Winter weather appears to be primary factor in the sinking of two merchant ships off China yesterday leaving at least 10 sailors confirmed dead. According to a report by the Shandong Maritime Safety Administration, the Zhejiang-registered bulk carrier Xing Dragon 65 suffered mechanical issues and foundered in heavy seas of Penglai, China, east of Beijing on Sunday at 2056 … [Read more...]
Out of Fuel and Tired of Eating Bananas, Ecuadorian Fishermen Rescued by U.S. Navy
Adrift and out of fuel for the past 10 days, the crew of an Ecuadorian fishing boat had nothing left to eat but bananas when they were spotted on Sunday 200 miles off the coast of Ecuador by lookouts from USS Rentz (FFG 46), a U.S. Navy guided missile frigate. USS Rentz spokesperson Ensign John Baldwin notes the Rentz "swiftly responded and launched a rigid-hulled … [Read more...]
A Busy Month for USS San Antonio, 128 Migrants, Plus One International Terrorist
USS San Antonio (LPD 17) rescued 128 migrants of Somali decent yesterday from the central Mediterranean Sea. The amphibious transport dock ship was 60 nautical miles away when it received the distress call relayed from the Maltese government and transferred the men aboard, all between the ages of 20 and 30, via 11-person rigid hull inflatable boats. This is a lucky turn … [Read more...]
BOATLIFT – An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience [VIDEO]
![BOATLIFT – An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience [VIDEO]](http://i0.wp.com/gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Screen-shot-2013-09-10-at-3.18.58-PM.png?fit=207%2C125)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDOrzF7B2Kg While the towers burned and collapsed on September 11, 2001, a half million people were evacuated from Lower Manhattan by a civilian flotilla of ferries, tug boats and other vessels in what is now known as the largest boatlift in history. BOATLIFT - An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience is a touching tribute to that effort. The short … [Read more...]
Chemical Tanker Fairchem Sabre Rescues 73 Offshore Sri Lanka
Images via Sri Lanka Navy While enroute to Zhangjiagang, China, the chemical tanker Fairchem Sabre responded to a distress call from an overcrowded trawler which was packed full of 73 Sri Lankans attempting to make their way to Australia. The vessel had encountered engine problems approximately 290 nautical miles southeast of Galle, a port on the southwestern tip of Sri … [Read more...]
Italian Coast Guard Rescues 22 After Migrant Vessel Sinks off Libya, 30 Missing
ROME, July 28 (Reuters) - The Italian coastguard has rescued 22 migrants from a boat which sank off the coast of Libya but more than 30 are still missing at sea, ANSA news agency said on Sunday. The coastguard said in total it had rescued more than 500 people trying to reach Europe over the weekend. Most are from sub-Saharan Africa and departed from the Libyan coast, A … [Read more...]
Boat Carrying Asylum Seekers Sinks Off Indonesia, 60 Feared Dead
SYDNEY, July 24 (Reuters) - A boat carrying as many as 170 suspected asylum seekers bound for Australia has sunk off the south coast of Indonesia, with up to 60 people feared dead or missing, Australian media reported on Wednesday. The latest mishap at sea involving boat people came less than a week after Australia slammed the door on would-be refugees with a deal to send … [Read more...]
