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"Den Den, Done"

On The Scene At Mangalore, India

Feature Date: Sept. 10 2007

Event Date: June 23, 2007

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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

On The Scene -- At Mangalore, India

 A 2007 Countryman & McDaniel

Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

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"Den Den, Done"

On The Scene

At Mangalore

India

The Death of M/V Denden

A Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

The Date: June 23 2007

The Time: Morning

The Place: Off Mangalore, India

 

 

 

[We Are Still Looking For A Better Days View of M/V Denden]

 

 

M/V Denden In Better Days

Vessel Name - Denden

Type of Vessel: General cargo

Built: Nov. 1977 Japan

Operator: Eritrean Shipping Lines

Flag - Eritrea

Speed: 16 knots

Crew: 24

Overall Length: 127.5 meters

Breath: 18 meters

Gross Tons: 6,977 tons

Dead Weight: 8,626 tons

Gross Tonnage: 6,977 tons

NRT: 3,290 tons

Cranes: Deck Cranes - 5 x 16 tons

Capacity: (g/cargo): 8,000 tons (10322CBM)

The Prolog To Disaster -- Operations Off The Port of East London
 

PROLOG >> On June 22 2007 the 24 crew of M/V Denden began a 20 hour ordeal off the Thannirbhavi coast, about 13 km from Managalore, India. The vessel had departed New Mangalore Port, making for Dubai with a cargo of furnace oil slag when her engines failed off Panambur Beach. High velocity winds from Cyclone Gonu pushed M/V Denden towards the land.

Cyclone Gonu was the strongest tropical cyclone on record in the Arabian Sea, and tied for the strongest tropical cyclone on record in the northern Indian Ocean.

This would be the first casualty experience during the distinguished 40-years career at sea for Capt. Abraham Kwaw.

The entire crew would be tested. All would be heroes. Some would be lost in the wake of Cyclone Gonu.Cyclone Gonu.

Michael S. McDaniel - Your Editor

M/V Denden With Fuel Oil Slag Appears To Be In Some Difficulty Off Thanveerbavi Beach Near Mangalore

M/V Denden Has Lost Her Engines Far Too Close To Shore

It Is The Efect of Cyclone Gonu

Vicious Winds & No Engines - M/V Denden Struggles In The Surf
"It was only God's grace and good wishes of the thousands of people who had gathered on the shore on the fateful Saturday that saved us."
Chief Engineer Mohammad Younis, Pakistan

An 8,626 Dead Weight Ton Vessel - Does Not Operate Like A Boogie Board In The Surf

From The Cargo Letter - June 25 2007 - Capt. Abraham Kwaw Reports
The prospect of watching his ship go down is a captain's worst nightmare. From his bed in the New Mangalore Port Trust Hospital, Capt. Abraham Kwaw, the 62-year-old Ghanaian skipper of the ill-fated Eritrean freighter M/V Denden recalls the horrors of his 20-hour ordeal on the choppy waters of the Arabian Sea.
"I felt my entire life going down with the ship that I had captained for more than 5 years. I have sailed around the world in more difficult conditions than at Tanneerbavi. My crew & I can only thank our stars and the friendly fishermen of Mangalore."
Capt. Abraham Kwaw, Ghana
Still shaky from his experience, Capt. Kwaw recalled how his engine failed to respond at about 9 a.m. on June 20, an hour after leaving the New Mangalore Port in Panambur.
"I had no option but to drop anchor as the ship was showing signs of instability due to the rough waters. Even while the onboard engineers, Bin Mohammad and Mohammad Younis, tried to fix the engine, the ship drifted towards the Tanneerbavi Beach as the anchor was not effective."
Capt. Abraham Kwaw, Ghana
 "I knew I had the responsibility for the lives of 24 sailors onboard and for the ship's cargo. When the ship started tilting on its axis at 2.30 p.m. on June 23, I knew it was time to abandon. I gave order to the second in-charge Mutsam Ahmed Mohammad to evacuate the crew. That was the last time I saw my ship. I tried to salvage a few things from the cabin, but it capsized fast and water was gushing in."
Capt. Abraham Kwaw, Ghana

"it was the blessings of the almighty which saved at least 21 members in the ship. I was hopeful of a gradual control in the bad weather, and was praying for God's grace. The only hope we had was that the life jackets, which can make us sail on the sea for hours together."

