Ship Captain. Family members of passengers on a South Korean ferry that sank look at lists of survivors on Wednesday. "You need someone on the ship to communicate with them, to command the people who are on the ship, to help get the passengers off and to guide the rescuers.". The notorious master of the vessel was Captain Yiannis Avranas. The teams arrival at Hole in the Wall on Saturday, May 3, was scheduled to coincide with a window period in which there is a reduction in the force of the Agulhas current. Everyone on board the cruise ship Oceanos was safe and accounted for Monday, but survivors angrily accused the . It was owned by Epirotiki Lines of Greece and chartered at the time by a South African company, TFC Tours. The technology means that the rebreather diver uses significantly less gas, has reduced nitrogen uptake, and subsequently fewer decompression requirements. As soon as we reached seven degrees, we decided to lower the boats and start evacuation. Schettino argued that he fell into a lifeboat because of how the ship was listing to one side, but this argument proved unconvincing. Everyone who had been put into lifeboats was rescued by passing ships and remarkably no lives were lost. All Rights Reserved. Realising the fate of the ship, the crew reportedly fled in panic, neglecting the standard procedure of closing the lower deck portholes. A magician who had been performing on the ship took over the bridge, monitoring rescue calls, as a fellow entertainer kept passengers calm by playing Beatles songs on his guitar. Steve Minne and Johan Swart confirmed the formidable force of the current. As author Wyn Craig Wade wrote in The Titanic: End of a Dream, Captain Smith had at least five different deaths, from heroic to ignominious. Rumors of his survival also circulated. After five days of staying at the hotel, the other Greek sailors with the assistance of the Greek consular authorities also escaped. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}320715S 290713E / 32.12083S 29.12028E / -32.12083; 29.12028 (Oceanos wreck). / AP. Moving round to the port side propeller, over the hull, and back to the deck amidships, they headed off on their scooters to the bridge and bow sections to make a survey of possible penetration points for the second dive. They began launching the remaining lifeboats, with up to 90 people in each, but were unable to start their engines. The impact damaged the ship, allowing water to seep in and putting the 4,229 people on board in danger. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! This page is not available in other languages. On schedule, the shallow-water backup team left the boat and descended toward the decompressing divers. "He's given the industry a bad name, he's made us all look bad. The Greek government is not doing anything about the incident. All three divers were ecstatic and eager to make the most of the prevailing conditions; the second dive was scheduled for the following day. Smith was at 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 1912. Outwardly, Smith seems to have kept up a brave front, appearing captain-like to the last, at least to most observers. Heres some good live video when it happened!!! By the next morning rescuers found Oceanos adrift just off Coffee Bay, on the Wild Coast. By God, you are right! Smith replied. A South African navy diver said the captain of the sunken Greek liner Oceanos pushed past elderly pa. But the Carpathia was 58 milesor some four hoursaway. The notorious Master of the vessel was Captain Yiannis Avranas. He and fellow entertainer Julian Butler[8] directed the efforts of the entertainment staff - including Robin Boltman - to assist them. The Oceanos lost power following a leak in the engine room's sea chest. Those who did earned instant infamy, like the captain of the Greek luxury liner Oceanos, which sank in rough seas off South Africa in 1991. "It is my responsibility. What happened to the Italian cruise ship captain? BE SURE TO FIRST CONSULT WITH A QUALIFIED FINANCIAL ADVISER, TAX PROFESSIONAL, OR ATTORNEY BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANY STRATEGY OR RECOMMENDATION DISCUSSED HEREIN. Cowardice comes in many forms, but there's a special sense of shame reserved for captains who abandon ship. Captains accused of leaving prematurely often claim they can manage the situation better from the safety of a lifeboat, rescue vessel or on shore. Once complete, the team focused on preparing for the dives. The one who abandoned ship along with his officers and crew and left the entertainers aboard to organize the rescue in August of 1991 off the African coast? In an account attributed to Titanic fireman Harry Senior, Smith jumped off the ship with an infant clutched tenderly in his arms, swam to a nearby lifeboat, handed off the child and swam back toward the Titanic, saying, I will follow the ship.. Captain Yiannis Avranas (born c. 1940) had been an officer for twenty years and a seaman for thirty. All the while, the wind and swell were steadily dropping