You a snipe?

Merchant maybe - or civilian power plants.


Which is it? Hmmm

A mystery. 

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I saw the SS Norway back in March docked at the Port of Miami. It's diesel/electric powered like most modern cruise liners and therefore does not have boilers. It's a really nice ship though, too bad something like that had to happen.

Also, being a Nuclear Super Power, I would think that China would use nuclear subs, so you're probably right Hogans_Alley.

I'm an ex- "bubble head" and been a "bull snipe" on the skimmers (USN). I always make my point (if I may) when people get killed because of stupid mistakes. I was aboard subs while snooping on the Chinese. Although they do have some nukes, most are aged diesel electrics. When you combine battery electrolyte (H2SO4) and sea water (NaCl), it results in a vigorus reaction generating chlorine gas. It does not take long for the gas to circulate throughout the ship via the ventilation system. Unless the vessel sinks, no onboard explosion (short of a nuke weapon) can kill the entire crew immediately because of submarine compartmentalization. 

The SS Norway was the ex-SS France. She has four boilers and four screws but they shut down two of  boilers and removed two screws to conserve fuel. I went on a Carribean cruise on the Norway once. Everything was glitter above decks - spit and polish, all the pomp and circumstance. But try visiting the machinery rooms, especially the engine house. They skimp on maintenance and training which often result in tragic accidents. With the exception of the deck officers and heads of departments, most crew members were hired from the third world countries. I've heard of instances whereby during an emergency, the crew were first on the life raft. Bon Voyage

Hogans Alley