Summary: This paper discusses two possible explanations for the loss of the British OBO MV DERBYSHIRE during a severe storm at sea. Both explanations postulate foundering due to structural failure of critical components. One scenario assumes the breakup of the ship due to fatigue failure of longitudinal structural members in the aft portion of the ship, while the other assumes foundering resulting from collapse of hold covers under sea loading. (MORE)

Summary: This report analyses two independent incidents where barges of similar construction and arrangements, suffered identical damage. In both incidents the vessels were transiting when the deck buckled separating the #2 and #3 cargo tanks. The analysis concluded that inland barges may be experiencing "progressive damage," where the vessel is loaded and unloaded in such a way that the bending stresses exceed the elastic limit and permanent deflections are created while degrading the strength. (MORE)

Summary: This report details the analysis of a pattern of structural failures throughout a class of three container ships. The analysis established the failure scenarios and determined the root cause of the progressive failure to be poor detailed design. Based on the analysis a design modification was developed and turned into a dry-dock repair specification to (MORE)

Summary: The LST 93 VALDIVIA ran aground after an engine failure during beaching exercises. The hull girder experienced longitudinal buckling along the keel and the seaward sideshell. The buckling was caused by the unusual load condition of having the hull supported by the beach on the port side, while the sea continuously impacted the starboard side. This report details the structural modeling to assess the effects of this hull damage on residual strength and the subsequent salvage response (MORE)

Summary: This case study provides the U.S. Navy's analysis of a Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) Weapons Effects Testing on the Ex-CG20 (Richmond K. Turner). The main purposes of the test was to accumulate threat weapons blast/fragmentation effects data from selected DD21 threat weapons (anti-ship missiles), and to provide data and observations on the behavior of a ship damaged by weapons effects and put under tow in low sea state conditions. The report provides a detailed description of the resulting structural failure (MORE)

Summary: The hull of MSC CARLA broke apart at the forward end of the new midbody. The bow portion sank after five days. The stern was towed into port. (MORE | PDF Version)

Summary: This case study summarizes common design, operation, and maintenance practices on board bulk carriers that contribute to on-going hazards. Operationally, bulkers are loaded very rapidly;however, when unloading, heavy equipment is used that can be tough on coatings and plating. Once the coating has been compromised many cargoes can be corrosive to the steel beneath. (PDF Version)

Summary: The wreck of RMS Titanic is arguably the most famous marine casualty of modern times. On April 14, 1912 during her maiden voyage, RMS Titanic struck an iceberg southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. She floated for approximately two hours, eventually assuming an extreme trim by the bow and breaking in half. (PDF Version)

Summary: Flooding in the ship's starboard #2 aft and #3 wing tanks caused a 25 degree list, which was counter-ballasted by flooding #2 aft port and #3 port ballast tanks. This resulted in an overstressed hull girder which failed after 6 days of exposure to heavy seas, causing theship to break in two and sink. (PDF Version)

Summary: As mandated by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, all single hull tank vessels, including barges will be phased out by 2015. Because complete replacement of the fleet with new barges is clearly not feasible, many operators are opting to retrofit their single hull barges to double hull. (PDF Version)

Summary: R/V Western Flyer has experienced localized cracking to its aluminum structure during typical operations during virtually all of its twelve year life span. Various modifications have been implemented in an attempt to solve this problem. (MORE | PDF Version)