So It Was On Purpose?

[jd_1984]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/isle-wight-boat-rescue-huge-4920350


So the captain and pilot are being praised for deliberately grounding vessel. I like most immediately thought crew error was to blame, but it did seem very unusual

[Hopkirk]

I bet it's a bit of a mess inside now.

[Baldric]

Surely better than letting it capsize in the Navigation Channel?

[grasscarp]

yeh, they should really have let it fall on its side!

[jd_1984]

Yes, it appears a brave and in hindsight vital decision.
Safety of life will always come first, sure the Bentley's are in a bit of a state mind!

[woofgang]

it does sound like the cargo shifted which is usually human error.

[jd_1984]

Well yes, there has been a huge error in the loading of the vessel. Ship's bridges are usually fitted with equipment that gives the captain read outs of stability and ballast before leaving the port

[jd_1984]

Or perhaps as you mention cargo has shifted. But very early in the journey before getting out into exposed sea, how much movement could there have been I wonder?

[woofgang]

That;s why I said human error. My DH used to work on cargo ships and I used to travel with him. It would be just about impossible not to notice an imbalance in port and cargo plans are carefully calculated to be safe of course, which makes improper stowage far less likely than improper restraint.

[Baldric]

///The ship was carrying a large fleet of expensive cars - including Bentleys worth up to £237,500 each - from Southampton to Bremerhaven in Germany.///

Why would you put expensive cars in a Tanker?

///The ship's owners, Norwegian firm Hoegh, said the captain had acted to prevent the giant tanker from overturning.///

[Hopkirk]

It's a bit odd because they normally strap these things down, and it was hardly exposed to any significant swell.

Apparently there were also JCBs or the like. Perhaps if one was not strapped and rolled it snapped the fixings on the next one, then a chain reaction.

[Baldric]

Allegedly it's not totally unknown for ships to sail before the cargo is fully secured, especially if there's a Tide to catch. It would only take a couple of heavy cars to move around in a swell to start knocking others free of their straps.

[retrocop]

I wouldn't rule out sabotage by an envious Trabant owner working on the Bremerhaven docks.

[jd_1984]

Baldric, if this has been the case the MAIB will no doubt find out. Ro-Ro vessels used to sail with bow and stern doors not fully raised to keep good time and we all know that caused a disaster.

[Baldric]

I know, I worked in the Industry for a while after leaving the RMs

[woofgang]

tisn't a tanker, its a vehicles carrier
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/shipid:726045/mmsi:563248000/imo:9185463/vessel:HOEGH_OSAKA.
If it can be proven that the vessel deliberately sailed before the cargo was secured there will be hell to pay for the captain and the mate.

[flump1]

It is our latest attraction. According to local news, the ship was in trouble coming down Southampton Water ( main shipping channel ). The ship was then turned into Bramble Bank, to avoid going into deep sea where it may have capsized. The Captain/ Pilot is being hailed as a hero. Well done ! *** the cargo, lives were saved.

[Baldric]

Woofgang @ 1142, yes we know, but the tanker quote,

//The ship's owners, Norwegian firm Hoegh, said the captain had acted to prevent the giant tanker from overturning.//

was taken from the link given in the OP, and used by me ironically!