and, at 12:30, the decision to dive was made. [5] The final minutes of her sinking were captured on video and broadcast by ABC News. It is this forward section of the wreck that incurred the wrath of the ocean floor as the bow slammed into the seabed. Powered by Invision Community. Some countries, like Italy, have included it in national laws. In its investigative report on the 2012 disaster, Italys Ministry of Infrastructures and Transports found that the Concordia was sailing too close to the coastline, in a poorly lit shore areaat an unsafe distance at night time and at high speed (15.5 kts)., In his trial, Captain Schettino blamed the shipwreck on Helmsman Jacob Rusli Bin, who he claimed reacted incorrectly to his order; and argued that if the helmsman had reacted correctly and quickly, the ship wouldnt have wrecked. When they bail early, everything falls apart. If some people like to stay, they can stay. At 12:05 a.m. Smith gave orders to uncover the lifeboats and alert the passengers. Realizing the ships fate, the crew fled in panic, neglecting to close the lower deck portholes, which is standard policy during emergency procedures. What is glucosamine and fish oil good for? Nearby vessels responded to the ships SOS and were the first to assist. Without a driving force, however, he had to find another solution., The captain broadcast SOS. The sinking of Oceanos. The sewage and water systems had their one way "check valves" removed and not replaced. [16][11][17][18] He stated that he left the ship first to arrange for a rescue effort, and then supervised the rescue from a helicopter because "the batteries on the crew's walkie-talkies had died, meaning that he had no communications with his crew or with other rescue craft". Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. No one knows exactly where Captain E.J. INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT INTEND TO MAKE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION FOR THE SALE OR PURCHASE OF ANY SPECIFIC SECURITIES PRODUCT, SERVICE OR INVESTMENT STRATEGY. He also knew that its 20 lifeboats, with a total capacity of 1,178, couldnt begin to accommodate the more than 2,200 passengers and crew members aboard. About 2:00 p.m., the Oceanos begins its vertical descent. Will this discovery change our understanding of Titanic's final moments? He said the export to the electric generators had been opened by a surge and water was pouring in. Being one of the worlds most difficult wrecks to reach and successfully dive, the Oceanos offers great rewards for technical divers at the top of their game. Yiannis Avranas (born ca. Jean Laborde went through many different owners and name changes (Jean Laborde, Mykinai, Ancona, Eastern Princess) in the succeeding decades. On the morning of July 12, 1952, Forges Chantiers de la Gironde launched the last of four sister ships in Bordeaux, France, under the name of Jean Laborde. [7][failed verification] The South African Navy, along with the South African Air Force, launched a mission to airlift the passengers and crew to the nearby settlements of The Haven and Hole in the Wall, about .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}10km (5+12nmi) south of Coffee Bay. Whether or not Captain Francesco Schettino was trying to impress his girlfriend is debatable. In 1994, his English wife Davina published a book about . I knew then we were soon going.. . Stranger still are several widely publicized reports that he didnt die at all. Video footage shows their progress as pale rays of sunlight filtered through the corridor windows, throwing subtle illuminations across the dark interior. [9], A Greek board of inquiry found Avranas and four officers negligent in their handling of the disaster. The ocean had reached the point where the sea was 81 meters deep. In a matter of minutes, the occupants returned with a very favorable report on conditions. 2012 The Associated Press. A recording of his conversation with the Italian Coast Guard suggests he fled before all passengers were off, and resisted repeated orders to go back, saying the ship was tipping and it was dark. / Updated May 22, 2010 / 12:42 PM PDT 20 PHOTOS . Lee Jun-Seok, who was one of the first to flee from the ferry as it sank on Wednesday. The Oceanos lies at a depth between 92m and 97m, about 5km offshore, on the western edge of the mighty Agulhas current. Hills organized the orderly evacuation of passengers by the helicopters, later reporting that Avranas was among the first to leave at this point. August 3, 1991: An explosion shakes the engine room of the Greek cruise ship, Oceanos, as it sails off the South African coast. We were preparing to eat when the first mechanic warned us. Regular drills ensure everyone knows what to do. [9] All 581 people on board were saved. This day turned out much better than expected. The ship ran aground off the Italian coast in 2012, killing 32 people. "The captain called the men to attention," says William Fowler, a maritime historian at Northeastern University. I wanted to go down to