USS Hershel Woody Williams Soft Grounds off Gabon | AIS Replay: Arrival, Grounding & Departure

Aground in Gabon!
What's Going on With Shipping?
May 12, 2024
In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - discusses USS Hershel Woody Williams (ESB-4) grounding off Gabon on May 9, 2024, along with background on what are Expeditionary Support Bases and who crews them.
#usnavy #gabon #grounding
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USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams Suffers Soft Grounding Off Gabon
news.usni.org/2024/05/10/uss-...
All Hands Magazine: USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams (T-ESB-4)
• USNS Hershel "Woody" W...
NASSCO ESB Program
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Marine Traffic
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[@wgowshipping]

🚨Looking at tides for the region, it appears Williams departed when the tide was rising, flowing into the estuary. There is about a 6-foot (2-meter) range tide which would produce a substantial current pushing Williams to the east and into the shoals.🚨

[@beedalton9675]

Just glad our fellow shipmates are ok

[@Nick-eu5zu]

My Captain on ESB 5 would always request 4 tugs for any condition or situation. Even on T-AKE, half the displacement, we've been taking 3.

[@bones1225]

My dad said,… If you have not run aground, bumped another vessel and/ or touched the hard, you lack experience.

[@FamiliarAnomaly]

The US Navy says, good luck in another job, skipper.

[@nathank4708]

Like anything else. If you haven't hit anything driving, your a rookie😂

[@ricksadler797]

@@FamiliarAnomalythat’s why the navy has so many bad ship handlers

[@abelincoln6785]

Your dad is nuts

[@jessejames7757]

That's why your dad mops the deck and is never let in the wheel house.

[@Richard-od7yd]

My Ship , USS LUCE DDG- 38 , Struck a submerged sand bar departing GUANTANAMO BAY the day after a round of thunderstorms. We were using a Leadline and tugs but hit a little patch of sand that had probably piled up overnight. We freed ourselves in about 5 minutes and to my knowledge no repremands were given .

[@IanMaschal]

Thanks for your service.

[@samuelcollins1331]

Alas no matter my 35 years experience sailing on Chesapeake Bay in modest size cruising sailboats, my nickname “Sandbar Sam” is engraved on my Swiss Army Knife. Now how do you think I got that nickname? 😮😂🥱

[@tsclly2377]

Blame the pilot ship.

[@HarryWHill-GA]

@@samuelcollins1331 When I was a teen, I was down at Harker's Island, NC with my dad and granddad for some fishing on granddad's 32ft Hatteras. On the way out to Cape Lookout, just north of the light & CG station we ran aground at high speed. We drew four feet of water. To port was about three and to starboard over forty feet. We were smack in the MIDDLE of the marked channel. Four hours later the tide lifted us off and we limped back into Harker's Marina to get a new prop. Come to find out, the week before, in the same spot, Jimmy Harker's charter boat, the ferry, and the Coast Guard were all aground, at the SAME TIME. My granddad didn't feel too bad at that point. He had conned a battleship in WW1 and my dad conned destroyers in Korea.

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

If I may share with the community something I've started to do when watching Sal's videos: I look up the Soldiers for whom the various ships are named and read the accounts of their exploits. There is an impressive wealth of Heroism behind all those fine Soldiers. It's really super interesting to read about!

[@donaldcarey114]

Lately (since the Biden administration took over), that tradition has given way to a kind of DEI.

[@billykershaw2781]

This guy is the nuts, a list of qualifications as long as your arm, oh, and a fire fighter, and a lecturer, and probably a dozen other things he doesn't mention...I only tune in for the shirts ...Bab el-Mandeb, cheers!

[@josefwitt9772]

Out of all the garbage on the internet there are some real gems like this channel. Sitting pretty in St Louis MO I've learned so much interesting stuff from Sal! And I need to step up my shirt game...

[@scottfw7169]

@@josefwitt9772 Howdy neighbor! from down I-70 by Columbia. Yep, the man has a style.

[@ThePsiclone]

you had to say Bab el-Mandeb didn't you? now I have to have a drink...dont say Bab el-Mandeb because every time someone says Bab el-Mandeb we have to take a drink. Its the Bab el-Mandeb rule. Now look what you made me do with your saying Bab el-Mandeb, I'm now drunk...and its all your fault.

