Ferries and passenger shipping
 

[URL]http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2014/May-04/255272-south-korea-ferry-routinely-overloaded.ashx[/URL]

The capsized ferry was overloaded, perhaps by nearly a factor of four, and likely under-ballasted. "Surprisingly," the load seems to have been under-stated by the captain.

In a relatively recent redesign to carry more passengers, the ship's cargo capacity rating had been cut almost in half. This meant that it would no longer have been profitable if the limit had been observed. While the ferry routinely sailed overloaded, it seems that its final voyage was the worst in this regard.

[QUOTE]In paperwork filed before the Sewol's last voyage, Capt. Lee Joon-seok reported a much smaller final load than the one Moon described, according to a Coast Guard official who had access to the report but refused to provide a copy to the Associated Press. The paperwork said the Sewol was loaded with 150 cars and 657 tons of cargo.
That would fall within the 987-ton limit, but it's clearly inaccurate: The coast guard has found 180 cars in the water.
[/QUOTE]

It's exactly 150 years since the sinking of the SS London in similar circumstances,
leading to the invention of the Plimsoll line:
[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_London_%281864%29[/URL]

In Chicago the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastland_disaster"]Eastland[/URL] capsizing is a historical horror with similar causes.

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Sultana[/url]

[QUOTE=Xyzzy;372659][URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Sultana[/URL][/QUOTE]

That's a really scary one, with casualties possibly approaching two thousand.

The description of the official cause of the explosion is very interesting.

We live near Marion and have passed by the marker numerous times. Except we did not know the marker was there. We will try to locate it on our next ride.

[url]http://www.arkansas.com/attractions/detail.aspx?id=95445[/url]

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_maritime_disasters#Notable_disasters[/url]

Catastrophic boiler ruptures in passenger-carrying steamships have happened as recently as 2003 with the SS Norway in Miami:
[URL]http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2007/MAB0703.pdf[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;372680]Catastrophic boiler ruptures in passenger-carrying steamships have happened as recently as 2003 with the SS Norway in Miami:
[URL]http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2007/MAB0703.pdf[/URL][/QUOTE]

The technical details are fascinating. Many thanks, Nick. I am surprised that I don't remember this incident.

[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR]

Some new cruise ships are so large that each lifeboat has to carry 370 people:

[URL]http://www.rina.org.uk/mega-lifeboat.html[/URL]

I wonder how well this would actually work in practice.

Meanwhile, back at Giglio island, the project to remove the Costa Concordia has reached its 85% milestone. It will still take a few months to complete.

[URL]http://www.theparbucklingproject.com/[/URL]

Just 3 weeks now until the Costa Concordia will be refloated and towed away, probably to Genoa.

Press release: [URL]http://www.theparbucklingproject.com/article/81/Costa_Crociere_press_release[/URL]

The salvage team are reporting that the draught of the refloated Costa Concordia will be approximately 18.5 meters [in American: the draft will be about 60 feet].
This is still quite low in the water. Dutch news organisations report that towing it will take 4-5 days, and that Greenpeace is ready to protest or even block it with the Rainbow Warrior (saying that such a long tow is an unnecessary hazard), but I could not find any confirmation directly from Greenpeace.

Wow, that is sitting deep. I hope that those in charge plan carefully around the weather.

What are the current legal moves in the case?

[QUOTE=kladner;377362]Wow, that is sitting deep. I hope that those in charge plan carefully around the weather.

