Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: justboatonic on January 31, 2008, 11:26:00 pm
-
After being hit by a freak wave that has shifted its cargo, The Riverdance cargo ship has listed up to 60 degress and run aground off Blackpool!
Passengers and crew being taken off by helicopters. Been flying over our house all night.
-
Current situation : She is ashore between Norbreck Hydro and Clevleys , they managed to reduce the list to 23-25' before she went ashore. She was hit by a large wave which shifted her cargo at 8pm tonight 8nm West of Blackpool and gave her the 60' list. 15 crew have been airlifted off 9 remaining onboard to assess situation. Rescue 122 ( SAR Helicopter ) on ground standby at Blackpool Airport , Lythem and Fleetwood RNLI Lifeboats still on scene as of 30 minutes ago. 50-70knot winds 7m/23ft waves.
-
(http://www.ferry-site.dk/picture/ferry/7635361a.jpg)
Current sit-rep : 9 crew will stay onboard and will attempt , with the help of tugs , to refloat her at 0600hrs Friday 1st February
On the attached map the red blob marks her position
-
Local radio station website has a report and "picture"
http://www.wave965.com/article.php?article=2074
-
(http://www.ferry-site.dk/picture/ferry/7635361a.jpg)
Current sit-rep : 9 crew will stay onboard and will attempt , with the help of tugs , to refloat her at 0600hrs Friday 1st February
On the attached map the red blob marks her position
Not a chance of refloating her tonight or anytime soon. The weather here is very bad although not as bad as last night. She's about 400 metres off shore on a bank tilted to starboard. They'll have to sort the cargo of trucks out first otherwise she'll possibly heel over when floated.
The air sea rescue choppers were over our gaffe last night so I knew something was up. Special praise must go to the brave lads and lasses of the ASR and RNLI last night. It wasnt weather you'd want to go for a walk in never mind have to go out to sea.
-
I found the site below tonight. Shows shipping movements in the vicinity of the grounded ship.
Page can be refreshed every 2 minutes or longer if required by setting up from left hand side of page.
http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?refresh=2&count=1&map=Fleetwood (http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?refresh=2&count=1&map=Fleetwood)
Placing cursor over ship opens a pop up with more information. "Riverdance" shown as moored :o
-
WHY oh WHY do the newspapers bang on about "freak waves". No such animal off Blackpool. A simple grounding. Happens all the time.
-
You have to be out there to know what happens, I used to work the Irish Sea in Trawlers and Tugs, and believe me there are freak waves every where, I have been on the receiving end of a few in 36 years of seafaring, both coastal and on the North Atlantic run on container ships. so don't under estimate the Irish Sea. Why were there wagons hanging over the side of this vessel BEFORE she beached, the crews of these vessels are very experienced and just to run one of these things aground like that would be beyond a joke, I think they were very professional in beaching this vessel after the FREAK wave to save her rolling over and causing more pollution. It is very likely the vessel will be refloated without causing a major pollution incident.
-
Andy is right. Recent research has shown that "freak" waves are much more common than previously thought. Lots of info if you Google the phrase such as http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3917539.stm
It even happens on a smaller scale. You can be plugging along in your yacht and suddenly you are almost flung out by a wave that seems to appear from nowhere. Wave interaction is very complex but it seems that they can reinforce each oither to create the occasional monster. That's why people get swept into the sea off promenades and we've all experienced walking along the beach just clear of the waves only to be caught out when a "big one" comes in and fills your shoes.
-
WHY oh WHY do the newspapers bang on about "freak waves". No such animal off Blackpool. A simple grounding. Happens all the time.
Its not a simple grounding. The wave caused the cargo to shift causing the list. Im not certain if that caused the ultimate loss of power. The ship was heading to Heysham and is now pointing in the totally oposite direction.
-
I found the site below tonight. Shows shipping movements in the vicinity of the grounded ship.
Page can be refreshed every 2 minutes or longer if required by setting up from left hand side of page.
http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?refresh=2&count=1&map=Fleetwood (http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?refresh=2&count=1&map=Fleetwood)
Placing cursor over ship opens a pop up with more information. "Riverdance" shown as moored :o
Yep, I found that site as well! Been all around the UK! HMS Daring is shown as being moored in the Clyde! Take a look at the english channel! The paths and tracks of the ships make you wonder how they avoid collisions (not to scale, obviously!)
