Progress of the Triumph

[Tonka's Skipper]

Please this is not a opinion of lines thread............no koolaid, disney lovers, carnival can never do wrong, etc.... names. Just information on the progress of the Trumph and the crew and people ouboard.

As of 0800 this morning, the Carnival Triumph is under way to Mobile, Alabama, towed by 2 tugboats, one from the US and one from Mexico. She had a 4.5 degree starboard list. Due to the currents, winds and drift the vessel was closer to Mobile then Progresso and it makes sense not to fight to wind and current to tow her to Mexico.

She has only emergency power, some lighting, water and limite toilets. Food service is limited due to lack of galley power.

The Carnival Elation and Exstacy has transferred food and supplies to the triumph by meand of lifeboats.

She is expected to arrive at Mobile thursday. The port has a unused cruise terminal which will be available to the passingers and likely provide a good berth for the vessel, while the investigation and determination of what repairs will be needed.

The Mobile shipyard is nearby and has a top notch work force.

As I get more I will pass it on.


AKK

 

[violetmonarch]

Thanks for that info, I will be following along

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

As of 0800 this morning the Truimph is underway and heading to Mobile. Speed 4 to 9 mile per hour, not knots. No new ETA. still just *thursday*

Seems reports are that she was not closer to Mobile then Progresso when going under tow. ABC report she was 200 NM closer to Progresso then Mobile. I have not found a tracking site with her true position, her tranponder maybe off. If anyone find it please post it.

Please remember the reasons given, for going to mobile, if correct were reasonable, the ocean currents and wind were very much in favor of going to Mobile.

I am sure all everyone has heard of the conditions onboard, which are not nice by a long shot, but expected. Think of your home without power and having a small generator, you need to pick the systems you need/want to power up.

There is a storm expected soon, winds northwest 15 to 20 knots, 4 to 6 foot waves. This will make her roll a bit, but baring unknown issues should NOT be a big problem. May slow the tow down some.

Carnival has stated thery have 1500 hotel rooms ready and have chartered 20 flights from Mobile to Houston.

RUMOURS

There are reports that this latest incident may cause a reduction is the cruise industry growth....maybe cancelation of booked and/or proposed new vessels.

I will keep you advised

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Latest is a 3rd tugboat is due to meet the Triumph tonight.

I still don't have information on docking, but I would expect they will only proceed up the ship channel and dock during daylight with additional tugboats.

Seem they have canceled cruises until April now. In addtion to the engine and mechcanical repairs, there will be a major clean up and replacement of much of the interior.

Ill keep you all advised.

AKK

 

[Disney Dreams]

Hoping everyone onboard is okay and hanging in there as best as can do.

Tonka's Skipper, maybe you could answer a question that DH and I were discussing last night.

When a ship loses its power, do the levelers (?? wrong word ?? Things that keep a ship from rocking too much and from tipping) still operate or are they power-run?

We were discussing the situation of just floating out there without any power and the topic of "What keeps the ship upright?" came up. We have no idea and were concerned for those onboard. I appreciate any insight/information anyone with knowledge on this could share.

If this is completely inappropriate on this thread, please forgive me and feel free to delete. I have wanted to ask with concern to Carnival and this seemed like an okay place since it is discussing the status of the ship.

Thanks!

- Dreams

 

[lugnut33]

That's a good question.

I would also ask if they are unable to change their ballast if they have no power? I can't imagine having no ballast pumps.

I'm not a sea person though so I have no clue if it's a big deal.

 

[Bear3412]

Fox News just indicated arrival in Mobile should be 1pm - 4pm Thursday.

 

[Jubilee]

As echoed by previous poster, I too was thinking about whether the ship is not balanced. If I were aboard I know I would feel absolutely scared to death and sickened. I have never been on a cruise and am obsessed with planning one on DCL right now, but this kind of thing really makes you think twice.

I am not someone who may know about physics and logistics of cruise ships, but I can tell you, worrying about balancers while being stranded for days in those conditions would leave me terrified and unable to think about anything else but the worst (capsize!) I am praying for those on board and have been thinking about them nonstop.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

ok..............now you folks are in the deep stability world.

1..The Stabilizers are really just blades that extend out from the hull of the vessel. By triming the blades up or down they reduce the rolling(rocking side to side) of the vessel.

I am sure they would not have the power to run the stabilizers. Also the blades are only effective when the vessel is moving forward at near cruising speed.

2. It can get techinical with the physics with right arms and centers of gravity and floatation etc.....but in short.......take a bottle at home and fill it 1/3 of the way with water and set it in a pool or bath tub. The water in the bottom of the bottle is heavy and keeps the bottle upright.

The same with a vessel, all the heavy stuff is in or near the bottem, ballast, fuel , engine rooms, machnary, drinking water,,etc..the upper parts/decks is really lots of air space. So the vessel stays upright.

