Skip to main content

SOUTHERN OCEAN NOTES






In various Press Releases which arrived on the NAUTICAL LOG desk this morning comes news from both SSCS and JWF regarding the same incidents that took place over the last couple of days.

According to the JWF version the MS Gojira came close alongside and deployed a wire rope in an attempt to foul the propeller of the MS Yushin Maru #2. Now the Japanese must know as seamen that when underway at speed it is not easy to foul a ships propeller with a wire rope, regular rope would likely be more effective. Perhaps it was just a rope rope no wire - whatever. On the SSCS side our contact in the fleet says that in actual fact they did not deploy any rope and just gave that impression to have the MS Yushin Maru #2 alter her course - which it appears she did.

This is the second confrontation which is all designed to prevent the JWF to catch whales and as such may be considered effective. However what is the factory ship MS Nisshin Maru, which is in company with a catcher vessel MS Yushin Maru #1, doing since the MS Yushin Maru #3 is tailing the MS Bob Barker.

Later the MS Gojira met up with the MS Steve Irwin to replenish stores at which time the MS Yushin Maru #2 approached the vessels. The SSCS deployed a Delta RHIB to turn the JWF vessel away from the two stopped SSCS vessels. The result of this was that the JWF did indeed turn away once again.

It is surprising to NAUTICAL LOG that the JWF bother to follow the SSCS vessels and just do as they did last year which was to continue whaling right under the noses of the SSCS vessels. With the refuelling problems common to both fleets all this charging around the Southern Ocean does not appear to make very much sense at all. It appears to us that both sides are not settled on their strategies and are not sure about effective tactics. This is rather like military probing to take note of the reaction of the enemy to an action. Perhaps this is the JWF security force continuing to learn about the SSCS or just plain old messing around with each others heads. The JWF do seem very willing to attack and perhaps try to sink the MS Gojira as they did with the MS Ady Gil last season.

Good Watch.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PAINT LOCKER FIRES

The photographs above are revealing in several ways, lets have a look. Clearly the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) vessel JS "Kurama" impacted the Korean container ship MS "Carina Star" just aft of the turn of the fo'cs'le on the Starboard side. Please note that's the Starboard side, thus it appears JS "Kurama" would have shown "Carina Star" the red port sidelight and "Carina Star" would have shown JS "Kurama" the green starboard sidelight. This impact point would tend to suggest that JS "Kurama" was the 'stand-on' vessel and the MS "Carina Star" is the 'giving-way' vessel. Until there is a complete plot of the tracks made good of both these vessels and the position in the Kanmon Strait of the point of collision no determination can actually be made. As a result of this impact there was severe bow damage to JS "Kurama" and in addition a massive f...

HOW TO WEAR A LIFEJACKET

A popular U.S.-based cruise ship style A popular European ferry style Several times during the year NAUTICAL LOG has had visitors searching for lifejacket instructions. With two just over Christmas we decided to publish something for everybody to see and read. Choose a Coast Guard approved life-jacket and make sure it is undamaged. Make sure life-jackets are readily accessible, never locked away. Check the fit, there are adult, child and infant sizes, the correct one MUST be used. Choose bright colour life-jackets so as to be seen easily by Search and Rescue (SAR). Put your life-jacket ON BEFORE you leave the berth. Make sure you have a light and whistle attached AND they BOTH WORK. Good Watch

CYCLONES AND SENTINELS

USCG Sentinel-class which are based on the Netherlands Damen Stan-class USCGC opened hull view USCG Sentinel-class interior layout USN Cyclone-class In the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder comes news of Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, LA. The United States Coast Guard has awarded a $166.1 million option to start production of four ' Sentinel-class' Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). This latest award brings a total of eight FRCs under production at Bollinger with a value of $410.7 million. The current FRC contract contains options for up to 34 cutters and is worth $1.5 billion if they are all exercised. Recently the United States Navy limited operation of its 'Cyclone-class' coastal patrol boats stationed in Bahrain and Norfolk, VA. Any vessel operation would depend on sea state and speed restrictions. This was due to structural damage as the vessels reach the 15 year mark which is considered close to the operational limit. This is apparently not a design fault but ...