News Record

[Pieter Boelen]

POTC: At World's End Deleted Scenes Fix The Movie
People writing articles now about this old film??

China plans to build the first 'clean' commercial nuclear reactor | Engadget
Wait, what now??

 

[Pieter Boelen]

My intended comment:
"This is SO meta! Considering that's a car carrier.
And for sure it is a fascinating experiment to do; from a scientific point of view.

That said, this video begs more QUESTIONS than it gives answers:
1. What was the wind direction?
2. What was the wind speed?
3. What was the distance between the ship side and the dock?
4. What method was in place to ensure the ship would not scrape along the dockside while moving?

Answers to this make EVERY difference.

Plus that shot at 2:45?
CGI is BLATANTLY obvious.

This video is absolutely hilarious.
It also proves nothing."

 

[Grey Roger]

That's probably from "Top Gear", which has been known to use special effects - whether CGI or actual explosives - to enhance their videos in the past.

In theory, even a small car with a tow rope can provide some forward force to a ship, which being in water is not subject to much friction, so it can therefore provide some small acceleration to the ship that can eventually result in visible motion. Unless tide or currents are moving the ship the other way, which may be why the car was pulled backwards the first time. And, of course, if tide or current are moving the ship forwards anyway, the car is irrelevant.

The other problem is that the ship, being in water, is not subject to much friction, and unlike the car, isn't fitted with brakes. Which means once it starts moving forwards towards the pier on which the car is sitting, it won't want to stop... (Unless the captain starts up the engines, puts them into reverse, and pulls the car into the water.)

 

[Pieter Boelen]

That's probably from "Top Gear", which has been known to use special effects - whether CGI or actual explosives - to enhance their videos in the past.

Yep; same gang anyway.

In theory, even a small car with a tow rope can provide some forward force to a ship, which being in water is not subject to much friction, so it can therefore provide some small acceleration to the ship that can eventually result in visible motion.

I think technically that is true.
Though certainly friction in water is not to be underestimated.
Powering performance is quite the complex study!

Unless tide or currents are moving the ship the other way, which may be why the car was pulled backwards the first time. And, of course, if tide or current are moving the ship forwards anyway, the car is irrelevant.

Or wind.

Would need to be an odd dock to have much tidal currents there.
Not impossible, of course; but most harbours are fairly sheltered...

Unless you count Quebec; with its docking in 3 knots of current snafu.

The other problem is that the ship, being in water, is not subject to much friction, and unlike the car, isn't fitted with brakes. Which means once it starts moving forwards towards the pier on which the car is sitting, it won't want to stop... (Unless the captain starts up the engines, puts them into reverse, and pulls the car into the water.)

They'd probably have something to slow down again.
Maybe not even needed to do so on the engine.
Might've just had a sternline to the dock.