A Japanese Coast Guard helicopter tries to rescue crewmen from a stranded carrier off the coast of Aomori, Japan, Dec. 5. Gale-force winds hit much of eastern Japan, causing blackouts, stranding ships and paralyzing air and land traffic. In Tokyo, winds of 144 kilometers per hour -- strongest ever recored in the capital.

The Cargo Letter - Chemical M/T Kissho Maru aground close to shore in Japan. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Dec. 7 2004)

First Photo - Chennai Port, Mumbai , Dec. 26 - Tugs pull M/V Canadian Express, one of the 3 ships that collided when they broke their moorings after tidal waves hit the Chennai Port on Sunday. &emdash; Bijoy Ghosh. Chennai Port has been affected the most by the tidal waves that lashed the East coast this morning, with some damage to port installations in Tuticorin and Port Blair also. Operations at the Chennai Port have been suspended for the next two days, as the port trust authorities are assessing the damage to installations.

The Cargo Letter - Major Earthquake, Measuring 9 On Richter Scale hit NW Sumatra Dec.26 morning, resulting in tidal waves & devastating disaster across region. Tourist resorts like Phuket affected. Legions of rescuers spread across Asia Dec. 27 after an earthquake of epic power struck deep beneath Indian Ocean, unleashing 20-foot tidal waves that ravaged coasts across thousands of miles, killed over 160,000 people (thus far reported) & left millions homeless in the 4th-largest temblor in 100 years. Death toll in 8 nations in southern Asia -- as far west as Somalia, on African coast, where many people reported lost -- steadily increased as authorities sort out far-flung disaster caused by Dec. 26 9.0-magnitude earthquake, strongest in 40 years. (Sun. Dec. 26 2004)

Chennai Port most affected by Sumatra tidal waves that lashed East coast Dec. 26 morning -- port operations suspended for 40 hours, since some more ripples are expected. Port Trust authorities survey damage to installations. Some Hyundai cars meant for export damaged -- area heavily silted --

Chennai Port: M/V ABG Keshav, M/V Canadian Express & M/V Gem of Tuticorin -- ships broke their moorings after 2 tidal waves &emdash; one at 9.00 a.m. & another at 11.00 a.m. -- ships collided with one another & also hit West Quay berth at Ambedkar docks & damaged a quay crane.

Chennai Port: Damage to Hyundai cars for exports was minimal -- had started process of loading over 1,000 cars when port hit by tidal wave -- ship had to de-berth. Though 10-12 cars' fenders were damaged when they bumped against each other --rest only got soaked. Hyundai officials were double-checking them to make sure there was no damage.

Chennai Port: Passenger M/V Akbar, damaged at Port Blair -- no passengers on board.

Chennai Port: Tuticorin Port<<Webfeature, damaged, while ship loaded with coal lost its moorings. (Sun. Dec. 26 2004)

 

This is the Bar Point Light D-33 -- as she protected the St. Clair & Detroit River seaway on Sept. 17 2004.

The Navigation Rules Here Are Strict -- As Refelected In The Official Navigation Rules Set Forth Below>>>>

"St. Clair and Detroit River Navigation Safety Regulations :

Navigation Rules .....

9. No person shall navigate or operate any ship in a manner that is dangerous to any person, that ship, or any other vessel, having regard to all the circumstances, including the nature and condition of the waters being navigated and the use that is or might reasonably be expected to be made of those waters.

10. In the Detroit River,

(a) the West Outer Channel is restricted to downbound ships;

(b) the Amherstburg Channel east of Bois Blanc Island is restricted to upbound ships except where the Regional Director General authorized a ship to proceed downbound;

(c) the Livingstone Channel west of Bois Blanc Island is restricted to downbound ships; and

(d) between Bar Point Pier Light "D33" and Fighting Island South Light, no ship shall overtake another ship if those ships will meet another ship proceeding in the opposite direction while the overtaking is taking place." 

Bar Point Light D-33 --struck by tug & barge at 6:15 a.m. Sept. 18 2004.  Area residents reported an initial explosive sound followed by what was most likely the shriek of steel as the vessel backed off the light. The structure once rose 45 feet above the water.

Canadian Coast Guard placed a temporary beacon soon after the accident and has been surveying the area for the location of debris.

Although no report has officially been issued, reports indicate the Barge A-397, and her tug M/V Karen Andrie, have been at Toledo Shipyard with barge undergoing repairs to bow damage ever since incdent.

No information has been released to the public at this time & all reports are based on waterfront speculation.

It was 6 March 2003 at Norfolk Naval Air Station Virginia-- as the military's largest production transport was stuck on a runway atop the U.S. Interstate Highway -564 overpass for more than 16 hours, unable to turn around at the West end of Chambers Field at the Norfolk Naval Air Station.

Drivers on U.S. Interstate Highway -564 were obiviously confused by the rule to "Watch For Merging Traffic."

The incident, starting about 1 a.m., forced the closing of the entire field for most of the day to all but helicopter traffic and made for a dramatic sight to hundreds of motorists passing beneath it during the morning rush hour. "That thing's like a big building sitting there.'' said some motorists.

