Surviving fisherman gives more details of Simshar sinking

vICTOR vELLAA

Jul 21st 2008, 23:19

Can we stop being experts and spend out time saing a little prayer so that maybe with the help of godthat mother can bury her son on land. He is resting in peace with God but please lord deliver his body to his parents

John Abela

Jul 21st 2008, 20:02

Is a pity that apparently the boat was not properly equipped with a proper GPS / Tracking systems that are widely available today that may track even every minute the route of the boat. They could have read the boat's last GPS position before explosion and be able to find them in no time.

God be with them and family.

Alex Ellul

Jul 21st 2008, 15:47

The refrigeration system high-pressure section may reach 30 Bar, even more if it malfunctions, depending on the type of refrigerant in use. At 30 Bar, if a leak occurs, will lead to a gas explosion, that may rupture other pipes in its vicinity, ie, diesel, LPG causing a bigger, flammable explosion. But this is all conjecturing and nobody can comment except the survivor, although it seems that he is not sure himself since no details about the cause of the explosion have been divulged yet. Please do not add to the suffering of the victims' families by trying to conjecture irresponsibly on the events.

K.Zerafa

Jul 21st 2008, 13:41

Fuel Flash point Autoignition Temperature
Petrol 62°C (143°F) 210°C (410°F)
Jet fuel >38°C (100°F) 210°C (410°F)
Kerosene >38–72°C (100–162°F) 220°C (428°F)
Vegetable oil >327°C (620°F)[1]
Biodiesel >130°C (266°F)
Petrol is designed for use in an engine which is driven by a spark. The fuel should be premixed with air within its flammable limits and heated above its flash point, then ignited by the spark plug. The fuel should not preignite in the hot engine. Therefore, petrol is required to have a low flash point and a high autoignition temperature.
Diesel is designed for use in a high-compression engine. Air is compressed until it has been heated above the autoignition temperature of diesel; then the fuel is injected as a high-pressure spray, keeping the fuel-air mix within the flammable limits of diesel. There is no ignition source. Therefore, diesel is required to have a high flash point and a low autoignition temperature.

Diesel varies between 126°F and 204°F (52°C-96°C/WJ).

(Source Wickepedia)

@ J.Grima.

Simshar was carrying love........ not suspects!!!!!

Rosalin Magro

Jul 21st 2008, 13:16

How can a fishing ship disappear from the radar and not even one person notice that? Who is responsible to monitor the boats on the radar? If there is someone how come they did not notice that a boat disappeared instantly? And if there is no one it means that we but expensive mechanism for nothing because we are not safe out there.

How come that after the authorities has inspected the area, they did not notice the bodies in Sea. The authorities are not capable of taking care of such issues and emergencies.

A boy is still missing out there and with all the technologies which we are proud of still he is not found.

Remember if some one took care of the Monitors, they would have noticed instantly about the missing boat, and those people that survived the explosion they would be all ALIVE. May the ones who are responsible, be brought forward.

J.Buhagiar

Jul 21st 2008, 01:34

@ Joseph Abdilla & all boaters.

Diesel FACTS. Not classified as flammable. True but Very Very Misleading!!

Diesel will ignite when it reaches surfaces of high temperature and may ignite and explode when vapour concentrations reach flammable range.

Most Marine engine temperature gauges monitor the water temperature same as in a car. On a marine diesel engine closed inside an engine bay - the first items that starts to get Red Hot (and is not monitored) once the engine starts to overheat is the exhaust manifold.

Diesel vapour is heavier than air. On a boat (not a car) vapour gathers at the BOTTOM of closed engine bays and diesel tank compartments but will not ignite.

If it so happens that the engine should overheat for some reason – the exhaust gets RED HOT – and if the diesel fumes reach the red hot exhaust, the inevitable happens.

I have been boating over 20 years. Few people are aware. If you want to install a disaster alarm on a diesel power boat - Install a fume dedector (on / normally off) + exhaust temperature alarm (on / normally off.) When both are ON Sound the alarm!