-
This is another AIS site, shows more shipping and covers most of Europe, but not the same detail as the UK one above.
http://aisfree.aislive.com/Influx.aspx
-
OK, I agree with the mariners.....BUT my point was that everything that appears in the popular press is due to a "freak wave". Patently not true. Stuff happens.
-
OK, I agree with the mariners.....BUT my point was that everything that appears in the popular press is due to a "freak wave". Patently not true. Stuff happens.
I would have thought that a seaman like yourself would liked to have had all the facts before you accused the master of the ferry of running his ship aground.
-
I have to say that bearing in mind the weather on the night in question and the fact that many other ferries and ports around the country were limiting thier services I was very surprised that it sailed and I would be first questioning not freak waves, cargo lashings or any other issues but I would question the whole issue of whether she should have left in the first place.
I am 60 odd miles inland but the wind was atrocious that night so I can't imagine what it was like in the Irish sea. I also think the waves, be they freak or otherwise, can be a whole different story when you have gale force winds combined with them. A good blow and a large wave giving you a severe list and as soon as any cargo breaks free you are suddenly in serious trouble.
From what I could gather from the news, which I remain a bit sceptical of, she was supposed to be at 60 degrees. No marine engine can continue to run at such an angle for very long so she would soon loose engines and power.
-
From what I could gather from the news, which I remain a bit sceptical of, she was supposed to be at 60 degrees. No marine engine can continue to run at such an angle for very long so she would soon loose engines and power.
The infrared pictures taken by the rescue helicopter clearly show her listing right over on her side with what appears to be a very heavy water discharge coming from around the proper waterline amidships on the high side - pumping out maybe? One report I saw did seem to confirm that the ship lost power which may have been what prompted the second Mayday transmitted. Latest reports say that they won't try and refloat her before Monday but if the freight is still shifted over to one side she will still be listing heavily if they do. Presumably they are waiting for the weather to die down which will make it easier to tow the vessel to a place of safety even if she still has a bad list.
-
Shades of the "Pasha Bulker" off Newcastle NSW last year. The skipper in that case stupidly ignored warnings to move further off shore, and consequently ran aground.
Peter.
-
Some good pictures of Riverdance here: http://forums.bfenthusiasts.com/showthread.php?t=5623
-
The ship was heading to Heysham and is now pointing in the totally opposite direction.
Having lost power, the ship would tend to act like a weathercock. Looking at the pictures, the "big end" as far as wind is concerned is toward the bow, so that would end up downwind. It was blowing from the north at the time, so quite reasonable that she should end up facing south.
If you do a "google earth" of the area you will find a picture of the remains of the Abana, which was wrecked in 1894, a remarkably few yards away from the present grounding.
-
I tend to agree with Bunker barge, I have been in the Irish Sea in storm force winds and it is bloody frightening, even on a large sea going tug as the Rollicker. A freak wave happen everywhere, and a list of 60 degrees will on a marine diesel will set of a alarm which will after a short period shut the engines down, because the lube oil goes to one side and exposes the Alarm probe. A vessel I had was the Arrochar and she was broached and knocked over so that the bridge wings went under, her alarms were set to just over 30 degrees and they went off mercifully she righted in seconds, this happened in the Pentland Straits with a following sea.
The real question is why did she sail in that forcaste, company pressure? jobs are getting scarce now for British seaman and the Irish transport ferry service is a cut throat industry.
By the way, I could not sea on the TV, but did anyway sea if her anchors were deployed, although with that list and the seaway running, I expect no one could get near the windlass to release them.
As previously said let us be thankful no one perished and full praise to the Helio guys, as at the end of the day the vessel is only a lump of steel and can be replaced easily, people are not replaceable.
-
Andy is right. Recent research has shown that "freak" waves are much more common than previously thought. Lots of info if you Google the phrase such as http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3917539.stm
It even happens on a smaller scale. You can be plugging along in your yacht and suddenly you are almost flung out by a wave that seems to appear from nowhere. Wave interaction is very complex but it seems that they can reinforce each oither to create the occasional monster. That's why people get swept into the sea off promenades and we've all experienced walking along the beach just clear of the waves only to be caught out when a "big one" comes in and fills your shoes.
