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 thats 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 its 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.
The containers leaving Seattle/Tacoma are empty.
That appears to be serious buckling to me. Overloading would be my first guess too, but I am unqualified to know what the real case is here.
LOL! Empty but still stacked that high. They have to get back to China somehow.
Seriously, we ship more stuff through Seattle/Tacoma than you’d ever believe and very, very few ships sail with just empty containers if any at all.
True enough - I read some speculation as to why the hulk is still afloat; something to do with construction and the materials involved.
Apparently high seas caused water to get in the vessel, that’s about all I can remember.
Thanks for the mention.
Halves.
I read/heard the same thing. But just think how much good will that would create for us on the international level. LOL! Weapons for everybody. Except of course law abiding citizens here in the U.S.
LOL, usual suspect! But it can be the Russians or Iranians, too.
This country has lost it. We are destroying our weapons and the politicians are trying to send what we have left to al Qaeda.
I am boycotting illogical spelling of words.
You can actually check if the vessel still afloat. It does say in the link below, "Not Currently in Range!"
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=311006900
Check also: http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Mol-Comfort-9358761.html
Saudi seems an unlikely direction for shipped weapons at this point, as well as the source shipped from the east. Since Obama has decided to arm the Syrian rebels (too late I might add), then they should be being shipped to Aqaba port in Jordan. If the arms can still get from the Jordanian boarder to the “select” rebel factions, considering Assad forces and Hezbollah are moving along near the Jordan border. Further to the intersection of Iraq may be possible. I would think we would just air cargo the stuff in to a Jordan airbase or to Turkey, but I did read that Turkey cut off their support. Since were supplying ammunition, it would be likely to come out of a former CIS country as well as any AK’s, PKM’s and the like. Same for any anti-tank RPG munitions and launchers.
Update.
Marine traffic will say out of range because the ship does not have power for communication and navigational equipment.
Or, the CIA.
Ships are loaded to computer program stability specifications. When the ship leaves the dock all stresses and stability factors must be within the safe design specifications. It is the ship's chief mate under the authority of the master to keep the vessel within those parameters during the voyage. As fuel is burned the stability factors change. Sometimes ballast water must be changed at sea if the ballast water taken was in a polluted area and and going to a country with clean water ballast regulations. The ship must remain within safe stability specifications during the entire transit whether changing ballast or burning fuel.
I'm going to speculate this ship was chronically not monitored for at sea stress & stability.
How???
Port of Registry : Nassau
Official No. : 8001530
Purpose of Ship : CONTAINER CARRIER
Length | 316 m |
Width | 45 m |
Height | 25.0 m |
Year Built | 2008 |
Container ship MOL COMFORT broke in two and sank in Arabian sea on June 17 2013, about 430nm southeast of Salalah, further details unknown. The 26 crew were rescued, but the ship and it’s cargo were declared a total loss. Vessel was en route from Far East to Northern Europe. Vessel was engaged on North Europe Express 1 Service, Far East – Northern Europe.
Next port of call was Jeddah, where the vessel was to arrive within the next 3 or 4 days.
First information indicate that the crew could abandon the ship with lifeboats and were assisted by the YANTIAN EXPRESS that moved nearby.
From the owner of the vessel, a few hours ago.
06/23/2013| 09:29pm US/Eastern
TOKYO- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) updates the status of the containership MOL Comfort as of 23:00 JST (18:00 Dubai time) on June 23 , 2013. The vessel could not continue sailing under its own power from June 17 because the hull fractured in 2 parts while under way on the Indian Ocean.
1. Vessel
The fore and aft parts are drifting near 15”12N 66’53”E and 13’38”N 64’10”E respectively in an east-northeast direction. The weather at the site is still adverse.
2. Containers (No change from the Update (No.7))
Some of the containers might be lost or damaged during the incident, but majority of the cargo are confirmed to be aboard the fore and aft part.
3. Rescue of the cargo and hulls
We have contracted with a salvage company and are proceeding to rescue the cargo and hulls. One patrol boat and three tugboats are heading to the site, and all of them are expected to arrive within June 24.
4. Oil leakage (No change from the Update (No.7))
We confirmed no large volume of oil leakage.
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