US Navy Jet Wash

[Pelagic]

Just a warning in case you are ever told that there will be an Austal Fast Expeditionionary Transport Craft docking near you

Friday, was informed that one would dock early Saturday in front of me at the adjoining shipyard.

They warned me that the US Navy Captain likes to dock without tug assistance and to prepare for jet wash

Being anchored stern to dock I laid out an extra heavy breast line 50m to starboard pier where ship would dock

I tighted up both anchors hard (100 M and 70m out after doubling up on stern lines.)

As an afterthought I also ran 2 heavy mooring lines to my stern quarters from nearby mooring blocks to relieve stress and back up the anchors.....(Little did I know that those would save me)

Early next morning while he was backing in we lifted gangway and pulled away from pier a few extra metres

The 4 Wartsila jets on Austal ship are huge and the wash is likewise!

It sounded like he was using dynamic positioning to maneuver which meant heavy power to opposing buckets to keep it on rails.

As he got closer his jet wash was scouring up the bottom (40ft deep) and blowing my anchors and chain sideways.

The amount of mud lifted from bottom was incredible and it was only those heavy lines from my stern leading forward to mooring blocks that kept me off the pier.

Docking with that power wash took about 35 minutes and was very stressful.

No damage and luckily I had closed up all my intake and discharge thru hulls beforehand

Unfortunately other boats not so close, had Aircon pumps and plumbing choked with mud and debris from his bottom scouring .

Amazing vessels these heavily powered Jet boats should really allow tugs to dock them when near smaller craft!

https://www.naval-technology.com/pro...arhead-class3/

[fivecapes]

Ah, was wondering what that was from your Weber post.

[Jim Cate]

Holy cow! I be gonna stay away from those guys!

Thanks for posting that... a new thing to think about in the wee hours!

Jim

[Pelagic]

A little research has show that these ships are having quite a few problems.


https://www.military.com/daily-news/...port-says.html

[ggray]

What port is this? But

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

A little research has show that these ships are having quite a few problems.


https://www.military.com/daily-news/...port-says.html

Name a piece of new Military hardware that on fielding the press doesn’t call junk, According to the press, the AH-64, F-16, M1 tank and literally everything else was a complete failure and a unnecessary waste of the taxpayers money.

I know nothing at all about this ship though, but expect it’s problems will be ironed out, just like it is with all other systems.
Surprised it’s docking at a Civilian facility.

[Creedence]

If my wake causes damage, I’m responsible for it. Really no different for them either.

I’m surprised a Navy officer would opt to dock in a manner that does not best mitigate the potential for damage to nearby boats and facilities.

I know it would seem daunting, but there is a way to get restitution from the USG if that vessel caused any damage. That’s done through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

[ilanortho]

Just a few years ago in Green Bay a littoral combat ship went out of the Marinette shipbuilders on a high speed trial. Passed (I believe) Chambers Island and the wash resulted in damage to boats anchored in shelter there. Heard they promptly paid up.

[Wildeman1]

I guess it's a case of just because you can doesn't mean you have to...

[Peter1949]

Pelagic
The craft has Fall River(Mass) as homeport.
Where did this happen? Thx

[Thumbs Up]

Hawaii Super ferry.

[jimbunyard]

Originally Posted by Peter1949

Pelagic
The craft has Fall River(Mass) as homeport.
Where did this happen? Thx

According to the registration number in the pictures, the ship is the USNS Fall River. It is not officially part of the US Navy, as it is (supposedly) unarmed, non-commissioned and operated by a civilian crew.

MarineTraffic puts her at Olongapo, RP (Subic Bay?).

Nonetheless, I think they deserve the UUAA (Ultimate Ugly American Award) for such shenanigans. Should make S/V Zatara sit up and take notice...

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Name a piece of new Military hardware that on fielding the press doesn’t call junk, According to the press, the AH-64, F-16, M1 tank and literally everything else was a complete failure and a unnecessary waste of the taxpayers money.

I know nothing at all about this ship though, but expect it’s problems will be ironed out, just like it is with all other systems.
Surprised it’s docking at a Civilian facility.

Not to mention the B-17 Flying Fortress - one of the most important aircraft of WWII.

[Clivevon]

Sounds f...... unfriendly.

[dannc]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Name a piece of new Military hardware that on fielding the press doesn’t call junk, According to the press, the AH-64, F-16, M1 tank and literally everything else was a complete failure and a unnecessary waste of the taxpayers money....

Yep, I remember the 60 minutes reports talking about how the M1 would never be able to fight and survive in the Middle east because of it's engine, I think they had the same criticism about the Apache and/or Black Hawk engines, the certainly said the Apache rotors could not handle the sand and would be falling from the sky. The Bradley APC was also a death trap....

Then there was the Audi 5000 episode that destroyed Audi in the US for years.

Stopped watching 60 minutes and the TV news decades ago...

Later,
Dan