Tolemca
03-12-2008, 07:59
SS Treefrugal, in the Open Ocean
4:45 pm local time
Captain Ken Kurpella, stood on the Bridge of the SS Treefrugal, a 397 meter ore-carrier, with a DWT of 156,907 metric tons. Ken had been on the sea for most of his life. He had seen many things, some strange, some amazing, and so frightening, in his long career. At 64, however, he would soon be retiring from his job. Not by choice, mind you. He was watching the sun set. Everything seemed to be going fine. He left the First Mate in charge, and decided to retire to his cabin, before dinner. He shaved, and smiled at the pictures of his wife, children, and grandchildren he had around his cabin.
8:22 pm
The captain had just finished eating his dinner, when the Second Mate, arrived, and handed him a copy of the latest weather report. He read it, and said, "Is there anyway around it?"
"No, Sir" replied the Second Mate. "It doesn't sound good, but I think our best course of action, at this time, from a navigational standpoint, is to continue on our course."
"Yes," replied the Capitan, slowly, "I think that would be prudent at this time. I am about finished here," he continued standing up, "I think I'll join you on the bridge for your watch."
"Aye Aye, Sir," replied the Second Mate, and they both went to the bridge.
10:52 pm
The howl of the wind could be heard on the bridge, as the sheets of rain washed across the windows. The captain could barely see the front of the ship. A radio transmission was made, "This is the SS Treefrugal, we are at coordinates (insert coordinates here). Are experiencing high winds, heavy rain, and rough seas. Visibility under 400 meters. Ships is holding well."
12:04 am
Waves were now over topping the deck in rapid succession. The captain was slightly concerned. He could not tell for sure, due to the movement of the waves, but he felt as if the ship was riding lower than she should have been. Radar was detecting the waves, and their heights, and that confirmed it. Waves that before had been crashing against the sides, were now over toping the deck, indicating that the ship was definately riding lower in the water. He also noted that the progression of the decline in the level they were in the water, increased greatly around the point that the waves began over toping the deck. He determined this to mean only one thing, the hatch covers were leaking. The heavy rain, had caused a build up of water in the cargo hold, and this build up was increased, when the waves began over toping the deck. A voice message was broadcast on short range VHF 156.8 MHz,
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is TREEFRUGAL, TREEFRUGAL, TREEFRUGAL. MAYDAY, TREEFRUGAL. Position XX XX North XXX XX West. Boat is taking on water. Waves over topping deck. 29 people on board, weather conditions make use of life boats impossible. OVER."
An SOS message was also broadcast using morse code on the shortwave radio.
4:45 pm local time
Captain Ken Kurpella, stood on the Bridge of the SS Treefrugal, a 397 meter ore-carrier, with a DWT of 156,907 metric tons. Ken had been on the sea for most of his life. He had seen many things, some strange, some amazing, and so frightening, in his long career. At 64, however, he would soon be retiring from his job. Not by choice, mind you. He was watching the sun set. Everything seemed to be going fine. He left the First Mate in charge, and decided to retire to his cabin, before dinner. He shaved, and smiled at the pictures of his wife, children, and grandchildren he had around his cabin.
8:22 pm
The captain had just finished eating his dinner, when the Second Mate, arrived, and handed him a copy of the latest weather report. He read it, and said, "Is there anyway around it?"
"No, Sir" replied the Second Mate. "It doesn't sound good, but I think our best course of action, at this time, from a navigational standpoint, is to continue on our course."
"Yes," replied the Capitan, slowly, "I think that would be prudent at this time. I am about finished here," he continued standing up, "I think I'll join you on the bridge for your watch."
"Aye Aye, Sir," replied the Second Mate, and they both went to the bridge.
10:52 pm
The howl of the wind could be heard on the bridge, as the sheets of rain washed across the windows. The captain could barely see the front of the ship. A radio transmission was made, "This is the SS Treefrugal, we are at coordinates (insert coordinates here). Are experiencing high winds, heavy rain, and rough seas. Visibility under 400 meters. Ships is holding well."
12:04 am
Waves were now over topping the deck in rapid succession. The captain was slightly concerned. He could not tell for sure, due to the movement of the waves, but he felt as if the ship was riding lower than she should have been. Radar was detecting the waves, and their heights, and that confirmed it. Waves that before had been crashing against the sides, were now over toping the deck, indicating that the ship was definately riding lower in the water. He also noted that the progression of the decline in the level they were in the water, increased greatly around the point that the waves began over toping the deck. He determined this to mean only one thing, the hatch covers were leaking. The heavy rain, had caused a build up of water in the cargo hold, and this build up was increased, when the waves began over toping the deck. A voice message was broadcast on short range VHF 156.8 MHz,
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is TREEFRUGAL, TREEFRUGAL, TREEFRUGAL. MAYDAY, TREEFRUGAL. Position XX XX North XXX XX West. Boat is taking on water. Waves over topping deck. 29 people on board, weather conditions make use of life boats impossible. OVER."
An SOS message was also broadcast using morse code on the shortwave radio.