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Category: Capsize

Nyerere

Nyerere

Nyerere
Photo: cgtn.com

The ro-ro passenger ferry Nyerere capsized on Lake Victoria near Ukora Island, Tanzania.  The Nyerere was within a hundred meters of landing at the dock when it lost stability and rolled over.  Nearby boats witnessed the ferry turning over and rushed to the scene.  They were able to rescued more than 100 people from the water.  Rescuers also recovered 40 bodies from the water. Authorities expect to recover more bodies in the following days.

Tanzanian authorities state there was an indeterminate number of passengers on board the ferry.   Some news accounts suggest the Nyerere was overloaded and could have more than 250 persons on board at the time of the incident. Reports do state the Nyerere had undergone maintenance in recent months and was considered seaworthy.

 

Update 21 September 2018

Initial reports on the number of survivors were incorrect.  Authorities now state only 38 people survived the capsizing and some 100 bodies have been recovered. The total number who were on board the Nyerere may never be determined. Reports state the person who had the manifest was lost and the equipment that tracked how many persons actually boarded the ferry.

George H. Ledcor

George H. Ledcor

George H. Ledcor
photo: vancouversun.com

On August 14, the 18 meter long tugboat George H. Ledcor sank on the Fraser River between Vancouver and Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The tug was towing a gravel barge when it suddenly capsized and sank. The four crew on board were thrown into the water and later rescued by a nearby tug.  No reports of injuries.

A sheen was spotted over the sunken tug as diesel fuel is released. Authorities place booms around the wreck site and divers are dispatched to plug fuel vents on the tugboat. Reports state the George H. Ledcor had nearly 22,000 litres of fuel on board at the time of the sinking. 

A crane barge was dispatched to raise the George H. Ledcor from the bottom. The Canadian Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.

 

Dorneda

Dorneda

Dorneda

On July 11, the 50 meter long, 748 gt fishing vessel Dorneda capsized and sank in the South Atlantic some 300 miles off the Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. The trawler was hauling in nets in heavy seas when the Dorneda lost stability.  Waves washed over the stern ramp and flooded the trawler’s engine room.  The Dorneda engine failed and the vessel went adrift.  The crew were unable to keep the vessel under control in the heavy seas and abandoned ship into the vessel’s two life rafts.  The Dorneda eventually lost stability, capsized and sank. 

A distress beacon alerted authorities that the Dorneda had been lost.  The Argentine Navy alerted nearby fishing vessels to look for survivors.  On the following morning, the two life rafts were spotted by a fishing vessel.  Twenty-five crew were rescued. Reports state one crewman was missing and another perished during the incident.