PASHA BULKER

Remember her? The container ship that was blown onto Nobby's beach near Newcastle on Australia's east coast during the storms that lashed the coast weeks ago?

Well, it's still there some 5 weeks later. And all the supposed experts have been able to do is move it 5 metres. They have attached cables to the bow of the stranded vessel and attempted to pull her round out to sea. (I wonder if that's really the best they can come up with).

Now, what has happened (see original piece for that and possible solutions - of which this is one however badly executed) is that the ship ran aground bow first and its incredible weight and momentum forced the ship to bury itself in the sandy beach - I mean, this is a 40,000 ton ship resting on the beach here!

Their first mistake was attaching cables that were patently not strong enough (three have snapped already) and their second was attempting to pull the part of the hull most deeply buried in the sand, around.
This is a stupid idea for two reasons: Because of the very sand that holds the vessel in such a vice-like grip, the tugs can't access the bow perpendicularly which is the best (and with most chance of success) angle in this case so they are forced into pulling diagonally, i.e. sideways AND back at the same time - (it'd actually be better to pull directly from the stern than this way).

The friction as the hull tried to scrape across the sand would be terrible (get 10 of your friends and try to pull your car sideways across the sand and multiply by 40,000) and near impossible for even the powerful tugs (demonstrated to a tee by the cables snapping).

They need to use the ship's OWN weight to release her. Much like jerking a stake stuck in the ground free, the stern of the vessel, which is semi-floating in an amount of water (precise depth unknown), should be (along with the engines in full reverse) pulled this way and that. Just keep doing that and the vessel will slowly 'wriggle' off the beach.
In addition, if we pushed from the beached end whilst engaging the above practices, using the biggest earth mover(s) available, that would also help. Employing all these ways simultaneously would wield a positive result.

Instead, the 'experts' have donned the fluorescent coats and and safety hats and all stood around sctratching their heads - while the media extracts every bit of footage and comment it can from the story. (Ker-rist, stand by for the inevitable 'hero' story).
And the surrounding area, too, is experiencing a 'boom' as it were as veritable thousands make the trip to view the scene. A suggestion from the recipients of such fortune, as they drool at the thought of their coffers being filled, that the beached behemoth be left there as a tourist attraction.

As a sidebar: The total cost to move the 'Pasha' so far...? Five millions dollars.