Jökull - 01.12.1969, Page 118

Shipping to reduce the danger of icing in con-
formity with the results of the British research,
although these vessels were not intended for
distant water trawling. Since tliis type of masts
also proved to be so rnuch better in other re-
spects, almost every fishing vessel in Iceland
today, even the smallest, are fitted with tripod
masts. But there are still several ice catching
structures on fishing vessels, which could be
removed or redesigned to reduce icing.
THE DANGER OF ICING
AND SHIP LOSSES
Loss of ships due to icing happerts apparent-
ly periodically but without regularity. This is
to be expected to some extent since the vessels
are able to carry a certain amount of ice (pro-
vided careful handling and paying due respect
to the danger from icing) and the fishing
banks in northern waters are often close to
arctic weather conditions (areas, with extreme
cold in winter). When fishing vessels are locat-
ed in these waters, they can always expect
icing, should the arctic conditions appear
suddenly and unexpectedly. Reliable weather
forecast and withdrawal from the area as
quickly as possible are therefore often the
safest, and sometimes the only safe protection
of the ship as stated in the British report.
On February 8th 1959, the Icelandic trawler
Júlí was lost with all hands on the New-
Foundland fishing banks. Therefore, no one
can tell what actually happened, but there is
hardly any doubt, that icing was the reason
for that loss. The Icelandic trawler Thorkell
Mani was nearly lost at the same time in the
same area because of icing and rnany other
Icelandic and German trawlers in the area
were in serious danger due to very heavy icing
but also storm and drifting ice.
After arrival of the Icelandic trawlers from
tlie New-Foundland fishing banks a sea-court
of inquiry looked into reasons for the loss of
Júlí and studied the icing on board of the
trawler Thorkell Mani (722 GRT in size).
These inquiries proved to be very valuable, as
it is rare that anyone survives to describe what
actually happened when icing is as severe as
it was on the New-Foundland fishing banks
during these fatal clays of February, 1959.
114 JÖKULL 19. ÁR
The weather was northwesterly winds, wincl-
force 11 BFT., snowing and frost. On Sunclay,
the 8th of February, the whole crew of ntt
Thorkell Mani was continuously occupied in
removing ice with axes and other equipment
from rigging, forecastle and other super-struc-
ture. At 5.30 p.m. the ship had a bad list to
portside. The portside life-boat was then re-
moved from the vessel into the sea. After some
time the vessel had a bad list to the starboard
side, so the starboard lifeboat was also remov-
ed. As the crew had difficulties in removing
the ice which accumulated very quickly, the
first engineer cut away the boatdavits, both
on starboard and portside. At the same time
everything removable on deck was discharged
into the sea, except the inflatable life rafts,
whicli were kept ready, but not inflated. At
midnight on the 8th of February the situa-
tion was a little better, ancl the crew had some
rest for few hours. But before dawn on Mon-
day the 9th of February, is was again necessary
to remove ice, which hacl accumulated during
the night. All members of the crew continued
that work on deck during Monday. In the
morning another Icelandic trawler, Marz, had
succeeded in finding the trawler Thorkell
Mani in spite of the icing on all antennac,
and was now in sight, prepared for rescue if
neecled. The work on removing the ice was
continued on both trawlers during that day
and until 4.30 in the following morning when
both trawlers left the New-Foundland fishing
banks and sailed at full speed to Reykjavík.
There had been altogether 10 Icelandic trawl-
ers on the New-Foundland fishing banks when
the bad weather sudclenly broke out, and the
last trawlers to leave the banks were the Thor-
kell Mani and Marz.
Icelandic trawlers had already been fitted
witli inliatable liferafts before the difficulties
and loss at the New Foundland fishing banks,
but as a result of this, Icelandic rules were
altered so, that instead of rigid lifeboats under
davits, permanently inflated lifeboats arnid-
ships are since then permitted and the vessels
are fitted with axes and clubs for the removal
of ice.
The recent losses of the British trawlers
Ross Cleveland and Kingston Peridot in Ice-
landic waters in January ancl February, 1968,