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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"
The 2001 Countryman & McDaniel
Cargo Nightmare Prize Winner
"Dramatic Tale of The Sea"
"True Story of The Old West"
The Lone Ranger Comes To The Rescue
First of Three 2001 Award Features
Port Elizebeth, South Africa
May 26 2001
The Air & Ocean Logistics- Customs Broker Attorneys
"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"
You Will Only See Most of These Pictures Here !! *
From Our Confidential Expert Witness
On The Scene In South Africa !!
The 2001 Countryman & McDaniel
Cargo Nightmare Prize Winner
Page1 --2001 Award Features
Details Below
Page 1 - USCGC Sherman Is The Lone Ranger - below
Page 2 - Auto-Matic Bargins - the destroyed cargo
Page 3 - M/V Tracer To The Rescue - a Captains Log
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.."Bumper Cars". "Dramatic Tale of The Sea" & "True Story of The Old West" |
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Port Elizebeth, South Africa May 26 2001 |
M/V Modern Drive, Panama Registered 33,000 gt Car Carrier
Freemantle For Brazil With 2,000 New Japanese & Korean Vehicles.
Improper Lashing of Vessel's Own Forklift & Part of Cargo
Gives Rise To A True "Bumper Car" Disaster.
In Heavy Seas -- The Forklift Breaks Loose May 26 2001
(More About The Forklift on Page 2)
Fuel tanks of some cars were ruptured & the fuel subsequently ignited, sending clouds of smoke into the engine room.
Crew -- thinking they had an engine room fire, evacuated the ER & triggered fire extinguishers, causing main engine to stop.
Without power, M/V Modern Drive turned beam on to heavy seas, causing still further cargo to break loose & shift -- with a list of about 10 degrees.
No engines, heavy seas, strong onshore winds & shore in sight -- a recipe for DISASTER !
The Stricken M/V Modern Drive Was 3 Nautical Miles Off East London
About To Run Aground Near The East London Harbor, South Africa
No Engines
No Fix
No Hope
M/V Modern Drive Would Ground Unless Prompt Action Were Taken To Save Her
Time To Secure Ship's Systems & Abandon For The Sake of The Crew?
Enter -- The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
NOTE: Many U.S. military web sites are not operating during the war for security reasons.
Bound for Cape Town for a goodwill visit to the South African Navy -- and 10,000 miles from home -- the United States Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) had rounded the Cape of Good Hope on May 27 2001. In the finest traditions of American forces at sea, she was nearest ship to M/V Modern Drive.
Scouting the ocean plains like a U.S. Cavalry patrol of the old American West -- to the rescue came USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) -- as if for saving a besieged wagon train under hostile fire.
First To The Scene: heavy lift M/V Tracer whose brave Capt. Mark Baller fought an amazing South Atlantic storm in the Agulhas Current to aid an unidentified ship which proved to be the M/V Modern Drive. Driving through pounding seas and Force 9 gales, Tracer reached the stricken vessel and talked its crew through a possilbe "abandon ship." M/V Tracer stayed with Modern Drive until the storm moderated -- at all times making ready a rescue tow plan. At 15:43 hrs. on May 26 M/V Tracer was released as "On-Scene Commander."
But
You Will Long Remember The Captains Log of M/V Tracer
The Subject of Our Special Feature - Could This Be Tonto?
USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) became "On-Scene Commander" at 15:43 hrs. and remained with M/V Modern Drive throughout that terrible night. Captain David W. Ryan (USCG) was determined that this U.S. tourist would do her duty.
At very near the last possible time before the stricken vessel would commit to beach -- USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) secured a tow line to the M/V Modern Drive -- saving the day. BRAVO ZULU !
When taken in tow, M/V Modern Drive had a list of about 10 degrees. During tow, main engine was restarted & she proceeded under her own power.
M/V Modern Drive was towed by tug Pentow Salvor to Algoa Bay for evaluation & then berthed at berth 100 in Port Elizabeth Harbor.
