All language subtitles for Disasters.at.Sea.S01E06.Torn.Apart.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

A SUDDEN ALARM
ON THE ENGLISH CHANNEL...

MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
THIS IS THE MSC NAPOLI.

...LEAVES 26 MEN
IN DESPERATE NEED

OF A DARING RESCUE.

LET'S GO!

IF YOU LOSE THE ENGINE ROOM
ON A SHIP,

YOU'VE LOST THE SHIP.

ABANDON SHIP!

IN MY HEAD,
I START FREAKING OUT,

AND I START TO THINK,

I'M NOT SURE
ANYBODY CAN SAVE US.

THE WAVES AND THE UPWELLING
WAS MASSIVE,

AND THE WIND WAS HORRIFIC.

I MIGHT NEVER
MAKE THAT LIFE RAFT.

WHY DID A STATE-OF-THE-ART SHIP

SPLIT APART?

IT'S A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE.

NEVER REALLY SEEN
AN INCIDENT LIKE IT.

AND CAN AN ANSWER BE FOUND...

THERE'S NOT MUCH MARGIN
FOR ERROR HERE.

...BEFORE DISASTER
STRIKES AGAIN?

-ABANDON SHIP!
-AH!

GO!

IT'S A STORMY WINTER
DAY ON THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THE CONTAINER SHIP
MSC NAPOLI IS SAILING WEST,

LOADED WITH MORE THAN
2,300 SHIPPING CONTAINERS

FILLED WITH EVERYTHING
FROM CAMCORDERS TO DINNERWARE

TO AUTO PARTS.

STATUS REPORT, PLEASE.

VALENTIN VELEV IS IN COMMAND.

MAINTAINING COURSE
AND SPEED, CAPTAIN.

AND I'VE GOT
THE LATEST MET REPORT.

A VETERAN MARINER,
HE'S SERVED AS MASTER

ON THE MASSIVE CARGO SHIP
FOR FIVE YEARS.

THEY'RE VERY LARGE SHIPS.

WALK ONE END TO THE OTHER
ON THE NAPOLI

WOULD TAKE PROBABLY TEN MINUTES.

TODAY THE CAPTAIN'S
FACING A CHALLENGE.

THE SHIP IS IN GALE-FORCE WINDS
AND HEAVY SEAS.

WELCOME TO JANUARY IN
THE NORTH ATLANTIC, EH, CADETS?

HAPPY TO BE HERE
IN ANY WEATHER, SIR.

FORBES DUTHIE
IS ON BOARD AS A DECK CADET,

TRYING TO LEARN THE COMPLEX
OPERATION OF THESE SHIPS.

HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU.

YOU JUST TEND TO FIT
INTO THE ROUTINE

OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY
ON BOARD, THE MAIN SHIP'S CREW,

THEY'RE THE ONES
TO LEAD YOU AND TRAIN YOU,

SO YOU REALLY PAY ATTENTION
TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THE NAPOLI IS ON
ITS WAY FROM ANTWERP, BELGIUM,

TO THE PORT OF SINES
IN PORTUGAL.

COME TO PORT, PLEASE,
TO 2-2-0 DEGREES.

COMING TO PORT,
2-2-0 DEGREES.

BUT CAPTAIN VELEV
IS RUNNING BEHIND.

IT COULD BE HARD
TO MAKE UP THE TIME.

AT 904 FEET,
THE SHIP IS THE LENGTH

OF TWO AND A HALF
FOOTBALL FIELDS.

BUT, DESPITE ITS SIZE,

PLOWING THROUGH 30-FOOT WAVES
AT HIGH SPEED

COULD DAMAGE THE SHIP
AND ITS CARGO CONTAINERS.

KEN POTTER IS
A MARINE SAFETY CONSULTANT

WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
AT SEA.

HE KNOWS WHAT THE CAPTAIN
WAS FACING.

WHEN THE WIND COMES AROUND

TO THE SIDE OF A CONTAINER SHIP,
THEY TEND TO ROLL,

AND A LOT OF THE WEIGHT
OF THOSE CONTAINERS IS UP HIGH,

SO THEY TEND TO ROLL MORE
AND DEEPER.

THE CAPTAIN NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN

TO KEEP THE SHIP
AND ITS CARGO SAFE.

CHIEF. ENGINE ROOM.

THIS IS THE CAPTAIN.

REDUCE ENGINE SPEED NOW
TO 71 RPM.

GOT IT, CAPTAIN.

AS DUTHIE'S SHIFT ENDS,

THE PITCH AND ROLL OF THE SHIP
IS INCREASING.

HE'LL HAVE TO REST
AMID THE ROUGH MOTION

THAT MARINERS
LEARN TO ENDURE AT SEA.

YOU COULD TELL THERE WAS
A BIT OF WEATHER OUTSIDE,

BUT SHE WAS ROLLING
RELATIVELY EASILY,

SO WE HAD A GREAT SLEEP.

BY THE NEXT MORNING,

THE SHIP'S MOTION
IS GETTING MORE VIOLENT.

WHEN YOU'RE
GOING INTO A HEAD SEA,

YOU'RE, YOU'RE BOUNDING
AND SLAMMING.

IT'S LIKE A HAMMER COMING DOWN,
YOU KNOW, SLAMMING INTO THE SEA.

AROUND 10:00 IN THE MORNING,

I REMEMBER HEARING A LARGE BANG.

DAMN IT!

WE'VE GOT FLOODING
IN THE ENGINE ROOM!

GET DOWN THERE AND TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT'S GOING ON!

A PIPE FROM ONE OF THE
SEAWATER PUMPS HAS TORN OPEN.

IT'S A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

IF THE FLOODING CONTINUES,

THE ENGINE COULD SHUT DOWN,
LEAVING THE NAPOLI HELPLESS.

IF THAT HAPPENS

WHEN YOU'RE
IN HEAVY WEATHER CONDITIONS,

YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL
OF YOUR SHIP ANYMORE.

AND THE SHIP COULD BROACH,

WHICH MEANS TURN SIDEWAYS
AND START TO CAPSIZE.

IN HIS CABIN,
ALL DUTHIE KNOWS

IS THAT THE SHIP
IS STILL ENDURING THE STORM.

IT WAS AT THAT TIME
OF MORNING THAT I WAS,

REALLY HAD TO START
GETTING MYSELF READY

FOR, FOR GOING UP TO THE BRIDGE
AND ATTENDING MY WATCH.

AND WHEN I WAS IN THE SHOWER,

THE DYNAMIC MOTION
OF THE VESSEL,

IT JUST SEEMED LIKE
OUT OF CONTROL.

