Leviathan II whale-watching expedition capsized off Vancouver Island

Discussion in 'Stability' started by kach22i, Feb 9, 2016.

  1. kach22i
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    kach22i Architect

    Active investigation, not sure if many will wish to comment or speculate.

    Monday 26 October 2015
    Vancouver Island: Five Britons die off Canadian coast after whale-watching boat capsizes
    Eyewitness says the 65ft vessel was swamped by sudden wave that flipped it over
    Vancouver Island: Five Britons die off Canadian coast after whale-watching boat capsizes | Home News | News | The Independent
    [​IMG]
    Updated: October 30, 2015
    Captain of Leviathan II makes first statement on boat’s sinking
    Captain of Leviathan II makes first statement on boat’s sinking - BC | Globalnews.ca
    [​IMG]
    October 29 2015
    Canada Investigating Leviathan II Sinking
    [​IMG]
    Click the various links for more information, or do a Google search for updates on the situation.

    Just looking at the craft, it does not look unstable. However I bet everyone was on one side on the upper level (similar to the above photo), and the rouge wave hit them broadside from the opposite side.

    Freak accident, or something which can be planned and designed for?
     
  2. schakel
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    schakel environmental project Msc

    What caused the tragedy according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is that centre of gravity of the ship was to high.
    In the picture above one can see the fly bridges which certainly raised the centre of gravity.

    Here are some other ships that I always wonder about that they don't capsize.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    With the data we have it is only possible to speculate. It is also possible that the water entered through a not closed opening and the free surfaces do the rest.
     
  4. schakel
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    schakel environmental project Msc

    If so, this open hatch will still be open with diving investigations.
     
  5. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    Of course, it makes no sense that someone had closed it later. But I just talk about speculation. That's one of the most likely causes in case of fast dives or sudden loss of stability. Of course the passage to a band and a c. g. high always help. Probably was a sum of adverse conditions. Mistakes, unfortunately, always add up.
     
  6. kach22i
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    kach22i Architect

    I did not watch the video, is an open hatch in it?

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...hing-vessel-sinks-off-tofino/article26970648/
     
  7. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    I insist I'm just speculating. The door of the photo does not appear properly closed.
     

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  8. schakel
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    schakel environmental project Msc

    Guess that, who-ever was on the bridge, had to leave the sinking ship as well. What is the statement/explanation of the helmsman when it happened. Probably not public; not to harm the relatives of the victims.
     
  9. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    Whoever was on the bridge, he had to leave but had time enough to secure the door with a rope from the outside.
     
  10. schakel
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    schakel environmental project Msc

    To keep it afloat? Strange, if the rope would not be between the door and the dooropening, she could be watertight closed. Guess the steering didn't want the vessel to survive. I can imagine that.
     
  11. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    All I want to emphasize in this discussion is that the vast majority of sinking ships is due to negligence of the crew. I do not think anyone would sink the ship but I am convinced that someone did something, or failed to do something, that when the wave came, helped the ship sank.
     
  12. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member

    What information other than a pure guess do you have about when the rope was tied across the door?

    What is the purpose of speculation based on very little information?
     
  13. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    DCockey, in fact, you are quite right, no information.
    If anyone has information, please opine. If anyone has not information, please be quiet because, apparently, he has no right to speculate. So, following your wise counsel, I'll shut up.
     
  14. Tad
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    Tad Boat Designer

    The Transportation Safety board has not released any findings, the investigation continues http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/marine/2015/m15p0347/m15p0347.asp

    I don't know how current the stability data on this boat is. TC have stated that she was inclined and stability data was developed 20 years ago when she was modified to become a whale-watching vessel. Current rules require watertight bulkheads to ensure damaged freeboard and stability, but it's being phased in slowly. The rules only require the vessel meet stability regulations in 5 load cases; lightship, departure, full load, arrival, and worst case. There is no partial load requirement and there should be.
     

  15. kach22i
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    kach22i Architect

    Interesting stats.

    http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/marine/2015/m15p0347/m15p0347.asp
     
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