ship sinks in antartica

[sevseasail]

did you guys see this?
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

[AjariBonten]

Yup,

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/off-topic/38737-ship-sinking-antarctic.html

Scary.

[sevseasail]

sorry!!
I missed it.

[CGMojo]

Losing a ship because of a hole the size of a man's fist indicates piss poor Damage Control preparedness and training. Even if the one compartment was completely flooded, the ship could / should have been saved. I'm not impressed.

[nolatom]

Originally Posted by CGMojo

Losing a ship because of a hole the size of a man's fist indicates piss poor Damage Control preparedness and training. Even if the one compartment was completely flooded, the ship could / should have been saved. I'm not impressed.

I kinda wonder if that description of the hole was accurate, or if so, if it was the only breach. I agree that there should be enough watertight subdivision to avoid loss of stablility and buoyancy with just one compartment breached. So maybe it was more than one compartment damaged. Maybe we'll know eventually, maybe not (if it was very deep where she went down).

The most fortunate thing here was the weather, apparently fairly calm seas at least initially, otherwise this could have been a much different story.

[Tartan34C]

Originally Posted by CGMojo

Losing a ship because of a hole the size of a man's fist indicates piss poor Damage Control preparedness and training. Even if the one compartment was completely flooded, the ship could / should have been saved. I'm not impressed.

Believing a newspapers account of something isn’t usually a very good idea. And condemning a Master and his crew based on poor information is very bad practice and says something about you.
All the best,
Robert Gainer

[sailingdog]

CGMojo-

There hasn't been any confirmed reports of why the boat sank... you're basing your criticism on facts not necessarily in evidence.

BTW, exactly what would you have done in near freezing waters with a hole the size of your fist in the bottom of your boat??? I seriously doubt that you would be able to save your boat in that circumstance. A four-inch diameter hole five feet below the waterline lets in almost 1600 gallons per minute. I'd really be interested in hearing how you would deal with 1600 gallons of water per minute coming into your boat...that wouldn't result in abandoning ship.

[nolatom]

Here's a discussion from "another forum":

http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums...howtopic=63871.

Appears the damage was fairly large and DC may have given way to getting all passengers off as quick as possible. Since they got them all into lifeboats (before the list made it impossible to launch?) maybe this the best that could have been done under the circumstances.

I'm in a warm office with a computer, not out there, so I'll refrain from second-guessing this crew for the time being, just glad all safe.

[CGMojo]

Sailingdog and Tartan34c:

From numerous news accounts: "Susan Hayes, vice-president of marketing for Gap Adventures, said: 'The hull has a hole the size of a fist and the outlook is not so positive for the ship at the moment.' "

Sirs, I am criticising the ship's captain, her engineer, and her owners for losing a ship over a 5" hole in the hull. A ship this size sailing in antarctic waters should be better prepared. No matter where the hole was or how frigid the waters, the ship could have been and should have been saved.

I have dealt with far more serious flooding on vessels larger and smaller than the one in question, all with successful results. I have responded to simultaneous flooding in three compartments on a 180' ship and although it was a very busy day, the ship was saved. You have to have good equipment and good training, you have to have a good team, and you have to get on the case immediately and fight aggressively, but it can be done.

[AjariBonten]

Apparently, according to what I read this morning, there was a crack extending into more than one watertight compartment.

And yes, we should refrain from armchair quarterbacking on limited reports from halfway around the world as events till unfold ............