickr for all my pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131313936@N03/ Navy general board articles: https://www.navygeneralboard.com/author/aegis/

10-03-15, 05:44 PM	#9
mapuc CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 20,535 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	I truly hope they will find the crew in some lifeboat or similar, thirsty and hungry but alive Markus

10-05-15, 07:00 PM	#12
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Eternal Father strong to save Whose arm has bound the restless wave Who bids the mighty ocean deep It's own appointed limits keep O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in Peril on the sea __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

10-06-15, 08:41 AM	#13
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Certainly not looking good. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-06-15, 12:28 PM	#14
Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt Frogman Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Trieste/Siena Italy Posts: 297 Downloads: 164 Uploads: 0	For the italian news, the cargo is with no doubts sunk; but is possible (however unlikely) that some crew people are survived.

10-07-15, 09:14 PM	#15
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,649 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Let's see. That would be the Bermuda Triangle area? In a Hurricane? Cue Twilight Zone music!