[@scottfw7169]

Hmm, if I had the resources to make a cheesy black and white drive-in theater sci-fi movie, would have to have a prominent script line be, "It's the Babel Men, Deb!"

[@edwinmartin9120]

​@@scottfw7169 Is that where the Babel fish is from??😬😬😬

[@craig7083]

We once were picked up from the beach by an LST. After every thing was loaded the ship was stuck on the bottom. They connected several landing craft to pull it back without success. They called all marines up to the flight deck and had us run en masse side to side to rock the ship. 15-20 minutes later we were back in business.

[@tsclly2377]

That's so 'old school'..

[@steveturner3999]

I was on a 150’ Mini Supply boat working on an oil platform decommissioning project as a supervisor not associated with the vessel. That boat had all the sail area forward with an open flat back deck that only had about 5 feet of freeboard. Imagine a 150’ pickup truck. Even at that small size the bow thruster was absolutely vital when docking that boat. I can’t imagine a ship of this size and sail area not having them. Thanks Sal.

[@everettputerbaugh3996]

The navy spent that money removing the elevator(s).

[@DM-mv4eq]

Show me a Suezmax tanker with bow thruster.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

The ship was participating in the naval exercise "Obangame Express". Naval forces from the US, Nigeria, Ghana, and Spain participated. Exercises occurred in the Gulf of Guinea, Africa.

[@jodymaley3674]

Nice summary of this unique vessel. I learn everyday more about our ocean vessels. Canoeing is my closest activity on water

[@JaniceVineyard-kf6wm]

Experience is invaluable.

[@dertythegrower]

Kayaking the springs in Central Florida, or the small rivers of North Michigan (or any river really up north)... truly awesome stuff

[@antoniskalakonas1876]

The whole maneuver indicates to me that the tugs were unable to provide enough assistance to actually help the ship turn around. I have visited Gabon with a ship I was commanding, the tugs are really small and old, and to save the cost of having to change ropes, they ask the vesels to give their own ropes for the tow, which further complicates the maneuver. Also I am assuming that as a civilian tanker design, the hull of the vessel does not come equiped with a bow thruster. Given the missions of these vessel's, a provision to fit a bow thruster, for the sake of stabilizing the vessel better at sea when dropping/recovering tenders should be considered... (edit: I stopped the video at about the 10:00 to write this, looks like we were thinking the same thing!)

[@wgowshipping]

Bow thrusters are key.

[@tuunaes]

@@wgowshipping Have to wonder into whose pockets that money which should have been used for bow thrusters went... It's one thing to have ship with poor maneuvering ability for operating in areas with good port facilities, but in ship used in any random port... It's not like it has to be able to turn on dime, but some own maneuverability is needed. Not that big ship turning on dime is impossible... That's what for Azipods are. Those ships can sail in any direction, including sideways.

[@DM-mv4eq]

@@wgowshipping But do many tankers have bow thrusters, let alone Suezmax size? I started a hunt, and I'm just not seeing them on tankers.

[@SteamCrane]

​@@tuunaes Azipods in a small port with a lot of shoal water? No.

[@jamesmurney1374]

​@@DM-mv4eq Not many tankers have bow thrusters, if they do it tends to be is specialized trades, like lightening work. The Williams is based on a Suezmax ship, but is much shorter at 784 feet.

[@realpropertymangement7640]

I spent nearly a month in Libreville, Gabon, back in 2017. Not the most capable or motivated populace I've encountered in my travels. The burnt out National Legislative building was an interesting sight. Apparently, unpaid teachers decide to send a message. French military still had a fairly significant presence with a base at the international airport.

[@lanetatom2701]

I stopped watching the US news media twenty years ago. But we seldom were shown what extreme task our military are tasked with and how they overcome. And I remember hearing of a white house staff that was SHOCKED when they heard there were military officers with advanced degrees. What such a warm and fuzzy feeling that was.

[@unclejohnbulleit2671]

Same for enlisted folk. We are commonly held to be only capable of skulking about in the dark and slitting throats, drinking and such. Technical ratings are very well trained, our leadership and management skills are generally good, but out here in the world, no one believes we can do much of anything. I finally gave up trying.

[@donalddodson7365]

Well said!

[@donalddodson7365]

​@@unclejohnbulleit2671 Well said!

