concept of a post-disaster rescue ship

[Submarine Tom]

<note: thread split from New diesel-electric hybrid installation - how to size propellers?>

Wait a minute. A 5 knot rescue vessel? What kind of rescue are we talking about here? Will there be towing involved? If so, you've considered the added drag to your propulsion figures?

-Tom

[RayThackeray]

Not terribly time dependent, just getting food and drugs to disaster hit small coastal communities 2 to 4 weeks after the event, just as they really need it. No towing.

[gonzo]

Rescue is extremely terrible time dependent. That is rescue by definition: fast response.

[RayThackeray]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Rescue is extremely terrible time dependent. That is rescue by definition: fast response.

Gonzo, do you really think it appropriate to question my organization's modus operandum in this technical thread? Do you get some kind of perverse thrill out of it? Have a look first and educate yourself. And by the way, if you had just suffered from a tsunami, lost your home, were hungry and thirsty and after a couple of weeks you got fed and watered just when things were getting desperate, you'd think you were rescued.

If you really want to have a go at what we do, then open up your own thread and feel free to have at it.

Jeez.

[gonzo]

It seems that from the start you have resented that everyone's response has not been to pat you in the back. I, and others, question your plan because it is very flawed. Good intentions don't suffice as a substitute for good engineering and planning. A couple of weeks without food and water will result in the death of the victims. I visited your website and it claims you will offer help before government agencies can get to the disaster area. If you take two to four weeks, are you claiming that government agencies take longer? I think that is a false claim. In the example you use of the tsunami in Japan, government help arrived within a day.

[CatBuilder]

Is it a 501c?

[RayThackeray]

Originally Posted by gonzo

It seems that from the start you have resented that everyone's response has not been to pat you in the back. I, and others, question your plan because it is very flawed. Good intentions don't suffice as a substitute for good engineering and planning. A couple of weeks without food and water will result in the death of the victims. I visited your website and it claims you will offer help before government agencies can get to the disaster area. If you take two to four weeks, are you claiming that government agencies take longer? I think that is a false claim. In the example you use of the tsunami in Japan, government help arrived within a day.

Gonzo, why do you persist in this line in a technical thread? Start your own thread if you want to criticize the aims of this organization, that's your right. In this thread, you are just muddying the waters.

[RayThackeray]

Originally Posted by CatBuilder

Is it a 501c?

Hello Catbuilder, International Rescue Group's 501(c)(3) is in progress.

[CatBuilder]

Very interesting site, Ray. Thank you for sharing the link. It does help in understanding what you are doing. Don't want to derail the thread too much, but was there a specific geographic region that you'll be focusing on, or is it basically the "ring of fire" and associated Pacific tsunamis? I may have missed that part on the site.

[Boat Design Net Moderator]

At the OP's request, the discussion of the general concept / timeframe of a post-disaster rescue ship has now been split from the prop-sizing thread at New diesel-electric hybrid installation - how to size propellers? so the more broad discussion can proceed without taking that thread too far off from his more specific question.

[gonzo]

I haven't criticized the aims of the organization at all, only the proposed methods. Technically, it doesn't appear you have a realistic plan. A slow boat, with minimal cargo capacity doesn't have realistic capabilities to take over what governments aren't capable of. It may offer some extra relief at later time, but not at the immediate rescue stage. It appears to be one of the several plans where the purported goal is just an excuse for an adventure. I have worked in search and rescue, still do occasionally, and the one crucial aspect is that time is of the essence.

[RayThackeray]

Originally Posted by gonzo

I haven't criticized the aims of the organization at all, only the proposed methods. Technically, it doesn't appear you have a realistic plan. A slow boat, with minimal cargo capacity doesn't have realistic capabilities to take over what governments aren't capable of. It may offer some extra relief at later time, but not at the immediate rescue stage. It appears to be one of the several plans where the purported goal is just an excuse for an adventure. I have worked in search and rescue, still do occasionally, and the one crucial aspect is that time is of the essence.

To try to address your criticisms:

* I don't know how you got the idea that International Rescue Group is intending to replace governments in post-disaster rescue and relief. We are just one organization out of many.
* There are many situations where entire coastal communities suffer many weeks before they get help. Governments in post-disaster scenarios frequently fail to meet the needs of their populations, and in coordination with other rescue authorities, we will be inserting our boats where they are needed. There's plenty of relief work to go around.
* Perhaps you could explain why you think a slow boat is a problem. Our plan is to provide aid where we can. As we get more boats, we will certainly have more flexibility and maybe speed, but does arriving with food, antibiotics and water 2 or even 4 weeks after a disaster invalidate our approach?
* I agree that speed can be vital in many rescue operations, but in our plan it simply is not the key requirement. Does the inability to respond, say, in 24 hours invalidate our plan?
* I don't understand where we are being unrealistic. If we are, there are many others in their day-to-day operations who are also unrealistic, say for example the International Committee of the Red Cross, who sadly fail to provide their services same-day most of the time...
*" It appears to be one of the several plans where the purported goal is just an excuse for an adventure." I suppose you have your opinion, but it looks like an unkind and even churlish opinion to someone like me who is devoting his entire life to this, plus our other volunteers.

[gonzo]

I get the idea from your posts. Also, you claim to be "green". People whose lives are in danger need immediate assistance; whether the vehicle to bring that assistance is "green" or not. The Red Cross does not use sailboats to bring assistance but motorized vehicles of land, sea and air types. I think you are unrealistic because you claim that speed is "not in your plan" for rescue operations. The whole plan, technically, does not fulfill the basic requirements of a rescue operation.

[FMS]

Relief may be a better word than Rescue.

[gonzo]

A more realistic relief plan would be a small freighter with a landing craft attached.