Woke up this morning to a beautiful day with calm seas. There had been a small squall that went through last night with some wind and rain but not overpowering. Then I learned that one of the supply boats to the island had sunk. The Captain Andrew which brings us propane, vegetables, building supplies, etc. has gone down. At this point I do not know where it happened or why but certainly the sea conditions were not a factor as the sea is flat calm.
Boats have been going by our house by the hour and I have to assume rushing to rescue the crew or gather up whatever supplies are still floating on the sea. We also assume that they went down not far off the south end of the island as the boats keep scurrying back and forth. I just hope that no one was injured or killed.
Life on an island where your only transportation is by boat is dangerous. We have had many lives taken in boat accidents but only about 8-10 in the past 20 years plus. So, if you look at the number of people killed by cars on the mainland, this is not a bad record. The majority of the accidents happened within the last 10 years with the advent of larger boats with bigger motors and more people driving drunk! When someone is involved in an accident usually at least one of the group drowns if not more. We have had many injured and again, being on an island, this is a catastrophe as it generally happens on a weekend (Saturday evening) and there are no planes out of here on Sunday.
Now we will be down to one boat for our supplies plus, most recently, the option of getting materials, food, etc. shipped over on the ferry that runs between Trujillo and Guanaja. This accident will hurt many people in many ways and those with a bigger share of the investment will have to deal with whatever insurance they had for the items on the boat. And there, again, lies another big disaster!
Wow, how sad. I too hope that everyone got off the Andrew okay. Good thing it was good weather.
ReplyDeleteBut ironically, I predicted this. Just looking at the Andrew, one could just visualize it "turning turtle" and going straight to the bottom. It sucks being right about stuff like that though.
So that leaves the Carminda to make the weekly trips. That's better - it's a bigger, better boat...until Eddie (the owner) pulls her out of the water to replace the tired, worn-out engines which it needs badly. But then what will Guanaja use to haul the load up from the mainland?
This is not good!
Sharpon, please keep us updated on this story. And again, let us pray (those of us who *do* pray, anyway) for the safety of Omar and the rest of his crew of the Captain Andrew.
(Oops, in my last paragraph I meant "Sharon" not "Sharpon." Wouldn't want you to think I was comaring Sharon with the right Rev. Al Sharpton. Sorry.)
ReplyDeleteAloha -- I just checked your blog as I was in Guanaja in July for a week, and became quite enchanted with the island. I love that your blog is a portal into that world.
ReplyDeleteThis story about the ship is shocking. Has anyone been hurt? What is the news now?
(BTW, I linked to your story about the 'critters' on the island -- it is so delightful! ... here is my blog -- http://sshawhan.livejournal.com/ )