Shipping Disasters Since 1990

2006

Name/Owner:........................ ALEXANDROS T - Starlight Shipping, Managers; Overseas Marine Ent.

Date & Location of Loss:.... 5/3/06 Off Coast of S. Africa

Incident:................................ The vessel began breaking up in heavy seas and sank.

Casualties:............................ 26 of 33 crew lost

Built/Type:............................ 1989 / Bulk Carrier

GT/DW Tons:....................... 91164/

Dimensions:.......................... 897 oal

Former Names:....................

Additional Info:.................... Surviving crew rescued by FORTUNE EXPRESS

Alexandros T. sailing in 2003 Photo by J. Van De Velde

Name/Owner:...................... EASTERN CHALLENGER -

Date & Location of Loss:... 4/13/06 Tokyo Bay Japan

Incident:.............................. Collided with Japanese ship TSUGARU MARU in thick fog

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:..........................

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Eastern Challenger was carrying steel and used cars from the Philippines, and the Tsugaru Maru was transporting animal feed to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The Filipino vessel suffered damage to the port side of its bow in the collision, but no major crude oil leak was detected in the ocean.

Name/Owner:...................... M/V HYUNDAI FORTUNE - Hyundai Merchant Marine, Panamanian Flagged

Date & Location of Loss:... 3/21/06 Gulf of Aden, Off Yeman

Incident:.............................. Explosion and fire

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1996/Container ship

GT/DW Tons:..................... 64,054/

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. suffered a major explosion & massive fire in aft on-deck container stacks. Entire after end of ship completely involved in fire. Approx. 60 to 90 containers blown off the ship. Salvage contracted to Svitzer Wijsmuller

Photos by Royal British Navy HMS Lancaster

Name/Owner:...................... SEA BULK PRIDE

Date & Location of Loss:... 2/2/06 5:25 am. 1/2 mile north of Big Tender Stock in Cook Inlet, Kodiak Alaska.

Incident:.............................. Aground

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... /Tanker

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................ 575 ft. oal

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Ran aground after breaking free from its moorings during loading operations. 34 crewman aboard. No spill reported.

SEA BULK PRIDE - High and dry.

Name/Owner:...................... TWIN STAR -

Date & Location of Loss:... 1/27/06 Port of Callao entrance Peru

Incident:.............................. Collision with Cyprus flagged vessel PINTAIL

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... /General cargo

GT/DW Tons:..................... /23,701dwt

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Heavy fog contributed to the collision of the TWIN STAR and the Cyprus flagged PINTAIL. The TWIN STAR split in two and sank. Short while later another vessel, the M/V Alice, hit the sunken TWIN STAR. No serious damage to the ALICE. 22 crewman aboard the TWIN STAR. Cargo consisted of rolled steel coil. Cargo and bunkers salvaged by Smit Salvage.

TWIN STAR - shortly after collision.

Good shots showing thick fog.

Rescue in progress.

PINTAIL, shown years earlier on the Great Lakes, collided with the TWIN STAR. Photo by John Harris

2005

Name/Owner:...................... M/V APL PANAMA - APL

Date & Location of Loss:... 12/25/05 1.5 mile SE of Port of Ensenada Mexico

Incident:.............................. Grounded

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 2000 / Container ship

GT/DW Tons:..................... 40,306gt

Dimensions:........................ 880 ft. oal

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Vessel failed to wait for Port Pilot and tugs to assist into Port. The vessel grounded on beach with a full cargo and 25 crewman. Vessel was off-loaded and several attempts to free her failed. It wasn't until March 10 2006 at 4:41 am that she was finally freed. Minor damage to vessel, with the exception to her propeller. Crowley Maritime Co. was awarded re-float contract.

M/V APL PANAMA - on the beach, being lightered by a Sikorsky S-64 Sky Crane helicopter.

Crowley tugs attempting to pull the APL PANAMA free.

