The 190 meter long, 56692 dwt bulk carrier Yue Dian 57 collided with the 40 meter long patrol vessel Zhongguohaijing 3062 near Nei Island in the Pearl River estuary, Guangdong, China. The bulk carrier was headed to Tianjin from Guangzhou when it struck the patrol vessel. The Zhongguohaijing 3062 capsized and sank sending the eight crew into water. Local fishermen were able to rescue all eight crew. No reports of injuries.
Photo: sina.com.cn
The Yue Dian 57 dropped anchor near the incident site. Authorities quickly dispatched a salvage team to the scene. A barge with a crane was able to raise the patrol vessel.
Reports state the Zhongguohaijing 3062 was engage in monitoring the area for illegal fishing. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
The 114 meter long 2457 dwt cargo vessel Geroi Arsenala broke-in-two and sank south of the Kerch Strait some 50 kilometers from Anapa, Russia. The Geroi Arsenala had departed from Rostov-on-Don with a cargo of grain bound for Turkey. There was a storm in the area with strong winds and , but not severe to keep the cargo vessel in port. As the Geroi Arsenala passed the Kersch Starit the vessel suffered structural failure after struck by a five meter wave.
The vessel was able to send out a distress call alerting authorities the Geroi Arsenala was breaking up and sinking. The vessel remained afloat long enough for some of the 12 crew to don lifejackets and launch the ship’s lifeboat. Authorities launched a search and rescue operation deploying Russian Coast Guard and Navy vessels along with helicopters to the scene. A rescue helicopter reported seeing five crewmen in the water, but conditions prevented hoisting them to safety. One crewman, a mechanic, was later pulled from the water suffering from severe hypothermia. Additional reports state at least two bodies were recovered. Reports state the water temperature was no more than 10 degrees above freezing.
Photo: gazeta.ru
Photo: gazeta.ru
Photo: gazeta.ru
Built in 1980, the Geroi Arsenala now rests some 14 kilometers off the Kerch Strait in 100 meters of water. Authorities are concern that the cargo vessel had some 30 tons of fuel oil on board at the time of the sinking and could cause environmental damage.
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Several reports suspect the Geroi Arsenala had not been sufficiently maintained for it’s advance age. Others have suggested that improper loading of cargo could have lead to the structural failure. Russian authorities have not yet stated the cause of the sinking, but have launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
The 23 meter long, 189 dwt towboat Todd Brown partially sank on the Mississippi River near Columbus, Kentucky. Details of the sinking have not yet been reported, but the vessel had over 17,000 gallons of diesel fuel along with hydraulic oil and lube oil on board at the time. An environmental response team is on site and has placed a boom around the vessel. No details yet reported if pollution has been released, but Kentucky and Missouri authorities along with the Coast Guard are engaged in monitoring the situation.
The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
