March 18, 2014
We have a new neighbor just outside our marina here in Tauranga: A piece of the Rena. The Rena, a container ship, hit the famous Astrolabe Reef in October of 2011. The clean up’s been going on ever since. They lifted this accommodation block about a week ago and towed it here where it’s being cut up for scrap metal.
Here are some links for more info…
More:
I am just wondering what chance we have out here. I mean, if the professional crew of a huge cargo ship can hit Astrolabe reef on a clear night in calm conditions, how do we expect to survive thousands of miles at sea, unscathed?
I just can’t understand how they could have hit it. I get that they were in a hurry (ah, the deadly “schedule” strikes again), but still, it’s well marked on the charts. Here it is on one of my charts – one that should be very similar to what they had available…
This was in 2011, not 1911. Didn’t they have a chartplotter? People make mistakes – I get it. I just want to know how I can avoid making a mistake like this. I guess I won’t feel so silly when I put a mile between me and an obstruction – even if it makes the trip a little longer. I guess I’ll just keep up my paranoia concerning navigation. That and continue to keep my fingers crossed! -Rich
