Comments on: Maersk Alabama Lifeboat FAQ http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/ A Blog About Ships Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:36:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ken http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19868 Ken Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:14:15 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19868 Good blog, Capt. The lifeboat's engine is started and run briefly once a week at Fire and Lifeboat Drills. Once a year, the lifeboat is dropped in the water and taken on a short cruise as per USCG requirements. Normally the engine fuel and oil are changed out just before this yearly US Coast Guard inspection. Good blog, Capt.
The lifeboat's engine is started and run briefly once a week at Fire and Lifeboat Drills. Once a year, the lifeboat is dropped in the water and taken on a short cruise as per USCG requirements. Normally the engine fuel and oil are changed out just before this yearly US Coast Guard inspection.

]]> By: Ken http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19732 Ken Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:39:59 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19732 What are the lifeboats made of? What are the lifeboats made of?

]]> By: Rob http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19701 Rob Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:05:08 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19701 I don't think the situation of the 35 ft. rubber raft could be any clearer as seen by the photos taken by the drones flying overhead. The hatches on the side of the 28 ft fiberglass shell when open would make for an easy shot. And since they were towing them to safe waters the shot through the sole hatch at the stern of the 18 ft vessel gave a clear line of sight. Please refer to the Gulf of Tonkin incident before asking these silly, silly questions. I don't think the situation of the 35 ft. rubber raft could be any clearer as seen by the photos taken by the drones flying overhead. The hatches on the side of the 28 ft fiberglass shell when open would make for an easy shot. And since they were towing them to safe waters the shot through the sole hatch at the stern of the 18 ft vessel gave a clear line of sight. Please refer to the Gulf of Tonkin incident before asking these silly, silly questions.

]]> By: Brad http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19695 Brad Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:32:25 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19695 Do not get me wrong, I think it was the right result, in that the pirates are dead, so it does not matter much now. But it seems to me the reasoning is faulty. They say that the a gun was being held to the Cpt. back and that all three pirates were in the driving compartment, viewable through the window. Based on the pictures on this blog (which are the only pictures I could find) and other sites have been "removed". My questions: 1st can you fit three people in the driving compartment? , 2nd would you then also be able to see a fourth person on their knees? 3rd the "windows" do not seem to be in the right place, 4th if the explanation is he was in imminent danger, there would be no reason they would be killing him in the middle of the night. Although I do not think this is a "cover-up" operation, I am just saying people need to be skeptical of this explanation. Do not get me wrong, I think it was the right result, in that the pirates are dead, so it does not matter much now. But it seems to me the reasoning is faulty. They say that the a gun was being held to the Cpt. back and that all three pirates were in the driving compartment, viewable through the window. Based on the pictures on this blog (which are the only pictures I could find) and other sites have been "removed". My questions: 1st can you fit three people in the driving compartment? , 2nd would you then also be able to see a fourth person on their knees? 3rd the "windows" do not seem to be in the right place, 4th if the explanation is he was in imminent danger, there would be no reason they would be killing him in the middle of the night. Although I do not think this is a "cover-up" operation, I am just saying people need to be skeptical of this explanation.

]]> By: Andy http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19688 Andy Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:18:13 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19688 How to make the people inside visible: I assume that such a boat can survive heavy seas with only a thin fiberglass shell above the hull. Could it be that such a hull becomes transparent to certain waves, so the people inside become partially visible? maybe their infrared body heat, or metal weapons, or the fact that they move around. How to make the people inside visible: I assume that such a boat can survive heavy seas with only a thin fiberglass shell above the hull. Could it be that such a hull becomes transparent to certain waves, so the people inside become partially visible? maybe their infrared body heat, or metal weapons, or the fact that they move around.

]]> By: vanderleun http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19687 vanderleun Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:48:03 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19687 very informative. thanks. very informative. thanks.

]]> By: KfromVA http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19686 KfromVA Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:16:40 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19686 Fire retardant FRP (fiberglass). Fire retardant FRP (fiberglass).

]]> By: Rob http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19677 Rob Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:22:03 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19677 Why hasn't there been a hint of live video? Not even a recent picture... Why hasn't there been a hint of live video? Not even a recent picture…

]]> By: John http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19674 John Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:53:42 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19674 What is the life boat made of? What is the life boat made of?

]]> By: gCaptain http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-19666 gCaptain Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:14:27 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/?p=7817#comment-19666 Mariner! Sounds like you have the facts down. Thanks! Capt. Bryan, You're probably right on the capacity... I might have given two much value to MMA's statement but I do know that Capt. Phillips took extra gear with him including a UHF radio... no reason he didn't grab the SART. I have also never sailed on a ship that didn't have a VHF (fixed, hand-held or SCT) aboard... one ship even had handheld & fixed plus PLB's & SART's for each of the boats! -John Mariner!

Sounds like you have the facts down. Thanks!

Capt. Bryan,

You're probably right on the capacity… I might have given two much value to MMA's statement but I do know that Capt. Phillips took extra gear with him including a UHF radio… no reason he didn't grab the SART. I have also never sailed on a ship that didn't have a VHF (fixed, hand-held or SCT) aboard… one ship even had handheld & fixed plus PLB's & SART's for each of the boats! -John

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