Author Topic: USNS Mercy may have collided with USS Arizona memorial (Read 4902 times)

MillCreek · « **on:** May 28, 2015, 08:36:58 AM »

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/uss-arizona-memorial-reportedly-struck-during-docking-o-1707312516

I met a Navy physician who was assigned to the Mercy. I learned that the Mercy and the Comfort essentially have two commanders: the Military Sealift Command 'ship driver' who is in charge of the vessel, and the 0-6 who is in charge of the hospital facility. I wonder why the Mercy was in that part of the ship channel, if the harbor pilot was at the helm, and if there was a problem with the tugs that led to the collision.

K Frame · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:47:57 AM »

My Great Aunt was a nurse on the USS Mercy (predecessor to this one) in the Pacific during World War II.

T.O.M. · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2015, 09:51:54 AM »

http://news.usni.org/2015/05/27/breaking-tug-moving-u-s-navy-hospital-ship-may-have-struck-uss-arizona-memorial

Updated article. Doesn't sound good. I'm predicting some careers have just ended...

vaskidmark · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2015, 11:19:42 AM »

Question for the squidly among us -

When a ship is being moved by tug, who is responsible for where that ship goes?

I know that whoever was on the bridge of the Mercy at the time, as well as whoever is the senior Military Sealift Command officer, are looking at their careers swirling down the drain even as they wish they could have thrown themselves between the ship and the memorial.

As for the tug skippers and the harbor pilot? Probably also toast.

But strangest of all, the innerwebs are lacking calls for heads on pikes Yet.

stay safe.

dogmush · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2015, 12:26:37 PM »

Quote from: vaskidmark on May 28, 2015, 11:19:42 AM

Question for the squidly among us -

When a ship is being moved by tug, who is responsible for where that ship goes?

I know that whoever was on the bridge of the Mercy at the time, as well as whoever is the senior Military Sealift Command officer, are looking at their careers swirling down the drain even as they wish they could have thrown themselves between the ship and the memorial.

As for the tug skippers and the harbor pilot? Probably also toast.

The Vessel Master. If the tugs run you aground, your fault. If the pilot screws up, still your fault. What ever your boat hits, it's the Master's fault.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2015, 12:38:08 PM »

I am curious why they were even near it. Wonder if they are trying to turn around or something.

Are all the radio communications between the tugs and the ship recorded?

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2015, 05:43:55 PM »

It must have been like a slow-moving train wreck.

Sort of like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqsAgzzV6eM

TommyGunn · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2015, 07:45:11 PM »

Does anyone know if any damage was done to the memorial?
I visited the memorial when I vacationed in hawaii in 1987. A very somber place .... I hate to think the memorial was damaged.

vaskidmark · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:00:43 PM »

Reports are that the dock was moved about 10 feet.

Have not read anything yet on the actual memorial structure. Navy & Park Service divers are surveying for damage.

stay safe.

AmbulanceDriver · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:07:58 PM »

from the articles linked it sounds like it was just the dock that was damaged - hopefully that's the case

Sergeant Bob · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2015, 10:05:23 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on May 28, 2015, 05:43:55 PM

It must have been like a slow-moving train wreck.

Sort of like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqsAgzzV6eM

I knew before I even clicked on the link that was which you were referring to.

makattak · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2015, 10:35:27 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on May 28, 2015, 05:43:55 PM

It must have been like a slow-moving train wreck.

Sort of like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqsAgzzV6eM

Rough guess: $1 million in the clearly demolished boats? Not sure on how much for the ones just damaged, maybe $3 million total?

230RN · « **Reply #12 on:** May 29, 2015, 02:31:37 AM »

I really hope it's all OK. The thought of the Arizona maybe being hit really bothers me.

But:

Quote from: Hawkmoon on May 28, 2015, 05:43:55 PM

It must have been like a slow-moving train wreck.

Sort of like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqsAgzzV6eM

I can't help thinking... should I say it?

Well... here goes: "Large slow bullets."

Terry runs and hides.

Devonai · « **Reply #13 on:** May 29, 2015, 04:22:06 PM »

Quote from: TommyGunn on May 28, 2015, 07:45:11 PM

Does anyone know if any damage was done to the memorial?
I visited the memorial when I vacationed in hawaii in 1987. A very somber place .... I hate to think the memorial was damaged.

You weren't surrounded by shutter-happy tourists laughing and running back and forth from bow to stern? 'Cause that was my experience.

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #14 on:** May 29, 2015, 05:04:45 PM »

Quote from: Devonai on May 29, 2015, 04:22:06 PM

You weren't surrounded by shutter-happy tourists laughing and running back and forth from bow to stern? 'Cause that was my experience.

Different strokes for different folks.

In May of 1994 my then-lady friend and I went on an adult education tour of Normandy and the D-Day beaches. She was (and I guess is) a nurse, and a couple of her friends/co-workers were also on the tour. I knew nobody else.

That tour ended our relationship. She and her friends wandered around, talking about whatever it is that women talk about on historic battlefield sites. My lady couldn't understand why I wasn't able to express in fifty words or less what it felt like to stand on those beaches (being a veteran of Vietnam) and envision what our guys went through making the assault.

TommyGunn · « **Reply #15 on:** May 29, 2015, 06:49:40 PM »

Quote from: Devonai on May 29, 2015, 04:22:06 PM

You weren't surrounded by shutter-happy tourists laughing and running back and forth from bow to stern? 'Cause that was my experience.

Well, I meant that, for me, it was somber. However, no one was running around laughing or otherwise being a jack-ass.

T.O.M. · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2015, 03:04:36 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on May 29, 2015, 05:04:45 PM

Different strokes for different folks.

In May of 1994 my then-lady friend and I went on an adult education tour of Normandy and the D-Day beaches. She was (and I guess is) a nurse, and a couple of her friends/co-workers were also on the tour. I knew nobody else.

That tour ended our relationship. She and her friends wandered around, talking about whatever it is that women talk about on historic battlefield sites. My lady couldn't understand why I wasn't able to express in fifty words or less what it felt like to stand on those beaches (being a veteran of Vietnam) and envision what our guys went through making the assault.

A couple of years ago, my son went to Normandy beach with a People to People tour. Got a great photo of him on the beach. In the background, I can see a family laid out for, well, a day at the beach. hard to wrap my brain around the concept that those sands are hallowed to many Americans, and just another beach to many others.

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2015, 03:17:51 PM »

To a degree, the idea of going there and laying out on the beach, free to relax is like a big *expletive deleted*ck you to fascists everywhere.

vaskidmark · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2015, 06:14:33 PM »

Quote from: jamisjockey on June 01, 2015, 03:17:51 PM

To a degree, the idea of going there and laying out on the beach, free to relax is like a big *expletive deleted*ck you to fascists everywhere.

I like that.

As far as I'm concerned the hallowed ground is up above the beaches in the cemeteries.

stay safe.

News:

Author Topic: USNS Mercy may have collided with USS Arizona memorial (Read 4902 times)