Marine

Citation

(1999), "Marine", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 8 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.1999.07308aac.002

Marine

Marine

27 January 1998 ­ Northern Philippines

A total of 23 Filipino fishermen were missing and two others devoured by sharks after their vessel capsized in heavy seas off the northern Philippines, the Navy said today. Four other fishermen survived the overturning of the vessel on Saturday (24 January) off Ilocos Norte province, about 400 km north of Manila, it said. A Navy vessel and several commercial vessels were searching the shark-infested waters for other survivors, a Navy spokesman said.

1 February 1998 ­ London, UK

Mystery still surrounds the loss of m bulk carrier Flare, despite first interviews with the four survivors. The vessel broke in two during rough weather off Newfoundland on 16 January, with the deaths of 21 crew. The survivors appear to have thrown little light on the possible cause of the casualty, which has aroused major concerns in shipping circles, especially among people working with small handymax vessels. Of the 2,500 such vessels in the world fleet, 42 per cent are over 20 years of age and 65 per cent over 15 years old. Canada's Transportation Safety Board and Cyprus as the flag state are conducting investigations but have yet to disclose conclusions. It is understood the survivors have indicated that most of the crew were awoken by a loud sound at around midnight. According to ship manager Norfolk Shiptrading, it appeared no one was unduly alarmed, and the crew might have thought the bang was the vessel being slammed down by a wave. She sailed on until around 04.30 hrs, when a second bang signalled the fatal break-up. The manager insists the vessel was in very good condition structurally and that, like other Hakodate types, she was "built like a tank". Lloyd's Register has said that the loss of the Flare was the first of a bulk carrier on its books since June 1994, and stressed: "It is essential that the facts are established". Her management continues to express surprise at the loss of the vessel. It is said she passed a port state control survey in Toronto in mid-1997. The vessel traded regularly to the US and passed inspection by the Coast Guard in San Francisco and New Orleans. Only problem recorded during her visits to countries signatory to the Paris Memorandum of Understanding appears to have been at Newport, Wales, in October, 1997. The UK authorities detained her for four days pending attention to "badly corroded lifeboat davit blocks". Her managers described the problem as "a bit of rust"; which would have been rectified more quickly but for non-availability of people at the weekend. The casualty is reviving debate over the wisdom of major steel renewal on vessels. Extensive renewal was carried out on the Flare under her Lloyd's Register enhanced survey programme completed in January 1996. Experts have raised questions as to whether such work poses new stresses on a vessel, whereas many owners say it gives a vessel a genuine new lease of life and reinforces ability to withstand fierce Atlantic gales. Intercargo ­ the International Association of Dry Cargo Ship owners ­ has issued a statement relating to the Flare incident and offered to help investigations. The organization has 185 members from 34 countries and is dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of dry bulk ship owners. Chairman Sverre Tidemand, of Oslo-based Belships, said: "We as ship owners need to know in detail the reasons for this tragedy as soon as is humanly possible. We must take a leaf from the aviation industry and use all available resources to establish the causes. Only in this way can we guard against future tragedies". The Intercargo statement followed a meeting of its management committee, and separate talks with leaders of the International Association of Classification Societies.

7 February 1998 ­ Singapore

Following received from MPA, Singapore, timed 16:37, UTC: Master of m vehicle carrier Venus Diamond, 9VRR, reported sighting of distress flare signal at position lat 09 31N, long 110 33E. All vessels in vicinity are requested to keep sharp lookout and report any sightings to Singapore Radio.

Timed 21:45, UTC: Following received from MPA, Singapore, timed 21:00, UTC: So far one survivor was rescued from the distressed vessel, m bulk carrier Fei Cui Hai (18,972 gt, built 1973) in lat. 09.28N, long 110.33E by assisting vessel, m vehicle carrier Venus Diamond, who is continuing the SAR operations. All vessels in the vicinity are requested to keep a sharp lookout and rescue any survivors. (Note - Fei Cui Hai sailed New Mangalore 26 January for Nanjing.)

8 February 1998 ­ Following received from Singapore Radio, timed 23:50, UTC, 7 February: Following received from m vehicle carrier Venus Diamond: Continuing search for survivors from m bulk carrier Fei Cui Hai. According to the survivor, five other people jumped into the sea with lifejackets.

Following received from Singapore Radio: Timed 05:00, UTC: M bulk carrier Fei Cui Hai, total crew 34, as reported by survivor, en route from India to Nanjing. According to survivor five people jumped into sea with lifejackets and vessel subsequently sank. M vehicle carrier Venus Diamond was released from SAR with port operation control's permission. M vehicle carrier Pioneer Leader in lat. 09 23N, long 110 32E, since 2000, UTC, 7 February, searching for survivors and will continue until daybreak. Pioneer Leader reports at 02:45, UTC, 8 February: "From 2000, UTC, 7 February, we search ­ so far three alive people picked up by other vessels. Approximately 20 miles area have been searched so far, now seems hardly any chance to sight any survivors and request to proceed on voyage."

