Perhaps just perhaps someone got it confused with one of our hospital ships.
Posted on 02/03/2006 2:13:13 AM PST by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide
A cruise ship carrying 1300 passengers in the Red Sea has been reported disappeared from radar by Egyptian authorities. No other details....
Perhaps just perhaps someone got it confused with one of our hospital ships.
Sounds reasonable.
There have been quite a few North Sea ferry accidents involving bow door failure (esp. with older ships). Combine that with other factors, this ship would have gone down awfully fast.
All in good time my little pretty, all in good time.
indeed.
Cyall later in a few hours
The al-Salam Boccaccio 98 has a capacity of 1,400
"An Egyptian ferry carrying more than 1,300 people has sunk in the Red Sea, Egyptian maritime officials say.Lifeboats and bodies have been seen, the officials said.
The al-Salam Boccaccio 98 disappeared shortly after leaving the port of Duba in Saudi Arabia on Thursday evening, bound for Safaga in southern Egypt.
The ship was last recorded to be 100km (62 miles) from Duba. Rescue vessels and helicopters are searching the area, but the weather is said to be poor.
'No SOS'
Most of the passengers are said to be Egyptians working in Saudi Arabia but some are thought to be pilgrims returning from Mecca.
The 6,650-tonne al-Salam Boccaccio 98 is owned by the Egyptian company, el-Salam Maritime Transport.
The head of administration at el-Salam Maritime Transport, Adel Shukri, said he was not aware of any SOS from the crew.
The ship had been due to arrive at Safaga at about 0300 local time (0100 GMT).
Shipping expert Paul Beaver told the BBC that overloading would not have been a problem as the vessel had a capacity of 1,400.
There was a possibility one or more of the vehicles the ship was transporting could have moved, particularly in bad weather, he said.
A sister ship of the al-Salam 98 sank in the Red Sea in October after a collision. Two people were killed and 40 injured.
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There are police all around Duba. You would have thought there was a terrorist incident. The place is going crazy. Hopefully, they can recover as many survivors as they can.
Nick Clarke, Duba, Saudi Arabia
This is not the first and not the last incident that we will see with ferries in this region. It is a shame that modern technology cannot be used to improve rescue efforts in such cases as surely it is available but as ever, lack of funding results not only in accidents but in delaying any rescue efforts that maybe initiated.
Vadim Smith, Brussels, Belgium
This will shock many people throughout the Arab and Muslim world, because not only were people from Egypt coming from Saudi Arabia from their place of work but many were also returning from the holy pilgrimage of Hajj.
Ahmed Abdulla, Isleworth,L ondon, UK
Most people using that route are coming back from the Hajj with heavy loads of luggage and mostly families of Egyptian workers from their Eid holidays and street vendors or suppliers.
Mohamed T. Mahagoub, Shrewsbury - Uk
Land-based radar would not have the range to monitor the ship's progress so saying that the ship vanished from radar cannot be correct as she would have been out of range.
Bungie Flynn, Portugal
-- BBC
That vessel had a lot of tophamper ( structure above deck )-- I suppose that was considered acceptable in semi-sheltered waters. Not something I'd want to put to sea in.
I have heard three different names/numbers. I just googled the name mentioned in the news report, by cutting and pasting.
LOL!
Sheesh.
That ship looks like it could top heavy if overcrowded.
From Post #25:
Note the superstructure on the second picture not present in the first. If this ship was modified to such a large degree, it would have had a dramatic effect on stability and seaworthiness. That much weight on the upper decks could lead to a sudden capsize.
Didn't know the naval architecture term for that, but yes, the first thing I thought was "top-heavy".
I would not bet against that.
Nasty loss.
I hear you about the capacity of 1400. I just wonder if the ship was overloaded and the 1300 figure refers to the official passenger list, as opposed to actual. If rescue services eventually find about 3000 bodies then the "Mary Rose" scenario seems more likely.
Backhoe may have it right, though. A storm, a side-of-a-barn tophamper, water being taken aboard the top decks with all internal doors left open. High bouyancy is not your friend if the centre of gravity moves too high.
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