SeaDog-46

I was at sea worldwide for over 40 years.

Hanjin Baltimore is a large container ship of 82,794grt - registered & owned in Germany & built in S.Korea in 2005.

She is 300m long, 42m wide, with a full loaded draft of 11m.

Speed 20 knots.

Like all weather requests on cc - no one can predict what weather you will have - anywhere in the world. It's all down to luck.

North Pacific weather in not the best - but at least eastbound it will be with you. The vessel looks like it does great circle - therefore after passing through the Japanese islands it heads NE. This will take them well north of 40N - It could be cold & poor visibility is prevalent in the summer months. You could be in a force 9 gale most of the way or low to moderate winds most of the time.

These ships do not have stabilisers - so go prepared with plenty of seasick medication. It will be a great experience for you.

Maybe better if you send your girlfriend back by air.

John

Master Mariner

There are at least 4 female masters on cruise ships.

Capt. Sarah Breton from UK joined P&O Austalias Pacific Pearl in mid 2011.

She was welcomed by Carnival Australias CEO Ann Sherry & joined four other female heads of departments onboard.

Sarah joined P&O UK as 3rd officer in 1989 & has worked her way up to master on P&O & Princess ships.

There are 2 female masters with Royal Caribbean -

Karin Stahre-Jansen from Sweden who was the first from about 2007.

Recently Liz Lauritzen was promoted master.

Cunard also have Inger Olsen from Denmark as Captain.

The statements by officers on the bridge indicate that one of them suggested letting go the anchor - probably to stop the ship from going into deeper water.

Letting go an anchor when a ship is moving is not usually done as the windlass brakes would be ruined & especially on a 114,00grt ship.

But it would have slowed the ship & eventually caused her to turn to starboard [see AIS].

As there was NO power to pull in some of the chain - the vessel just drifted. Blocks of flats on a barge have a lot of windage.

The wind then blew the ship sideways onto the rocks.

It is clearly visible on early photos before capsize - that the starboard anchor is out.

This is only what I think happened given that -

a - the anchor was supposed to have been let go.

b - the AIS track.

c - the bow turns to starboard.

d - the starboard anchor chain is visible in early photos.

Firstly - Costa Concordia is a cruise SHIP - about 114,000 grt -

probably the largest vessel to run aground - sink - ever.

The boats are in davits on the ship's side.

This is my take after 45 years at sea & 15 as master.

The sail-by was planned & course set towards Gorgio at 15 knots.

After his dinner about 2130 the master goes to the bridge -

[or was called] & big-noting himself puts the steering into manual mode & steers the ship himself. [Officers statement to police]

2140 - co. is 302 deg. 15.3 knots. [from AIS]

2144 - vessel has hit rock & turning to stbd.

2146 - speed 7 kn. turning to port.

About this time lose all power - steering - engines - thrusters.

About 2149 one officer suggests to drop anchor - this is done - 4.5 kn.

Vessel starts to turn to starboard & about 2200 is nearly stopped -1.1 kn.

2202 - ship starts to drift towards shore - NNE wind.

2248 - Stern aground.

2255 - Aground on rocks.

2315 - First boat ashore.

2330 - Captain is ashore.

0330 - Helicopter lifts off final person.

Francesco Schettino is an absolute irresponsible, incompetent coward & a disgrace to the Italian Merchant Marine.

His officers on the bridge are not much better.

Costa will have to pay for the poor management of their ships.

I would not go on a Costa cruise if I was given one & that goes for several other companies to.