How a 50 cent part can cost 16 lives & over $20,000,000.00

[sailaway21]

It's good that Giu was able to advert disaster with his rudder failure. Below is what happens when a similar 50 cent part fails at the wrong time on a ship in the wrong place. Frequent readers will recall my mentioning of the Sea Witch and Esso Brussells allision. In fact, I had a classmate from the USMMA on the Sea Witch. Below are a brief description of the incident by the USCG as well as a video of the allision and firefighting efforts. The video is part of a montage and the Sea Witch/Esso Brussells begins at minute 23. The view of the steering gear part that failed is at minute 40. I encourage the watching of the entire video. It will illustrate the difference between ships built to class under ABS standards and lesser construction techniques employed overseas. It will be noted that the Sea Witch actually saved her own crew, while the Esso Brussells ensured her crew's deaths. Interior bulkhead construction, ie..less than class A fireproof bulkheads, was/is common on some older foreign built cruise ships. After watching this video, you'll have more than a passing interest in the actual ship you elect to take your cruise upon.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/moa/docs/ll0198.htm
http://www.vacation-cruise-videos.com/watch/?vid=8254