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"Mighty Sinking!"

Or

Slightly Beyond The Design Envelope -

- Semi Submersible Submerges

On The Scene Off The Coast of Angola !

Feature Date: December 7, 2006

Event Date: December 6, 2006

Event Update - june 18 2007

Countryman & McDaniel

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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

On The Scene -- Off The Coast of Angola !

 A 2006 Countryman & McDaniel

Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

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"Mighty Sinking!!"

On The Scene

Off The Coast of Angola

M/V Mighty Servant 3

A Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

The Date: December 6 2006

The Time: 7:30am LT

The Place: Off The Coast of Angola

 

M/V Mighty Servant 3 aIn Better Days

Type of Vessel - Semi Submersible Open Deck - Heavy Lift

Flag: Dutch

Crew: 21

Overall Length -181.23 meters

Beam - 40.00 meters

Draft: 12.00 meters

Draft Sailing: 9.06 meters

Draft Submerged: 22.00 meters

Displacement - D.W.T - 27,720 tonds

Gross tonnage  22,391 tons

Deck Space:  40 x 140 meters

Deck Load:  19-25 t/sq.meters

Cargo Hold: 100 x 16 x 7.5 meters

Hatch:  31 x 14.6 m

Speed -

Service Speed --14 km

Maximum -- 15 kn

Range: 44 days

The Prolog To Disaster -- Operations Off The Coast of Angola
 

PROLOG >> Wednesday morning, Dec. 6 2006 -- Semi Submersible M/V Mighty Servant 3 has just completed a dry tow around the world from Trinidad Tobago to Angola with drilling platform GSF Aleutian Key. The drilling platform will be discharged from the heavy lift vessel -- but only one will survive.

Dry Tow -- carriage of a vessel while she is out of the water.

SPECIAL NOTE: Many of the photos you will see below were taken with great skill by Marine Photographer Glenn Kasner.There is an art to this fine work.

Michael S. McDaniel - Your Editor

M/V Mighty Servant 3 is a semi-submersible heavy transport vessel which has an open deck of 40 meters wide & 140 meters long.

Semi-submersible heavy transport vessels all have a large, unobstructed deck which provides a safe platform for efficient & economical transportation of a wide variety of large cargoes. Loading & discharging options include float-on/float-off, roll-on/roll-off, skid-on/skid-off, lift-on/lift-off or any combination of these methods.

The option to remove the aft buoyancy casings offers additional flexibility, allowing cargo overhang on 3 sides of the ship.

M/V Mighty Servant 3 can move cargo weighing up to 25,000 tons.

M/V Mighty Servant 3 is equipped with a counter weight system enabling use of the ship's horizontal semi-submersible capabilities without using the aft buoyancy casings. Thanks to this system M/V Mighty Servant 3 is capable of loading/discharging floating cargoes overhanging all 3 sides of the 40 meters wide cargo deck.

A few years earlier the M/V Mighty Servant 3 spent some months in Durban after one leg of a three-leg rig collapsed across her deck while crossing the Indian Ocean. After inspection of the other legs in the safety of Durban Harbor it was discovered that the other 2 were also severely corroded as well and had to undergo shortening & repairs before the heavy lift could continue her voyage.

M/V Mighty Servant 3 -- Off The Coast of Angola -- December 6 2006

M/V Mighty Servant 3 Is Discharging Her Cargo -- The Oil Rig GSF Aleutian Key.......

The Bow & Superstructure of M/V Mighty Servant 3 Show On The Far Left -- Her Stern Is On The Far Right.

M/V Mighty Servant 3 Has Semi-Submerged To Discharge GSF Aleutian Key --To Float Off Her Deck.

This Has Been A Successful Dry Tow Round The World! Bravo Zulu!

But Then --

The 83 Crew of Drilling Platform GSF Aleutian Key Look On --

As M/V Mighty Servant 3 Suffers A Problem.-- Something Has Gone Very Wrong.

Semi Submersible Becomes Submerged Submersible.

GSF Aleutian Key....... Floats Away..........M/V Mighty Servant 3 Does Not!

After Safe Delivery of GSF Aleutian Key From Around The World --

-- Now M/V Mighty Servant 3 Slides Below.

Is This Another Ballast Transfer Problem Like The M/V Cargo Ace?

Statement From Dockwise Corporation, owners of the vessel M/V Mighty Servant 3 :

Breda, The Netherlands, December 6, 2006

"Earlier this morning, the semi submersible vessel M/V Mighty Servant 3 developed a list and sank after the offloading of the drilling platform GSF Aleutian Key. The vessel is resting at the sea bottom in approx. 62 meters of water.

The drilling platform did not sustain any damage and is underway to its drilling location.

All of the 21 crew of the vessel have been taken of the vessel and are on their way to the Port of Luanda on board of one of the supporting vessels on stand by during the offloading. The 83 crew of the drilling platform were all safely on board the drilling platform at the moment of the incident.

The vessel is approximately one mile off the North Angolan coast and very close to the entrance of the port of Luanda.

Local authorities have been informed and are assisting in the response effort.

The cause of the incident is not known at this time, but is being investigated.

The 27,720 dwt. vessel is Dutch flagged and sails with a combination of Dutch and Filipino crew.

Families of the crew members have been informed. Crew members will be repatriated to their home destinations as soon as possible."

Dockwise Corp.

When M/V Mighty Servant 3 Sank The Water Below The Keel Was About 30 Meters.

