On January 8, the 57 meter long, 200 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Vicente sank off Sao Filipe, Fogo Island, Cape Verde. The ferry left Praia with 22 passengers and 4 crew along with a cargo of vehicles and containers bound for Sao Filipe. The ferry was dealing with heavy weather when the ferry sank 3 nautical miles off Fogo Island. Authorities dispatched two vessels to scene to search for survivors. Initial reports stated 3 survivors were pulled from the water. As search and rescue operations continued, another 8 survivors were rescued. Three bodies were also recovered. An official stated there was still 12 missing, but the chances to find additional survivors were low. The cause of the sinking was no reported. Some reports have alluded that the ferry may have been overloaded while authorities have stated the cause was the bad weather.
The 97 meter long ro-ro ferry Trondheim became disabled in the Kors Fjord, Norway. The Trondheim was en route to Hufthamar from Krokeide with 48 passengers when the main engine stalled. The crew were unable to restart the engine and the vessel began to drift towards shore. The Trondheim requested assistance with authorities dispatching the Coast Guard vessel Ålesund along with the NSSR lifeboat KG Jepsen. Both vessels arrived on scene and the Trondheim was taken under tow. The vessels were able to proceed at a slow pace, but arrived in port safely. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
There is still some confusion about how many survivors were rescued and how many are still missing from the ro-ro ferry Norman Atlantic. Authorities stated that 400 people were rescued from the ferry, but some of those rescued were not on the vessel’s passenger list. Some news agencies report that could be upwards to 38 people still missing and could have perished when smoke and flames trapped them below deck.
Photo: Italian Navy
Reports do confirm that a lifeboat was launched with 49 persons which was picked up by the cargo ship Spirit of Piraeus. The vessel arrived in Bari with the survivors. Reports state some were taken to hospital for treatment for hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning and burns.
Photo: Italian Navy
Reports state the death toll from the fire reached 10 people as nine bodies were recovered from the sea.
Survivors have made the following statements to the press about the incident:
“Everyone there was trampling on each other to get into the helicopter” – Christos Perlis told AP
“Our feet were buring and from the feet up we were soaked” – Christos Perlis told AP
“First children, then women and then men. But the men, they started hitting us so they could get on first.” – Christos Perlis told AP
“There was no queue or order. No respect was shown for children.” – Irene Varsioti
“We were soaked from the water they doused to extinguish the fire. Our feet froze. People were forced to move closer to the fire to keep warm…We waited outside for hours.” – Aylin Akamac
“We experienced the Titanic. The only thing missing was that we didn’t sink” – Saadet Bayhan
“It was hell” – Dimitra Theodossiou
“We were asleep when the smoke entered out cabins. Flames and smoke were engulfing people from all sides” – Robert Mane