What are the current legal moves in the case?[/QUOTE]
The trial of the captain will resume at the end of September according to Italian news:
[URL]http://www.gonews.it/2014/07/04/concordia-il-processo-si-ferma-riprendera-il-22-e-il-23-settembre-al-teatro-moderno/#.U7bf5eP950o[/URL]

The following article is 6 months old but still worth reading (in my opinion):
[URL]http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2014/01/articles/worst-cruise-line-in-the-world/concordia-two-years-later-former-costa-ceo-pier-luigi-foschi-retiring-from-carnival-with-bonus-while-victims-remain-uncompensated/[/URL]

[B]South Korea ferry 'sank due to negligence, corruption'[/B]

[QUOTE]
An interim South Korea government report says the 16 April sinking of the Sewol ferry was partly due to government negligence and corruption.
It cited lax regulation, poor safety inspections and a slow and badly-coordinated coast guard response as factors that led to the disaster.
Eleven officials have been referred to prosecutors on corruption charges and dozens more face possible legal action.
The ferry sinking killed 304 passengers, most of whom were students.
A total of 293 bodies have been recovered and 11 passengers remain unaccounted for. Search operations are still continuing.
[/QUOTE]Full press article: [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28205785[/URL]

The refloating of the Costa Concordia will begin next Monday (14 July), weather permitting.

[QUOTE=Nick;377754]The refloating of the Costa Concordia will begin next Monday (14 July), weather permitting.[/QUOTE]

An amazing engineering feat. I applaud (and watch vicariously) those doing this work.

What I find most interesting is this is going to cost more than the building of the Hoover Dam (inflation considered), all because of the stupidity, ineptitude and hubris of one man (or, at least, a few men).

Hmmmm....

[QUOTE=chalsall;377760]What I find most interesting is this is going to cost more than the building of the Hoover Dam (inflation considered), all because of the stupidity, ineptitude and hubris of one man (or, at least, a few men).

Hmmmm....[/QUOTE]

That could be said of a few wars, too.

At 6 o'clock on Monday morning (local time), it all starts:
[QUOTE]The refloating operation is planned to start at 6 am on Monday, July 14. During the first stage, the Concordia will be refloated about 2 meters up off the platforms and moved 30 meters towards the east with the assistance of tugs. The ship will then be securely moored and technicians will be able to complete the attachment and tensioning of the last cables and chains, and to lower the starboard sponsons to their final position. The actual refloating will then begin, raising the ship one deck at a time, from deck 6 to deck 3. The whole operation is expected to take about 6 or 7 days to complete. The departure of the Concordia from Giglio is currently scheduled for July 21.
[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Nick;377966]At 6 o'clock on Monday morning (local time), it all starts:[/QUOTE]

Many of us look forward to hearing how it goes.

This should have never have happened, but it did.

Video footage of the initial trials yesterday refloating the Costa Concordia (compressed into 40 seconds):
[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX3be6GCeFY[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;378123]Video footage of the initial trials yesterday refloating the Costa Concordia (compressed into 40 seconds):
[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX3be6GCeFY[/URL][/QUOTE]

Schettino sucks...

The tugs are gathering for the Costa Concordia.
Link to live situation as given by Automatic Identification System (AIS) signalling:
[URL]http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/zoom:14/centerx:10.9205/centery:42.3595[/URL]

Fascinating!

The convoy plans to depart tomorrow (Wednesday), composed of the vessels shown.

The Costa Concordia has begun its final voyage.
Live position and webcams:
[URL]http://www.theparbucklingproject.com/tragitto.php[/URL]

Cruise ship safety hearing in the US
 

The US Senate committee on commerce, science and transportation has been conducted hearings on improving protection for cruise passengers.

[QUOTE]
At the hearing today before Senator John (Jay) Rockefeller regarding the “Cruise Passenger Protection Act (S.1340): Improving Consumer Protections for Cruise Passengers," three women told the committee their horrific experiences on cruise ships.
All of their accounts involve the common theme of a lack of basic consumer protections. Laurie Dishman was a victim of rape, Amanda Butler's mother experienced medical neglect leading to her death, and Kimberly Ware travelled aboard the carnival Triumph that suffered a complete power loss.
Chairman Rockefeller has explained the purpose of the hearing as follows: “This hearing – along with the other hearings and inquiries I have made into the cruise industry since I have been Chairman of this Committee – are about one thing, accountability. When it comes to the cruise industry, we have been doing our job, while the industry has not. We have held hearings, we have analyzed the data, and we have talked to many different people with experience in this industry. This oversight has led us very clearly to the conclusion that we have to act and pass legislation to better protect consumers. No other passengers should have to suffer when there are basic steps that can and should be taken to protect their safety and health.”
[/QUOTE]Full article:
[URL]http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2014/07/articles/passenger-rights/cruise-ship-safety-hearing-senator-rockefeller-demands-accountability-from-cruise-lines/[/URL]