Again we cross swords! The term "Freak Wave" is used by journalists as a matter of course. And generally the usage is crap. OK that a ship can be hit by a few "out of the ordinary" sort of waves, but that alone does not make them "freak waves". The Irish Sea is shallow. It is well within the Continental Shelf that terminates at the 100 fathom line around all continents. (Hence the name!). You just do not get a freak or episoidal wave happening there. What CAN happen though is a backlash from the coast and you can get 2 waves meeting. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time then "funny things" can happen. Not "Freak". Deep water Episoidals are a totally different animal....been in 2 and you wouldn't want to be there. Cheers. Keep talking. BY.
-
Bryan, I stand corrected - guilty of loose terminology! Lets say "big" waves then which can be encountered anywhere for a variety of reasons. I imagine they can be pretty unpleasant whatever the cause. It was only a couple of years ago that the 41,000 grt ton Brittany Ferry Pont Aven had several of her forward superstructure windows stove in by a
fr heavy sea whilst in the Western Channel, flooding 170 cabins. She was well within the Continental shelf.
-
No Colin You are NOT GUILTY of loose terminology But yet again BY has overstepped the mark and thrown his teddies out of his pram..A rouge wave as far as I can remember and other seafarers as well has been know as a freak wave
Stavros
-
I'm easy! Big pile of water, whatever.... O0
-
The ship was heading to Heysham and is now pointing in the totally opposite direction.
Having lost power, the ship would tend to act like a weathercock. Looking at the pictures, the "big end" as far as wind is concerned is toward the bow, so that would end up downwind. It was blowing from the north at the time, so quite reasonable that she should end up facing south.
If you do a "google earth" of the area you will find a picture of the remains of the Abana, which was wrecked in 1894, a remarkably few yards away from the present grounding.
Yep walked out to the remains many a time.
One of Nelson's original ships the Fouyderant (sorry spelling!) also ran aground a few hundred meters south and was eventually broken up with dynamite!
-
Just to add my two penneth,
Wikipedia :-
Rogue waves, also known as freak waves, monster waves or extreme waves, are relatively large and spontaneous ocean surface waves that are a threat even to large ships and ocean liners. In oceanography, they are more precisely defined as waves whose height is more than twice the significant wave height (SWH), which is itself defined as the mean of the largest third of waves in a wave record.
FC
-
Some more good pictures on this link: http://forums.bfenthusiasts.com/showthread.php?t=5623
You can see that one of the rudders has broken off.
-
Colin is that a chain of some sorts wrapped around one of her props???? Looking at the pictures she is going to need an almighty big tide to float her.Oh they are my favorite biccies I think I should stock up me thinks there might be a shortage
Stavros
-
No Colin You are NOT GUILTY of loose terminology But yet again BY has overstepped the mark and thrown his teddies out of his pram..A rouge wave as far as I can remember and other seafarers as well has been know as a freak wave
Stavros
"Rouge" wave? I guess that goes with the loose wording of popular journalism. No pram, no teddies. I just wish that "Newspapers" would stop calling everything nasty that happens at sea being caused by a "freak" or "rogue" wave!. Nasty things happen just in the normal sequence of events. I was caught up by the Hurricane that didn't exist in '87. Massive seas etc.etc. but none of us called them "freaks" or whatever. It's just that the general reading public must now think that all "accidents" that happen due to the sea doing what the sea does best is "freak"...it aint.
-
["Rouge" wave? I guess that goes with the loose wording of popular journalism. No pram, no teddies. I just wish that "Newspapers" would stop calling everything nasty that happens at sea being caused by a "freak" or "rogue" wave!. Nasty things happen just in the normal sequence of events. I was caught up by the Hurricane that didn't exist in '87. Massive seas etc.etc. but none of us called them "freaks" or whatever. It's just that the general reading public must now think that all "accidents" that happen due to the sea doing what the sea does best is "freak"...it aint.
Did someone mentionred red waves ? :-\
-
The ship was heading to Heysham and is now pointing in the totally opposite direction.
Having lost power, the ship would tend to act like a weathercock. Looking at the pictures, the "big end" as far as wind is concerned is toward the bow, so that would end up downwind. It was blowing from the north at the time, so quite reasonable that she should end up facing south.
