Sea  Reports  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  1  
  
CAPTAIN’S  REPORT  ON  THE  GROUNDING  OF  THE    
MS  “ASTRID”  OFF  STARTPOINT  
 
 
      Dartmouth,  15th  January  2004  
o/b  MS  “Astrid”  
To  the  Managing  Directors  of  the    
Cardiff  Shipping  Co.  Ltd.  
Cardiff  
 
 
Dear  Sirs,  
 
Confirming  my  two  telegrams  respectively  dated  on  yesterday  and  today  viz.  
 
1   14  January  2004  MS  “Astrid”  grounded  on  Skerriesbank  one  mile  east  of  Startpoint  
lighthouse  stop  steering  chain  broken  stop  have  called  in  tug  assistance  Dartmouth  
Towage  Co.  stop  
 
2   15  January  0200  MS  “Astrid”  floated  by  two  tugs  stop  entered  Dartmouth  harbour    
stop  all  well  on  board  stop  
 
I  now  beg  to  let  you  have  a  more  detailed  report.  
 
In  the  evening  of  14th  January  last  the  coaster  “Astrid  “passed  Startpoint  on  passage  from  
Cardiff  to  Rotterdam  carrying  a  full  cargo  of  coal  for  the  Rotterdam  gasworks.  
 
A  fresh  SSW-­‐ly  breeze  was  blowing  and  a  two-­‐mile  NE-­‐ly  tidal  current  was  running  
round  Startpoint  in  the  direction  of  Skerriesbank,  the  sea  being  rather  rough.  At  about  5  
miles  southwest  of  the  bank  the  port  steering  chain  suddenly  broke.  We  tried  to  repair  
the  damaged  steering  gear  as  quickly  as  possible,  but  the  disabled  vessel  was  rapidly  
drifting  towards  the  dangerous  bank.  
 
By  dropping  an  anchor  we  tried  to  avoid  the  stranding  but  the  anchor  chain  snapped  off  
almost  immediately.  At  a  quarter  past  eight  the  “Astrid”  struck  with  a  heavy  bump.  It  
soon  appeared  the  ship  had  sprung  a  leak  and  the  forepeak  was  making  water.  Rockets  
were  fired  and  assistance  from  the  Dartmouth  Towage  Co.  Ltd.  was  called  in  by  radio.  At  
11  p.m.  two  tugs  from  this  company  arrived,  managed  to  get  the  Astrid  afloat  after  half  
an  hour  and  safely  tow  her  into  Dartmouth  harbour  the  next  morning.  
 
The  vessel  will  have  to  be  thoroughly  examined  before  resuming  the  trip.  Awaiting  
further  instructions,  I  remain,  
 
Yours  very  truly,  
 
J.  JOHNSON  
Master  of  the  MS  Astrid  

  2  
  
CAPTAIN’S  REPORT:  COLLISION  OFF  THE  SPANISH  COAST  
 
 
 
 
                Cadiz,  February  10th  2008  
                o/b  MS  “Liver”  
 
To  the  Directors  of  the  Liverpool  Navigation  Co.  Ltd,  
Liverpool,  UK.  
 
 
 
Dear  Sirs,  
 
 
Herewith  I  confirm  my  radio  telegram,  dated  February  9th  last,  reading:  “Collision  off  
Cadiz  stop  forepeak  making  water  stop  no  direct  danger  stop  tug  assistance  underway  
stop.”  
 
Following  up  the  above  radio  message,  I  now  let  you  have  a  more  detailed  report  from  
Cadiz,  where  meanwhile  we  have  safely  arrived.  
 
On  January  9th,  during  the  second  dog  watch,  the  “Liver”  on  passage  from  Bristol  to  the  
Maghreb,  was  run  into  by  a  Spanish  freighter  off  Cadiz  in  dense  fog.  
 
The  collision  left  a  large  hole  in  our  starboard  bow,  just  below  the  waterline  and  the  
forepeak  began  to  make  water  rapidly.  In  order  to  ease  the  collision  bulkhead  we  put  the  
vessel  down  the  wind.  The  colliding  ship  was  only  slightly  damaged  and  stood  by  to  
render  assistance  if  required.  The  weather  was  poor  and  a  heavy  swell  was  running.  
 
I  sent  out  a  wireless  call  for  tug  assistance  and  soon  the  “Zwarte  Zee”  of  Smit’s  
International  Towage  Service,  stationed  at  Cadiz,  arrived  on  the  spot.  
 
