The 124 meter long, 13,802 dwt cargo vessel Ultra Galaxy (IMO: 9449352) became disabled some 60 nautical miles west of Doring Bay, South Africa. The vessel was heading to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania when it suffered a heavy list. The 18 crew on board were unable to right the vessel and feared the Ultra Galaxy would capsize as winds reached 12 knots per hour and swells reaching up to 6 meters. The 18 crew onboard determined the vessel was lost and abandoned ship in one of the vessel’s life rafts.
Alerted by an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) from the Ultra Galaxy, authorities sent out a broadcast to nearby vessels for assistance. Two nearby cargo vessels Fivos and Rio Grande Express changed course to assist. A nearby fishing vessel Malachite also diverted and aided with rescue efforts. These vessels were able to find the Ultra Galaxy life raft and were able to safely transfer all 18 crew to the Malachite. No reports of injuries.
On April 15, the 45 meter long tanker Wan Da capsized and sank in the Malacca Straits near Johor, Malaysia. All the crew on board the Wan Da were able to escape before the vessel rolled over. Malaysian patrol vessels monitored the overturned tanker as it drifted across shipping lanes into Indonesian waters. Reports state Indonesian patrol vessels had secured a tow line to the Wan Da and tried to tow the tanker towards Riau Islands. Another report states the Wan Da sank before it could be towed to safety. Authorities state an oil spill was spotted off Tanjung Penyusop.
On December 31, the 130 foot long fishing vessel Scandies Rose capsized and sank five miles southeast off Sutwik Island, Alaska. The Scandies Rose was heading out with a load of crab pots when it developed a heavy list to starboard. The master of the Scandies Rose desperately sent out a distress call while the six crew attempted to don survival suits. Two of the crew got their suits on and gone outside the wheelhouse when the fishing vessel lost stability and rolled over. The crew inside the wheelhouse could not be seen anywhere. The Scandies Rose had capsized so quickly that five men were trapped underwater in the wheelhouse.
https://youtu.be/Srrxer4IO_c
The two men who had escaped tried in vain to hold on to the side of the hull. Both held on to the scuppers when a large wave washed them away. They continued to stay near the Scandies Rose as the vessel settled by the stern. In just a few minutes, only the bow was visible when the vessel’s two life rafts inflated and floated free. The two survivors were able to climb into one of the liferafts and awaited rescue. The signal light on their liferaft went dark a short time later making the liferaft less visible. In 20 foot swells with 40 mph winds and air temperature around 10 degrees, the two men had limited time to be rescued.
Photo: adn.com
The Coast Guard had received the distress call and dispatched helicopters to the last known location. A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter along with a HC-130 Hercules airplane were dispatched to search for survivors. The Jayhawk helicopter arrived on scene and found a lit liferaft in the water. An inspection found it was empty, but the helicopter lights could be spotted by the two men in their liferaft. A short time later the helicopter arrived over the unlit liferaft with the survivors. The Coast Guard was able to hoist the two men to safety. Both survivors were suffering from hypothermia.
Photo: Uscg
The Coast Guard continued to search the area for the missing five crew from the Scandies Rose. Four helicopters and two aircraft were assisted by the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon searching a 300 square mile area for twenty hours before the search was suspended. Reports state authorities have launched an investigation into this incident.
