The Rescue Coordination Centre Malta (RCC Malta) situated at the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) Operation Centre at Luqa Barracks received a Mayday call on Wednesday 25th March around 2230 hrs that a vessel split in two south east of Malta.
An AFM spokeperson stated that the Vittoria Class SAR launch MELITA I was dispatched to the area and 3 crew members were rescued – 2 Egyptians and 1 Romanian nationals. According to the spokesperson the ship split from her bow.
Vittoria Class SAR launches MELITA I and MELITA II within territorial waters.
It seems that the vessel is the 90 metre inland tanker LADY SANDRA that was seen at Istanbul, Turkey last 6th February after she crossed Bosphorus North from Sulina, Romania. She’s the former ZAANSTROOM, built in Holland in 1974 with length of 89.80 m; beam of 9.50 m and draught of 2.52 m.
Currently the weather situation in Central Mediterranean Sea is very bad with wind gusting to Northwesterly direction Force 7/8 causing to 4/5 metre swell.
According to the spokesperson rescue operations are very dangerous and no oil spills had been reported so far.
Images of a 2014 built inland tanker as a casco (hull – to be completed) offshore Sicily back to 17th September 2014.
Unfortunately local media reports are reporting that an offshore supply ship bearing the same name LADY SANDRA currently off Veraval, India working with drill ship SAGAR VIJAY is the one.
Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Thursday 26th March, 2020