Crowd gathers around grounded APL PANAMA - Photo by John Gibbons

Name/Owner:...................... M/T MAERSK HOLYHEAD - A.P. Moller-Maersk

Date & Location of Loss:... 11/6/05 5:45pm Lake Maracaibo Venezuela

Incident:.............................. Collision with bulk carrier PEQUET

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... / Tanker

GT/DW Tons:..................... 17,980gt

Dimensions:........................ 480 ft. oal (159 meters)

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. The HOLYHEAD deviated from her course and collided with the bulk carrier PEQUOT. The HOLYHEAD was carrying 11,200 metric tons of propane. Fortunately there was no major explosion and both vessels survived the collision. The PEQUOT was carrying coal and sustained bow damage. The HOLYHEAD received a hole in her starboard side and leaked some of her bunker fuel. The leak was secured the following day.

Below are a series of on-board photos from the PEQUOT.

Name/Owner:...................... M/V CAPE FLATTERY - Pacific Basin Shipping HK Ltd. (Managers)

Date & Location of Loss:... 2/2/05 Outside barbers Point Harbor Hawaii

Incident:.............................. Aground

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... / Bulk Carrier

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................ 555 feet oal.

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Carrying 27,000 metric tons cement pellets. Much of Cargo and fuel removed to refloat. Refloat on 2/11/05 Considerable damage to reef.

Name/Owner:...................... HELENA II - Owner: Mountain Star of Phnom Penh Chartered to: Santa Ltd of Siberia

Date & Location of Loss:... 2/2005 Cape Kodomari Japan

Incident:.............................. Aground during storm

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1969 General Cargo Carrier

GT/DW Tons:..................... / 3,930dwt

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Broke in two and was a total loss. All 28 Russian crew rescued. Oil bunkers salvaged by Nippon Salvage. Laden with timber.

Name/Owner:...................... ICE PRINCE

Date & Location of Loss:... 1/05 Oskarsham Sweden

Incident:.............................. Capsized during loading at dock

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... / General Cargo Carrier

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Cargo sawn timber

2004

Name/Owner:...................... EVERTON

Date & Location of Loss:... 3/26/04 Oman

Incident:.............................. Collision with Chinese fishing vessel. Ruptured port tank and caught fire.

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1980 / Tanker

GT/DW Tons:..................... 48,363gt

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Smit Salvage contracted for salvage. Carrying 80,000 crude oil. Ship to ship oil transfer, Vessel towed to Dubai for repairs.

Smit Salvage Photo Photo courtesy International Salvage Union

To expensive to repair, the Everton ends up at the beach in Alang for dismantling. Zahan Photo

Name/Owner:...................... M/T VICUNA

Date & Location of Loss:... 11/16/04 Port of Paranagua Brazil

Incident:.............................. Explosion

Casualties:.......................... 4 dead 24 rescued

Built/Type:.......................... 1983 - Tanker

GT/DW Tons:..................... 17,465gt

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:.................. M/T Jo. CYPRESS

Additional Info:.................. While unloading 11, 225 metric tons of methanol, the VICUNA exploded. The ship was completely destroyed and the terminal was heavily damaged. 28 crewman onboard. Salvage contract awarded to Smith Tak and Wijmuller

M/T VICUNA - Shortly after explosion.

Close-up of superstructure.

Damaged pier.

Name/Owner:...................... FORTINI LADY - Greek owned

Date & Location of Loss:... 9/04 Kattegat, Sweden

Incident:.............................. Aground

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... Tanker

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................ 690 ft oal. (228 meters)

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Refloated after transfer of 8,000 tons of cargo

Name/Owner:...................... BOW MARINER - Odfell ASA, Norway. Singapore flagged

Date & Location of Loss:... 2/28/04 50 miles off Coast of Chincoteague Virginia

Incident:.............................. Exploded and sank

Casualties:.......................... 21 of 27 crew dead

Built/Type:.......................... 1982 / Tanker

GT/DW Tons:..................... 39,821dwt

Dimensions:........................ 570 ft. oal

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Carrying 3.5 million gallons industrial ethanol. Sank in 240 feet water. Smit Salvage awarded salvage contract.

