Seismic vessel burning up and sinking

[King Herald]

Not sure if these pics have been posted before, but a girl I used to work with captured them a few years ago when the CGG Mistral caught fire and sank.





















































Everybody got off safely.

[anonymous-user]

fk.

[anonymous-user]

Great series of photos, thanks for posting them.

[King Herald]

el stovey said:

fk.

I believe that expletive was repeated at least twice in the wheelhouse on the day.

[King Herald]

el stovey said:

Great series of photos, thanks for posting them.

No worries, had them on my PC for years, rediscovered them today.

The boat was towing several oil filled streamer cables, about 5 miles long, which you may be able to see in the pics. That was also why they were towing the burning vessel, to try and keep the stuff afloat and in a straight line.

[Melvin Udall]

I've worked on seismic vessels for years. I heard about this at the time, and it's been included in a few safety briefings.

[Mr Pies]

Ok I accept that this probably a stupid question to ask you boat beards, but why did it sink if set on fire?

Did the resultant heat cause the hull to split or something like that?

[King Herald]

Mr Pies said:

Ok I accept that this probably a stupid question to ask you boat beards, but why did it sink if set on fire?

Did the resultant heat cause the hull to split or something like that?

I heard rumour it was actually pumped full of water by the monitors off the tug boats.

But I'd guess there was also damage to low melting point water pipes, seals, hoses and such-forth below decks.

[NDA]

I never cease to be amazed at the complete peace and calm once a boat has sunk..... as if nothing had happened.

Silly and obvious really. But the ocean swallowing up a boat is an incredible and terrifying sight.

[Hooli]

King Herald said:

Mr Pies said:

Ok I accept that this probably a stupid question to ask you boat beards, but why did it sink if set on fire?

Did the resultant heat cause the hull to split or something like that?

I heard rumour it was actually pumped full of water by the monitors off the tug boats.

But I'd guess there was also damage to low melting point water pipes, seals, hoses and such-forth below decks.

I guess there must be a point where you have to stop putting the fire out before you sink from all the water you've squirted onboard?

[Simpo Two]

The close up appears to show a break in the side - perhaps the force of the tow line pulled the bows forward?

[Melvin Udall]

Which pic are you looking at?

[Simpo Two]

Melvin Udall said:

Which pic are you looking at?

[Melvin Udall]

I think that is the same decking space as seen in the first pic, below the white bullwark. It is lower in the water so breaching that deck. I could be horribly wrong.

Edited by Melvin Udall on Tuesday 6th December 10:21

[Simpo Two]

Ah yes, you might be right.

I too was wondering how a steel tub surrounded by water can develop a hole even if it's on fire; can only think it was the water from the fireboat that sank it. Nice work guys!


http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/cgg_mistral...

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 6th December 10:38

[Melvin Udall]

Simpo Two said:

Ah yes, you might be right.

I too was wondering how a steel tub surrounded by water can develop a hole even if it's on fire; can only think it was the water from the fireboat that sank it. Nice work guys!

As KH says, probably the heat destroying the cooling system, seals, and so on, causing it to flood, plus the fire oats flooding it as well, if the upper watertight doors are not shut.

[HowMuchLonger]

NDA said:

I never cease to be amazed at the complete peace and calm once a boat has sunk..... as if nothing had happened.

Silly and obvious really. But the ocean swallowing up a boat is an incredible and terrifying sight.

It is even stranger looking at an anchor handling vessel upside down. Rather harrowing actually.

First like this:


Look away for a few minutes then see this:

[NDA]

HowMuchLonger said:

It is even stranger looking at an anchor handling vessel upside down. Rather harrowing actually.

First like this:


Look away for a few minutes then see this:

How did/why did that happen?

[Melvin Udall]

It fell over.

[phumy]

Melvin Udall said:

It fell over.

Tripped on a stick???