BRAVO Senator! Good luck in the House. After all, Noah did just fine without OSHA or the Coast Guard. Too bad all the dinosaurs fell overboard. :devil:

[QUOTE=kladner;379047]BRAVO Senator! Good luck in the House. After all, Noah did just fine without OSHA or the Coast Guard. Too bad all the dinosaurs fell overboard. :devil:[/QUOTE]Largely because he decided to save the woodworms and termites.

We decided to post this PDF here because we didn't know what thread to put it in.

It is a very interesting place to visit!

Check out the type and size of the engines and propellers!

Edit: Funny page: [url]http://arkansasroadstories.com/engineering/hxtble.html[/url]

[YOUTUBE]BxlOaBKwlxk[/YOUTUBE]

Wiki on the smaller Fairbanks Morse diesels used in submarines-
[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks_Morse_38_8-1/8_diesel_engine[/URL]

Vaguely related: [url]http://www.lex18.com/news/700-feared-dead-in-2-mediterranean-boat-wrecks/[/url]

This story has finally reached the English language press:
[QUOTE]A newspaper in the Netherlands[URL="http://www.nltimes.nl/2014/10/14/mega-fine-worlds-largest-cruise-ship/"][/URL] reports that Royal Caribbean has to pay at least €600,000 in fines for violating labor rules and regulations while the [I]Oasis of the Seas[/I] was in the Netherlands. The newspaper says that ship employees lacked proper residence papers and worked excessive hours. Some of the crew members worked "up to 16 hours per day" the inspectors found.[/QUOTE]

[URL]http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2014/10/articles/worst-cruise-line-in-the-world/netherlands-fines-royal-caribbean-over-750000-for-overworking-crewmembers/[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;385427]This story has finally reached the English language press:


[URL]http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2014/10/articles/worst-cruise-line-in-the-world/netherlands-fines-royal-caribbean-over-750000-for-overworking-crewmembers/[/URL][/QUOTE]

Sheesh! That's really ugly. It makes me want to avoid Royal Caribbean should we ever consider taking a cruise. Granted, I don't know if perhaps ALL cruise lines are abusive employers.

The final missing body has been found aboard the Costa Concordia
[URL]http://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2014/11/03/news/concordia_trovato_il_corpo_di_russel_rebello-99652943/[/URL]

3 people have died and 1 is in hospital following an engine room fire on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, docked at St. Lucia.
Press article: [URL]http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/breaking-news-fire-on-cruise-ship-contained/[/URL]

The story does not say there was an explosion. I have to wonder how the crew members got so terribly burned. I would have expected automated fire suppression on such a vessel. Even the modest car ferries I traveled on in Texas had warnings at the engine room door, to the effect that if the warning horn went off, humans should get out at once before the inert gas system (a Halon antique) flooded the space. A quick search shows that CO[SUP]2[/SUP] systems are likely the most common, with nitrogen, and nitrogen-argon-CO[SUP]2[/SUP] mixes also being mentioned.

Perhaps if there is such a system on this ship, the engineer hesitated to use it, and the fire got out of hand with lesser measures.

Opposite of our company (this means exactly on the other side of a 6-8 bands highway, so not very close, but yet) there was a HUGE Frito Lay factory which made potato chips. Big ovens and huge pots with hot oil. Open fire. Careless people. It burnt from the ground few years ago. The column of smoke and fire was a hundred meters wide from the ground, and kilometers tall. Fifty fire-fighting cars, or more. The heat could be felt to our company (both companies us and them have many buildings which were like 100 meters far away from the highway, plus the width of the highway and some water channels on both side of the highway). Few people got burned, one or two died (I think, I am not sure about this, but there were not many casualties, they were at least well trained with fire drills, I assume). Our people went outside and watched, like a movie. Pepsico rebuilt it to its full fame since then, but now they don't make potato chips anymore, I guess, because we can't feel the smell anymore :smile:, what a pity, also the name is not Frito Lay, but was changed to Pepsico, they may be doing beverages, or whatever.

