Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize unknown mechanism
- Severity: High
- Reported mechanism: Cargo shift in rough seas followed by list and water ingress; no final official findings have been identified.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Galleon Adventurer |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | Trinidad and Tobago [TT] |
| IMO Number | 7812579 |
| Gross Tonnage | 656 |
| LOA (m) | 57.73 |
| Breadth (m) | 11.89 |
| Year Built | 1979 |
| Crew Size | 6 |
| Bollard Pull (t) | |
| Power (kW) | |
| Owner/Operator | |
| TEU |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2018-02-01 |
| Location | Approximately 40 nautical miles south of St. George's, Grenada |
| Coordinates | 11.4667, -61.8833 |
| Region | Caribbean Sea |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | 1 |
| Cargo Loss | Concrete slabs carried; loss not established |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
| Insured Loss | |
| Salvage/Cleanup Cost |
Key facts
- ESYS placed the casualty at 11°28′N, 61°53′W, approximately 40 nautical miles south of St. George's, Grenada, on 1 February 2018.
- The vessel was carrying concrete slabs toward Carriacou when rough seas reportedly shifted the cargo, followed by list and water ingress.
- The six-person crew transmitted a Mayday; Elizabeth 2 rescued five crew members, while the captain returned for documents and was not seen again.
- The Trinidad and Tobago Maritime Division announced a full-scale investigation, but no final public findings have been identified.
Narrative
On the morning of 1 February 2018, Galleon Adventurer was reported about 40 nautical miles south of St. George's, Grenada, at 11°28′N, 61°53′W. The offshore tug/supply vessel was carrying concrete slabs toward Carriacou when rough seas reportedly shifted the cargo. The vessel developed a list and suffered water ingress that its pumps could not control, prompting the six-person Trinidadian crew to transmit a Mayday.
The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard received the distress call and informed the Grenada Coast Guard, which sought assistance from nearby vessels. Elizabeth 2 rescued five crew members and took them to the Grenada Coast Guard base. The captain reportedly returned to Galleon Adventurer to retrieve documents and was not seen again. Contemporary accounts differ in describing the vessel’s final condition: one report records a capsize, while the Trinidad Guardian described the vessel as sunk.
The Trinidad and Tobago Maritime Division announced a full-scale investigation into the cause, possible human error or vessel failure, the owner, the rescue response, and the Coast Guard’s actions. No final public investigation findings or confirmed casualty reconciliation have been identified. One incident report uses the name “Galleon Venture”, but its IMO number, 7812579, matches the Galleon Adventurer vessel record.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018-02-01 | Galleon Adventurer reportedly capsized at 11°28′N, 61°53′W, about 40 nautical miles south of St. George's, Grenada. |
| 2018-02-01 | A reported cargo shift in rough seas was followed by list and water ingress; the six-person crew transmitted a Mayday. |
| 2018-02-01 | Elizabeth 2 rescued five crew members. The captain returned for documents and was not seen again. |
| 2018-02-10 | Trinidad and Tobago’s Maritime Division was reported to have opened a full-scale investigation. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo shift in rough seas | Reported | Contemporary reports stated that concrete slabs shifted in rough seas before the vessel developed a list. |
| Water ingress exceeding pumping capacity | Reported | The ESYS distress account stated that water ingress continued beyond the capacity of the pumps. |
Investigation
The Trinidad and Tobago Maritime Division announced a full-scale investigation after the casualty. The announced scope included interviews with the five survivors, the owner, rescuers, and Coast Guard personnel, and examination of possible human error or vessel failure. No final investigation report or final findings have been identified in the public record.
References
- Maritime Division to probe sea accident
- ESYS February 2018 distress archive
- VesselFinder: Galleon Adventurer, IMO 7812579