If you do a "google earth" of the area you will find a picture of the remains of the Abana, which was wrecked in 1894, a remarkably few yards away from the present grounding.
Yep walked out to the remains many a time.
One of Nelson's original ships the Fouyderant (sorry spelling!) also ran aground a few hundred meters south and was eventually broken up with dynamite!
Are you sure about this? Or was there 2 of them? I believe that Foudrouyant is still alive and kicking...could be wrong.
-
Correct Bryan, she is preserved at Hartlepool but under her previous name of Trincomalee: http://www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk/
-
The ship was heading to Heysham and is now pointing in the totally opposite direction.
Having lost power, the ship would tend to act like a weathercock. Looking at the pictures, the "big end" as far as wind is concerned is toward the bow, so that would end up downwind. It was blowing from the north at the time, so quite reasonable that she should end up facing south.
If you do a "google earth" of the area you will find a picture of the remains of the Abana, which was wrecked in 1894, a remarkably few yards away from the present grounding.
Yep walked out to the remains many a time.
One of Nelson's original ships the Fouyderant (sorry spelling!) also ran aground a few hundred meters south and was eventually broken up with dynamite!
Are you sure about this? Or was there 2 of them? I believe that Foudrouyant is still alive and kicking...could be wrong.
There have been several ships named Foudrouyant Bryan O0
-
After a colourful active service in the Napoleonic wars, Nelson's Foudroyant became a training establishment for a great many years She was sold for scrap in the mid 1890s to a German company, but an Englishman with a sense of pride bought her back and had her restored. The intention was that she should become a travelling display, but while moored off Blackpool in 1898, was caught out by a violent summer storm, dragged her anchors and was wrecked just north of the north pier.
Follow this link (the site has a few other Fylde coast references, including the Abana, which came to grief just a few yards from the riverdance.)
http://www.rossallbeach.co.uk/foudroyantnelsonp.htm
-
Correct Bryan, she is preserved at Hartlepool but under her previous name of Trincomalee: http://www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk/
The Trincomalee at Hartlepoo is NOT the Foudroyant that was wrecked off Blackpool, check this link for the details of the two ships.
http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_foudroyant.htm (http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_foudroyant.htm)
-
Well, that seems to clarify matters. Just as well there was only one Victory, even though not much is the original fabric.
-
Well, that seems to clarify matters. Just as well there was only one Victory, even though not much is the original fabric.
Carefull Colin!! There were at least two other Victorys prior to the one in Portsmouth !! :D :D :D
-
Yes but sequential, not contemporaneous. Still, nothing like the utter confusion which surrounds the naming and renaming of today's cruise ships and ferries. ;)
-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7220000/newsid_7228500/7228571.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&bbcws=1 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7220000/newsid_7228500/7228571.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&bbcws=1)
-
After listening to that report it does not sound good for that ship at all
stavros
-
In reply to Bryans comment that Freak Waves do not occur on the Continental shelf. There was an interesting programme about Freak/Rogue waves, apparently the first one in the world was recorded on a North Sea gas rig, it was over 70ft high and the leading edge was vertical with a breaking top. This is unusual for a wave is usually of a sinus rhythm and about 25 to 35 ft high in an Atlantic severe gale, in fact a ocean going ship is designed to take the weight of 25 depth of water above it but not continuously. NASA has since recorded them of the West coast of Scotland, the North Sea and virtually in every large sea area in the world. These waves are not caused by depths or wind over current and can only be explained using quantum mathematics.
-
I have been caught a good few times in Northwesterly gales off Terschelling where the heavy seas bounce off the island and meet in coming seas just around the TSS. Resulting in a heaped sea that throws the vessel over sharply and before it can start to right, gets hit by a further wave that throws her even further over. Great memories of dodging rampaging semi trailers, cars half the width they were when they came on board etc etc. :o Also why did it always seem to happen in the dark :-\
Mike
-
In reply to Bryans comment that Freak Waves do not occur on the Continental shelf. There was an interesting programme about Freak/Rogue waves, apparently the first one in the world was recorded on a North Sea gas rig, it was over 70ft high and the leading edge was vertical with a breaking top. This is unusual for a wave is usually of a sinus rhythm and about 25 to 35 ft high in an Atlantic severe gale, in fact a ocean going ship is designed to take the weight of 25 depth of water above it but not continuously. NASA has since recorded them of the West coast of Scotland, the North Sea and virtually in every large sea area in the world. These waves are not caused by depths or wind over current and can only be explained using quantum mathematics.
