Ugh... it really pains me to reply...

THAT WAS BAD!

I wonder why they did that?

Uh oh, I see this coming, Now Obama will ground all of the Army ships.

Look at that pathetic picture. You can see fuel leaking out around the boon perimeter.

The army doesn't have any clues.

Spill cleanup is archaic. I'm sure the oil companies don't care and would not have anything better but why not

ask them. Let's find out !!!!!!!! And if they don't - make them do better. They have enough of our money.

Infact, the top 5 execs should go to prison in the next oil/fuel spill over 1,000 gallons.

That would give them reason to improve and create better responses, don't you think ?

Lee2-3538213: You summed it up perfectly! It's high time we stop the big oil companies from controlling our energy source and really push efforts to use alternatives. This is totally disgusting and unnecessary. This country put a man on the moon in less than a decade--there's no reason why--EVEN NOW--that we have to stay in the stone age and use oil for everything.

I lived in Kodiak back in 1989 when the Valdez oil spill occurred. You should have seen the water--and talk about jobs! So many fishermen had no work for months because of that accident.

Let us all gather to shed crocodile tears for this "oil spill!"

Yes, many years ago we DID "put a man on the moon," several, in fact. That, of course was not THIS GENERATION who can't see the moon from their Ipods and computer games. We didn't get our international rating of 25th in math for not learning math!....OK, OK, That is EXACTLY how we did it!

I have been living in Alaska for more than 50 years. Some fishermen may have had to change their location, but most simply totaled up their losses and sued Exxon for that. It is one of the big, emotional stories here to tell everyone that the oil "will never go away." The fact is, we had much more oil spilled during World War II than what has happened in recent years. But the fishermen and businessmen here, as they are now doing in the Gulf of Mexico are coming up with eternally creative ways to collect money from oil companies.

The oil will get cleaned up...you can go back to your previous plans. . . to learn NOTHING from the past.

Aren't there depth-finders to avoid rocks? Did the rocks just sneak up on them?

darned sneaky stealth rocks...

oops somebody will get a slap on the wrist for this one.

Charts do exist. You just have to use them.

Multi-service operations always turn out badly, especially when one of their names begins with "A".

VH NAVY:

HAHAH! ROTF -- I like your style, friend! They aren't any better across the pond, either!

At least it didn't turn into a Schettino disaster.

Firmly agree with "VHNavy"

Charts do exist. You just have to use them.

First rule of navigation: Don't take your ship where the birds walk. Nautical charts are quite useful in determining where birds walk.
Second Rule of navigation - Never ask the skipper to hold your beer...

It is operated by the navy Mikatoga, The headline is wrong, It was carrying Corp of engineers equipment and they made a rather extreme leap that the united states has a sea going army...lol. They did a good job here in this case. When ever your toting diesel the best thing for everyone is a grounding and the vessel in question is designed to do just that Land. The diesel will be evaporated within two days and unlike crude, no nasty shore lines to clean.....Peace.

@jeffery f - Wrong, grasshopper! The U.S. Army has operated transport vessels for many decades. There is a move afoot to transfer the Army's fleet to the U.S. Navy, but you know how slowly bureaucracies work! Maybe in our children's lifetimes...

Next thing you know..the Navy will have their own planes!..........

Huh...my tongue is in my cheek!

jeffery wrong the diesel will not evaporate in 2 days. some of it will dilute in the water and a very small portion will evaporate but diesel is high in oil content and does not evaporate.

A pity that whomever was in command didn't know how to read a nautical chart. Maybe someone just pointed and said, "Thataway, yer doan need no map."

Orb

maybe the rock isn't on a chart.

@Darthdon sorry that deal got finalized. The Navy got all the HSVs and the Army kept their fleet.

It said 'reserves' .... I don't think they borrowed it without permission...

The Air Force operates three 120-foot drone recovery vessels and two smaller vessels to recover aerial targets and support range safety, patrol, and salvage operations, at Tyndall AFB, FL.

@ bluethunder, diesel is almost identical to JP5 which is primarily aircraft fuel and essentially both are kerosene. As far as dilution, not any out side of its natural hydrogen atom will do so, the rest like dumped aircraft fuel will evaporate nothing needs to be cleaned.

@ Darthdon, I was a navy lad for 8 years, the skippers on all sea going military vessels are trained by and in the US Navy. The army doesn't train ANY officer to control open water vessels. It would be like sending a microbiologist to a space shuttle as captain. Corp of engineers have flagged vessels but the handlers are all Skippy's, sorry cowboy.....peace

You all shouldnt talk bout things you dont know. I know for a fact that the Army has boats and they arent run by the Navy because I work on those boats. I have worked on this one also. The boats are run by Warrant Officers from the Army and manned with Army crews. They are 88L and 88K.

143rd TRANSCOM Hua! Now 143rd ESC.

army boats are driven by the army, and the jar head comment was for the fact that they were hauling uncle sam's misguided children's gear....and watch the swabby comment us enlisted airedales walk upright..lol

Uncle Sams Confused Group to the rescue .

