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"Singles Only"

Page Number 5

2003 2nd Half

The Individual Moments of Transport Crisis

Which Don't Constitute A Full Page Feature

"Singles Only" 2003 2nd Half - Our Feature Page - Page #5 Our "Singles" Photo Features By Date

"Encounter With Physics" M/V Stellamare - Dec. 2003

"DHL Airlines - On Time - On Target" - Nov. 2003

"M/V Purr Seaverance - Rock Chaser?" - Oct. 2003

"Hurricane Isabel -The Looming Storm" - Sept. 2003

"Typhoon Maemi-Busan Cranes" - Sept 2003

 

REURN TO "Singles Only" MAIN INDEX


For All The Many Transport Disaster Photos We Receive Each Month,

Only A Few Picture Series Result In A The Cargo Letter Photo Feature Page.

For All The Rather Amazing Single Picture Contributions We Recieve --

-- Here Are Our Selected One Photo Wonders!

Countryman & McDaniel

 The Air & Ocean Logistics- Customs Broker Attorneys

"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

Countryman & McDaniel

Transport Single Photo Nightmares

Contributed By Our Readers* REURN TO "Singles Only" MAIN INDEX  

M/V Stellamare -- A Slight Encounter With Newton's Laws of Physics -Dec. 2003

M/V Stellamare In Better Days

M/V Stellamare

Max. lifting cap.: 2 x 180 tons with deck crane

Max. lifting cap.: With 2 deck cranes in tandem 360 tons

Largest hatch: 47.36 x 11.55 m

Length overall: 88.20 meters

Width overall: 15.50 meters

M/V Stellamare - Dec.10 2003

 

From The Cargo Letter >> 289ft. Dutch heavy lift M/V Stellamare<<webfeature, at Port Albany, NY, dock on Hudson River with 661 tons of General Electric turbines &18 crew bound for Italy & Romania -- suffered cargo shift -- causing vessel to capsize -- 8 crew thrown into partly frozen water -- 7 rescued from ship, some by helicopter -- 15 safe -- 3 missing believed trapped inside hull where temperatures dipped to about 20 degrees. Rescue operations continue. (Tues Dec. 9 2003)
Heavy cargo a delicate balance -- at 500 tons, Loading a million pounds of General Electric Co. generators into a cargo ship's hold is a delicate & dangerous task involving the inexorable laws of physics. M/V Stellamare has 2 large shipboard cranes & each crane, or "stick," can hoist a maximum of 180 tons -- or when operated in tandem, 360 tons. Generators such as the 2 lifted in the Dec. 9 accident typically weigh in the 175-300 ton range each.

But the GE equipment being lifted reportedly weighed about 500 tons, roughly equivalent to 50 African elephants. Balance is critical when a generator is being lifted from the dock, swung over the ship's rail & lowered gingerly into the cargo hold. When they take the weight on the 2 sticks, it usually takes 30 to 45 minutes to pump out the ballast so that the ship doesn't roll too far. Once the 2 sticks take on the weight in tandem, the vessel has to pump out thousands of gallons of ballast water to even it out, which takes another half-hour or so, say experts.

Welders, carpenters & crew generally do not build the heavy-duty bracing required to prevent the generators from shifting & being damaged at sea until all the pieces are loaded.

A new shore crane at the port has a 135-ton maximum lifting capacity & is generally not adequate for such heavy lifts. According to a port official -- the port's dock would collapse under the weight of a heavy lift crane.

"Whatever failed on the sticks would have caused that ship to roll hard. The hundreds of tons of generators weren't braced. If anybody was down in the hold when those sticks let go, I don't want to think what happened to them," according to a witness.

M/V Stellamare is owned by Jumbo Shipping Co.<<webfeature.

Witness Report: 75 yards away, two of the Stellamare's cranes had lifted what looked like an engine, the size of a railroad car, over the middle of M/V Stellamare. When it got to the center, said crew members on the M/V Columbia, a 330-foot channel dredger docked just South -- the 289ft M/V Stellamare<<webfeature, began to roll slowly, almost silently, & turn away from the dock, sinking on its side in the ice-choked waters of the Hudson River. "Once she went to rollin' (it) never stopped," Columbia mate Phil Mones said. That was 3:04 p.m. The capsizing cargo ship flung one man operating the crane into the water. He wore a heavy orange jacket, but no flotation vest, crew mates said. As the man gripped a chunk of wood in the river, the crane operator clung to M/V Stellamare s hull.

Witness Report: "When they picked up the piece & started to move it over the hatch, the ship started to lean & it got away from them," said Paul Fisher, a retired foreman with the port's longshoremen's crew who said he spoke with a dozen of his former colleagues after the accident. "Somebody screwed up."

"Our guys were screaming, 'Stop!' There wasn't enough ballast on the inshore side & they kept screaming, 'Stop!' But there was some kind of language barrier & they didn't stop." Fisher said longshoremen often operate the cranes aboard ship, but never on M/V Stellamare, which typically has a highly regarded crew skilled with the cranes.