Yes. you are more than correct...I forgot about the open end of the North Sea, unforgiveable really as I did one run from Dundee to Bergen with the Marines on board. Most of them flew home at their own expense. But in mitigation may I try to explain again that my remarks were originally aimed at journalism and things got a bit out of hand. Nothing new there. Sorry.
-
Bryan, the old adage about journalists never letting the truth, or factual accuracy, get in the way of a good story, is as true now as it ever was. Sensationalism sells papers, or so we are told.
Peter.
-
http://news.webshots.com/photo/2406053990102855880lmLOYS
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19207
Just some pictures I found anyone know what the score is now with this vessel, is it still there
Stavros
-
Still there, they are removing fuel oil at the moment.
-
Anybody want any McVitties Chocolate Salty Digestives? Very salty, pre-dunked. Probably a bit saltier that wanted - the ship is sitting over a sewage outfall pipe.
-
Riverdance is still grounded offshore. There's a boom around her to stop any leaking fuel oil which they've been taking off this week. They hope to make an attempt to refloat her very soon, probably sometime in the coming week.
Aparently, all sorts of rogues and vagabonds have been turning up with cutting gear and ladders in an attempt to get aboard and take some 'souvenirs'! The police had to invoke an exclusion zone to keep them and sightseers away!
-
This is a latest picture of Riverdance
http://argus-data.wldelft.nl/sites/cleven/2008/c3/046_Feb.15/1203097810.Fri.Feb.15_17_50_10.GMT.2008.cleven.c3.timex.jpg
A webcam has been set up locally but only refreshes every 30 minutes. http://argus-data.wldelft.nl/sites/cleven/2008/c3/046_Feb.15/index.html
-
I drove past her today, doesnt seem to be much happening around her?
-
I think they need low water to work on the ship O0
Press Notice No: 50/08
Monday, February 18, 2008
Posted 11:47 GMT
http://www.mcga.gov.uk
RIVERDANCE - UPDATE
The Ro Ro ferry 6,041 ton `Riverdance still remains firmly aground on the North Shore at Blackpool. The vessel still remains in a precarious position. Currently the vessel is maintaining a significant list to starboard. The main cargo deck, lower hold, engine room and steering gear room are currently interconnected and therefore flood with the tide and the watertight integrity of the hull is subject to further investigation by salvors.
The salvage control unit, chaired by Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of States Representative in Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) recently reported that over the past weekend all bunker fuels have been successfully removed from the most vulnerable tanks. Operations will now concentrate on stabilising the vessel by making the hull watertight and transferring water ballast to reduce the list. The severe list has made the access to the double bottom tanks much easier and safer than before.
Work continues on the further removal of a number of trailers from the main deck, but efforts are being hampered by the tide levels at low water which is restricting the safe working time on scene. The Environment Group continues to monitor and risk assess the situation and are satisfied with the progress being made to date.
Additional security staff remain in place to cover the low water periods supported by HM Coastguard personnel and vehicles when the vessel presents dangers to onlookers who stray too close the site.
An outline traffic management plan is being discussed between Lancashire Police and the local authorities for the refloating operation which, due to ongoing work on board the vessel, will not take place for at least the next two weeks. A number of road closures and restrictions will be put in place at that time and the plan will be implemented for the period covering the refloat.
Posted By: Mark Clark
For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401
-
More info........
Riverdance: How refloat will happen
Published Date: 21 February 2008
Source: Blackpool Gazette
Location: Blackpool
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk
By Paul Marsden
SALVAGE experts are preparing the stricken ferry Riverdance to be
refloated.
Crews working on the 6,000-ton vessel, which is beached off the coast
just south of Cleveleys, are still hopeful the ship can be refloated and
have been making it watertight ahead of an attempt to halt its alarming
list.
Work to drain 100 tonnes of intermediate fuel oil and 50 tonnes of
diesel from engines onboard the ferry has now been completed.
Click here to see Riverdance webcam
The next step of the salvage mission, which could take place this
weekend, will see water moved from one side of the ferry to another in
an attempt to return it to an 'upright' position.
