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30-10-2013, 09:08
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Vuda, Fiji
Boat: Vd Stadt 34
Posts: 83
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Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea
Some NW european press is reporting that the container vessel Maersk Salina lost 45! containers in the storm on the Gulf of Biscay the last few days.
Maersk is confirming the loss of containers but does not give a number:
Maersk Salina update
The current in this golf makes a big south going U-turn in this bay so I suppose or they will end up on the north coast of spain or drift out into the atlantic?
Let's hope none of the mini-transat boats hit one as they are all in the middle of Biscay right now.
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30-10-2013, 10:36
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#2
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
Boat: Valiant 40 (1975)
Posts: 4,073
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
Wow- if they admit to 45 you wonder how many they really did loose.
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30-10-2013, 10:45
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sasafra river,MD
Boat: gulfstar ketch 41 Surya
Posts: 674
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
Arn't these things designed to sink?????
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30-10-2013, 10:47
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,663
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S/V_Surya
Arn't these things designed to sink?????
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Yes, they have (I believe) dissolving plugs. But when the contents are 50% styrofoam packing material, the container is going to float regardless.
__________________
Paul Elliott, S/V VALIS - Pacific Seacraft 44 #16 - Friday Harbor, WA
www.sailvalis.com
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30-10-2013, 10:48
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#5
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Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
Never heard that. I have seen one floating in the Bay of Biscay at the start of the 2007/8 Vendee Globe. I wasn't there in person but they filmed it from a press helicopter covering the race start.
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30-10-2013, 10:50
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#6
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Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
I have read some blogs about converting containers into housing and there was never a mention of "dissolving plugs". Could be though but do you have a source?
As these things are subjected to all sorts of weather it would be difficult to design a dissolving plug that would be fail safe.
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30-10-2013, 11:03
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Potomac/Chesapeake
Boat: Hunter 36
Posts: 764
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Elliott
Yes, they have (I believe) dissolving plugs. But when the contents are 50% styrofoam packing material, the container is going to float regardless.
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These containers are pretty darned heavy though.
What a nightmare! You would think that Maersk will attempt to salvage them. If they are floating, then it should be possible to spot some of them, wouldn't it?
Or, maybe this is a publicity stunt to promote Robert Redford's new movie, All is Lost where he attempts to survive after his boat hits a shipping container ...
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30-10-2013, 12:28
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
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They had hurricane force winds so loss of cargo is surely not a conspiracy. Most containers do not have dissolving plugs. Neither are they water tight in general. Some refrigerated units are close to water tight and may float. But most containers sink or float based on the density of their contents. There is no way to ensure that they always will either sink or float.
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30-10-2013, 12:33
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#9
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Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
I would think that most are, for all intents and purposes, water tight. You can install humidity monitors in them to protect the cargo. If they weren't water tight I would think that heavy driving rain at sea, on rail cars or on truck trailers would allow water entrance.
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30-10-2013, 13:21
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,663
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
Re. dissolving plugs, I read about it somewhere. Perhaps it was just a suggestion. I did a quick search and found a patent for container-scuttling dissolving and/or pressure-sensitive plugs, but I honestly don't know if they are used.
__________________
Paul Elliott, S/V VALIS - Pacific Seacraft 44 #16 - Friday Harbor, WA
www.sailvalis.com
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30-10-2013, 13:24
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,110
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
We have watched several of them float over reefs and wash up onto islands, as well as have been inside them. They are pretty watertight and not very heavy (relatively).
Mark
__________________
www.svreach.com
You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
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30-10-2013, 13:43
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Texas - USA
Boat: Twin Otter de Havilland Floatplane
Posts: 1,838
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
Early Xmas presents for lucky divers! I always look at the bright side!
Mauritz
Wishful thinking!
__________________
Retired - Don't Ask Me To Do A Damn Thing!
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30-10-2013, 13:58
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 32
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
I'm surprised no one has created a salvage business. There may be money in cleaning these things up.
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30-10-2013, 14:12
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#14
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Moderator

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,717
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Re: Maersk ship loses 45 containers at sea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Beth
Wow- if they admit to 45 you wonder how many they really did loose.
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They didn't actually know how many were missing so had someone do a fly past to have a look. If they float should arrive in N Spain just in time for Xmas.
Pete
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30-10-2013, 15:09
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: ‘01 Catana 401
Posts: 9,627
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Dissolving plug?! I have been in on and around several containers. None had this plug, and none are watertight. They will sink unless filled with bouyant cargo or are bulk chemical containers or reefer units. The bulk chem containers will usually float, type and volume of cargo dependent. Same with reefer containers.
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