[url]http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/7311[/url]

Norman Atlantic car ferry catches fire off Corfu and is being evacuated.

[QUOTE]An international rescue effort was under way in high winds after a car ferry carrying 466 passengers and crew caught fire while sailing from Greece to Italy and its captain ordered its evacuation, officials said on Sunday.
Passengers who telephoned Greek television stations gave dramatic accounts of conditions on the ship, which caught fire just before 6.00 am local time (0400 GMT) while travelling from Patras in western Greece to the eastern Italian city of Ancona. [/QUOTE]Summary (in English): [URL]http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/28/passenger-ferry-catches-fire-off-greece[/URL]

Full story (in Italian): [URL]http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2014/12/28/news/traghetto_dalla_grecia_per_l_italia_in_fiamme_in_corso_evacuazione_passeggeri-103842437/?ref=HREA-1[/URL]

Some passengers have now been saved but the evacuation is being hampered by high seas and strong winds.
[QUOTE]"The fire is still burning,» Greek passenger Sofoklis Styliaras told private Mega television. «On the lower deck, where the lifeboats are, our shoes were starting to melt from the heat. ..." [/QUOTE]More details from the Greek press (in English):
[URL]http://ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_28/12/2014_545755[/URL]

I have come to regret the title I originally put on this thread. Clearly, problems with passenger vessels know no national boundaries,

[QUOTE=kladner;391130]I have come to regret the title I originally put on this thread. Clearly, problems with passenger vessels know no national boundaries,[/QUOTE]YWIMC

[QUOTE=xilman;391136]YWIMC[/QUOTE]

Many thanks! :grin:

[QUOTE=xilman;391136]YWIMC[/QUOTE]

Did you mean "diverse"?

[QUOTE=xilman;391136]YWIMC[/QUOTE]

Aww, you never say that to me.

:smile:

[QUOTE=Chuck;391144]Did you mean "diverse"?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]di·vers
ˈdīvərz/
[I]adjective[/I][I] archaic [/I][I]literary[/I]

adjective: [B]divers[/B]
of varying types; several.
"in divers places"
synonyms:[URL="https://www.google.com/search?q=define+several&sa=X&ei=9fmgVNu6LJadygS9m4CgAw&ved=0CCEQ_SowAA"]several[/URL], [URL="https://www.google.com/search?q=define+many&sa=X&ei=9fmgVNu6LJadygS9m4CgAw&ved=0CCIQ_SowAA"]many[/URL], [URL="https://www.google.com/search?q=define+numerous&sa=X&ei=9fmgVNu6LJadygS9m4CgAw&ved=0CCMQ_SowAA"]numerous[/URL], [URL="https://www.google.com/search?q=define+multiple&sa=X&ei=9fmgVNu6LJadygS9m4CgAw&ved=0CCQQ_SowAA"]multiple[/URL], [URL="https://www.google.com/search?q=define+manifold&sa=X&ei=9fmgVNu6LJadygS9m4CgAw&ved=0CCUQ_SowAA"]manifold[/URL], [URL="https://www.google.com/search?q=define+multifarious&sa=X&ei=9fmgVNu6LJadygS9m4CgAw&ved=0CCYQ_SowAA"]multifarious[/URL], [URL="https://www.google.com/search?q=define+multitudinous&sa=X&ei=9fmgVNu6LJadygS9m4CgAw&ved=0CCcQ_SowAA"]multitudinous[/URL];[/QUOTE].

I think using "divers" is what we would call a "Shakespeare moment."

