Maritime Casualties In The News

[Michael H. Standart]

Notable Casualties In The News

If it burns, rolls over, breaks up, runs aground, sinks, or otherwise comes to grief in spectacular fashion in the shipping world, we tend to take an interest in it, so I thought I'd start a thread dedicated to just that. To kick it off, Maritime Global Net has this one to offer:quote:

MOL BULKER SINKS
Tuesday, 10 October 2006

TWO seafarers are confirmed dead and eight others still missing following the sinking of the Mitsui OSK Lines capesize bulk carrier Giant Step

According to reports the 1985-built, Panama-flag ship caught fire and ran aground off up the Japanese port of Kashima. Sixteen crew members were rescued.[/quote]For the rest of the story, go to Maritime Global Net

Comment: This ship is owned by the same people who own the Cougar Ace.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From MSNBC.com

quote:

Cargo ships collide on Mississippi River
One vessel listing near New Orleans; no injuries reported

NEW ORLEANS - A cargo ship heading down the Mississippi River struck another vessel anchored west of New Orleans on Monday, knocking a huge gash in the anchored vessel, the Coast Guard said.

The anchored ship was listing, but the hole was above the water line, and the vessel was not believed to be taking on water, said Chief Petty Officer Veronica Bandrowsky. No injuries were reported.

For the rest of the story, go to http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15293984/

Comment: A nice little cruncher here and fortunately, nobody was injured. River navigation is no easy task, and all the more difficult on the Mississippi River where there are a lot of bends and treacherous currents as well. The wonder of it all is that this doesn't happen more often, and a testimony to the skill of river pilots and crews that it doesn't!​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Another story on a grounding incident can be viewed at http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14922238/

Be sure to check out the link to the images of the grounding damage.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Maritime Global Net:

quote:

LPG LEAK SHUTS SOUTHAMPTON
Wednesday, 18 October 2006

THE UK port of Southampton was returning to normal this morning after a propane leak during the loading of a Hong Kong-registered LPG carrier, the Ennerdale. Shipping was prevented from entering or leaving the port for several hours due to a gas cloud which eventually blew out sea.

For the rest of the story, go to http://www.mgn.com/news/dailystorydetails.cfm?storyid=7089&type=2

Comment: A near miss here, but the sort that could have potentially removed a nice chunk of the Southampton waterfront from the face of the Earth.​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From MSNBC.com: "Tanker ship explosion kills 8 in Mexico"

quote:

COATZACOALCOS, Mexico - A gasoline tanker ship exploded Tuesday as a welding spark came into contact with fuel at a Mexican port, killing at least eight people and injuring nine others, officials said.

Four hundred workers were evacuated from the area of the ship, owned by Mexico’s national oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex.

For the rest of the story, go to http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15310449/​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From MSNBC.com

quote:

18 sought after ferry capsizes in Philippines
14 reported killed, 65 rescued after accident in rough seas


Updated: 11:09 p.m. ET Nov 25, 2006
MANILA, Philippines - Rescue teams mounted a search Sunday for 18 people, including a town mayor, reported missing after their ferry sank after being buffeted by big waves in the southern Philippines, officials said. Fourteen bodies have been recovered.

Surigao provincial governor Lyndon Barbers said 65 people were rescued by a passing boat and coast guard personnel in the waters where the motor boat Leonida II capsized Saturday afternoon off Hinatuan island, about 444 miles southeast of Manila.

For the rest of the story, go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15890569/

Comment: Another ferry? And in one of the usual places with the usual suspects of heavy seas mixed with overloading.​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Maritime Global Net:

quote:

THE 27,720, dwt Dutch-flag semi submersible vessel Mighty Servant 3 sank off the Angolan coast yesterday morning. The ship’s owner, heavy lift specialist Dockwise, says the ship developed a list and sank after the offloading of the drilling platform Aleutian Key. The vessel is said to be resting at the sea bottom in about 62 metres of water. The drilling platform did not sustain any damage and is underway to its drilling location.

For the rest of the story, go to http://www.mgn.com/news/dailystorydetails.cfm?storyid=7248&type=2​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From the Navy Newsstand:

quote:

MCPON Visits Injured Cable Sailors
Story Number: NNS061211-16
Release Date: 12/11/2006 5:45:00 PM



By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Bill Houlihan, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr. traveled to San Antonio’s Brooke Army Medical Center Dec. 9 to visit Sailors severely burned by a steam leak aboard USS Frank Cable (AS 40).

Machinery Repairman Fireman Jack B. Valentine died there one day before Campa’s arrival.

...

The Sailors were conducting routine maintenance to steam safety valves in Cable’s number 1 boiler room while the ship was pier side at its homeport in Guam when a major steam leak occurred.

For the rest of the story, go to http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=26999

Comment: Posted in this thread because not all casualties happen while underway, and it also illustrates just how dangerous a steam "leak" can be. One dead, eight injured, and four of them still in serious condition.​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From MSNBC.com

quote:

Navy officer: Ship carrying 850 sinks off Java

9 survivors reported, but commander says, ‘I’m afraid many have died’

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A ferry carrying around 850 passengers sank in a storm off Indonesia’s main island of Java, a military commander said Saturday, adding that he feared many people had died.

For the rest of the story, go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16401103/

Comment: Another ferry? This is getting monotonous! So far, only nine survivors found and the seas are nice and stormy.​

 

[Dave Gittins]

There's a bit more detail on the BBC, including a little chart.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6218651.stm

 

[Linda Sherlock]

Apologies if this has been posted on already:

Apparently, four crewmen fell overboard in bad weather as the submarine USS Minneapolis-St Paul left Devonport Naval base here in Britain and two of them have lost their lives.

Didn't I see this submarine's name in the de-commissioning list Michael Standart posted recently?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/29122006/344/crewmen-die-submarine-fall.html

 

[Dave Gittins]

The Indonesian ferry was called Senopati.

There's more detail here. Some survivors have been found.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6218651.stm

 

[Dave Gittins]

More recent information is that the ferry was called Senopati Nusantara. She was not overloaded. According to the BBC her capacity was 850 and she was not full.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6220617.stm

 

[Dave Gittins]

There's what appears to photo of the ferry here.

www.suaramerdeka.com/harian/0604/04/nas17.htm

Anybody read Indonesian?

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>She was not overloaded.<<

Noooo....but apparantly under reported. That's going to make figuring out the identies of who was lost very difficult.