View Full Version : Heading for an oil rig? Watch out for low-flying ships!
kenhughes
18th Sep 2009, 00:39
"Eurocontrol is alerting aviation authorities worldwide of potential new collision threats due to ships that have begun experimenting with large high-flying kites or sails for auxiliary propulsion", says FlightGlobal in this article. Eurocontrol posts skysail warning (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/09/17/332439/eurocontrol-posts-skysail-warning.html)
http://www.neener-international.net/images/sailship.jpg
Eurocontrol Alert (Word document)
http://www.eurocontrol.int/safety/gallery/content/public/library/Safety%20Alerts/Red%20alert/SWM_17_Septembe_2009.doc issued after an incident on Spetember 15, in which an aircraft descending over the southern North Sea reported seeing a kite or sail flying at approximately 305m (1,000ft) height "just below the clouds" ahead of a ship as it headed into port. The type of aircraft is not disclosed ... but who is the most likely to be operating at 1,000ft over the North Sea?
Gordy
18th Sep 2009, 01:03
but who is the most likely to be operating at 1,000ft over the North Sea?
Did it for 8 years:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/036d8220.jpg
Igor13
18th Sep 2009, 02:05
I say old boy......Good comeback! :D
SafetyCase
18th Sep 2009, 02:54
This ship with the flying sail was reported by the crew of a CHC helicopter operating from the Netherlands.
widgeon
18th Sep 2009, 05:40
What a neat concept , maybe they should be required to have a transponder installed in the sail that will alert TCAS.
Spunk
18th Sep 2009, 07:37
That one her would be one of the companies who invented the system:
Skysail (http://www.skysails.info/index.php)
Runway101
19th Sep 2009, 10:51
YouTube - Beluga Sky Sail (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4A0B_-aQK4)
q4A0B_-aQK4
:E Must be a serious issue ;) as Shell :8 sent us our information (which Eurocontrol had already circulated:ok:) back as their own safety alert.:ugh:
exlatccatsa
19th Sep 2009, 20:12
Aberdeen Heli crews keep an eye out. Heard a rumour it might be headed our way on Monday 21st.
cyclic
20th Sep 2009, 10:56
From Aberdeen Coastguard:
Please be infmd that m/v Theseus,call sign A8SH3,flag Liberia,IMO
93910159,MMSI 636091757 is going to carry out tests of towing kite as
auxiliary propulsion system in north sea,including the coastal waters
of UK - East off Aberdeen ,Firth of Forth and vicinity of off-shore
oil rigs / platforms in UKEEZ in period fm 21.09.2009 04.00 utc to
24.09.2009 22.00 utc in the area between fwng wp:
wp1 - 57 00,0 N 002 00,0 W ;
wp2 - 57 30,0 N 000 00,0 ;
wp3 - 57 30,0 N 003 00,0 E ;
wp4 - 55 00,0 N 003 00,0 E ;
wp5 - 55 00,0 N 000 00,0 ;
wp6 - 56 00,0 N 002 00,0 W
in connection with above said towing kite tests kindly ask you to
advise aircrafts intending to carry flights in the area about vessel
activity including night flights( kite enlighted by 3 visible
white lights) and about maximal towing length/height of flying kite
300 m
exlatccatsa
20th Sep 2009, 18:00
You can find a recent position here
ShipAIS - Latest AIS for THESEUS (http://www.shipais.com/showship.php?mmsi=636091757)
Enter Theseus in the search and check the ID is A8SH3