HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – A US-bound Greek-owned oil tanker is heading for Bermuda after its captain and chief engineer were killed and another crew member injured when it was hit by a wave in rough weather, authorities said yesterday. The Aegean Angel was in mid-Atlantic sailing to the US Gulf from Estonia with a cargo of fuel oil when it was hit by the wave, killing the 47-year-old captain and 33-year-old chief mechanic and seriously injuring the 34-year-old deputy captain. The trio have not been named. A spokesman of Athens-based Arcadia Ship management Co. Ltd. said: “The ship didn’t suffer any damage and is now sailing to the closest port which is in Bermuda to get treatment for the injured officer who is receiving medical attention on board while the company is in contact with the US Coast Guard.” The vessel sailed into bad weather with force-eight winds around 800 miles from Bermuda. A spokesman for the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre (BMOC) said: “The accident occurred when the ship’s senior officers decided to make an inspection of the deck areas to check for damage after the passage of some heavy weather. “Unfortunately during the inspection, a large wave hit the vessel and killed the captain and chief engineer whilst leaving the chief officer seriously injured. “The vessel is expected off Bermuda early on Monday where new crew members will be waiting to join the vessel to allow her to continue her voyage. Meanwhile, the BMOC has named two Bermudian sailors missing at sea, 12 days after they were last seen aboard the UK-registered Carefree IV. The sailors, 41-year-old Carlos Rogers and 36-year-old Kwesi Hollis, set sail from the Dominican Republic on December 1. According to the BMOC, they were last seen on December 18. At that time, they were reportedly running low on food and water. “UK-registered sailing vessel Carefree IV, with two Bermudian citizens onboard, was last sighted approximately 210 nautical miles south-southwest of Bermuda on December 18 when they alerted a passing merchant vessel to their plight for food and water,” a spokesman said. “After replenishment of supplies, the crew indicated they were bound for Bermuda, arriving possibly on December 23.” The 31-foot yacht and its crew have not been seen since. (CMC)
