Collision
The French longliner “Le Puffin” of ENEZ was in collision with the “Cecilie Maersk” on 7 August 2018, at 2.30 a.m. The crew of the longliner at 7 a.m. were repatriated safe and sound to the port of Saint Gilles, and the ship was towed by the “Ile Sainte Marie” to the shore.
What happened?
The longliner had been en route to the fishing area off the coast of Madagascar. At 2:30 a.m., a huge noise awakened the entire crew. The boat was moving in all directions. The container ship had struck the longliner and caused a major water ingress. The boat was disabled immediately and the captain informed the CROSS La Réunion via VHF of the position of the vessel which was then 17 miles west of the port. The captain of the “Le Puffin” triggered all the tags (transponder, tag 306) to warn the other ship that had continued its route. He also ordered the launch of the liferaft but the five crew members were able to stay on board to stabilize the vessel and stem the water ingress.
Assistance
Meanwhile, the freighter had turned around and came to assist them with a light Zodiac. The SNSM boat “Vincent Bosse” of the SNSM station Saint-Gilles joined the “Le Puffin” around 4:00 a.m. to check the damage, and it was decided to evacuate the ship. The CROSS immediately broadcast a “Mayday relay”. The 12-meter fishing vessel was heavily damaged at the bow with a severe water ingress, but it continued to float, while the owner of the fishing vessel had formed a team to board the fishing vessel. The 25-meter vessel “Ile Sainte-Marie” left the West Port at 08:00 a.m. to try to control the water ingress with the help of pumps and tow the ship to the West Port. The crew of the fishing vessel was supported by a Distressed Ship Assistance Team (ANED). The “Cecilie Maersk” which was enroute from Durban berthed in the East Harbour of Port Réunion at 6.20 a.m. and at 4.30 p.m. the “Le Puffin” reached port and was immediately lifted out of the water.
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Source: Clicanoo
