Soon after the collision, he and other officers saw what they believed to be the lights of a nearby ship. In another instance, Smith ordered that a lifeboat be lowered from the boat deck to the promenade deck, so passengers could climb in more easily. The wind was still blowing, and large swells were visible on the horizon. Follow her on Twitter at @MsBeckyLittle. Several estimated it was no more than five miles away. [25], "Oceanos" redirects here. Lee Jun-Seok, who was one of the first to flee from the ferry as it sank on Wednesday. He didnt give up on the mystery ship, ordering the crew of at least one lifeboat to row toward the lights, drop off passengers and return to Titanic for more. In more than 40 years at sea he had rarely been involved in an accident and never held accountable for one. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In the U.S., case law indicates that a ship's master must be the last person to leave and make all reasonable efforts to save everyone and everything on it. All 571 passengers and crew survived. "[16][19] In 1992, he and five other officers were convicted of negligence by a Greek board of inquiry for fleeing the ship without helping the passengers. Towards the end, passengers had to jump into . Meanwhile the extraction was completely broken, the engine room was filling water and tilting forward the ship. Both literature and real life offer plenty of examples of shipmasters who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect their passengers and crew. 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. If some people like to stay, they can stay.". A very small loss of hull integrity caused a storage tank in the lower machine spaces to fill with sea water. The Oceanos crew was referred to disciplinary inspection for withdrawal of diploma or grade, but they were all acquitted.. Nobody cared until that time if those who left on the boats were alive. [5] The final minutes of her sinking were captured on video and broadcast by ABC News. 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. Captain of White Star Liner, RMS Titanic, Commander Edward J. Smith, c. 1911. Schettino reportedly said he ended up in a life raft after he tripped and fell into the water. The sinking is the subject of a song called "Oceanos" by Celtic rock band Coast. In 1994, his English wife Davina published a book about the sinking, titled The Oceanos Tragedy. 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. He wanted to see where they were taking the crew to land. "It is my responsibility. Jean Laborde went through many different owners and name changes (Jean Laborde, Mykinai, Ancona, Eastern Princess) in the succeeding decades. [22] The show Extreme Weather: The Survivors featured a segment on the sinking. [citation needed]. That was one of several incidents that have led some historians to question whether Smith had gone into a state of shock. Three years later she wrote in her book entitled, The Tragedy of the Oceanos: Christos Nikolaou, an Oceanist, had a relative who was an executive at the Panhellenic Federation. On August 3, 1991, Oceanos set sail for East London, South Africa and headed north for Durban, led by Captain Yiannis Avranas. A captain and his crew needlessly endangered the lives of those on board. 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? 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. Industries; War and Militaries; 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. 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. The Oceanos had been on its usual route along the South African coast when it encountered heavy rains and gale-force winds. By the next morning rescuers found Oceanos adrift just off Coffee Bay, on the Wild Coast. So began the worst night of Edward John Smiths otherwise charmed life. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. The cruise ship had sailed with seven beauforts. After five days of staying at the hotel, the other Greek sailors with the assistance of the Greek consular authorities also escaped. I would avoid any cruise that involves a Greek ship! MTS Oceanos was a French-built and Greek-owned cruise ship that sank in 1991 when it suffered uncontrolled flooding.MTS Oceanos. 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. "That is the responsibility of the captain, that's why all privileges are given to him but he has together with that an equal burden of responsibility," Pacheco said. Avranas at the time defended his actions, saying he left the ship to direct rescue operations. He was never incarcerated and Epirotiki gave him command of a ferry until his retirement. The ship was left adrift. Evidence introduced in Schettinos trial suggests that the safety of his passengers and crew wasnt his number one priority as he assessed the damage to the Concordia. is University of Washington a good school. A Greek board of inquiry found Avranas and four officers negligent in their handling of the disaster. All Rights Reserved. 