Office of Marine Safety

Stability and Flooding

Eric Stolzenberg
Presentation Overview
Stability
Flooding progression
Impact of physical rudder loss
Effects of astern travel
Vessel Configuration

Fishing Vessel Alaska Ranger

OSV Ranger Wheelhouse

Focsle Deck
Trawl Deck
Ramp Freezers Processing Area Factory Deck
Machinery Spaces
Rudder Hold
Stability
Stability criteria
Intact stability: capsizing
Damage stability: flooding

Stability requirements
Necessary for vessel certification
Incorporate stability criteria
 Vessel Intact Stability
Owner monitored stability
Not required
Intact stability through T&S booklet
Damage stability not monitored or required

Postaccident Coast Guard MSC review

Stability test confirmed
T&S booklet met requirements
Intact stability met requirements
Intact Stability Margin
Large stability margin prior to sinking
Downflooding points located aft
Engineroom intake vents
Aft trim conditions at deeper drafts
quickly reduced the margin
Flooding Progression
Flooding Progression Profile

Aft Fish Bin

(Freezer)
Flooding Progression Plan

Watertight Bulkheads

Watertight Bulkhead
Flooding Rate Verification
Coast Guard scenarios
Estimate 5 minutes to flood rudder room
Estimate 50 minutes for water to reach
switchboard
Electrical switchboard
Will short if flooded
Vessel loses electrical power
Loss of rudder flooding rate roughly
corresponds to event timeline
Rudder

Lock
Nut

Thrust
Bearing

Rudder
Stock

Hull

Starboard Rudder Upper Rudder Assembly

Vessel Traveling Astern
Exacerbated flooding
Increased rate
Decreased distance to downflooding
points
Increased pressure on hatches and
doors
Prevented crew from entering liferafts
Stability and Flooding Summary
Vessel had adequate intact stability
Most likely encountered rudder loss
Would not have sunk if flooding contained
to rudder room
Sank from uncontrolled progressive
flooding
Astern travel accelerated flooding
Office of Marine Safety

Propulsion System

Eric Stolzenberg
Presentation Overview
Causes of astern travel
Propulsion system overview
Propulsion system modification
Means to stop travel
CPP System Overview
Propulsion System Layout

Gear
Propulsion Shaft
Port main engine

Propeller
Hydraulic Main
pumps Switchboard
Propeller

Stbd main engine

Propulsion Shaft
Gear
Spindle Torque Forces
Spindle
Axis

Centrifugal
Force

Net Spindle
Torque

Hydrodynamic ASTERN
Lift

Hub
Rotation

Rolls-Royce
CPP Hub

Rolls-Royce
CPP System Modifications
Port Engine Main Switchboard Stbd Engine

Port CPP Stbd CPP

Hydraulic Pumps Hydraulic Pumps
Consequences of Modifications

Stbd Propeller Port Propeller

Astern Travel Summary
Causes
CPP pump modifications affected system
redundancy
Astern travel resulted from electrical
power loss
Engines were still turning propeller shafts
Stopping astern travel
No means to control blade pitch
Crew could have secured engines to stop
shaft