Reuben Lasker Launch Damage

[MilwBob]

So why do ship builders dump multi-million dollar ships into the water this way?

Not enough room in the rivers for a conventional launch.

[Guest]

So why do ship builders dump multi-million dollar ships into the water this way?

[SoundSaltie]

If you look closely, at roughly the 11 second mark, you can see persons on the dock get hit by the spray. There looks to be a scaffold with one person and a professional camera (or perhaps two people) on top if it really swaying after being hit.

Thanks for the vid - To me i looks like one of the spectators (in black) runs headfirst into the scaffolding, causing the sway, then drops to the ground. Ouch.

[Shawn]

If you look closely, at roughly the 11 second mark, you can see persons on the dock get hit by the spray. There looks to be a scaffold with one person and a professional camera (or perhaps two people) on top if it really swaying after being hit.

Shortly after this you can see several people scramble and head behind the ways which the Lasker had just slid down. As the video ends there are more people scrambling for this area, suggesting some urgency. Not the typical standing around cheering a successful launch that I would expect to see.

[MN Boater]

Pretty cool video. Reminds me of when I saw the launch of the Alder
at that shipyard. The big wave of water came up on top of the wall at that launch also.

[Mr Link]

Here is a link to a video taken from the Michigan side of the river. If you look closely, at roughly the 11 second mark, you can see persons on the dock get hit by the spray. There looks to be a scaffold with one person and a professional camera (or perhaps two people) on top if it really swaying after being hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48evEdcp2b0

[SoundSaltie]

Does anyone have further info on the damages to the NOAA ship Reuben Lasker (R228) from her launching or info on the three people injured?