The last charge carries a potential sentence of 12 years in prison. [citation needed] An inflatable had to be launched to rescue some passengers who panicked and jumped into the water. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. As water gushed into the ship and the three other crew members jumped overboard, Royer stayed in the wheelhouse to make a frantic mayday call and give the ship's position to the Coast Guard. In 1991, Yiannis Avranas, the captain of a Greek cruise liner, was also strongly criticised after leaving the ship as it started to sink off the South African coast. In 1994, his English wife Davina published a book about . Reports indicate that at around 21:30 off the Wild Coast of the Transkei, the Oceanus Cruise ship lost its power following an explosion in the engine room. Abandonment is for everybody, if some people want to stay, they can stay. Smith, who evacuated the ship women and children first until there were no lifeboats left, and then perished with it. The Oceanos lies at a depth between 92m and 97m, about 5km offshore, on the western edge of the mighty Agulhas current. 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. He said he supervised the . [3] Entertainment manager Robin Boltman was credited with gathering the passengers in the lounge and playing music to calm them. [5], Earlier repairs to the waste disposal system had not been completed, which meant that a vital ventilation pipe which ran through the watertight aft bulkhead and the non-return valves were not replaced. The impact on the Scole Rocks occurred at about 9:45 p.m. local time, and the first person to contact rescue officials about the ship was someone on the shore, according to the investigative report. It was owned by Epirotiki Lines of Greece and chartered at the time by a South African company, TFC Tours. Creating equal decompression profiles for the two systems was a difficult task for Barry that took many hours of calculation. Brett and Paul penetrated the portside corridor behind the on-deck pool while Barry singularly explored the large dining hall area. Lee Jun-Seok, who was one of the first to flee from the ferry as it sank on Wednesday. THE GREATEST MARITIME RESCUE IN HISTORY OCEANOS - Africa Ports One of the divers, Karl van der Merwe, commented, The current was so strong that it would rip your mask off your face and your regulator out of your mouth. "I'm totally embarrassed by what he did," he said of Schettino. Best Known For: Captain Edward J. Smith played a role in one of the most famous disasters at sea in history, the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Although Smith had ordered the boats uncovered some 40 minutes earlier, he didnt give the order to begin loading and lowering them until Second Officer Charles Lightoller reminded him by asking, Hadnt we better get the women and children into the boats, sir?. But whatever relief Smith might have felt at that moment was quickly shattered. "In Anglo-American law, you would lose your license and make yourself liable.". Jean Laborde went through many different owners and name changes (Jean Laborde, Mykinai, Ancona, Eastern Princess) in the succeeding decades. Seamen have expressed almost universal outrage at Capt. 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. Epirotiki Line. The South African Navy and Air Force launched a massive seven-hour mission in which 16 helicopters were used to airlift the remainder of the passengers and crew to the nearby settlements of The Haven and Hole in the Wall, about 10km south of Coffee Bay. Now he was about to preside over one of the worst sea disasters of all time. Other information if you google or youtube it. Passengers remained ignorant of the events until they witnessed the first signs of flooding on the lower decks. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Her bow hit the sand 92m below the surface, while more than 60m of her stern remained aloft; minutes later, she was gone. According to the International Herald Tribune, "Avranas said he had known when he left the ship that there were 170 passengers and crew still aboard [but this was] the only way [to] ensure the safety of all those aboard", furthermore "after checking the situation from the shore, he said, he flew back to the ship on a helicopter, intending to go back on board. After ramming into the sea floor, the Oceanos slipped silently beneath the waves. 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. The crew called him a secretary. The day of the first dive had dawned. The notorious Master of the vessel was Captain Yiannis Avranas. The good news was that the current had weakened substantially, so the dive was postponed in the hope that conditions would improve later in the day. What happened to the captain of the Oceanos? - Sage-Advices The international and some Greek media condemned the attitude of Captain Yiannis Avranas. The Oceanos lies at a depth between 92m and 97m, about 5km offshore, on the western edge of the mighty Agulhas current. The current, too, was very strong, and the team was worried. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! The captain of the Oceanos was an experienced seaman Yiannis Avranas, who had been sailing the oceans for 30 years, including 20 years as an officer. [5], No alarm or announcement had been given that the ship was in trouble; with other entertainers working on the cruise, Moss Hills a musician from Zimbabwe and former member of Four Jacks and a Jill who had been performing with his wife Tracy in the lounge, explored below decks, discovered that Oceanos appeared to be sinking, and were informed by the cruise director, Lorraine Betts, that the captain had given the order to abandon ship and some crew had already left in a lifeboat. The function of a rebreather is to re-circulate the unused oxygen in the exhaled breath whilst scrubbing it of all traces of carbon dioxide. Fourth Officer Joseph G. Boxhall made a quick inspection of the ship and returned to the bridge to report that he had found no damage. BE SURE TO FIRST CONSULT WITH A QUALIFIED FINANCIAL ADVISER, TAX PROFESSIONAL, OR ATTORNEY BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANY STRATEGY OR RECOMMENDATION DISCUSSED HEREIN. 