US Coast Guard is going to sink that ghost ship

naturelover · #1 04/05/12, 01:47 AM

Yup. The ghost ship decided it didn't like Canada so 3 days ago it changed course, crossed the Canada/USA border and is now making a bee-line for Sitka, Alaska. The Japanese owners decided they don't want it after all and nobody else wants to claim it so on Thursday (today) the US Coast Guard is going to fire cannons at it and sink it.

Sorry InvalidID, I know you had your heart set to salvage it and use it as a flag ship to start a west coast squidding fleet with it.

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tinknal · #2 04/05/12, 04:35 AM

Seems a waste. You would think someone could scrap it out or something.

Gregg Alexander · #3 04/05/12, 05:18 AM

Should have been sunk long time ago

naturelover · #4 04/05/12, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinknal

Seems a waste. You would think someone could scrap it out or something.

It might seem a waste to people that aren't familiar with the wild, rough contours and deep water character of the PNW coast, but sinking it is the most practical and environmentally friendly thing to do. Finding a place to scrap it out somewhere on this rough coastline is pretty much next to impossible. Finding someone willing to go to the expense and extreme hazard of towing it south through 40 foot high waves on the west side of the islands to some other place where it can be more easily scrapped is also next to impossible.

That problem was solved years ago though and this part of the coast has a long history of sinking scrappers to create artificial reef habitats close to the coastline to create new habitats for marine life and for deep sea diver fishermen to harvest seafoods from. There are many artificial reef habitats have been created along this coast by sinking scrappers, that even includes worn out old navy ships and even some few airplanes - the more metal there is on a ship the more steroid nutrients there are and the better it is for the new marine life that will be attracted to the new reef habitat.

Quote:

- The reef structure causes plankton and other micro-organisms to accumulate in the area rather than just float on by, and where there is food, larger organisms will begin to congregate.

- Larvae from numerous types of marine life have a surface to attach to, and larger marine life (there to enjoy the new food supply) have places to hide and to lay their eggs.

- small invertebrates and filter feeders soon begin to grow and inhabit the area, attracting small fish and other marine life, which in turn attracts larger predators and even more marine life.

- some artificial reef surfaces, such as iron based steel, also provide 'steroid' type nutrients which help the marine life to grow bigger and faster than it typically would, thus creating a food source for all levels of the food chain, including humans.

- before long, a small 'oasis' of life is created on and around this artificial reef where before there was nothing but sand, mud and silt.

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beccachow · #5 04/05/12, 08:56 AM

Exactly, NL. Out of a tragedy can come great things and new hope.

InvalidID · #6 04/05/12, 10:30 AM

My fledgling navy is sunk before it ever even gets started... Always screwing the little future dictator I swear! lol

edcopp · #7 04/05/12, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvalidID

My fledgling navy is sunk before it ever even gets started... Always screwing the little future dictator I swear! lol

Not tom mention the cost of ammo (your nickel too, and mine).

beowoulf90 · #8 04/05/12, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturelover

Yup. The ghost ship decided it didn't like Canada so 3 days ago it changed course, crossed the Canada/USA border and is now making a bee-line for Sitka, Alaska. The Japanese owners decided they don't want it after all and nobody else wants to claim it so on Thursday (today) the US Coast Guard is going to fire cannons at it and sink it.

Sorry InvalidID, I know you had your heart set to salvage it and use it as a flag ship to start a west coast squidding fleet with it.

.

Good gunnery practice for the US Coast Guard.. and it serves a purpose also...

InvalidID · #9 04/05/12, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edcopp

Not tom mention the cost of ammo (your nickel too, and mine).

Yeah, but they are clearing the shipping lanes and keeping it form beaching. We'd have to pay for the cleanup if it beached so I think we're getting a deal on this one.

Wish I could be the guy that sinks it.

emdeengee · #10 04/05/12, 12:04 PM

That is the best solution.

poppy · #11 04/05/12, 12:36 PM

Why is no one showing compassion for the ghosts on the ship? You want to bomb their home simply because it is a nuisance? I don't think even Bush was ever accused of dimensional cleansing.

beowoulf90 · #12 04/05/12, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppy

Why is no one showing compassion for the ghosts on the ship? You want to bomb their home simply because it is a nuisance? I don't think even Bush was ever accused of dimensional cleansing.

