Containership Loses Power Entering Tampa Bay | Pilot Utilized Tugs to Stop the Ship

[@joao-pt]

You can still hear that the pilot is still adrenaline pumped while he's giving the interview. Kudos to you Ken Sears you did an amazing job!

[@tedoptional-p8l]

Or rather he became re-pumped when giving the interview, been there, done that.

[@ProctorsGamble]

I noticed that too

[@idanceforpennies281]

I noticed that, he's still shaken by the event.

[@boeingseven6939]

From the finest Maritime Academy, in the world!.... lol

[@curtisroberts9137]

In the Marines we said, "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast." Learn to do it right at a slow speed and you will become naturally efficient and fast.

[@DieselRamcharger]

thats a quote from Days of Thunder.

[@NRZ-3Pi10]

Basically the essence of any `drill´: start slowly and get as perfect as can, then speed up. The magic comes when muscles are reacting almost automatically and faster than the brains (no kidding!); or brains can go for shortcuts (like Morpheus in Matrix: "you don't need to *think* because you already *know* ").

[@DieselRamcharger]

@@NRZ-3Pi10 muscles cant act without the brain. lmao. what you mean is when you can react without conscious thought which makes it a reflex.

[@NRZ-3Pi10]

@@DieselRamcharger 😂 Glad I made you lmao; and Thanks for the more accurate wording. You're right, of course. Let's file it under "I thought I knew, thus took the shortcut" 😅

[@Shipspotting_Vietnam]

Same thoughts for us when making decisions in our business! Too fast doesn’t solve problem, but potentially create another problem!❤

[@reneeparker7475]

I became aware of how invaluable harbor pilots are, when I moved to Florida and headed down to Port Everglades and the Port of Miami, to simply watch the ships moving in and out. These shipping channels tend to be tight and each are unique. Love how this incident highlights their worth. Good job.

[@cliffordtwaddelk8368]

D

[@jamesonpace726]

Nice shout out to ship pilots, the unsung heroes of the ports, bridges & other ships we all take for granted....

[@ligmasack9038]

unless you're in Baltimore, then they hire the least qualified.

[@bmorebamma]

@@ligmasack9038 Not really They tried it was too late

[@Guido_Sarducci007]

Ken Sears- cool under max pressure. No engine re-start in revese (in these tight quarters) is time for fresh BVD's in most cases. Two local tug Cap's on their game and avoided a mess. Great nav chart following on the way in! Thx for another great video!

[@JK4507]

Sal - you are freaking awesome. Your channel is truly one of the most informative on KZbin. I never thought I was that interested in "shipping". Your videos are a joy to watch. Thank you Sal!

[@mikegallegos7]

Vessels entering Tampa Bay Egmont Channel are required to have a Pilot on board before entering the Channel. Tyndale's Pilot may have boarded Tyndale before getting underway, doubtful, but definitely had to be on board before entering the Channel. So I suspect, when she was at about 3.9 - 4.0 knots and approaching the entrance to the channel, is when she took the Pilot on board. Respects to Pilot Ken Sears. Well Done, Sir.

[@tinacatharinaeden2711]

Much respect for the pilot and tug captains for an excellent job avoiding a disaster! Well done!

[@joeslattery4125]

Thanks for the details! The normal transit time from the sea bouy to the main peninsula is about 4 hours. People read the speed but don't understand the mass involved. That weight of ship doesn't stop like a Toyota. LOL For future reference, our Harbor Pilot vessel is called the Ybor. Very busy crew along with Marine Towing and Seabulk Towing.

[@NRZ-3Pi10]

Especially like the animated maps showing vessel's movement by using marine traffic tracking data; Thanks Sal for all this!

[@beeble2003]

I'm sure I saw Ybor at some point the first time I watched the track -- stuck in my mind because it's an unusual name. But I just watched it three more times and couldn't find it again. Maybe I'm going crazy!

[@greyjay9202]

Hands down, one of the very best KZbin channels on any subject. Sal's maritime reporting, and Juan's aviation reporting, are without equal. Both men are consummate professionals.

[@tomriley5790]

Great work by the tug captains! Great skills by the Pilot too but the Tug captians definitely deserve their 5 minutes of fame as well!