BOW MARINER sailing in better days. Photo by Lennart Rydberg

Multi-beam sonar of BOWMARINER provided by NOAA

The image shows the location of the wreck in about 44 fathoms near Poor Man's Canyon. The area is 53.5 nautical miles from buoy 2TL or about 57.5 miles from Chincoteague Inlet. The wreck lies at approximately 37 52.8N 74 15.3W

Radio distress from the Bow Mariner Feb. 28, 2004 USCG

USCG approaches overturned lifeboat Oil stained and burnt lifeboat Lifeboat closeup

Below are underwater photos by Capt. JT

Name/Owner:...................... DIAMOND RAY

Date & Location of Loss:... 1/23/04 Off Coast of Ulsan

Incident:.............................. Collision with vessel TRADE ZALE

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... /RoRo

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Collision with TRADE ZALE 17 mils off the port of Ulsan. The bow of the Trade Zale struck the starboard side of the Diamond Ray and initially the two vessels were interlocked. DIAMOND RAY in ballast.

Photo courtesy International Salvage Union

2003

Name/Owner:...................... CAMILLA

Date & Location of Loss:... 1/26/03 St. Johns New Foundland

Incident:.............................. Lost power and was adrift in heavy seas. Ship abandoned.

Casualties:.......................... None. Crew rescued by Canadian Coast Guard

Built/Type:.......................... 1981 / RoRo cargo

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................ 436 ft. oal

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Towed to Port and dewatered.

Name/Owner:...................... SEA LIBERTY

Date & Location of Loss:... 9/21/03 Off Kusu Island Singapore

Incident:.............................. Collision with container ship ARABIAN EXPRESS

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1984 / Bulk Carrier

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:..................

Photo courtesy International Salvage Union

Name/Owner:...................... GAS ROMAN

Date & Location of Loss:... 2/27/03

Incident:.............................. Port side collision with general cargo vessel SPRINGBOK

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1990 / LPG Carrier

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Salvage performed by Smit Salvage

Photo courtesy International Salvage Union

Name/Owner:...................... CEFALONIA - Panamanian flagged

Date & Location of Loss:... 2/22/03 Near Stockton California, San Joaquin River

Incident:.............................. Grounded

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... / Tanker

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................ 569 ft. oal

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Loaded with 27,000 tons Amonium Nitrate. Stranded for 3 days until pulled free by Crowley Marine

Name/Owner:...................... GRAND NIGERIA - Grimaldi

Date & Location of Loss:... 8/13/03 Port of Antwerp entrance

Incident:.............................. Head on collision between inbound NADA V and outbound GRAND NIGERIA.

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 2000 / RoRo container ship

GT/DW Tons:..................... 56,800gt

Dimensions:........................ 650 ft. oal (214 meters)

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Smit Salvors contracted for salvage.

Photo courtesy International Salvage Union

Name/Owner:...................... PELICAN I

Date & Location of Loss:... 7/20/03 Scheldt River, Antwerp

Incident:.............................. Collision with the MV Maersk Bahrain after having steering problems.

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1988 / Container ship

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................ 610 ft oal (202.5 meters)

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. PELICAN I sustained hull damage and in danger of sinking. 317 Deck containers removed and vessel towed/pushed to shallow water to keep from sinking. Salvors, Multraship Salvage B.V. and URS Salvage & Maritime Contracting N.V. contracted to contain spill, move ship and remove cargo.

Being towed to safety. Photo courtesy International Salvage Union

Name/Owner:...................... TASMAN SPIRIT - Assimina Maritime Ltd.

