I Spoke with Capt. Doug Keirstead of Marlant today.
He informed me a Engineering Assement team and a repair team were enroute to assess the ship, affect repairs and update the tow risk Assesment. Once the ship returns to Halifax, A more detailed survey will be completed.
Capt. Keirstead informed me that the priority is the safe return of the Vessel to Halifax. The Towing contract is the responsibility of Public Works, and they are evaluating options for the return tow.
After a layup since before christmas to repair a hole in her hull, Renate Schulte sailed this morning for Havana. She departed with the assistance of 2 tugs, which may suggest the bow thruster is still broken, however high winds would also indicate the use of tugs.
Shipfax is reporting that the tow line parted today setting HMCS Athabaskan adrift of Scatrie Island, where the M/V Miner is grounded on shore.
Athabaskan was towed into Sydney by the backup tug Andre H, and is reported to be safe.
For more see shipfax http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2012/12/hmcs-athabaskan-tow-in-trouble.html
Addtional update from shipfax – there may have been contact and Athabaskan has been damaged. Read more here and Here which has addtional photos of the damage.
UPDATE 01/01/13: I have received confirmation from a source that there are punctures on the port side of the hull, near the Numbers. Shipfax has the photos
UPDATE 02/01/13: Shipfax is reporting Atlantic Towing will be completing the tow and has tugs in Sydney. They have a good synopsis here
CBC news is reporting “The Iroquois-class destroyer, which is currently docked in North Sydney, has at least seven holes in its hull along with several dents and scrapes. It also appears the ship’s frame may be warped along the waterline.
The Royal Canadian Navy declined to comment to CBC News about the extent of the damage.“
the story included this video of the damage
Update 12/30/12: CBC News is reporting:
Capt. Doug Keirstead, a spokesman for Maritime Forces Atlantic, said there was no one on the ship at the time, but there were people on the tug.
He said the line was reconnected with the help of a Cormorant helicopter from the airbase in Greenwood, N.S.
“One of the crew members who was on the tug was lowered down to Athabaskan to reconnect the line, as was a member of the tug’s crew,” Keirstead told CBC News on Sunday.
Athabaskan was in St. Catharines, Ont., for a refit. It was on its way to Halifax for the winter when it went adrift.
Once the line was reconnected, the ship was towed to Sydney to wait out the current winter storm. It’s not known when it will resume the journey to Halifax.
Photo HMCS Athabaskan is towed into Sydney harbour to wait out bad weather. (Yvonne Leblanc-Smith/CBC)
Cape Breton post reports
The HMCS Athabaskan drifted in the North Atlantic for hours off Scatarie Island, which has been home to the wreck of the bulk cargo ship, MV Miner, for the past 15 months.
Capt. Doug Keirstead, a spokesman for Marine Forces Atlantic, said the tow line broke due to the poor weather in the region at the time.
There was no one on the Athabaskan at the time, said Keirstead, adding the immediate concern was for the safety of the crew towing the vessel to the Halifax naval dockyard.
“It was drifting at about 0.5 knots, so it was going very slow,” he said, Sunday.
“I do know that they were far enough offshore to allow the ship to be reconnected safely and efficiently, and of course be towed into Sydney at that point to safely avoid the poor weather.”
Keirstead said he was unsure of the exact distance from shore, but given the drifting speed of the Athabaskan, and the time it took to have a Cormorant helicopter fly from its Annapolis Valley airbase in Greenwood to help reconnect the tow line, the ship wasn’t in danger of running aground.
The commercial tugs, contracted by the Canadian Forces, pulled the Iroquois-class destroyer into Sydney harbour late Saturday afternoon.
The HMCS Athabaskan, which has been in service for the Canadian Forces since 1972, had been undergoing a refit in St. Catharines, Ont., and was being towed back to its home port of Halifax prior to the winter closing of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
It hasn’t been determined when the ship will resume its voyage to Halifax, Keirstead said.
He said it’s not unusual for a tow line to break.
“When we’re having to contend with severe weather conditions, which include high winds and rough seas, that can place a challenge on towing a vessel like that.”
It’s not expected there will be an investigation into the tow line break as it’s a “reasonably straight forward issue,” Keirstead said.
