Never Approach A Dock Faster Than........
- Thread starter GeeBee
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"We should have deployed those bumper thingys." 
OOps.
OOps.
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They even dropped the anchor in an attempt to stop. I would have dropped the stbd anchor instead. Maybe they dropped both but we cannot tell. The line "adios tours" probably was a reference to shore excursions. Not gonna happen unless they tender them in. Somewhere else.
Gcaptain should do a crash compilation video. They have had several reports.
Gcaptain should do a crash compilation video. They have had several reports.
Always, repeat always dredge in with the outboard anchor. It helps to pull the bow away. Dredging with both anchors pretty much ensures you will maintain your heading. Dredging with the inboard anchor pretty much ensures you will hit what you are trying to avoid sooner.
My preference in dredging was to pay out no more than one third the length of the ship depending on the depth of the harbor and composition of the bottom; usually less as you can always pay out more but you can never haul in once it is out! The last thing you want is the anchor dig in fast in the bottom. That, likely will strip the chain off the wildcat or if, god forbid the chain stopper is used, rip the anchor windlass off the deck. At the speed (and momentum of the ship in question) that likely would have happened. Proper dredging allows more control of the bow and in this case may have limited or prevented the collision with the pier; but I doubt it. Captain and Pilot (if there was one) were coming in with way, way too much momentum. They must have suffered an engine casualty and hopefully not a brain cramp. If you bury the anchor on a successful dredge you will have to have a crane aboard using a choker sling to get it back. Don't ask me how I know 
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Talking about putting the rudder hard over. The turn creates lots of hull drag. I have yet to operate a boat that did not slow significantly in a tight turn. Seems to me If they had first got the momentum off with a couple 360's then dredge it they could have brought it in slower and with more control. Am I wrong?
Ah, yes, that would have slowed her significantly. Although that evolution would have to have been started much, much earlier when there was sufficient sea room and nowhere near any shore facilities, shoals, or obstructions. As I am sure you may be aware putting the rudder hard over will cause the stern to describe a significantly larger turning circle than the bow turning circle. However, putting the rudder hard over on large ships at most any speed other than dead slow will not change the heading for several minutes. The higher the speed the longer the delay. BTW that kind of maneuvering data (among a lot of other important ships characteristics and maneuvering response times/distances, etc.); I presume, is still an IMO requirement to be graphically posted on the bridge for ready use by Conning Officers and Pilots.
A look at the Port of Roatan approaches indicates a basin guarded by a shoal or sea mount demanding a slow approach in order to have maneuvering room should misjudgments or machinery failure occur.
I suspect an engine control casualty may be causative, if not human error; or a combination of both.
A look at the Port of Roatan approaches indicates a basin guarded by a shoal or sea mount demanding a slow approach in order to have maneuvering room should misjudgments or machinery failure occur.
I suspect an engine control casualty may be causative, if not human error; or a combination of both.