Chief Engineer Mohammad Younis, Pakistan
 
"Much time was lost on localizing the problem. Till the last minute my captain and I were hopeful of putting M/V Denden on the move again, but things did not work out."
Chief Engineer Mohammad Younis, Pakistan
The 21 survivors could not believe that their mates Tesfamriam Berhane and Mehari Ghziavhier, the ship's cook & boatswain, could not make it through the ordeal. The crew had taken special care to lower both of them onto the first life raft along with 4 others but the raft could not withstand the rough seas. Berhane, the oldest member of the crew, did not know how to swim.
"We have seen rough waters in our lives also but nothing like this. Even a good swimmer or sailor could not have survived in these waters. It was only God's grace and good wishes of the thousands of people who had gathered on the shore on the fateful June 23 that saved us."
Chief Engineer Mohammad Younis, Pakistan
"I had never came across such a terrible occurrence since 1966, the year which I entered this career."
Capt. Abraham Kwaw

"it was our last resort to jump to the sea when the whole vessel capsized. I lost my last hope when a big tide churned me into its depth as soon as I jumped, but perhaps, by God's grace I could come up again."

Chief Engineer Mohammad Younis, Pakistan

Rescue Teams Swung Into Action To Rescue 24 Crew Members Trapped Onboard Sunken M/V Denden

Two Crew Members Were Killed & 14 Were Successfully Rescued

....... But 8 Were Initially Listed As Missing

\

Lucky Survivors
Capt. Abraham Kwaw of M/V Denden (right), at the Kasturba Medical College Hospital in Mangalore.

Chief Engineer Mohammed Younis is at extreme left.

"I have sailed to a number of countries, those in Australia, Egypt, South Africa and Asia, but with a completely different kind of experience."
Capt. Abraham Kwaw, Ghana

"However, his age and the tragedy have not weakened his nerves. He had a smile of pride on his face when he heard a comment - 'You still look younger, Mr Captain!' - when he tried to proceed for an x-ray on his own, refusing a wheelchair."

Chief Engineer Mohammad Younis, Pakistan

The Remains of M/V Denden

In The End - 2 Dead, 12 Injured & 22 Successfully Rescued By India Coast Guard & New Mangalore Port Trust Fishermen

The crew will Return To their homes In Eritrea, Pakistan (Lahore) Sudan, Sri Lanka and Ghana.

They Have Lost Everything &emdash; Passports, Sailing Licences, Work Permits & Driving Licences .... but not their lives.

M/V Denden, Done

From The Cargo Letter - June 24 2006 -- Cargo Vessel In The Waves
M/V Denden with load of furnace oil and 24 crew partially sank off Thanveerbavi Beach near Mangalore coast on June 23 as a result of high velocity winds. All crew members reported safe. Rescue operations are being conducted from the shore level because of heavy seas and winds. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun June 24 2007)
No Party Has Yet Come Forward To Claim The Sunken Vessel

Ex-M/V Denden -- No Longer A Ship --Her Identity Is Reduced To Scrap Metal.

A Tragic End To A 30 Year Career At Sea.

Goodbye


Shippers Must Have Quality Marine Cargo Insurance ........ Because......... "Ship Happens! ©"

If We Have Ever Provided A Cautionary Tale In Support of Cargo Insurance -- This Is It!

To Repeat -- No Matter How Careful You Are -- Or Who You Hire ....... "Ship Happens! ©"

 

"Ship Happens! ©"


The Dedication of This Feature Is Simple: To The Crew of M/V Denden and her families.


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs brokerIt's dangerous out there.