The Hoegh Osaka is now back in Southampton dock - and no-one died.
[URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-30933237[/URL]

Public prosecutor proposes 26 years imprisonment for captain of Costa Concordia.
Press article (in Italian): [URL]http://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2015/01/26/news/concordia_il_giorno_delle_richieste_di_pm_schettino_non_in_aula-105794400/[/URL]

Engine room fire on cruise ship Boudicca (over 40 years old) off Morocco. Reports say there are no injuries.
Press article: [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-30972125[/URL]

Captain of Costa Concordia found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Press article (English): [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31430998[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;395246]Captain of Costa Concordia found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Press article (English): [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31430998[/URL][/QUOTE]

It is amazing how vessels have changed in forty years. The Boudicca, in a previous article still looks more like a traditional liner: sleek, as if built for speed. In comparison, most modern cruise ships look like a big apartment block turned on its side. There is much less exterior elegance to my eyes, though I suppose that it's what's inside that really counts.

Yes, indeed. And I get the impression that the cruises have changed as well as the ships. Ten years ago, a typical week's cruise in the Caribbean would start at Puerto Rico (say) and stop at a different island each day. You would get a chance to meet local people, sample the culture and contribute to the economy. Now, they usually seem to start from Florida instead so that the first and last day are at sea (spending money on the ship), they have a 3rd day at sea in the middle, then a day on a private beach or island owned by the cruise company, and you're lucky if you get to see more than 2 or 3 real communities.

On the newest cruise ships from the big companies, the promenade deck is also gradually being sacrificed for more shops. This was the last part of the ship which still had a "liner" feel to it, and it is also where the crew get a breath of fresh air.

Just had a good laugh, Kieren, at your description of an "appartment block turned on its side". That's exactly right!:smile:

[QUOTE=Brian-E;395389]Just had a good laugh, Kieren, at your description of an "appartment block turned on its side". That's exactly right!:smile:[/QUOTE]

They are great ugly boxes. Ships once had far more beauty. A few still do, though even the QM2® has that "container ship" look midships. Compare that to the SS United States in its prime.

In looking for a ship to compare to the QM2, I discovered that the SS US is currently a gutted (but asbestos free) hulk in New York harbor. I saw it referred to as New York's largest abandoned vehicle. However, now Norwegian Cruise Lines has expressed interest in buying the remains and refitting it to be a "state of the art cruise ship."

If they follow through, I hope Norwegian understands that steam power is radically different from the huge diesels in "motor vessels." Boilers require a lot of maintenance, and critically, large superheated steam plants have to be heated and cooled in a very meticulous and time-consuming manner. In particular, I hope they remember the lesson of one of their former vessels, the SS Norway, né SS France.

[URL="http://www.ssmaritime.com/norway-NTSB-report.htm"]Here[/URL] is the NTSB report on the 2003 boiler explosion on the Norway in 2003.

The old QE2 was still better-looking but also had a boiler accident:
[URL]http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/qe2-fatality.pdf[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;395487]The old QE2 was still better-looking but also had a boiler accident:
[URL]http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/qe2-fatality.pdf[/URL][/QUOTE]

That is truly a fascinating report. I am still working on it, having reached the beginning of the [U]QE2 STEAM GENERATION PLANT[/U] section. So far as I have gotten, it seems that the Engineering crew were meticulous and cautious. I haven't gotten to what the causes of the accident were judged to be. At this point I feel comfortable with the term "accident."

On the contrary, I don't feel that the Norway explosion qualified as an accident, as it was clearly the result of terrible maintenance and bad operating practices.

[url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-19/up-to-700-feared-dead-after-migrant-boat-sinks-off-libya/6404438[/url]

[QUOTE]If the worst fears of Sunday's tragedy are confirmed, it will take the death toll since the start of 2015 to more than 1,600.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=kladner;395399]They are great ugly boxes. Ships once had far more beauty. A few still do, though even the QM2® has that "container ship" look midships. Compare that to the SS United States in its prime.