Well I think the problem is their ship isn't "ghostly" enough and can do some real damage to this dimensions land/property..

If the ghosts had kept their ship in their dimension, then I don't think it would have been a problem..

But then again maybe they are lost and are trying to find their way home back to the Bermuda Triangle...

Old John · #13 04/05/12, 03:34 PM

The Sunken Ship will probably make a nice artificial reef for some fish, in that area. And, that's probably a beneficial outcome to the situation. It's better than having to Clean it up, if it should be Beached.

tinknal · #14 04/05/12, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvalidID

My fledgling navy is sunk before it ever even gets started... Always screwing the little future dictator I swear! lol

All I can think of is McHale's Navy.

copperkid3 · #15 04/05/12, 06:44 PM

it settles to the bottom??? My understanding is, that the best artificial reefs are within a certain
specified distance of the surface, as well as other factors such as prevailing currents, distance from
shore, etc. Determining the best site starts with a purpose. The initial focus should be to enhance or
create good habitat that will benefit local fisheries. One must then consider the various social,
economic, environmental and biological concerns. Reefs that are improperly sited and do not take
all of these factors into consideration during the planning phase will result in wasted time, money and
effort and will not fully realize their true function and purpose. Water depth affects species composition
at the reef site. This includes all sessile and motile invertebrates associated with the reef as well as
plant life and fish assemblages. Reef materials placed in clear or shallow water with good light
penetration generally will provide the best results in meeting the typical biological objectives of
most artificial reef projects. Water depth is a key factor in determining the likely presence of desired
life history stages of target fish species. Also, water depth at the reef site may critically affect reef
material stability and long-term structural integrity. In this case, average wave energy in large,
open bodies of water as a function of water depth is the major concern. The magnitude of wave
interaction with a reef is difficult to predict but it can also be destructive.

From the sounds of things, it appears that more than likely MOST of the above requirements are
not even going to be considered......not enough time has been spent to consider the many
ramifications.......just get it beneath the surface as quickly as possible so that it doesn't endanger
legitimate shipping or end up on a beach somewhere, spilling out hazardous substances.....

Paumon · #16 04/05/12, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperkid3

Has anyone figured the final depth the ship will be in when it settles to the bottom??? My understanding is, that the best artificial reefs are within a certain specified distance of the surface, as well as other factors such as prevailing currents, distance from shore, etc. .....

How would one find out what the depth is? Do you know how to do that? The ship was sunk 170 nautical miles south-west of Sitka which is on Baranof Island in the Gulf of Alaska. At that distance out from Sitka I think it might be between 1,000 to 2,000 feet deep but I don't know how to find a topographical map of that part of the ocean floor to confirm the depth.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&sug...-8&sa=N&tab=wl

LonelyNorthwind · #17 04/05/12, 10:21 PM

Dang! I was gonna tie a line to that thing, paint it pretty and make a floating brothel.

Paumon · #18 04/06/12, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrammasCabin

Dang! I was gonna tie a line to that thing, paint it pretty and make a floating brothel.

And name it GrammasBrothel?

Bearfootfarm · #19 04/06/12, 03:11 AM

Quote:

How would one find out what the depth is?
Do you know how to do that?

It might be on a Marine navigational chart, but I don't know offhand where to find one

Found it without a chart:

The Associated Press: Coast Guard cannon fire sinks Japanese ghost ship

Quote:

It sank into waters more than 6,000 feet deep in the Gulf of Alaska, about 180 miles west of the southeast Alaska coast, the Coast Guard said.

copperkid3 · #20 04/06/12, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

It might be on a Marine navigational chart, but I don't know offhand where to find one

Found it without a chart:

The Associated Press: Coast Guard cannon fire sinks Japanese ghost ship

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how to turn it into a beneficial and producing artificial reef......too far out for sport fishing
and too deep for divers or ANYTHING else to use it. So much for the propaganda
being espoused by the 'greenies' and gooberment officials....