I WAS BEING THROWN AROUND.

ALARM BELLS STARTED TO GO OFF
IN MY HEAD.

A HUGE SHIP LIKE THIS
SHOULDN'T BE MOVING IN THIS WAY.

IN THE ENGINE ROOM,

THE THIRD ENGINEER
WORKS DESPERATELY

TO CLOSE THE CUTOFF VALVE.

BUT IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.

THE ENGINE ROOM
IS FILLING WITH WATER.

YOU KNOW, HIS IMMEDIATE
REACTION IS GOING TO BE,

"HOW COULD THIS
POSSIBLY HAPPEN?"

BRIDGE.

CAPTAIN, WE'RE
IN SERIOUS TROUBLE DOWN HERE.

THE ENGINE ROOM IS FLOODING.

WE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN
THE ENGINES.

UNDERSTOOD.

IF YOU LOSE
THE ENGINE ROOM ON A SHIP,

YOU'VE LOST THE SHIP.

IT'S EVERY CAPTAIN'S
WORST NIGHTMARE.

GRAYDON HALGE IS A FORMER
CONTAINER SHIP CAPTAIN.

HE KNOWS THE GRAVITY
OF THIS SITUATION.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE POWER,

THEN YOU'RE AT THE MERCY
OF THE SEA--

THE LAST THING YOU WANT
IN BAD WEATHER.

WITHIN THE SPACE
OF A FEW MINUTES,

THE SHIP'S MOTION ALMOST BECAME
LIKE IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL.

SO, I THOUGHT, OKAY, I'M GONNA
GET MYSELF INTO MY WORK CLOTHING

AND GO UP TO THE BRIDGE.

THE HALLWAY
IS LITTERED WITH BAGS

FROM THE CREW'S IMMERSION SUITS,

SUITS THEY WEAR
IF THEY HAVE TO ABANDON SHIP,

AND THEY'RE EMPTY.

I WAS SHOCKED
BY WHAT APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME.

THE WHOLE ALLEYWAY
WAS JUST STREWN

WITH THESE IMMERSION SUIT BAGS,

WHICH IS NOT A NORMAL SIGHT,

I THINK,
ON ANY SHIP IN THE WORLD.

GO TO THE PROVISIONS LOCKER.

GRAB AS MUCH BOTTLED WATER
AS YOU CAN!

I KNEW, AS SOON
AS I LOOKED AT THOSE GUYS,

THIS IS NOT A NORMAL DRILL.

YOU DON'T PUT ON YOUR IMMERSION
SUIT FOR A NORMAL DRILL.

THE CADETS. OH, MY GOD!

GO GET THE OTHER CADET.
GO, GO!

THE CHIEF OFFICER
AT THE TIME

LOOKED AT ME
WITH THESE HUGE EYES,

AND HE WAS LIKE,
"THE CADETS! OH, MY GOD!

GO AND GET YOUR FRIEND,
GO AND GET YOUR FRIEND!"

DUTHIE HURRIES
TO HELP MAKE SURE

EVERYONE IS ACCOUNTED FOR.

NICK!

I REACHED NICK'S CABIN, AND
I STARTED BANGING ON THE DOOR.

NICK, NICK!
YOU'VE GOT TO WAKE UP!

GET YOUR SUIT ON.
WE'VE GOT TO GO TO THE BRIDGE!

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

HELL IF I KNOW.
LET'S GO NOW!

THE NAPOLI IS CRIPPLED

AND TAKING ON WATER
50 MILES FROM THE NEAREST LAND.

OUT OF OPTIONS, THE CAPTAIN
PUTS OUT A FINAL DISTRESS CALL.

MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
THIS IS THE MSC NAPOLI.

WE ARE MAKING OUR WAY
TO THE LIFEBOATS.

I WAS LIKE, THIS CAN'T BE REAL.

THIS IS, THIS IS CRAZY.

THIS SHIP IS HUGE.
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

THE CREW OF THE MSC NAPOLI

IS TRAPPED
IN A DEADLY EMERGENCY.

OUTSIDE THE BRIDGE,
THE CHIEF ENGINEER

SHOWS DECK CADET FORBES DUTHIE
THE CAUSE--

A MASSIVE VERTICAL CRACK
IN THE SHIP'S HULL.

YOU COULD SEE
THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE THERE.

AND IN MY HEAD,
I STARTED FREAKING OUT.

ALL SORTS OF EMOTIONS
STARTED GOING THROUGH MY MIND.

WHEN A SHIP BREAKS IN TWO,

ONE OR BOTH SECTIONS CAPSIZE,

SO BEFORE THE SHIP ACTUALLY
SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES,

THE CAPTAIN
HAD TO GET HIS CREW OFF.

ABANDON SHIP!

AS SOON AS THE CAPTAIN
SAID, "ABANDON SHIP,"

IT WAS LIKE A TRAIN.

EVERYONE JUST STARTED GOING
TOWARDS THE LIFEBOAT STATION.

ABANDONING A SHIP IS NEVER EASY,

AND IN THE CONDITIONS
THEY WERE IN,

UM, IT WAS
EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.

I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

ALL 26 NAPOLI CREWMEMBERS

ARE CRAMMED
INTO A CAPSULE-LIKE LIFEBOAT.

IT WILL KEEP THEM ALIVE
IN THE VIOLENT SEAS,

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE
A ROUGH RIDE.

ADRIFT ON THE THRESHOLD
OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC,

THE NEAREST HELP
IS 60 MILES AWAY,

AT THE ROYAL NAVY AIR STATION
CULDROSE IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND.

ROYAL NAVY RESCUE DIVER
JAY O'DONNELL

WAS THERE THAT DAY.

I WAS THE ONLY DIVER

ON THE SQUADRON FOR THAT DAY,

AND WE WERE A BIT CONCERNED

BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING
BUBBLING UP ON THE RADIO.

AND THEN THE ALARM WENT.

GET AIRBORNE.
THERE'S 26 PEOPLE IN THE WATER.

O'DONNELL KNOWS
THE STORMY WEATHER

IS GOING TO MAKE THIS
A TOUGH RESCUE.

AND I COULD NOT
BELIEVE THE WEATHER.

YOU COULD LOOK OUT THE WINDOW,

AND IT WAS GETTING
WORSE AND WORSE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THE SEA
SO ANGRY IN MY LIFE.

THIS IS CAPTAIN VELEV
OF THE MSC NAPOLI.

WE'VE ABANDONED SHIP, AND WE ARE
IN A LIFEBOAT IN THE CHANNEL.