In looking for a ship to compare to the QM2, I discovered that the SS US is currently a gutted (but asbestos free) hulk in New York harbor. I saw it referred to as New York's largest abandoned vehicle. However, now Norwegian Cruise Lines has expressed interest in buying the remains and refitting it to be a "state of the art cruise ship."

If they follow through, I hope Norwegian understands that steam power is radically different from the huge diesels in "motor vessels."[/quote]

Why would you expect the refits not to include removing all the steam power kit and substituting a few large Wärtsilä diesel generating sets and some electric thrusters?

(the QE2 incident happened fifteen years after the ship was converted to diesel-electric operation; but it still had steam facilities heated by the exhaust gas from the diesels)

[QUOTE=fivemack;400506]Why would you expect the refits not to include removing all the steam power kit and substituting a few large Wärtsilä diesel generating sets and some electric thrusters?

(the QE2 incident happened fifteen years after the ship was converted to diesel-electric operation; but it still had steam facilities heated by the exhaust gas from the diesels)[/QUOTE]
Put a propeller on it and let it benefit from wind power.

Btw, any engineers that have NOT seen the propeller-based wind power car that was created a while back? (Humble pie's a bitch, especially for scientists)

[QUOTE]A fire has broken out on a Spanish ferry from Mallorca, forcing some 150 passengers and crew to abandon ship.
The Sorrento was travelling to the coastal city of Valencia when the blaze began and quickly got out of control.
The passengers were evacuated from the burning ship on to lifeboats and have been rescued by another ship.
At least three people have been injured and have been taken to hospital by helicopter, Spanish media say. One is reported to be seriously hurt.
[/QUOTE]Press article: [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32504766[/URL]

[QUOTE=Xyzzy;372669]We live near Marion and have passed by the marker numerous times.[/QUOTE]We totally forgot about this and it looks like we missed the big event:

[URL]http://www.sultana150.org/[/URL]

:sad:

Tomorrow morning (Monday 25 May), the Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth will sail together at Liverpool to mark the start of the city's festival and its historical links with the liners.

[QUOTE]
11 million emigrants crossed the Atlantic between 1860 and 1900. About a third of them sailed from Liverpool.
[/QUOTE][URL]http://www.cunard.co.uk/cruise-types/anniversary-cruises-2015/liverpool/[/URL]

Some aerial photographs of the 3 liners together with Liverpool in the background:
[URL]http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/25/cunard-175th-anniversary-three-queens-elizabeth-mary-victoria#img-2[/URL]

Chinese ship capsizes on Yangtze with hundreds missing[QUOTE]
Five people have died and hundreds are missing after a cruise ship carrying 458 people capsized on the Yangtze River in China's Hubei province. The ship is floating upside down in a wide stretch of river - state media said rescuers tapping the hull had heard calls for help from inside.
[/QUOTE]Press article: [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-32969861[/URL]

[url]http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/death-toll-in-china-s-yangtze-river-capsizing-jumps-to-nearly-400-1.2409474[/url]

Reports say that a fire aboard the "Freedom of the Seas" cruise ship docking in Jamaica was extinguished "within an hour and a half", with one crew member suffering burns.

Photos: [URL]http://falmouthpo.com/pictures-of-freedom-of-the-seas-on-fire-in-falmouth-harbour/[/URL]

Press article: [URL]http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article28293175.html[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;406395]Reports say that a fire aboard the "Freedom of the Seas" cruise ship docking in Jamaica was extinguished "within an hour and a half", with one crew member suffering burns.

Photos: [URL]http://falmouthpo.com/pictures-of-freedom-of-the-seas-on-fire-in-falmouth-harbour/[/URL]

Press article: [URL]http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article28293175.html[/URL][/QUOTE]

I have to wonder why a "fire in a mechanical area" was not controlled any sooner. You might suppose that there would be very aggressive systems in such areas.

Picture 12 might explain why it took an hour and a half to put out the fire. Police officers are ill-equipped to deal with fires.