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. Technicians pass in a small boat near the stricken cruise liner Costa Concordia lying aground in front of the Isola del Giglio on January 26, 2012 after hitting underwater rocks on January 13.  Former captain of the Costa Concordia Francesco Schettino speaks with reporters after being aboard the ship with the team of experts inspecting the wreck on February 27, 2014 in Isola del Giglio, Italy. All considered, said Canadian-American fellow team member and cave diving world record holder Paul Heinerth, the Oceanos is probably one of the most, if not the most difficult wreck in the world to dive. The difficulties of diving on the Oceanos are extreme, but with commitment and proper planning, the dive is not impossible. 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. The Oceanos arrived in South Africa in 1991. At any time when you have an incident similar to Concordia, there is nevera single causal factor, says Brad Schoenwald, a senior marine inspector at the United States Coast Guard. A very small loss of hull integrity caused a storage tank in the lower machine spaces to fill with sea water. Sinking of the Oceanos 1991 - Cruise Critic Community 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. [10][11] Among the entertainers onboard was the South African cabaret performer, Alvon Collison,[12][13] who later reported that he had begun singing an impromptu repertoire as the ship was sinking, in an effort to keep the passengers' spirits up. The first meet was a pool session where, for the first time in an underwater environment, the divers had a chance to meet all the team members and familiarize themselves with each others equipment. Technical diving is an exact science, and every member of the team performed their tasks with efficiency and focus. Its captain was accused of manslaughter and abandoning the 4,200 passengers and crew on the night of the wreck. Realizing the ships fate, the crew fled in panic, neglecting to close the lower deck portholes, which is standard policy during emergency procedures. I sure hope he's no longer a ship's captain anywhere! In 1965, the captain and several other crew members were among the first to abandon ship after the Yarmouth Castle caught fire and started sinking off the Bahamas, killing 90. This is an amazing story -- if they're doing a new story maybe something new has happened -- like maybe the captain will finally be . Even before the journey started, the ship had already started to wear. It had also had several sewerage-holding tank non-return valves stripped for repairs following problems with bilge water rising through showers and toilets on a recent trip to Mozambique. For the mythological figure, see, "Owner of Lost Greek Cruise Ship Has History of Maritime Mishaps", "A Captain's Tale: 'The Rescue Was Perfect Everybody Is Safe', "Oceanos Captain Insisted On Early Rescue, Diver Says", "The guitarist who saved hundreds of people on a sinking cruise liner", "Hero plays music to calm terrified passengers", "South Africa probes cause of luxury liner's sinking", "The inimitable Alvon Collison, the wind beneath our wings", "Must a captain be the last one off a sinking ship? Smith's body was never recovered, and his final moments remain a mysterywith no shortage of conflicting accounts. Does anyone know of the current whereabouts of former Captain Yiannis Avranas of the doomed Oceanos? We strive for accuracy and fairness. Both literature and real life offer plenty of examples of shipmasters who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect their passengers and crew. Epirotiki Lines had lost two other ships within the three years preceding the sinking: the company's flagship Pegasus only two months before, and MV Jupiter, three years before. The Oceanos had been on its usual route along the South African coast when it encountered heavy rains and gale-force winds. In Greece the case was referred to the High Council of Maritime Accidents of the Ministry of Maritime. There were also 12 inflatable rescue media on the cruise ship. Once the profiles were eventually worked out, all preparations were complete; it was time for the real thing. The wreck was not the fault of unexpected weather or ship malfunctionit was a disaster caused entirely by a series of human errors. Attaining a maximum depth of 86.4m, the three divers initially made their way North to the stern, where Brett Hawton had time to pose next to the raised Greek lettering, spelling out the name OKEANOZ. What happened to the Italian cruise ship captain? Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), 5 Maritime Disasters You Might Not Know About, Titanic By the Numbers: From Construction to Disaster to Discovery, Why Nobody Remembers America's Worst Maritime Disaster, https://www.history.com/news/costa-concordia-cruise-ship-disaster-sinking-captain, The Costa Concordia Disaster: How Human Error Made It Worse. "Shoreside rescue people can do all the shoreside coordination efforts needed," he said. "[12][13], Captain Alevizos Klaudatos, head of Epirotiki Line, was quoted in The Star as saying: "Of course the crew members assigned to the boats have to enter first in order to assist the embarkation of the passengers", "as regards the captain abandoning the vessel, this is untrue and he has maintained his position throughout in assisting the rescue in the most effective way". What happened to the crew and captain? Here's a link if you want to see a video of the story. "Abandon is for everybody. The Costa Concordia Disaster: How Human Error Made It Worse - History Tonight on Dateline(NBC) they are doing a special about the sinking of the Greek cruise ship, Oceanos, and the survivors from 8-4-91. It was also discussed in an episode of Nova on 18 April 2012, entitled, "Why Ships Sink", which focused mainly on the Costa Concordia accident (whose commanding officer also fled while passengers were still aboard). Thomas Andrews, the Titanics head designer, reported that his inspection revealed flooding in at least five of the Titanics 16 watertight compartments. He in consultation with the international federation fled Nikolaou to Greece. August 3, 1991: An explosion shakes the engine room of the Greek cruise ship, Oceanos, as it sails off the South African