AsiaOperations

Mutiny attempt leads to mass brawl and grounding of bulker off Mauritius

Local media in Mauritius is reporting an attempted mutiny, followed by a huge fight among the all Filipino crew of the bulk carrier  Benita led to its grounding in the Indian Ocean early this morning.

Senior staff from the ship – en route from Paradip to Durban – radioed into local authorities that it was in trouble late the previous night.

The fight that broke out saw the engines cut off and the ship drifted onto the rocky shoreline of the southeast coast of Mauritius.

An engineer was medevaced from the ship this morning in a serious condition.

Local authorities have boarded the vessel, but efforts by the police to survey the ship via helicopter have been hampered by a number of drones flying in the area. Police have asked that all drones be moved from the area.

A salvage team is in place and there are not yet any reports of an oil spill.

The 1998-built, 44,183 dwt ship is owned by Greece’s Bluefin Maritime.

 

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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