Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize unknown mechanism
- Severity: High
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Scaldis |
| Vessel Names | Scaldis / Aello |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | Belgium [BE] |
| IMO Number | 5315034 |
| Call Sign | ORPM |
| Gross Tonnage | 401 |
| LOA (m) | 49.84 |
| Breadth (m) | 9.15 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 1961-02-19 |
| Location | Near Liefkenshoek |
| Coordinates | 51.0130, 3.8722 |
| Region | Belgium |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Cargo Loss | |
| Direct Damage | Capsized and sank; later raised and repaired. |
| Economic Damage | |
| Insured Loss | |
| Salvage/Cleanup Cost |
Key facts
- On 19 February 1961, Scaldis capsized and sank near Liefkenshoek while assisting the grounded Liberian tanker Aello.
- Two Scaldis crew members died in the casualty.
- Floating cranes raised the tug a few days later, and the vessel was subsequently repaired.
- The historical source records Scaldis as a Belgian tug of 401 gross tons and 49.84 m length; later post-1971 particulars are not used for this casualty.
Narrative
On 19 February 1961, the Belgian tug Scaldis was assisting efforts to refloat the grounded Liberian tanker Aello near Liefkenshoek. The historical account states that Scaldis overturned, capsized, and sank during the operation. Two crew members died. The source does not state whether any surviving crew members were injured or missing.
Floating cranes raised Scaldis a few days later, and the tug was repaired. The casualty-era particulars identify the tug as 49.84 m long, 9.15 m in breadth, and 401 gross tons, with IMO number 5315034. The same source contains later post-1971 rebuild specifications, which are not applied to the 1961 incident.
The available historical account does not explain the capsize mechanism, identify a formal casualty investigation, or provide an economic damage estimate.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1961-02-19 | Scaldis assisted the grounded tanker Aello near Liefkenshoek and capsized and sank during the operation. |
Investigation
No formal investigation report or causal findings are identified in the available historical account. The source records the casualty and subsequent salvage but does not establish a specific capsize mechanism.