Almost A Great Disaster. The nose of the aircraft actually stuck out -- more than 200 ft. OVER the Interstate! Geeez! Given the number of over-height motor truck cargo loads we see each year -- this was a miracle. Could have been quite messy.

The aircraft's nose was so far over the end of the ramp, the crew was unable to see the runway where it was supposed to turn around. The pilot stopped the aircraft and prevented it from running off the ramp. Just in time.

It was too tight of a turn to turn the aircraft around. The U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy, from Travis Air Force Base,CA -- largest production airplane in the world, is almost as long as a football field and as high as a six-story building. At 420 tons with a full load, it uses a system of 28 wheels to distribute its weight.

The aircraft spent most of the day waiting for a specially made tow bar to be trucked to the base from Dover, Delaware. The special tow bar was 30 ft. long & 10 ft. wide with 45 huge bolts to hold it together. The tow bar arrived about noon and was used to hook the C-5 Galaxy to a tractor so the aircraft could be turned around. The plane was moved off the runway by 4:30 p.m., No one was hurt, and the plane was not damaged.  

IRONY: One of the disrupted flights was a military aircraft carrying U.S. Air Force Gen. John W. Handy, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command -- ultimate commander of the stranded C-5 Galaxy Gen. Handy, who was in Norfolk to deliver a speech, was forced to use the civilian airport at Norfolk.

From Our Reader: Donald Gill -- sorry we took so long to post.

498-ton M/V Shin Tsunetoyo Maru, with 6 crew, Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture for Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture, with iron ore scrap, Sept. 3 2004

Skipper Masuo Hamada, 56, was quoted as telling Japan Coast Guard he had dozed off at helm while vessel was on autopilot -- plowed over protective concrete wall about 1 meter high, crushed two houses & damaged another on the shores of Osakikami Island in the Seto Inland Sea at around 2:30 a.m.

Haruo Abe, 76, who lived in one of the demolished houses, sustained slight injuries to his right shoulder. Abe said it took him a moment to calm down & crawl out from a space between collapsed walls. When he was free of the debris, and peered out into the darkness, he saw the prow of the ship.

The other house that was flattened was vacant. A couple living in the house that was damaged was not injured. According to local residents, the 2nd story of Abe's house was struck by the freighter, and the ground floor was leveled when the 2nd floor collapsed. According to local residents, the 2nd story of Abe's house was struck by the freighter, and the ground floor was leveled when the 2nd floor collapsed.

A roughly 20-meter stretch of the protective seawall was damaged in the accident, with some of the debris falling into the water. Prefectural officials assessing the extent of the damage to the wall. According to local residents, the 2nd story of Abe's house was struck by the freighter, and the ground floor was leveled when the 2nd floor collapsed.

Tugs pulled M/V Shin Tsunetoyo Maru away shore shortly before noon Sept. 4 2004. Japan Coast Guard officials questioning Hamada & the rest of crew on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in transportation hazard. Capt. Hamada may need to seek new empoyment.

For More Misguided Navigation See our "Singles Only" feature "Full Speed Ahead"

The Cargo Letter

>> After action report of Capt. Masuo Hamada: "Note to self: Leave Sept. 3 voyage off resume."

An 18-wheeler's trailer dangled by its rear wheels from a bridge for several hours July 26 after it crashed on the only highway in the Florida Keys. The truck was involved in a multi-vehicle accident at 6 a.m. when the trailer separated from the cab & went over a guardrail. The empty trailer was hanging over the water before a crane hauled it up. The tractor did not go over the guardrail & driver was unhurt. One person in car hit by the truck suffered minor injuries. U.S. 1, the road linking the Florida Keys to the mainland, was closed in both directions for about 6 hours after wreck near Mile Marker 71, 80 miles SW of Miami. Once the truck was cleared, the bridge was inspected by state transportation & reopened at 12:30 p.m.

Since its founding in 1822, Key West has gone through many phases,from pirates to poets, and carries the creative torch of such former residents as Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.

The 70-foot F/V Waters, home ported in Homer, Alaska, sits grounded on top of a navigational beacon on a rock in Narrow Strait N. of Kodiak Island, near village of Ouzinke, Alaska, Fri., June 18, 2004.

Vessel struck the #4 Dayboard when it grounded on a rock in Narrow Strait north of Kodiak Island near the village of Ouzinke. A "Dayboard" is a navigational beacon that clearly marks the channel when navigating in a restricted waterway. Crew boarded skiff & went to shore to wait for next high tide to refloat vessel. U.S. Coast Guard investigating grounding. (USCG photo by PA2 Sara Raymer)

It's Low Tide -- but F/V Waters sits quite high!

Over LAX June 1 2004

With United Air In bankruptcy & Union Pacific short of crews -- perhaps this makes sense.

Contributors For This Feature:

Richard Bause, Adirondack Scenic Railroad

"Railfans" that have extra time on their hands when they are not taking pictures of our tourist trains have designed this company. Some are also looking for a Sealand cargo ship to show up at GE's locomotive plant in Erie,Pa. for a new 20 cylinder engine to replace their tired ALCO engine.

As CargoLaw is to ship & air wrecks,"Derailments" is to railroad screwups.