Finnbirch down

[Nick the Greek]

At least six of a crew of 14 have been saved after clinging to a Finnlines-chartered ro-ro in the Baltic until it sank today.

Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter reports that the 2,100-lane metre Finnbirch (ex-Stena Gothica, built 1978) sank at around 1930 local time in the Baltic between Oland and Gotland today, several hours after developing a severe list.

A rescue helicopter had reportedly attended without being able to retrieve crew members from the hull of the vessel. The crew members are said to be wearing survival suits.

Rescue efforts are being hindered by severe weather.

The ship’s crew consisted of four Swedes and 10 Filipinos. It was not known to local media whether all crew members had gone into the water after the ship sank. The master of the ship reportedly broke a leg during the incident.

Finnbirch was reportedly carrying trailers and containers from Helsinki to Arhus.

It was owned by Stockholm-based Stromma Turism & Sjofart AB, which also owns sistership Finnforest and some tourist excursion boats. Finnbirch and Finnforest are chartered by Finnlines Plc.

The 8,900-dwt Wagenborg multipurpose cargoship Marneborg (built 1998) had arrived at the scene shortly after Finnbirch signalled for help at 1540. It was soon followed by a rescue helicopter. By evening another Finnlines ship, the 3,380-lane metre Finn Hansa (built 1994), plus Moerman's 270-lane metre Largo (built ) and Gerdes's 3,000-dwt Tomke (built 2000) and another rescue helicopter were standing by.

Source: Tradewinds

[Nick the Greek]

One person has died and another is missing, presumed dead, after a Finnlines-chartered ro-ro sank off the coast of Sweden on Wednesday

Rescuers had recovered 13 of the 14 crew members from the 2,100-lane-metre Finnbirch (built 1978) which sank in heavy seas but one person later died in hospital. The search has now been called off for the last remaining crew member who is presumed dead.

Finnlines executive vice-president and chief financial officer Seija Turunen said that, as the vessel was owned by a Swedish entity and went down in Swedish waters, she was unable to answer any questions relating to the incident.

Jan Larsen, president of Stockholm-based owner Stromma Turism & Sjofart AB, confirmed that a Filipino crew member had died in hospital and one Swedish sailor was still missing.

Larsen understands that the search for the missing crew member has been called off but cannot confirm if this is indefinite. All other 12 crew members are in hospital and recovering well though the captain broke his leg in the incident, Larsen added.

Although lifeboats were deployed before the Finnbirch sank, Larsen was unable to confirm how many of the ship’s crew made it onto a liferaft before being winched to safety

There are also reports of an oil spill from the vessel which was said to be carrying up to 260 tons of bunker fuel. Larsen was unable to confirm reports of any leakage.

The Sweden-flagged vessel went down in five-metre-high waves between the Swedish islands of Gotland and Oland forcing its entire crew of Swedish and Filipino sailors into the icy waters.

The Finnbirch was en route from Helsinki to Aarhus in Denmark when it encountered a severe storm which left it listing badly for hours before it eventually went under.

The Finnbirch was classed by Lloyd’s Register and had insurance cover with Gard P&I Club.

Source: Tradewinds

[GaryAndrews]

It'll be interesting to see what has happened with this one....seems hard to explain on the surface as the sea conditions were not any different to those the ship would have faced at times in the past.