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. I just watched national geografic program about the Oceanos tragedy. It was August 3, 1991 when Rosemary Roe saw the dishes slipping on the table during dinner. Smith's body was never recovered, and his final moments remain a mysterywith no shortage of conflicting accounts. Back in the early 1990's came an incredible event, most now, don't remember or know about. 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], Oceanos sank bow first approximately 45 minutes after the last person was airlifted from the deck. Through the confusion,the captain somehow made it into a lifeboat before everyone else had made it off. "I'm kind of flummoxed that a master of a passenger ship anywhere in the world would not understand his obligation extends until that last person is safely off the ship," says Craig Allen, director of the Arctic Law & Policy Institute at the University of Washington. The American inquiry was only slightly harsher in its judgment. The international and some Greek media condemned the attitude of Captain Yiannis Avranas. The divers had penetrated 70m into the wreck with the aid of the scooters. The international and some Greek media condemned the attitude of Captain Yiannis Avranas. "When I order abandon ship, it doesn't matter what time I leave," Avranas said. And he did not lighten his position after the accident when he told a foreign television station: The ships abandonment applies to everyone. MTS Oceanos was a French-built and Greek-owned cruise ship that sank in 1991 when she suffered uncontrolled flooding. 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. And the second boat was only cooks. But over 100 people left on board, crew and passengers. "He deeply regrets not being with his crew. Avranas was charged with misconduct after it was discovered that he and numerous crew members left the ship while the passengers remained behind. Given that the officers of the vessel had all fled in . Brett was on twin set 36-litre open circuit back-gas, with two 12-liter side-mounted cylinders. Lee Jun-Seok, who was one of the first to flee from the ferry as it sank on Wednesday. It was owned by Epirotiki Lines of Greece and chartered at the time by a South African company, TFC Tours. But witnesses said he appeared on the bridge of the Titanic just moments later, asking what the storied ship, making its maiden voyage across the Atlantic, had struck. "[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". In 1991, Capt. For a villain, there was J. Bruce Ismay, the White Star chairman, who got off in a lifeboat and was accused of pressuring Smith to maintain a reckless speed. Surviving wireless operator Harold Bride, a more reliable witness, said hed seen Smith dive from the bridge into the sea. Others said he was swept off by a wave orhaving been swept offswam back to the Titanic to meet his end. MTS Oceanos was a French-built and Greek-owned cruise ship that sank in 1991 when it suffered uncontrolled flooding.MTS Oceanos. [4] Boltman told a newspaper: "Later in the morning, Captain Avarnasi (sic) even contacted me from shore to ask how things were going. "When they go bad, they're evil," Shealy says. Realising the fate of the ship, the crew reportedly fled in panic, neglecting the standard procedure of closing the lower deck portholes. Among the crew, however, some tried to save themselves first. August 3, 1991: An explosion shakes the engine room of the Greek cruise ship, Oceanos, as it sails off the South African coast. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. The World witnessed an ugly scene back on 03 August 1991 when MTS Oceanos sunk in 1991 because of uncontrolled floods. Edward Smith went down with the Titanic, the notion that a captain must stay with his ship became part of folklore. After the required decompression runtimes, the divers surfaced, and the team returned to shore. The impact damaged the ship, allowing water to seep in and putting the 4,229 people on board in danger. Schettino also didnt immediately alert the Italian Search and Rescue Authority about the accident. [10][failed verification], Avranas claimed that he left the ship first in order to arrange for a rescue effort,[11] and then supervised it from a helicopter. A more recent example is Robert Royer, the captain of a fishing vessel that sank off Alaska in 2010. At about 15:30 the following day, the Oceanos could hold her head up no longer and sank. In an interview with the captain, he jokingly remarked that if the ship should sink, he would be on the first lifeboat off the ship. Even before the journey started, the ship had already started to wear. [8] They were assisted by the lifeboats of the Dutch cargo ship Nedlloyd Mauritius, which had responded to the distress call. Oceanos was briefly featured in the 1985 film Sky High and with another Epirotiki ship, Apollon XI, in the 1986 film Hardbodies 2. 