Click here to see our Riverdance picture gallery - updated daily
It is now nearly three weeks since the ship became beached after being
struck by a freak wave.
Tony Redding, spokesman for the Riverdance's operator Seatruck Ferries
said: "A lot of the work going on inside the ship has been amounting to
correcting the list.
"The vents have been sealed by welding metal plates over them. Work will
then take place to rig all the pump gear.
"The list will be reduced by pumping water from the ballast tanks on the
starboard side to the port side, which is currently face up."
John Matthews, head of the Fleetwood Nautical Campus of Blackpool and
The Fylde College, said the ability to distribute the water between
tanks on opposing sides of the ferry will aid the operation.
He said: "They have done the first thing they needed to do by getting
rid of the oil and fuel.
"The ship will have double ballast tanks, which are divided down the
bottom.
"They will fill the high-sided tank, which should mean she will list
back over because the weight is in one side."
Once the list of the vessel is corrected, which may take days, then the
Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and
Intervention (SOSREP) will board the ferry with salvors to inspect the
interior.
The ship will eventually be removed from the Fylde coastline by tugs
pulling it out to sea.
Mr Redding added: "The Riverdance will be tied to either one or two tugs
by extra special synthetic cable.
"The cable is a strong as steel cable but has the advantage of being
very lightweight.
"If it is one tug which is pulling the ship it will have to be a very
large one."
Visitors to the site are being urged to stay away from the ship, which
is currently the subject of a 400m exclusion zone.
The full article contains 439 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette
newspaper.Last Updated: 21 February 2008 7:21 AM
Teams tackle Riverdance danger list
Video
View the latest video of The Riverdance
Salvage crews continue to work on the ship
By Rob Stocks
THE owners of the stricken ferry Riverdance hope to be able to stop the
vessel's dangerous list by the weekend.
Although they concede there is no hope of moving the 6,000 ton roll-on
roll-off truck ferry from the beach, just north of Cleveleys, Seatruck,
the firm which operated the ship, says work to right her could take
place before Monday.
Salvage crews continue to work on the ship and have almost completed the
task of draining fuel oil and diesel onboard.
Click here to see Riverdance webcam
A seatruck spokesman said: "We are at a very important stage.
"At the weekend we will begin to pump water from the starboard to the
port side of the Riverdance.
Click here to see our Riverdance picture gallery - updated daily
"This should hopefully allow us to correct the list."
Since being beached at Blackpool, after being struck by a freak wave
en-route from Northern Ireland to Heysham, the Riverdance has been
sitting at an increasingly precarious angle in the sand.
The list has made work difficult for salvage crews working to save the
ship.
A Seatruck spokesman said: "Because of the list, the angle at which the
ship is leaning, it is very difficult to work onboard.
"We are trying to do as much as possible from the sands.
"That means we are only able to work at low tide which makes progress
slow."
The Coastguard has indicated it could be two weeksbefore an operation
takes place to float the Riverdance off the beach.
Seatruck has confirmed that timescale.
Visitors to the site continue to be urged to stay away from the ship,
and remain outside a 400m exclusion zone.
Trucks continue to be removed from the deck of the ship as salvage
workers bid to gain better access to the structure.
The Seatruck spokesman added: "There is one particular vehicle they are
eager to move.
"That is to do with gaining access to a specific part of the ship.
"The easier access is, the easier the salvage job becomes."
Visitors on the promenade at Anchorshome watching the recovery operation
were sceptical of the timescale.
Eddie Bank, a tourist from Todmorden, said: "I'd be surprised if they
could get it upright this weekend.
"Two weeks seems very quick.
"But I'm sure they have done these things before and know better than
us."
The full article contains 399 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette
newspaper.Last Updated: 20 February 2008 9:28 AM
-
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/High-tide-hits-ferry-and.3807847.jp
High tide hits ferry and delays salvage
The Riverdance
THE Riverdance is here to stay ... for a couple more weeks at least.
Plans to begin pumping water into the starboard side of the ferry this Saturday, in a bid to right it, have been delayed after the safety of the 6,000-ton vessel was put into question.
Attempts to halt the ferry's alarming list have failed as it moved a further 14 degrees following the high tide on Thursday night.
