Twenty-nine lives were lost 38 years ago today. I don't know why I am so fascinated by the tale of the Edmund Fitzgerald, but I am. And nothing better to serve as tribute than the ballad by Gordon Lightfoot.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
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Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeletethe Fitz was a poorly maintained boat that had been modified to hold way more taconite than it was meant to. People who served on it knew it made funny noises and had abnormal levels of flex in the hull that could be felt in waves and whenever thy tried to get it to turn. it's too bad the shipping company was able to blame the catastrophic hull failure on the captain crew and weather, thus avoiding the sort of payout that the families of the crew deserved.
ReplyDeleteNTSB report on the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking
ReplyDeletehttp://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBSHIPWRECKS/EdmundFitzgeraldNTSBReport.pdf
$$$ Required freeboard had been reduced by 39 and 1/4" by three different regulation rewrites in the preceeding six years. (page 8 linked pdf)
$$$ Exemption granted to Edmund Fitzgerald on the minimum required elevation of hold vents above weather deck after the last freeboard reduction. (page 8 linked pdf)
$$$ The cargo hold hatch covers not designed for conditions encountered (page 16 linked pdf)
$$$ Design features caused over 15 inches of water to be retained on the entire deck at all times during the storm conditions encountered. This had the same effect as lowering the Edmund Fitzgerald's freeboard another 15 inches. (page 16 linked pdf)
$$$ The design of the cargo hold permitted complete flooding due to lack of watertight compartmentalization. (page 17 linked pdf)
$$$ Design features of the cargo hold prevented pumping water from the hold when carrying taconite. (page 17 linked pdf)
$$$ Design features did not allow ship's personnel to monitor cargo hold flooding when loaded and in bad weather conditions. (page 17 linked pdf)
RIP Michael E. Armagost 37
Frederick J. Beetcher 56
Thomas D. Bentsen 23
Edward F. Bindon 47
Thomas D. Borgeson 41
Oliver J. Champeau 41
Nolan S. Church 55
Ransom E. Cundy 53
Thomas E. Edwards 50
Russell G. Haskell 40
George J. Holl 60
Bruce L. Hudson 22
Allen G. Kalmon 43
Gordon F. MacLellan 30
Joseph W. Mazes 59
John H. McCarthy 62
Ernest M. McSorley 63
Eugene W. O'Brien 50
Karl A. Peckol 20
John J. Poviach 59
James A. Pratt 44
Robert C. Rafferty 62
Paul M. Riippa 22
John D. Simmons 63
William J. Spengler 59
Mark A. Thomas 21
Ralph G. Walton 58
David E. Weiss 22
Blaine H. Wilhelm 52