Date & Location of Loss:... 7/27/03 Pakistan, Karachi Port Trust

Incident:.............................. During monsoon rains and tides the vessel run aground

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1979 / Tanker

GT/DW Tons:..................... / 87,584 dwt

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:.................. Mabini, Kenko

Additional Info:................. Carrying 67,500 tons crude oil. Approx. 28,000 tons leaked out causing Pakistan's largest environmental disaster. Ship eventually broke in two.

Name/Owner:...................... HUA DING SHAN - Guang Zhou Maritime Group

Date & Location of Loss:... 4/03

Incident:.............................. Fire broke out, exploded and sank

Casualties:..........................

Built/Type:.......................... 1984 / Cargo bulk carrier

GT/DW Tons:..................... / 39,000dwt

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Refloated May 2003

Name/Owner:...................... ACUSHNET - American owned.

Date & Location of Loss:... 2/7/03 Kattergat Sweden

Incident:.............................. Aground

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1981 / Single-hulled Tanker

GT/DW Tons:..................... 35,589dwt

Dimensions:........................ 590 ft. oal

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Laden with 10.6 million gallons diesel

Name/Owner:...................... SEA ELEGANCE - Pacific International Lines, Singapore.

Date & Location of Loss:... 10/11/03 Durban

Incident:.............................. Fire. Broke out in engine room and accommodation

Casualties:.......................... 1 dead, several injured

Built/Type:.......................... 1980 / Container ship

GT/DW Tons:..................... 18,236gt /

Dimensions:........................ 515 ft loa (171.1 meters)

Former Names:.................. Willowbank, Mandowi 3, California Star 4

Additional Info:.................. After fire extinguished vessel towed to port to off-load remaining containers.

Name/Owner:...................... M/V CALA PANAMA

Date & Location of Loss:... 12/03 Magdalena River, Columbia

Incident:.............................. Grounding

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... Container ship

GT/DW Tons:..................... 12,822gt / 17,250dwt

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. 1/19/03 refloated by Titan Salvage after discharging 1,000 tons of cargo

2002

Name/Owner:...................... TRICOLOR

Date & Location of Loss:... 12/14/02 English Channel

Incident:.............................. Collision with vessel KARIBA. Sank immediately. Subsequently hit by two other vessels.

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... 1987 / Car Carrier

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Large scale salvage operation. See www.tricolorsalvage.com for detailed info on the salvage of this vessel.

Photo courtesy International Salvage Union

1999

Name/Owner:...................... NEW CARISSA - Green Atlas Shipping & Taiheiyo Kaiun Co.

Date & Location of Loss:... 2/4/99 Coos Bay Oregon

Incident:.............................. Run aground during storm

Casualties:.......................... None

Built/Type:.......................... /

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................ 639 ft. oal

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. Vessel was being towed out to sea during a strong storm when the towline snapped. The vessel drifted until finally run aground. Attempts to free the ship failed. Salvage crews intentionally burned her 400,000 gallons of oil bunkers. The vessel split in half and it took until 3/11/99 to get the two halves of the ship sunk. The bow taking the most time and effort. It was finally destroyed by the USN.

1996

Name/Owner:...................... M/V BRIGHTFIELD - COSCO

Date & Location of Loss:... 12/14/96 2:30pm New Orleans LA, Riverwalk Shopping Complex

Incident:.............................. Vessel lost propulsion due to a failed engine lube oil pump. The vessel slammed into the boardwalk causing massive damage to several properties and the boardwalk itself. Narrowly missed the casino boat FLAMINGO CASINO, which had 800 passengers aboard.

Casualties:.......................... 116 injured (on Riverwalk)

Built/Type:.......................... 1988 / Bulk Cargo Carrier

GT/DW Tons:.....................

Dimensions:........................ 763 ft. oal

Former Names:..................

Additional Info:.................. As of 1/31/00 the Bright Field was seen sailing as the BRIGHT STAR.

BRIGHT FIELD aerial view after collision with Riverwalk. Photo by David Harvey