Gerard Mangion

Jul 20th 2008, 18:41

Again, I am very sad with this tragedy and I send my Condolences for all the fisherman's
Families, and the Immigrant Also.

I see here, that some are trying too, take a Political advantage, to lesson our very Dedicated
A.F.M !!! They are well know'n for thier, Bravery, and often they risk thier Own Lives to save,
Others, As for me a big Thank You to the Armed Forces Of Malta we need You.
Why don't we wiat to see an Official Report bye the A.F.M in the proper time ? And NOT jumping to Conclusion's, Thank you.

Abigail Galea

Jul 20th 2008, 14:23

At this time of sorrow the only thing we should all be doing is praying for all these people and put our hearts with these families tragic mishap instead of being a know it all now that the thing has happened. Certain people should at least leave the thing settle before starting firing theories which excuss me are stupid at a time like this.

No one better knows what these fishermen pass out there when they go for their living, it is not a happy outing for sure, so we should better mind our own business than saying what to do and not to do now. At least we should show some respect and dignity for these families,they are suffering so much at this moment that for sure they would not want to read certain comments like these which are infounded.

May God and the Lady of Pompei be with all these people who have suffered these losses, you are all in our prayers, all the time.

Vicki Azzopardi

Jul 20th 2008, 08:34

My heart goes out to all those who lost their dear ones in such a tragedy. I fully agree that everyone should wear a life jacket all the time when out at sea .Also an electronic detection device ,as already suggested , should somehow be incorporated in the life jacket.

D.Bartolo

Jul 20th 2008, 07:37

Like many others I have been a boater all my life, have had my minor mishaps at sea and learnt one sacred fact that between the two, the ocean is always the winner with the slim odd chance here and there.

It is a very common belief that the " it will never happen to me" mentallity prevails.

However all responsibilty on board falls down on the boats skipper who is to check that all is in order and all equipment functions. Also very common not to have secondary safety equipment.

An expence considered superfluss!!

Satelite tracking devices are easily available ( within reasonable cost )and should be made compulsory to carry on any boat out of immediate coastal waters.

There is no point and justice in blaming search and rescue personell as finding a person in open sea is like finding a needle in a haystack.

What Simon will find hardest is the loss of his son from his fingertips together with the rest of his crew, something that will most probably haunt him the rest of his life.

Let us hope Theo is still hanging on and will be found together with "Kalcidon"

Joseph Abdilla

Jul 19th 2008, 23:06

Could anybody please tell me what can cause a boat's engine, presumably run on diesel, to explode. In my 40 years of engineering I have never heard of such an incident.

J.Grima

Jul 19th 2008, 22:26

Diesel does not explode. What were they carrying???

R. Gatt

Jul 19th 2008, 20:38

My sincere condolences to the relatives of all those lost or missing.
All Malta is currently on edge hoping and wishing to hear good news with regards to the rescue of Theo Bugeja.

I fully agree with Prof. Alex Felice with regards to the deployment and utilisation of location/flotation devices when at sea, especially for those of us who venture out far into the untamed wilderness of our seas.

@ James Dalli
I very much doubt that a fishing vessel capable of going so far out to sea was being propelled by an outboard motor. Most probably it had 1 or 2 inboard diesel engines.....which raises the question - what did explode???

I hope the authorities & Mr. Bugeja would be so kind so as to divulge what they think happened (what caused the explosion) once the search&rescue operation is over. Hopefully this information may help other seafarers take the necessary/possible precautions to prevent any similar re-occurence from happening ever again.

Donna Degaetano

Jul 19th 2008, 19:42

Why is it that even when tragedies like this one occur and even though the suffering these families are going through is unimaginable there still has to be someone who just has to put politics into it? Shame on these people! My condolences to the families and may God return Theo safe and sound to his loving family! Our prayers are with you all!

