Call for volunteers - oil spill in the Bay of Plenty

**jonbuoy** · 12th October 2011, 21:17

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Don't think it's currently in survey, and it's not capable of handling that job anyway.

Besides, the fuel's far more of a problem. They need to transfer the fuel to a bunker tender and I believe there's a one standing by. Not so simple though, someone will need to gear up and manhandle a fucking big hose through a hatch to the bottom of the tank. Through the HFO. I don't envy them.

Can they not couple into the fuel transfer pumps they already have?

**mashman** · 12th October 2011, 21:24

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Flammable eh? In water?
How many times have I told you about listening to journalists?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrosilicon

It's a surfactant, dishwashing liquid without the dilutants. If you drank enough of it you'd probably be in trouble, I suppose that makes it toxic.

Good job you're around to keep me on the straight and narra... I guess they moved from boring hydrogen to the drama of fire at the click of a pen

**Ocean1** · 12th October 2011, 21:32

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

Can they not couple into the fuel transfer pumps they already have?

The ship's fuel tanks are designed to be filled, not emptied, there's check valves in the lines. If the ship's at all typical the only way to pump fuel out is to drop a suction hose through a hatch at deck level. If they can get it open. Chances are there's shit in the way under that too, ladders, internal pipework etc.

One way to deal with that is for someone to get suited up and take a hose to the bottom of the tank, feeling their way down. The weather needs to be a lot better than the forecast for any of that to happen.

**Coolz** · 12th October 2011, 22:07

Why dont they just set fire to the bloody thing?

**jonbuoy** · 13th October 2011, 00:21

Originally Posted by Ocean1

The ship's fuel tanks are designed to be filled, not emptied, there's check valves in the lines. If the ship's at all typical the only way to pump fuel out is to drop a suction hose through a hatch at deck level. If they can get it open. Chances are there's shit in the way under that too, ladders, internal pipework etc.

One way to deal with that is for someone to get suited up and take a hose to the bottom of the tank, feeling their way down. The weather needs to be a lot better than the forecast for any of that to happen.

Is there not usually a way to transfer between tanks, storage to settling settling to day tanks, tank to tanks for balast and free surface. I know the ship I work on can, although we don't run on heavy stuff.

**jonbuoy** · 13th October 2011, 01:51

Originally Posted by mashman

I see they're bringing in a floating crane from Singapore to remove the containers... wonder how long that'll take to get here... in the meantime, might I suggest something like

I cant see it taking less than 1 hour per container, 1300 containers onboard thats a long time to unload, not to mention the dangers at the angle its at now. They use the wharf cranes to remove the hatches to get to the containers below the top deck which the chopper probably can't lift.

**awa355** · 13th October 2011, 05:40

A story in this mornings Herald tells of a CHCH man with his family's belongings, his tools and motorbike in a container on the Rena. They were in the earthquake and decided to make a new start in Aussie.

He says the anguish of knowing that all they own is likely to be lost. is pretty hard to face.

Seeing a story of sort of hits home just how much more tragic this is for anyone with a personal involvement.

I hope the poor buggar gets his container off loaded.

**Usarka** · 13th October 2011, 06:39

Originally Posted by Ocean1

It's a surfactant, dishwashing liquid without the dilutants. If you drank enough of it you'd probably be in trouble, I suppose that makes it toxic.

A bird on the radio yesterday who was heavily involved in the gulf spill was saying that the dispersement stuff makes the oil sink which can have more significant long term impacts.

**Ocean1** · 13th October 2011, 06:42

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

Is there not usually a way to transfer between tanks, storage to settling settling to day tanks, tank to tanks for balast and free surface. I know the ship I work on can, although we don't run on heavy stuff.

Yes, they'll normally be able to shuffle fuel around, and that might help get it further from any damage, (if they've still got power on board) but it's not much help getting it off the ship. I believe it's very heavy oil too, difficult to move unheated.

**Ocean1** · 13th October 2011, 06:47

Originally Posted by Usarka

A bird on the radio yesterday who was heavily involved in the gulf spill was saying that the dispersement stuff makes the oil sink which can have more significant long term impacts.

She's right, if the fuel's escaping into the environment the best place for it is on a beach, it's the easiest place to collect it from. Some of it's going to sink anyway, the detergent just accelerates the seperation of the heavy bits from the light bits.

Looks weird on the bottom, like mercury.

**jonbuoy** · 13th October 2011, 07:19

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Yes, they'll normally be able to shuffle fuel around, and that might help get it further from any damage, (if they've still got power on board) but it's not much help getting it off the ship. I believe it's very heavy oil too, difficult to move unheated.

I'm just surprised they can't flange up to the existing transfer piping saves the safety problems of opening a tank.

**Swoop** · 13th October 2011, 08:45

Originally Posted by buggsubique

Sigh... naff comments really

I'm here all week! Try the veal.

I guess you will not like this either...

**Ocean1** · 13th October 2011, 08:47

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

I'm just surprised they can't flange up to the existing transfer piping saves the safety problems of opening a tank.

You might be right, depends on the ship I guess. I know that's not how it's been done in several other instances.

**mashman** · 13th October 2011, 11:55

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

I cant see it taking less than 1 hour per container, 1300 containers onboard thats a long time to unload, not to mention the dangers at the angle its at now. They use the wharf cranes to remove the hatches to get to the containers below the top deck which the chopper probably can't lift.

I've not doubt once the crane arrives that it'll be relatively quick, but I was referring to the length of time it'll take to get the crane here in the first place. Fair enough that they'll not be able to lift the ones below deck, but they aren't the ones being washed over and I'm kinda surprised they haven't tried to air lift the top ones off. Could be that they don't want to remove any weight off it, dunno.