[@PeterFrewer]

Interesting. As a retired “Large Ship Pilot” on the Humber Estuary in UK I was surprised to see that such a large ship took only two tugs. We regularly made 4 tugs fast on much smaller ships than this one. ‘Belts and braces’ as we would say. Again, speed is the most important part. This Pilot was at a good low speed, so good on him. Great job! 17:33

[@stevenwilgus8982]

As an aircraft pilot, I by our shared similarities (much of our vocabulary is derived from nautical terms), can greatly appreciate the harbor pilots and their CLEAR professionalism as Pilot Spears and the others you mentioned demonstrate.

[@SuperPirate100]

Ship happens , as a pilot i had a 180,000 tonne bulk carrier suffer a blackout at 5 knots as we approached the berth. No biggy , the tugs slowed it down and berthed it . Thankfully we got power back so we had winches for berthing . Not the only ship to do it to me but it was the largest .

[@FLTERTHCULT]

SF Bay has great pilots too. They call them Bar Pilots because in addition to everything else they must learn they must also memorize in excruciating detail the location of every sand bar coming into port. Only Bar Pilots are allowed to steer ships through the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a very respected job.

[@Spidey1015]

Ken graduated a year or two before I did, but I'm not at all surprised that he was able to handle a tense situation and have a safe outcome. Super sharp and bright guy.

[@donalddodson7365]

Thank you, Professor Sal. Fascinating that you and Juan Browne (BLANCOLIRIO CHANNEL) are two of my most watched KZbin channels. Two realms in which I have limited direct experience: aircraft and maritime. You are keeping "my little grey cells" active and learning new things. 🤗

[@wgowshipping]

Thanks Don!

[@williamherrick497]

Solid information. Reliable Reporting. When I want to know What's Going On With Shipping this is the channel.

[@42and0studios8]

Love this. Well done! The entire world comes down to experts like this, doing smalls things that have massive importance. It's actually insane.

[@ChristinevanZijl-v1o]

Wow again prof. This was like Dali. I started watching ubfrom then. It is amazing how shipping is done today. My dutch ancestors were involved hence my surname and still the sea and sailing fasinate me! Thanks again for ur explaining it to layman.

[@SetllaEdie]

The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind.

[@BilgeDweller]

Forty one year engineer here, thanks for the kind words!

[@wittolwanderer6358]

The pilot, Ken Sears, was a real good "explainer." He did great in getting the basics understood. I love that quality in someone.. much like you are, Sal -- you go a little deeper, but you kick this topic's butt.

[@AksilRebis]

That was a good story. We train for things going wrong. Its a relief when we get tested and pass!

[@jerrykinnin7941]

I'm part of this running intermodal to/from the trains in Cincinnati. So thanks Sal And HP Ken for helping me do my job.

[@radiosnail]

Hats off to the pilot and the guys on the tugs.

[@seanworkman431]

The pilot kept his cool but the tug crews also responded quickly, excellent team work, a well rehearsed crew.

[@lonlipscomb813]

Loved the shoutout to Juan Browne's blancolerio KZbin aviation accident channel at 3:25. You're both awesome.

[@trueartist9353]

if i was a mainstream news producer id make sal and juan my go tos for respecive flight and shipping related stories. they are the best by far.

[@LowEarthOrbitPilot]

That’s an understatement!

[@bryandepaepe5984]

There's been three ships that have lost power in the last two years just in my little stretch of waterway between Detroit and Lake Huron in the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. One ship drifted onto beach on Lake Huron just over a quarter mile from the twin bridges entering the St. Clair River and another lost power on the St. Clair two miles downriver from same bridges while heading into Lake Huron. All three ships losing power stopped shipping in this passage between Great Lakes.

[@ianwhitfield8169]

As a merchant marine engineer in the 70 to 90,s the bridge should not rely on 100% on engine reversing. Better to run continuously and slow.

[@Syl-Vee]

Timing is everything. Nerves of steel! Well done.

[@tedoptional-p8l]

Only the people that have done work like this really appreciate the "nerves of steel".

[@InMyBrz]

KEN - BALLS of STAINLESS STEEL ! GOOD JOB !

