Originally Posted by
pizzaguy
I watched a video by pilot (ships pilot) yesterday where he reviewed the NTSBs report on the BB content. He said the indications are that a total electrical power failure happened, the way the BB is powered, it' has battery backup and kept recording voice and noises on the bridge, but not data. HE said this makes sense, as the recorder and mics are on battery backup but the sensors all over the ship are powered directly with no battery backup.
He went on to explain that many ships run their standby generators when in or near port, tho there is no law to do so. This ship didn't and he also thinks the emergency generator(s) may be a maintenance issue. He said the company will try to blame the crew, but if the emergency generator(s) were not available, the liability will be on the company.
According to him: CLEARLY, the standby-emergency generator(s) were not working. I don't see how the company can't be held liable in such a case.
Standby generators are normal NOT run while in port or at sea unless there is a test or an emergency! While in port ship will run on shore side supplied elect power. The emergency generators did indeed come on after the initial power failure, but it took a minute or two to get them up, running and carrying a load. Ships crew also tries to start main propulsion, but that did not hold on; You can see that by exhaust. You can see emergency power come online in the way the running lights came on after the initial black out and then off again. Also look at the path of the ship when it's first lost not just electric power but propulsion, power steering gear stopped functioning and ship continued turn to starboard. When power came back on ( you can watch forward mast light and forecastle lighting to varify electric power source) steering gear was turned to port but not enough room left to complete turn to port and avoid bridge. Simple solution is to require tugs to assist big ship until passed the bridge.
The ships operator will be held accountable.
I spent 20 years in the merchant marine mostly on the bridge as a ships officer. So many innovations and technology now I never saw, but somethings never change.