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Text: Big Mouth Social Sciences
Editor: Big Mouth Social Sciences
On February 23, 2023, the Chinese cargo ship Yongxing 56 was carrying nearly 29,000 tons of bauxite through the Tatar Strait when it suddenly encountered a strange collision of an unknown object, leaving the defenseless ship in trouble.
A few days later, on March 1, despite the efforts of rescuers and the efforts of the crew to fight the ravages of the sea, Yongxing 56 could not escape the arrangement of fate and sank into the icy depths of the sea.
However, even in the face of such a catastrophe, luck favored the ship. All 21 Chinese crew members were rescued unscathed. This is really a miracle in a disaster and has attracted widespread attention at home and abroad.
What exactly is it that an unknown object has such a huge force to hit this cargo ship full of heavy objects?
How dangerous can it be when the hull gets into the water? In the face of such a sudden emergency, how should we respond to maximize the safety of crew and cargo? These are all questions that we need to explore carefully.
In digging into the reasons behind the sinking of Yongxing 56, we need to go back to that ominous February 19. According to the owner of the cargo ship, the cargo ship was hit by a mysterious force during its voyage. At that time, the sea water crept into the ship like a thief, although it did not cause large-scale flooding, and the ship's movement was not affected. However, like the early symptoms of the disease, it is only the beginning of the collapse.
Just three days later, the crew discovered that the sea was frantically pouring into the cabin from the hole, to the point of being uncontrollable. So they sent a distress signal to the local maritime agency, hoping for assistance.
On February 24, rescue teams traveled through a storm and reached the waters where the incident occurred. They thoroughly inspected the cargo ship and eventually found the murderous hole in the hull. Over the next few days, rescue crews worked day and night to plug the hole and drain the water from the cabin, but the water continued to break into the cabin.
Continuously impacted by waves and ice, the situation of Yongxing 56 became more and more dangerous, and finally sank at 5 a.m. on March 1.
The disaster occurred in the Tatar Strait, which is not only an important waterway connecting the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, but also a strategic passage between Russia's Northern Fleet and the Pacific Fleet. Ships sailing here not only have to deal with changing sea conditions and climate, but also face multiple security challenges.
So, let's dive deeper into the mystery: what mysterious object hit the Yongxing 56, a Chinese freighter carrying 29,000 tons of bauxite, in the Tatar Strait? As pointed out earlier, the media has not yet received official findings, but in this world, nothing is done for nothing, and as long as there are enough clues, we can try to make some constructive guesses.
Let's consider first the possibility of unmanned underwater vehicles. Rapid advances in technology have given us the ability to drop countless unmanned underwater vehicles into the depths of the ocean, which are used for a variety of purposes, including scientific research, resource exploration, environmental monitoring, and even military operations.
Due to the relatively small size of the UAV and the fact that it is usually made of special materials, if it collides with a large cargo ship in the ocean, it will definitely cause some degree of damage to the hull.
However, although this hypothesis is somewhat possible, some conditions need to be met for it to really hold. First, unmanned vehicles are usually equipped with automatic obstacle avoidance and navigation systems, and they have the ability to identify and avoid obstacles around them, so they are unlikely to actively hit a large cargo ship.
Second, the operation of unmanned underwater vehicles needs to comply with the international law of the sea and related regulations, and they cannot enter the territorial waters or exclusive economic zones of other countries at will, let alone pose a threat to the commercial vessels of other countries.
But if it is really an unmanned underwater vehicle that hit Yongxing 56, then it must be for the following possible reasons.
Either the UAV may malfunction or be interfered with, causing it to lose control or deviate from course; Alternatively, the UAV may be used by hostile forces or terrorists for deliberate sabotage or attack; Then there is the fact that the unmanned underwater vehicle may be a secret project of a country or organization, conducting illegal reconnaissance or testing.
However, if the submersible is a country or organization behind it, such an act will not only cause damage and sinking of the freighter, but may also trigger international disputes and security crises. Therefore, this hypothesis needs to be confirmed or ruled out by professional investigation and identification.
Let's explore another possible answer: those natural reefs hidden beneath the surface. In the world of ocean navigation, freighters, like cars on land, need to follow a designated route. In the deep ocean, there are many natural reefs of different shapes, such as coral reefs, rocks, sandbars, etc.
If the freighter accidentally deviates from the intended route during the journey, it may encounter these reefs hidden under the surface of the ocean.
Although this hypothesis sounds feasible in theory, it is not so likely in practice. Because we must remember that modern freighters are equipped with advanced navigation and radar systems capable of accurately determining their position and the depth of the surrounding waters, which greatly reduces the likelihood of them straying into the reef area.
In addition, important international shipping lanes such as the Tatar Strait are marked and warned in detail by countries to prevent ships from touching the reef.