[@RobertStanovich-mn9go]

Another awesome episode Sal. Ken and all of the port pilots around the world are definitely the unsung heroes.😊 I have been on the waterfront for 42years And Although I was banned for life from the JOC back in 2014 During our contract negotiations with PMA and the soft lockout Because of something, I said to the senior editor on social media. But that's a whole nother story.😂 I love your unbiased opinion on everything.Even our last contract negotiations. Keep up the awesome work brother. Sincerely, a longsharman from the port of los angeles and long beach.

[@chfengr]

Wow, talking about making a mountain out of a mole hill! I love it when mates explain engineering, LOL. Ship happens, plain and simple, we train, hope and pray it never happens in bad situations, but sometimes it does. I sailed on two sister ships as CE that sailed in and out of the Great Lakes system. Each powered by two large medium speed/reversing diesel engines. Both vessels were reflagged into the American merchant fleet. Each had given their best years to prior English and Chinese crews. We were preparing to enter the first set of locks inbound to the Great Lakes. As the captain and I passed headed to our respective duty locations he asked, "How are those engines running"? I replied "Like Swiss watches". Approaching the first lock the pilot had all but expended our starting air supply, from the engine room one would believe he was trying to parallel park the ship. As we began entering the lock chamber it took longer than usual to reverse and restart the engines, the vessel gently rubbed the lock wall entering the lock. Later returning from our respective duty locations the captain and I passed again. The captain said, "I thought you said like Swiss watches?" I replied, "I did, but have you ever seen one of them run backwards?" Ahhhhh, all good memories.

[@StevenPalmer-cs5ix]

If you haven't been on a ship which had a "fail to start" or a bowthruster failure, you are early in your career. Kudos to the pilot, tug and ship crews on handling the situation.

[@jorgeviso3029]

Thank you Sal for highlighting the profession of Piloting.

[@BroFox-vs6xh]

Thank you sir I love this channel you brought back memories for me I worked on a Sydney Harbour tug in the 80s I could just imagine what it felt like standing on the deck feeling all that horsepower and thrust and listening to those ropes. Well done by The tug Crews as well they didn't break no string.

[@natopeacekeeper97]

Thanks Sal, for bringing us this story and your analysis. Thank goodness everything worked out this time. Good job by the Pilot and tug crews. Watching from North Carolina USA.

[@stephenbritton9297]

Not bad for an alumni of the school that had "Student driver" on the aft cargo gear frame at one point! :) Can't tell you how many times I've experienced a non-start when going from one direction to another. That's why you have multiple start air tanks available. He kept himself an out incase it happened and used it to good effect.

[@johncheatham6616]

Important facts sir , carry on.

[@Subielicious22]

As NY Resident and father of not one but two Maine Maritime Academy students, I’d have to respectfully disagree with an assessment of SUNY Maritime… I’ll meet you half way and say that SUNY and Maine share the podium for the #1 slot!😂 Been watching your channel for awhile and really enjoy the content. Keep up the good work!!

[@MarjanKaykavoosi]

As someone who has never worked on the ship before but I have been watching your videos, it seems like we need much more Coast Guard and better ships for them and much better pay and recruiting for them 💙🙏🏼🙏🏽💕💙🇺🇸💙

[@carolinafrog4365]

thank you Sal! our maritime family needs to be recognized far more than they get!

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

Speaking of the US Nav Rules, when my kids come home now, they put the key in front door, and say out loud, "Red, Right, Returning!" so they turn the key to the right, to unlock! SURE, their mom gave them smarts and culture, but at least, they know which side the buoys go on, coming back to the mooring in our harbors!🤣

[@grahammonk8013]

@gregbluefinstudios4658 Which countries, regions, use the opposite? I know UK, Australia and Japan are 3 of the holdouts in road rules, what about maritime rules?

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

@@grahammonk8013 Most of the Americas(US Canada, Central and most of So, America, as well as Japan and Korea, use Red Right Returning.(IALA B) IALA A is UK, Europe, Africa (Red, Right, Leaving Port)

[@brucefowler832]

Great job by the tug crews as well. Crew sizes are much smaller on all classes of vessels than they were during the 1970s and 80s when I was at sea. Less human redundancy with the amount of automation on modern vessels.