[@ronv6637]

While in the USMC Reserves I had one of my junior Marines who was studying for a dual major of Mechanical Engineering/Electrical Engineering at Purdue and ran RollsRoyces nuclear reactor as another part time gig. He wasn't the smartest in the unit but really bright.

[@donalddodson7365]

As a San Diegan, I am acutely aware of the US Navy's "challenges" with faulty specifications, faulty decision making regarding repairs and refurbishing big ships. Perhaps it is time for a truly independent commission to look into why "the Navy doesn't like" bow thrusters, specifies fragile ships and skewers Captains for lobbyists' misbehaviors. (See the USS BOXER, USS BON HOMME RICHARD and Littoral Combat Ships.) Our Sailors & Marines deserve better!

[@robertdhuyvetter8226]

these vessels do have bow thrusters

[@DM-mv4eq]

Show me a Suezmax tanker with a bow thruster.

[@DM-mv4eq]

@@robertdhuyvetter8226 I thought they did too, but I was looking and don't think they do. It makes some sense given their beam at the bow and there large loads greatly changing draft. I don't see that Suezmax tankers tend to have bow thrusters.

[@tsclly2377]

I'll bet that bow thrusters take of maybe half a knot at flank speed.. and may mess with the sonar.

[@Pompomgrenade]

I like the aerial view showing the difference in size by scale to the Maersk container ship ⚓

[@blauer2551]

Next to a Maersk baby, 785’ is average

[@surters]

@@blauer2551 Yeah it's a feeder at 574' 1876 TEU. Working west Africa.

[@leewahler3058]

yes the ESB are too damn big

[@davidwilson2394]

I still want you to make shirts. Who wants to a Sal shirt. Much Respect all. ❤

[@jilbertb]

I sew! But I can't get nice rayon here. Would have to order from HI. And if that's the case, might as well just order a shirt from HI, it's about the same price. We could start a funding account?! 😂

[@mikegallegos7]

Definitely would like to see and buy some Sal Swag; Bab al-Mandab Mugs (BaMMs); Insulated BaMMs (IBaMMs); Sal's Sweet & Swaggy Shirts (SS&SS); WGoWS Ball Caps and Tees !!

[@Zarcondeegrissom]

"what the ship" shirts would be cool for sure.

[@michaelhoran407]

Draft of 39 feet is a lot. Calling at a port in Gabon is very interesting. The ship is huge.

[@phil20_20]

That's a great point about Admiral Nimitz.

[@theophrastus3.056]

He’s right about Nimitz. I also read that during WWII, Nimitz was lenient with one of his own subordinate Captains who also grounded a ship. I hope the Navy takes a similar attitude in this case.

[@Pompomgrenade]

Your content is always solid, Sal. Thank you

[@wgowshipping]

I appreciate that!

[@Darisiabgal7573]

Tankers displace a large volume of water, as they come forward into a closed area the force water into that area (bow wake), particularly if they are reversing thrust, but when they stop that water is going to flow the other direction . Look where the tanker is in presentation to the Williams he’s slowing down as the Williams is deberthing and his reverse thrust is heading right into the side of the Williams. Look at 8:08. The water hitting the ship is going to deflect back towards the dock and the vector remnant on the ship is going to to be orthogonal to the channel in the direction of the shallows. This is the port managers fault here, if the Williams was departing the tanker should have held position, but once it entered its docking vectors the Williams should have held position at its berth. Someone wasn’t communicating.

[@2uksteve]

You've just reminded me of a video about the "Yacht Express" (built to transport multiple luxury yachts to & fro between Caribbean & Mediterranean for their mega-wealthy owners). They had to liaise with the Miami port to avoid dangerous wash from a departing bulk carrier affecting the Yacht Express. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6Kvkn2ger90jJY [not the main video, just an explainer of the ship).

[@johnmcintyre3827]

Dr Sal, my wife & I love your show. Great job, blessings to you and our Merchant Mariners keeping our shelves stocked.

[@AKStovall]

I was on the precom for this exact ship. it was a good time. Retired before the first deployment, but it was fun playing with new toys.

[@arailway8809]

If you don't have bow thrusters, maybe you need to carry your own tugs. Gabon is as close as you can get to the mineral rich Congos without docking there. Nice, nice work, Sal.