DO YOU COPY?

YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE
INSIDE A WASHING MACHINE.

I MEAN, YOU WERE BEING
THROWN ABOUT.

BECAUSE IT'S SO WELL-SEALED
INSIDE, AS WELL,

THE TEMPERATURE,
IT RISES QUITE QUICKLY.

YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE
IN A SAUNA, IF NOT WORSE.

TO BE IN A LIFEBOAT
WITH THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE

IN CONFINED CONDITIONS,

IT'S PROBABLY
THE MOST HORRENDOUS EXPERIENCE

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.

IT'S ALMOST GUARANTEED

THAT EVERY PERSON
ON THE LIFEBOAT WILL BE SEASICK.

THIS IS CAPTAIN VELEV
OF THE MSC NAPOLI.

DO YOU COPY?

THERE WAS A PORTABLE VHF RADIO,

AND WE TRIED USING THAT
TO CONTACT,

BUT FOR SOME REASON,
THAT JUST DIDN'T WORK.

AND I STARTED TO THINK, I'M NOT
SURE ANYBODY CAN SAVE US.

BUT THEN
YOU COULD HEAR SOMETHING

THAT SEEMED REALLY FAR AWAY,

BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE
IT WAS A HELICOPTER.

ROYAL NAVY
SEARCH AND RESCUE

HAVE SPOTTED THE LIFEBOAT,

BUT JAY O'DONNELL
KNOWS FINDING IT

IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP.

THE WAVES
AND THE UPWELLING WAS MASSIVE,

AND THE WIND WAS HORRIFIC.

IT WAS 70 KNOTS STEADY.

AND I JUST THOUGHT I MIGHT
NEVER MAKE THAT LIFE RAFT.

IT WAS JUST
GETTING THROWN AROUND.

WEARING A HARNESS
SECURED TO A LIFELINE,

O'DONNELL IS LOWERED
TOWARD THE LIFEBOAT.

IT'S RISING AND FALLING
IN SURGING 40-FOOT WAVES.

I ACTUALLY GOT
IN THE WATER AT ONE POINT,

SWIMMING TOWARDS IT,

THINKING HE'S JUST GONNA PAY THE
CABLE OUT SO I CAN GET TO IT,

AND THE NEXT MINUTE,
I'M SWIMMING IN ABSOLUTE MIDAIR.

INSIDE THE LIFEBOAT,
THE CREW CAN ONLY WAIT AND HOPE.

WE WEREN'T IN THERE
JUST FOR FIVE MINUTES.

UH, THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY
THREE HOURS

WE WERE IN THAT LIFEBOAT FOR,
AND IT SEEMED LIKE WEEKS.

BUT JAY O'DONNELL
IS NEARLY THERE.

BALANCING CAREFULLY
ON THE OUTSIDE,

HE OPENS THE DOOR AND GREETS

WHAT HE THINKS WILL BE
A FRENCH-SPEAKING CREW.

BONJOUR! CÇA VA?

I THINK HE INITIALLY,

MAYBE HE WAS TOLD
IT WAS A FRENCH VESSEL.

IT WAS HORRIBLE IN THERE.

THEY WERE SEASICK,

AND THEY WERE DESPERATE
TO GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION,

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY--

YOU COULD SEE THE FEAR
IN THEIR EYES.

THEY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK

THEY THOUGHT
THEY WERE BEING RESCUED.

ANYBODY HURT?

QUITE QUICKLY,
HE UNDERSTOOD

WE WERE ACTUALLY
ENGLISH-SPEAKING, ALL OF US,

AND HE REASSURED US,

HE SAYS, "WE'RE GONNA GET YOU
ALL OFF SAFELY."

O'DONNELL'S NEXT TASK
IS TO GET EVERYONE UP TO SAFETY

AS FAST AS HE CAN.

THE CHOPPER HAS LIMITED FUEL...

OKAY, YOU, COME ON.

...SO TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

I'M GONNA
HOOK YOU UP TO THE HARNESS.

I TRIED TO GIVE THEM
SOME SORT OF A SAFETY BRIEF,

AND I SAID,
"THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO--

ARMS DOWN BY SIDE,
ON YOUR KNEES."

PUT THE RESCUE STRAP ON THEM,

AND THEN GIVE THEM A BIG NOD
TO SAY, "YOU READY TO GO?"

OKAY, UP!

THERE WAS LITERALLY ENOUGH SPACE
FOR ME TO KNEEL

AND A TINY OTHER SQUARE
TO GET ONE PERSON OFF AT A TIME.

READY?

ONE BY ONE,
HE HELPS THE SURVIVORS

OUT OF THE STORM-TOSSED LIFEBOAT

AND ONTO THE CABLE
THAT WILL WINCH THEM TO SAFETY.

THEN HE RETURNS
FOR THE NEXT SURVIVOR.

OKAY, COME ON!
NEXT ONE, LET'S GO!

IT WAS KIND OF KEY
TO MAKE IT QUICK AND SAFE.

UP TO THE STRAP. COME ON!

I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I WAS SEEING THEN,

BUT YET THERE WAS
SO MUCH RELIEF.

I'M SAFE NOW.

I'M GONNA BE GOING INTO
THAT HELICOPTER, AND I'M OKAY.

AND IT WAS JUST
A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE.

OKAY, NEXT ONE, LET'S GO!

AFTER 90 TENSE MINUTES,

JAY O'DONNELL MANAGES
TO HOIST THE FINAL SURVIVOR

TO SAFETY.

OH, GOD!

THAT FEELING IS,
LIKE, YOU KNOW,

REALLY EXHILARATING FEELING.

WE DID IT.

THE RESCUE MISSION

TO GET US OUT
OF THAT CATASTROPHIC SITUATION--

THAT'S AN AMAZING JOB.

I CAN'T BELIEVE, LIKE,
SOMEONE WOULD RISK THEIR LIFE

FOR OTHERS LIKE THAT.

THE ENTIRE CREW
IS SAFELY ASHORE,

BUT THE NAPOLI IS STRANDED

NEAR THE WESTERN END
OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL,

TAKING ON WATER
THROUGH THE CRACK IN ITS HULL.

SALVAGE EXPERTS WARN AUTHORITIES

THE NAPOLI COULD BE A TICKING
ENVIRONMENTAL TIME BOMB.

SHE WAS CARRYING

4,000 CUBIC METERS
OF HEAVY FUEL OIL.

THAT'S A SUBSTANCE LIKE TAR.
DON'T THINK OF IT AS OIL.

IT REALLY IS HORRIBLE.