John Borg

Jul 19th 2008, 19:12

I only question the efficiency of the resure services both Maltese and foreign. They should have spotted the survivors much ealier. Anyway it was the other fismen who spotted them and redirected the rescue services.

Matthew Muscat

Jul 19th 2008, 19:07

@ James Dalli

Who told you that they had an outboard motor? The boat was about 35 feet, do you think it was with an outboard motor? You have not see the pictures of the boat than.

I'm very sad for the families involved in this situation, and thumbs up to the Grecale crew and other fishing boats that helped out.

Ivan Tabone

Jul 19th 2008, 18:18

I don't know what to say actually. I am happy for Simon and deeply sorry for the other four missing persons. What strikes me is the fraternity existing between the fishermen. These people know what it takes to be out there facing the elements for days and always with the probability that tragedy might one day hit you in the face. I wish that we would have a better ending to this tragedy by finding Theo alive. May I extend my solidarity with all stricken families.

On another note, it seems that the only person here that decided to detach himself from the rest of "us" by using his prefix, also decided to give a political hue to this story. How sickening! How low! It is more tragic than all tragedies put together if we have these "professors" in our country who manage to polarize a national sorrow.

Joseph Camilleri

Jul 19th 2008, 18:12

So sorry to hear about this tragedy. Is there a monetary fund being collected in order to assist this family thru such hard times? If so, kindly tell me where I can send this family a check to at least help them financially.

Vincent Galea

Jul 19th 2008, 17:57

Currently, predicted 50% immersion survival times for normally clothed individuals are in the order of 6 hours at 15 degrees,2 hours at 10 degrees, ans 1 hour at 5 degrees.
May the good Lord grant them eternal peace.

Etienne Borg

Jul 19th 2008, 17:27

Very well done Simon. You're a hero. All Malta should be proud of you. You really set an example, of being a very good skipper and seaman and most of all, a very brave father. May god be with you and all the families of your crew. Lets just pray to find Theo.

@ Professor Felice

I don't know if you have any experience at sea, but I can't imagine anybody having the minimum chance of wearing a life jacket when there is an explosion onboard a vessel. Also please keep out politics out of this matter.

james dalli

Jul 19th 2008, 17:20

what did they have on the boat ? i don't think an outboard motor can blow up , and cause so much destruction.

joe muscat

Jul 19th 2008, 16:55

Well done Simon.Hope that the forces or the helping fishermen could find your son, and of course the Ethiopian man.

@Profesor Alex Felice

I can`t understand what minister Gatt has to do with this case, as you said "it is time to reflect as a nation how to behave ourselves better even with each-other" so please you start first ,don`t try to put politics in a tragedy like this.

Richard Bonello

Jul 19th 2008, 16:33

May God comfort the relatives of those involved in this tragedy with the knowledge that the whole of Malta was following the whole drama as it unfolded. It was wonderful news to learn that it was their own workmates who eventually located them!

robert vassallo

Jul 19th 2008, 16:32

May God help the families of the lost ones and help the rescue team to find the son as his father is a hero. I wish i was there to look out and help but i can't all i can do is pray.

A.Charles

Jul 19th 2008, 16:19

I know Simon and both sides of his family. I am very sorry for the loss. However, the Ethiopian
must have had a name and relatives; I find that his loss must have cost some sadness somewhere in this world.

Michaela Gatt Carabott

Jul 19th 2008, 16:11

The more we hear about this tragedy,the more our hearts are tightening.And the thought of a poor innocent boy out there on his own,just terrifies me.I'm a mother of 2 small girls and I dont know what I'd do if one of them goes missing.My heart goes out to Theo's mum,God gives you all the strenght and courage that you need,and the same goes to the other families as well.After this tragedy Marsaxlokk will never be the same again and probably most people will start hating the sea,but you can't think like that,the sea is not to blame here.
As for the Ethiopian fisherman,maybe we should give him a name ourselves?Maybe we should call him Kalcidon ( that was my grandfather and he was a great fisherman TAL FONOC ).At least now he's got a name and some dignity.You will all be in our hearts and prayers now and forever.Wishing Simon a speedy recovery and the biggest miracle,to be united with his beloved precious son.
Michaela Gatt Carabott (Xlukkajra ),Melbourne,Australia.

