bulkcarrier

Did two voyages on Gloxinia in 1962 a fine ship. Then I was transferred to the M.V. Camellia

She was great. The Italian steamer SS Milazzo, the largest cargo ship and the largest collier in the world at the time of her construction in 1916. She was sunk by Austro-Hungarian submarine U-14 in August 1917.

The Melete sailed from Dampier, Western Australia on 11 August 1991 with 27 persons on board, bound for Port Talbot, Wales with a cargo of 68902 tonnes of iron ore fines. At 0358Z 24 August the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra received a distress call via the Inmarsat A Indian Ocean satellite from the Melete in position 27 41'S 054 13'E. The distress message said that the Melete was in danger of sinking with 27 crew on board. The MRCC advised the Melete to activate their EPERB, shortly after which all contact with the Melete was lost. Search and rescue operations were coordinated by Marine La Reunion. Aircraft and other ships arriving at the last known position of Melete reported sighting oil slicks and flotsam. Two crew members of Melete were rescued. Continued searches failed to locate other survivors. Conclusions It is considered that: - The cargo as presented for loading was in accordance with the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes. - The cargo loading sequence was in accordance with the Master's instructions. - The loading rates were comparable with those normally carried out at the Parker Point berth and not excessive. - The pour quantities stipulated by the Master, as percentages of deadweight, were typical of current loading practices. However, this is a subject that requires to be investigated thoroughly. - There is no evidence in Australia to indicate that any structural damage may have occurred due to contact with other vessels or the berth whilst Melete was at Dampier. Full report - www.atsb.gov.au/media/25012/mair34_001.pdf. This is one of a series of sudden, unexplained sinkings (industry insiders well knew why) of similar ships on similar voyages between about 1980 and 2000 with the death of hundreds of seafarers, for example the Derbyshire. Eventually the IMO was (reluctantly!) forced to recognize a problem existed act and, eventually, tightened the relevant regulations, largely based on the recommednations of an independent team established at the UK MCA. Cargo ships are still being lost, but not at the rates seen in the period referenced above. And with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System and other other improvements in life saving technology, generally not with such catastrophic loss of life.