"I don't think they had the ballast set right," said Ron Cross, a welder & independent contractor who'd helped detach the 2 giant General Electric generators from a rail car that afternoon. One generator was in the hold when he ship rolled, Cross said. The other, slightly heavier unit was on the ship's crane. The ship was big enough to handle the cargo, he added, "but it's the smallest ship I've seen here for a (load) that big."

UPDATE: Here are dramatic aerial views of M/V Stellamare. (Fri. Jan. 9 2004)

UPDATE: Herbert Brake bought the ship for US$125,000 & had it towed Jn. 17 downriver to Bethlehem, where he & a partner run Port Terminal Ltd. Brake said the ship will be cleaned & its engines repaired. (Sat. Jan. 17 2004)

Contributions By Our Readers To This Feature >>

R.Bause

A. Hamilton

Dan Massoni

Bob Mitchell

Bob Lokib

Jeffrey P.

Scott Troxell

Related Site: Heavy Metal

More Photos of M/V Stellamare Rescue Effort

DHL Airlines - On Time - On Target - Nov. 2003
From The Cargo Letter >> ALERT>> Civilian DHL freighter landed at Baghdad Int'l Airport Nov. 24 with wing on fire -- trailing thick smoke & part of wingtip missing as it overflew Baghdad's Mahmoudiya district prior to touch down -- pilot declared in-flight emergency -- not known whether flames caused by technical malfunction, or ground fire. All DHL crew safe. (Fri. 23 Nov. 2003 PM)
ABOVE: Still photos from a terrorist video showing masked men firing the missile that hit a DHL civilian Airbus-300 freighter<<webfeature, over Baghdad on Nov. 22 (LT), setting its engine ablaze in the first successful hit on a plane of Operation Iraqi Freedom<<webfeature. Video was delivered to a French journalist & shown to AFP newservice<<webfeature.

NOTE: Those are FLAMES on the port wing of the Airbus-300 freighter in picture #4. CHEERS FOR TWO VERY LUCKY CARGO PILOTS!

The missile launcher is an SA-14 Gremlin<<webfeature, not an SA-7 Grail<<webfeature, as initially reported by the U.S. military. Both made by Russian firm Strela <<webfeature, (Arrow) but the Gremlin is heavier, weighing in at 16 km. (35 pounds), compared with the 9.15 km. (20 pounds) of the Grail. The SA-14 has a range of 2,000 meters when used against an approaching jet, although this is extended to 4,500 meters when used against a helicopter or propellor-driven aircraft.

The shoulder-launched missile is seen (above) shooting up into the sky after being fired by one of the cell & then homing in on the DHL freighter. The vapor trail makes a sharp U-turn as the missile homes in on the infrared signature of the scheduled "Baghdad to Dubai courier flight". Terrorists are then seen making their getaway in a car. The 11th terrorist who presumably shot the footage films his own lap in his haste to get into the vehicle.

No injuries in the Nov. 22 missile strike after a miraculous emergency landing at Baghdad airport but the hit prompted suspension by the U.S. military of all commercial civilian flights into the Iraqi capital.

"Angel Fire" -- by coincidence -- the same day as this near DHL disaster -- we published the "Angel Fire" feature which reported new measures to be taken for the protection of civilian airliners with the ALQ-156 Defensive System -- Read More.

M/V PurrSeaverance -- Rock Chaser? - Oct. 2003

We All Know That Some Dogs Just Love To Chase Cars --

And Evidently Some Vessels Just Love To Chase ....... Well .....

..... This Was The "Second Time Aground" For M/V PurrSeaverance.

Still Not Yet On Her Maiden Voyage - 29 Oct. 2003 !

From The Cargo Letter >> U.S. 243gt high-speed Fast Cats Ferry Service<<webfeature, Miami-to-Key West in 3 hours, 149-passenger, US$7.5M ferry M/V PurrSeaverance<<webfeature, (built 2001), shooting a promotional video before maiden voyage with 11 aboard, suffered steerig failure & ran aground (for 2nd time) -- hit rocks on S. side of MacArthur Causeway halfway between Miami & South Beach - US$40,000 damage. Last week, M/V PurrSeaverance failed U.S. Coast Guard certification because of a change to fan system that lifts vessel so it can plane on top of the water at 50 knots. Ths was promotion? Perhaps "PurTitanic?" Bad luck guys, but wishing you well. (Wed. Oct. 29 2003)  

Fortunately, it is straight line between Miami & Key West -- so, if they tie off the helm -- there may yet be hope.

Hurricane Isabel -- The Looming Storm? - Sept. 2003

From the bridge of an unidentified tanker -- the leading edge of Hurricane Isabel.

At sea, Hurricane Isabel originally was a "Category 5 Hurricane" -- with winds of 160mph

All other considerations aside -- on this vessel Bridge -- emotions run quite high.