[@firstlast1047]

Saw headlines that stated "Ship runs aground while captain at dinner" My first thought was...Captain ashore while ship underway?!?! Then I Immediately thought...Capt. not on bridge but at mess for a meal. 😅 Sal, something you said about the design of the ESB triggered a memory. You said the design was based on oil tanker built in San Diego. The absence of an elevator did the "click" moment. A major oil company had 2 or 3 tankers built to transport crude to US west coast refineries. To me, what was intriguing, as reported by the tanker crew, the tanker was twin screw, with separate engine rooms. Supposedly only one engineer was on late watch, sitting in front of a board. If they had to physically report to the other engine room they would have to climb multi decks by stair to pass around or over a bulkhead and descend by stairs.

[@DM-mv4eq]

I think that is many ships. I feel like when touring museum ships the engine rooms tend to be quite the hike.

[@markmark2080]

Gator sailor here from the brown and blue water navy of the 1960s, 'grounded' our WW2 LST 18 times that year, kinda fun if the ship was designed for it. I recall one failed beaching attempt in the 'Delta' when we plowed sideways into the muddy river bank like a 2500 ton bulldozer...no problem.

[@jackblack3886]

Lessons learned from actual events are far more valuable than "what if" discussions. Thanks Sal for all your descriptive visuals & knowledge!

[@robertguttman1487]

I spent 5 years sailing as a licensed deck officer for MSC. One thing I learned about the Navy during that period was that they prefer to assign airplane pilots to command their aircraft carriers. However, airplane pilots do not have any ship-handling experience. Consequently, the Navy assigns airplane pilots to command other large vessels to give them ship-handling experience, despite the fact that they have absolutely no previous experience involving ships apart from landing and taking off from them. A friend of mine, a fellow licensed deck officer who chose to activate his reserve commission and go into the regular Navy, was placed on a fleet oiler where he was assigned to the engine room. Even more surprising than that, he told me that the oilier's captain was not a deck officer either, but an airplane pilot. Given that experience, I cannot help wondering if the captain of the ship, the USS Williams, may also have been an airplane pilot.

[@DM-mv4eq]

This one item says everything about why the Navy doesn't do ships any more. In WWII the Naval Aviators were sailors who learned to fly.

[@DPBGMODELRAILROAD]

I believe by law, it is a requirement that commanding officers of aircraft carriers in the US Navy be qualified naval aviators!

[@DM-mv4eq]

@@DPBGMODELRAILROAD That is a fact with little bearing on the point. If it is law, which I doubt, that does not make it the best decision. I know several naval aviators who are also great sailors. If a naval aviator is to command a ship they best be the type who has made it a point to know both their entire career.

[@fugibubi]

The Navy onboard does not handle the navigation of these vessels.

[@robertguttman1487]

@@fugibubi Under the circumstances, the navigation of the vessel would have been handled by the harbor pilot, not only because he has intimate knowledge of the harbor, but because he is the only one on the bridge who speaks the same language as the tug boat crews. At least, that is how it would be on a normal ship. On a vessel commanded by a Navy officer, I wouldn't put it past the captain to overrule the harbor pilot.

[@chuckboyle8456]

No excuses…NJP for all members of the Watch! No doubt this will improve US NAVY & MSC retention numbers across all Departments. Carry on Shipmates!

[@AKStovall]

There will be no NJP because the Navy personnel weren't in control of anything. MSC doesn't care. nothing will be done. Why should ships personnel be punished for the actions of the tugs?

[@everettputerbaugh3996]

Please note the probability that the navy personnel had little to nothing to do with either the tugs (and their condition) or the navigation in this austere port facility. A small inquiry will occur.

[@grondhero]

@@everettputerbaugh3996 He's being sarcastic.

[@grondhero]

Sounds like you're a fellow service member. 😆

[@n6nvr]

I suspect that the operating crew was probably MSC civmars. Based on some personal experience with big USN ships and bigger MSC ships being sent in to "ports" with austere facilities that the decision to send ships for "Show the Flag" and "operations" with smaller countries that the decision was made at the State Department and Pentagon and the CTF is told, we know it's too big and make it work. And be careful.

[@billbillson3129]

Great video! Thank you for making and sharing with us!!

