Suez Canal blocked by container ship 36

[verymadmac]

It might not be an engineering issue that started it, but I bet is going to change a few specifications.
BBC piece here Link



It looks like the bow is hard aground, refloating will be an interesting exercise given the time pressure.



Canal profile is here

https://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/English/About/SuezCanal/Pages/CanalCharacteristics.aspx

 

[dik]

I thought that was one of the reasons it got 'wedged', and that the stern pivoted and wedged the rear into the bank on the opposite side... that's why I was thining of hydrodemolition... to wash away the soil.

I thought that all boats travelling the canal had to have an Egyptian pilot; has this changed?

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[TugboatEng]

If the stern can be floated the ship can be pivoted out of the way. The bow is high and dry, it hit first and that's where most of the energy was dissipated.

Fastest option? Sacrifice the center of the container stack and use shaped charges to split the ship in two. Swing the ship open like a gate to allow one way travel, then offload containers to the banks, and then tow away the remains.

 

[JohnRBaker]

For a very interesting 'slideshow', once you open the item below, select the first large photo and you'll bring-up a 19 image slideshow showing various views of the situation:

Satellite image reveals true extent of the traffic jam caused by mega-ship lodged in the Suez Canal - as shipping firms call on US Navy for help amid fears cargo vessels are sitting ducks for PIRATES

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ge-reveals-extent-traffic-jam-stuck-ship.html

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[dik]

I didn't realise it, but with the accumulating costs... the ship is the least value...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[LittleInch]

Well at least they've fond a decent looking suction dredger.

Now slow as she goes otherwise you'll have a capsize.

Freeing the front end and then pulling it round is the only way they'll get it free is my opinion.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[dik]

Is it better to suck up the mud, or to wash it away and worry about what to do with it later?

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[TugboatEng]

A suction dredge can pump the mud up on to the beach. No post processing required.

 

[dik]

Thanks... just thought it would be slower.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[LittleInch]

dik, from the photos JRB linked to they are just moving it down the canal...

But it does look like they finally got the big guns in.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[davefitz]

some online rumors the pilot was an egyptian woman, may have deliberately wedged the ship in response to some military operations against Iran- lots of wild theories now coming out.

"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick

 

[RVAmeche]

I think I'd stick with the high winds and low visibility rationale unless something concrete comes out.

 

[TugboatEng]

I don't buy wind or visibility. When a ship turns by rudder it pivots around a point 1/3 of the ship length from the bow. Looking at the pic from above, that pivot point is right where the ship would have normally been in the channel. The ship had to have turned in to the bank, not drifted. Saying this was intentional is a bold claim.

This is a new ship. It's still on the left side of the bathtub curve. I'd be most confident guessing that it was a mechanical/electrical failure.

 

[JohnRBaker]

It appears that this incident may already be driving up the price of crude oil. On the NY Mercantile, the May 21st contract for Crude is up nearly 4% today:

Energy Industry Grapples With Fallout From Suez Canal Blockage

Cost of renting oil tankers rises, shippers start to plot alternative routes

https://www.wsj.com/articles/energy...-fallout-from-suez-canal-blockage-11616680152

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Slow drift towards bank, bow touches first, increased bow drag against sand starts a hard turn into bank... the rest is physics (well, all of it is except the first part).

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[waross]

I heard with the polar ice cap melting, a new northern route may open up that is shorter than using the Suez.

I'd guess possibly shorter than the Panama canal.
On the other hand, the rising waters from global warming my eventually free the Ever Givener.
Joking aside, the dredge looks like the final solution.
I imagine that the work on the bow first is to lessen the chance of damaging the hull, either from uneven support or from twisting the ship off of the shoal.
Comments Tug?

Bill
--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!

 

[TugboatEng]

No, not buying it. The bow is quite a bit narrower than the rest of the ship. It would not have contacted bow first if it were a slow drifting. Contact would occur at the red circle.

The ship also had enough momentum perpendicular to the canal to drive far up the sides of the canal. Remember, the canal bottom is trapezoidal so it had been in contact with the bottom for quite some time.

 

[dik]

What is the bathtub curve? Curious mimes want to know...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[TugboatEng]

Bathtub curve:

I looked it up and this ship ks 2-3 years old.
That's older than I thought and should put it in the constant failure portion of the curve.

 

[dik]

Thanks...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[waross]

"WE are too close on the port side.
Alter course to starbord."
"Aye sir. Altering course to starbord"
"Oh shit."
?????

Bill
--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!