AT THE TIME,

ROBIN MIDDLETON
WAS THE UK'S SOSREP,

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
REPRESENTATIVE

FOR MARITIME SALVAGE
AND INTERVENTION.

HIS TASK--SAFEGUARD LIFE
AND THE ENVIRONMENT

FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

WHEN THE NAPOLI
INCIDENT OCCURRED,

UH, I WAS DUE TO RETIRE,

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE IT TOOK ME
A LITTLE BY SURPRISE.

MIDDLETON KNOWS
WHAT'S AT RISK.

JUST FIVE YEARS BEFORE,
AN OIL TANKER SANK

AND SPILLED ITS CONTENTS,
WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS.

WE'D HAD THE PRESTIGE,

WHICH HAD SPILLED OIL
ALL OVER THE BEACHES OF SPAIN.

NAPOLI WOULD HAVE PUT OIL

ALL OVER THE BEACHES
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

TO AVOID A SIMILAR DISASTER,

THE TEAM WANTS TO TOW
THE CRIPPLED NAPOLI

TO A SHELTERED AREA

WHERE THEY CAN START TO UNLOAD
THE HAZARDOUS CONTENTS,

BUT THERE'S A DANGER.

THE CRACKED SHIP
MIGHT NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH

TO SURVIVE BEING TOWED THROUGH
THE ROUGH CHANNEL WATERS.

ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GET THE STRUCTURE GUYS IN

TO HAVE A LOOK.

AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM
OF SALVAGE EXPERTS

IS ASKED TO WEIGH IN.

WITH NOT MUCH MORE TO GO ON

THAN JUST A PHOTOGRAPH
OF, UH, WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CRACK

DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HULL.

NAVAL ARCHITECT CHRIS EARL

WAS A CONSULTANT ON THE CASE.

WE HAD TO SORT OF MAKE
A BIT OF A JUDGMENT CALL

TO WORK OUT WHETHER IT WAS SAFE
TO TRY AND TOW IT OR NOT.

IF THE SHIP SINKS
IN DEEP WATER,

IT COULD MAKE CLEANUP
EVEN HARDER.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

SO RISKING THE TOW
SEEMS LIKE THE BEST OPTION.

THE QUESTION NOW IS, WHERE?

WE HAD TO TAKE IT SOMEWHERE

WHERE IT COULD BE SHELTERED,

SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO SHORE
OR A PORT OR A HARBOR.

HE NEEDS TO WATCH OUT
FOR POWERFUL CURRENTS

AND MAKING FOR THE BRITISH COAST

LOOKS SAFER
THAN HEADING TO FRANCE.

HE ZEROES IN ON SEVERAL
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS

ALONG THE UK SIDE
OF THE CHANNEL.

DRAGGING HER BROAD ON TO THE SEA

AND THE WIND AND THE WEATHER

WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY
CAUSE HER TO BREAK UP.

IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION
HE'S GOT TO MAKE,

AND HE HASN'T GOT
THE LUXURY OF TIME

TO TRY AND MAKE THAT CALL.

IT'S GOT TO BE PORTLAND.

SHOW ME THE ROUTE TO PORTLAND.

MIDDLETON
HAS FIXED ON PORTLAND,

A FORMER NAVAL STATION
ON BRITAIN'S SOUTH COAST

THAT'S SHELTERED
FROM THE OPEN SEA.

AS THE TOW GETS UNDER WAY,

A DIFFERENT BRANCH
OF THE GOVERNMENT

IS ALREADY TRYING TO WORK OUT
WHAT CAUSED THE DISASTER.

TONY BROWN
WAS A PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR

WITH BRITAIN'S MARINE ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION BRANCH.

AT THE TIME, IT WAS
STILL AN ONGOING ABANDONMENT,

AND WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW
WAS WHAT SORT OF FAILURE IT WAS,

SO THOSE INITIAL STAGES
WAS ALL VERY MUCH A CASE

OF TRYING TO GET AS MUCH
EVIDENCE TOGETHER AS WE CAN.

SOMETHING
TORE THE NAPOLI APART.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT WAS IT?

THANK YOU FOR COMING.
PLEASE, TAKE A SEAT.

HAPPY TO HELP.

WITH THE NAPOLI
STILL BEING TOWED TO SHORE,

INVESTIGATORS TURN
TO THEIR BEST AVAILABLE SOURCE

OF INFORMATION...

UH, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?

...THE CREW
WHO SURVIVED THE DISASTER.

I WANT YOU TO TELL US
WHAT HAPPENED.

WELL, UH, WE HAD
AN ENGINE ROOM FLOODING ALARM.

MEMORY FADES, SO WHEN
IT COMES TO EYEWITNESSES,

IT'S BEST TO GET THERE
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

DAMN IT!

WE'VE GOT FLOODING
IN THE ENGINE ROOM!

GET DOWN THERE AND TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT'S GOING ON!

THE PIPE SEPARATED LIKE THIS.

ALL RIGHT.

THE THIRD ENGINEER
HAD A FRONT-ROW SEAT

TO THE CATASTROPHE,

AND HE ADDS A CURIOUS DETAIL
ABOUT THE FLOODING.

AND THERE WAS
THIS, THIS WALL OF OILY WATER.

THE WATER WAS THICK WITH OIL.

THIS WALL OF WATER
THAT THE ENGINEER DESCRIBED,

THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US
AT THAT STAGE.

THAT GAVE US A REALLY GOOD
PICTURE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

LOOK AT THIS.

WE HAVE CRACKING HERE.

AND OILY WATER
MEANS WE HAVE A FAILURE

UNDER THE ENGINE ROOM.

IT'S A CRITICAL LEAD.

IT TELLS THEM THE HULL FAILED

AT WHAT SHOULD BE THE STRONGEST
PART OF THE SHIP'S SKELETON.

THE SHIP'S KEEL RUNS ALONG THE
ENTIRE CENTER LINE OF THE BOTTOM

AND HELPS SUPPORT
THE STRUCTURE OF THE VESSEL.

A FAILURE HERE
IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF.

IT'S A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE.

CONTAINER SHIPS
VERY, VERY RARELY

HAVE ANY SORT OF STRUCTURAL
FAILURE OF THAT MAGNITUDE.

A FAILURE LIKE THIS
MEANS WHATEVER WENT WRONG

MUST HAVE INVOLVED
UNUSUALLY POWERFUL FORCES.

INVESTIGATORS WONDER
IF THE STORM WAS EXTREME ENOUGH

TO EXPLAIN IT.

THE NAPOLI WAS SAILING
IN CATEGORY 11 WINDS--

A VIOLENT STORM JUST
ONE STEP SHORT OF A HURRICANE.

