Coast Guard fires at "Ghost Ship" with 8000ltrs Diesel

[presence]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17630153


I'm sorry... but would it really have been that hard to let this ship float there until someone came to salvage it? It was just recently discovered and it has been floating in the ocean not bothering anyone for over a year now. At least make an effort to salvage the diesel before you sink it. Heck... just let it drift under observation... nobody even needs to tow it to shore; its headed that way at 1 mph and its only 125 miles away: it'll eventually get there. What a waste of steel. This country has more defence than it knows what to do with.

And why are we sinking it? Out of concern for maritime traffic??!!?? Hello... this is the digital age, any large commercial boat in international waters has radar. All I see is a bunch of trigger happy coast guard begging for "permission to engage".

Instead of the economy picking up salvage rights to 200 tons of steel, we get clean up rights to 2000 gallons of heavy fuel oil.

thanks!

presence

[ItsTime]

There had to be a bigger reason to sink it.

[eduardo89]

Thread title makes it seem like they fired 8000litres of diesel at the ship lol

And yes, this shipping corridor is very busy,but I don't really see this ship as a danger.

[FrankRep]

The article:

The boat had no lights or power and was viewed as a danger to other ships.

[Brian4Liberty]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17630153


I'm sorry... but would it really have been that hard to let this ship float there until someone came to salvage it? It was just recently discovered and it has been floating in the ocean not bothering anyone for over a year now. At least make an effort to salvage the diesel before you sink it. Heck... just let it drift under observation... nobody even needs to tow it to shore; its headed that way at 1 mph and its only 125 miles away: it'll eventually get there. What a waste of steel. This country has more defence than it knows what to do with.

And why are we sinking it? Out of concern for maritime traffic??!!?? Hello... this is the digital age, any large commercial boat in international waters has radar. All I see is a bunch of trigger happy coast guard begging for "permission to engage".


presence

That was my take when I saw the story. Just a waste.

[Dr.3D]

It seems very strange to me that no one had even attempted to salvage the vessel. There has to be a large number of companies that would love to tow that one into port and salvage the metal.

[phill4paul]

It seems very strange to me that no one had even attempted to salvage the vessel. There has to be a large number of companies that would love to tow that one into port and salvage the metal.

It wasn't close enough to Pakistan. Had it been then it would have been salvaged. America only has a few Ship-Breaking yards left. Mostly down in the Gulf.

[kah13176]

It seems very strange to me that no one had even attempted to salvage the vessel. There has to be a large number of companies that would love to tow that one into port and salvage the metal.

Canada tried to, but their tugboat wasn't strong enough.

[Anti Federalist]

Marine salvage master checking in.

Based on what I read, there wasn't enough salvage value to leave the dock for, although somebody did try, but was unsuccessful.

The costs of "environmental mitigation" makes many salvage operations financially unfeasible.

Further, the owner didn't want it back, so I am assuming an insurance claim was already paid out, thus making a LoF contract unfeasible as well.

[nobody's_hero]

Marine salvage master checking in.

Based on what I read, there wasn't enough salvage value to leave the dock for, although somebody did try, but was unsuccessful.

The costs of "environmental mitigation" makes many salvage operations financially unfeasible.

Further, the owner didn't want it back, so I am assuming an insurance claim was already paid out, thus making a LoF contract unfeasible as well.

So in order to clean up the junk vessels that are floating around in the ocean, you have to meet certain environmental regulations? Well, I guess that doesn't surprise me.