Excrement Happens

Previously in this blog we discussed the Rules ofTugboats. Mysteriously (mysterious mainly due to the fact that I was the one who came up with the list of the rules) not included were two rules which I feel are quite important.

1.       “Never let your maximum draft exceed the minimum depth of water.”

Which is really just a fancy way of saying, “Don’t run aground.”

Also left off the list was,

2.       “Never occupy the exact same space at the exact same time as another vessel.”

More simplistically stated, “Don’t hit anyone.”

That’s just good advice. On both accounts.

Unfortunately, sometimes…

Shit happens!

Our current assignment has us traveling in and out of Lake Charles, Louisiana. For the last few years there has been a ship moored alongside the channel that didn’t follow the rules. More specifically, it didn’t follow the, “Don’t hit anyone” rule. The effects of not following that particular rule are quite apparent. And not good.

Here is the story as told by one of the maritime trade websites:

“A general cargo ship was severely damaged early Saturday after being involved in a major collision with a reefer ship in the Caribbean Sea. The collision occurred early Saturday between the 557-foot U.K-flagged M/V Seagate (pictured) and the 492-foot Liberian-flagged M/V Timor Stream off the northeast coast of Tortuga, Haiti.”
And here is the crazy part…
“Amazingly, no one was injured.”
Amazing would be an understatement. As the pictures clearly show.

Almost missed. Almost.

A perfect impression of another ship's bow.

Now for my pictures

As she looked about a year ago

That's a BIG hole.

A little bit of elbow grease and that will buff right out.

Physics and momentum at work.

As you can imagine, that type of damage is not an easy fix. In fact, there is to be no fix to this ship at all. Our recent trips in and out of Lake Charles have shown us what happens to a ship that has been totaled by the insurance company. It started with the cargo gear. Then moved back to the super structure.  Now the hull is quickly disappearing before our eyes every time we pass by. Pretty soon the M/V Seagate will be no more.

Starting its new life as a washing machine or refrigerator.

Still a BIG hole in it.

Little shorter than it used to be.

It’s not all bad news. Like we said before, no one was injured.
And in short time the Gillette Company will be producing their newest shaving implement.
Most likely completed with razors made out of the steel from the former M/V Seagate.