Gas on ferry at Plymouth (1 Viewer)

[Jimbohorlicks]

I have never yet been through the tunnel and not had my gas bottles checked to be sure that they are off!

Yes same here at the shuttle terminal , outward and return .Specifically asked if my gas was turned off . Had to show the attendant at the entry booth that my gas bottles were turned off. She didn't ask anything else and was just concerned re the gas bottles being off.

 

[DT]

We filled our fridge with bottles of cold water to pack it full. Place one ice cube in a plastic bag in the freezer compartment and check that upon disembarkation. Never had a problem on Portsmouth to Santander during late September.

 

[autorouter]

What's the benefit of running through the inverter if it will run on 12v? Surely it will use the same power, but just incur inverter losses?
We put ours on 12v on ferries on the basis that any power taken from the battery will be replenished from the drive when we get there.

I think when on 12V it doesn't have a thermostat so it's on all the time, but on inverter the thermostat kicks in so it saves more power than the extra power wasted. But I must admit there's an element of 'because I can'. Like when I boiled a kettle from the inverter in the Tunnel, even though I didn't really want a cup of tea.

The other thing, in my case, is that the batteries are 48V lithium, so for the 12V fridge the power would have to be converted either up to 230V or down to 12V.

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[DuxDeluxe]

There was never a cross channel disaster caused by open bow doors before Herald of Free Enterprise..BUSBY.

No but the same free surface effect has capsized many ferries in the past. When doing my 1st mate’s ticket it was one of the stability exercises as it is a well known risk. 2 cm of water and all stability is completely destroyed. After Herald the ships were redesigned and inherent safety much improved.

 

[Bessy765]

When we had our lithium conversion, I specifically asked that it was installed so I could run the fridge through the inverter. On 240 it is temp controlled on 12 volt it is a constant feed. So although you are turning 12 into 240 the fridge uses less as it’s not on all the time. As to there has never been a fire on a ferry through a fridge being left on gas, I have never won the lottery but it might happen. We have to keep medicine at a constant temp.

 

[autorouter]

No but the same free surface effect has capsized many ferries in the past. When doing my 1st mate’s ticket it was one of the stability exercises as it is a well known risk. 2 cm of water and all stability is completely destroyed. After Herald the ships were redesigned and inherent safety much improved.

Some weeks before the HFE disaster, I remember going down to the car deck just as the ferry (not the one that overturned) was leaving the harbour, and the bow doors were fully open. I wasn't supposed to be down there, I was going back for something I forgot. The sea was flat calm, and no chance of water getting in. When I went back up on deck, I remember it was several minutes into the voyage when the bow doors were finally closed. I don't know if it was common to do this, but none of the crew on the car deck seemed bothered we were at sea.

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[DuxDeluxe]

Some weeks before the HFE disaster, I remember going down to the car deck just as the ferry (not the one that overturned) was leaving the harbour, and the bow doors were fully open. I wasn't supposed to be down there, I was going back for something I forgot. The sea was flat calm, and no chance of water getting in. When I went back up on deck, I remember it was several minutes into the voyage when the bow doors were finally closed. I don't know if it was common to do this, but none of the crew on the car deck seemed bothered we were at sea.

If you are bored, have a read of the MAIB report on it. Utterly shocking. The HFE was not only overloaded but also badly trimmed down by the head (which alone must have made the ship handle horribly) and the guy who was supposed to close the door was asleep as he thought someone else did it…….. etc, etc. Management failures were just as bad

 

[OldCodger]

Brittany Ferries neither ask nor check that gas is off in the Spanish routes.

On our last trip over “someone” left the lights on in our van. I had to return to the car deck to switch them off (under escort!) and the bow and stern doors were open. There was a howling gale blowing through the car deck.

But the tunnel check every time!

 

[Bailey58]

Against maritime regulations to have an open flame on a car deck. Only an idiot would do it.
I really think ferry operators should be more diligent about vehicles with gas appliances.
Apart from the tunnel Newhaven is the only port I been to that checks.
Anyone who runs there fridge on gas on a ferry should be banned for life from ferries.

You're being too lenient Lenny, they should open the bow doors and make the offender drive off the ship.

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[Stewart J]

As a retired seagoing marine engineer with 41 years experience the biggest fear and danger on any vessel at sea is a fire. Nuff said.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

As a retired seagoing marine engineer with 41 years experience the biggest fear and danger on any vessel at sea is a fire. Nuff said.

