Prestige Marine Analysis

The paper firstly reviews the process of maritime accident happened to M.V. "PRESTIGE" , and analyses various possible causes by locating initial damage positions. Secondly, according to the original construction design of M.V. "PRESTIGE" and the accident conditions, the paper carries out detailed technical analysis on hull structure, and studies every possible cause based on theoretical analyses and calculation of hull structure. Subsequently, it analyzes surveys and inspections of M.V. "PRESTIGE" and management of the shipping company, thus discusses improvements on ship management from these points for the purpose of preventing similar maritime accidents from happening once again.Finally, the paper analyzes each step in salvation of M.V. "PRESTIGE" , including the choices of towing direction and port of distress as well as the concerted actions of competent authorities. Experiences and lessons are summarized for references to similar maritime accidents in the future.The paper consists of eight chapters, summarized as followed:Chapter 1 IntroductionThis chapter introduces the great influences left behind this accident to environment and safety of shipping, expounds purposes and significances of studying the accident deeply. Especially it emphasizes influences caused by such accidents to ocean environment and economy of China, which is most important to our country who has vast oceans and great requirements on energy resources (oil) .Chapter 2 General Situation and Accident Process of M.V. " PRESTIGE "This chapter introduces the ship's general situation. Then it reviews the process of accident in detail, including the whole process from early stage of accident happened, towing, salvation, oil pollution occurrence . Description and introduction of details pave the right way for analysis, calculation and evaluation in next chapters.Chapter 3 Evidences for Ship DamageAccording to descriptions of the accident in Chapter 2, this chapter gives emphasis on expounding the weather which greatly influenced the happening and developing of the accident, ship conditions when accident happened and hull structure damage ultimately, then educes the process of accident from beginning to ship immersion, which provides evidences for further detail analyses.Chapter 4 Preliminary Analysis of Causes of DamageCombining with sea damage evidences presented in forgoing chapters, this chapter analyzes several aspects that resulted in this accident possibly, from which to find out the main factors in accident except for those of exploding, floating objects collision, overloading, damage at bottom etc.Chapter 5 Further Analysis and Calculation of Causes of DamageBased on preliminary analysis in Chapter 4, this chapter, according to ship structure and hydrodynamics principium as well as requirements of rules of classification society, makes further analysis and calculation of the causes of the accident, then deduces relevant conclusions. These analysis and calculation are based on hull structure static load, wave and ship motion induced load, hull structural strength, hull girder strength, fatigue of structural details, damage of lighterage operation, welding defects and residual stress, broken wave load at side structure, etc.Chapter 6 Analysis and Review on Relative Aspects of Sea DamageFinished analyzing causes directly resulted in the accident, this chapter explains the factors which indirectly influenced the happening and developing of the accident from surveys of classification...