BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 08:38 AM

gnu-

Exactly!

I am bemused to learn that this luxury cruise ship is a converted container ship. I wonder if some of the luxury cabins are converted shipping containers.

But I do wish everyone well!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 10:52 PM

The tugs are under contract too. They have to be there to keep her trim and put her in port. This is not a rescue done out of the goodness of heart. All of these vessels are getting paid at this point. Otherwise, the laws of salvage would prevail... no?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 07:46 PM

Evidently the trawler doesn't object to the tugs helping and they are, and I also certainly have no quarrel with the trawler picking up the lion's share of the towing.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 02:03 PM

I would have done the same. There was a contract to tow. If they don't wire the money, ya keep towing until they do. And you can be damn sure the tower will stop towing before they get to port if the towee doesn't cough up the coin. I say it was Costa's call as far as when they get to port.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 01:23 PM

Oh, and here's an update from the salvage firm that is pumping out the fuel oil from the wrecked Costa Concordia:

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

The oil removal activities recommenced on 24 February with the crane barge 'Meloria' and bunker barge 'Magic Duba' repositioned alongside the Costa Concordia just behind the stabilizer (large fin which is sticking out from the ship). Oil has been removed from three different double bottom tanks and from the double bottom sludge tank. Currently, using the hot tap method, two fuel tanks in the aft part of the vessel are in progress of being pumped.
Outstanding work includes the removal of HFO from four double bottom tanks, the fuel storage tanks located in the engine room and the removal of sanitary residues.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 01:13 PM

Evidently the French trawler was unwilling to relinquish towing this ship to port to a pair of faster sea-going tugs (MSNBC):

"Passengers aboard a disabled cruise ship will spend 10 to 12 hours longer at sea than was needed because a French vessel pulling the ship refused to give way to tugboats, a Seychelles government minister says.

Joel Morgan told The Associated Press that the cruise ship Costa Allegra likely would have arrived in the Seychelles' main port of Mahe on Wednesday night local time if the tugs had been allowed to take over.

The cruise ship instead is not set to arrive until midmorning Thursday. Morgan, the transport minister, said the Seychelles is not happy that the financial objectives of the French vessel was put ahead of the well-being and safety of the passengers."

I suppose the French trawler expects to collect a hefty towing fee.

So it goes.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 07:41 PM

According to the evening news, the Costa Allegra is now expected to arrive in Victoria Harbour on Thursday. That's assuming everything goes smoothly.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Bernard
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 06:09 PM

Apparently the MS Allegra was originally built and commissioned as a container ship in 1969, and served as such for almost twenty years.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 05:54 PM

"Join the Navy, and see the World....."

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 05:16 PM

Which is why I don't cruise on the Big Ships.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 05:03 PM

Here's an update:

"The Trevignon, a deep sea trawler which sails the oceans for tuna from the Atlantic port of Concarneau, is pulling the Costa Allegra, a vessel many times its size, on a 400-metre cable at a speed of only about six knots, the Trevignon's skipper Alain Dervout told his local French newspaper, Ouest-France.

He was joined today by two tugs and a coastguard ship, all from Seychelles, the archipelago's government said. A military aircraft was also flying in support of the operation."

So off they go at 6 knots toward the Seychelles. Anyone check the weather forecast?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 02:50 PM

Rapparee, the Costa cruise line is owned by Carnival, a corportion based on American and UK capital (Trading at $45 in March last year, now at roughly $30).
The QE 2, and 50% of all cruise line business, as previously noted, are owned by the Carnival corporation.

Bobert, my wife and I both enjoyed cruises but always get an outside cabin and keep the life jackets and shark repellant handy. The outside cabins are the only ones that can get fresh air when the generators go off line. A supply of barf bags is also useful to toss your waste to the fish, since the plumbing could quit. A liner without power soon stinks worse than Uncle Louie's outhouse. And a supply of candy bars and peanuts, since most of the food on board rots.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: EBarnacle
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 01:03 PM

In both cases, you think the captain might regret having left the pier? Costa's reputation, none to good before, is in the can.

On the earlier subject:

Typical Admiralty court hearing:

Captain, how close to shore were you?
Mumble
And were you on deck?
Mumble
Were you keeping a good lookout, as required by maritime law and custom?
Mumble
Then, why did you not see the rock and take the necessary action to avoid collision?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 10:48 AM

There have been several engine room fires reported in the last few years, I believe, that have required towing luxury cruise liners back to port. I do wonder if there is a major design flaw.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 10:00 AM

Anybody want to buy some stock in an Italian cruise line? Please?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 08:03 AM

Another update on the Costa Allegra from the Telegraph UK: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/seychelles/9109557/Costa-cruise-liner-adrift-in-Indian-Ocean-six- (link gone sour)

It was reported last evening that one of the large fishing boats had arrived alongside the cruise liner already. Other rescue vessels should be arriving today, and if good weather prevails the cruise ship should be towed into Victoria Harbour in the Seychelles by Wednesday.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 10:29 PM

Well, the P-Vine has been itchin' to go on one of these cruises and me??? Not...

