Grounded Coal ship

[awg]

The grounding of the Chinese coal vessel on the Barrier reef bought back memories of the salvage of a grounded vessel off Newcastle in 07.

There was a lot of reporting of salvage related matters in the local press at the time, especially as it was no sure thing they could get it off Nobbys beach.

A couple of matters I recollect, I may be hazy here, but Marine Diesel is apparently extremely viscious (thick) and needs to be heated to even flow, and as such, is not at all amenable to being pumped off a stricken ship ( I dont know how much sense that makes, as presumably it is pumped on)

The vessel at Newcastle was empty, but even so, marine salvage experts were divided on best methods, and likelyhood of success.

Even moderate flexion on the "spine" of these vessels apparently causes damage that requires immediate major repair.

They need a big high tide to attempt salvage

btw, the grounding of that vessel was a mind blowing sight, it got hit with 18 metre waves and just surfed in like a popcork, what would be forgotten by now, is that 3 others missed the same fate by the skin of their teeth

 

[GumbyLearner]

The grounding of the Chinese coal vessel on the Barrier reef bought back memories of the salvage of a grounded vessel off Newcastle in 07.

There was a lot of reporting of salvage related matters in the local press at the time, especially as it was no sure thing they could get it off Nobbys beach.

A couple of matters I recollect, I may be hazy here, but Marine Diesel is apparently extremely viscious (thick) and needs to be heated to even flow, and as such, is not at all amenable to being pumped off a stricken ship ( I dont know how much sense that makes, as presumably it is pumped on)

The vessel at Newcastle was empty, but even so, marine salvage experts were divided on best methods, and likelyhood of success.

Even moderate flexion on the "spine" of these vessels apparently causes damage that requires immediate major repair.

They need a big high tide to attempt salvage

btw, the grounding of that vessel was a mind blowing sight, it got hit with 18 metre waves and just surfed in like a popcork, what would be forgotten by now, is that 3 others missed the same fate by the skin of their teeth

Was it a single or double-hulled carrier?

 

[trainspotter]

Shen Neng 1 apparently was taking a "shortcut" a little too far North from the Douglas Shoal area. I am struggling to understand in this day and age that with the technology we have with SatNav's and OceanView that a ship of this size can run aground? There are a plethora of settings you can use with these systems to alert for depth of water, proximity to known hazardous shipping areas, Radar pinging for other ships in the area ... you can even set them to autopilot to follow the shipping lanes! Someone is going to be in a world of pain over this one ! The part I found amusing was they did not tell the authorities for 2 hours after they had hit the bottom. All the white stuff in the water was shoal coral getting turned into paste by the propwash as they tried to reverse their way off the reef !

 

[awg]

There is all this engineering stuff about how force is applied,and from what angle, suction on the bottom, etc.

They winched the one off Newcastle using 3 or 4 specialist vessels.

Snapped a couple of thick steel cables in the effort, and it sure didnt have 65ktonne on board.

guess they can just dynamite the f*ck out of the reef

 

[Smurf1976]

Snapped a couple of thick steel cables in the effort, and it sure didnt have 65ktonne on board.

I'm guessing there's no practical means of getting that coal off the ship? (Other than simply setting the whole thing on fire).

 

[newbie trader]

Apparently the channel they should have been traveling down is a very busy one and is hence very wide...hard to see how they could of hit the reef...apparently the max fine they can get is 1mil and 220k for the driver. Do you think the fine is appropriate? And do you think theyll get fined?

 

[nioka]

I'm guessing there's no practical means of getting that coal off the ship? (Other than simply setting the whole thing on fire).

[
I can think of two means of getting it off the ship.
1. over the side.
2. through a hole in the side.

It may be the start of a new coral atol. The chinese might then claim ownership of an island in the Pacific,after all it is their coal.

 

[Putty7]

[
I can think of two means of getting it off the ship.
1. over the side.
2. through a hole in the side.

It may be the start of a new coral atol. The chinese might then claim ownership of an island in the Pacific,after all it is their coal.

Maybe the Captain and crew could acquire some new skills for their next jobs shovelling it over the side

 

[newbie trader]

I dont think we have to worry now kevin flew over it today and said he's taking the threat to the barrier reef seriously so itll be all good now. Kevin has spoken.