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. Diesel, emanating from the wreck for nearly 12 years, was visible around the marker buoy an indication that the entire water column lay still. Steve said, We had to hold onto the anchor line with all our strength. The Costa Concordia ran aground off the Italian coast in 2012, killing 32 people. Smith, who evacuated the ship women and children first until there were no lifeboats left, and then perished with it. Something strong wind, something the helicopter pilot, they didnt let me down he said. [3][4] Oceanos headed into 40-knot winds and 9m (30ft) swells. Nearby vessels responded to the ships SOS and were the first to assist. The image of a captain staying with a sinking vessel has recurred again and again, in literature and real life. The Oceanos lies at a depth between 92m and 97m, about 5km offshore, on the western edge of the mighty Agulhas current. 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? We strive for accuracy and fairness. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. ", the captain of the wrecked cruise ship Costa Concordia. http://www.aolvideoblog.com/2007/08/21/crew-bails-on-passengers-of-sinking-cruise-liner/. Hills organized the orderly evacuation of passengers by the helicopters, later reporting that Avranas was among the first to leave at this point. On one occasion the 200-liter drum we used as a marker buoy was pulled down to 34m by the current. INVESTMENTS INVOLVE RISK AND UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, ARE NOT GUARANTEED. Several of the ship's crew, notably Capt. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Captain Yiannis Avranas who left passengers to die? After the sinking, Avranas attracted extensive media coverage, often being vilified and used as an example of poor professional behaviour while in command. [15], Prior to the events of January 1991, Avranas had apparently given no interview to the media. One week later, a 32-member team arrived on the scene as part of MNet Camera 7 news channels investigative documentary into the sinking of the Oceanos. He is being held in house arrest as prosecutors prepare criminal charges. Smith was at 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 1912. Aug. 6, 1991 12 AM PT. Everyone on board the cruise ship Oceanos was safe and accounted for Monday, but survivors angrily accused the . [2], At the time of the accident, Yiannis Avranas had been an officer for twenty years and a seaman for thirty. [5] They used the radio phone to broadcast a mayday distress call until Moss received a response.[7]. After that, three preparative dives were conducted, including a complete simulation dive on the Griqualand, which lies at 50m, where gas exchanges and emergency procedures were rehearsed. Francesco Schettino had handed himself in to the Rebibbia prison in Rome after the verdict, his lawyer said. The Victorian notion that a captain should actually go down with the ship has become archaic. 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. In August 1991 I was a junior partner in the maritime . The Costa Concordia, carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew, slammed into a reef on Friday, after Schettino made an unauthorized maneuver. Then he returned and oversaw the operation from the air. After more than three hours in the water, they were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Then, about two years ago, South African technical divers Barry Coleman and Brett Hawton decided it was time to revisit the Oceanos. 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. "It's a matter of honor that the master is the last to leave. In 1976, she was acquired by Epirotiki Lines of Greece and registered under the name of Oceanos.[2]. The crew called him a secretary. With hundreds of people on board, the ship springs a leak, then . It is believed[by whom?] I have made a mess and practically the whole ship is flooding, Schettino told Ferrarini while the ship was sinking. 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. [6] Finding the ship's bridge abandoned, Moss Hills, an on-board entertainer, used the radio phone to broadcast a mayday until another ship answered. The unfitted ventilation pipe was said to have left a 10cm hole in the watertight bulkhead between the generator and the sewerage tank. Michigan Senator William Alden Smith, who chaired the Senate investigative committee, charged that Captain Smiths indifference to danger was one of the direct and contributing causes of this unnecessary tragedy., But the senator also gave him credit for his manly bearing and his tender solicitude for the safety of women and little children as well as his willingness to die.. Under charter by TFC Tours,[1] Oceanos initially delayed by a bomb threat set out from East London, South Africa on 3 August 1991, and headed for Durban. No one knows exactly where Captain E.J. Barry Coleman and the team have accomplished is an amazing feat they have succeeded in conducting two fully controlled dives on the Oceanos. Powered by Invision Community. [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. Abandon is for everybody. