These container accidents bring back old memories in Alaska.

I lived in Bethel, AK way out on the western part of the state. The town
was near the mouth of the Kuskokwim River, and we got big container
laden barges as soon as the ice would go out in spring. I worked for the
US Public Health Service and we were expecting a brand International
vehicle - the equivalent to the Suburban with fourwheel drive. Several
of us from the office went down to the river to see the new vehicle -
which was supposed to be bright red - unloaded. As we arrived, it was no
where to be seen. We had been told it was not in a container, but
chained to the deck for rapid unloading. We waited about an hour while
some containers were unloaded. As the last container was moved, there
appeared out new red vehicle .... crushed as flat as if it had gone
through the crusher.

The barge had encountered rough water and a whole container section got
loose and fell on the New vehicle.

We got a new vehicle flown in from Anchorage in about 6 weeks. It was
particularly ironic because my office had recommended that the vehicle
be flown in in the first place, but the powers that be didn't buy that
proposal. They were concerned aobut the cost of doing that.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

jimt wrote:

>On 11/27/04 12:33 AM, "Jeffrey Schwaia" <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM> wrote:
>
>
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>>So, which container had your new Syncro Tristar???
>>
>>http://www.vanagonparts.com/temp/containers1.jpg
>>http://www.vanagonparts.com/temp/containers2.jpg
>>http://www.vanagonparts.com/temp/containers3.jpg
>>http://www.vanagonparts.com/temp/containers4.jpg
>>
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>>
>Recently watched a discovery channel?? Program on the really big container
>ships and what was involved in the unload of one and the extreme time
>schedule and the exact order of offloading to keep the ship balanced.  I
>think I now get an idea of what happens if  you get your offload pattern
>wrong.  Very happy I was nowhere near that disaster!  hopefully nobody was
>actually in the way of that tonnage.
>
>����������������������������������������
>jimt
>Planned insanity is best.
>Remember that sanity is optional.
>http://www.tactical-bus.info (tech info)
>http://www.westydriver.com
>
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>