Hurricane Isabel hits Virginia Beach, VA as a Category 1 Hurricane on Sept. 19

There is much damge from this storm, inland in the U.S.--

Few will ever appreciate the experience of the mariners at sea who faced the full force of Hurricane Isabel!

Over the bow -- nature begins to form a water spout --

This water spout is the most feared natural element at sea - Sept. 19 2003

Photos Contributed By Our Readers>>

Robert L. Reeb, Esq. of the Marwedel, Minichello & Reeb firm at Chicago -- a firm which knows it's maritime business.

Mr. Al Raithel

Other readers.

What we do not know is the vessel identification & position -- Can You Help? Wed. Sept. 24 2003

Photos Debunked? Thurs. Sept. 25 2003>>

Perhaps there was a reason why we could not confirm vessel identification & postion for this feature. Here is the possible reason.

Dear The Cargo Letter Sept. 25 2003:

"Someone is pulling a fast one on you. Those 2 pictures you have posted on your website showing the coming Hurricane Isabel, were taken long before the storm was ever formed in the Atlantic. A fellow employee sent me those exact pictures back in July 2003. I enjoy your website and the pictures."
Mark Klayum -- Associated Global Systems

DearThe Cargo Letter Sept. 26 2003:

"I wish to doubt the authenticity of the pictures in the above mentioned article. Not only was this picture on the net over 6 months ago but I doubt that the leading edge of a hurricane would look like this (and I doubt that a bulk carrier would be heading in its direction). The second picture in the article was taken almost 10 years ago at the site at which I work - BHP Billiton Iron Ore, Nelson Point, Port Hedland, Western Australia. This was explained by the Bureau of Meteorology to be the cloud formation that precedes a tornado although a tornado did noteventuate. Strong gusty winds and some rain was experienced."

I hope this is corrected on your web site"

Peter J. Weis

Postscript -- We know the proven integrity of Associated Global Systems in our industry. Truly a first class organization. Now the contribution from Mr. Peter Weis brings depth to the debate with his explanation of being present for the second picture whe it was taken in Western Australia. OK, these pictures are not what they are represented to be. McD

The Cargo Letter -- We receive many photos each day at The Cargo Letter which are either not worthy of your viewing, or pure fakes. From time to time, even the best expert can be fooled.

This time, it appears that we maritime lawyers may have been fooled also. Still, whenever & wherever the photos were shot -- they are still a qute true & chilling reminder of transport dangers -- well beyond our control -- which compel all shippers to secure high quality marine cargo insurance to cover those risks of nature for which our transport industry cannot be responsible. Yeh, pretty cool pictures. McD
Typhoon Maemi-- Busan Cranes - Sept. 2003
 
There is a normal inclination to use humor on our "Singles Only" feature -- but the object of this exercise is to remind of the dangers which confront our industry and the shipping public. There are a number of quite fun "Singles Only" features below, but here we see the extent to which the marine infrastructure is just made of glass when compared to the power of the sea.

A disaster at Busan -- 8 of 19 container cranes totally demolished with others sustaining damages. Geeeez!

Typhoon Maemi -- Sept. 15 -- Westwood Shipping Lines --

Official Westwood Company Report (edited for language)>>
"As you may know, the South part of Korea was hit hard over the weekend by a record-setting typhoon with winds reaching 135 miles per hour. Several terminals in the Port of Busan sustained serious damage with container cranes toppled.  Our Seoul office reports that the most ravaged areas within the port are the Jaseongdae & Singamman container terminals where 8 of 19 container cranes were totally demolished with others sustaining damages. Surprisingly, no damages were reported to Westwood carg & equipments. Our Seoul office estimates that Westwood's operations will not be affected while some other carriers will face difficult times. Our M/V Westwood Rainier, which should have been in Busan over the weekend, sought shelter in the Hakata area of Japan & arrived in Busan after the typhoon. She sailed from Busan on Sept. 14, one day behind schedule. We will advise as more information becomes available."

"PS: Above is a photo, taken the day after, & sent to us by the master of M/V Westwood Rainier.It shows some of the damages to the cranes only recently erected on a new container terminal in Busan." (Mon. Sept. 15 2003)

In Yet Another Departure From Our "Singles Only" doctrine -- we have received another photo of this disaster. Your cargo is somewhere in this mess.

These cranes (used to) cost over US$1.4M each.

This Contribution From Our Anonymous Corespondent

SPECIAL NOTE: This feature takes nothing from Westwood Shipping Lines, a company which took all possible means to protect it's vessels & crew from the effects of Typhoon Maemi. This feature is intended to demonstrate the inability of man to conquer to sea -- and the need for all shippers to buy high quality marine cargo insurance for their valued goods. IT'S DANGEROUS OUT THERE! McD

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NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters.". Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.

NOTE: Please bring to our immediate attention any feature information which you believe may be incorrect.


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