Re: Bow Sinkings

From: Franz
Location: Twin Ports
email: ZenithTugboat at aol dot com
Remote Name: 64.12.116.210
Date: 04.28.07
Time: 11:18:20 PM

Comments

Kyle, The bows normally contain many more tanks than the stern - for example, a forepeak, p & s fwd ballast tanks, dry stores compartment, fwd crew berthing, 2 to 5 fuel tanks, etc - while aft you normally have 1 or 2 ballast tanks and then the compartment under the steering. When we open the sea chests, the engine room floods and naturally the water runs aft setting the stern down first as she fills up. It's natural for the bow to remain buoyant longer. The tank arrangements hold the determining factors on where we burn the holes through all the bulkheads prior to sinking to make the whole tug 'common' - as in one tank. The bow sinking is beautiful - it was our goal that day and worked like a charm, although we pre-filled many of those above mentioned fwd tanks with the fire cannons on the Victor. We filled others as the engine room was flooding to keep it all happening at an even pace. Worked great. Hope that helped to answer the question. Franz