coast. Davina Avrana. The Italian captain went back onboard the wreck for the first time since the sinking of the cruise ship on January 13, 2012, as part of his trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship. All 571 passengers and crew survived. The captain still had some hope of averting total disaster. Royer, however, died after suffering a head injury when he finally left the ship. The sinking of Oceanos - NBC News He immediately ordered an evacuation of all passengers and crew. EAST LONDON, South Africa . [20][21], Dateline NBC aired a documentary of the incident on 23 May 2010. He and fellow entertainer Julian Butler[8] directed the efforts of the entertainment staff - including Robin Boltman - to assist them. For a moment, they disappeared where had the bubbles gone? Yiannis Avranas (born ca. Is there confession in the Armenian Church? "When I order abandon ship, it doesn't matter what time I leave," Avranas said. I have made a mess and practically the whole ship is flooding, Schettino told Ferrarini while the ship was sinking. Making the most of the break, the team took some time out from the daily diving routine to explore the remarkable area with its beautiful landscapes and majestic sea views. MTS Oceanos was a French-built and Greek-owned cruise ship that sank in 1991 when it suffered uncontrolled flooding.MTS Oceanos. Italys highest court has upheld the 16-year jail sentence given to the captain of the Costa Concordia, which capsized in 2012 killing 32 people. After Capt. "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. 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. Steve Minne and Johan Swart confirmed the formidable force of the current. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But his or her responsibility extends to executing the evacuation plan that all passenger ships are required to have and practice. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The lights went out and the ship got an unusual inclination, but none of the crew advised us, he says in telephone communication from Ireland. At first it appeared as if Smiths luck was going to hold. 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. "Heres why and how the Oceanos sank off the Wild Coast", Sunday Tribune, 26 Feb, 2017, A Captain's Tale: 'The Rescue Was Perfect - Everybody Is Safe', OCEANOS CAPTAIN INSISTED ON EARLY RESCUE, DIVER SAYS, South Africa probes cause of luxury liner's sinking, Cruise captain sparks outrage among mariners, "Costa Concordia Tragedy: Capt. Pryal was no ordinary crank, but a highly regarded local businessman who claimed to have been an officer aboard the White Star liner Majestic some 30 years before, when Smith was its captain. [5][23][24], The Oceanos wreck lies at a depth of between 92m (302ft) and 97m (318ft), about 5km (3.1mi) offshore. On 3 August 1991, the Oceanos - initially delayed due to a bomb threat - set out from East London, South Africa and headed for Durban.Captain Yiannis Avranas (born ca. Known for. No alarm was raised. Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images Nobody cared until that time if those who left on the boats were alive. On the front page was a Kostas Mitropoulos cartoon that lampooned the Captain, it read: Where to take you captain?the helicopter pilot asked him as he rescued him from the sinking ship named Ocean of failures. He didnt give up though. What Happened to the Cruise Ship Oceanos? - LuxuryTravelDiva [5] They used the radio phone to broadcast a mayday distress call until Moss received a response.[7]. Some early newspaper reports, allegedly supported by eyewitnesses, say he had shot himself with a pistol, though few historians give them any credence. 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. One of the most famous involved the HMS Birkenhead, which wrecked off the coast of South Africa in 1852 while transporting British troops to war. Edward Smith went down with the Titanic, the notion that a captain must stay with his ship became part of folklore. Passengers remained ignorant of the events taking place until they witnessed the first signs of flooding in the lower decks. From mariners on ships plying the world's oceans, the answer is loud and clear: Aye. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The water steadily rose and flowed through the 10 cm hole in the bulkhead and into the waste disposal tank. [5] The final minutes of her sinking were captured on video and broadcast by ABC News. We were crazy to do that dive.. After rescuing passengers and crew followed by interrogations in Durban, South Africa. Schettino also didnt immediately alert the Italian Search and Rescue Authority about the accident. Then 15 minutes later, the bubbles returned, and there was a sigh of relief. The unethical, unprofessional prick are working as a Captain of a ferry in Greece. The avoidable disaster killed 32 people and seriously injured many others, and left investigators wondering: Why was the luxury cruise ship sailing so close to the shore in the first place? The technology means that the rebreather diver uses significantly less gas, has reduced nitrogen uptake, and subsequently fewer decompression requirements. "When they go bad, they're evil," Shealy says. Becky Little is a journalist based in Washington, D.C. Yiannis Avranas (born ca. It remains so potent because of the almost mythic authority invested in ship captains, Allen suggests. After the required decompression runtimes, the divers surfaced, and the team returned to shore. He had set sail for a sandy area at four miles, which he had found on the map. The most famous, perhaps, is the captain of the Titanic, E.J. "They were to stand at attention on the sinking ship until the women and children their wives and children were led off the boats.". I wouldnt recommend this wreck to anyone but the best technical divers who really know what theyre doing.. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Authorities isolated officers and sailors at a hotel. [5][6] Thirteen of the sixteen were South African Air Force Pumas, nine of which hoisted 225 passengers off the deck. Moss and Tracy, who now live in Liverpool, continued working as cruise ship entertainers for many years.
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