Now a tanker like the little Texaco Rhode Island in my avi and my 1st ship as a third Officer, has more of the hull and weight and cargo underwater so she is very stabile, much more so then a cruise liner.

Now all that said, a vessel rides and maintians her stability better when moving, much less rolling and pitching (the rocking fort to aft). Sitting dead in the water the hull will roll more reacting to the wind and waves.

3. The ballast system is controlled by pumps, I would think they may have some limited ballast abilities with the pumps. Of course if they use the pumps they likely would have to turn something else off. They can also just open the valves and let the seawater *gravite* in since the openings would be on the bottom of the ship, with the valves open the water would flow in to the waterline level on the hull.

Now that said, I dont see they would need to change ballast as no other weight on the ship is changing.

The bottom line here is although the vessel may roll a bit more adrift and under tow at a slow speed, she is just a stabile as before the fire.


I hope that was clear.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Fox News just indicated arrival in Mobile should be 1pm - 4pm Thursday.

I hope they can get in before dark.........there is about 40 miles from the sea bouy to the dock, guessing on the distance, I have not been in Mobile since hurricane Fred in the late 70'tys.


I also read they have 200 people ready to help the passingers off the ship.

AKK

 

[Jubilee]

Thanks for the info! What a relief to hear all that.

Thank goodness the fire was able to be put out is the main thing, too. What had it spread and not been easily put out? Is there some kind of system in place to make sure it can absolutely be put out??

 

[luv2sleep]

Hummmm. Sorry I didn't get it but that's because I didn't get the technical stuff. Why did she list? If she had stayed out there does that mean she would eventually sink?

 

[NWDAD]

Tonka's Skipper,

Thanks for the info and updates.

Kevin

 

[Bear3412]

Hummmm. Sorry I didn't get it but that's because I didn't get the technical stuff. Why did she list? If she had stayed out there does that mean she would eventually sink?

Wind, waves, possibly current, and lack of forward motion were making her list. No she wouldn't have sunk.

I heard the list was 4.5 degrees at one ponit. Doesn't sound like much, but it's spooky when it does.

 

[Jubilee]

I hope they can get in before dark.........there is about 40 miles from the sea bouy to the dock, guessing on the distance, I have not been in Mobile since hurricane Fred in the late 70'tys.


I also read they have 200 people ready to help the passingers off the ship.

AKK

There's a statement on Carnival's website now, and it says they have motorcoaches to take people to Texas or/and also 1,500 hotel rooms in New Orleans.

 

[Mandy923]

Wow- I really feel for everyone onboard! I hope this whole nightmare of an ordeal is over for them, very soon!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Thanks for the info! What a relief to hear all that.

Thank goodness the fire was able to be put out is the main thing, too. What had it spread and not been easily put out? Is there some kind of system in place to make sure it can absolutely be put out??

With anything regarding a Ship..........I never say NEVER!

However all the cruise ships have highly effective fire supression systems. The engine room would have water and foam capabilities and a CO2 system.
In addition the compartments effected with a fire can be qiuckly sealed and the air flow stopped and sealed.

The reports I have seen said the vessel automatic fire supression system put out the fire, with the help of the cew as well.

AKK

 

[emeraldluvsbama]

I live in Mobile and my father used to work for the cruise terminal. It is a very nice terminal and we have also heard that they have people ready to help the passengers off the ship. Some of these are even volunteers just wanting to help these poor people after their experience. I was reading an article online earlier today about the ship being towed to Mobile and the comments on the article were horrible. They were saying awful things like I think I would rather stay on the ship than be towed to Alabama. How extremely ignorant! Mobile is a very nice port city with very friendly people.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Hummmm. Sorry I didn't get it but that's because I didn't get the technical stuff. Why did she list? If she had stayed out there does that mean she would eventually sink?

Based on the videos I saw and the wind. The wind was blowing against the side of the ship and could easily given her that little 2 to 4 degree list. The hull side is really big!

I have not heard of any ballest and ship issue that would have cuased it.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I live in Mobile and my father used to work for the cruise terminal. It is a very nice terminal and we have also heard that they have people ready to help the passengers off the ship. Some of these are even volunteers just wanting to help these poor people after their experience. I was reading an article online earlier today about the ship being towed to Mobile and the comments on the article were horrible. They were saying awful things like I think I would rather stay on the ship than be towed to Alabama. How extremely ignorant! Mobile is a very nice port city with very friendly people.

I'll stand an raise a Cheer for Mobile!!!..great little resteurants and the battleship Alabama!

I stayed 3 months in the yard there with the Sabine Tanker Red River. I am a Yankee, but the truth be told there is such a thing a *Southern hosiptality!*