Port tug SIR GAETAN collided with barge when she was towing in stormy weather conditions in the evening Aug 31, off Mauritius northeast coast near Poudre d’Or, writes Mikhail Voytenko for the Maritime Bulletin.
What happened?
Tug was towing an oil barge, said by all media to be loaded with oil residues from bulk carrier WAKASHIO wreck.
Tug sustained hull breaches and sank. There were 8 crew on board, 4 escaped on a life raft (media are saying crew escaped on a lifeboat.
But there’s no place for a lifeboat on a small port tug) and were later rescued, 2 were recovered dead, 2 went missing.
Understood she drifted aground, and doesn’t pose any ‘ecological’ threat.
It’s an accident, with tragic consequences, with deaths.
But still, it is not Wakashio disaster takes another tragic turn with sinking of a tug. As, Wakashio disaster has nothing to do with towage accident.
Details of the vessel
Port tug SIR GAETAN, IMO 9065340, GT 275, built 1993, flag Mauritius, operator MPA Mauritius.
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Source: Maritime Bulletin
