Suez blocked by stuck ship!
Discussion
Baron Greenback said:
Zoom out on ship tracker ( https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=9811000 ), dam that is a big queue already and one captain on bbc news said it will take numerous days to fix minimum. He was also saying that there is so much pressure on the captain by the company and most are 3 month on and 3 months off but most are doing 6 months on, so much stress on long stretch he is not surprised it has occurred.
If the canal has 'lost' one day's traffic, then logically traffic should only be one day behind.One of the ferries I was working on in the 90s went black about half an hour after leaving Dover. Lost all main engines and generators. Emergency genny kicked in which kept lighting and comms going, but wouldnt operate the compressor to start main engines (air start diesels). After 15 minutes, we dropped both anchors, as we were drifiting closer towards the Goodwin sands and there was a possibility of running aground.
Turned out a water pipe had burst and flooded an electrical panel causing it to trip out and not reset as it was waterlogged. Cant start engines without compressors. Cant start compressors without generators. Cant start generators without electrical panel. Proper FUBARed. Eventually a brave sparky adorned in wellies and rubber gloves used a mop handle to forcibly hold the breakers open while generators and compressors were started. Took about 20 minutes to bring everything back online.
Normally the compressors recharged the air tank in port while loading and restarting the main engines so quickly after sailing wasnt considered before. New SOPs were quickly drafted to ensure air tanks were recharged immediately after main engine starts in future.
Turned out a water pipe had burst and flooded an electrical panel causing it to trip out and not reset as it was waterlogged. Cant start engines without compressors. Cant start compressors without generators. Cant start generators without electrical panel. Proper FUBARed. Eventually a brave sparky adorned in wellies and rubber gloves used a mop handle to forcibly hold the breakers open while generators and compressors were started. Took about 20 minutes to bring everything back online.
Normally the compressors recharged the air tank in port while loading and restarting the main engines so quickly after sailing wasnt considered before. New SOPs were quickly drafted to ensure air tanks were recharged immediately after main engine starts in future.
The Mad Monk said:
Baron Greenback said:
Zoom out on ship tracker ( https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=9811000 ), dam that is a big queue already and one captain on bbc news said it will take numerous days to fix minimum. He was also saying that there is so much pressure on the captain by the company and most are 3 month on and 3 months off but most are doing 6 months on, so much stress on long stretch he is not surprised it has occurred.
If the canal has 'lost' one day's traffic, then logically traffic should only be one day behind.
808 Estate said:
Turned out a water pipe had burst and flooded an electrical panel causing it to trip out and not reset as it was waterlogged. Cant start engines without compressors. Cant start compressors without generators. Cant start generators without electrical panel. Proper FUBARed. Eventually a brave sparky adorned in wellies and rubber gloves used a mop handle to forcibly hold the breakers open while generators and compressors were started.
Why did the diesel engines stop? Once running they don't need electricity.Should have had a back-up panel.
brilliant 
Scabutz said:
The ship is carrying stuff from China, I've been waiting on a delivery of something from China that has been delayed again and again. What's the betting what I'm waiting for is stuck on that ship or one of them queuing behind it.
If it doesn't arrive, you will have to Suez for compensation.paralla said:
Simpo Two said:
Why did the diesel engines stop? Once running they don't need electricity.
Should have had a back-up panel.
The main engine of a ship is reliant on a host of electrically powered ancillary systems. No seawater cooling pump will stop a main engine sharpish. Should have had a back-up panel.
I should be a ship designer....
nonsequitur said:
Scabutz said:
The ship is carrying stuff from China, I've been waiting on a delivery of something from China that has been delayed again and again. What's the betting what I'm waiting for is stuck on that ship or one of them queuing behind it.
If it doesn't arrive, you will have to Suez for compensation.bolidemichael said:
nonsequitur said:
Scabutz said:
The ship is carrying stuff from China, I've been waiting on a delivery of something from China that has been delayed again and again. What's the betting what I'm waiting for is stuck on that ship or one of them queuing behind it.
If it doesn't arrive, you will have to Suez for compensation.Simpo Two said:
So the engines in that ship can't power them? That electricity comes from somewhere...
It will have one engine of around 40MW for propulsion, three auxiliary generator engines of around 1MW for main electrical power generation and an emergency generator of around 350kW. Before it’s possible to start the main engine at least one of the three generator engines must be running to provide electrical power to the main engine ancillaries.
808 Estate said:
One of the ferries I was working on in the 90s went black about half an hour after leaving Dover. Lost all main engines and generators. Emergency genny kicked in which kept lighting and comms going, but wouldnt operate the compressor to start main engines (air start diesels). After 15 minutes, we dropped both anchors, as we were drifiting closer towards the Goodwin sands and there was a possibility of running aground.
Turned out a water pipe had burst and flooded an electrical panel causing it to trip out and not reset as it was waterlogged. Cant start engines without compressors. Cant start compressors without generators. Cant start generators without electrical panel. Proper FUBARed. Eventually a brave sparky adorned in wellies and rubber gloves used a mop handle to forcibly hold the breakers open while generators and compressors were started. Took about 20 minutes to bring everything back online.
Normally the compressors recharged the air tank in port while loading and restarting the main engines so quickly after sailing wasnt considered before. New SOPs were quickly drafted to ensure air tanks were recharged immediately after main engine starts in future.
That is scary, good job someone was feeling brave enough!Turned out a water pipe had burst and flooded an electrical panel causing it to trip out and not reset as it was waterlogged. Cant start engines without compressors. Cant start compressors without generators. Cant start generators without electrical panel. Proper FUBARed. Eventually a brave sparky adorned in wellies and rubber gloves used a mop handle to forcibly hold the breakers open while generators and compressors were started. Took about 20 minutes to bring everything back online.
Normally the compressors recharged the air tank in port while loading and restarting the main engines so quickly after sailing wasnt considered before. New SOPs were quickly drafted to ensure air tanks were recharged immediately after main engine starts in future.
I'm assuming the air start pressure for these diesels is pretty enormous hence it doesn't matter if you've got a smaller genset running, as long as it's below a certain level it's just not potent enough.
Simpo Two said:
Why did the diesel engines stop? Once running they don't need electricity.
Should have had a back-up panel.
All the monitoring systems stopped monitoring due to lack of electricity. Engines went into shutdown. Should have had a back-up panel.
Generally main switchboards arent duplicated.
Krikkit said:
That is scary, good job someone was feeling brave enough!
I'm assuming the air start pressure for these diesels is pretty enormous hence it doesn't matter if you've got a smaller genset running, as long as it's below a certain level it's just not potent enough.
The compressors needed about 15 minutes to recharge the tanks.I'm assuming the air start pressure for these diesels is pretty enormous hence it doesn't matter if you've got a smaller genset running, as long as it's below a certain level it's just not potent enough.
Yes, the emergency genny is totally remote from the engine room. Its primary purpose is to keep the wheelhouse operational. It also provides reduced lighting throughout the ship and keeps the internal comms system working. Its not connected to any engine room systems
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff