5 ms·

Very true, but this whole incident was caused by greed. This ship should NEVER have been let into the canal in the first place. I expect it and ones of its size

Very true, but this whole incident was caused by greed. This ship should NEVER have been let into the canal in the first place. I expect it and ones of its size won't be again. The size makes the wind much more of a problem and the size makes the rescue efforts problematic as well.

mnw21cam 6y ago
You know that the ship was designed specifically around the published size limit of the canal, don't you?
- VBprogrammer 6y ago
  Yes, like 125cc motorcycles and Easyjet sized carry on luggage the minute you publish maximum dimensions you can expect someone to size their product exactly to the limit. I think a more realistic outcome is that ships of this size require auxiliary tugs to transit.
  - oivey 6y ago
    They could have given a limit with adequate margin for safety to begin with, too. I suppose they still could change the limits. Shipping companies that have ships over the new limit would be pissed, but it’s not like there is a real alternative to the Suez Canal.
    - VBprogrammer 6y ago
      There are some complications, for example some huge Cruise ships have so much manoeuvrability that they could transit in reverse without breaking a sweat. Similarly large military ships with powerful rudders and multiple engines. Even if the size is the same the manoeuvrability is not even close.
  - willyt 6y ago
    Or in certain forecast weather conditions ships over a certain windage will require to be escorted by a tug or will have to wait.
    - VBprogrammer 6y ago
      Yeah, that seems pretty sensible. I think the outcome will probably be the result of a commercial negotiation between the canal operators, some of the largest shipping companies and their insurers. It also depends on what the actual cause was in this case. I think there will likely be an investigation by the maritime authority of the ships flag state.
- ArkanExplorer 6y ago
  The published size limits are probably OK, but there is still discretion around whether a ship needs Tug accompaniment or not. Requiring more ships to have tugs might limit total throughput - so there is indeed a strategic financial calculation.

mnw21cam 6y ago

You know that the ship was designed specifically around the published size limit of the canal, don't you?

VBprogrammer 6y ago
Yes, like 125cc motorcycles and Easyjet sized carry on luggage the minute you publish maximum dimensions you can expect someone to size their product exactly to the limit. I think a more realistic outcome is that ships of this size require auxiliary tugs to transit.
- oivey 6y ago
  They could have given a limit with adequate margin for safety to begin with, too. I suppose they still could change the limits. Shipping companies that have ships over the new limit would be pissed, but it’s not like there is a real alternative to the Suez Canal.
  - VBprogrammer 6y ago
    There are some complications, for example some huge Cruise ships have so much manoeuvrability that they could transit in reverse without breaking a sweat. Similarly large military ships with powerful rudders and multiple engines. Even if the size is the same the manoeuvrability is not even close.
- willyt 6y ago
  Or in certain forecast weather conditions ships over a certain windage will require to be escorted by a tug or will have to wait.
  - VBprogrammer 6y ago
    Yeah, that seems pretty sensible. I think the outcome will probably be the result of a commercial negotiation between the canal operators, some of the largest shipping companies and their insurers. It also depends on what the actual cause was in this case. I think there will likely be an investigation by the maritime authority of the ships flag state.
ArkanExplorer 6y ago
The published size limits are probably OK, but there is still discretion around whether a ship needs Tug accompaniment or not. Requiring more ships to have tugs might limit total throughput - so there is indeed a strategic financial calculation.