MSC Michigan VII's Stuck Throttle Sends the Containership Speeding Out of Charleston

7:40 Mooring dolphins. Perfect example of what happens in a marine environment. Shiny paint above the waterline and total decay below.

Found it!
The lost power from the Dali.

That dolphin collapsed way too easy. 😮

Charleston Harbor, especially the North Charleston Terminal Michigan VII was coming out of, is a fairly windy channel with several fairly tight turns. Really speaks to the capability of the pilot, crew, and expeditious response of the coast guard that they didn’t end up grounding her.

Hats off all around. Skillful pilot and crew running the slalom course, the USCG for clearing the way, the public safety on the bridge, and you for binging this to the public. And wow, what a bow wave. (Oh yeah, and the tip of the hat to Juan Brown.)

Juan reference was epic I got a chuckle…

I've sailed on all types of vessels, From the Navy, a Military Sealift Command, Great Lakes Gulf, you name it all over the world for over 23 years. The only time we make the news is when something happens, They never talk about all the good things we do, like keeping the world going.

There is one person who was not mentioned when the plaudits were being given out. This person alone saved the day and deserves high praise and that person is the pilot. Hell of a job, sir, hell of a job.

We were in Charleston when this happened, and the ship completely waked out several boats at the Maritime museum dock, causing extensive damage.

Nice shout out to Juan Browne. Thanks for the details on the engine control and why you would not shutoff the fuel. Very interesting.

Thank you, Sal. The successful maneuvering of the MSC Michigan VII looks like right out of a movie script. Kudos to the captain, the pilot, the crew, the Coast Guard, the PD, tug boat captains, and all safety personnel.

1. I've had my 50' boat in the marina at Patriot Point. It's not all that well protected from wakes. I must have been an "interesting" ride for those in the marina.
2. I suffered the opposite problem on a USN Frigate. Throttle open, shaft not moving. Seized shaft bearing. To make it fun we were in the exclusion zone doing ASW at the entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar. And Of Course! it was the mid-watch.
Thanks Sal,
David

I like that Leroy Grumman got a ship named after him. I also like how the two Coasties took off after "Beer Money" @11:10. I'd have thought it was quitting time on Friday!

Thank goodness that situation didn't happen while coming into port!!!

If losing power is terrifying, being stuck at full power must be far worse. If any vessel along its path had moved in front of it, the collision is at 15 knots of momentum + the engine thrust. Looking at the map, a cascade of several collisions could have occurred!

Note to viewers under 24 years old: before you were born, there was no internet. The first 20 million years were tough. Trust Sal. Keep away from old ships.

That must have been terrifying, poor crew, a blessing it resolved well.

Sal, summer of 1974, Crete was in civil war and my ship (USS CONCORD AFS5) embarked 100 marines at Rota, Spain and assumed wartime steaming conditions. The route had us transiting the Straits of Messina, at 15+ knots in a darken ship condition. My Sea and Anchor station was on the bridge and it was very cool to zoom through the straits, while hearing the Italian CG on the radio, yelling Capitano, stopa you ship". The skipper's response was "helmsman maintain course and speed".

Hi Sal,,, good report, looking forward to future findings. I'm a retired Maersk Line, Ltd Captain and have gone into Wando and North Charleston terminals numerous times. The Charleston Branch Pilot Assoc is one of the best, very skilled and very professional. That includes the pilot (Captain Chris) aboard the MSC ship during this incident. The docking Masters (pilots in the port of Charleston) are highly qualified as well. My hats off to departing/transiting under these conditions with such little damage/injuries. You are right to want to see verification of the required engine test (on fuel) prior to leaving the dock. I believe that it was flood tide, so no need to start prior to the turn. That would have been disastrous. And if not a flood tide the ships speed would have been even greater, the ship less maneuverable, and much more potential for a major incident to occur. Did the docking Master even have a chance to disembark? I'd be surprised if he did and if he didn't, did he still have the conn, just wondering? Excellent and gutsy call (by the pilot - Moran or Charleston Branch) to keep the engines running head. I assume the engineers tried to take control of the engines, engine side? What happened there? That's a required test, when was it last done and was this crew familiar with conducting it? That would be interesting to know. Lasty, probably quick action by both the ships & tugs crew to let go the tugs lines preventing serious injury to either crew. Waiting to see what the reports show. Thanks again.

Now that Maersk saw it is possible to sail out from container terminal at 16kts, they will want their ship to be moved at that speed to save time like they did at Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, Netherlands after the simulator runners showed they could go faster than pilots previously agreed to run.