Timed 05:30, UTC: M bulk carrier Fei Cui Hai: Following received from master of Venus Diamond at 03:46, UTC, 8 February: Discontinued SAR operation at 02:30, UTC, and resumed voyage bound for Toyohashi, ETA 09:00, local time, 14 February. Rescued survivor on board is healthy and fit.

Timed 11:57, UTC: M bulk carrier Fei Cui Hai: Search and Rescue operations for the Fei Cui Hai at position lat 09 31N, long 110 33E, have been discontinued. All vessels passing the area are to keep a sharp look for any survivors and report any sighting to Singapore Radio.

9 February 1998 ­ M bulk carrier Fei Cui Hai sailed New Mangalore with a consignment of 27,499 tonnes of iron ore concentrate.

27 January 1998 ­ Satawal, Micronesia

The sky was clear and the sea smooth on the afternoon of 18 March 1994, when the first mate of m bulk carrier Oceanus (38,891 gt, built 1993) decided he needed a closer look at topless women on the tiny Pacific island of Satawal. Navigating the vessel to improve his view, he steered out of the main shipping channel connecting Australia and New Zealand with Northern Asia, and rammed straight into a coral reef. Unfortunately for the vessel's owners and its insurers, this was not just any coral reef, but a principal source of food for 700 residents of the isolated Western Pacific island. Two Honolulu attorneys, Edward King and Alan Burdick, were retained to represent the interests of the Satawalese. The suit alleged that much of the island's primary food source, the Wenimong Reef, was ruined not only by the unnecessary grounding but also by efforts to drag the vessel off the reef about seven weeks after the accident. Nearly four years later, the suit has been settled after the North of England P&I Club agreed to pay $2 million to the Satawal residents, an estimate of the damage caused to the reef. According to statements from some of the vessel's crew members, the first mate took the vessel close to the island to get a better view of its women, who wear no clothing on the upper half of their bodies. The moving of the vessel gouged a large trench in the reef, the suit said, smothering surrounding areas with mounds of crushed coral and silt. About 13,000 square meters of reef was destroyed or damaged, said James Maragos, a marine biologist, who was hired by the plaintiffs to inspect the grounding site. The settlement's details, on file at the Federated States of Micronesia Supreme Court on the island of Yap, show that the money is for the people of Satawal, which is about 600 miles east of Yap. The terms of the settlement require that the money not be turned over to individual citizens of Satawal to spend as they wish. Instead, most of the funds will be invested to produce income strictly "for the (Satawal) community". Five respected Satawalese leaders have been appointed by the chiefs of Satawal to be trustees of a trust fund. The funds will be distributed this way: More than $1 million of the $2 million will be put into the trust fund and not be used for five years, unless the trustees feel there is a compelling need for the fund's top priority: repairing the island's reef. After the five years income from the fund may be used for any of three other priority needs: responding to harm caused to the island by an environmental event such as a typhoon; community projects such as enhancing communication or transportation; and loans (not grants) for medical care or education. The balance of the funds will be used to pay attorneys' fees and other settlement costs. Whatever is left over can be used only according to the four overall priorities established for the first $1 million of the settlement.

10 March 1998 ­ Moscow, Russia

An inspection of the hull of the wrecked m tanker Nakhodka has revealed that oil is still leaking from the vessel's tanks although in smaller quantities. A one-day investigation of Nakhodka, which broke in two and sank in the Sea of Japan on 2 January 1997 was conducted by the Japan Marine Science and Technology Centre. A deep-sea probe carrying photographic equipment, Dolphin 3K, was used but the inspection was abandoned due to poor weather. The inspection again centred on the starboard No. 3 and No. 4 tanks from which fuel oil continues to leak, albeit in diminishing quantities. Streams of oil from No. 4 tank were reported to measure about 30cm in width. No oil leakage was detected from the centre No. 9 tank where some leakage was reported during the previous investigation. Whitish material, which it is believed was formed from zinc plates on the vessel was also reported. The stern section of the 1970-built vessel has not moved since the last investigation.

12 March 1998 ­ London, UK

Britain's deputy prime minister John Prescott said a maritime experts' report published today had uncovered new evidence of how m ore/bulk/oil vessel Derbyshire sank and pledged to re-open the investigation into the loss of the vessel on the night of 9/10 September 1980, 350 miles east of Okinawa. The maritime assessors appointed by the UK and European Commission to undertake the report, said the disaster became inevitable after a sequence of events was set off by flooding of bow spaces forward of the cargo hold. Storm waves tore away an improperly attached hatch cover to an equipment store. Flooding of this and a forward fuel tank pushed the nose of the vessel down making the cargo hold hatch covers vulnerable. A massive wave then smashed a cargo hatch cover allowing sea water to flood first cargo hold. Further hatch covers were stoved in and the rest of the holds filled with water. The ship sank within two minutes of the first hatch being breached and broke up as water pressure caused its structure to both implode and explode as it reached depths of 25 to 100 metres. Chief scientist and UK assessor Robin Williams said the fragmentation of the wreckage showed that forces equivalent to 17 tonnes of TNT explosives had destroyed the ship below the surface. The new report discounts the theory held by relatives of the crew that the vessel broke in half around frame 65, one of the bulkheads between the cargo holds and the stern section of the ship. Williams said the hatch covers were inadequate to withstand the pressures exerted by the storm and that new ship designs to protect bow areas need to be considered. The assessors said design faults were partly to blame as well as poor seamanship.