[@walteralichotajr.3012]

Aloha Captain Saul, I’ve worked on the ESB ships the second one in the class USNS John Glenn when it was a new built (plank owner) I like to mention that there is a bow thruster on those ships. It is base off a 5th generation tanker for Alaska Tanker Company design. We’ll hope that clears up about these ships. Aloha Captain, Walter

[@DM-mv4eq]

You know I went into this thinking they did too, but looking at NASSCO construction images, they don't. They also don't have the hull markings for one once launched. I can't even find a double hulled Suezmax tanker that has one.

[@walteralichotajr.3012]

@All on here to let you know about the ESB ships and how come there’s no bow thruster markings is because it’s not a typical bow thruster on ships as this thruster is a “retractable bow thruster”; so it’s there but it’s primarily used for when the ship is in “DP” mode. Aloha, Walter.

[@DM-mv4eq]

@@walteralichotajr.3012 Thanks! Yeah, hard to use in port with a draft so deep.

[@dongeorge4037]

A Blooming "floating island". A Great Big floating island. Wow. As a guy who spent some time in the Army, let me say that somebody in Naval Planning was really, really smart. That thing is a really, really useful thing.

[@JaniceVineyard-kf6wm]

Thank you for this education and clear diagrams.

[@jamesbarca7229]

I didn't know Woody Williams has a ship named after him. And a pretty damn cool one at that. (For those who aren't aware, Williams won the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima in WWII.)

[@robinblackmoor8732]

Sadly, probably only a few of us that watch these videos knew that. MOH guys should be celebrated more than athletes are.

[@jesselomas8626]

Sail area and wind - gets vessels of ANY size. I was on a 'sweeper that got caught by the wind, twice. One involved a collision that wrecked a liferaft mount, the second time was berthing. That one involved the wind, helm orders and ended up then vessel catching a sharp corner on a catamaran, punching a hole in the hull allowing a slow leak into the ship. Luckily it was taken care of and put down to experience. All corrective action at the time was correct and no loss of rate (way above my pay scale 😂) for any of those inncharge.

[@sirrichard6685]

New to your channel since the bridge collapse. Absolutely love it. super informative i like your lego globe 🌎 also thats really cool

[@rickybobby7285]

The John Canley I believe it’s named is nearly ready for commissioning.

[@laskatz3626]

Interesting. Thank you!

[@daleb5967]

In retrospect, the falken islands war had two merchant marine roro ships modified with added flight decks for helos that helped England in the assault. Good to see this concept expanded.

[@lisamunde9179]

Thanks! Good video as always, Sal!

[@fp30e]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@its_jjk]

I've been on one of those ships when the platform was being tested. Didn't realize how cool that was at the time

[@pjv767b5]

As a Submariner-what a juicy target. These big guys are vulnerable and high value.

[@dennisclapp7527]

Thanks for the great facts and analysis.

[@laurenglass4514]

I hope you’re right, happy Mothers Day Mrs. Sal

[@donaldjones3580]

This is atleast the third video I've seen on the Williams, named for the last WW2 MOH survivor.

[@semperparatus678]

I've only been on one work ship out of my 26 years at sea that had a elevator. That was the pipelay ship Global 1200. It was nice whenever it was working.

[@stanleybest8833]

There is something missing from the Williams story. Maybe it was grounded deliberately. If the bottom was sand or mud, the boat may have been set on a shoal to steady it for one tide to let it do a duty. Submarines often sit on their bellies on the bottom, especially if they are not rubber coated. Maybe grounding is much adieu about nothing, especially if there was no chance of an enemy boat attacking the Williams.

[@rydplrs71]

What a great summary. Thank you. I also appreciate the 10,000ft view that assuming negligence wasn’t a factor the navy made decisions that made this a possibility. No bow thrusters, minimum tug support and just the order to send this ship into that port with very tight tolerances. It’s my view that if management doesn’t provide all the tools necessary to ensure success every time it’s their failure when the inevitable happens, not the failure of the operator provided they were acting reasonably. I hope the navy can be man enough themselves if that’s the case.

[@ProctorsGamble]

Oopsy! 😬 Glad it had a good resolution. Thanks Sal!

[@mattheide2775]

Thank you Sal. Embarrassing for the Navy and many lessons will be learned. ❤

[@gregkail4348]

Thanks for another clear video 👍 👍👍

[@user-xn7zp5xj8j]

Thanks for the info Sal,,Keep up the good work!