Top of The Heavy Cargo Handling Crane Structure - M/V Mighty Servant 3

We Know She Will Be Back

Off The Coast of Angola -- December 6 2006 

This is not the first Mighty ship to sink. In 1999 the M/V Mighty Servant 2 capsized near the Indonesian island of Singkep off the coast of Sumatra after striking a previously uncharted rock pinnacle in 35 meter of water. The ship was carrying production modules fabricated in Korea for the North Nemba project in Angola. Although the accident occurred on a calm day with flat seas, M/V Mighty Servant 2 capsized within 4 minutes resulting in 5 fatalities. The vessel was declared a total loss by its insurance underwriters and was sold for scrap. In Nov. 2000, she arrived in Alang, India where she was broken up.

UPDATE- From The Cargo Letter -March 21 2007 --

M/V Mighty Servant 3 -- in preparation of the planned salvage the SMIT Salvage vessel M/V SMIT Orcahas anchored over the sunken heavy lift cargo vessel which still has the top of its derrick above water. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. March 21 2007)

UPDATE- From The Cargo Letter - June 18 2007 --

The vessel was resting at the sea bottom in approximately 52 meters of wate. SMIT Salvage conducted a complete diving survey prior to removing the vessel's bunker oil and pollutants. Moreover SMIT Salvage was contracted to salvage M/V Mighty Servant 3 in order to give her a second life.

After having finalized the M/V Nautilus salvage project the sheerlegs cranebarge Taklift 7 immediately departed for Angola. Futhermore diving vessel M/V Smit Orca was mobilized.

M/V Mighty Servant 3 was salvaged by means of sheerlegs cranebarge Taklift 7 and by pressurizing the various compartments with compressed air. Initially the bow was refloated and stabilized. Subsequently the stern was lifted. Ultimately the vessel was fully dewatered and successfully redelivered to the owners on 26 May 2007.

M/V Mighty Servant 3 Enters Cape Town - Return To Duty

M/V Mighty Servant 3 was transported to Cape Town - South Africa for repairs, where she arrived on Sunday 17 June 2007. The company expects to have the vessel back in operation in the first quarter of 2008.

SPECIAL NOTE -

The photo featured above is the expert work of Glenn Kasner - a noted marine photographer.

Shippers Must Have Quality Marine Cargo Insurance ........ Because......... "Ship Happens! ©"

To Repeat -- No Matter How Careful You Are -- Or Who You Hire ....... "Ship Happens! ©"

 

"Ship Happens! ©"


The Dedication of This Feature Is Simple: To The Crew of M/V Mighty Servant 3 and her families. No injuries in this amazing incident.


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs brokerIt's dangerous out there.


INDEX TO OUR "Mighty Sinking!" PAGE SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Scene
M/V Mighty Servant 3 Stowage Plan
Moving Oil PLatform Santa Fe 140 - Invergordon, Scotland, U.K. to Pascagoula, U.S.A.

GSF Aleutian Key - 1976 built drilling platform

The 2005 Move of GSF Aleutian Key

M/V Cargo Ace - Is M/V Mighty Servant 3 Another Ballast Transfer Problem?

The Owners

Dockwise Heavy Transport Shipping
The Heavy Lift Ships

Float On - Float Off Ships

Other Ocean Related Features From The Cargo Letter

The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss - for all the air & ocean features including those below --

"Full Speed Ahead" - M/V Alva Star - Nov. 2006

"Where The Trade Winds Blew" - Oct. 2006

"Maersk Montevideo Melee!" - M/V Leda Maersk - Oct. 2006

"Laying Down On The Job" - M/V Cargo Ace - Aug. 2006 The Marty Johnson Project Continues

"Great Misfortune"- M/V Hyundai Fortune - March 2006

"Unstacked - Overboard With Dr. Beach" - Oct. 2004

"Columbia River Round Up" - June 2003

"Halifax Hash"--M/V Maersk Carolina - Jan. 2003

"Piñata" - breaking the box - Jan. 2003

"T-E-U Bar-Be-Cue" - aftermath of the M/V Pennsylvania Loss - Nov. 2002

"Container Pool" - a mystery - May 2002

"Dropping In On The Trucker" -happened again - April 2002

"Meals: Ready To Explode" - Navy Barbecue at Guam June 2001

"M/V Ville D' Orion" - Bad L.A. Stack Disaster! April 2001 -- UPDATED - May 2002

"Pier Review" - Sept. 2001

"Singles Only" - visit our individual moments of transport crisis for more.

The Greatest Container Losses Of All Time - these are the grand fathers -

M/V OOCL America

M/V APL China


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs broker.  It's dangerous out there.
Thanks To Our Contributors For The
"Mighty Sinking!" Feature

Our Contributors for this feature is:
Anonymous photo contributor who wishes to be anonymous*

Russell Lynas

Dave R. - Houston, TX

Glenn Kasner - Marine Photographer

The Cargo Letter appreciates the continuing efforts of this valued contributora. Thanks Pals!


NOTE: Please Provide Us With Your Additional Information For This Loss.

EDITOR'S NOTE FOR SURVEYORS, ATTORNEYS & MARINE ADJUSTERS: The Internet edition effort of The Cargo Letter now celebrates it's 8th Year of Service -- making us quite senior in this segment of the industry. We once estimated container underway losses at about 1,500 per year. Lloyd's put that figure at about 10,000 earlier this year. Quite obviously, the reporting mechanism for these massive losses is not supported by the lines. News of these events is not posted to the maritime community. Our new project is to call upon you -- those handling the claims -- to let us know of each container loss at sea-- in confidentiality. Many of you survey on behalf of cargo interests with no need for confidentiality. Others work for the lines & need to be protected. As a respected Int'l publication, The Cargo Letter enjoys full press privileges & cannot be forced to disclose our sources of information. No successful attempt has ever been made. If a personal notation for your report is desired -- each contributor will be given a "hot link" to your company Website in each & every report. Please take moment & report your "overside" containers to us. If you do not wish attribution, your entry will be "anonymous." This will will benefit our industry -- for obvious reasons! McD


* NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% Confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters." Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.  

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