About Carl Alexander Expertise I can answer questions concerning the operations, cargo, maintenance, construction and design theory of vessels used for supply and service in the offshore petroleum industry. Supply, crew, survey, diving, tow boats and barges but no questions about tanker and freighter operations. Family members own commercial shrimp boats and I have a working knowledge of their operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Although not commercial, I have been part of the crew on a full rigged sailing ship and am a devoted history buff of the ships and crews of that period.
Experience I have worked in the offshore drilling industry over 30 years and since I am the representative of the oil companies that charter the service vessels and the project superintendent on the scene, I am closely involved in the boats operations.
Organizations Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Offshore Operations Technical Interest Group of SPE
Expert: Carl Alexander Date: 8/10/2007 Subject: supertankers
Question Hi,
sorry to bother again
I already asked below question but you could not reply as it depends on speed and deadweight of the tanker.
I am actually just looking for a aproximate range. Are we talking about a couple of minutes, hours or days ?
Thanks in advance of any help you can give.
---
I would like to know how long does it take to stop a supertanker when
sailing a cruising speed. Both when not using his brakes ann when
braking (reversing ?)
Answer You have rated me a 5 on knowledge. I told you what I knew, if the answer is wrong and you know it, then leave a comment as to how it is wrong. If you know it is wrong you really did not need to ask the question. If it is not the answer you wanted, that is your problem, not mine.
There is no place I know of where you will find stopping tests such as those done on automobiles by auto testing groups. Your question was the equivalent of asking about the stopping distance of a truck. You answered part of your question yourself with "it depends on speed and deadweight". The stopping distance of tankers is the stuff of legend. The reason I had asked the Coast Guard officer about the rescue of a raft was due to an account of a yachtsman that was rescued and had been told by the ULCC master that it had taken him almost 10 miles to turn around. I once asked a tanker master about stopping distance and he shrugged his shoulders and said, "a lot". I am aware that VLCC and ULCC are not in use as they once were but this forum is read by the general public as well as those in the profession and terms are still appropriate for that use because of their use by journalists.
