What Crew Members Say About Rox-D

In a dramatic maritime incident on December 9, 2011, the cargo ship 'Afrodite' was involved in a collision with the chemical tanker 'Florece' at approximately 3:30 a.m. The incident occurred 250 miles southwest of Land's End in the Bay of Biscay while the 'Afrodite' was making its journey from Amsterdam to Lome. After the collision, the 'Florece' began to sink, prompting its crew to abandon ship and take refuge in liferafts. Fortunately, the 'Afrodite' sustained minimal damage and remained afloat, avoiding any water ingress. The seven crew members onboard the 'Florece,' comprising Russian, Polish, and Ukrainian nationals, were successfully rescued by the container vessel 'Ocean Titan.' The emergency was brought to the attention of Falmouth Coastguard when the distress signal from the ship's EPIRB was activated amidst its sinking. At the time of the incident, the 'Florece' was positioned 240 miles south-southwest of Land's End, placing it within the UK’s search and rescue area. Falmouth Coastguard efficiently located the nearest vessels using long-range tracking information. Upon communicating with the master of the 'Afrodite,' Coastguard officials confirmed the collision details and learned that the 'Afrodite' attempted to deploy its fast rescue craft but was unable to do so due to challenging sea swells. In parallel, the American Coastguard received the distress signal from the 'Florece' and relayed the information to their UK counterparts. To enhance the search operation, Falmouth Coastguard called for assistance from other vessels in the vicinity and coordinated with the Spanish Coastguard, which prepared to deploy resources for assistance. A Spanish Coastguard helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft were sent to the scene. The 'Maersk Kampala' and 'Ocean Titan' responded to the call for help, with the 'Ocean Titan' successfully reaching the 'Florece' and rescuing all seven crew members. Fortunately, all crew members were reported safe aboard the 'Ocean Titan' and did not require any medical attention. They were subsequently transported to Portugal for further support.

In a developing story, reports have emerged concerning the vessel Afrodite, which appears to have been involved in a collision in the Bay of Biscay. Preliminary information suggests that the incident may have occurred with a container ship, although further details remain scarce. As the situation unfolds, more updates will be provided. For continuing coverage, you can visit BBC News.