Episode 0005 The Vanishing of the Mineral Diamond Rogue Waves, Hidden Flaws, and a Maritime Mystery скачать в хорошем качестве

Episode 0005 The Vanishing of the Mineral Diamond Rogue Waves, Hidden Flaws, and a Maritime Mystery

This Episode synthesizes information regarding the bulk carrier Mineral Diamond and its operations in April 1991, culminating in a search and rescue operation and subsequent investigation. It also outlines the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) guidelines for ballast water and sediment discharge from overseas vessels entering Australian waters. The Mineral Diamond, a Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier, sailed from Dampier, Western Australia, on April 11, 1991, bound for Ijmuiden, Netherlands. A search and rescue operation was initiated after the vessel failed to send its next scheduled message, with the search abandoned on April 24, 1991, assuming the vessel foundered with the loss of all hands approximately 1500 miles west of Perth. Investigations indicate the most probable cause of the loss was "sudden catastrophic structural failure, resulting in rapid foundering," likely exacerbated by high shear stress loadings at the bulkhead at frame 53, which were "greatly increased in abnormal sea conditions and therefore may have been a contributing factor to the loss." Significant wave heights reaching up to 14 meters were experienced between April 17-18, 1991, in the vicinity of the vessel. Separately, Australian guidelines highlight the significant risk of introducing toxic and harmful marine organisms through ballast water and sediment, emphasizing the need for robust management protocols to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning and other environmental threats.