S hit .. Happen's to the best of US.

http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/415197802/m/6720093932001/p/2

"Erosion and melting and sinking permafrost", and no, it's not normal-- or it wasn't. Thanks to climate change, it is now. And all of you chiming in with "There's no such thing," try talking to some of the people losing their homes because of it.

I'm wondering why they are paving roads and building an airstrip near the melting/sinking permafrost.

It will just sink in a few more years.

Sane, they are making roads and an airstrip so I can get all my gold mining equiptment in.

Yes it's normal, it happens every 250 years.

Every 250 yrs? I wish I could make up numbers like that in my checking account. I wonder when we gave up science and went back to superstition for a basis of out decisions. Just shows how brainwashed people have become by the corporations that rule the country and how our education system has failed.

if it's anything other than spongebob and dorito's, it's abnormal.

Well, because of "Affirmative Action" and "Diversity" nowadays anybody can be the captain, even if it is a certified idiot.

Midnight: Racist much? When you talk about "certified idiots" you should be looking in the mirror.

Hey Hoodie-Doodie, try to learn some US History, a few decades ago, if there were 10 ships, the ten captains would be the best of the best, the best qualified individuals. Now, because of "Affirmative Action", "Diversity" and crap like that, the 10 captains are: one hispanic, one african american, one asian american, one gay, one lesbian, and so on... tha's reality ind 21st century America.

boy r u wrong

REPLY: 'Midnight', any one of them would be worth 10 racist, intolerant, bigots such as yourself.

Hey midnight, just as likely that a few decades ago, the best qualified individuals were not even allowed to apply. When a Black, a Hispanic, or even an Irish guy (or girl) applied, we all know the WASP got the job dspite being deaf, dumb, and blind. Maybe you should join the rest of us in the 21st century and leave your bigoted past behind!

This reminds me of those who read a book on bricklaying and think that they are now an expert...When in reality it takes lots of practice and skill to lay brick and stone where it will stay put together.

The man who believes himself to be an artist because he bought a paint set.

The carver with his knife in one hand and a piece of wood in another....Does not make a skilled carver.

A man at the helm of a ships needs to have the knowledge and a GOD given talent and keenly honed skill for his position.

I was always told a captain in the army isn't the same as a captain in the navy. A navy captain is higher rank.

stc, much much higher, usually 2 + pay grades, but Captain on a vessel is called that instead of Master. That just doesn't fit into today's age. But so many are misguided here. The only boats the army pilots are very small landing craft (?). This was a sea goer and had a US Navy capt at the helm. army boys don't do anything over 3 tonnes. Peace

AFM, they do have some good pilots, so I would say they are also good at protecting us in the air

Yes, this young generation is real good with computer games...But don't ask them to make a judgement call.

You will get this blank stareeeeeeee.DAH

arsenic

Damn liberal press.

They didn't want to upset the rightwing nuts. If they did, the gop would cut the funding for this project.

How about the fact that climate change has been happening for ever, ice ages, warming, mini ice ages, warming, glaciers forming the Great Lakes, warming. Get the picture?

yup the grat lakes were formd form melting ice.they were not here befor .the ice age.at least thast what the the book worm people say lol

Hey Johhnnyy, How about the fact that this is the first time that climate change has been man made and we can actually do something about it. This pleasant climate we enjoy is called "Warm Icebox" in the 3.5 billion years of history of climate that we can interpret. Icebox is iceage. Our entire civilization is based on living on the cusp after an ice age. And you want to let that change without a fight. Get the Picture? Naw, and you never will. Idiot.

Arsenic -

(Good name, you seem rather poisonous).

This climate change is likely exacerbated by human contribution, but none of the legit science I have read inidcates that it is "man made." Most reports indicate that we are probably 6 - 7% of the cause.

Get the picture? Naw, and you never will because you have been thoroughly indoctrinated. BUT, I find no need to call you an idiot.

mpa

This climate change is likely exacerbated by human contribution

WOW, you are the 1st one I have seen here. That Is pretty much right on the climate change or global warming. I'm not sure of your figures, but I have never heard anyone in science say it was man made. I have heard, because of man, it's coming faster then previous times. Kudos to you.

didn't save money this time..by the way extra points for the great mistakes pic

thats San Diego old school 1991

must have been nice to cruise around in boon dockers in sunny weather...froze my 6 off

You're right Russell. I'm not sure about now, but in the late nineties at least, the Army had far more vessels (keels) than the Navy. Nothing even close in ship size of course, but in volume of bottoms in service, the Mud Munchers had a bigger navy than the Squids.

Negative! The Army corp. of engineers has small boats not Landing Craft Utilities (LCU)

This vessel is ran by the ARMY Reserves, not the army corp. of engineers. This is not a ship but and boat that the Army runs. The Army has more boats than the Navy does. The only reason no one has heard about Army vessels is cuz nothing like this has happened before. All you people are alike and knock something because its not normal to you.

Yeah, they sure can't walk...that would require faith!

Your village is next. Mine, next week.

Ouch .. the Greeneville one stings ... crickets after that.

I'm enjoying reading all the inter-sevice banter on this article. My thanks to all of you for your service. I grew up "army brat" - dad was career corp of engineers - you know, "the folks who hate running water?"