And, yes, I'm being facetious, I know multiple calls go out when people are in danger. We do that in the United States too.

What I've never understood is why the different emergency services have different sounds, when they all simply equate to,"Coming through, get your sorry ass outta the way!!!"

The Old Rhine is the river marking the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. There was a major accident on it today at Alphen aan de Rijn when the road surface section of a new bridge was being put in place.
It occurs from 1:00 to 1:30 minutes in this videoclip:
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_nTLIuk6Hk[/URL]

So far, there are 20 wounded, but emergency services are still searching under the rubble of the crushed houses.

This is now international news.
From the BBC (in English): [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33762806[/URL]

All passengers and crew have been rescued after a fire on a cruise ship. They were transferred using lifeboats and helicopters to the Falkland Islands, where the locals provided hospitality.

Press article: [URL]http://www.falklandnews.com/public/story.cfm?get=7158&source=3[/URL]

Photographs taken inside the Costa Concordia:
[URL]http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2016/jan/22/inside-costa-concordia-in-pictures[/URL]

Protest on Haiti over Royal Caribbean's luxury resort:
[URL]http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2016/01/articles/caribbean-islands/haitians-protest-at-royal-caribbeans-private-destination-at-labadee/[/URL]

[URL]http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2016/01/articles/caribbean-islands/royal-caribbean-cancels-another-cruise-to-labadee/[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;423519]Photographs taken inside the Costa Concordia:
[URL]http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2016/jan/22/inside-costa-concordia-in-pictures[/URL]

Protest on Haiti over Royal Caribbean's luxury resort:
[URL]http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2016/01/articles/caribbean-islands/haitians-protest-at-royal-caribbeans-private-destination-at-labadee/[/URL]

[URL]http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2016/01/articles/caribbean-islands/royal-caribbean-cancels-another-cruise-to-labadee/[/URL][/QUOTE]

From sad, with the first story, to infuriated by the exploitation of Haiti. To think that this resort is named for a slave owner, and that it is the result of a deal with Baby Doc. The response of the government suggests that some people are making lots of money off the situation.

A cargo ship drifting with a list of 40 to 50 degrees will hit the French coast within 48 hours if a final attempt to tow it clear fails. The crew were all rescued a few days ago.

Press article: [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35456682[/URL]

a happy news: the ship mentionned above have been sucessfully towed.
[url]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35456682[/url]

Video of NYC crane collapse
 

This is stretching the category, as no water was involved. [URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/headlines/35511457"]The cell footage[/URL] is reminiscent of the Dutch crane collapse.

[QUOTE]4,000-passenger cruise ship inexplicably sails into Atlantic mega-storm
[/QUOTE]Press article: [URL]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/02/08/4000-passenger-cruise-ship-inexplicably-sails-into-atlantic-mega-storm/[/URL]

Photographs taken after a tour bus slipped off the cruise ship pier at Kralendijk on Bonaire (Dutch Caribbean). Fortunately, only the driver and tour guide were on the bus at the time, and they managed to climb out unhurt.

Crew centre article: [URL]http://crew-center.com/bus-accident-caribbean-cruise-port[/URL]
Bonaire article (in Dutch but with extra photo): [URL]http://www.bonaire.nu/2016/02/24/toeristenbus-te-water/[/URL]

A compilation video of passenger ships in difficulty:
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvxgAkJy15E[/URL]

Meanwhile, on Madeira...
 

[QUOTE]
A tourist from the cruise ship Marco Polo, 65 years old, British female so I understand, missed the cruise ship as it left Funchal yesterday evening. So this woman then gets a taxi to Santa Cruz, and as the cruise ship is passing by there she then jumps into the sea to start swimming for the ship...
[/QUOTE]Blog article: [URL]http://www.madeiraislandnews.com/2016/03/i-cant-believe-this.html[/URL]
Update: [URL]http://www.madeiraislandnews.com/2016/03/cruise-ship-passenger-update.html[/URL]

Last Thursday, a tour boat unable to stop crashed into the pier at San Diego.