Brian Pace

Jul 19th 2008, 15:48

god be with this families they need you,to all for us pease pray for them

Rodnick Abdilla

Jul 19th 2008, 15:38

What a brave man Well done Simon.
Hope that the forces could find your son all the maltese people are behind you lad.

I am sorry fo the others who just left us to go near god.
Finger crossed for theo

Profesor Alex Felice

Jul 19th 2008, 15:11

The past week has been difficult for most of us in Malta; after the fireworks deaths, the illegitimate stoppages of the transport workers, and then the tragedy of the fishermen from Marsaxlokk.

It is time to reflect as a nation how to behave ourselves better even with each-other.

Good luck to Minister Gatt; everything can be liberalised within constraints that protect consumers and the over-riding rule of law, together with safety at work.

There are lessons from the M’Xlokk tragedy;

It is difficult to understand why it took us one week to find the dead and the survivors in an area that is constantly surveyed by military and secret services operations.

Secondly, anyone at sea should learn to wear safety gear and carry an electronic detection device; Not too difficult in these days of Smart City and being "Smart at Sea"

What I want to say is, work with your minds more than your heart.

I have no intent of being offensive and my heart and my family’s goes out to the affected families in M’Xlokk; may their loved ones rest in peace .

francette paris

Jul 19th 2008, 14:48

god help theo and mother of god you are our mother bring him alive and may they find the other fisherman too .god help the famalies .it is a very tragic story my heart goes out to all of them especially shoron theo"s mother.

Johanna Scicluna

Jul 19th 2008, 14:48

Our condolences to the three families.
We wish Simon good health and peace at heart.

Ryan Aquilina

Jul 19th 2008, 14:48

God please be with Theo and help him to fight on. Help all those searching for him to find him alive. You are in our prayers little one!!

Sandro Agius

Jul 19th 2008, 14:15

God take care of Theo and guide the rescuers to him...hope is last to die...I ask if the tourret in Malta when seeing the boat dissappearing from the radar if they went to see what was happening...and if not maybe next time go immediatly

Kamal Awad

Jul 19th 2008, 14:12

I am deeply sorry to read such a bad news. May Allah bless their souls and keep them in heaven. My condolences to all the families of these victims.

Louise Chircop

Jul 19th 2008, 13:58

The media has been referring to one of the fisherman as "the Eritrean/Ethiopian fisherman". Does he have a name? Was it too difficult to find for our investigative journalists to find our what it was and refer to him by his name?

Edward Scerri

Jul 19th 2008, 13:52

It's like one of those exagarated drawn out films we sometimes see on tv. Unfortunately it is a real story. We can only pray for the survivor/s, the dead and their families and that the missing are found.

Maruska Agius

Jul 19th 2008, 13:25

Malta is shocked! My condolensces goes to all these men's families and close friends!

Alfred Grech

Jul 19th 2008, 13:22

This is a tragedy that Malta will never forget. At least one person was saved. Simon went through the ordeal plus he lost his own son and his father. It breaks one's heart to read about it all.

May God have mercy on the deceased soul and may the family be given strength to fight the pains that this tragedy has brought on them.

I wish a speedy and full recovery to Simon and I'll pray for them all.

God be with you, Simon.

Joyce Calleja

Jul 19th 2008, 13:17

Let hope and prayer prevail so that Theo will be found safe and alive and returned to his parents and brother and to us all who share in such a sorrowful, heartbreaking experience.
A miracle we are all praying for.

Antoine

Jul 19th 2008, 13:14

A real father! hope the boy is found alive!

Andrew Borg

Jul 19th 2008, 13:00

Literally speechless.... poor men :(