Crude oil tanker ARAFURA encountered heavy seas in the Drake Passage on Sep 10-12, while en route from Porto do Acu Brazil to Long Beach USA. Two crew members were injured while performing their job, tanker contacted MRCC Punta Arenas and reported a medical emergency requiring medevac. Rendezvous was appointed, tanker met Chilean Navy ships PSG 78 SIBBALD and OPV 83 MARINERO FUENTEALBA on Sep 12, injured seamen were medevaced. Tanker resumed her voyage and as of 0900 UTC Sep 14, she was sailing in the Pacific along the Chilean coast, still in bad weather.
According to Indian sources, Chief Officer and Bosun were injured and died from injures, they’ve been checking compartments in the forecastle area, and were hit by waves in the process. Both were of Indian nationality. Information not yet confirmed.
The current position of ARAFURA is at South America East Coast (coordinates 40.1392 S / 55.84437 W) reported 8 days ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Long Beach, United States (USA), sailing at a speed of 11.2 knots and expected to arrive there on Oct 8, 13:00.
The vessel ARAFURA (IMO: 9728708, MMSI 205763000) is a Crude Oil Tanker built in 2016 (5 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Belgium.
New FleetMon Vessel Safety Risk Reports Available: https://www.fleetmon.com/services/vessel-risk-rating/
