Two missing crew confirmed dead in Gulf of Aden LPG carrier fire
EU’s Operation Aspides confirms two casualties from Saturday’s explosion and blaze on gas carrier Falcon
Two seafarers previously reported missing following the blaze on LPG carrier Falcon in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday have both been found dead, according to EU Operation Aspides. The remaining 24 crew were rescued on Saturday
TWO seafarers that were reported missing following the blaze on board the LPG carrier Falcon (IMO: 9014432) on Saturday have been found dead, military authorities confirmed on Monday.
A spokesperson for the EU’s Operation Aspides, which launched a search and rescue operations in the early hours of Saturday, told Lloyd’s List on Monday that the two, both Indian nationals, “have been located and recovered; unfortunately, both were found deceased”.
Falcon’s remaining 24 crew were rescued by nearby vessels, Aspides said on Saturday. The crew are all Indian nationals, except the master, who is Ukrainian.
The vessel, suspected of carrying Iranian-origin liquefied petroleum gas loaded in late September, was sailing west towards Djibouti when it suffered an explosion and a blaze. It stopped broadcasting automatic identification system data around 0646 hrs (UTC) on Saturday, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence data.
The cause of the incident was not immediately clear. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre initially reported that the vessel was struck by a projectile, before later stating that it could not confirm the source of the explosion. Aspides said on Saturday that initial indications were of an accident. The Joint Maritime Information Center said the crew reported that an explosion “deemed as an accident” caused the incident.
The Aspides spokesperson told Lloyd’s List that the vessel “remains adrift with no visible fire on board”.
Lloyd’s List understands that one company initially tasked to participate in the salvage operation withdrew due to sanctions risk. However, another firm is understood to have taken its place. The Aspides spokesperson said that “a private tug is close to deal with the vessel’s salvage”.
Falcon’s cargo was likely loaded in Assaluyeh, Iran, in late September while the vessel was manipulating its Automatic Identification System data, an analysis of Lloyd’s List Intelligence data and satellite imagery from Planet Labs shows. The vessel, which forms part of the LPG shadow fleet* engaged in deceptive shipping practices, has a history of AIS manipulation in both the Middle East Gulf and in the Baltic.
* Lloyd’s List defines an LPG carrier as being part of the LPG Shadow Fleet if it engages in one or more deceptive shipping practices indicating that it is involved in transporting sanctioned LPG or other commodities, or if it is sanctioned by the US, UK, or EU.
