Software glitch. Again, among many things.
This time, the main pump that powered the port rudder shut
down and nobody knew. Under normal circumstances, there should have
been an alarm, but this ship is a bit siao. So nobody knew the port
rudder was now swinging freely.
As a result, when the order was given to turn the rudders 15
degree starboard, the starboard rudder responded, and as the ship
swung right, the momentum of the ship and the water flowing caused
the freely-swinging port rudder to turn 38 degrees port.
That was when everybody knew something was wrong when the ship
suddenly started swinging sharply towards the anchored container
vessel.
A combination of use of maximum differential engine thrusts and
maximum starboard for the bow thruster and fervent praying
prevented us from becoming another Courageous.
let me guess ... this one's from the ST shipyard ...