Connection  was  made  with  our  stern,  our  engines  were  put  on  full  astern  and  course  
was  shaped  for  the  Port  of  Cadiz,  where  we  arrived  safely  at  2  a.m.  today.  
 
Awaiting  your  instructions,  we  remain,  
 
Yours  very  respectfully,  
H.  Brounslow  
Master  MS  “Liver”  
 
 
 
 
 

  3  
  
CAPTAIN’S  REPORT  ON  THE  SINKING  OF  THE  “CITY  OF  LONDON”  
 
 
                  Hull,  January  2nd  2008  
 
To  the  Management  of  London  Lines,    
London,  UK.  
 
Gentlemen,  
 
I  hereby  confirm  my  radio  message  of  today,  the  text  of  which  runs  as  follows:  
 
ON  BOARD  SVERIGE  STOP  “CITY  OF  LONDON”  RAMMED  BY  SWEDISH  MS  SVERIGE  STOP  
CREW  RESCUED  STOP  NO  CASUALTIES  STOP  “CITY  OF  LONDON”  SUNK  STOP    
 
Here  follows  a  full  report  concerning  this  disaster.  
 
Today  about  2  p.m.  the  “City  of  London”,  which  was  with  general  cargo  underway  from  
her  home  port  to  Amsterdam,  passed  the  light  vessel  South  Goodwin.  There  was  a  fog  
hanging  which  gradually  thickened.  I  consequently  gave  the  order  to  reduce  the  speed  to  
three  miles  and  to  give  the  BOT-­‐signal  at  intervals.  
 
At  2.25  p.m.  the  lookout  reported  he  had  heard  a  long  blast  ahead  on  the  starboard  side.  
The  engine  was  stopped.  The  sound  was  now  heard  continually  and  was  answered  by  
the  “City  of  London”.  Judging  from  the  strength  of  the  sound,  the  vessel  ahead  of  us  was  
approaching  quickly.  I  gave  the  order  “full  speed  astern”  and  at  the  same  time  sounded  
three  short  blasts  on  the  whistle.  
 
Shortly  after  2.35  p.m.  the  bow  of  the  other  vessel  loomed  up  in  the  mist  and  rammed  
the  “City  of  London”  under  an  angle  of  three  points.  Going  by  the  bow  wave  I  estimated  
the  speed  of  the  other  ship  to  be  7  knots.  The  “City  of  London”  sank  quickly.  Fortunately  
the  “Sverige”  immediately  lowered  a  lifeboat  and  picked  up  all  members  of  the  “City  of  
London’s”  crew.  Captain  Olofson  of  the  “Sverige”  is  undoubtedly  to  be  blamed  for  this  
collision  since  he  maintained  a  speed  of  7  ½  knots  in  thick  fog,  although  he  was  able  to  
clearly  hear  another  vessel  ahead.  
 
Captain  Olofson  stated  that  he  was  not  sure  of  his  position,  though  his  ship  was  
equipped  with  the  required  technology.  He  feared  that  his  ship  might  drift  towards  the  
Goodwins  if  he  stopped.  
 
The  crew  was  finally  disembarked  in  Hull  at  6  p.m.  
 
Awaiting  your  instructions,  I  am  
 
Yours  very  respectfully,  
Stanley  Smith  
Master  MS  “City  of  London”  

  4  
  
CAPTAIN’S  REPORT:  RESCUE  OF  THE  SURVIORS  OF  M.S.“PEARL”  
 
 
 
              Portsmouth,  25th  November  2007  
                    o/b  MS  “Pilgrim”  
 
To  the  Manager  of  the  Red  Line  Ltd  
Boston  
 
Dear  Sir,  
 
Herewith  I  beg  to  confirm  my  radio  telegram  of  the  22nd  instant,  running:  
Have  taken  aboard  fifty-­‐three  survivors  “Pearl”  stop  proceeding  to  Portsmouth  stop    
 
Now  I  send  you  the  following  particulars.  
 
On  21st  November  we  were  on  the  North  Atlantic,  overtaken  by  a  heavy  northwesterly  
gale  and  thrown  far  from  our  course.  Towards  midnight  the  lookout  reported  flare  lights  
at  four  points  on  the  starboard  bow.  They  were  evidently  parachute  distress  signals,  the  
flares  being  extremely  bright  and  lasting  for  nearly  one  minute.  
 