Keep sinkin' these things and maybe there won't be any left...

Works for me...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 10:28 PM

No pirates will get near that ship. Either by the pirates having a clue or by the ship's owners allowing that to happen. Any pirates that do try are stupid and face certain death.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 10:23 PM

Assuming the weather holds, everything looks promising for the passengers and crew.

There is this interesting footnote in the above report:

"Somali pirates are known to operate in the area where the ship is adrift, though they have never seized a cruise liner.

Nine members of the Italian navy's anti-pirate unit are on board the ship as a precaution."

One wonders if there is really an anti-piracy unit aboard or whether that was put out to scare pirates away. But then, what would Somali pirates do with such a huge catch?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 06:13 PM

""Most safety flaws can be traced to accountants and management trying to please shareholders or politicians""

True, and the influence of the cruise ship companies at the IMO, is significant.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 05:48 PM

Seychelles, Seychelles,
What a sea shore!
Let's all go a-cruising the world to explore!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Bernard
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 04:05 PM

The Costa Allegra...

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 03:41 PM

Most safety flaws can be traced to accountants and management trying to please shareholders or politicians. Been there, done that. Said it before on other threads... I told them to change my engineering designs in writing, sign and date it or give me in writing a directive to change my design, signed, dated and stamped and notarized by their lawyer and my lawyer, at their cost. I was NOT popular.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 03:15 PM

""drifting without power""

As posted earlier, there was a similar loss of power/steering on a similar vessel earlier) Makes one wonder, (outside of human error) if there is a serious safety flaw that needs to be addressed with this class of cruise vessels?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 02:37 PM

Now another of their vessels, after fire in the engine room, is drifting without power near the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, waiting for a tow.
Some 1000 uncomfortable passengers having a hard time.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 08:55 PM

Ed-

The above January 15th report makes interesting reading but at that point it was all pretty much guesswork, and some of the guesses appear not to have been correct.

I wonder how long it will be before there is a final report.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 07:53 PM

Article over a month old. Not new, but, still interesting.Posting in case no one did so before.

Perfect storm of events

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 12 - 07:25 PM

Here's one story:

Divers find 8 more bodies in ship wreckage
Published February 22, 2012
Associated Press

ROME-- Divers searching the capsized Costa Concordia cruise ship found eight bodies Wednesday on one of the passenger decks, including that of a missing 5-year-old Italian girl, authorities said.

Italy's national civil protection agency, which is monitoring the operation off a Tuscan island, said four of the bodies had been recovered -- those of a woman, a girl, a man and a person whose sex could not immediately be determined. Because of worsening weather, the divers were unable to immediately remove the other four bodies. That operation will resume Thursday, if seas are calm.

Sad news but at least the families will have some closure.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 22 Feb 12 - 02:05 PM

Even tho it's been 5 weeks, it's still chilling and sad news.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 22 Feb 12 - 01:47 PM

Eight more bodies found today

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 21 Feb 12 - 03:14 PM

Faux News is "demanding" more tests???

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Feb 12 - 08:05 AM

The updates on this wreck focus on two things.

First, about two thirds of the oil has been successfully pumped out of the ship. However, the oil that remains which is in the stern of the ship will be more difficult to recover.

Second, there is increasing concern about the stability of the hull. Evidently the ship is perched on two rock outcroppings, one at each end of the ship, and as the hull shifts the outcroppings are crumbling and cracks may be developing in the hull itself.

Here's the link at Wikipedia: click here for report!

Fox News (sic) reports on Capt. Schettino's drug testing and seems disappointed that the tests came out negative for cocaine and are demanding more follow-up testing...

And here's a nice quote for your files:

At the time of impact, Captain Schettino was on the telephone with retired Captain Mario Palombo, telling Palombo: "Seeing as we're passing the island, we'll sound the siren for you".[14] In addition, at the captain's invitation, the maître d'hôtel of the ship, who is from the island, came to the ship's bridge to see the island during the sail-past.[47]

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 10:23 PM

Ed-

That would certainly be good news if stricter standards were adopted with regard to minimizing the sulfur content of cruise ship fuel.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 09:26 PM

Cruise ships and fuel

Cruise oil fuel

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 08:18 PM

Meanwhile, I've managed to harvest some more bearable news:

By Nick Squires, Rome
3:56PM GMT 09 Feb 2012

Italian divers risked life and limb to rescue a teddy bear that a child had left behind on the Costa Concordia during the chaotic evacuation of the cruise ship last month.

The child's father told rescuers that the little boy had been unable to sleep since the disaster and desperately missed his toy.

He wrote to islanders who had given shelter to him and his son after they were brought ashore when the 950ft long vessel ran aground on the Italian island of Giglio on the night of Jan 13.

