Leith Dock Edinburgh Major Incident

[SteveStrange]

In before the SNP claim it wouldn't have happened in an independent Scotland.

[Taffer]

Condi said:

It was in long term drydock for economic reasons, so maybe there wasn't that much work being done.

That said, 14 people in hospital and surgeries cancelled to free up doctors doesn't sound very encouraging!

(Is there a thread in Boats Trains and Planes or whatever the other forum is called?)

You don't long-term drydock a vessel - the day rates are high, and there is always demand for a vessel to utilise a dock for scheduled overhauls/surveys or unscheduled repairs. The Petrel was in long term lay-up in Leith alongside in the water for about 2 years, under the ownership of Paul Allen's estate, and entered dry dock in preparation for her being brought back into service in support of the US Navy, the new owners.

[Dogwatch]

Saw this on Youtube. Interesting rundown of the ship's history, and fairly considerable achievements before it was laid up, in finding wartime wrecks and deep-level marine life.


Suggestions on BBC this morning that injuries could have been from people falling from scaffolding as the ship tipped. Nasty.
Looks as if the keel stayed on its blocks so anyone working on the lower hull would probably have been OK . If they haven't cut holes in the hull for repairs presumably they could right it by flooding the drydock.

[Supercilious Sid]

I'm glad that didn't happen when I went under the QE2 during a refit.

[ScotHill]

Supercilious Sid said:

I'm glad that didn't happen when I went under the QE2 during a refit.

I'm sure her Women of the Bedchamber would have kept her upright.