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Category: Capsize

Easy Rider Lost

Easy Rider Lost

The fishing vessel Easy Rider capsized and sank in the Foveaux Strait near Stewart Island, New Zealand.  The vessel with three crew and six passengers was proceeding through the strait in bad weather with heavy rain and four meter swells when it was struck by a rogue wave and capsized.   The three men on deck were thrown into the water while the rest were trapped inside the wheelhouse.   One man was able to hold onto the vessel and climb onto the overturn hull.  For several hours he held on before the Easy Rider sank.  Thrown back into the water, he was able to grab a hold of a floating petrol can.  When the Easy Rider failed to arrive on Stewart Island at the expected time, the alarm was sent out and rescue boats and helicopters were dispatched to the scene.  The sole survivor was found when got the attention of a coast guard vessel some 16 hours since grabbing a hold of the petrol can.   He was taken to hospital later and was treated for hypothermia.  Reports state the vessel was found resting at 40 meters.   Rescuers also recovered four bodies during the search.

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25 Years Ago: Herald of Free Enterprise

25 Years Ago: Herald of Free Enterprise

Photo gallery of the salvage at uitkerke.be

The 132 meter long ro-ro ferry Herald of Free Enterprise departed from Zeebrugge bound for Dover on March 6, 1987.   The ferry loaded with 459 passengers, 80 crew and 131 vehicles suddenly capsized and sank under five minutes later.  The ferry had lost stability and rolled over to port in shallow water.   The water had rushed in as the watertight door in the bow was open allowing water to rush down the length of the vessel.  The water quickly flooded the vessel disabling the electrical systems.  Passengers and crew trapped inside were thrown into darkness in frigid water.

A nearby dredger saw the lights of the ferry disappeared and contacted the authorities.  The Belgian Navy was nearby and soon rescue helicopters were on the scene.   While many were rescued, many perished due to hypothermia before they could be rescued.  When search and rescue efforts ended, there were 193 people who perished on board the vessel.

The Herald of Free Enterprise was salvaged in April 1987 and taken to Flushing.   The vessel was sold for scrap and towed to Taiwan in 1988.

The cause of the sinking was investigated and revealed several causes that lead to the sinking.

  • The Master of the vessel was unable to see if the bow doors were closed from the bridge (due to the ship’s design) and  there was no indicator light
  • The assistant boatswain who is responsible for closing the door was asleep at his bunk at the time of the accident
  • The first mate had left the deck early to go to the bridge assuming the assistant boatswain would close the doors
  • The last crewman who saw the doors open did not close the door before the vessel left
  • The vessel’s speed in shallow water increased the flooding into the vessel
  • The vessel’s ballast tanks in the bow resulted in an irregular trim

 

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Alfa I

Alfa I

The 81 meter long, 2519 dwt tanker Alfa I capsized and sank in Eleusis Bay while en route to Eleusina from Piraeus.  The vessel was sailing with 1800 tons of fuel oil and 235 tons of diesel fuel when an alarm was sounded that the vessel was sinking.  Ten of the 11 crew on board were rescued with one crewman later hospitalized.  The master was on the bridge of the Alfa I and perished when the vessel capsized.  Early reports believe the Alfa I struck a shipwreck which caused the tanker to sink.  Authorities have stated that Eleusis Bay has over 20 record shipwrecks which are clearly marked.   No water pollution has been spotted, but authorities have placed booms around the wreck site to contain any oil that may be released.

Video of wrecks of Eleusis Bay

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