the deck, where they were left lying on the floor, covered with blankets, passengers and crew members who sang to get courage. "Abandon is for everybody. What happened to the captain of the Oceanos ship? The current on the surface was running reverse, and there was no sign of the dreaded Northeaster. Unbelievable but true - an account of the terrifying conditions on the OCEANOS on 4 August 1991 when it became obvious that not only was the position of the ship unknown, but the whereabouts of the captain and some crew as well. Is there confession in the Armenian Church? [5][6] Thirteen of the sixteen were South African Air Force Pumas, nine of which hoisted 225 passengers off the deck. [2], At the time of the accident, Yiannis Avranas had been an officer for twenty years and a seaman for thirty. Nothing less will do in this profession," said Jorgen Loren, captain of a passenger ferry operating between Sweden and Denmark and chairman of the Swedish Maritime Officer's Association. "His duty as the highest authority available short of God himself was to make sure his crew was safe before he left the ship," says Craig Symonds, a retired Naval Academy historian. Captain of White Star Liner, RMS Titanic, Commander Edward J. Smith, c. 1911. But in interviews, Captain Avranas was unapologetic for leaving the ship ahead of others, saying he was better able to direct rescue efforts from shore. The Oceanos had been on its usual route along the South African coast when it encountered heavy rains and gale-force winds. Both he and Paul had to carry stage cylinders for Brett that would be required at specific depths, so the team had to remain together throughout the dive. The open-circuit diver is therefore restricted in terms of profile and dive time due to the chosen static supply of gas content and quantity carried. The dive was aborted for the day. Others respect it as "an unwritten rule or law of the sea," said Capt. They had returned them as they had sent them., Two babies, one 22 days old and the other one year old I put them down with a bucket (bucket) on the boat, he says. The wind was still blowing, and large swells were visible on the horizon. "In Anglo-American law, you would lose your license and make yourself liable.". The objective was to show how the application of experience and established diving technique to a near-insurmountable challenge could safely lead to success. Then 15 minutes later, the bubbles returned, and there was a sigh of relief. Technical diving is an exact science, and every member of the team performed their tasks with efficiency and focus. March 5, 2004. That was one of several incidents that have led some historians to question whether Smith had gone into a state of shock. The Costa Concordia ran aground off the Italian coast in 2012, killing 32 people. Updated: April 12, 2023 | Original: November 12, 2020. By They understood their roles and contributed to the success of this dive. Some early newspaper reports, allegedly supported by eyewitnesses, say he had shot himself with a pistol, though few historians give them any credence. An often asked question is what happened to the captain of the oceans at this stage, eyewitness accounts reveal that many of the crew, including Captain Avranias, were already packed and ready to depart, seemingly unconcerned with the safety of the passengers. In August 2005, a Titanic wreckage expedition found two large, extraordinarily well-preserved sections of the bottom of the ship's hull. Smith was back in the news in 1940, when a letter in Life magazine suggested that the captain had ended his days as an elderly derelict in Lima, Ohio, known as Silent Smith. Among the evidence: The man had arrived in town three years after the Titanic disaster, would only give his name as Smith, was about Smiths age and size, and bore the sort of tattoos common among seafarers. MACHINE LEARNING INVESTING IS SPECULATIVE BY NATURE. Sunk by uncontrolled flooding on 4 August 1991 off the coast of South Africa. Barry and Paul were on closed-circuit rebreathers, a Buddy Inspiration rebreather, and a CIS-Lunar MK5P rebreather, respectively. "[5] Hills reportedly rescued Avranas' dog and released his canary. En route to Durban, the Oceanos cruise ship set out from the port of East London on Saturday, August 3, 1991, into 40-knot winds and nine-meter swells. -. Becky Little is a journalist based in Washington, D.C. After evacuating, the 105 meter long ship began to sink. This window period, although based on unscientific information provided by maritime vessels in the area, falls in May and December. Bill Wright, senior vice president of Marine Operations for the Royal Caribbean International cruise line. Many scenarios have been done, my brother. When the team arrived at the wreck marker buoys, it was evident that the current was almost non-existent and the wind and swell had all but disappeared. Its captain was accused of manslaughter and abandoning the 4,200 passengers and crew on the night of the wreck. On 3 August 1991, the Oceanos set out from