Posted on 06/23/2013 8:36:40 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
MEDIA BLACKOUT: Container Ship Carrying U.S. Weapons for Obama's Syrian Rebels Splits in Half/Sinks... Possible Russian Attack... June 22, 2013
MOL Comfort (ex APL Russia) sank due to yet unclear reasons, sailing from Singapore to Jeddah and after that to North Europe, leaving behind hundreds of drifting containers and a huge aftershock hitting liner sector and all of the maritime industry.
Even the scale of the consequences is hard, impossible, to estimate, not to mention consequences themselves. This is the 1st case in liner sector, when modern ocean-going liner container vessel (built in Japan!) sank in the ocean after breaking in 2 parts, like a poorly built and managed bulk carrier or over aged coaster. Nothing like this ever occurred, and no one believed it was possible, even theoretically. It just could not happen, but still, here it is.At present stage, even the weirdest theories of the real cause of this accident can not be ignored, something like explosion or several explosions, or whatever else one may fantasize. Putting aside some exotic versions, most likely causes that come into mind are some basic design and building faults; serious disbalance of the loaded containers weight due to false cargo weight declarations and faulty cargo plan; faulty ballasting of the container ship. Most probably, if that’s the case, the sinking was caused not by just one of the above-mentioned factors, but by their combination, and triggered by rough weather.
If it is going to be found, that there were a few factors involved, then, the questions arise which require sound and unequivocal answers.Are there some basic faults rooted deep inside ocean-going container vessels design, building and management, or was the disaster the result of a combination of negative factors.If it’s a combination of negative factors, what is the presumption of such a combination, is it negligibly small, or the odds of another incident are alarmingly high.What is the cost of lowering those odds, and how is it going to affect liner business and freight.The questions of insurance and cargo loss coverage for shippers, especially minor ones, is also important, too.
We do not also have to forget another risk quite a number of experts are already worried over – the risk of major fire on a giant ocean-going container vessel.One thing is clear, though. The liner sector, 1st of all majors, are going to do whatever it takes to hide unfavorable factors and especially, basic faults, if there are any. The awesome container transportation mechanism they created may not stand serious modifications, called by safety needs.
Read more at: http://www.vesselfinder.com/news/1223-
http://redflagnews.com/headlines/divine-intervention-or-russian-torpedo-container-ship-carrying-us-weapons-for-syrian-rebels-splits-in-halfsinks-reason-unexplained-never-happened-before-in-history
‘A large fleet named “Mol Comfort” carrying Arms for FSA from the U.S. has crashed in the Indian Ocean as it made its way from Singapore to Jeddah, on board were 4,500 containers loaded with arms for the Syrian rebels’
‘MOL Comfort sank due to yet unclear reasons, sailing from Singapore to Jeddah and after that to North Europe, leaving behind hundreds of drifting containers and a huge aftershock hitting liner sector and all of the maritime industry.
Even the scale of the consequences is hard, impossible, to estimate, not to mention consequences themselves. This is the 1st case in liner sector, when modern ocean-going liner container vessel (built in Japan!) sank in the ocean after breaking in 2 parts, like a poorly built and managed bulk carrier or over aged coaster. Nothing like this ever occurred, and no one believed it was possible, even theoretically. It just could not happen, but still, here it is.’
Thats a lotta stuff!
This story has already been posted.
The ship did break, but wasnt hauling US weapons
Half the crew iwas Russian Everyone escaped
I looked for others sources and found out both halfs are still afloat and tugs boats are on the way to salvage them. The weapons part seems fake but a 5 yr old ship breaking in half and floating is kinda interesting.
Thanks Holly
You mean intel agencies?
Syria, Singapore? What’s the difference?
Wasn’t there a time that factcheckers were used BEFore a story or photos were printed?
You ever hear of a "Syria Sling"?
Factcheckers? We don’t need no stinking fact checkers!
Sure. If it's filled with soccer balls or pool noodles. ;~))
Seriously, there have been cases of ships hitting floating containers in mid-ocean that were filled with some buoyant cargo.
They supposedly want Al Qaeda to succeed, i.e., Israel supposedly supports the rebels. I don’t know anymore which way is up.
I have sailed these waters this time of year, which is monsoon season. It can get rough. I would surmise weather, loading, ballast, vessel age a factor. Perhaps speed was in excess given the rough seas as well in the factoring. Having been around weapons loaded containers, I would suggest if arms loaded containers were aboard, they would be a small number in comparison to the 4300 or whatever on the vessel.
This from a maritime (open source) security report which came out about 24hr ago:
On the 17 Jun 13, UKMTO was contacted by a Bahamas registered container ship
the MOL COMFORT that had reported major damage to its hull and was taking in water
about 400nm southeast of the Omani coast. The Master was requesting emergency
assistance and also considering abandoning the ship. UKMTO informed MRCC Mumbai
and Falmouth CG and MV YATIAN EXPRESS was diverted to the area where it
managed to rescue all crew members. The next day the MOL COMFORT broke into two
sections and both sections were seen adrift. Owners of the ship Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Limited announced that it was arranging for tugboats to recover both parts of the vessel
at the earliest opportunity. A NAVAREA warning had been issued in order to inform other
vessel in the area of the danger posed by the drifting vessel and the number of
containers that were drifting
Not true. You should see the container ships like these that leave Seattle/Tacoma piers headed to the Pacific Rim. They stack the containers to the bottom of the windows on the bridge, just like what you see pictured here. The ships are designed to be loaded in this manner.
BTW/the ship hasn’t sank. It broke in two parts which are floating with most containers still on board.
Uh, yeah. 4500 containers or arms? Hard to “fathom”. (couldn’t help myself) Maybe we just turn over the stuff we’re gonna leave behind in Afghanistan to the Syrian rebels so they can eventually use them on us.
Aren’t we destroying everything left in Afghanistan? I read that the other day I think.
I agree - that’s freaking amazing!
If one regularly reads marintime reports, this is not that rare an occurance.
Agreed. Built a little better than the Titanic.
Container ship was clearly designed or employed by “C” students. Perhaps the weight in the containers exceeds the limits suggested by the designers. I suggest that greed is somehow involved.
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