[@wacojones8062]

Pilots with their local knowledge are the key to keeping ports functioning better port and bridge design with proper protection for bridge supports will also help

[@johncheresna]

Your news is always accurate and reliable, whether it is "good or bad" news.

[@trueartist9353]

love the blancolirilo comment! you and juan are some of the best at this imo.

[@kj6bbs]

I used to work in a Ship Store years ago, and there was a local guy capt. Ken who came in often, and he was a pilot for NYC harbor. This guy had nerves of steel. SO much so that one time this group of bikers scared some old lady, when they all started up their choppers. Ken goes out and give an all out tongue-lashing to this towering biker dude. Classic. Those pilots are tough!

[@SmallWonda]

I've always believed pilots to be vital & I didn't appreciate why until recently I was talking to my Dad, who was a farmer, telling me of his childhood growing up on the River Severn in England, and how he used to spend so much time with a tug boat captain, guiding ships up & down the river. Those would have been the days just after The War, thanks for giving me an excuse to call home...

[@parkerholden7140]

Sal, Ship power losses has increased over the years as ships have increased the use of parallel generators for a variety of reasons. Design of ship generator systems and crew training has not kept up with this. The root problem is keeping load share between generators reliable It is a complex subject. Do not confuse this with synchronizing generators. Sychronizing is well understood and the switchboard provides the tools for either manual or automatic synchronazing, Reliable load share requires MICRO adjust over time of the voltage regulators and the governors. Where this microadjustment exists it is hidden from the crew and not on the switchboard. This is a common problem and the subject is not well understood and often poorly engineered. I am a retired electrical engineer with a lot of marine experience over 40 years

[@scottscouter1065]

The Coast Guard really needs to mandate that all single screw, single rudder container ships with craptastic low speed handling coming into US ports get a full tug assist. Ideally four points of pulling and pushing. THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM appears to be that these ships are optimized only for open ocean efficiency...to hell with safety, or maneuverability.

[@beeble2003]

It seems like you're talking about loss of electrical power. But this ship lost propulsion.

[@parkerholden7140]

@@scottscouter1065 What you say is absolutely true.

[@scottscouter1065]

@@beeble2003 The ship lost propulsion because without electrical power to control main propulsion engine that engine shut sdown. Sort of like your car's engine control module (ECM) dying.

[@beeble2003]

@@scottscouter1065 Do we know that? I can't find much information online, but nothing I see mentions a loss of electrical power.

[@1boortzfan]

What is surprising to me is that I live in Tampa and didn't anything about this except for Sal. Good job Sal.

[@helenllama]

Hey Sal. I think the reason Marine Traffic uses depth in metres is the except for the US and a couple other countries, (Myanmar and Liberia), that use imperial measurements everyone else uses the metric system or a hybrid of both metric and imperial.

[@acidtreat101]

Good to see a happy ending for once! Great job Ken Sears! I hope he sees this video!

[@bigkenny66]

In weapons training: Slow is Smooth, Smooth is fast. We use that to develop muscle memory. In shipping, staying ahead of the vessel appears to be critical.

[@wadeparker1452]

Sal many ppl don't know how complex the operation of going from engines ahead to engines astern really is. Many have no idea what that would involve and that most ships have to stop the engine and then restart with reversed rotation. They don't have an inkling of what an air start diesel is or how a big marine diesel is different from the truck engines they are familiar with.

[@jonp1115]

I have been a mechanical engineer for 5 years and you are spot on about the experience leaving the industry. Its not just shipping, it is EVERYWHERE. Between the experience retiring or trained people job hopping for wage increases you are seeing a serious lack of quality and finesse in every field. The United States really is in a more vulnerable state than people like to admit

[@Miata822]

Slow is fast. True on a race track, and I guess on massive ships too. Good video.

[@gibo7958]

Great info as usual , luv your work

[@irongron]

Was it just me or did the pilot Ken Sears seem on the verge of getting emotional (i.e.holding back tears). He had a real situation on his hands and he came out ok in the end. Saved the ship & the basin. That "close call" aspect of it must be a hard thing to handle & deal with, even afterwards.

