3 ms·

Maybe to ensure a "bysailing" ship isn't accidentally damaged? Presumably a plan could detect a ship if it was near target and do a go around?

• oh_sigh 4y ago
  The pipeline is 80m underwater - a ship could be sailing right over and not even realize an explosion happened under it.
  • Laaas 4y ago
    What about the methane? How would it interact with the ship if it was directly atop the leak?
    • usrusr 4y ago
      Sure: when a large amount of gas is released to bubble up, the average density of the gas/water mix can be too low for the maximum displacement of a ship passing above to carry it's weight. Ship drops beneath the surface until it hits pure water or a mix close enough, and most ships aren't built to recover from that.
      • KMag 4y ago
        Or, the ship breaks its keel because the front and back are supported, but the middle loses buoyancy.