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger crash-landed a flight in the Hudson River in 2009, he twice walked the plane to make sure no one was left onboard before leaving himself. At about 9:30p.m., a muffled explosion was heard and Oceanos lost power. Rescue helicopters began arriving three hours later, and winched passengers and remaining crew to safety, with Hills continuing in charge of the orderly evacuation. 1940)[1] is a Greek former sea captain who commanded the cruise ship Oceanos when she sank off the Wild Coast of the Transkei, South Africa, on Sunday 4 August 1991. May she rest in peace and be as kind to those that follow this great accomplishment. "If you are leader, you have responsibility for your people, they put their lives in your hands.". The ship ran aground off the Italian coast in 2012, killing 32 people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWGXa8QivR4. For a moment, they disappeared where had the bubbles gone? The unethical, unprofessional prick are working as a Captain of a ferry in Greece. Hills was interviewed in the special, and related that some years later he had been on board when the MS Achille Lauro of Star Lauro sank. In August 2005, a Titanic wreckage expedition found two large, extraordinarily well-preserved sections of the bottom of the ship's hull. Four months later, on December 23, Rehan Bouwer, Steve Minne, Johan Swart, Ian Symington, and Nicko Brand returned to the Oceanos. 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. The ships engineer reported to Captain Yiannis Avranias that water was entering the hull and flooding the generator room. The 402 passengers and 179 crew members all survived . At this stage, eyewitness accounts reveal that many of the crew, including Captain Avranas, were already packed and ready to depart. The Concordia was supposed to take passengers on a seven-day Italian cruise from Civitavecchia to Savona. MACHINE LEARNING INVESTING IS SPECULATIVE BY NATURE. The incident came two years after Francesco Schettino, the captain of the wrecked cruise ship Costa Concordia, was charged with manslaughter and abandoning ship charges he denies. Oceanos is one of the documented tragedies ever to happen in the sea and following a probe by maritime authorities, the captain and his crew were found to . That is unbelievable!! "I'm totally embarrassed by what he did," he said of Schettino. Meanwhile, he told the ships two wireless operators to get ready to transmit distress signals. MTS Oceanos was a French-built and Greek-owned cruise ship that sank in 1991 when she suffered uncontrolled flooding. I just watched national geografic program about the Oceanos tragedy. He didnt give up though. that after a series of freak waves slammed against the ship, the pipe's shell plating burst open and began filling the compartment with seawater. The day of the first dive had dawned. "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. When they bail early, everything falls apart. Ralph White/Corbis/Getty Images. On Sunday, the day before the first dive attempt, the gusty southwesterly wind blew. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! 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. hide caption. Now he was about to preside over one of the worst sea disasters of all time. With holes in its walls, loose hull plates, and missing parts that control the flow of water, it looked pretty neglected. Without a driving force, however, he had to find another solution., The captain broadcast SOS. Francesco Schettino Sparks Outrage", "Revisiting the sinking of Oceanos part 1:Heroic Rescue Effort Saves 571", Down With The Ship NPR Snap Judgement episode #726, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MTS_Oceanos&oldid=1151622929, Sunk by uncontrolled flooding on 4 August 1991 off the coast of, This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 05:19. None of the 571 passengers drowned. 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. I never saw the captain among us helping, he says.. As in August, throughout the two-week period of the expedition, they only managed to reach the wreck on two occasions with a maximum bottom time of eight minutes. "In Anglo-American law, you would lose your license and make yourself liable.". A wide range of diverse considerations had to be taken care of, both personally and as a team. The Oceanos arrived in South Africa in 1991. He was never incarcerated and Epirotiki gave him command of a ferry until his retirement. Do you think anyone was weighing in the boats.. Creating equal decompression profiles for the two systems was a difficult task for Barry that took many hours of calculation.