Date:04/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/04/stories/2006020404631500.htm

International

Dozens feared dead as cruise liner sinks; rescue efforts hampered by bad weather

Atul Aneja

Bad weather suspected to be the cause; U.S. offer of help spurned

— PHOTO: AP

GOES DOWN: The ferry "Al Salaam Boccaccio 98" in Suez in this November 25, 1999 file photo.

DUBAI: Rescue workers have pulled about 100 persons to safety and recovered dozens of bodies from the water after a Egyptian cruise liner, with 1,400 persons on board, sank overnight in the Red Sea.

The ship, Al-Salaam Boccaccio 98, sank between the Saudi Arabian and Egyptian coastlines, around 64 km from the Egyptian port of Hurghada, the head of the Egyptian Maritime Authority, Mahfouz Taha Marzouk said. Helicopters had earlier spotted survivors in lifeboats, resulting in a rescue operation, despite high velocity winds and choppy waters. Four Egyptian frigates were looking for survivors, and a British naval ship HMS Bulwark was also heading to the area. Officials in the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain said Egyptian authorities had declined an American offer of deploying P3C-Orion surveillance planes to help in the rescue work.

Pilgrims on board

Most of the victims were believed to be Egyptian workers returning home from Saudi Arabia, though some Sudanese and Saudi nationals were also on board. According to an agency report, some of the victims could be pilgrims who were returning to Egypt after performing Haj in Saudi Arabia.

It is unlikely that the ship went down because of collision or on account of a terrorist act, Nizam Siddiqui of Lloyd's of London was quoted as saying. He pointed out that the area where the tragedy took place was well patrolled. "The rough weather must have been the main factor for bringing this vessel down," he said, adding that the ship was "very well-maintained."

The ship started in bad weather from the Saudi port of Dubah at 7 p.m. on Thursday amid high winds and a sandstorm. It was scheduled to arrive at Egypt's port of Safaga, nearly 192 km away, after covering the distance in eight hours.

The vessel apparently disappeared from radar screens soon after it set sail. Helicopters sent for rescue work saw bodies floating on water. An Egyptian embassy spokesman said "dozens of bodies of victims" had been recovered from the water.

According to Mr. Marzouk, the ship was built in 1971 and renovated in 1990 in an Egyptian shipyard. It was carrying 1,310 persons and a 96-member crew, as well as around 220 vehicles. "The ship complied with all necessary safety measures," Egyptian Transport Minister Mohammed Lutfy Mansour told Egypt's semi-official Middle East News Agency.