ruben.maritime: Officers killed as boxship hits ferry

Officers killed as boxship hits ferry

MESSINA 16 January – Four officers on an Italian high-speed ferry were killed yesterday evening when the vessel was in collision with a container ship in the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland. Reports say at least 80 of the ferry's 130 passengers were injured when the bow of the Susan Borchard smashed into the bridge and mid-section. Many passengers panicked and jumped into the sea. The Segesta Jet is operated by the state rail company Rete Ferroviaria and was approaching Messina after a crossing from Villa San Giovanni (Calabria). It was carrying commuters and students. Although it remains unclear what caused the collision, observers appear to be in no doubt that the container ship hit the ferry; the captain of Messina port has been quoted as suggesting that a third vessel was close to the scene at the time. The dead are the Segesta Jet’s captain, 54-year-old Sebastiano Mafodda; engineer Marcello Sposito (41), and navigating officers Lauro Palmiro (50) and Domenico Zona (42). None of the Susan Borchard's crew was injured, and the ship is now in Messina. Reports say it will take much of the day to stabilise the casualty after water was pumped on board to extinguish the fire. Four investigations are now underway.

Etiquetas: Italy, maritime incident