Freighters Hiding More?

[spartonboat1]

Over the years the freighters on the Great Lakes, usually ore carriers, seldom ran for cover, during rough weather. I sailed on one of them for a short period, and they used to go in almost any weather.

However, when the rough seas broke up these big boats, such as the Carl D. Bradley (1958), Daniel J. Morrell (1966), or the well known Edmund Fitzgerald (1975), "all these ships, [were] leviathans (giants) when launched" at 700+ feet. In fact a couple, such as the Fitz were the largest on the Great Lakes when they broke up and she had set a record of the most tonnage ever hauled.

However, although I have hardly made a practice of watching who ran and who stayed in during rough weather, I thought that this year more stayed in than I have ever seen. However, in the past, a laker staying in was so uncommon, that it was reported on the news. Well, at any rate, during one two week period this Fall (Oct-Nov, 2006), while I was winterizing in St. Ignace, MI, I observed at least 6-8 big ships, plus a tug towing barge unit, pull into the lee of Mackinac Island, in the small straits between the Island the Michigan Upper Peninsula (UP for short). They were there prior to a forecast of rough weather and high seas on the lakes (which really didn't fully materialize). At least three of these ships were the proverbial 1,000 footers, which are now the largest on the lakes, which will fit within the 1,000' locks at Sault Ste. Marie Michigan (the "Soo").

So maybe going to the bottom is now being subjected to a higher degree of "risk management" than in the past. At the least, I found their staying in to be very interesting. Just my observation.

 

[StratPlan61]

I think you might be right. Interesting to note, the 'Laker Fleet' of ships exceeded 600 at one time and now has decreased to around 300 ships. Maybe with fewer ships, fewer crews and slimer profit margins - prudence prevails? If you consider the Great Lakes weather hasn't changed much over the centuries, but the ships are larger (w/better navigation systems) and heavier - now Captains seem more prudent. Maybe after 6,000 shipwrecks GL mariners are figuring the risks warrant waiting a day or two???

Bear'
1984 61' MY Strategic Plan

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Realize these aren't as bad as what the Great Lakes can see...... Nor does it appear to be as bad as they claim.

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=93704

But got this off another boat site

 

[yachtsmanbill]

That reminded me of a nice spring day on Superior. An 800 foot stabilized ship with BARF BAGS hung all over,AND you hafta buy Dramamine.??
My ISO is always after me to go on a cruise, but really, I could never accept that someone else was in charge!! Save yer dough and filler-up!! ws

 

[Genesis]

That video shows 20' waves my azz.

I just got back from a cruise and we had some fairly nasty winds and seas on the way up from MX back towards the Bahamas. It was blowing 30ish kts and we were making 21, MOL on the nose, so that was roughly 50kts on deck. I'd guess the waves were in the 8-10' range - fairly close to what was in that video. DEFINITELY not a good day to be out in anything "small". I had a balcony on deck 6 and we were getting a good amount of spray up there on the balcony - 60-70' above the water. That video was shot on Deck 3 of most ships; that looked like the muster stations. THAT deck was SOAKED overnight; I wasn't going out there.

The boat was moving some, but I wouldn't call it violent or nasty. In fact I liked it. It felt like you were actually at sea instead of the "floating hotel" stuff. The stabs handled it really well.

The pools were closed though - the water refused to stay IN them and it was quite dangerous with the wave building in the pool and then flying out on deck!

There were a few people that were doing the puke express, but not too many. I was quite surprised really. They had "strong wind" warnings up on the upper decks but were still allowing us out there - if you wanted to be, which most people did NOT!

 

[jim rosenthal]

So those would be 8-10 ft seas? It's hard to tell from the video. I would not want to be out in it in anything I was licensed to drive...that's for certain.

 

[Boatsb]

I wouldnt go out in those but I was chased back a few times by that and more. It's unbelievable how large a sea these hatts can take. Not that I recomend trying that but if you get caught you can make it home OK. Just keep your head on straight and the boat will do the rest.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I had an uncle that flew in Korea and privately after that. His words live with me to this day. " DO NOT PANIC--If you have 10 seconds to react, take 8 and think about what you need to do and take the other 2 to do it".
Anyone in his right mind would never attempt a trip trough 10 footers intentionally, but if it wips up while your halfway home it doesnt do any good to wet yer pants and scare everyone aboard. Let the boat do what it was built to do, and thank GOD yer not on a bayliner!! JMLFO--just my learned - opinion.
ws

 

[egaito]

I had an uncle that flew in Korea and privately after that. His words live with me to this day. " DO NOT PANIC--If you have 10 seconds to react, take 8 and think about what you need to do and take the other 2 to do it".
Anyone in his right mind would never attempt a trip trough 10 footers intentionally, but if it wips up while your halfway home it doesnt do any good to wet yer pants and scare everyone aboard. Let the boat do what it was built to do, and thank GOD yer not on a bayliner!! JMLFO--just my learned - opinion.
ws

Goes along with a saying I heard from another pilot, this one Navy..no matter what's happening around you, fly the airplane. It doesn't matter what the guages say, or what's on fire, when you stop flying the airplane, it's over. His way of saying very much the same thing.

I always keep that one in mind, particulary in close quarters or when something isn't going right.

 

[Genesis]

Those are 10-12s with a few 15s in there.

I've been out in those in my Hatt. Not on purpose....... but we got in without breaking anything.

 

[Boss Lady]

Biggest for me was 12' and 50 knot winds, that is a 24' wall of water coming at you, spent 12 hours in it and broke nothing on the boat. It was not fun, but it was not terrifying either. Well, at least not in a Hat.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Even I would hafta think twice about these -- A nice spring day on the north atlantic? Always wanted to make a crossing on the HATT TRICK... Hmmm
Sorry about the low rez... ws

 

[Genesis]

Ok, THAT's nasty.

 

[Traveler 45C]

I've seen water like that when I was aboard the carrier Midway running from a typhoon. The waves were breaking over the bow!

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

So maybe going to the bottom is now being subjected to a higher degree of "risk management" than in the past. At the least, I found their staying in to be very interesting. Just my observation.

I would bet that insurance has a lot to do with it.