We  altered  course  and  after  proceeding  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  we  came  within  
hailing  distance  of  a  badly  heeling  vessel,  which  was  almost  on  her  beam  ends.  The  
vessel,  proving  to  be  the  British  vessel  “Pearl”,  had  sprung  a  leak  and  was  making  water  
rapidly.  The  engine  room  was  flooded  and  the  dynamo  had  stopped.  
 
By  means  of  light  signals  the  crew  communicated  that  the  ship  could  not  keep  afloat  
long  and  that  they  wanted  to  abandon  her.  Our  second  officer  and  six  volunteers  
launched  no.  4  lifeboat,  put  off  and  after  a  three-­‐hour  struggle  in  the  dark  they  managed  
to  reach  the  wreck.  They  shouted  to  the  men  who  were  huddling  on  the  bridge  to  come  
aft.  A  line  was  flung  to  the  stern  and  8  men  jumped  overboard  and  were  hauled  into  the  
lifeboat.        
 
At  daybreak  the  gale  calmed  down  and  the  remaining  45  men  were  taken  off.  It  
appeared  that  17  men  had  been  drowned  in  their  attempts  to  launch  a  boat.  
 
On  arrival  at  Portsmouth  at  11  a.m.  we  disembarked  the  shipwrecked  men.  Tomorrow  
morning  our  trip  to  Bremen  will  be  resumed.    
 
Respectfully  yours,  
David  Carter  
Master  MS  “Pilgrim”  
 
 
 
 

  5  
  
CAPTAIN’S  REPORT  ON  THE  GALE  DAMAGE  O/B        
M.S.  “MAPLE”  
 
 
Glasgow,  10th  November  2009  
o/b  MS  “Maple”  
 
To  the  Managing  Directors  of  the  Trader  Co.  Ltd.  
Montreal,  Canada  
 
Dear  Sirs,  
 
Referring  to  my  radio  telegram  dated  6th  November,  as  per  copy  enclosed,  I  now  beg  to  
hand  you  the  following  report  on  the  gale  damage  done  to  our  vessel  on  2nd  November  
last.  
 
On  25th  October  the  MS  “Maple”  left  Montreal,  bound  for  Glasgow,  with  a  full  cargo  of  
wheat,  partly  in  bulk,  partly  in  bags.  Scarcely  had  the  ship  passed  the  Belle  Isle  Strait  
when  she  was  overtaken  by  a  heavy  gale,  lasting  four  days.  
 
During  the  middle  watch  on  2nd  November  the  vessel  shipped  much  water  and  at  about  
3  a.m.  a  heavy  toppling  sea  broke  aboard  causing  much  damage  on  deck.  The  port  
lifeboat  was  so  badly  damaged  that  it  could  not  be  used  any  longer.  The  starboard  
lifeboat  was  carried  away  and  got  lost.  
 
The  cabins  of  the  deck  and  engine  room  officers  (mates  and  engineers)  were  stove  in  on  
the  port  side.  Much  water  entered  the  engine  room.  One  of  the  derricks  was  smashed  
and  another  one  was  hanging  outboard  in  the  water.  
 
When  after  four  days  the  gale  calmed  down,  temporary  repairs  could  be  effected  and  the  
ship  could  continue  the  trip  under  her  own  power.  During  the  remainder  of  our  
transatlantic  trip  the  weather  was  favourable,  so  we  arrived  at  our  destination  with  only  
three  days  delay.  
 
Respectfully  yours,  
Claude  Dupont  
Master  o/b  MS  “Maple”  
 
Enclosure:  copy  radio  telegram  
Radio  telegram  6th  November:  VESSEL  MAPLE  FIFTY-­‐THREE  DEGREES  EIGHT  MINUTES  
NORTH  FORTY-­‐FOUR  DEGREES  TWENTY-­‐FIVE  MINUTES  WEST  STOP  HAVE  
ENCOUNTERED  FOUR  DAYS’  GALE  STOP  CONSIDERABLE  DAMAGE  ON  DECK  STOP  TWO  
LIFEBOATS  LOST  STOP  NO  LOSS  OF  LIFE  STOP  WEATHER  IMPROVING  STOP  HAVE  
EFFECTED  REPAIRS  STOP  PROCEEDING  ON  OUR  TRIP  STOP  
 

  6