[@ZGryphon]

Adrenaline crash is a helluva trip, especially if you've got to talk to some rando with a camera crew while it's happening.

[@ProctorsGamble]

Indeed I noticed that too

[@ligmasack9038]

It's called Adrenaline

[@byronharano2391]

Correct Sal. I worked in Kuwait 🇰🇼, Camp Doha, US Army joint coalition and United Nations base. I was fortunate enough to get lateral hired into US Army MWR (Moral Welfare Recreation) department with CSA Ltd., Orange, CA. Kuwait maritime navigation rules are British. My supervisor Mr Sreve Bollinger [US Army Ret], trained us on navigation and channel markers. Kuwait is Green Right return! Mr. Bollinger drilled this into our minds as Americans; however, our Filipino coworkers in Kuwait were already familiar with this odd "rules of the road." We were all required to become Boat US certified to operate the Watercraft as skippers, otherwise we'd remain deckhands. Green Right return Kuwait shipping channel markers. Shukkran Sal!

[@rlsmith6904]

Thanks, Sal.

[@adriancook4113]

Great summary as always!

[@l.antoinetteanderson3736]

"... these are great stories ... " indeed, they are! thank you for this presentation; enjoyable and informative! agree with you on the factors you mentioned (much more shipping going on, etc.) which are affecting overall outcomes - sometimes good, sometimes not so good; liked the info on the harbor pilot's importance in knowledge, skills, experience.

[@gene10846]

Sal, I heard this story several years ago and even if apocryphal it is a great story. When I was on a vacation trip down the Rhine river I was fascinated by the buoys being "wrong." Some web searching turned up this story. During the Revolutionary war the American buoy system mirrored the European buoy system. But American mariners switched our buoys so that they were opposite the European system. This resulted in British war ships trying to enter U.S. ports running aground. Might be BS but I like to think it demonstrates American creativity.

[@wgowshipping]

There were up to 30 systems in place before 1970 when the IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities) narrowed it down to two systems after an accident in the English Channel in 1971. www.nytimes.com/1971/03/08/archives/wrecks-in-the-busy-channel-are-upsetting-britain.html

[@beeble2003]

Sounds like BS, to me. There would be far more American ships coming into American ports than British ones, so changing all the buoys would cause more American ships to run aground than British.

[@HenryButler-h4s]

We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life.

[@phlogistanjones2722]

Thank you again Sal for highlighting another very important logistics linchpin. Kudos to Ken Sears and all the other pilots who help me get my goods from the far flung reaches of the world. Sometimes things ***DO*** go right. Peaceful Skies

[@MichaelThomas-o9r]

The more light you allow within you, the brighter the world you live in will be.

[@mikepenwolf2146]

Thanks Sal ,your analysis is spot on as always ,and respect to the pilots 👍

[@PCBill0622]

Love the “Juan Browne” imitation-you are BOTH very-appreciated!

[@johnmiranda2307]

Well said! Thanks! I always learn from your videos.

[@charsbob]

Great tribute to mostly unsung professionals.

[@olanderdecastro52]

Hey man, that harbor pilot was pretty damn cool for being such a young dude. Really kept it together very impressive.

[@johnwenzel9252]

Thanks Sal!

[@user-bt8vn3dj6o]

Without your KZbin channel, I would have known nothing about this situation. Social media, contrary to popular opinion, can be a very useful thing! Thanks for the report.

[@krispypriest5116]

Thanks Sal. Like I have said before, never thought there was this much action in the Maritime Shipping. Must have been fun on that Tug when your a mouse trying to move a elephant. Keep posting and I'll be here for each update.

[@markthompson2079]

Salutations to you and your team PhD Sal. Thank you and your team for the mostly thankless task you do. I also wish to thank all those hard working men and women that the thankless job of keeping us all in the things we have bought. Transportation is a job most of us, myself included, just don't think about. But without the selfless work these people fo the world would stop.

[@vvogt4252]

Excellent Video Brother!