WAVE HEIGHT
WAS UP TO NINE METERS,

SO IT WAS,
UH, PRETTY ROUGH SEAS,

NOT ONES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
COMFORTABLE, BY ANY MEANS.

BUT IT'S NOT
THE WEATHER ON ITS OWN

THAT CATCHES
THE INVESTIGATORS' ATTENTION.

I NEARLY FELL OVER
IN THE SHOWER.

WOW.

IT WAS LIKE I WAS
INSIDE OF A WASHING MACHINE.

THE ACCOUNT
OF ONE OF THE OFFICERS

HAVING DIFFICULTY
STANDING UP IN THE SHOWER

AND THE FAILURE BEING PRECEDED

BY SEVERAL
QUITE STRONG STRIKES OF WAVES

KIND OF GAVE US
CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

WHEN A SHIP'S HEADING
INTO LARGE WAVES,

IT CAN EXPERIENCE
A PHENOMENON CALLED SLAMMING.

SLAMMING HAPPENS
WHEN THE BOW DROPS

INTO ONCOMING WAVES

AND THE POWERFUL IMPACTS
REVERBERATE THROUGH THE HULL.

THAT SENDS A JUDDER
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SHIP,

SO YOU CAN REALLY FEEL IT.

THE JUDDERING VIBRATIONS

CAN CAUSE MAJOR STRESS
TO THE HULL,

BUT THE CAPTAIN
WAS AN EXPERIENCED SEAMAN.

CHIEF. ENGINE ROOM.

THIS IS THE CAPTAIN.

REDUCE ENGINE SPEED NOW
TO 71 RPM.

YOU GOT IT, CAPTAIN.

HE ADJUSTED HIS SPEED

AND NEVER FELT ANY SIGN
THE SHIP WAS IN DANGER.

IF YOU TAKE THE ANALOGY
OF SPEED BUMPS IN THE ROAD,

YOU DRIVE OVER SPEED BUMPS
AT 40 MILES AN HOUR,

YOU'RE GONNA DAMAGE YOUR CAR.

SO, THE MASTER HAD SLOWED DOWN.

THE SLAMMING IS ONE MORE SIGN

THE SHIP WAS ENDURING
A ROUGH VOYAGE,

BUT THERE'S NO INDICATION IT WAS
ENOUGH TO TEAR THE SHIP APART.

ALTHOUGH
THE VESSEL WAS POUNDING,

THE BOW WAS POUNDING
INTO THE WAVES,

AND ALTHOUGH THERE WOULD
HAVE BEEN VIBRATION FELT,

IN THIS SITUATION, IT MAY HAVE
SEEMED RELATIVELY SAFE.

THAT WAS JUST A BIT
OF A, A DEAD END FOR US.

IT'S STARTING
TO LOOK LIKE THE ONLY WAY

TO FIND OUT
WHAT TORE THE NAPOLI APART

IS TO GET A LOOK AT THE HULL.

I'D REALLY LOVE
TO GET A LOOK AT THAT SHIP.

BUT THE NAPOLI'S
48-HOUR, 186-MILE JOURNEY

TO PORTLAND
HAS HIT A ROADBLOCK

WITH 37 MILES LEFT
TO THE FINISH LINE.

AT 26 MINUTES PAST 7:00,

A CALL FROM THE SALVAGE MASTER
TO SAY,

THE CRACKS ARE OPENING,

SHE'S TAKING ON MORE WATER,
SHE'S SINKING.

THE NAPOLI IS SINKING FAST.

AND WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL
CATASTROPHE LOOMING,

THE MYSTERY OF WHY IT BROKE UP
MAY HAVE TO WAIT.

NAPOLI'S IN TROUBLE.

ROBIN MIDDLETON
IS BACK IN THE HOT SEAT.

HE'S JUST RECEIVED WORD
THE NAPOLI IS TOO DAMAGED

TO REACH ITS EMERGENCY
BEACHING SITE AT PORTLAND.

IF IT SINKS,

IT COULD RELEASE A MASSIVE
OIL SPILL FAR OFFSHORE,

WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN.

HE'S GOT TO GET
THE SHIP TO SHORE.

IT'S GOT TO BE BRANSCOMBE.

AND THAT MEANS FINDING
SOMEWHERE TO RUN IT AGROUND.

ONCE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS,

THE CLOCK CAN NEVER
BE WOUND BACK.

THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO I PLANNED OUT FOR WHAT
THE WORST CASE COULD BE.

MIDDLETON IS FORCED
TO MAKE A DIFFICULT CHOICE--

BRANSCOMBE BEACH IN LYME BAY.

IT'S CLOSE BY,

BUT IT'S ALSO A UNITED NATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE SITE,

HARDLY THE IDEAL LOCATION TO
GROUND A SHIP FILLED WITH OIL.

ON JANUARY 20, 2007,

THREE DAYS AFTER THE NAPOLI'S
CREW ABANDONED SHIP,

IT'S SUCCESSFULLY BEACHED
LESS THAN A MILE FROM SHORE.

IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION

BECAUSE I HAD EFFECTIVELY
PUT THIS THING ASHORE

IN ONE OF THE MOST
ENVIRONMENTALLY PROTECTED

AND, UH, VULNERABLE AREAS
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LYME BAY RESIDENT AND
COASTGUARD VOLUNTEER ROGER HOARE

IS SENT TO GET EYES
ON THE UNFOLDING SITUATION.

NEVER BEFORE IN MY TIME

HAD I EVER SEEN ANYTHING SO BIG

SO CLOSE TO THE COAST
IN THIS POSITION.

QUITE BIZARRE, SURREAL.

ANY SPILLED OIL
WILL FLOAT TO THE SURFACE,

SO CREWS QUICKLY
SURROUND THE WRECK

WITH MORE THAN HALF A MILE
OF CONTAINMENT BOOMS

TO KEEP IT FROM REACHING SHORE
OR ESCAPING INTO THE CHANNEL.

IF IT'S NOT PROTECTED PROPERLY,

WHEN AN INCIDENT
LIKE THE NAPOLI COMES ALONG,

IT CAN TIP IT OVER THE EDGE

FROM BEING A DISASTER

TO A REAL ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE.

NOW LEAKING OIL COULD
ACTUALLY BE REMOVED FROM THE SEA

AND LITERALLY PUMPED
INTO, UH, CONTAINERS

AND RECOVERED IN THAT WAY.

AND THEY WERE VERY EFFECTIVE
AT IT, TOO, IN THE END.

