The 192 meter long, 18718 dwt ro-ro ferry Aqua Hercules became disabled off Igoumentsia, Greece. The ferry was en route to Bari, Italy with 207 passengers when the vessel suffered engine failure. The ferry was able to reach Igoumentsia under its own power where it safely unloaded passengers and vehicles. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution being released. Reports state the Aqua Hercules will undergo repairs at Igoumentsia and inspection later.
A vessel carrying some 150 asylum seekers capsized on the Indian Ocean near Christmas Island. A satellite phone call was made by one of the passengers stating the vessel was in distress and required assistance. The 122 meter long livestock carrier Bison Express had passed by the boat earlier taking a photo of the crowded decks of the boat. The Bison Express was contacted by the authorities to assist while they dispatched two Australian Navy vessels to the scene. Another merchant vessel arrived on scene to assist in search and rescue operations. The number of survivors were not known by early reports.
The 56 meter long freighter Jireh ran aground near Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The vessel loaded with 100 migrants passengers was en route to St. Martin when it struck a reef. Some 80 passengers swam ashore to the island with the remaining passengers staying on board. Read more on our prior posting…
A migrant boat capsizes and sinks on Lake Malawi north of Lilongwe, Malawi. The vessel was overloaded with some 60 immigrants from Ethiopia who were trying to reach South Africa. Local villagers began to find bodies the following morning and contacted the authorities. Some 47 bodies were recovered from the lake. Three men were later arrested connected to the vessel for illegal human trafficking.
The AMSA received a call from an unnamed vessel that a vessel had sank between Christmas Island and the Indonesian mainland. The boat was overloaded with some 200 migrants and asylum seekers when it got caught in bad weather. The vessel quickly lost stability and capsized sending people into the water. The authorities dispatched multiple aircraft and rescue vessels to the scene. Some 110 survivors were pulled from the water. Reports state only men survived and the majority of those who had perished were women and children. The survivors were mostly from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The 292 meter long, 177996 dwt bulk freighter Flash ran aground in the Mediterranean Sea near the Galite Islands, Tunisia. The freighter was en route to Taranto from Baltimore with 126,000 metric tonnes of coal when it struck bottom. The Flash suffered structural damage to multiple ballast tanks along with the engine room. No reports of injuries to the 23 crew on board and no pollution has been released. Salvagers plan to pump out the fuel and lighter some of the coal cargo before attempting to refloat the Flash. Malta authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident.