Mark Clark, spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "Originally she was listing at 58 degrees, now it's 72 degrees.
"She rolled because of the high tide and rigs being held in place by lashings have collapsed.
"It's not going to be a happy situation for at least a couple of weeks while salvage crews clear the inside."
Work to drain 100 tons of intermediate fuel oil and 50 tons of diesel from engines on board has now been completed but experts are saying it will take another couple of weeks before the ferry is ready to consider for refloating.
How Riverdance refloat will happen
Once the list of the vessel is corrected, the Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) will board the ferry with salvors to inspect the interior.
It is now three weeks since the ferry became beached after being struck by a freak wave but eventually it will be removed from the Fylde coastline by tugs pulling it out to sea.
Large crowds have been drawn to the ship in recent weeks, although a strict exclusion zone has been put in place to prevent sightseers getting too close.
The Riverdance has now been in place for three weeks after being hit by a freak wave on the night of February 1, when 23 passengers and crew were winched to safety by an RAF crew.
Wouldnt surprise me if she becomes a total wreck.
-
"freak" wave again?
-
They are going to have some problems now that it's practically lying on its side.
-
Big Trolley Jack seems to spring to mind
Satvros
-
Or 50,000 seagulls tethered to the high side. {-)
-
Here's a couple of good photos I've copied from another forum, taken by a member there. I hope I have not broken any rules by doing this ! ::)
http://trampics.fotopic.net/p48592390.html
http://trampics.fotopic.net/p48592380.html
Mike
-
"freak" wave again?
No, Bryan, just a high tide with some unfavourable wind behind it. This is not a forgiving coast, despite appearances.
-
She seems to be digging herself in.
-
Is it dooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmed?
-
Having looked at the photo's I cannot see how that can be described as `A LIST` it's laying on its side.
Good luck to the salver's.
Colin H.
-
Or 50,000 seagulls tethered to the high side. {-)
Nice to see some sideways thinking.
-
Incredibly, 8 people tried to get aboard the ship recently. Obviously not for the sightseeing either! Just what is it with some people?
See here for more pics
http://www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/gallery_rd_fer/
-
Definitely in a bad way now. Total constructive loss I'd guess.
-
Here's a link to another (sad) picture
http://flickr.com/photos/ceefax55/2294071750/sizes/l/
Mike
-
Is it me or do the props and one remaining rudder look rather small for the size of the hull ?
-
No the prop blades are snapped and big chunks of the rudders also. They are plainly visible on one of the picture links elsewhere, but cannot remember which.
Unless you mean in general for a ship that size, in which case they look the same size(ish) to the several ro ro's I sailed on.
Mike
-
Thanks Mike,
Yeah, thinking about it, there must have been quite a bit bit of damage to both the props and rudders due to the circumstances of the grounding.
-
Some of you may find this interesting. Its a link about shipwrecks on the Fylde Coast including Riverdance.
http://www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/shipwreck/
-
Looks like its all over now for Riverdance. Plans to try and right the vessel appear to have been abandoned and now they are talking about other 'options.'
Sounds like they will cut her up where she is.
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Riverdance-ferry-listing-at-100.3877587.jp
THE STRICKEN ferry Riverdance is now listing at 100 degrees off the coast of Cleveleys after being battered by heavy winds.
The vessel suffered heavy damage after being buffeted by 90 miles an hour winds on Wednesday.
Plans to reduce the list by using internal buoyancy and tidal effects have now been abandoned.
Salvors are now assessing the situation and are in discussion with the owners and insurers of the vessel.
A revised plan containing options for the removal of the vessel will now be presented to Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of States Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP), for his consideration early next week.
Mr Shaw said: "The owners of the ship have given their reassurance that their objective of removing the vessel in an environmentally friendly and timely manner remains paramount.
"Contractors will continue to clear cargo or debris washed ashore from the vessel.
"As access to the main deck has now been breached by the heavy seas it is likely that this work will increase over the next week."
-
I feel sorry for the owners and the salvage guys who must have dreaded every weather report over the last few weeks.
-
Re the comments about "Freak" waves - look at this one!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7290000/newsid_7297300/7297344.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1
-
Re the comments about "Freak" waves - look at this one!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7290000/newsid_7297300/7297344.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1
So really, what is "freak" about this one? Unusual perhaps, but to call everything the slightest bit out of the ordinary "freak" debases both the word and its proper use. Not that I wish to argue either the point or with you. Bryan.