However, he noted the Canadian Forces always looks at lessons learned and how that can be applied to future tows.
Additional update from the Cape Breton Post:
The HMCS Athabaskan was tied up at the Osprey dock in North Sydney, Monday. The Canadian destroyer, which was being towed by two tugboats from St. Catharines, Ont. and had its tow line break off Scatarie Island, will remain in Sydney harbour until weather conditions improve, and then continue on with its trip to the port of Halifax. (additional image Steve Wadden, Cape Breton Post)
Don Merritt photos of the damage
The container vessel Renate Schulte has been laid up at halterm since before Christmas. What was originally thought to have been holiday related delay, turns out to be a hull repair. she reportedly has a 4×4 hole cut in her port side as the anchor came loose and cracked a plate. As a result of the crack, the bow thruster compartment flooded.
Thanks to Mac at shipfax for the tip that there was an issue with the vessel.
UPDATE: word is the original contractor walked away from the job in some sort of dispute. The work was supposed to be completed in Ireland.
The Bulker Tundra made it to Halifax yesterday evening. She will likely be toping up her load of Soyabeans, before departing.
Tundra Ran into trouble of Sorel-Tracy after leaving Montreal. She Departed the channel, and got stuck in the mud. She was freed, and after a brief stop in Trois-Rivers, Headed for Halifax.
You can read more about her Grounding here
The Cape Breton Post is reporting that the Bennington group is wanting to come back to perform the removal. The Bennington Group was contracted by the ship’s owner Arivina Navigation SA of Turkey to remove it by the end of August.
The Project was faced with delays from the province relating to worker safety, including a stop work order. The Bennington group wants the province to pay the costs of complying with the order, and for expenses which occured due to lost time.
The Province Has a flyer available on the removal process, (Available Here) In It it states that the Bennington group has “has worked on many wreck removal projects of this type, including the dismantling of an American aircraft carrier in 1994.” This hardly sounds like salvage to me.
A quick Google Turned up no Web site for the Bennington group, nor References to any other vessels salvaged by the group.
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| Techumseh from her bridge (TSB Photo) |
The Transportation Safety Board is on its way to Windsor to invistigate an accidental death. The Bulk Carrier Tecumseh was loading grain at Thunder Bay. TBSNewswatch.com Reports that “A 40-year-old Greater Toronto Area man is dead following an industrial mishap on Thunder Bay’s waterfront.
Thunder Bay Police said the unidentified man was killed in the early hours of Saturday working on a grain ship in port, but had little else to say about the tragedy, which occurred at about 2 a.m”
Tecumseh is Canadian Registered, and owned and managed by Lower Lakes Towing. As the TSB is reporting it is meting the ship in Windsor, It has clearly deprted Thunderbay, and is crossing Superior. Dept of Labour investigators were on scene in Thunder Bay.
UPDATE 12/6 It has been reported that it was a member of the Tecumseh’s crew who died while the boat was docked at the Viterra 7-B terminal in Thunder Bay. Few details have been released, but it appeared the man slipped and fell into one of the boat’s grain holds.
The CBC Reported
The incident was initially considered a labour-related issue, but “at this point in time the Transportation Safety Board believes that [the incident] might be something of interest to advance marine transportation safety,” senior investigator Stephane Chevalier said.
The TSB team wants to hear first-hand what happened by “interviewing the crew, looking at what happened” and reenacting “the sequence of events.” “We will also, if needed, take items away from the vessel that we can bring to our lab in Ottawa for … further testing if it’s required,” he said.
Chevalier said the team will likely spend a few days with the ship in Windsor, however he noted a complete investigation could take 12 to 14 months.”
The Bulker Tundra, Which departed Montreal for Halifax loaded with soyabeans on Wendsday, ran aground outside the channel off Sorel-Tracy Quebec. No word on cause or damage, but water levels are very low in the St. Lawerence system this year.
CTV is reporting that the Halifax Grain Elevator is also filling up, as exports increase due to the cancelation of the Wheat Boards monopoly. Farmers can now sell their wheat directly, and Buyers are responsible for shipping. No wheat was exported from Halifax in 2009.