[@gascaptain]

Testing engines and steering before berthing should include test of astern movement on engines, this is fairly routine and confirmed during master pilot exchange before taking the conn. A number of pilots I have sailed with will test engine astern response at an appropriate time regardless of what they have been told. The ship would most likely be operating on bridge control with engineers monitoring systems.

[@joemc111]

Great report.

[@BarthHoover]

He learned the important lesson that a picnic at the beach on a windy day is a bad idea.

[@sgdeluxedoc]

Really enjoyable and informative!

[@josevanbeverhoudt6945]

Love your channel Sal. Two small details that I disagree with you on is. As a Panama Canal Pilot, we do take the navigational command of the vessel. The Master is always the Master. The second thing is, if you want to see the greatest academy in the world. You have to look across the sound. 😂. Cheers mate.

[@wgowshipping]

🤣 I have a video coming out later this week about Panama pilots and I make that specific reference. On the latter, I was always jealous of KPers looking out across the sound every day and seeing the finest maritime academy in the world. At Schuyler all we could see was KP. 😜🤣😅 Thanks for watching.

[@johnland5042]

Spot on Sal!

[@tomriley5790]

It does seem that the size of the vessels and technology involved in the ships going in and out of the port has been maximised to use up as much space/volume as possilbe in the existing infrastructure minimising the margins that exist when anything goes wrong.

[@pinschrunner]

Tug boats are daily unsung heroes in the shipping industry.

[@milt7348]

Great job being Juan.

[@PatriciaBowser-y5j]

Very informative! Thank you Sal.

[@Archangelm127]

As a landlubber, the idea of taking these giant ships through these very tight passages never fails to impress and slightly terrify me.

[@Nedandkokospeedshop]

Love this channel

[@donnadornbusch6738]

Sal ,WOW great maneuver , and your presentation !!!

[@robertpierce1981]

Between you and Juan I feel updated on travel doings.

[@wickedcabinboy]

Juan Brown imitation. Great reference. Very much appreciate your channel.

[@timothyward1310]

I think you did a fine Juan Brown impression. Between “Ship” and “Blanco Lirio” I am well informed! Thanks Sal!

[@MoiraHarte]

Victory belongs to the most persevering.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Sal, I’m producing a documentary about the SS Badger and would love to interview you about its significance as the last coal-fired steamer in North America.

[@wgowshipping]

My email is [e-mail]

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

@@wgowshipping, thanks. I’ll be in touch. FYI, one of your former students is a coworker. Logan Allen.

[@HirmanDulles]

The hummingbird's wings blurred while it eagerly sipped the sugar water from the feeder.

[@peteysquirrelchaser9028]

SUNY, the finest maritime academy in the state!

[@aarongarber5977]

KP would disagree and say SUNY is just some trolls under the bridge. 😂

[@Spidey1015]

​@@aarongarber5977SUNY's ship is (still) bigger. 😂

[@peteysquirrelchaser9028]

@@aarongarber5977 I know what I said.

[@kylereese6202]

For you maritime historians, Tampa bay channel was the site of the USCGC BLACKTHORN tragedy in 1980. Right near the sunshine skyway bridge.

[@hair_ofthedog5023]

Thanks for bringing visibility to all of this. The infographic of cargo fleet readiness last video has to align with the uptick in ship failure. Do the maneuvers pulling into these spots put more strain on the systems? Do these failures happen just as often in transit? Thanks again.

[@wgowshipping]

Whenever you back an engine, it requires very precise actions and it seems that the level of expertise is lacking.

[@ToolofSociety]

@@wgowshipping Expertise tends to cost more.

[@potathooo]

Changing speeds and start/stopping the engine ahead and astern makes use of parts of the engine & related equipment which are not typically used underway, resulting in equipment failures manifesting during in-port maneuvering. In addition, rapid changes in temperature, load, pressure etc can cause things to break or trip offline. In contrast, long distance transit is a relatively steady state operation where the propulsion plant retains a mostly constant load for days at a time. It's also not particularly newsworthy if a ship blacks out in open ocean with nothing around to crash into.

[@NRZ-3Pi10]

@@potathooo Like for aviation: the most interesting phases are take-off & landing 😄

[@PeytonDoesFake]

thanks for the report captain Sal :)