[@windwardhaven]

At first I thought this might be a deep-water command tour for an aviator in the carrier command pipeline. Turned out to be an O-6 SWO...wonder if she'll get a "pass".....

[@alanbosse5153]

Love all this knowledgeable detail. And great maps. It's bringing back the excitement of sailing and docking even on small vessels!

[@Idahoguy10157]

All things considered… the port, the size of the ship, and limited tug services. I’m not surprised this can happen.

[@TheVigilant109]

Thanks for the explanation, Sal

[@wesleyallen1173]

Thank you, I was trying to remember if that was nimitz that got away with that grounding. ( In 1908, Ensign Nimitz commanded the USS Decatur, an old destroyer which he ran aground. Although found guilty at a court-martial for “hazarding” a Navy ship, the admiral who signed his first report stated, “This is a good officer and will take more care in the future.”)

[@sonicracer1]

I lived in Libreville overlooking the estuary, and crossing it in the weekends. What I would like to know is what that ship was doing there. Perhaps an obscure country, but during my time there all the superpowers were present (and not just for the parties I would guess).

[@daverobb8633]

Brilliant channel Sal. Love it. 😊

[@icare7151]

Another great video!

[@SteamCrane]

When you adapt a design, you should make changes as needed. Being on the Great Lakes, I've seen an awful lot of very old "boats" (ships) extensively upgraded with bow and sometimes stern thrusters and self unloading booms. Most Great Lakes ports can be described as "austere", but tug use is uncommon.

[@phlogistanjones2722]

Thanks Sal.

[@jimwhitsett4736]

Excellent and informative video. Thanks.

[@charliebrenton4421]

Excellent, informative as always! Cheers, Sir!

[@dennisharrington3821]

Thanks! ANY TIME you can reference Adm Nimitz, in whatever context, we are honored and humbled.🇺🇸

[@wgowshipping]

Nimitz is the man. Two great books on him came out last year. Craig Symonds, Nimitz at War and Trent Hone, Mastering the Art of Command.

[@robertlevine2152]

Sal, The Alaska Class Tankers used a twin-screw diesel-electric drive. They also have twin rudders. The question of bow thrusters is an accountant vs operator decision. With tugs and a ship with two propellers and two rudders they should be able to "crab" the ship into the channel. Whoever made the decision to not install an elevator should accompany each crewmember for 24 hours. If they spend a voyage onboard, when they leave they'll know why elevators are necessary. Bob

[@DM-mv4eq]

Show me a double hulled Suezmax tanker that has a bow thruster.

[@robertlevine2152]

@@DM-mv4eq The Polar Endeavour Class Tankers, 150,000 DWT have bow thrusters and oversized rudders. Not quite Suezmax, the Endeavour was designed to maximize maneuverability at zero speed.

[@justplanecrazy1860]

Thanks!

[@BonnieBlair-zm4uu]

Tysm Sal. You remain on my notifications for all your episodes. I appreciate your rational, educated ⚓🚢 shipping updates. All supply ⛓️ chains employees/🎖️ military remain at the 🔝🎩 top of my daily prayer 🤲🙏 list.

[@stevendaleschmitt]

I had zero interest in shipping till I found Sam's channel. He makes it interesting, Now I know how important shipping really is.

[@lancelittle3956]

Great stuff on Nimitz, as an example of grace rewarding the accuser in the future. We should practice grace with individuals we find knock against us internally.

[@ragin2490]

Great breakdown on a very interesting ship.👍👍

[@flinch622]

39' draft is a beast. Probably have to wait for tide getting in/out of some ports

[@Jimmyfisher121]

Thanks Sal

[@MADHIKER777]

Always interesting & informative content!

[@zr1pja]

Very practical and clever design vessel. Pity about the bow thrusters. Also it could do with stern thrusters.

[@DM-mv4eq]

Not typical of a tanker to have one.

[@zr1pja]

I do understand. Tanker berths are normally special berths to cater for their size, draft and cargo. Maybe with hindsight it maybe a good investment moving forward due to the types of ports that they call and services that they provide.

[@tsclly2377]

And a dedicated vessel that can act as a tug when needed

[@laurenglass4514]

Love change of reporting subject!

