The Marine Insurance Blog

The Container Owners Association calculates that a fully loaded 20-foot dry freight container will float because its volume displaces 83,000 pounds of water, more than its weight of 30 tonnes or 66,000 pounds. Mathematically, it would float with 18 inches sticking out of the water. However, if water enters and increases the weight to over 83,000 pounds, the container will sink. Floating containers were previously shot at or exploded to sink them and reduce their danger to ships because this was less expensive than salvage costs for towing and recovery. This is now illegal because of the pollution risk it poses.

The Container Owners Association provides some information collected from its members about floating shipping containers. How long a container cast adrift or fallen overboard will float before sinking depends on the container and its cargo. It is possible for containers to sink instantly or stay adrift for years. However, even empty containers may not watertight and sink almost immediately. Containers with large but low-density cargo have a better chance of floating. COA members say that the “sub-floater” or container that is submerged just below the water level, is a myth that can be disproven with the laws of physics.

Image by elbfoto

Just how much cargo is lost at sea? Estimates vary between 2,000 to 10,000 containers every year. Accidents due to human error and natural disasters can happen unexpectedly. Everything that could go on a ship could be lost, from cars to spare parts. Some, however, manage to float to shore, including rubber shoes and rubber ducks. The consequences are not only economic; they are also environmental costs. Oil and dangerous materials are transported by sea, posing serious harm to marine life when spills occur. Piracy is also a possibility and there are fears that pirates and terrorists are teaming up. In the next few posts, we will take a closer look at container shipping.

Image by Xavier Rivera 

The World Cruising Club is circumnavigating the globe this very moment. They started from the Caribbean in January and are presently in the area of the Cook Islands in the Pacific. Sailing around the world is the dream of many a sailor, and it is an great accomplishment in its own right, as the oceans of the world are vast expanses that demand competent crews. World ARC has been running events such as this for the past 20 years and have plenty of experience in ocean sailing. There is weather and routing advice, and yacht positions are tracked and updated frequently. There are required safety and communications equipment, and potentially unsafe areas are avoided. The fleet should reach Fiji in July, Mauritius in October and Cape Town in time for Christmas. The rally ends in March 2009.

Admiral Boat Insurance provides a quick guide to laying up ashore in the Carribbean. The company provides hurricane insurance provided the boat is laid up adequately.

The hurricane area is from the Venezuelan Coast and Trinidad to Cape Hatteras and the hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th. Best practices point to a fabricated steel cradle for the boat and tying it down at a minimum of four anchor points with heavy duty webbing tensioned by ratchets. The boat should also be tied down to the cradle or anchor points. Sails, biminis, spray hoods, dodgers, and cockpit and boat covers must all be removed. If possible, the mast should be unstepped and stored in a mast rack.

Image from www.admiralyacht.com

There’s nothing like the freedom of the open sea and the friendliness and spirit of fun fellow sailors share. However, one must always be aware that boats and ships can be easy prey to pirates who are armed with AK47s from the black market and onboard very fast boats. The Strategy Page outlines six helpful rules of thumb on how to spot pirates at sea. To make it simple to remember, think of the acronym BBCFFW.

Birds. Fishing boats usually are accompanied by little clouds of sea birds; no birds, no fish, and that means pirates.

Boat Size. Most pirates, whether in the northwestern Indian Ocean, off Somalia, or in the region around the Straits of Malacca, are using relatively small boats, essentially the same size as used by the local fishermen. So if a couple of fishing skiffs try to approach you, watch out. And be especially careful if they’re moving at a good clip. That’s because ordinary fishermen are loath to open up their engines, since fuel is money.

Crew Size. Most fishing boats have at most three crewmen. If there are more than that in a boat, or in nearby several boats, it’s likely that someone’s up to no good.

Fishing Gear. If you don’t spot nets or other equipment associated with fishing, the boat may be looking for bigger game.

Fishing Grounds. Even in the relatively undeveloped regions where piracy flourishes, local governments usually maintain websites identifying fisheries, particularly those in their exclusive economic zones. If you spot fishing boats far from any of these, caution would be advised

Weapons. Even if there are only two or three guys in a boat, if they’re waving weapons around, it’s probably a good idea to avoid them.

With these hints, it should be much easier to spot pirates from a good distance. If it is not possible to outrun them, seek help from other craft nearby. As they say, there is strength in numbers.

Another aspect of maritime piracy today that is often ignored or not discussed is pirate attacks on pleasure craft such as yachts. There are quite a few who sail for recreation and sport, and there have been reported incidents involving pirates in certain areas such as Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. Although these are few in number, the possibility of this can make the experience of cruising dangerous instead of pleasurable. The International Maritime Bureau runs a Piracy Reporting Centre based in Malaysia to monitor seafaring incidents and to spread awareness about piracy. However, their focus is still on commercial vessels, not smaller personal craft.

Mention the word “piracy” to the man in the street and he will think of two things: piracy of optical media including music CDs and movie DVDS, and the romanticized image of the one-eyed pirate and his parrot, or to the younger people, Jack Sparrow. What most people are not aware of is that piracy at sea still occurs, at the cost of billions of dollars worth of goods and assets. While there are regions where piracy has been eradicated, hotspots still remain, particularly in Asia and parts of Europe and Africa. If your cargo shipment or ship will pass through high-risk waters, it pays to have your valuables insured.