Video of the moment of impact: [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrrDLdeL2HQ[/URL]

Press article: [URL]http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/01/us/cruise-ship-hits-dock/index.html[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;430608]Last Thursday, a tour boat unable to stop crashed into the pier at San Diego.

Video of the moment of impact: [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrrDLdeL2HQ[/URL]

Press article: [URL]http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/01/us/cruise-ship-hits-dock/index.html[/URL][/QUOTE]
"...propulsion system malfunctioned..." I would have to think that would really be some part of the control system. Perhaps they could not reverse the thrust.

[B]US military christens self-driving Sea Hunter warship [/B]
Apparently, it was not able to smash the champagne bottle against its own side.

Will this lead to drone atrocities at sea?

Press article: [URL]http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/08/us-military-christens-self-driving-sea-hunter-warship[/URL]

:mike:

Bad weather in the Mediterranean has hit a cruise ship.
Press article: [URL]http://www.cruisehive.com/royal-caribbean-cruise-ship-damaged-wave-strikes/11100[/URL]

Other reports quote the captain as saying that the bow and stern were raised simultaneously by large waves, putting the central part of the vessel under immense strain.

[QUOTE]
More than 500 people have been evacuated from a ferry off the coast of Puerto Rico after it caught fire on Wednesday.
No one is missing and no fatalities were reported.
[/QUOTE]Press article: [URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37109031[/URL]

On this day 30 years ago, 193 people lost their lives on the Herald of Free Enterprise:
[URL]https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/flooding-and-subsequent-capsize-of-ro-ro-passenger-ferry-herald-of-free-enterprise-off-the-port-of-zeebrugge-belgium-with-loss-of-193-lives[/URL]

[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Herald_of_Free_Enterprise[/URL]

[QUOTE=Nick;454393]On this day 30 years ago, 193 people lost their lives on the Herald of Free Enterprise:
[URL]https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/flooding-and-subsequent-capsize-of-ro-ro-passenger-ferry-herald-of-free-enterprise-off-the-port-of-zeebrugge-belgium-with-loss-of-193-lives[/URL]

[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Herald_of_Free_Enterprise[/URL][/QUOTE]Since immortalized as a Ro-Ro-Ro ferry. Roll-on, roll-off, roll-over

[QUOTE=Nick;454393]On this day 30 years ago, 193 people lost their lives on the Herald of Free Enterprise:
[URL]https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/flooding-and-subsequent-capsize-of-ro-ro-passenger-ferry-herald-of-free-enterprise-off-the-port-of-zeebrugge-belgium-with-loss-of-193-lives[/URL]

[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Herald_of_Free_Enterprise[/URL][/QUOTE]Since immortalized as a Ro-Ro-Ro ferry. Roll-on, roll-off, roll-over

[QUOTE=xilman;454395]Since immortalized as a Ro-Ro-Ro ferry. Roll-on, roll-off, roll-over[/QUOTE]
Yeah, you told us once....
You are getting older... :paul:

Reading the Wiki account set me on course for the Edmund Fitzgerald story. I followed up with sections on Great Lakes freighters, in general. It has been a very educational couple of hours.

Thanks for the nudge in the direction of ships, and disasters involving them, Nick.

Kieran started this topic when the Sewol ferry sank.
It is now being raised and will be brought back to land within 2 weeks:
[URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39361944[/URL]

When I started reading this update and others, I was shocked at being reminded of the ugly details of the sinking. From The Guardian:
[QUOTE][U]Even though the vessel took around three hours to sink, those on board were never ordered to evacuate, while the crew escaped to safety.[/U] Captain Lee Jun-Seok was sentenced to life in prison for “murder through wilful negligence” and 14 other crew members given terms ranging from two to 12 years.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=kladner;455350]When I started reading this update and others, I was shocked at being reminded of the ugly details of the sinking.[/QUOTE]
Yes, indeed. (Sorry about the typo in your name! :blush: )