Reviews & Ratings for the Fatima-V

The dedicated crew of the heavy-lift vessel M/V Ocean Titan, managed by Crowley Maritime Corporation, received prestigious recognition at the 2012 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Mariners’ Plaque ceremony held by the United Seamen’s Service (USS) in New York. This tribute honors their extraordinary bravery demonstrated during a dramatic rescue operation in December 2011. The crew was pivotal in saving the lives of the seven-person team aboard the M/V Florece, which tragically sank approximately 250 miles southwest of Land's End in the treacherous Bay of Biscay following a collision with the tanker M/V Afrodite. This remarkable feat was acknowledged and celebrated with the award presentation, with Capt. Christopher Hill, the captain of M/V Ocean Titan, accepting the accolade on behalf of his team.

In a dramatic incident on December 9, 2011, the cargo vessel m/v 'Florece' found itself in grave danger after colliding with the tank vessel m/v 'Afrodite' at approximately 3:30 a.m. The collision led to the rapid sinking of the 'Florece,' forcing its crew to abandon ship and secure themselves in liferafts. Fortunately, the chemical tanker 'Afrodite' sustained minor damage and remained buoyant, avoiding any water ingress. At the time of the emergency, the 'Florece' was located 240 miles south-south-west of Lands End, within the UK’s designated search and rescue area. The situation escalated when the ship's Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was triggered. Falmouth Coastguard promptly responded to the alarming distress signal. Employing advanced long-range tracking technology, Falmouth Coastguard swiftly pinpointed the nearest vessel to the incident location. Upon contacting the master of 'Afrodite,' they learned the details of the collision and the crew’s safe evacuation to liferafts. Despite efforts to deploy a rescue craft from the 'Afrodite,' the high sea swells rendered their attempt ineffective. During this time, the American Coastguard also received a distress call from the 'Florece' and relayed the urgency of the situation to Falmouth Coastguard. In response, Falmouth Coastguard called for assistance from vessels nearby and coordinated with the Spanish coastguard, who prepared to dispatch a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft to the scene. The container vessel 'Ocean Titan,' alongside the 'Maersk Kampala,' answered the distress call. 'Ocean Titan' skillfully navigated to the scene and successfully rescued all seven members of the Florece crew, who hailed from a mix of Russian, Polish, and Ukrainian backgrounds. Fortunately, no medical attention was required for the rescued personnel, and they were safely aboard the 'Ocean Titan' following the harrowing episode. This rescue operation stands as a testament to the bravery and quick response of the maritime community in times of crisis.