 

[steptoe88]

yes i totally agree, now kevin has spoken it will all be alright, working families wont have to worry and the education system will be even better, all schools will now install coal burning appliances funded by the money saved on roof insulation installations, once the coal is delivered to the schools and used the money saved by non use will be put toward , new projects benefiting all working families, kevin will also now find a way to lay all the blame for this catastrophy at the feet of tony, who, because he had no policy designed for this must shoulder all blame, this will now become a nation building excercise which kevin can show off to barrack once he has time to nip down under for a holiday, oh thats also probably funded by working families.

 

[awg]

Could be a new "Pacific solution".

Dump the coal tailings, build up an atoll, chuck some boat people on it.

peeps can live aboard ready made accomodation of shipboard bunks

Difficult problems need innovative solutions

 

[newbie trader]

Could be a new "Pacific solution".

Dump the coal tailings, build up an atoll, chuck some boat people on it.

peeps can live aboard ready made accomodation of shipboard bunks

Difficult problems need innovative solutions

I think Tony should snap up that idea quick smart

 

[awg]

Was it a single or double-hulled carrier?

I'm not 100% but think it was double...it was a newish vessel, and suffered structural spinal damage I alluded to.

Many marine salvage experts derided the decision to sail it to Singapore for repair for fears of sinking.

The situation with the marine diesel was a bit similar in that only a small amount was leaking, but there was a full tank on board.

If the ship broke up, it was going to spill everywhere

I know they didnt take it off, even though the risk of breaking up was considerable, as the ship was battered by heavy waves.

The salvage operators were sparing in releasing information, and it took a few weeks to move it.

The Captain took the chop, even though it was shown a chain of incompetencies were to blame, as well as a freak storm

 

[Trembling Hand]

There is a problem with the new coal Island as a tourist attraction or new detention centre, coal floats - I think.

 

[trainspotter]

There is a problem with the new coal Island as a tourist attraction or new detention centre, coal floats - I think.

I like the idea of a floating island ! We could probably fit around 600 refugees on this island and tow them back to whence they came. I am pretty sure it has to be "clean coal" to be able to float. Mr Rudd said the ship remained an environmental threat to the reef. "It is absolutely outrageous that a vessel this size could find itself 12km off course in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef," he said. "My view is that the law must be fully and absolutely applied in these circumstances. Australians take the Great Barrier Reef very, very seriously." he squealed.

 

[newbie trader]

I like the idea of a floating island ! We could probably fit around 600 refugees on this island and tow them back to whence they came. I am pretty sure it has to be "clean coal" to be able to float. Mr Rudd said the ship remained an environmental threat to the reef. "It is absolutely outrageous that a vessel this size could find itself 12km off course in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef," he said. "My view is that the law must be fully and absolutely applied in these circumstances. Australians take the Great Barrier Reef very, very seriously." he squealed.

And then got into his car twidling his fingers - "ive got them right where I want them now!"

 

[Calliope]

The Shen Neng 1 was rat running at top speed to shorten the trip which is a common practice in Queensland.

Rudd and Bligh are making a lot of noise, but without China buying our coal Queensland would be a basket case. The ship is an immovable object and will probably break up in the first rough weather. The best they can do is try to get the oil off.

 

[Julia]

yes i totally agree, now kevin has spoken it will all be alright, working families wont have to worry and the education system will be even better, all schools will now install coal burning appliances funded by the money saved on roof insulation installations, once the coal is delivered to the schools and used the money saved by non use will be put toward , new projects benefiting all working families, kevin will also now find a way to lay all the blame for this catastrophy at the feet of tony, who, because he had no policy designed for this must shoulder all blame, this will now become a nation building excercise which kevin can show off to barrack once he has time to nip down under for a holiday, oh thats also probably funded by working families.

Could be a new "Pacific solution".

Dump the coal tailings, build up an atoll, chuck some boat people on it.

peeps can live aboard ready made accomodation of shipboard bunks

Difficult problems need innovative solutions

Clearly you have a bright future as a political strategist.

There is a problem with the new coal Island as a tourist attraction or new detention centre, coal floats - I think.

Oh, don't get all nit picky about the pesky details, TH. As TS has suggested, this can be turned into a plus by floating the new detention centre further from our shores.

 

[Smurf1976]

Then can we set it on fire? Please! When do we get to set it on fire?

Time for a community bonfire and fireworks. 65,000 tonnes of coal ought to be enough for the bonfire, and the political consequences of the ship running aground should be enough fireworks to keep everyone amused.

 

[derty]

There is a problem with the new coal Island as a tourist attraction or new detention centre, coal floats - I think.

No it sinks - black coal has an SG/density of around 1.3.