CAPE SPLENDOR

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Man Overboard: Fishing from Accommodation Ladder

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its findings into the man overboard fatality from bulk carrier Cape Splendor in Western Australia on October 6, 2014, citing disregard for. The vessel was moored at the time of the accident. Cape Splendor’s bosun descended to the lower platform of the ship’s accommodation ladder during his lunch break. He intended to fish from this location and asked a seaman to assist. At 1250, the bosun lost his balance and fell into the sea. http://maritime-executive.com/article/death-at-sea-fishing-from-accommodation-ladder

ATSB investigating case of missing crew member

The crew member of the "Cape Splendor" who went missing in waters off Pilbara slipped off a ladder while clearing entangled fishing lines on Oct 6. The 41-year-old man fell over board at about 12.50 p.m. local time while the ship was anchored at Port Hedland. The man was on the bottom platform of the ship’s port accommodation ladder, about two metres above the water, when he lost his balance. Another crew member threw a lifebuoy into the water in a bid to help the man and raised the alarm. But by the time a rescue boat was lowered to recover the man, the crew had lost sight of him. Four boats, including a Water Police vessel from Dampier, and a helicopter on Oct 7. The ATSB has sent two investigators to Port Headland to investigate the incident.

Search resumes for man who fell from ship anchored off Port Hedland

A search has resumed for a Chinese man who fell from an iron ore carrier anchored off Port Hedland in Western Australia's Pilbara. The ship, Cape Splendor, was anchored about 25 kilometres outside the port on Monday afternoon (Oct. 6) when the 41-year-old man fell overboard. Sergeant Michael Weir from Water Police said the crewman, a Chinese national, fell from the side of the vessel just after midday. "He was actually doing a bit of recreational activities off the back of the ship at the time, [he] wasn't working as such, but was doing some fishing from a gangplank that was down the side of the ship," he said. "The alarm was raised by the crew members who threw him a life ring. "He was last seen about 500 metres off the back of the ship, floating on the water, on the surface, so we are still holding hope that he is still alive and on the surface of the water." Sergeant Weir said the crewman had a pair of overalls on that were tied around his waist. A search involving a helicopter and several boats failed to find him yesterday and the operation was suspended at nightfall. A police boat from Dampier has been sent to help. Sergeant Weir said the search area covers 200 square kilometres. "Water temperatures up there are good which will be in his favour, but certainly it's a big task ahead of us," he said. Police said big tidal surges in the area were hampering the search. The port is one of the busiest iron ore export facilities in Australia, but Sergeant Weir said the port's operations had not been disrupted by the search.