"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 08 May 2007 19:48:45 -0400, Wayne.B penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

On Tue, 08 May 2007 14:00:49 -0400,
wrote:


Cranes onboard ship -- note for scale that this is a 788 foot long
ship. The accident related happened during the ship turning around in
the river. It struck a dredge that had anchored outside of the
channel. Oooops....

As long as the Plimsoll Lines have not been exceeded the ship was not
overloaded. Unlikely that it would have left port if that was the
case.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plimsoll_line

Top heavy? Maybe, but that's a different issue. I'd guess that was
carefully calculated in advance.

Actually, it was posted kinda tongue in cheek. The cargo wasn't all
that heavy (so no issue with the Plimsoll lines), but it sure hung
over the sides all over the place... and was likely the cause of
grazing the dredge. Another article that I have, but don't have a link
to, quotes the crew as saying the weight of the cranes, as
distributed, actually made for a more comfortable ride at sea.

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

More likely the dredge was not planned for. When they have brought them
into SF Bay for the Oakland terminals, they plan everything. Since they
have to go under 2 bridges, the tide is a big calculation. And the CG
escorts the boat to keep any other craft clear.