1800AST Updated With TSB Photo
UPDATE 12/2 via boatnerd.com – On Saturday morning, four Group Ocean tugs were attempting to pull the grounded freighter Tundra from her strand. The tugs were Duga, Ocean Charlie, Ocean Jupiter and Ocean Ross Gaudrault.
Image by Gitou via ship spotting.com
UPDATE 12/3 ais still shows her in position, so the attempt was unsuccessful
UPDATE 12/4 There is a Live webcam of the Tundra http://www.marinfo.gc.ca/fr/Glaces/camera.asp?camera_no=18&player_no=1 (Requires Windows Media Player)
UPDATE 12/5 – Looks like lightering operations have begun. Tugs and Barge are in attendance. (Image from the above webcam, note time is in EST)
UPDATE 12/5 1300AST – Shes free and underway.
Reports are that the Bennington Group, who was contracted to remove the M/V Miner from Scaterie island has pulled out. The Miner was being towed to Turkey for scrapping when the tow line parted and she ran aground. Given the closesness to winter, Miner will likely remain where she is at least until the spring.
The CEO of Bennington repededly complained that any metals of value had been removed from the ship, and sited burocracy for delays.
I Suspect the real reason for the pull out is that Bennington realized it would cost more to Scrap the ship then the scrap was worth, and now want to cut their losses.
The head of the company contracted to salvage the MV Miner said he is walking away from the project.
Abe Shah, of the New York-based Bennington Group, said he met with officials from Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday.
Shah demanded the province cover his insurance and equipment going forward.
He said he was refused, and said he has decided to walk away from the salvage project for good.Shah said he has spent more than $300,000 on the project. He said he plans to sue the province for compensation.On Oct. 29, the province lifted a stop-work order on the project after reviewing safety plans. At the time, the head of the Bennington Group, said he was ready to turn his back on the salvage because of continuous delays.The MV Miner has been stuck off Cape Breton’s coast for more than a year. It was en route to Turkey when the towline snapped and it ran aground.
For cleanliness, this post will continue where yesterdays left off.
To Recap, The Bounty ran into trouble Sunday night, Monday morning the crew took to life rafts, and the Bounty Sank. 14 of 16 were resuced by the Coast Guard. Claudene Christian Was found later in the day, and died yesterday evening. The Captain Robin Walbridge is still missing.
USCG Released Photos of Bounty.
Photos by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tim Kuklewski.
Update 1111ADTVIA Gcaptain A Search Update:
The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Elm, a 225-foot buoy tender homeported in Atlantic Beach, N.C., arrived on scene at approximately 7:15 p.m. Monday and began searching for Walbridge.
The crews aboard the HC-130 Hercules aircraft and the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., secured their searches for the night at approximately 7:30 p.m. Monday.
A crew aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., began a four-hour search at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, and a Hercules aircrew from Air Station Clearwater began a morning search at approximately 7:15 a.m.
The Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin, a 378-foot high-endurance cutter homeported in Charleston, S.C., is en route.
The Coast Guard’s is searching an area approximately 1,350 square nautical miles.The water temperature is 77 degrees, air temperature is 67 degrees, seas are 15 feet, and the winds are 42 mph.
UPDATE 1127ADT HMS Bounty Facebook Page:
A RELIEF FUND has been established by past crew members for donations to the families of Claudene Christian and Captain Robin Walbridge, along with the 14 surviving members of the crew, who lost everything in the tragic loss of the HMS Bounty.
Much Appeciated Donations can be sent to via PayPal
HMSBounty2012@Yahoo.com
UPDATE 1130ADT: Tallshipbounty.org website is down – Probably exceeded their bandwith from their WEBHost.
UPDATE 1427ADT
UPDATE 31/10 0900ADT – No New updates. USCG Continued Searching last night.
Also, Tall Ships America (Sailtraining.org) Released a Statement Yesterday:
30 October 2012
To the Membership of Tall Ships America:
Certainly everyone in the sailing ship community will have heard that HMS BOUNTY has been lost off Cape Hatteras. Of the sixteen persons reportedly aboard at the time, we understand that one individual has perished, and that fourteen others were rescued, thanks to the exemplary courage and skill of Coast Guard search and rescue personnel. It appears that the vessel’s master, Robin Walbridge, is missing, and the search continues.