East London, South Africa and headed to Durban. [14] He was never incarcerated and Epirotiki gave him command of a ferry until his retirement. : "Go back on board!". He immediately ordered an evacuation of all passengers and crew. It has been reported that the ship was in a state of neglected maintenance with loose hull plates and an unfitted ventilation pipe. Avranas at the time defended his actions, saying he left the ship to direct rescue operations. (Reuter) | Aug 07, 1991 8:00PM EDT. The nearest, RMS Carpathia, replied that it would change course and hurry to the Titanics position. [citation needed], Once the engines stopped, the ship began to roll so badly that in the lounge, which is where the passengers had gathered, crockery and cutlery began sliding off the tables and potted plants fell over. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Family members of passengers on a South Korean ferry that sank look at lists of survivors on Wednesday. TRY ASKING HOST DOUGhe usually knows those things. Thomas Andrews, the Titanics head designer, reported that his inspection revealed flooding in at least five of the Titanics 16 watertight compartments. Physical and psychological training, descent strategies, bottom times, gas mixes, decompression profiles, equipment, and logistical planning; all these considerations had to be finalized before the team arrived on location at the Hole in the Wall hotel, where supportive technical diving and medical infrastructures do not exist. He was never incarcerated and Epirotiki gave him command of a ferry until his retirement. It is believed[by whom?] The American inquiry was only slightly harsher in its judgment. [5], Oceanos sank bow first approximately 45 minutes after the last person was airlifted from the deck. He is being held in house arrest as prosecutors prepare criminal charges. An iceberg, sir, First Officer William Murdoch replied. Unable to spend sufficient time on the wreck, the Camera 7 team was forced to deploy a remote, surface-controlled camera to acquire the footage required for their investigation. Four months later, on December 23, Rehan Bouwer, Steve Minne, Johan Swart, Ian Symington, and Nicko Brand returned to the Oceanos. He in consultation with the international federation fled Nikolaou to Greece. We strive for accuracy and fairness. "There must be a point at which I would think that now it is time to jump into the water so I don't die," he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Oceanos arrived in South Africa in 1991. Francesco Schettino Sparks Outrage". He had apparently confused the Titanics partially enclosed promenade deck with the totally open one of her sister ship, Olympic, which he had previously commanded. With hundreds of people on board, the ship springs a leak, then . From that point on, Smiths activities become more of a blur. Fleeing in a lifeboat, they were told by the captain of a rescue ship to go back and help their passengers. He hit the bottom, got back up, side of the fault and was swallowed by the sea forever.. In August 1991 I was a junior partner in the maritime . The weather forecast was predicting a strong northeasterly wind by morning, a factor that could easily mean the end of the expedition. Diesel, emanating from the wreck for nearly 12 years, was visible around the marker buoy an indication that the entire water column lay still. Moving toward the bow, bad visibility and a substantially more damaged part of the wreck greeted the divers. Still others believed he had made it to an overturned lifeboat but lost his grip, possibly when one of the Titanics immense funnels broke loose and crashed into the water nearby. Christos Nikolaou did not know what was said about him and his colleagues at the time. The ship they spotted in the distance didnt answer, but several others did. Her captain, Yiannis Avranas, and some of the crew were convicted of negligence for fleeing the ship without helping the passengers, who were subsequently rescued thanks to the efforts of the ship's entertainers, who made a mayday transmission, launched lifeboats, and helped . The ship underwent several name changes, including Mykinai, Ancona, Eastern Princess, and finally, in 1976, under the . There is some film on YOUTUBE showing the sinking of the Oceanos. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. There was no stopping the flooding and no hope for the Oceanos sinking. Here's a link if you want to see a video of the story. A coast guard member angrily told him on the phone to Get back on board, damn it!a recorded sound bite that turned into a T-shirt slogan in Italy. "If the master is simply looking out for himself or herself, you've breached your duty both legally and morally, to your ship, your crew and your passengers," says Allen, the University of Washington law professor. Without valves to close on the holding tank, the water coursed through the main drainage pipes and rose like a tide within the ship, spilling out of every shower, toilet, and waste disposal unit connected to the system.