when a ship breaks in two, grim

[Blackpuddin]

Has anybody seen this horrific footage of MV Arvin breaking? Apparently six people died as a result even though the ship was very close to shore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaZhnNlutuQ

[105.4]

Yes, it came up on my YouTube feed the other day.

Not only was the ship about a mile away from shore, but there was also two other vessels very close-by. Having had a read on the summary of the investigation, it would seem that it was an accident waiting to happen.

[Simpo Two]

At anchor apparently.

Why didn't the ship that took the later footage go to assist?

[The Hypno-Toad]

I am very sorry to say that the first thing that went through my mind when I saw that video was life imitating art.

Clearly a wave hits it.

And then the front falls off.

But I wouldn't want anyone to think that these ships aren't safe. With a lot of them the front doesn't fall off at all.

[thewarlock]

45 years old.

Back in the early 70s they weren't conducting anything more than a very basic fatigue design analysis. This sort of thing is waiting to happen on vessels of this type all over the place.

[thewarlock]

The Hypno-Toad said:

I am very sorry to say that the first thing that went through my mind when I saw that video was life imitating art.

Clearly a wave hits it.

And then the front falls off.

But I wouldn't want anyone to think that these ships aren't safe. With a lot of them the front doesn't fall off at all.

[Shambler]

Watching videos like that makes you wince especially when you work in the North Sea and regularly see seas over 10m

[bristolracer]

Awful watching these type of videos knowing someone is about to die.

A bit of googling shows the ship had been condemned by the authorities as being structurally weakened owing to corrosion. It shouldn't have been at sea.

[crofty1984]

Were the crew able to abandon ship? Looks like enough time to get into a lifeboat.

[robwilk]

crofty1984 said:

Were the crew able to abandon ship? Looks like enough time to get into a lifeboat.

They did not set any alarms off that I heard , would those in the engine room / bunks known what was happening?

[Shambler]

robwilk said:

crofty1984 said:

Were the crew able to abandon ship? Looks like enough time to get into a lifeboat.

They did not set any alarms off that I heard , would those in the engine room / bunks known what was happening?

The Captains actions were a little suspect. First thing to do would be to raise the general alarm and close the water tight doors if not done already. The Mayday call was amateur at best.

[lufbramatt]

Reading around it seems it was designed as a river/sea trader and wasn’t designed for use in heavy sea conditions- and that when when it was new 45 years ago.

[bobbo89]

Shambler said:

The Captains actions were a little suspect. First thing to do would be to raise the general alarm and close the water tight doors if not done already. The Mayday call was amateur at best.

If it anchor is it not possible the person we heard wasn't the captain who maybe might have been elsewhere...?

[MartG]

Simpo Two said:

Why didn't the ship that took the later footage go to assist?

Probably also anchored, and you can't start up a ship main engine as quickly as a car

Also that close to shore, in those conditions, the captain could have been putting his own vessel at risk

[shed driver]

Listening to the Mayday call got me thinking. Does a Mayday call get made in English or in the local language. I know all flight comms are meant to be in English but hadn't thought about Maydays.

The ?master's broken English "It's broken" is not ideal, but if it was in his local language the receiving station might not understand.

SD.

[ecsrobin]

shed driver said:

Listening to the Mayday call got me thinking. Does a Mayday call get made in English or in the local language. I know all flight comms are meant to be in English but hadn't thought about Maydays.

The ?master's broken English "It's broken" is not ideal, but if it was in his local language the receiving station might not understand.

SD.

It can be made in local language but if you know the vessels around you or the country you are in are not native speakers then you’d do it in English.

I’m not sure about commercial vessels however on a sailing yacht I’d expect anyone on board to be able to press the DSC alert and give a fairly decent voice broadcast.

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday

This is Pistonheads, Pistonheads, Pistonheads

MMSI 1234567890 callsign PH1

Mayday Pistonheads in position 5124N 00904W we are a tanker and require salvage pumps - taking on water. 8 persons on board with life jackets and immersion suits preparing life rafts.

This is Pistonheads over.

(Or similar to that, I’m sure an RYA instructor will be along to correct).

In the UK the coastguard will then want you to spell your name phonetically and to confirm your MMSI at least once maybe twice which when you’re in distress can be frustrating but ensures they respond to the correct vessel.

[Register1]

Shambler said:

Watching videos like that makes you wince especially when you work in the North Sea and regularly see seas over 10m

A lot of folk just can't believe how bad the sea can be in North Sea.
On a BP oil tanker a few years ago, we hit a wave head on, as you do, and I swear, the vessel just shuddered and groaned, and came to a stop.

Still underway, a massive wave came rolling down the main deck, for most of the main deck, all that could be seen was glimpses of the catwalk.

Very scary.

[jeff666]

The Hypno-Toad said:

I am very sorry to say that the first thing that went through my mind when I saw that video was life imitating art.

Clearly a wave hits it.

And then the front falls off.

But I wouldn't want anyone to think that these ships aren't safe. With a lot of them the front doesn't fall off at all.

I read that in an Australian accent.

[eharding]

ecsrobin said:

Mayday Pistonheads in position 5124N 00904W we are a tanker and require salvage pumps....

Imagine your disappointment to find that the only station responding is Craggy Island Coastguard, and it's volunteer Father Dougal manning the radio.

[Ayahuasca]

ecsrobin said:

shed driver said:

Listening to the Mayday call got me thinking. Does a Mayday call get made in English or in the local language. I know all flight comms are meant to be in English but hadn't thought about Maydays.

The ?master's broken English "It's broken" is not ideal, but if it was in his local language the receiving station might not understand.

SD.

It can be made in local language but if you know the vessels around you or the country you are in are not native speakers then you’d do it in English.

I’m not sure about commercial vessels however on a sailing yacht I’d expect anyone on board to be able to press the DSC alert and give a fairly decent voice broadcast.

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday

This is Pistonheads, Pistonheads, Pistonheads

MMSI 1234567890 callsign PH1

Mayday Pistonheads in position 5124N 00904W we are a tanker and require salvage pumps - taking on water. 8 persons on board with life jackets and immersion suits preparing life rafts.

This is Pistonheads over.

(Or similar to that, I’m sure an RYA instructor will be along to correct).

In the UK the coastguard will then want you to spell your name phonetically and to confirm your MMSI at least once maybe twice which when you’re in distress can be frustrating but ensures they respond to the correct vessel.

If my ship snapped in half I would request more than a salvage pump to be honest.