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Financial Disasters

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    Financial Disasters

    Just found this in my inbox. Puts it all in perspective.....


    11. Titanic - $150 Million > > >

    The sinking of the Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it doesn't quite make the list of top 10 most expensive, and is here because of its historical prominence. > > On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. > Over 1,500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 million to build ($150 million in today's dollars).

    10. Tanker Truck vs Bridge - $358 Million > >

    On August 26, 2004, a car collided with a tanker truck containing 32,000 liters of fuel on the Wiehltal Bridge in Germany . The tanker crashed through the guardrail and fell 90 feet off the A4 Autobahn resulting in a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the load-bearing ability of the bridge. Temporary repairs cost $40 million and the cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $318 Million.

    9. MetroLink Crash - $500 Million > >

    On September 12, 2008, in what was one of the worst train crashes in California history, 25 people were killed when a Metrolink commuter train crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles .. It is thought that the Metrolink train may have run through a red signal while the conductor was busy text messaging. Wrongful death lawsuits are expected to cause $500 million in losses for Metrolink.

    8. B-2 Bomber Crash - $1.4 Billion > >

    Here we have our first billion dollar accident (and we're only #7 on the list). This B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after taking off from an air base in Guam on February 23, 2008. Investigators blamed distorted data in the flight control computers caused by moisture in the system. > > This resulted in the aircraft making a sudden nose-up move which made the B-2 stall and crash. This was 1 of only 21 ever built and was the most expensive aviation accident in history. Both pilots were able to eject to safety.

    7. Exxon Valdez - $2.5 Billion > >

    The Exxon Valdez oil spill was not a large one in relation to the world's biggest oil spills, but it was a costly one due to the remote location of Prince William Sound (accessible only by helicopter and boat). On March 24, 1989, 10.8 million gallons of oil was spilled when the ship's master, Joseph Hazelwood, left the controls and the ship crashed into a Reef. The cleanup cost Exxon $2.5 billion.

    6. Piper Alpha Oil Rig - $3.4 Billion > >

    The world's worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world's single largest oil producer, spewing out 31,000 barrels of oil per day. > > On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. 100 identical safety valves were checked. Unfortunately, the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 PM that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world's most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion. > > Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages.

    5. Challenger Explosion - $5.5 Billion > >

    The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after takeoff on January 28, 1986 due to a faulty O-ring. It failed to seal one of the joints, allowing pressurized gas to reach the outside. This in turn caused the external tank to dump its payload of liquid hydrogen causing a massive explosion. The cost of replacing the Space Shuttle was $2 billion in 1986 ($4.5 billion in today's dollars). > > The cost of investigation, problem correction, and replacement of lost equipment cost $450 million from 1986-1987 ($1 Billion in today's dollars).

    4. Prestige Oil Spill - $12 Billion > >

    On November 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker was carrying 77,000 tons of heavy fuel oil when one of its twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia , Spain . Fearing that the ship would sink, the captain called for help from Spanish rescue workers, expecting them to take the ship into harbour. However, pressure from local authorities forced the captain to steer the ship away from the coast. The captain tried to get help from the French and Portuguese authorities, but they too ordered the ship away from their shores. The storm eventually took its toll on the ship resulting in the tanker splitting in half and releasing 20 million gallons oil into the sea. > > According to a report by the Pontevedra Economist Board, the total cleanup cost $12 billion.

    3. Space Shuttle Columbia - $13 Billion > >

    The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space-worthy shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of the wings during launch 16 days earlier. The original cost of the shuttle was $2 Billion in 1978. That comes out to $6.3 Billion in today's dollars. $500 million was spent on the investigation, making it the costliest aircraft accident investigation in history. The search and recovery of debris cost $300 million. > > In the end, the total cost of the accident (not including replacement of the shuttle) came out to $13 Billion according to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

    2. Chernobyl - $200 Billion > >

    On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster. The death toll attributed to Chernobyl , including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125,000. The total costs including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly $200 Billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost $2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.


    And now for Number 1....



    1. Gordon Brown - $300 Billion since he came to power > > Since he came to power Gordon Brown has spent £300 Billion (c.$450 billion) with soaring public spending mainly wasted on inflation busting wage rises and non existent jobs, together with propping up the banks in the ailing economy which, let's not forget, he also presided over as Chancellor. He also managed to sell the bulk of the UK 's gold reserves right at the bottom of the market. > > > > > > He's the most expensive freeloader in British political history.

    #2
    Resulting in the strongest economy in the western world, best placed for any recovery to a global recession, and determined to bring everyone in the UK to the same standard of living.
    If you've got a problem and no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire...Gordon Brown ...( cue music )

    Comment


      #3
      Post that as as comment on Guido's blog, They'll love it!
      Work in the public sector? Read the IR35 FAQ here

      Comment


        #4


        Actually no, why am I laughing? It's going to double in less than two years, as is my share of it.

        Comment


          #5
          Is this an appropriate thread to point out that 'this would never have happened under the tories'?
          And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by wurzel View Post
            Just found this in my inbox. Puts it all in perspective.....


            11. Titanic - $150 Million > > >

            The sinking of the Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it doesn't quite make the list of top 10 most expensive, and is here because of its historical prominence. > > On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. > Over 1,500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 million to build ($150 million in today's dollars).
            <cynical b@st@rd>
            Made for a profitable film though, which is more than can be said for the Snot Goblin.
            <cynical b@st@rd/>
            And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

            Comment


              #7
              "6. Piper Alpha Oil Rig - $3.4 Billion > >

              The world's worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world's single largest oil producer, spewing out 31,000 barrels of oil per day. > > On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. 100 identical safety valves were checked. Unfortunately, the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 PM that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world's most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion. > > Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages."

              My dad used to be on one of the rigs down from Piper Alpha and he used to say that Accidental were only interested in this record. The North Sea is a gas field that has oil in it and at Piper Alpha they would flare so much of their gas that often they would have to send gas out to the other rigs to flare the gas they couldn't handle.
              Rule Number 1 - Assuming that you have a valid contract in place always try to get your poo onto your timesheet, provided that the timesheet is valid for your current contract and covers the period of time that you are billing for.

              I preferred version 1!

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Mich the Tester View Post
                <cynical b@st@rd>
                Made for a profitable film though, which is more than can be said for the Snot Goblin.
                <cynical b@st@rd/>
                $1.8bn at the box office making the entire project worthwhile.

                Maybe this is just first act and though it may seem like a disaster now Gordon has a master plan to turn a profit sometime in the future?
                Science isn't about why, it's about why not. You ask: why is so much of our science dangerous? I say: why not marry safe science if you love it so much. In fact, why not invent a special safety door that won't hit you in the butt on the way out, because you are fired. - Cave Johnson

                Comment


                  #9
                  Hmm, that makes my project postively insginificant. Think I can put my feet up and relax a little now!
                  'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I thought you might like to know that Tony B'Liar and several apparatchiks made a significant amount of money on the crash.

                    Every cloud has a silver lining.
                    Insanity: repeating the same actions, but expecting different results.
                    threadeds website, and here's my blog.

                    Comment

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