El Faro stability calculations didn't account for hurricane force winds

Day 6 of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation hearings revealed new details about how stable, or unstable, El Faro may have been as it entered Hurricane Joaquin.

Spencer Schilling, president of Herbert Engineering Corp., and Michael Newton, vice president of Herbert-ABS Software Solutions and CargoMax product manager, testified for at last seven hours Monday.

CargoMax is a well-known software in the maritime industry that helps crews load containers and vehicles on board.

Herbert Engineering has had legal representative at both hearings but Monday was the first time we heard from the company executives.

Schilling said wind speed is not a factor when it comes to measuring stability but rather things such as the cargo loading plan, the size of the vessel, and the center of gravity are.

According to Schilling, it’s the ship’s size that determines the wind pressure that’s factored in.

When pushed by the board about how much of the pressure that’s factored in would equate to wind speed, Schilling said about 50 knots.

El Faro entered the Category 4 hurricane heavily loaded with containers and vehicles. A lot of time was spent by board members trying to get a handle on how much stress the vessel can take under certain conditions.
Hurricane Joaquin produced winds at 113-136 knots or 130-156 miles per hour.

Schilling was asked by the board about why a ship’s stability is not tested at a stronger wind pressure.

“There’s no rule that can be put in place that’s going to ensure a vessel is going to survive every condition that it’s possibly going to encounter.  That’s where the complementary part of any stability rule or ship operating rule is prudent seamanship and avoidance of heavy weather,” Schilling said.

In 2010, El Faro was asked to transport military equipment. The request triggered the update to the CargoMax software on board, which we learned last week was never reviewed or approved by the American Bureau of Shipping.

Newton said he didn’t think a re-approval of the software was necessary but since the sinking they’re more proactive about seeking approvals.

The final witness of the day was Randy Kidd with PORTUS. Kidd was the supervising stevedore who helped load El Faro the day it left on its final voyage.

He said things went smoothly that day. The board asked if anyone asked him to add extra lashing to cargo because of heavy weather expected on the voyage. Kidd said no.

According to Kidd, he’s been asked to add extra lashing to cargo due to heavy weather in the past but on the day of the final voyage that never came up.

Cox Media Group