Ultimately the reason for this disaster will be attributed to 'engine filters' and dirty fuel tank as the originating cause .... A fuel tank that released its alphatic debris (a mixture of fungal deposits and their products of metabolism) from the tank walls.
The usage of 2µM filters, being much smaller in retention size for normal marine diesel recommended operation, quickly and/or repeatedly 'choked' rendering the engine inoperative and the ship unable to maneuver.
I keep stating over and over and over again that 2µM requires 5 times the operational differential pressure across it to deliver the exact same flow rate as a 10µM (10µM the nominal choice for marine diesels) and when the flow is loaded with 'normal' debris will foul 5 times FASTER than a 10µM.
So in effect using a 2µM in place of a 10µM, takes 5 times the amount of 'work', loads up with debris 5 times 'faster' and builds vacuum 5 times faster while doing so ..... and if you exceed the vacuum motive pressures developed by the lift pump to operate the filters ... you are 'done'. Couple that filter failure (choice of µM retention) and a failure to do routine tank cleaning maintenance which most probably led to the chain of event that caused most of ALL the other failures ... structural, navigational, etc.
Like aerodynamics and airstream flow over sails, filters are NOT 'intuitive' and you really should use what has been clearly recommended by engine manufacturers and 'ethical' marine filter manufacturers.
As stated, this ship sinking will ultimately be determined to be caused by the inappropriate usage of a $25 'filter' .... as the primary cause that led to all the subsequent 'chain of events' mini-disasters that occurred. It will probably be 'rationalized' as the trigger that caused all the rest of the causes. Very sad.
The usage of 2µM filters, being much smaller in retention size for normal marine diesel recommended operation, quickly and/or repeatedly 'choked' rendering the engine inoperative and the ship unable to maneuver.
I keep stating over and over and over again that 2µM requires 5 times the operational differential pressure across it to deliver the exact same flow rate as a 10µM (10µM the nominal choice for marine diesels) and when the flow is loaded with 'normal' debris will foul 5 times FASTER than a 10µM.
So in effect using a 2µM in place of a 10µM, takes 5 times the amount of 'work', loads up with debris 5 times 'faster' and builds vacuum 5 times faster while doing so ..... and if you exceed the vacuum motive pressures developed by the lift pump to operate the filters ... you are 'done'. Couple that filter failure (choice of µM retention) and a failure to do routine tank cleaning maintenance which most probably led to the chain of event that caused most of ALL the other failures ... structural, navigational, etc.
Like aerodynamics and airstream flow over sails, filters are NOT 'intuitive' and you really should use what has been clearly recommended by engine manufacturers and 'ethical' marine filter manufacturers.
As stated, this ship sinking will ultimately be determined to be caused by the inappropriate usage of a $25 'filter' .... as the primary cause that led to all the subsequent 'chain of events' mini-disasters that occurred. It will probably be 'rationalized' as the trigger that caused all the rest of the causes. Very sad.
