SEMIHA-AHMET-M

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Two crew members without life jackets lost over board in storm

Two Bulgarian crew members have been washed overboard by a wave from the 'Stara Planina' in the Norwegian sea, 210 miles Souhwest of Bodø and 180 nautical miles west of Sandnessjøen in the morning of Jan 2, 2020. The crew of the bulk carrier started an SAR operation. The remaining crew threw out fluids and marker buoys, but it is uncertain if the two missing ones got hold of them. Also two Norwegian SAR helicopters were deployed. Both victims didn’t wear life jackets, while carrying out the job on the open deck. Both were believed to have died. The rescue center was notified of the incident just over 11:30 a.m, A SeaKing helicopter was deployed and observed two lifebuoys, one with light and one without, but the two missing men were not found. The search for the two ended at 8 p.m. without result. There was bad weather in the area and waves of up to ten meters. The helicopter search was temporarily stopped due to the weather. The plan was to replenish fuel on the Heidrun platform, but due to the hurricane strength of the storm the crew had to give it up. Instead, the helicopter flew to the Orland Air Station to refuel. An Orion surveillance aircraft from Andøya was prepared to contribute to the search, but the weather conditions have meant that it could not be included in the search either. The ship was en route from Murmansk to Constanta.

Medevac off St. Nazaire

On Aug 13, 2014 at 3:15 p.m., the CROSS Etel was alerted by the "Stara Planina" after a crew member suffered a leg fracture and required evacuation. The bulk carrier was moored in the waiting area of Saint Nazaire. After a conference call between the center of maritime medical consultation (CCMM) in Toulouse, CROSS Etel and the "Stara Planina" a medical evacuation of the injured was decided. 30 minutes later, the liefeboat "SNS 203" from Pornichet was sent to the vessel, but the sea was rough to evacuate the injured by boat, and a medical evacuation by helicopter was required. At 5:30 p.m. the helicopter of the gendarmerie of Saint Nazaire took off and reached the vessel at 5:56 p.m. The injured was airlifted and transported to the Hospital of Saint Nazaire where he was delivered at 6:20 p.m.

Sailior died of asphyxiation

On Aug 2, 2014, a Bulgarian sailor of 52 years died in an accident aboard the "Stara Planina" at Montoir. The man was intoxicated by gas and lost consciousness while he was standing on a ladder. He then dropped to the bottom of the hold. He was found in cardiac arrest by the emergency, which could not revive him. Firefighters worked with a technological risks vehicle to determine the nature of the detected gas in the hold. The "Stara Planina" was transporting agricultural goods and was at the port for unloading. The autopsy of the victim, performed on Aug 3, confirmed the death by asphyxiation. While preparing to install a ventilation system within a block, the man was poisoned by carbon monoxide. French report with photo: http://www.ouest-france.fr/accident-montoir-louvrier-bulgare-est-decede-dune-asphyxie-2741199