Official Log of USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720)"On 26 May 2001 SHERMAN was diverted to a SAR case of a cargo vessel off SE coast of South Africa. The Cargo Vessel Modern Drive was adrift with no power or propulsion. The vessel was transiting in 40 foot seas when it took a roll causing it's cargo of vehicles to shift. A fire was reported on board the Modern Drive which lead them to secure there main power plant. After further investigation it was determined the the fire was in the cargo hold and all precautions were taken. With the vessels main power plant inopperative the Modern Drive was adrift and vulnerable to the seas. A Tug boat was deployed from East London enroute the Modern Drive. SHERMAN remained on station with the Modern Drive throughout the night. When the weather proved too rough for the tugboat, it had to return to port. Another tugboat was delpoyed from Cape Town but was not expected on scence for 12 hours. With Modern Drive drifting towards land & risking the possiblity of going aground on the rocks, SHERMAN attached a tow line to the 550 foot, 33,000 ton vessel. Once the vessel was in tow, SHERMAN then proceeded to tow the vessel away from shore. Modern Drive remained in tow throughout the day until the 2nd tug arrived on scene. Once SHERMAN was relieved of the tow and it was determined that the Modern Drive and the tug were not in immediate danger, SHERMAN departed the scene for Cape Town South Africa."
NOTE:
Many U.S. military web sites are not operating during the war for
security reasons.
USCGC Sherman Passes The Line
But The Tragedy Was Not Over...
Happy Motoring !
Damge appears to be several holes in port side, caused by the forklift, about 20 to 30 "New" cars with fire damage, and about 120 to 150 "New" vehicles with impact & collision damage.
The cargo was discharged to quayside. Damaged and scrap vehicles were officially scrapped, & the remainder of cargo restowed after repairs to the vessel.
From Our Confidential Expert Witness At The Scene --"To reinforce a point - the root cause of all of this was either failure of the lashings on the cargo, or failure to lash the cargo securely - was it the stevedores (at origin)? possibly the vessel's crew moved / restowed cargo themselves. As the vessel had discharged a large part of the cargo in Australia, maybe there were restows by the Australian stevedores. The surveyors assert that was no evidence whatsoever of an engine room fire......"Thank you so much for this great story. It brought back some memory of being there, as I was a non-rate on the Sherman when this incident happen. I remember that I was at the helm of the Sherman when we first heard the Mayday call from the M/V Modern Drive. I remember the Officer of the Deck calling the Captain to the bridge to find out what he would like to do. We started towards the M/V Modern Drive at full speed on turbines. Once they started to state they may need to abandon ship we tried to find a course that we would be able to launch the helicopter but the rolls and pitch were too much to be able to launch.
I also remember the ordeal we had to go through to start towing the ship. It was no easy task. We had a few people get hurt because we started to have waves come across the aft deck as we were preparing the tow line. We tried multiple time to shoot the line up the the ship.
Reading this piece also let me see other views of the situation. Thanks again for this great story."
Reggie MossFrom Our Witness " At The Scene -- - June 6 2008
"Thank you so much for this great story. It brought back some memory of being there, as I was a non-rate on USCGC Sherman when this incident happened. I remember that I was at the helm of USCGC Sherman when we first heard the Mayday call from the M/V Modern Drive. I remember the Officer of the Deck calling the Captain to the bridge to find out what he would like to do. We started towards the M/V Modern Drive at full speed on turbines. Once they started to state they may need to abandon ship we tried to find a course that we would be able to launch the helicopter but the rolls and pitch were too much to be able to launch.I also remember the ordeal we had to go through to start towing the ship. It was no easy task. We had a few people get hurt because we started to have waves come across the aft deck as we were preparing the tow line. We tried multiple time to shoot the line up the the ship.
Reading this piece also let me see other views of the situation. Thanks again for this great story.
Reggie Moss - June 6 2008Editor Note:
Thanks both for sharing your experience -- and for your servive!McD
* Certain of These Photos Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard
Auto-Matic Bargins !
Visit Our M/V Modern Drive Emporium
of "Slightly" Used Vehicles
The 2001 Countryman & McDaniel
Cargo Nightmare Prize Winner
First of Two 2001 Award Features - Page 2
>> Page 2 <<
The High Seas Storm Rescue of M/V Modern Drive
The 2001 Countryman & McDaniel
Cargo Nightmare Prize Winner
Second of Two 2001 Award Features
Page 1 - USCGC Sherman Is The Lone Ranger
Page 2 - Auto-Matic Bargins -- the destroyed cargo
Page 3 - M/V Tracer To The Rescue
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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