Optical Illusion: Tanker in the Air

[exchemist]

She was old and tired even when I was on her, and that was back in the 90s. In fact, we very nearly rammed another ship entering a lock in the Welland Canal because the engine-reverse failed. We had to drop and drag all the anchors to stop the ship before hitting another ship coming out of the lock. Here is a photo I took of the ship we very nearly hit.

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On these ships with slow speed engines the propeller is directly coupled to the engine - no gearbox. To go astern you actually stop the engine and restart it going backwards, using compressed air from cylinders. The process can take some time - not ideal for emergency use at close quarters. Seems she was built in 1984, so she should have been in reasonable shape in the 90s, I'd have thought.

 

[PureX]

On these ships with slow speed engines the propeller is directly coupled to the engine - no gearbox. To go astern you actually stop the engine and restart it going backwards, using compressed air from cylinders. The process can take some time - not ideal for emergency use at close quarters. Seems she was built in 1984, so she should have been in reasonable shape in the 90s, I'd have thought.

I was told those kinds of ships only had a life span of about 20 years. They're never at rest.

 

[exchemist]

I was told those kinds of ships only had a life span of about 20 years. They're never at rest.

View attachment 48273

Well that's true enough. They work hard - if the shipping company is profitable.