Translated articles: Analysis of the accident of the MV Nakhodka. Part 1. Estimation of wave loads

摘要

MV Nakhodka collapsed and broke in tow on Janu- ary 2, 1997 in the Sea of Japan, giving rise to serious and disastrous oil spill on the coastline of Japan. During the in- quiry into the cause of the accident, one of the main tasks of the inquiry committee was to identify the external loads which made the ship structure collapse. Among the several possible scenarios for the accident, after careful examination, the wave loads in the heavy weather at the time of the accident were taken to be the most plausible cause.