On Saturday, May 22, 1999 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, Special Investigations wrote:
I heard yesterday that the sinking of the above vessel off
Penang, could have been as a result of the deliberate actions of
the crew.
Suggestions have been made that after the fire had been
deliberately started, the bilges were opened resulting in the
sinking of the vessel.
What doesn't add up was the fact that following a fire, a ship
does not usually sink. So why one would wonder did this happen to
Sun Vista.
Can anyone shed any light on this matter?
Special Investigations
On the afternoon of May 20, 1999 the Luxury Cruise Ship the Sun Vista was returning to Singapore after a typical cruise to Phuket, Thailand when a malfunction in the engine room switchboard started a small fire. Due to factors yet explained, the fire
could not be contained and spread throughout the ship. A distress call was finally sent about 6:30 PM. Meanwhile, the passengers were instructed to go up on deck and prepare to abandon ship. All 472 passengers and 672 crew managed to leave the ship. The
Sun Vista slowly sank deeper and deeper by the stern for seven hours. Finally at 1:22 AM May 21, 1999 she died and sank about 60 nautical miles south of Penang Island and 50 nautical miles west of Port Weld in the Strait of Malacca in 200 feet of water.
A passing freighter finally rescued the passengers after spending five to eight hours in the lifeboats. There were no fatalities and only minor injuries.
http://www.sunvista.ukf.net/sunvista.htm
She now lays on her port side in the middle of a busy shipping lane in around 70m of water subjected to bad visibility and strong currents
Captain Kyle
Cruise Finder Inc.
954-973-4322
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