MPA.. I have two brothers one was Army and the other Air force you should see us when we get together.

Funny , thing is we all different .They really do not like swimming or the ocean and think i am crazy. Yet they have both have jump out of perfectly good Air crafts so i am sure they are , still i love them.

I always tell them . Why fly?

Retired Coast Guard -

I know it well. Have one son-in-law who is about to finish in the Army, one who is about to undergo first deployment as Marine, and the youngest is planning on the Navy in the fall. They are tight as ticks, but brutal with the "needles." (I have a niece that is Air Force (sergeant) - nobody messes with her.)

relax AE, trust me when i say we have each others back, we just like to stick a jab in every now and then..it is all in good fun, every family does it

Glad to know that. Sure sounded like you hate one another. Had me fooled.

AE

VH is correct. It's like the old argument about which branch of service have the smartest enlisted members. We all know it's the air force. You see, in the army. The officers send the enlisted out to get shot at. In the navy, the officers and the enlisted both go out and get shot at. In the air force, the enlisted send the officers out to get shot at.

®¿®

MSGT. USAF/RET.

by the way what happen to the old navy work unifom whats up witht he caom now

The new camo is rediculous looking, but the uniform is very comfortable and to answer flnobody, I would say us Navy nukes got you on the smart side, but its ok, because even we lack in the social skills dept!

AE, Tradition, Esprit, whatever. It's been around since Hannibal and his elephants and probably before. It means nothing and believe it or not, it's expected. Otherwise someone would think someone was pissed at someone. Like VH Navy said, when the shiit hits the fan, we have each other's backs. During slack times, it's a free for all.

Well Odumba is fully responsible for this. He is the CIC.

The energy industry is absolutely booming right now ... where does this paranoia come from

Mitchell -

Thanks for the clarifications. But, canoes are PADDLED.

timlmillinois & JohnnyOnTheSpot--you two are such dingbats. Exactly WHO wants to keep us dependent on OIL? Not the Democrats nor Obama. It's your beloved filthy oil rich Republicans and CEO's. You'd blame Obama if you peed on yourselves.

Jean

You are so wrong. It was Odumbas administration that said our gas prices need to be more in line with Europe's.

It is in big businesses interests to have lower oil prices. That way the cost of producing goods would be lower and they could charge the same prices. If you think the filthily rich Republicans are getting rich off of oil you're wrong. The only ones getting rich off of oil are the people who own oil stocks an upper management, and oil companies profits are not that high if you compare them to the profit margins of other companies and most other companies don't have nearly the risk or regulations that oil has.

It should also be noted that people of your ilk think that the rich prosper off the backs of the middle class, causing the middle class to shrink. If the rich were getting rich off the middle class it would only make sense that they would want the middle class to grow.

They are also the ones who seem to be losing their lives fighting an unnecessary war. You steer the ship and you go fight the war. See if you can do it!

World Travel07

You are correct but the thing about it is the fact that the guys driving these boats don't have to abide by the same rules as far as getting a license to drive these boats! Civilians driving commercial vessels have to go through nine kinds of hell to get a licence but government people don't have to. I am sick of our government making rules as they go along! They should have to abide by the same laws they make but they don't!

AE

I can run a boat! Give me any boat and I will take you for a ride!

Since when are boats 'driven'? I was under the impression that boats and ships were steered. They still need to go through training. It was a submerged rock. That's why it's called an accident! Sh!t happens!!!

AE

How would you say it? Steering a boat is just steering. You still have to drive the boat if you are running the throttles!

I stand corrected. Sorry!

You are corrected again. Ships are piloted.

hmm...piloted or helmed for larger motorized ships, sailed or steered for sail/mast powered vessels (helmed is fine for larger sailing vessels and is preferred in some circles), steered for smaller motorized boats and personal craft like jet skis, oared for self powered boats/canoes and such like.

But no "drive" anywhere, except for snowmobiles being used like wave runners at the local pond (though you'd most likely use the term "ride" instead). ;-)

Or some odd thing like that. :-)

Mitchell

Sorry to break it to you, but the Army has the same if not more stringent training and licensing then the civilian world. Army Vessel Masters go through over nine months of Coast Guard approved schooling to get their endorsement. The same endorsement they can take to the Coast Guard office to get equated to a civilian license if desired.

A E--timimillinois wouldn't know what a submerged rock is..........

AE

I like your answer to the question of "Steering or Driving". I really didn't know that it was that big of an issue with you. Back in the day when the engineer controlled the throttles from the engine room, the Captain steered the boat. Now the Pilot or Captain drive the boat because that individual is in complete control of the boat due to the fact that the person at the helm is in complete control of the throttles and the steering. You can use terms as "Underway" or "Sailing" but you wouldn't be sailing in a motorized vessel even though I know a lot of sail boats that have motors.

Only one comment about your interesting and informative post: Conning a ship isn't easy, to be sure, but neither is driving a car. Loss of life in auto accidents dwarfs all other causes of death in the U.S., and most accidents are caused by folks who assumed they knew how to drive, but clearly didn't. Worse yet, many bad drivers know how bad they are, but don't give a damn, until they see a Crown Vic in the rear view mirror.