18 March 1998 ­ Rabat, Morocco

Two aircraft and a dozen vessels searched today for ten crewmen missing from Spanish m stern trawler Peix Del Mar Siete (101 gt, built 1987) which capsized off the coast of Morocco. The official Moroccan news agency MAP said two Moroccan naval vessels, Moroccan and Spanish aircraft and a dozen fishing vessels were searching for six Moroccans and four Spaniards. Peix Del Mar Siete capsized late yesterday about 70km from Agadir. Three Moroccans and two Spanish crew members were rescued by m stern trawler Peix Del Mar Ocho. The Spaniards were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the Canary Islands.

19 March 1998 ­ Moroccan authorities today called off an air and sea search for ten crewmen missing from m stern trawler Peix del Mar Siete, which capsized off the coast of Morocco. The official Moroccan news agency, MAP, reported an official as saying there is no hope left of finding the missing six Moroccans and four Spaniards. Peix del Mar Siete capsized late on Tuesday about 70km from Agadir. A Moroccan aircraft and rescue vessels had searched through the night, yesterday, and early today in conditions of good visibility, but without success, the official said.

4 April 1998 ­ Almirante Moreira, Brazil

Brazilian authorities said at least 90 people were rescued after a river boat caught fire on an Amazon River tributary today, but it was unclear how many were missing due to the lack of a passenger list. Police in Manaus said 74 passengers on board the vessel Almirante Moreira, which caught fire at about 09:00, local time, were taken to the local hospital, while 16 left after the accident without injuries. The rescue team at the site has not reported any deaths, said Captain Helcio Motta in Manaus. But Brazilian media reported at least three people were feared dead and that local police were continuing their search under the assumption that between 30 and 70 people could be missing. Many were feared swept away in the swift current of the river, a major tributary that flows northeast into the Amazon, and travels at about 12mph in the area where the vessel exploded. The vessel caught fire while making her regular run on the Madeira River from Manaus to Rondonia state's Porto Velho. Motta said the fire erupted in the kitchen, but could not give further details. A rescue team of police, medics and divers flew into the area from Manaus, Brazil's main Amazon River port, about 160 miles away, to help an undersized team of local police and firemen.

6 April 1998 ­ Kareha River, India

At least 23 bodies were recovered today after a riverboat capsized in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, police said. "Twenty-three bodies have been fished out and the search operation is still on", said K.A. Jacob, director general of police. He said the boat, which was carrying 60 to 80 people returning from Hindu festival celebrations, capsized in the Kareha River in Samastipur district. Jacob said he was not sure of the exact casualty figure. "The toll may go up but I cannot say anything at this moment", he said. The United News of India reported that 150 people were aboard the vessel and estimated the number missing at 125. However, Jacob denied the media report. "The death figure may be 25 or a little more. No country boat can carry so many people", he said. Press Trust of India estimated that 35 people were feared drowned. Jacob said overcrowding was believed to be the cause of the accident, which occurred at around 09:30, local time, The passengers had been returning to Bariahi Ghat, about 185 km north of the state capital Patna, after celebrating the Ram-naomi festival in Sivajinagar.

7 April 1998 ­ Rescue workers have recovered at least 105 bodies from a river in which a vessel had capsized in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Officials say at least 40 people are still missing. At least 30 people swam to safety after an overloaded vessel carrying at least 175 people had capsized Monday (6 April) in Kareha river. Most of the victims are women and children who were returning home after visiting a temple on the eve of a Hindu festival. Eyewitnesses claimed the help reached the site nearly an hour after the mishap occurred.

5 April 1998 ­ Nigeria/Gabon

At least 280 people drowned when their overcrowded vessel capsized during a trip from Nigeria to Gabon, the Daily Times newspaper reported at the weekend (4/5 April). It said the passengers, mostly traders, were travelling from south-eastern Nigeria on Wednesday when the vessel capsized in heavy seas. The majority government-owned newspaper said Bode Akinbamilowo, police spokesman for south-eastern Akwa Ibom state, had confirmed the accident. There has been no independent confirmation of the report. The paper quoted Akinbamilowo as saying officials from the marines and police were trying to recover the bodies. Ship disasters are common in remote areas of Nigeria where people usually travel in overloaded vessels lacking communications.