Peter Southwood
Registered
A.The capsize was totally predictable. Even without doing the math it is obvious (and I use the word with its most basic meaning) that the barge would probably become unstable when the free surface of the floodwater approximates the full width. It is unlikely that the organizers consulted a naval architect, who should have been able to tell them this.
B. The sea is no more messed up by this pile of junk than it would have been if it landed right side up. From an ecological point of view, both options are identical. (and almost certainly harmless, possibly beneficial for reef species). A pity for the local divers, and a learning experience for the organizers - if they bother to learn from it. The lesson is simple. Consult an expert.
C. The artist/s who created the sculpture suffered the biggest loss. This was a lot of work, and it must have seemed a good idea to use a barge as a plinth, to prevent the statues from burying in the sand. It was a cool project and I sympathize with them. they would not be expected to know about damaged stability of ships. Somewhere along the line of organising and getting the permits arranged, one would expect someone to say - OK, where are the stability calculations? Who certifies this as safe and stable during the sinking? There are ways to prevent this sort of capsize.
B. The sea is no more messed up by this pile of junk than it would have been if it landed right side up. From an ecological point of view, both options are identical. (and almost certainly harmless, possibly beneficial for reef species). A pity for the local divers, and a learning experience for the organizers - if they bother to learn from it. The lesson is simple. Consult an expert.
C. The artist/s who created the sculpture suffered the biggest loss. This was a lot of work, and it must have seemed a good idea to use a barge as a plinth, to prevent the statues from burying in the sand. It was a cool project and I sympathize with them. they would not be expected to know about damaged stability of ships. Somewhere along the line of organising and getting the permits arranged, one would expect someone to say - OK, where are the stability calculations? Who certifies this as safe and stable during the sinking? There are ways to prevent this sort of capsize.
