Egypt ferry sinks

[Ivan]

Wave heights are absolutely huge there. Even at moderate winds you have 6m or higher because it's a dead end water body

[Saitek]

It's a terrible loss of life. The ship iteself wasn't old.
Apprantly caught fire, then listed and then capsized and was sunk in 5 mintues killing 900 odd people or something.  :(

[Romulus111VADT]

Per Reuters- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11157659/
SAFAGA, Egypt - Survivors of the Red Sea ferry disaster said on Saturday the Egyptian captain had fled his burning ship by lifeboat and abandoned them to their fate.....

Some passengers, plucked alive from the sea or from boats after the ferry caught fire and sank early on Friday, said crew members had told them not to worry about the blaze below deck and even ordered them to take off lifejackets.

[Saitek]

What?! The Captain fled his boat an inferno containing 1400 people? That's unheard of.

[Hagar]

Emotions are naturally running high at the moment. The typical media reporting makes it worse. It's senseless speculating or accusing anyone until the facts are known.

[Smoke2much]

I agree totally Doug.

I was watching the ten O'clock news last night.  She was built in 1970 to a similar design to the Herald and modified 6 years with the addition of three more upper decks making her highly unstable.

We'll find out what happened when they dive on her wreck.

[C]

[quote]I agree totally Doug.

I was watching the ten O'clock news last night.

[Saitek]

The Egyptian minister said that it had a fire where the vehicles were held and that when th Captian tried to run back it capsized.  ::)

[Woodlouse2002]

What?! The Captain fled his boat an inferno containing 1400 people? That's unheard of.

You should go on a boat with a Phillipino crew. They're always the first to leave in a problem.

Ah, that explains why it looked like the bridge was only half way up the superstructure...

Because the bridge was only halfway up the superstructure.

4 of Egypt's numerous frigates are of US origin and look vaguely similar to the RN type 23s...

Wouldn't be suprised if the Egyptians did have some type 23's or at least 22's. Argentina have type 42 destroyers. Thats why they were so good at sneeking up on them in the Falklands. Cause they could practice on their own.

[Woodlouse2002]

was built in 1970 to a similar design to the Herald and modified 6 years with the addition of three more upper decks making her highly unstable.

I believe she past tests for seaworthiness in Italy not long ago so the added decks couldn't have made her that unstable.

[Smoke2much]

RO-RO's can topple with 3" of water on the car deck.  Adding more top hamper is always a bad idea on these ships.

[Ivan]

This ship isn't a RORO ferry. Only backside door and possibly a side door.

[Hagar]

This ship isn't a RORO ferry. Only backside door and possibly a side door.

After seeing photos of the Al-Salaam '98 I wondered about that. However, it's reported by several sources as being the sister ship of the Herald of Free Enterprise.* It was originally named the Free Enterprise IV and one of eight similar vessels operated by Townsend Thoresen. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article343106.ece

"It's a roll-on, roll-off ferry and there is a big question mark over the stability of this kind of ship," said David Osler of the London shipping paper Lloyd's List. "It would only take a bit of water to get on board this ship and it would be all over ... The percentage of this type of ferry involved in this type of diasaster is huge."

*PS. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/6/newsid_2515000/2515923.stm

[C]

After seeing photos of the Al-Salaam '98 I wondered about that. However, it's reported by several sources as being the sister ship of the Herald of Free Enterprise.* It was originally named the Free Enterprise IV and one of eight similar vessels operated by Townsend Thoresen.

Mmm, looking at the photos on the Al Salam website, the Boccaccio '98 looks like no relation to any of Townsend Thoresen/P&O vessel of the late 80's, certainly not the Herald of Free Enterprise.

The Al Salam '89 however, bears such a resemblance that it even is shown with a blue hull and funnels, so maybe the press are clutching at straws to make any link they can...

Link to Al Salam page showing Boccaccio '98's class (as sank this week

Link to Al Salam page showing M/V Al Salam '89, and its T-T/P&O origins

[Woodlouse2002]

maybe the press are clutching at straws to make any link they can...

As they even mention Titanic on that page I think that is probably the case.