Thread: All 2019/20 bushfire comments here.

Yep, & the poor buggers are still endeavoring to help others so there is no escape from the Trauma for them, it is constant.

Originally Posted by bob10

​FAR SARACEN - Anchor Handling Vessel (IMO: 9417842, MMSI ...


The far Saracen. Official description - anchor handling vessel. They use these vessels to anchor oil & gas rigs to the ocean floor. Those anchors are huge. We berthed alongside one of these ships when on an Attack class patrol boat out of Darwin, Dampier or Hedland, not sure which now. It would be only a slight exageration to say the anchor was as big as our boat. The reason I wanted to confirm what type of vessel it is was this. How come they could do it, and the Navy couldn't?;

"

"They worked tirelessly looking after sick people, the elderly, infants, even special needs teenagers," said Mr Nairey."

"How come the Navy couldn't do what"?
The correct term for those vessels is A.H.T.S., "Anchor Handling Tug Supply." I was fleet engineer for P&O on them many years ago. If you are referring to an anchor they had on deck it would have belonged to an oil rig, although unless they were taking a new one to a rig the only time an anchor is on the deck is when they take it from the rig to "run the anchor". The rigs at the time used an "Admiralty" type anchor, usually of 15 tons.
Like all such anchoring systems, the weight of a long length of chain is more the "anchor" than the bit on the end.

The supply ships are equipped with many different types of rescue equipment, including a fast motor boat, or a RIB. They have scramble nets that can be deployed over the side, and usually a removable section of the bulwark along the side. The deck is close to the waterline as well, so not difficult to board from the sea.

One of the news reports were referring to the ship as a "trawler"! This one was sent from the Bass Straight where it is employed servicing the production platforms. Cheers

Has anyone else noticed that in all the news videos I have seen of the bushfires there is not one piece of earthmoving equipment being used to push and rip firebreaks, build up earth berms in the path of a fire, push large trees back into the path of the fire? There are usually any numbers of dozers, graders, articulated loaders, tractor-backhoe loaders, and skid steers available from Shire Councils, govt. depts, contractors, rural properties. Why are they not in use, or is it that the media like video of red trucks with flashing lights?

dozers dont make good news items
several thousands of perimeter and not enough dozers
some local greenies not allowing dozer lines.

Originally Posted by Eevo

some local greenies not allowing dozer lines.

Better to ask for forgiveness than permission?

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

Has anyone else noticed that in all the news videos I have seen of the bushfires there is not one piece of earthmoving equipment being used to push and rip firebreaks, build up earth berms in the path of a fire, push large trees back into the path of the fire? There are usually any numbers of dozers, graders, articulated loaders, tractor-backhoe loaders, and skid steers available from Shire Councils, govt. depts, contractors, rural properties. Why are they not in use, or is it that the media like video of red trucks with flashing lights?

I can ensure you there is a lot of action going on in regards to fire breaks and earth moving equipment.
Here in the Shoalhaven the army are supplying dozers and back hoes clearing fire breaks in ready for the next hot and windy weather.
They are not red and don't have flashing lights and therefore not news worthy.

see below link

YouTube

FANTASTIC & very generous $70M donation/assistance package from a very great & generous Aussie, Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest.
Pickles.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

FANTASTIC & very generous $70M donation/assistance package from a very great & generous Aussie, Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest.
Pickles.

Twiggy as Always had long arms and short pockets, Good on him
The best thing we can do instead of just talking about these fires is to put our own hands in our pockets and donate a few quid ourselves