INDEX TO OUR "Den Den Done" PAGE SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Line
Eritrean Shipping Lines

The Scene

New Mangalore Port

Panambur Beach

Panambur Beach

Mangalore

The Cause

Cyclone Gonu

Mariner Lore - "saw-edged reefs and sunken rocks that run out to sea and make navigation hazardous"

Rime of The Ancient Mariner - by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Our Daily Vessel Casualties - stay informed

Other Ocean Related Features From The Cargo Letter- these are just examples

The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss - For All The Air & Ocean Features - a few examples below

"For The "L" of It" - M/V Action Alpha - August 2007

"Stack Attack!" - M/V Ital Florida - July 2007

"Riding Down The Marquis" - M/V Rickmars Dalian - June2007

"Carrying Coal To Newcastle" - M/V Pasha Bulker - June 2007

"Between A Yacht & A Hard Place" M/V Madame Butterfly - May 2007

"Boxing Up The Rhine" M/V Excelsior - April 2007

"Best Worst Laid Plans?" M/V Republica di Genoa - March 2007

"Crack'n On The Sidmouth" - M/V MSC Napoli - Jan. 2007

"Operation Jumbo Drop" - M/V Jumbo Challenger - March 2007

"Wrong Way Agulhas?" - M/V Safmarine Agulhas - Jan. 2007

"Full Speed Ahead" - M/V Alva Star - Nov. 2006

"Where The Trade Winds Blew" - Oct. 2006

"Maersk Montevideo Melee!" - M/V Leda Maersk - Oct. 2006

"Laying Down On The Job" - M/V Cargo Ace - Aug. 2006 The Marty Johnson Project Continues

"A Day A The Beach - M/V APL Panama - Jan. 2006

"Great Misfortune"- M/V Hyundai Fortune - March 2006

"Unstacked - Overboard With Dr. Beach" - Oct. 2004

"Columbia River Round Up" - June 2003

"Halifax Hash"--M/V Maersk Carolina - Jan. 2003

"Piñata" - breaking the box - Jan. 2003

"T-E-U Bar-Be-Cue" - aftermath of the M/V Pennsylvania Loss - Nov. 2002

"Container Pool" - a mystery - May 2002

"Dropping In On The Trucker" -happened again - April 2002

"Meals: Ready To Explode" - Navy Barbecue at Guam June 2001

"M/V Ville D' Orion" - Bad L.A. Stack Disaster! April 2001 -- UPDATED - May 2002

"Pier Review" - Sept. 2001

"Singles Only" - visit our individual moments of transport crisis for more.

The Greatest Container Losses Of All Time - these are the grand fathers -

M/V OOCL America

M/V APL China


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs broker. 

It's very dangerous out there.

Thanks To Our Contributors For The"Den Den Done Done" Feature

Our Contributors for this feature are:
Anonymous photo contributors who wish to be anonymous*

Tim Schwabedissen -- our Sr. Cargo Law Correspondent

The Cargo Letter appreciates the continuing efforts of these valued contributors. Thanks Pals!


NOTE: Please Provide Us With Your Additional Information For This Loss.

EDITOR'S NOTE FOR SURVEYORS, ATTORNEYS & MARINE ADJUSTERS: The Internet edition effort of The Cargo Letter now celebrates it's 8th Year of Service -- making us quite senior in this segment of the industry. We once estimated container underway losses at about 1,500 per year. Lloyd's put that figure at about 10,000 earlier this year. Quite obviously, the reporting mechanism for these massive losses is not supported by the lines. News of these events is not posted to the maritime community. Our new project is to call upon you -- those handling the claims -- to let us know of each container loss at sea-- in confidentiality. Many of you survey on behalf of cargo interests with no need for confidentiality. Others work for the lines & need to be protected. As a respected Int'l publication, The Cargo Letter enjoys full press privileges & cannot be forced to disclose our sources of information. No successful attempt has ever been made. If a personal notation for your report is desired -- each contributor will be given a "hot link" to your company Website in each & every report. Please take moment & report your "overside" containers to us. If you do not wish attribution, your entry will be "anonymous." This will will benefit our industry -- for obvious reasons! McD


* NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% Confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters." Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.  

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