The rescue operation for the crew of a burning containership took a tragic turn when the chief officer of the Portuguese-flagged bulker, Aeolian Arrow, was lost during the mission. While the crew of the Singapore-registered Espirito Santo Express was successfully rescued, the incident highlighted the dangers faced during maritime emergencies. The fire on the containership was reported on October 15, approximately 1,700 kilometers east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Espirito Santo Express, built in 2018 and capable of carrying 11,800 TEU, is managed by Seaspan.
Responding to the distress call, the Aeolian Arrow managed to rescue 28 crew members from the burning vessel. They had abandoned ship, with 19 in a lifeboat and nine in a life raft. However, as the rescue boat was affected by swell and current, the chief officer was thrown overboard. Despite being conscious and attempts to recover him using lifebuoys and a cargo net, he ultimately slipped beneath the surface and could not be retrieved.
The Brazilian air force dispatched a plane to assist in the operation and monitor the area. The Espirito Santo Express was en route from Singapore to Santos, Brazil, and both Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE) confirmed that the crew was safe on the rescue vessel. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with salvage operations being coordinated for the drifting vessel in the South Atlantic.
