Shipwreck Log

On the night of September 26, the 37 meter long workboat Chantise G (MMSI: 775991023) sank in Lake Maracaibo off Tía Juana, Venezuela. The Chantise G had been dispatched with 26 persons on board  to repair some gas and oil pipelines on Lake Maracaibo in bad weather. When the vessel arrived at the location to do the repairs, the weather conditions worsen.  Strong winds were causing waves to break over the Chantise G and the master of the vessel decided to raise anchor. The lake boat attempted to reach shelter, but large waves continued to break over the starboard stern of the vessel causing water ingress. Unable to stop the flooding with the vessel’s pumps, many on board donned life jackets and the vessel alerted authorities the vessel was in trouble. Before the vessel reached safety of land the Chantise G rolled over and sank by the stern leaving only part of the bow above water. When the Chantise G so fast that it sent many of the people on board into the water while trapping some below deck.

Two rescue boats were dispatched to search for survivors and arrived quickly on scene.  Rescuers found 9 people in the water along with another 10 who held onto the bow of the Chantise G.  Unfortunately, five people on board perished with their bodies later recovered.  One person was reported as missing.

The incident is under investigation. Reports state that one of the drain covers on the vessel was defective and allowed water ingress.