Islanders passed the letter to the island's mayor, Sergio Ortelli, who in turn gave it to rescue divers, who entered the hull on a special mission, finding the cabin where the boy had been staying and retrieving the soft toy – bedraggled but intact.

Bad weather has repeatedly forced divers to suspend their operations in the hull of the crippled ship but they took advantage of a break in the weather earlier this week to go back in – a welcome break from the grim task of looking for bodies.

They found the bear hidden in a tangle of debris – overturned tables, chairs, mattresses and scattered luggage.

Rescuers sent the teddy bear back to the boy, who lives with his father in Verona in northern Italy, having lost his mother some years ago.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 02:50 PM

Bunker C is the usual fuel for such large vessels.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 09:37 AM

But... does it come with a life jacket?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 09:36 AM

""The oil needs to be warmed so it can flow""

I take it from this, that the oil is Bunker C,rather than Diesel. Correct?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 08:58 AM

Well, the harvest this morning of updates on this tragic blunder only turns up this ludicrous offering: Click here for story

You too can purchase your own Capt. Francesco Schettino sailor suit. Just the thing to wear at the next gathering at your yacht club. And if you buy one, you might well be offered command of a mega luxury liner!

My personal alternative choice would be the "Vada a Bordo, Cazzo"(Get on board, damn it) T-shirt.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 01:48 PM

There's some success reported now on pumping the oil out of the grounded wreck. But it will take at least a month, pumping 24 hours a day. The oil needs to be warmed so it can flow. The tanks need to be tapped and then refilled with salt water after they are emptied.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 10:16 PM

gnu-

I'm wondering how quickly the ship went from about a 20 degree list after her final grounding to all the way over on her starboard side. In the video you see crew-members horsing around at a 20 degree list, and they're getting the lifeboats launched in a reasonable half-assed fashion. Later in the video, which isn't very long, they're fending off what looks to me like a loose crane and some other flying debris, and they're not looking like they're having much fun anymore.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 09:36 PM

I'd like to make a suggestion for the furure design of life boats... could we get some scenic deck seating for emergencies so people don't have to jump into the water and swim in such situations? Gee whiz... it ain't rocket science. Seriously... what about a tow rope with clip on hooks? Why don't the safety engineers explore ALL the possibilities? They may not work in all seas but the options should be there, no?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 05:57 PM

Here's a link to the rest of the TG5 video, in Italian, but it does provide some stunning images of the efforts to launch the lifeboats: click here for video!

Initially some of the crew-members are joking around. Then things get serious as the ship continues to list.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 05:40 PM

gnu-

Actually I think Schettinno did a great job of screwing himself.

Domnica Cemortan is merely an accessory, who may also have had a video camera while she was on the bridge and the smarts to make some money.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 02:09 PM

She's screwing him? Again? >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 02:01 PM

Gnu-

It may have been his girlfriend.

Evidently more video will be released today. Here's a summary of what I've just harvested about the video:

Italy's TG5 News Service has uncovered video from the deck of the Costa Concordia immediately following the ship's running aground off the coast of Giglio, Italy. They have released approximagely half of the 9-minute video, which shows Captain Francesco Schettino relaxed as the crew struggles to analyze the problem.

Britain's Telegraph has taken the footage and closed captioned it. On it, you see the bridge illuminated by only the emergency lights after the power on the ship had failed.

According to the Telegraph's translation, a voice is heard to say,"Here everything is going to hell.. There is a hole, I believe...so water is coming in."

A man believed to be Captain Francesco Schettino then replies: "I've spoken to the control room and they say with two compartments flooded we should survive, there is no problem."

He continues: "Let's wait a bit more, so we make leeway toward more shallow waters. Then we can drop the anchor...at worst we can sit on the seabed. We shall see."

It is several minutes more before the abandon ship order is given, and this after ship's officers are heard urging the captain to give the order, saying that "passengers are getting on lifeboats spontaneously".

The abandon ship order is given at 10:32 PM, and lifeboats aren't lowered until nearly 25 minutes later.

TG5 has not said who shot the video, although an Italian Daily is speculating that it might have been Moldovan dancer Domnica Cemortan, who has been linked to Captain Schettino.
They also said they'll release the second part of the video today.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 01:51 PM

If Costa finds out who shot the vid, there might be another shooting.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 01:49 PM

The engineering behind salvaging such a ship is indeed fascinating.

I still want to see the full video shot on the bridge; I've only seen a 4-5 minute clip. I wonder who shot it.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 10:27 AM

Interesting site, with some different approaches to lift sunken and capsized ships.

Sunken and capsized ships

Salvage Engineers's Handbook


General Hydrostatics

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 08:34 AM

Then we'll see if they are brave enough to go ahead with the plan to parbuckle her upright...!

Relatively straightforward with something smaller, maybe - but that thing's enormous! Unless they are gambling on the precarious perch to work to their advantage.