Freeing the stuck container ship Ever Given in the Suez Canal

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the engineering challenges and potential solutions related to the Ever Given container ship being stuck in the Suez Canal. Participants explore various methods for refloating the ship, including ballast management, cargo offloading, and logistical considerations, while addressing the implications for supply chains and financial responsibilities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest emptying ballast tanks to refloat the ship, while others caution that this could destabilize it.
  • Alternatives proposed include moving ballast side-to-side or using helicopters to offload cargo to maintain stability.
  • Concerns are raised about the ship's bow being embedded in the sand and the logistical challenges of offloading cargo without nearby infrastructure.
  • Some participants discuss the feasibility of using military helicopters for cargo transfer, while others argue that only a few helicopters could operate effectively in the narrow canal.
  • There are differing opinions on the time required to offload containers, with estimates ranging from days to weeks, depending on the method used.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the availability of empty cargo ships and the financial implications of the incident, including potential liability issues.
  • Some propose drastic measures, such as dumping containers overboard, while others emphasize the need for proper logistics and infrastructure to manage the situation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to resolve the situation, with multiple competing views and uncertainties remaining about the methods and implications discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations related to the lack of nearby infrastructure for unloading, the potential instability of the ship during operations, and the logistical challenges of coordinating multiple helicopters or cranes.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in engineering challenges, logistics, maritime operations, and the implications of large-scale shipping incidents may find this discussion relevant.

  • #61
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Engineering news on Phys.org
  • #62
Hooray for the full moon!
 
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  • #63
I like how the weight of the ship and number of containers changes randomly from day to day and site to site and even on the same site, because they have no idea how the multiple different measurements for weight or containers work. They've had a week to look it up or ask an expert. A very standard lack of technical research for certain news agencies.
 
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  • #64
Seen video. Under tow, very low in the water, down at the bow, listing to port. Fortunately no boxes have fallen overboard ... yet ... nor does it appear to be getting lower in the water. Route from here would have been Rotterdam Felixstowe Hamburg but whole thing needs to be inspected.
 
  • #65
Ah well, another crisis averted ; meanwhile, back at the Kardashians...

Was anybody else waiting for somebody to say "Ya know... a low yield thermonuclear weapon would clean that right up" ?
 
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  • #66
hmmm27 said:
Ah well, another crisis averted ; meanwhile, back at the Kardashians...

Was anybody else waiting for somebody to say "Ya know... a low yield thermonuclear weapon would clean that right up" ?
No,but I thought it:smile:

And I know who would have wanted to do it pretty sharply :smile:
 
  • #67
geordief said:
No,but I thought it:smile:

And I know who would have wanted to do it pretty sharply :smile:

The insurance company, because acts of war aren't covered, and they're probably finished.
 
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  • #68
On March 29, the Ever Given container ship arrived at the Great Bitter Lake, effectively clearing the Suez Canal.
https://www.vox.com/world/2021/3/29/22356580/ship-stuck-suez-canal-free-unstuck-ever-given
The ship has now been towed to Egypt’s Great Bitter Lake, about midway through the canal, where it will undergo an inspection, the head of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie said, according to state-run Al Ahram newspaper.

“The outcome of that inspection will determine whether the ship can resume its scheduled service. Once the inspection is finalized, decisions will be made regarding arrangements for cargo currently on board,” charter company Evergreen said, according to CNN.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/suez-canal-fallout-what-caused-the-ever-givens-grounding-answer-will-be-expensive-for-some/ar-BB1f7wsp?li=BBnb7Kz
Egyptian government officials, insurers and shippers are awaiting reports on what caused the grounding. A determination of fault will likely lead to years of litigation to recoup the costs of repairing the ship, fixing the canal and reimbursing shippers for the disruptions they faced, said Capt. John Konrad, the founder and CEO of the shipping news website gcaptain.com.
 
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  • #69
We will know more when this interview airs
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  • #70
A determination of fault will likely lead to years of litigation
More nail biting drama to ensue, and not all tongue n check . Should be interesting.
I blame the canal guys for operating a defective product in today's era of large ships.
 
  • #71
256bits said:
I blame the canal guys for operating a defective product in today's era of large ships.

For real? Large ships have been using that canal for years and no-one else has got wedged in.

I suspect, as usual, it's a combination of errors, none which on their own will have caused it. However, assigning liability is totally different again.

If I sit on a park bench, and it's a weak design and breaks, and I get hurt; the accident report will say that the factory failed to test it, the park failed to maintain it, and I failed to check it before sitting on it. It will recommend we all do these things in future because if just one of us does, it won't happen again.

However when it comes to liability, the court won't hold me liable, and the park and factory will fight it out avoid getting fined.

Anyway, because of the accident report finding facts but not assigning blame, the press won't understand, and you will see news articles asking why the customer with the busted backside is being critized.
 
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  • #72
ardnog said:
For real? Large ships have been using that canal for years and no-one else has got wedged in.

Certainly not the Tropic Brilliance in 2004, the Okal King Dor in 2006 or the OOCL Japan in 2017. That would just be crazy talk.
 
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  • #73
Out of those 3, only Tropic Brilliance was proper stuck, and that was close to 20 years ago when ships and the canal was a different size and shape. But I accept your point and will write more carefully in future.