[@grahamfloyd3451]

Is it true that we turned down an offer of a deep water naval port/base in São Tomé and Principe? My faulty memory is that São Tomé was seeking an imprimatur of protection against Nigeria stealing their undersea oil via horizontal drilling into their territorial waters, and that we turned it down to not get involved. Big mistake.

[@Channel_98.6]

I have a suggestion / request for a video from you: Discuss the large (1000 ft +/-) ships designed for the Great Lakes contrasting with ocean-going cargo vessels. Structure, stability issues, handling, etc.

[@bswins9648]

Woody's soft grounding. I'm sure that was an all hands evolution!

[@wardaddyindustries4348]

Im glad you stuck up for the Captian there! I was going to ask "Isnt the navy brutal on captians whos ship run aground?" Having learned a lot from Dracinefels channel. I butchered that spelling but if you know, you know.

[@Paul-ki8dg]

Wind and steam.... good stuff.. thanks

[@Syndr1]

Hi Sal, send in the Merchant Marines.

[@SWOBIZ]

The ESBs do have a very large, rotating/retractable bow thruster, but it is a legacy from the first two ships (ESD) that require dynamic positioning in open water. Lowering the thruster in shallow waters is probably not advisable.

[@franzenders344]

I believe Drachinifel said on his channel that wartime officers do not make good peacetime officers, and vice versa. You don't want officers taking risks with expensive ships during peace, but you need officers to show some aggression during war.

[@doaver2.125]

I walked beside one of those Navy hospital ships back in the 80s, when it was and the Baltimore Shipyard. It was so huge and long Karma the whole time I was hoping that sucker would not fall over on me. Play yard was dead quiet and it was so eerie.

[@philiphorner31]

Amazing Navy.

[@SenaFoxGirl]

It's also rather unique among ships as it has the Medal of Honor of it's namesake stored on the ship if memory serves.

[@stevengill1736]

Like a cross between a tanker and an aircraft carrier! Gone to visit the Bwiti in Gabon I guess...cheers!

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

Reminds me of the support ships used in Vietnam for the River Boat Fleets and they had a small flight deck for 1-2 Huey's to land or 1-Chinook. I think they called it the brown water Navy? I believe they operated in IV Corp.

[@cruisinguy6024]

Brown water navy referred to the entire river boat operation

[@springbok410]

The best!

[@n6nvr]

I got a chance to see the ESB-6 just after it was commissioned at NAS North Island a few months ago. We were driving around seeing what had changed and showing my wife a few points of interest in my earlier incarnation. WTF is that?? So we drove over and parked and I wandered over and asked the pier sentry, "What the heck in an ESB?" He looked back and said, "Hell if I know." They are big and freaking ugly. Looking at the chart I'd be a little concerned about those "obstructions" in the turning circle on the chart. was CDO at/Command Center Watch Officer at MSC Far East during the first Gulf War when one of the newest and biggest UNREP ships hit an uncharted pinnacle. It was third in a column of ships with one of the Amphibious Ready Groups making a port call at one of the ports in the Emirates. Ripped a hole in the hull and dumped one of the Navy's largest oil spills in several decades. General Schwartzkopf mentioned it in his press briefing. As in, "Oh by the way a tanker with the Amphibious Group ran aground and spilled some oil down in the Emirates." Nobody asked any follow-up questions. Turns out the LPH ahead of her might actually have nicked the pinnacle with one of her screws. Further surveys found several very shallow pinnacles in what was otherwise a relatively deep harbor. Lots of consternation over sailing directions and updated charts until it was determined the ship had everything updated.

[@tobiasGR3Y]

Lots of different little things that after adding up, don't math correctly. Very interesting video!

[@AlwaysknowsMe]

So interesting.

[@01ai01]

Wow, what a cool ship!

[@user-bt8vn3dj6o]

Interesting brief!

[@malcolm20091000]

We only learn through failure. If the captain is relieved his/her replacement will have to restart the learning curve at the beginning. Don't cashier experience.

[@SteamCrane]

The US Navy still thinks it's peacetime. Should be on a "do what ya gotta do" stance.

[@nucman7529]

So much for that command...

[@marioncobaretti2280]

Im new here , thankyou sir

[@charlesdempewolf6861]

Great job Sal. I hope they don't hammer the ships masters too hard. We need all of the good help and experience we can get.

[@xwesamzerowaste9531]

no elevators is good for crew fitness, love your reports.. very good, thank you