OT?: At least three dead in collision of Italian, Portuguese ships

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There werer concerns about maritime preparations. Was all their electronic eqiupment working that might have prevented this tragedy? Weather was clear, no fog, etc?

At least three dead in collision of Italian, Portuguese ships

Copyright ) 2000 Nando Media Copyright ) 2000 Associated Press

From Time to Time: Nando's in-depth look at the 20th century

ROME (February 14, 2000 10:23 a.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - Two cargo ships collided off Italy's southern coast early Monday, killing at least three Spanish sailors. Nine others were missing and feared dead.

Initial reports said the Italian "Espresso Catania" and the Madeira Islands-registered "Zafir" rammed into each other about four miles south of the port town of Santa Caterina in the Calabria region at the toe of the Italian peninsula.

The Zafir split apart and sank within minutes, while the Espresso Catania stayed afloat. Twenty crew members and two passengers on the Espresso Catania were escorted safely ashore.

Fourteen Spanish sailors were believed to be on the Zafir. Three died, two were saved and nine were missing. Angelo Pinetti, a spokesman for the coast guard in Crotone, in Calabria, said the Zafir's captain was among the victims.

Helicopters and rescue boats were searching for survivors, but coast guard officials said the chances of finding anyone alive eight hours later were extremely slim.

"It depends on the temperature of the water, what they were wearing and whether they were able to grab on to something," Pinetti said.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. Weather conditions appeared to be good, with no fog.

The Zafir, carrying material to make cement, had just left a nearby Italian port. The Italian vessel was on its way from northern Italy to Catania, Sicily, with a load of trucks.

Officials at the Madeira Islands' shipping registry said the Zafir was owned by the Panama-based company Buckland Consulting Inc.

Link

http://www.nandotimes.com/noframes/story/0,2107,500167945-500214426-501005323-0,00.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 14, 2000

Answers

Boy! does this sound familiar! Just like a train wreck with the best conditions possible... something went wrong with electronic equipment? Hummmmm? Be sure that denial of possible y2k failure is upcoming on this station...stay tuned... trolls at eleven!

-- SB Ryan G III (sbrg3@juno.com), February 14, 2000.

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