ROBIN MIDDLETON'S PLAN

TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHIC
OIL SPILL HAS SUCCEEDED,

BUT JUST AS ONE CRISIS
IS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL,

ANOTHER ONE IS LOOMING.

THE BEACHED VESSEL BEGINS
LISTING IN THE ROUGH SEAS,

THROWING MORE THAN
100 CONTAINERS OVERBOARD.

SOME SINK, BUT OTHERS DRIFT OFF,

IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST
SHIPPING LANES IN THE WORLD.

THEY WERE EITHER JUST
ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE SEA

OR JUST BELOW.

AT THE TIME,

MARK RODAWAY WAS IN CHARGE OF
THE NEARBY COASTGUARD STATION.

NOW THESE 40-FOOT
STEEL CONTAINERS,

FULL OF WATER AND GOODS,
WERE A REAL HAZARD TO SHIPPING.

AND ONE
OF OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

WAS TO START PREDICTING
HOW THEY WOULD FLOAT

OR WHERE THEY WOULD DRIFT TO

AND THEN START
PUTTING WARNINGS OUT

TO OTHER SHIPPING GOING UP
AND DOWN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

NEARLY 60 CONTAINERS
WASH ASHORE ON BRANSCOMBE,

ATTRACTING
HUNDREDS OF SCAVENGERS.

THE STORY QUICKLY BECOMES
A MEDIA SENSATION.

IT TOOK US
BY COMPLETE SURPRISE

THAT SO MANY PEOPLE
COULD GET HERE SO QUICKLY.

PEOPLE FROM FAR AND WIDE

STARTED TO HEAD
TO THOSE BEACHES,

AND IT REALLY WAS A,
A WHISKY GALORE,

COME ON DOWN AND LOOK
WHAT'S ON THE BEACH.

THEY BREAK INTO THE CONTAINERS

TO GRAB WHATEVER THEY CAN
AND CARRY IT UP THE CLIFFS.

THERE WAS PEOPLE
WALKING OFF THE BEACH

WITH BMW STEERING WHEELS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EMPTY WINE
BARRELS THAT WERE ON BOARD,

AND I BELIEVE IF YOU ROLLED
A BARREL INTO A FIELD,

YOU COULD GET
TEN POUND A BARREL, I BELIEVE.

THERE WAS CONSIGNMENT
OF NAPPIES THAT HAD BROKEN OPEN.

NOW, MY UNDERSTANDING OF NAPPIES
ARE THAT THEY ABSORB WATER,

AND THESE ONES HAD BEEN
IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL,

SO QUITE WHAT THE ATTRACTION
WAS, I'M NOT SURE.

THERE WAS MOTORBIKES AS WELL.

I THINK THERE WERE SIX, WITH
KEYS, IGNITION KEYS IN THEM,

SO THEY SOON DISAPPEARED.

UNDER UK SALVAGE LAW,

SCAVENGERS HAVE TO RETURN FOUND
ITEMS TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS

IF A CLAIM IS MADE,

BUT ENFORCING IT
IS A TALL ORDER.

WE WERE DEPLOYED
ON THE BEACHES

TO HAND OUT
RECEIVER OF WRECK FORMS

THAT PEOPLE HAD TO SIGN,
FILL IN,

AND POST BACK
TO THE, UH, POWERS THAT BE,

BUT, UM, I REMEMBER HANDING ONE
TO A CERTAIN GENTLEMAN

WHO TORE IT UP IN FRONT OF ME.

FINE, SIR, CARRY ON.

ROBIN MIDDLETON'S STRATEGY

HAS LIMITED
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE,

BUT RESULTED
IN SOME VERY PUBLIC CHAOS.

EVERYBODY, I THINK,
IN THE OPERATION

FELT THAT I WOULD BE RELIEVED
OR REMOVED FOR DOING THIS.

YEAH, I MEAN, THIS WAS
A REALLY BIG NEWS STORY.

UM, IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN
YOU HAVE A LARGE VESSEL

IN COASTAL WATERS
AROUND THE UK.

IT WAS RIVETING VIEWING
FOR, FOR EVERYBODY.

WITH THE NAPOLI BEACHED

ON THE SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND,

FRENCH AND DUTCH
SALVAGE OPERATORS

ARE FINALLY ABLE
TO SECURE THE SHIP,

AND INVESTIGATORS ARE ALLOWED

TO CAREFULLY MAKE THEIR WAY
THROUGH THE WRECK.

WE WERE ITCHING
TO GET ON BOARD

SO WE CAN ACTUALLY
GET THE EVIDENCE WE NEED

FROM THE VESSEL.

WATCH YOUR STEP.
WATCH YOUR STEP.

BUT WE HAVE TO LIAISE
WITH THE SALVERS TO NEGOTIATE

WHEN IT'S SAFE
FOR ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS

TO ACTUALLY GO ON BOARD A VESSEL
THAT IS AT RISK.

SOME OF THE OIL HAD LEAKED
FROM SOME OF THE TANKS

OR SOME OF THE MACHINERY,

SO THERE WAS
A COATING OF OIL ALL OVER.

SHE WAS LYING AT A FUNNY ANGLE,

SO EVERYTHING
WAS PERILOUSLY SLIPPY.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY STRANGE
SITUATION TO BE GOING INTO.

THEY'RE ON THE HUNT
FOR ANYTHING

THAT MIGHT POINT THEM
TO THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.

EVIDENCE COLLECTION IS,
IS A PRIORITY.

THEY NOTE
THE CONDITION OF THE VESSEL

AND GATHER WHAT THEY CAN...

AH, THERE IT IS.

...INCLUDING
THE LOADING COMPUTER.

WE NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE

THE CARGO THAT WAS BEING CARRIED
AT THE TIME,

THE WEIGHT OF THE CARGO,
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CARGO.

THIS ONE'S WRONG, AND...

THE LOADING COMPUTER
HELPS THEM COMPARE THE WEIGHT

THAT WAS DECLARED
IN THE PAPERWORK

WITH THE ACTUAL WEIGHT ON BOARD.

THIS ONE.

DISTRIBUTED IMPROPERLY,

OVERWEIGHT CONTAINERS CAN PUT

A POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING STRAIN
ON THE HULL.

AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING...

WHAT THEY FIND IS TROUBLING.

OF NEARLY 700 CONTAINERS
STORED ON DECK,

AT LEAST 20 PERCENT WERE
OVERWEIGHT BY 3 TONS OR MORE,

AND MORE THAN 50
WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW
THE WEIGHT OF A CONTAINER,

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
TO ACTUALLY LOAD A SHIP SAFELY.

