The Megaboxship MSC Regulus has collided with a fishing vessel between Peru and Ecuador.
The collision, which occurred on the morning of December 17 2016, has resulted in five tragic deaths, with the whereabouts of six people still unclear. A rescue operation did however manage to save 12 people, who despite their injuries are in stable health.
The 13,100 TEU containership came into contact with the 23-manned Gerado 2 fishing vessel, causing the smaller ship to capsize. The container carrier was en-route from Callao, Peru to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, when her route was the Gerado 2 crossed the larger ship’s path.
Commenting on the rescue operation in an official statement, the Navy said ““After a flyby the accident site, it was determined that at the moment there are 5 people dead, 6 people missing and 12 people have been rescued with their stable health status”.
MSC also released a statement to the press in which they said “As a family-owned company, MSC is deeply distressed by the injured and the people who have died”.
Investigators have still not confirmed who is to blame for the tragedy.
According to MarineTraffic, the ultra large container ship MSC Regulus has an overall length of 366.00 m, moulded beam of 48.00 m and maximum draft of 14.00 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 140,951 DWT and the gross tonnage is 141,635 GRT. The container carrier was built in 2012 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea.
This is the second large incident this month, after a container carrier collision left crew missing off the southern coast of South Korea.
