I would say its a freak accident.....really lor....its really one
in a million.
I've only received that kind of tugboat 3 times.
For myself I was in the steering gear compartment monitoring the
system for anomalies....
When I saw the warning on the screen: Bow thruster hydraulic
pressure very low. I made a brief mention to the IC but both of us
thought it was ok....after all we're talking about a troublesome
ship. And control had left the bridge suddenly minutes before
causing quite a hooha so we thought nothing of it.
Then as I checked the heading and bow thruster and steering gear
status and our speed, I got quite a shock.
We were moving at 1 knot, the rudders were at 30 deg starboard.
Obviously at that speed the rudders won't work. But the headings
were increasing rapidly to starboard indicating we're turning by
other means. So I checked the bow thruster status and I was
surprised....it was off!
It was easy to tell already by then, I rushed to the next room
and informed the IC something was wrong with the bow thruster. And
sure enough, the hooha came in 2 min and we went back to the
wharf.
Heng that day I was pulled out of the berthing party at the
forward part of the ship.....it was there that the trouble was.
Back at harbour I couldn't believe my eyes...it was a freakin 10"
rope stuck fast between the bollard and the bow thruster. Kicking
it proved beyond doubt it was extremely taut.
The officers who didn't know it was a monster rope we're talking
about were initially optimistic there were no damages. But obvious
that rope was no ordinary rope....it managed to actually warp the
proppeler!
everyday is a shocking experience and a
funny one in the navy. - i doubt it will happen in the
army/airforce.
So, are the other similar class ships always as dramatic and
faulty as yours?