We are certain that everyone in the in the community sends their thoughts, prayers, and best wishes to the family of the individual who perished, to the rescued members of the ship’s company and their families, and to the brave Coast Guard team who carry our hopes for Captain Walbridge.
There is currently much speculation about the loss of the vessel. We believe that further speculation is not helpful, especially in view of the respect that is due to the individuals whose lives are directly affected by these tragic events. Tall Ships America does not have any factual information to add, but notes that there will surely be an official inquiry that will assemble much more complete information than is available to anyone now. We are confident that our membership, if called upon, will cooperate with that inquiry in the full spirit of professionalism upon which the sail training movement depends.
For now, we appeal to our members to lend their thoughts and support to the people of BOUNTY and their families, to join us in thanking the Coast Guard rescue team for their heroism on behalf of our colleagues, and to sustain hopes for Captain Walbridge’s safe return.
| Michael J. Rauworth, Chairman | Bert Rogers, Executive Director |
UPDATE 0927ADT: VIA Chronicle Herald
USCG confirms Search for Captain is Ongoing. One of the rafts flipped, dumping 3 in the water. One was able to stay with the raft and be rescued, the Captain and Christian were seperated.
Update NOV 1: USCG Release – Search Continues
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard continues its search Thursday for the missing captain of the HMS Bounty approximately 200 miles southeast of Hatteras, N.C.
Missing is Robin Walbridge, 63.
The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin, a 378-foot high-endurance cutter homeported in Charleston, S.C., along with an HC-130 Hercules crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., continue to search for Walbridge.
“As of now, our intent is to continue searching for the missing person,” said Capt. Doug Cameron, the chief of incident response for the Coast Guard 5th District. “This is still an active search, not a recovery effort. Factors such as fitness of the member, weather conditions, survival equipment and the results from previous searches are taken into consideration to determine how long the Coast Guard will search.”
The Coast Guard is searching an area approximately 1,200 square nautical miles.
The water temperature is 79 degrees, air temperature is 62 degrees, seas are 4 feet, and the winds are 30 mph.
(Image bellow Shows USCG Search Area)
UPDATE NOV1 2045ADT
The search for Capt Walbridge of HMSBounty has been suspeneded pending further information.
USCG Release:
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday for the missing captain of the HMS Bounty 200 miles southeast of Hatteras, N.C.
Missing is Robin Walbridge, 63.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Walbridge and Christian families,” said Capt. Doug Cameron, the chief of incident response for the Coast Guard 5th District. ”Suspending a search and rescue case is one of the hardest decisions we have to make.”
The following Coast Guard assets assisted in the search:
Coast Guard crews searched more than 90 hours, covering approximately 12,000 overlapping square nautical miles in the Atlantic Ocean since the Bounty’s crew abandoned ship Monday morning.
UPDATE Nov 2: 0845
Chronicle Herald Article “Bounty Captain Talked about chasing Huricanes” Includes a Video of the Interview. In It, Lightner then asked him if he’d ever run into stormy seas.
“We chase hurricanes,” Walbridge answered. “You try and get up as close to the eye of it as you can, and you stay down in the southeast quadrant. And when it stops, you stop.”
“You don’t want to get in front of it, you want to stay behind it, but you’ll also get a good ride out of a hurricane.”
UPDATE NOV 2: 0947 ADT – US Coast Guard to conduct investigation into HMS Bounty sinking
USCG Release:
The Investigating Officer, Cmdr. Kevin M. Carroll, is the chief of the Coast Guard 5th District Marine Inspections and Investigations Branch and will be assisted by investigating officers from Coast Guard Sector North Carolina in Wilmington, N.C.
Coast Guard investigations of marine casualties and accidents are for the purpose of taking appropriate measures for promoting safety of life and property and are not intended to fix civil or criminal responsibility.
A district formal investigation often takes several months to properly complete.
UPDATE: Nov 5 0852AST
Gcaptains Maritime Monday feature today is dedicted to the Bounty
1447AST
National Geographic video of her first voyage in 1960
UPDATE 06/11 1243AST – ABC’s Good Morning America Interview with Rescued Crew.
