Now and then

In 1976 the UK National Maritime Institute completed a model of the MFV Gaul. The subsequent model tests and associated research took more than two years. The model was operated in the towing tank at NMI Feltham and then tested in real sea conditions, in Christchurch Bay.

PHOTO ALBUM

The NMI conclusions, set out in their report of 1978, confirmed that: in the intact condition the stability of the mv Gaul was adequate. The stability of the vessel would be reduced to a dangerous level only when the factory deck was in a partially flooded condition.

(Anybody interested in viewing the official records of this research, can view the original clip HERE)

Prior to the 2004 Re-opened Formal Investigation, the Marine Research Institute of Netherlands was contracted to build a new model of the Gaul and test its survivability under various parameters. This model was afterwards tested in a water tank that simulated the waves and winds on a proportional scale. MARIN also carried out a FREDYN time domain computer simulation of the vessel’s behaviour in various operational and environmental conditions.

PHOTO ALBUM (click NEXT on the right panel)

The results of the 2003 MARIN model tests confirmed that: rapid accumulation of water on the factory deck would sink the vessel.

(Anybody interested in viewing the official records of this research, can view one of the original clips HERE)