Chinese ship capsizes on Yangtze with hundreds missing - BBC News
These cruise ships are too high out of the water - very top heavy. Terrible tragedy and I'm sorry to say that this incident will not be the last like this. They seemed to be caught in a typhoon.
This ferry/cruise ship, 'Eastern Star' , appears to have about 4 decks above water line, so what chance has a really huge cruise ship got when they have around 10 decks above water line ? It is absolute madness to build ships as top heavy as a 10 deck ship must be - must be horrendous in stormy weather ! Those huge cruise ships carry several thousand people, they're like a floating city ! I think Hell will freeze over before you get me going on one of those, even if I could afford it !
Bring back the original Queen Mary, now there was a pretty ship ! And the original Queen Elizabeth !
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
Yes, they do look very "top-heavy", with plenty of leverage available, due to the height above waterline. As a commercially qualified boat-master, I feel that it's a whole series of major shipping disasters just waiting to happen! The sea-keeping qualities of "mega-liners",for instance, are mediocre, at best, with wind able to affect the trajectory of the vessel easily, especially with little, or no speed such as when manoeuvering or docking, OR running at reduced speed in rough weather. And as for those "panoramic" windows, whats wrong with a good, old-fashioned "portholes"? Much safer in high seas, as it's MUCH harder to break!! Some shipping companies seem to have "lost the plot" as far as safety is concerned, in favour of maximum potetial commercial revenue.
You'll never catch me on one of those floating/sinking/capsizing mass-graves, thank you!!
You'll never catch me on one of those floating/sinking/capsizing mass-graves, thank you!!
" To finish first, first you have to finish!" Rick Mears. 4x Winner Indy 500. 3x Indycar National Champion.
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
Horrifying! I've been on 8 or 9 cruise ships (much larger than this one) on the ocean but never on a river cruise. We've experienced some rough waters and once the crew tied doors shut so that people couldn't get out on the decks because of the high wind. But to have winds that strong to capsize a ship? Horrible!
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
ZAP;1480175 wrote: Horrifying! I've been on 8 or 9 cruise ships (much larger than this one) on the ocean but never on a river cruise. We've experienced some rough waters and once the crew tied doors shut so that people couldn't get out on the decks because of the high wind. But to have winds that strong to capsize a ship? Horrible!
I bet the loos were a touch busy, Zap !
:yh_sick
I bet the loos were a touch busy, Zap !
:yh_sickI'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
ZAP;1480175 wrote: Horrifying! I've been on 8 or 9 cruise ships (much larger than this one) on the ocean but never on a river cruise. We've experienced some rough waters and once the crew tied doors shut so that people couldn't get out on the decks because of the high wind. But to have winds that strong to capsize a ship? Horrible!
I would have thought that tying doors shut was like imprisoning all the passengers ! Supposing there was a call to abandon ship and get to the lifeboat stations ? I think the action of tying the doors could have caused a panic amongst some of the passengers, perhaps there should have been 2 or 3 crew at each door to reassure passengers (provided they could keep on their feet ! )
I would have thought that tying doors shut was like imprisoning all the passengers ! Supposing there was a call to abandon ship and get to the lifeboat stations ? I think the action of tying the doors could have caused a panic amongst some of the passengers, perhaps there should have been 2 or 3 crew at each door to reassure passengers (provided they could keep on their feet ! )
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
G#Gill;1480181 wrote: I would have thought that tying doors shut was like imprisoning all the passengers ! Supposing there was a call to abandon ship and get to the lifeboat stations ? I think the action of tying the doors could have caused a panic amongst some of the passengers, perhaps there should have been 2 or 3 crew at each door to reassure passengers (provided they could keep on their feet ! )
I should have made my post clear. They tied doors leading to the outer deck shut, like leading from the dining rooms to the outside decks, etc. Everybody could move about freely on the inside of the ship and there was no need to go outside. I imagine if they'd sounded the call to go to the lifeboat stations, crew members would have assisted us. It was rocking enough inside the ship-we didn't need to be lurching about outside and slip and fall or be blown over by the wind.
I was never seasick on any of the cruises. The only time I was sick , was on my brother's private fishing boat off the coast of Alaska and it was because I was filming and reading during a storm.
I should have made my post clear. They tied doors leading to the outer deck shut, like leading from the dining rooms to the outside decks, etc. Everybody could move about freely on the inside of the ship and there was no need to go outside. I imagine if they'd sounded the call to go to the lifeboat stations, crew members would have assisted us. It was rocking enough inside the ship-we didn't need to be lurching about outside and slip and fall or be blown over by the wind.
I was never seasick on any of the cruises. The only time I was sick , was on my brother's private fishing boat off the coast of Alaska and it was because I was filming and reading during a storm.
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
Overlooking the Southampton Water I get to see loads of massive liners & cargo ships every day, and they always look top heavy to me. The reason, though is that nowadays, rather than use the 'iceberg' principle, where 2/3 of the ship is actually below the waterline, they operate on the same principle as a raft, which allows much more of it to be above the water level, thus reducing drag, making them more efficient. Just because it looks top heavy doesn't necessarily mean that it is.
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
FourPart;1480184 wrote: Overlooking the Southampton Water I get to see loads of massive liners & cargo ships every day, and they always look top heavy to me. The reason, though is that nowadays, rather than use the 'iceberg' principle, where 2/3 of the ship is actually below the waterline, they operate on the same principle as a raft, which allows much more of it to be above the water level, thus reducing drag, making them more efficient. Just because it looks top heavy doesn't necessarily mean that it is.
Perhaps a video may help to explain/demonstrate "top heavy" .
Perhaps a video may help to explain/demonstrate "top heavy" .
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Chinese cruise ship capsizes during storm on Yangtze River
In such a storm I found it impressive it stayed upright. Seriously, some of the vessels that go in & out of here every day just don't look possible, and although they might look it from here, because they're so far out in the water, they are easily taller than this 13 storey block of flats. Even the Isle of Wight Hydrofoil looks like a tiny motor boat. When you get on it it's about the size of 4 Double Decker buses.