http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/s...rt=asc&page=2&more_comments=true#commentsList
If you are sailing in Florida.
If you are sailing in Florida.
Shipping Containers
- Thread starter MoonSailer
- Start date
- Status
Just my thoughts
First and foremost, if you are going to worry about hitting a container, might as well stop sailing offshore. They are lost consistantly, in all oceans. Right after Katrina, I heard that there were thousands of Chiquita banana containers in Mississippi sound. A container that is 8' tall, sitting on the bottom in 10 feet of water could be an unwanted surprise. For a couple of years, I never left the marked channels. Figured it the containers were there, the barge traffic would have got rid of them. A container will not sink if the materials in it have enough
bouyancy to keep it up. From what I have seen, they are not totally water proof anyway, and many of them float with the tops barely above the water, some a few inches below the surface. It's a big ocean, and I don't concern myself about hitting a container. Can't worry about everything, and I can see lightning.
First and foremost, if you are going to worry about hitting a container, might as well stop sailing offshore. They are lost consistantly, in all oceans. Right after Katrina, I heard that there were thousands of Chiquita banana containers in Mississippi sound. A container that is 8' tall, sitting on the bottom in 10 feet of water could be an unwanted surprise. For a couple of years, I never left the marked channels. Figured it the containers were there, the barge traffic would have got rid of them. A container will not sink if the materials in it have enough
bouyancy to keep it up. From what I have seen, they are not totally water proof anyway, and many of them float with the tops barely above the water, some a few inches below the surface. It's a big ocean, and I don't concern myself about hitting a container. Can't worry about everything, and I can see lightning.
Yea the heros seem to hear the gun shot and dodge the bullet. But in reality bullets go faster than sound. If you hear the gun they probably missed you.
I don't worry a lot about many things. I agree Nice and easy. If you worry too much it is better to stay tied to the dock and drink iced rum. I had just seen the notice about the containers and passed it along.
I don't worry a lot about many things. I agree Nice and easy. If you worry too much it is better to stay tied to the dock and drink iced rum. I had just seen the notice about the containers and passed it along.
Worry cures absolutely nothing, just gets you grey hair. But eliminating a hazard to navigation with such a simple solution is a no brainer.
Millions of people drive their cars on the highway every day and get home safe each night. Does that mean we should do nothing about drunk drivers? Of course not! The same logic applies. Ignoring the fact that they are out there is no solution.
Millions of people drive their cars on the highway every day and get home safe each night. Does that mean we should do nothing about drunk drivers? Of course not! The same logic applies. Ignoring the fact that they are out there is no solution.
Some great photos here
http://thetriton.com/article/2010/02/container-ship-arrives-load-astray
Chuck
http://thetriton.com/article/2010/02/container-ship-arrives-load-astray
Chuck
I just ordered a container full of products. Now I have something else to worry about; hoping it doesn't fall off the ship and get ran over by NiceNEasy.:cry:
This and that
Lets see, aside from the typical weather concerns, such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, lightning strikes, too much wind, and not enough wind, we have to watch for all the junk floating out there. Personally I have seen much more in the way of debris, than I have containers. Actually I have never seen a container floating offshore. I have seen some strange things though that could hole a boat. Large floating pilings and floating tree trunks have been the most common. After Katrina, there was the entire roof of a house floating in the lake, and lots of pieces of boat houses. Have seen a few day markers that had been hit, and the piling roughly at the surface of the water. Some of you may remember my post from last summer when I got caught in a pretty nasty thunderstorm about 30 miles off Ft. Meyers, Fl. Something took the bow light off the boat, bent the anchor roller, and cut the furling line. Never saw anything, except the bow light floating by. All of this has to be dealt with whenever it comes along as best you can. So, I keep as sharp a lookout as is possible, check every weather forecast I can find, keep my boat in the best condition I can, and just go. But I do not worry about what if, and what can, or what might happen. Worry cures nothing, and leads to a heart attacks and grey hair.
Lets see, aside from the typical weather concerns, such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, lightning strikes, too much wind, and not enough wind, we have to watch for all the junk floating out there. Personally I have seen much more in the way of debris, than I have containers. Actually I have never seen a container floating offshore. I have seen some strange things though that could hole a boat. Large floating pilings and floating tree trunks have been the most common. After Katrina, there was the entire roof of a house floating in the lake, and lots of pieces of boat houses. Have seen a few day markers that had been hit, and the piling roughly at the surface of the water. Some of you may remember my post from last summer when I got caught in a pretty nasty thunderstorm about 30 miles off Ft. Meyers, Fl. Something took the bow light off the boat, bent the anchor roller, and cut the furling line. Never saw anything, except the bow light floating by. All of this has to be dealt with whenever it comes along as best you can. So, I keep as sharp a lookout as is possible, check every weather forecast I can find, keep my boat in the best condition I can, and just go. But I do not worry about what if, and what can, or what might happen. Worry cures nothing, and leads to a heart attacks and grey hair.
The problem is that much of the contents of these containers are 'low mass / low density' and that may cause the container to still float even when flooded.
Latest is that several of these containers have floated up on the reefs south of Biscayne Bay but several are caught in the 'counter current' on the west side of the Gulf Stream - so that some are 'going north' and some a 'going south'. Kinda makes a 'night crossing' of the Gulf Stream a bit 'chancy'; but, the recent weather hasnt been all that good for a 'Gulf Stream crossing' anyway .
When sailing in open waters, at night, under a moonless sky, with a good breeze a question usually comes into my mind; what would be the maximum speed that I could crash into a floating obstruction without sinking the boat? I don't know the answer and there are probably to many variables to speculate. That question usually leads to making a choice of whether to continue enjoying the good breeze or slowing the boat down for perceived safety. Being there no rational answer I guess the resulting action is taken based on the mood I may be in. I will plow on blindly at 6-7 knots if I feel daring, rationalizing the odds are in my favor but on other occassions I may feel uneasy and rationalize that there is no hurry to get anywhere and I will slow the boat down. I find that at speeds around 4 knots my apprehension dissapears. Keeping tabs on the phase of the moon and the lunar schedule and correlating with the anticipated wind speeds and direction takes away much of the surprise of light levels, duration of total darkness and sailing speed conditions and allows to make a plan but the test comes when you look at your knotmeter but cannot see anything ahead of your bow lights. As for containers the shipping companies are not going to spend a dime to correct the problem. The industry does not have an incentive and are practically shielded from liability. Its an international issue governed by maritime laws and agreements and the interests of small crafts out there don't mean much. The interest that the US Federal and State governments show for containers mostly come after they get wheels at port.
I made efforts to reinforce my boat forward of midships because of my concern for striking heavy flotsam that could puncture a single skin hull. I am not much concerned about floating logs because they don't have sharp edges and can be pushed aside. But something as heavy as a shipping container with well defined corners will be very bad news indeed in a collision.
I once saw a huge tree out in the gulf. It sure would hurt to hit something like that!!! I guess that we have to play the odds. Odds are in our favor and collisions are rare.
- Status