-
Just quoting the report Bryan, not my personal view. The media prefer "freaks" to "slightly unusual phenomenons"! ;)
-
Boy oh boy were they lucky
Stavros
-
And pretty surprised too I'd guess! Just shows you how people get swept away when wave watching. It's all very dramatic and pretty and then the big one comes in and grabs you!
-
here a question . with in the first few hours of her grounding had a couple of high power salvage tug been there could they have pulled her off her grounding and saved her. It seam as time gone on she got in to a worse state, and they have missed opportunities to save her.
john
-
Has anyone picked up on the fact that the film was taken in Spain. Where is La Corunya? If it's on the Med then I guess this could be a freak wave.
-
It's the modern name for Corunna, bottom of the Bay of Biscay and sticking out into the Atlantic. Just where you might expect to cop heavy weather!
-
Thanks for the geography lesson Colin I've learnt something. Well I gues they should well expect freak waves then.
Alan
-
I am not sure that the suggested solution of pulling her off soon after she grounded is as simple as that.
Have a look at my thread here re "It's not only Blackpool...." which shows a very recent grounding just up the coast from me.
They certainly had a very powerful tug there shortly after she grounded but failed to pull the stranded vessel off.
Roger in France.
-
If a ship goes ashore, or is pushed up the beach at the top of a high spring tide it can be weeks or even months before there is enough water to refloat her. The best chance of getting her off is on the next high tide which will be almost as high. After that the high water levels begin to fall rapidly and, at the same time, the ship will start digging herself in under her own weight and the influence of the currents around her hull. Then it becomes a great deal more difficult.
-
Now declared a total loss. Sad but absolutely no surprise to those of us who knew the story locally. Seems to have been a mixture of bad weather and blunders.
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Riverdance-will-never-sail-again.3904317.jp
SHE will never sail again.
Stricken sea ferry Riverdance – now sinking into the sand off Blackpool beach – was today declared "a constructive loss".
The storms of the last fortnight have battered the ship to a point where she is now beyond repair.
The 6,000-ton ship is now virtually under water at high tide.
Riverdance has been gradually sinking into the sand in the last seven weeks.
Freak waves forced her aground at Anchorsholme at the end of January.
Salvage teams still plan to attempt to refloat the ship, but are now considering using mechanical winch devices to do that rather than complex buoyancy techniques.
If that fails Riverdance will have to be cut up on the beach.
Tony Redding from owners Seatruck Ferries Ltd, said: "She is a constructive loss and will never return to service.
"She suffered very significant damage during the last bout of bad weather.
"The intention is still to remove her in one piece and new proposals are being prepared about the salvage operation.
"By the end of next week the situation should be clarified as to what is going to happen next."
Mr Redding's declaration the ship will never return to service echoed comments from a leading local nautical expert.
John Matthews, the head of Fleetwood Nautical Campus, said the only voyage the boat would now be making is to the scrapyard.
He said: "If you tried to open the cargo door it would not open and if you turned the propeller it would be wobbling because it would not be in line – it's only scrap."
Mr Matthews also said continued efforts to refloat the vessel and get her off the beach in one piece were the best option financially for the owners.
"It's cheaper if you can take it all in one piece," he said.
"If you cut it up on the beach it would be such a difficult job because there is 6,000 tons of metal.
"If you had to cut it up imagine all the lorries going through Cleveleys."
Staff at the nautical campus were at the sharp end when the Riverdance hit the sands on January 31.
Two lecturers were members of the Fleetwood lifeboat crew who went to her aid, and Mr Matthews was the deputy launch authority for the local RNLI who gave the green light for lifeboat to be launched.
Mr Matthews said: "We have taken our students to see the Riverdance.
"It's sad to see a ship like that lying there and knowing she will be chopped up."
Thousands of sightseers were again expected to visit the site this weekend.
Riverdance has become a major tourist attraction since she ran aground on January 31 after being "broadsided" by a freak wave while sailing from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to Heysham.
Twenty-three passengers and crew were airlifted to safety
-
Latest news
Riverdance will never sail again
snap :D