Barge Adrift

[Guest]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=10671037

 

I'm amazed that no one noticed!

[Atom Ant 0]

Sheesh, that's serious! Didn't hit anything? That's miraculous!

[smithy09 50]

Wow. Lucky it didn't hit the bridge, or get swept into any moorings. It would have made a hell of a mess. Its mooring lines were deliberately cut as well....

[khayyam 77]

wow. it could so easily say "and the barge took out 50 yachts at their moorings."

[wheels 543]

Makeing some swing room for me huh?? Or KM's big monster when he gets it launched

[wheels 543]

Just been told it's more like 140ft not metres

[Fogg 427]

Something that size and unattended should surely have chains as backup tethering?

[Guest]

Tomorrow's wee traffic disruption will be nothing in comparison to if that thing had hit the bridge!

[smithy09 50]

It really would have been "Billions of Blue Blistering Barnacles!" Captain..

[wheels 543]

Bridges that size are designed to handle objects far bigger than that colliding with them. You would be amazed at the kind of loads those structures are designed to cope with.

Just to give an idea, the Twin towers never collapsed from the Jets hitting them, because the towers were designed to handle a force of 10,000Tons hitting them, so 300Ton of plane doesn't have a show.

That is not to say they wouldn't close the bridge and inspect it and so on.

Anyone seen that Vid of the Ship going under the lifting bridge and the bridge was being lowered. The bridge hardly moved and wipped the entire steel superstructure of the Ship off as if it was made of plywood and cardboard.

[Guest]

Something that size and unattended should surely have chains as backup tethering?

Probably knot up where it was, it was a reasonably sheltered spot. It was well moored though all the same.

Bridges that size are designed to handle objects far bigger than that colliding with them. You would be amazed at the kind of loads those structures are designed to cope with.

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That is not to say they wouldn't close the bridge and inspect it and so on.

The 1st thing they did when they realised was inspect the bridge pylons. They are being worked on right now and being strengthened. She's an oldie that bridge and I'm told knot that tuff they would like to be hit by a large barge.

 

There has been a couple of other 'possible/probable' mooring line cutting incidents in the last month or so. Looks like we may have a knutter or 2 on the loose issue. Me (Capt K's) 60ft had one of it lines cut (95% certainty) a few weeks back. Luckily only one of 2 so she didn't go anywhere.

 

Lets all just take a second look at any 'interesting' smaller boats we see lurking around in the evening or under the cover of darkness. Ring the Police or ARC Harbourmaster's office if you suspect dodgy.