Fully agree with that. Had one fire and that was one too many

 

[Wh05apk]

But, does your fridge only run on 12v hab battery when the engine is running?

No, I can run on 12v anytime. Uses about 4-5% of battery per hour, so 4-5 hour crossing is not a problem.

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[Reallyretired]

My aes fridge set to 12v runs from alternator when the engine is running and leisure battery when it's not. I think this is common to vans with the electroblock. If set to auto it will change to gas 15mins after the engine is stopped. On the tunnel I usually just turn the fridge off.

 

[Detnor]

As a retired seagoing marine engineer with 41 years experience the biggest fear and danger on any vessel at sea is a fire. Nuff said.

I'm with you Stewart, 20 years a deck officer on cruise ships, 1 major fire with 900+ to evacuate while also fighting the fire. Nobody wants to go there, the law is there for a reason.

 

[OldCodger]

I'm with you Stewart, 20 years a deck officer on cruise ships, 1 major fire with 900+ to evacuate while also fighting the fire. Nobody wants to go there, the law is there for a reason.

Understand and support this - so why don’t Brittany Ferries check? And why do they sail with the “bow and stern doors” (sorry if that’s the wrong term) open? Its not the ramps they were up.

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[DelMar]

Just a thought but I don't ever recall there being a fire on a cross channel ferry car deck.

The Greek ferry caught fire and people lost their lives, others had to be rescued.

 

[Bucket]

Having used various mediterranian ferry companies such as Corsica it was nice to be able to plug in to the EHU provided for lorries etc.
I'd like to think Britanny and the others on our routes would allow this, even for an additional charge?
I've noticed the hook up outlets are available but of course they don't let you use them. Why?

 

[Yamas]

Just two things to add. One, we have been on a cross channel ferry were there was a fire on the lorry deck, not a nice experience at all. Tannoies relaying information alarms sounding and shop staff as frightened as the passenger's. Fortunately the crew dealt with the situation very quickly, but definitely not an experienced I would want to go through again.
Secondly don't we all turn our gas off to drive anyway

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[busby]

Having used various mediterranian ferry companies such as Corsica it was nice to be able to plug in to the EHU provided for lorries etc.
I'd like to think Britanny and the others on our routes would allow this, even for an additional charge?
I've noticed the hook up outlets are available but of course they don't let you use them. Why?

Can't see the need for hookup..30 hrs to Spain ..few ice blocks or bottles of frozen water in fridge and it's still cold on arrival..BUSBY.

 

[Bucket]

Can't see the need for hookup..30 hrs to Spain ..few ice blocks or bottles of frozen water in fridge and it's still cold on arrival..BUSBY.

Your fridge must be better than mine

 

[busby]

Your fridge must be better than mine

Your fridge must be better than mine

22 years old now....BUSBY.

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[Beltie]

Understand and support this - so why don’t Brittany Ferries check? And why do they sail with the “bow and stern doors” (sorry if that’s the wrong term) open? Its not the ramps they were up.

Pre HFE, it was commonplace to set sail with doors open albeit usually wihin the harbour confines.

I've never seen another instance of sailing with open doors since that disaster.

 

[OldCodger]

Pre HFE, it was commonplace to set sail with doors open albeit usually wihin the harbour confines.

I've never seen another instance of sailing with open doors since that disaster.

So, what did I see? The were doors open.

 

[Brains]

Just a thought but I don't ever recall there being a fire on a cross channel ferry car deck.

Here are 38 recent fires on ships caused by a vehicle.

As an FYI 'Reefer' is the maritime word for a refrigerator

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[Kups]

Here are 38 recent fires on ships caused by a vehicle.

View attachment 880356
As an FYI 'Reefer' is the maritime word for a refrigerator

So no fires due to LPG then.

 

[bigtwin]

So no fires due to LPG then.

A good indicator that the current regulations are an effective means of preventing such occurrences.

Ian

 

[Dart]

So, what did I see? The were doors open.

Probably the crew keeping the doors open for a (hopefully) brief period within the harbour to clear fumes from the car deck. Also, on some ferries one of the decks well above the waterline is open at the stern so some vehicles end up parked in the open.

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[busby]

So no fires due to LPG then.

L.P.G will only cause a fire with the help of a naked flame or other source of ignition...BUSBY

 

[DuxDeluxe]

So no fires due to LPG then.

Do you want to be the first, then?

 

[Beltie]

L.P.G will only cause a fire with the help of a naked flame or other source of ignition...BUSBY

Like a fridge burner perhaps!

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