Overboard Crewmember Rescued After 24 Hours in the Water off Australia
In what is being called nothing less than miraculous, a seafarer who went overboard from a bulker off the Australian coast spent 24 hours in the water before being rescued. The unnamed individual reportedly was able to swim close to shore where he was rescued by a recreational fisherman.
The bulker Double Delight (95,522 dwt) registered in Singapore raised the alarm early on Thursday while it was about five miles southeast of Newcastle. The vessel which is operated by Japan’s Sugahara Kisen was inbound after a voyage that started in Japan on October 19.
The crewmember failed to report for duty and the crew began a search of the vessel. They determined the last time the individual was seen was around 11:30 pm Thursday. Assuming the missing crewmember was overboard, they reported the situation to the Newcastle Harbourmaster who in turn notified the police and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
A search was launched with two boats dispatched from the volunteer Marine Rescue NSW. They were coordinating with two Water Police boats and implemented a search pattern under the direction of the NSW Police Marine Area Command. They were assisted by a helicopter search team.
A recreational fisherman who is also a doctor was inbound Friday evening when he found a person in the water around 6:30 p.m. The seafarer had swum and was close to shore off a beach south of Newcastle. He was floating in the water. Paramedics were dispatched to the beach and the person was been taken to a hospital suffering from hypothermia.
The bulker was docked in Newcastle as of Friday night with the rescue teams having ended the search.
Video: Cruise Ship Hits Strong Winds and Turns Around Due to Hurt Passenger
The Explorer of the Seas, one of the large cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean International, encountered a sudden gust of near hurricane-force winds sending the massive cruise ship into several exaggerated rolls. Videos and pictures being posted online show passengers sliding about and in the aftermath plates, glass, bottles at the bar, gift shop merchandise, and more all scattered about.
In the immediate aftermath of the severe weather the ship was put into a safety protocol according to reports with all passengers asked to return to their cabins. The crew worked to account for everyone and determine the extent of injuries. Several crewmembers and passengers reported sustained injuries. One passenger is requiring more extensive medical care.
The cruise ship which is 137,308 gross tons and 1,20 feet in length had reportedly been experiencing adverse weather during its Atlantic crossing from Spain to Florida. Double occupancy on the ship is approximately 3,300 passengers with a maximum of 4,290 passengers plus 1,185 crew.
According to posting online, the ship had already altered its itinerary sailing to Tenerife instead of the Azores due to inclement weather at its scheduled port. The ship had departed Tenerife westbound and was reported to be 750 miles off the coast of Morocco when around 7:00 p.m. it encountered a burst of severe weather. Passengers are reporting the wind speeds anywhere between 55 and 75 mph.
The Explore of the Seas has turned around and is returning to Las Palmas, Spain for a medical disembarkation according to a Royal Caribbean International spokesperson. One passenger is said to require additional medical attention for the injuries suffered during the roll. The ship is reporting that it will also load fuel and additional supplies before resuming its crossing. Passengers are saying online that they have been told the ship will be three days late reaching Miami on November 17 instead of the scheduled November 14 arrival.
Photos of the debris scattered about the ship after the roll (Jonathan Parrish on Facebook)
Passengers are being very complimentary of Captain Frank who they said responded quickly to the situation. The crew checked on all passengers and reportedly spent the night cleaning the cruise ship and getting it back in order.
The major cruise lines maintain operational centers that are in constant contact with the ships and advise on weather and other issues. Cruise ships typically change course when possible to avoid weather but sometimes find themselves caught in unpredictable situations.
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