That was water shooting up between the ship and the bridge structure.
It will be an interesting analysis. I had to look.
Steering Gear System In A Ship
The efficiency of the performance of the steering gear depends on some main aspects. These basic requirements to be invariably met by all steering gears are guided by rules set by classification societies. They can be briefly outlined as follows:
- As per standard requirements, the steering gear should be capable of steering the ship from 35 degrees port to 35 degrees starboard and vice-versa with the vessel plying forwards at a steady head-on speed for maximum continuous rated shaft rpm. and summer load waterline within a time frame of a maximum of 28 seconds
- With one of the power units inoperative, the rudder shall be capable of turning 15 degrees port to 15 degrees starboard (and vice-versa) within a time frame of 1 minute with the vessel moving at half its rated maximum speed or 7 knots (whichever is greater) at summer load line.
- The major power units and the control systems are to be duplicated so that if one fails, the other can easily substitute for them as a standby.
- The steering gear system is to be provided with an additional power unit (hydraulic pump etc.) connected to the emergency power supply from the Emergency Generator, which shall be capable of turning the rudder from 15 degrees from one side to the other side within 60 seconds with the vessel moving at a maximum service speed or 7 knots, whichever is greater.
Safematic Design of the steering system
As per
SOLAS requirements, all tankers of more than 10,000 GRT and all other 70,000 GRT vessels should have a safematic steering system.
Arrangements should be there to isolate the fault and continue using the steering system in an emergency. To avoid total failure of the steering system, automatic isolation and bypass valves are introduced to the system.
Under normal conditions, one pump satisfies the need for all four rams. In case of leakage, the level switch gets activated, starting the standby pump and raising the alarm.
But if a further leak persists, it initiates the bypass and isolation valve. Now the steering gear runs on 50% of its torque, isolating the faulty set of rams.
The other system, without a leak, will operate the pump, and the associated ram will move as per the desired command.
The hydraulic steering gear system is critical machinery onboard whose operation knowledge is essential for the ship’s safe navigation.
Marine Insight - The maritime industry guide.
www.marineinsight.com
Seems that losing electrical power kills the hydraulic system and by the time they got power going again it was too late.
Google,
Grace Ocean Private Ltd
Synergy Marine Group — which manages the ship, called the Dali — confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while in control of one or more pilots, who are local specialists who help guide vessels safely into ports. The ship is owned by
Grace Ocean Private Ltd.
Some more tidbits, I am starting to see a problem Captain Kirk.
Does the steering gear require to be supplied by Emergency Generator? (Emergency power supply)
- Where the rudder stock is required to be over 230 mm diameter in way of the tiller, excluding strengthening for navigation in ice, an alternative power supply should be available.
- This power shall be able to supply at least the Auxiliary steering gear and its requirements as mentioned above. If your ship doesn’t have an Auxiliary steering gear, then one of the 2 steering gears should be supplied by the emergency supply.
- Not only the steering power but also provide power to its associated control system and the rudder angle indicator.
Any time limit?
- All of the above mentioned item should be supplied within 45 seconds, either from the emergency source of electrical power or from an independent source of power located in the steering gear compartment. This independent source of power shall be used only for this purpose.
For how long emergency power should supply??
- In every ship of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards, the alternative power supply shall have a capacity for at least 30 minutes of continuous operation and in any other ship for at least 10 minutes.
SOLAS Requirement on steering gear system One of the critical equipment on-board! But I don’t know why most of us, especially junior engineers tend to pay
dieselship.com
So the ship probably had a backup generator but the time for it to start, "within 45 seconds", I watched the vid and the power was off for 59 seconds. On the open seas, not a problem. But in a waterway where you have little room for error a little short.