This is totally unconfirmed. Who has the scoop? Crowley’s Am Liberty was coming off the dock in garyville Louisiana last night and they let go the tug too early, missed the turnaround, sideswiped an anchored ship, bashed into a group of laid up barges and broke em all loose, then got control and got tied up at a grain dock. Sliced the port side most of the way from 1P-6P WBT and dented in the engine room. Another source says they “lost RPM”

[image] DamnYankee: Damage control or piling? Looks like nice clean bright wedges to me.

Yeah when I looked closer I figured such

Touch me there again and I will scream!

Isn’t this one of the new eco class ships with the funky engine load program designed so you don’t overload the engines? How does that system work? Can the bridge override the system? What happens if they do?

I don’t know about this class of ship but if it’s similar to the low-speed diesels I’ve seen (max about 100 rpm) it would have a load-up (and load down) program to allow the engine to warm up slowly to avoid thermal stress. From dead slow to full maneuvering (full harbor speed 12 kts is typical) there is no program, engine changes rpm in response to orders. Above full maneuvering the program controls the increase. The program can be overridden from the bridge, slowing down the rpm will drop quickly but speeding up it’s a matter of hp and mass. In my experience you might get a few extra turns, less if the wheel is hard over.

I don’t imagine they were using the load program right after having let go and topped around. Typically when outbound and above the city, especially with the river running as hard as it is, I would be surprised if the pilot wanted to load up at all. Once south of Algiers Point they might hook it up, but the program can always be canceled instantly from the bridge.

From the context I took the question to be would the ship’s load up program limit the ship’s maneuverability at low speed? For example if more rpm was needed to increase ROT. Because there is a program by-pass the limit would be actual horsepower, not a limit imposed by the program.

Ah. Then you are correct. The load program only kicks in once going past Full maneuvering to Sea Speed. To answer @john’s question, yes the bridge can override it and bypass the load program. The Chief might be pissed about it though…

Yes, it can be overridden on the bridge. The Captains expect it and it is no big deal. Without the override, you really don’t have much go go until the program gets going. The class is notorious for this odd characteristic.

After days spent at other Tampa spots, ‘American Liberty’ went into dry-dock at Tampa Ship, yesterday.

Crowley Am Liberty

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Crowley Am Liberty

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