THERE'S NOT MUCH MARGIN
FOR, FOR ERROR HERE.

THE INVESTIGATORS
CALCULATE THE EXTRA WEIGHT

PUSHED THE SHIP
TO NEARLY 99 PERCENT

OF ITS MAXIMUM
SEAGOING CAPACITY.

PRETTY CLOSE TO THEIR LIMIT.

THE HULL DIDN'T HAVE
MUCH SAFETY MARGIN LEFT,

BUT SOMETHING ELSE MUST HAVE
TIPPED IT OVER THE EDGE.

WHAT ELSE WAS, WAS MISSING?

WHAT WAS THAT LITTLE SOMETHING
WHICH JUST TIPPED HER

FROM BEING ACCEPTABLE
AND HAPPILY SAILING

TO JUST GOING PAST
THAT POINT OF FAILURE?

THE INVESTIGATION
IS AT A STANDSTILL.

A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT THE CRACK
IN THE NAPOLI'S HULL MIGHT HELP,

BUT AN UNDERWATER SURVEY
IS THE CLOSEST THEY CAN GET.

DIVER, WE HAVE YOUR SIGNAL.

PLEASE PROCEED.

IF THEY CAN
CAPTURE PHOTOGRAPHS

OF THE DAMAGED METAL,

IT MIGHT TELL THEM
WHAT WENT WRONG.

WE WERE GETTING
VERY IMPATIENT BY THIS TIME.

WE WERE DESPERATE
TO TRY AND FIND

A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION,

SO THE HOPE WAS THAT BY
SENDING AN ROV AND DIVERS DOWN,

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET
A BETTER VIEW OF THE DAMAGE.

THE CHALLENGES
TO AN INVESTIGATOR

REALLY LIE
IN BEING METHODICAL,

OF BEING PATIENT AND LOOKING
AT EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION

AND JUST NOT GIVING UP.

DIVER,
MOVE TO YOUR LEFT, PLEASE.

BUT IT'S JUST
ONE MORE DISAPPOINTMENT.

-CAN'T SEE A DAMN THING.
-NO.

WE SPENT ALL DAY
DESPERATELY TRYING

DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET
SOME FOOTAGE OF THE HULL,

BUT THE SILT AND THE SAND
AND THE DEBRIS AROUND,

VISIBILITY
WAS ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL.

THIS IS POINTLESS.

INDEED.

JUST OFF THE COAST,
THE NAPOLI CAN'T BE REPAIRED,

AND STEPS ARE TAKEN TO PREPARE
THE SHIP FOR ITS REMOVAL.

CREWS PUMP THE WATER
FROM ITS HULL...

...AND THEN BLOW IT IN HALF

WITH A SERIES
OF POWERFUL EXPLOSIONS.

THE THING TO DO WAS

TO ACTUALLY SEPARATE THE BOW
FROM THE STERN OF THE VESSEL.

WITH THE SHIP NOW IN PIECES,

IT'S EASIER TO DISPOSE OF.

THE STERN
IS SCRAPPED AT THE BEACH,

WHILE THE BOW IS TOWED
TO A SHIPYARD IN BELFAST

WHERE IT, TOO, IS DISMANTLED.

SHE WAS RECYCLED
AT A RECYCLING FACILITY

AT HARLAND AND WOLFF

RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE
THE TITANIC WAS BUILT.

THE SHIP IS GONE,

BUT THE MYSTERY
OF WHAT WRECKED IT REMAINS.

AT A LOSS, THE INVESTIGATORS
ARE FORCED TO CONSIDER

A TROUBLING POSSIBILITY.

IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING
WITH THE DESIGN.

IF THE SHIP HAD A DESIGN FLAW,

IT MIGHT HAVE REMAINED HIDDEN

UNTIL THE CONDITIONS WERE RIGHT
TO TRIGGER IT.

THEY NEED TO STUDY EVERY DETAIL
OF HOW THE HULL WAS BUILT.

WE DID OBTAIN A COPY
OF THE DESIGN DRAWINGS,

AND WE LOOKED TO SEE

IF THE NAPOLI
HAD ANY POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES.

LOOK, OUR CRACK IS HERE...

...RIGHT UNDER THE ENGINE ROOM.

RIGHT.

RIGHT WHERE
THE FRAMING CHANGES.

THE NAPOLI'S HULL
WAS STRENGTHENED

BY A SERIES OF LONG BEAMS,

BUT UNDER THE ENGINE ROOM,
THEY CHANGE DIRECTION

TO BETTER SUPPORT
THE WEIGHT OF THE MACHINERY,

THE EXACT POINT
WHERE THE EMERGENCY BEGAN.

DAMN IT!

WE'VE GOT FLOODING
IN THE ENGINE ROOM!

GET DOWN THERE AND TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT'S GOING ON!

WHEN WE STARTED REALLY
LOOKING INTO THE DESIGN,

THERE WAS CERTAINLY
AN INHERENT WEAKNESS

IN THE STRUCTURE
IN THE ENGINE ROOM.

JUST MADE THAT ONE AREA

POTENTIALLY WEAKER
THAN THE REST OF THE SHIP.

THE INVESTIGATORS
THINK THEY'RE ON TO SOMETHING,

BUT THE NAPOLI WAS A MODERN SHIP

BUILT UNDER
STRICT SPECIFICATIONS.

WAVE HEIGHT, NINE METERS.

HOW DID A DESIGN FLAW
SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS?

WINDS, 60 KNOTS.

AND HOW MANY
OTHER SHIPS ARE AT RISK?

INVESTIGATORS LOOKING
INTO THE LOSS OF THE NAPOLI

ARE NOW FOCUSED ON A POTENTIAL
WEAKNESS IN THE SHIP'S DESIGN.

IT'S NOT
AN UNCOMMON DESIGN,

BUT IN THE DESIGN OF THE NAPOLI,

THE ENGINE ROOM
WAS FAIRLY FAR FORWARD.

THE DESIGN
PUT THE ENGINE ROOM

AND THE CHANGE IN FRAMING

CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE
OF THE SHIP,

AN AREA
THAT'S HIGHLY STRESSED AT SEA.

IT BECAME VERY APPARENT

THAT, UH,
THE ENGINE ROOM STRUCTURE

WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY HIGHLY
STRESSED PART OF THE HULL.

DID THE NAPOLI
HAVE AN ACHILLES' HEEL

THAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK OPEN?

IT'S AN INTRIGUING THEORY.

WE WERE STARTING TO GET
A BIT OF A PICTURE

AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE
CAUSED THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE,

BUT WE STILL HAD TO GO DEEPER.

TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH,

THEY'LL HAVE TO BRING ALL
OF THEIR EVIDENCE TOGETHER

AND RECREATE
THE EXACT CONDITIONS

THE MOMENT THE SHIP BROKE OPEN.

THEY NEED TO KNOW
IF THE DESIGN WAS STRONG ENOUGH

TO WITHSTAND THE MANY STRESSES
ON THE SHIP THAT DAY.

CHIEF, WE'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.

WE GOT WATER IN THE ENGINE ROOM.
LOOKS LIKE THE HULL'S OPENED UP.

TO TEST THEIR THEORY,

THE INVESTIGATORS TEAM UP
WITH EXPERTS FROM THE DNV...

WAVES, NINE METERS.

...THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

THAT HELPS SET STANDARDS FOR
DESIGNING AND BUILDING SHIPS.

WINDS, 60 KNOTS.

THEY INPUT
ALL THE INCREMENTAL STRESSES

THE INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED

INTO A COMPUTER
SIMULATION PROGRAM--

FROM THE STORM,
TO THE OVERWEIGHT CARGO,

TO THE FORCE OF THE WAVES.

RUN THE SIMULATION.

THEY NEED TO KNOW
HOW THE HULL DESIGN WILL REACT.

CARGO VESSELS ARE SUPPOSED
TO HAVE A SAFETY BUFFER

BETWEEN THEIR DESIGN

AND THE FORCES
THEY'RE EXPECTED TO ENCOUNTER,

INCLUDING BEING OVERWEIGHT
OR IN A STORM.

THE RESULTS ARE CONCLUSIVE.

BY A TINY MARGIN,

THE COMBINATION OF STRESSORS
THE NAPOLI FACED THAT DAY

WAS JUST ENOUGH
TO RUPTURE THE HULL.

AT THAT POINT,
THE FORCES THAT ARE AT BEAR

ARE GREATER THAN
THE STRENGTH OF THE VESSEL.

THERE MAY BE A MARGIN OF SAFETY
FROM THE DESIGN CRITERIA,

BUT ANYTHING THAT'S BEYOND THAT
CAN PUT IT OUTSIDE THE LIMITS.

YOU'VE GOT
THE OVERWEIGHT CONTAINERS,

YOU'VE GOT THE SEA STATE,

SO YOU HAD ALL THESE THINGS
THAT COMBINED TOGETHER.

ONE STRESS IN PARTICULAR

MAY HAVE BEEN THE STRAW
THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK--

THE VIBRATIONS THAT SHOOK
THE LENGTH OF THE HULL

AS IT SLAMMED UP AND DOWN
IN THE WAVES.

AS WE FOUND ON THE NAPOLI
IS THAT,

PUT THAT ON TOP
OF ALL THE OTHER STRESSES

WHICH WERE GOING ON AT THE TIME

COULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH
TO JUST TIP IT OVER THE EDGE.

THE FINDINGS

FROM THE MARINE ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION BRANCH

SPARK A REVIEW
OF 1,500 CONTAINER SHIPS.

12 ARE FOUND TO BE AT RISK

OF THE SAME KIND OF FAILURE
AS THE NAPOLI

AND ARE SLATED
FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR.

I THINK THIS INVESTIGATION

WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT
IN TERMS OF SAVING LIVES,

IN THAT IT IMMEDIATELY
PUT A SPOTLIGHT

ON OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS
THAT EXISTED,

AND, OF COURSE, CHANGED
THE DESIGN OF FUTURE VESSELS.

REGULATIONS ARE PUT
IN PLACE TO ENSURE ALL NEW SHIPS

WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT
HULL STRENGTH.

BECAUSE OF WHAT WE IDENTIFIED,

THE LARGER SHIPS NOW
ARE GOING THROUGH

A FAR MORE STRINGENT
STRENGTH ANALYSIS

AT THE DESIGN STAGE, UM,
BEFORE THEY'RE BEING BUILT.

A LONGSTANDING PROBLEM
IN THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY

IS ALSO ADDRESSED

WHEN LOADING COMPUTERS
ARE UPGRADED

TO HELP PREVENT SHIPS
FROM BEING OVERLOADED.

CLEARLY THE INDUSTRY
DOES ITS BEST

TO, TO LEARN ITSELF
AND TO THINK THINGS THROUGH,

BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL,
YOU KNOW, AN INCIDENT HAPPENS

THAT YOU REALLY, REALLY START TO
SEE WHERE THE WEAK POINTS ARE.

THE NEW REGULATIONS
WILL NOT ONLY SAVE SHIPS...

ABANDON SHIP!

...BUT LIVES AS WELL.

FOR THE INVESTIGATORS
ON THE MAIB TEAM,

IT'S A REWARDING CONCLUSION

TO A LONG AND CHALLENGING INVESTIGATION.

EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN

THAT, NO,
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP PATIENT,

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP WITH IT,
CHASE DOWN THE OTHER AVENUES,

UM, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS
SOMETHING TURNS UP.

IT'S GOT TO BE BRANSCOMBE.

ROBIN MIDDLETON
FACED A BARRAGE OF CRITICISM

FOR RUNNING THE NAPOLI
AGROUND AT BRANSCOMBE BEACH,

BUT HE THINKS
HIS CRITICS ARE MISSING

THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTCOME
FROM THE EMERGENCY,

ONE THAT VINDICATES HIM
BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

I BELIEVE THAT THE
DECISIONS WERE PROVED CORRECT.

THEY DID NOT LOOK CORRECT
AT THE TIME TO A LOT OF PEOPLE,

BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE NAPOLI
DID NOT TURN OUT TO BE

A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.

IN MY VIEW, HE WAS
ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT PERSON

IN THE RIGHT PLACE
AT THE RIGHT TIME,

AND ROBIN'S GIFT
WAS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE

A REALLY DISPARATE GROUP
OF PEOPLE

AND HAVE THEM WORKING
TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL.

FORBES DUTHIE
HAS CONTINUED HIS CAREER AT SEA,

BUT THE MEMORY OF THE NAPOLI
DISASTER IS NEVER FAR AWAY.

INITIALLY WHEN YOU STAND
ON THE DOCK AND LOOK UP AT IT,

YOU THINK YOU CAN'T
LOSE A SHIP LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE JUST SO STRONG.

THEY'RE BUILT
TO WITHSTAND ANYTHING.

BUT THEN,
THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE,

AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE READY
FOR THE UNEXPECTED.

I'M NEVER GONNA FORGET IT.

IT'S GONNA MAKE ME STRONGER.