as for the last remark: Aluminium is actually somewhat more expensive and harder to build ships in, as it is harder to weld and more costly to get.
I stand corrected then.
heuhen wrote: * | June 18th, 2017, 12:02 am |
It all comes down to what an extensive repair cost compared to build new.
For USS Cole, I don't know how they repaired here, but do the container repair is one way to do it, cut out the entire damaged section, and add in a new section, in the same way as we build ships nowadays... except for some internal repair/rebuild, of course.
USS Cole got some great nasty damage, the hole and twisted hull plates went basically from just below the main deck down to the bilge keel:
https://www.fbi.gov/image-repository/co ... image/high
heuhen wrote: * | June 18th, 2017, 12:02 am |
For USS Fitzgerald, superstructure... I would just replace that part of section that is damaged and just do normal fix by: "cut and weld". Under water is a different story... without knowledge about that damage... but if the bulbous bow hit the hull straight on, you should have a nice hole. Temporary fix is to just weld a plate over, so it can go back to a US shipyard on it's own.
I'm wondering, do they have steal hull but light weight aluminium superstructure, just like most cruise ship have, to get the center of gravity as far down as possible. if so, the damage under water should be as "awesome" as on the superstructure, just some big cracks....
If damage is serious enough, they might probably not bring her home under her own power, but more likely carrying her on another ship, just like it was done with Cole:
(blue Marlin if I do not remember it wrong)
Heard from one source that the merchant passed Fitz going on an opposite course, then did a complete turnaround and headed right for her. If so, that opens up a whole other can of worms.
I saw too a radar track sowing the containership 180° yesterday (Fitzgerald's track was not there though) but we definitely know too few to make any call.
Prayers to Fitz's crew, and the missing sailors and their families.
Unfortunately, it appears that some (number non disclosed) of the missing saiors had been found dead inside the flooded berthing compartments