Did Pepito Flores Need To Die? [ from the news archives...now we have the picture ]

This Is Where Pepito Flores Died - On Tender Boat #7 Overside

The Cargo Letter for April 5 2007 --The Death of Pepito Flores

Bahamas-flagged 18,591tn. cruise M/V Astoria -- one crew was killed in the morning of Apr 5 in the harbor of Kerkyra/Korfu. While a boat on starboard side was lowered it broke off its ropes on side during safety exercise & crashed with bow into the water -- 4 crew were injured. After the GL finished investigations in the course of the day the ship allowed to continue its cruise. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 5 2007)

Exclusive To The Cargo Letter -- Eyewitness Testimony From A Crewmember -- Translated To English With Technical Definition - April 23 2007

"I was interested in your report [The Cargo Letter for April 5 2007] on the tragic accident on our ship M/V Astoria on the 5th April 2007 while'st alongside in Kerkyra Corfu (Turkey).

I was on board at that time and would like to explain.

Although the the outcome of the investigation has not been decided, everyone on board knew the reason for this accident. All the crew had to be honest after a similar incident which happened a year before. This next accident was waiting for this to happen again. But when it happened again, a life was taken. That of AB Pepito Flores.

The boat davits on all our lifeboats on M/V Astoria were a constant issue during on board safety meetings and were mentioned frequently from about Nov. 2006 as an area of concern. I am told this was mentioned many times to the company and even during our long stay in Barcelona dry dock it was mentioned at many meetings. The company always stated that the problems would be too expensive to repair and the manufacturers always just gave us a certificate that all was proper with the Davit assemblies. The crew knew different. The next accident waiting to happen.

As a result of the neglect -- on April 5 2007 -- during lifeboat drill -- the Tender Boat #7 came away from the davit & plunged 22 meters from the embarcation deck bow forward into the water. The result was our fellow crew member Pepito Flores died of horrific injuries. One of our officers tried to administer first aid when the lifeboat came alongside, but without success. Pepeito died of his injuries.

Again trying to save a few Euros -- cost the life of Pepito Flores .... the investigation in Greece was nothing short of a joke. If this incident happened in the U.S., UK, Canada or Australia the ship would still be there. I am told there are many safety reports, Here is a picture of the accident for you to see."

Anonymous Crewmember of M/V Astoria

What Is A Davit? --

A davit is a structure, usually made of steel, which launches lifeboats held in between the two davit arms over the side of a ship.

The development of the davit from its original "goose neck form" to the current devices advanced greatly when A.P. Schat patented a number of systems in 1926 that allowed the lifeboat to glide over obstructions on a ships hull known as the "Schat Skate". This was followed by a self-braking winch system that allowed the lifeboat to be lowered evenly and then the modern davit was invented. Davits have always been designed to fit into deck spaces that the naval architects deemed necessary and a variety of designs emerged. Davits are a modern marvel of ocean vessels -- but just as with all ship equipment -- davits require maintenance for the safety of crew & passengers..

For Pepito Flores the davits became the center & end of his life.

Cruise Ships News --September 17 2003

London newspapers report that M/V Astoria docked in Greenwich last week with 492 passengers & 250 crew on board. Shortly thereafter she was placed under a "voluntary detention agreement", but fled at 3AM, returning to Bremerhaven. According to the London port health authority, officers found that both the crew & passenger galleys were infested with vermin. Inspectors issued an emergency prohibition notice forbidding the preparation of food on board. Detention required the liner to stay in port until the infestation had been treated. The port health authority is considering legal action against her owners & crew.

Editor Note: If this evidence is true, there is reason for great concern here. The crew is reluctant to talk -- but this information is already quite enough for a proper investigation to begin. Let's review the content of those Safety Meetings. Educational Opportunities charters M/V Astoria to take tourists on excursions of the Holy Land. For obvious reasons, we assume the highest saftey standards are observed. However, Educational Opportunities Travel needs to address this incident -- and in parictular the davits issue.

Should M/V Astoria be arrested? >>> Impossible questions frequently arise which probe maritime procedures in the wake of all disasters. Most of these incidents prove out by skilled investigation & sciene that proper saftey measures were taken by the vessel operator. This is a great industry. Fair enough. But from time to time there are events which call into question the conditions under which merchant crews are forced to perform their duties. In such circumstances -- the families of injured or dead crew members have limited recourse. The families of injured or dead crew members have almost no alternative except to accept a simple letter of regret from the line.

Information to The Cargo Letter suggests that an investigation needs to be conducted for this incident. Indeed, did Pepito Flores need to die?

We ask each of you to press for answers. We will.

McD