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Friday, October 08, 2004
2 Filipinos killed in ship safety exercise off Australia (4:00 p.m.)
SYDNEY -- Two Filipino seamen were killed and three injured when a lifeboat plunged 30 meters (100 feet) into the sea from a cargo ship during safety exercises off the West Australian coast, police said Friday.
The lifeboat was being lowered to the water from the ore carrier Lowlands Grace when it broke loose from its crane, said police Sergeant Barry O'Meara.
The lifeboat capsized when it hit the water, trapping the men, he said from Port Headland on Australia's northwest coast.
The accident occurred about 12 nautical miles off Port Hedland and the survivors were rescued by an Australian guided missile frigate, HMAS Melbourne.
"We're very fortunate they were in the area because they had all the resources on board to assist with the recovery effort and medical staff to assist with the injured persons," O'Meara said.
It was not clear what caused the lifeboat to fall from the crane, he said.
HMAS Melbourne divers freed the men, but two of them could not be revived.
"This was just part of their ongoing safety exercises where they conduct this training for the crew and they've probably done it a million times, but for some reason an incident occurred and unfortunately two people died," O'Meara said.
The three survivors were taken to Port Hedland hospital.
"One was treated at the hospital and released, and two persons remain in hospital, one with suspected spinal injuries and the other with a fractured leg," O'Meara said.
Police were interviewing crew members to determine the cause of the accident.
One of 17 large bulk carriers and tankers owned by the Hong Kong-based TCC group, the Lowland Grace arrived in Port Hedland on October 6 and was due to sail for China with a load of iron ore later this month. (AFP)
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