Next message: David Straton: "Re: [world-cruising] the danger of semi submerged containers"
On 6/2/06, Rosalie B. <> wrote:
>
>
> If you hit one, and your boat sinks, it doesn't matter whether it is a
> 1:1000 chance or a 1:2,000,000 chance.
>
> Whether you are likely to be hit by a ship or sunk by a container that
> fell off the ship doesn't really have anything to do with the problem.
> Nor is the percentage of containers lost really germane. You can
> argue those things as a means of assessing hazard if you want to, but
> all that really matters is whether you hit one (or one hits you) or
> not, and what you want to do about preparing for it (or not)..
Only a guess on my part, but I'd suspect there's more danger to a sailor
from a passing thunderstorm, and the possibility of a lightning strike, than
there is from hitting and being sunk by a container. I have heard of many
more ships being sunk from lightning-caused damage than have reported
*seeing* "semi-submerged containers".
If you're worried about all the things that can go wrong, you'd best stay
home!
FWIW, a friend who was building a new Valiant 50 several years ago,
considered having a watertight bulkhead built into the forward section of
the boat, just for protection from a container strike. He ditched that idea
after a naval engineer he hired evaluated the hull construction of the
Valiant 50 and determined that a container strike at ten knots would not
hole the boat! Of course, not every boat is built that strong...but if
you're going to sea, perhaps they should be. :)
--
Best,
Bryan Genez
"Capella" V40-158
New Bern, NC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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