However, if it is really a natural reef that caused the impact of the freighter, then it may be caused by the following reasons.
First of all, the freighter may encounter sudden bad weather or sea conditions during the voyage, which obstructs the crew's line of sight or uncontrolled navigation; At the same time, the freighter may be subjected to human interference or attack during driving, thereby rendering the navigation system invalid or misguided; Finally, cargo ships may also encounter new, unmarked or discovered reefs, such as seafloor geological changes triggered by earthquakes or volcanic activity.
Whatever the reason, if it is really a natural reef that hits the freighter, then the impact on the freighter and crew must be serious. Reefs can cause damage to cargo ships and sink ships without any suspense, and may also cause damage and pollution to the marine environment. However, this hypothesis also needs to be professionally investigated and confirmed before a final conclusion can be reached.
Next, we'll dive into another possibility: icebergs hidden beneath the surface. Icebergs are a common sight in the icy territory of the Arctic and Antarctic, and they are huge chunks of ice formed by the shedding of glaciers or the accumulation of snow layers.
Like the "tip of the iceberg" we often hear, most of the iceberg volume is actually hidden underwater. It is these invisible parts that often become hidden dangers for sailing vessels. Many accidents in history, such as the high-profile sinking of the Titanic in 1912, have been triggered by this.
Compared to the previous assumptions, this possibility is also not small. The Tatar Strait, located near the Arctic Circle, belongs to the icy sea, and there is likely to be an underwater iceberg. Moreover, due to the effects of global warming, glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctic are melting at an accelerated rate, which will lead to rising sea levels and increasing the number of icebergs.
With the movement of ocean currents, these huge floating blocks of ice may collide with sailing ships.
If it is really a hidden underwater iceberg that hit the freighter, it may be due to the following reasons. First, because the freighter failed to discover the iceberg lurking underwater in time during the voyage, or misjudged the actual size and specific location of the iceberg; Second, the freighter did not take appropriate avoidance measures during the voyage, or the response was not fast and precise enough;
Finally, the freighter was hit by sudden wind waves or ice during the voyage, causing the hull to lose its stable balance or correct direction, and finally hit the underwater part of the iceberg.
Whatever the actual situation, these crews are unfortunate, but humanity is not helpless in the face of various dangers at sea, and we can ensure our safety in various ways and means.
The first step is to identify and escalate potential vulnerabilities in a timely manner. The crew needs to inspect the hull regularly, and any signs of abnormality or breakage should not be ignored. When significant water ingress is found in the hull, the alarm system should be activated immediately, informing all crew members of the state of emergency and signaling for help to nearby rescue agencies or friendly vessels.
The crew must then clear the water as soon as possible and plug the loopholes. A cargo ship with well-equipped safety facilities can usually use the engine room drainage system to drain the seawater entering the ship and prevent excessive water accumulation in the hull.
If possible, the crew can use materials such as corks, tape or foam to plug the holes to reduce moisture ingress. If you face large loopholes or difficult to close, you can consider using steel plates or welding for reinforcement or repair.
In addition, it is essential to maintain the balance and stability of the hull. The crew needs to adjust the distribution of cargo or fuel according to the center of gravity and tilt of the hull to avoid the danger of the hull capsizing or overturning.
At the same time, the ballast water system can be used to increase or decrease the amount of ballast water to maintain the buoyancy and stability of the hull. In the event of severe sinking or loss of balance of the hull, it may be considered to discard part of the cargo or equipment to reduce the burden on the hull.
If the situation on the vessel becomes irreparable, the crew needs to be prepared for safety and lifesaving. According to the actual situation, determine whether it is necessary to evacuate the ship and make the necessary preparations. Common equipment such as lifeboats, life rafts, life jackets, etc. can help people safely move to the surface and keep in touch with rescue agencies or friendly vessels.
It is also important to carry necessary items such as food, water, medicine and communication tools in case of possible difficulties or dangers. This series of measures is to protect the life safety of the crew while ensuring that the cargo ship can safely survive the crisis.
The sinking of a Chinese freighter in the Tatar Strait is undoubtedly a tragedy, and it also provides a deeper understanding of the dangers and problems faced by maritime navigation.
So far, the object that hit the freighter is not clear, and the consequences that the sinking of the freighter may have on the marine environment are unknown. We hope that the relevant departments will find out the truth at an early date and take vigorous measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Here, we would like to express our appreciation and admiration to the Federal Administration of Maritime Canals for their prompt and effective rescue operations, which deserve our deep gratitude and admiration for their success in ensuring the lives of 21 Chinese crew members.
At the same time, we also call on all countries around the world to enhance their awareness of maritime security, strengthen cooperation, and jointly safeguard the maritime order and environment, so as to promote the sustainable development and prosperity of the maritime industry.
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