Ship hits barges at the Port of Santos and crew jumps into the sea
A Singapore-flagged container ship collided with two ferries at the Port of Santos, prompting four crew members to jump overboard and swim to safety.
On the night of Monday, October 16, a Singapore-flagged container ship named 'Seaspan Empire' collided with two ferries, FB-14 and FB-15, that were crossing between Santos and GuarujΓ‘ in the Port of Santos, Brazil. Seconds before the collision, four crew members from ferry FB-15 jumped into the sea to avoid the impact and swam towards the dock. Fortunately, none of the vessels were carrying passengers at the time of the accident.
Witness reports and videos captured along the shore show the desperate scene as the crew members made their way through the water towards safety. Bystanders immediately responded to the situation by throwing life rings and flotation devices to assist the stranded individuals. Some witnesses even entered the water to help guide the workers back to the dock, illustrating the quick response from the community in a potentially dangerous situation.
The Brazilian Navy is currently investigating the incident, underscoring the importance of maritime safety regulations and the need for vigilance in busy shipping channels. According to the Secretary of Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics, all four individuals from the FB-15 were rescued unharmed, highlighting both their bravery in jumping to safety and the effective response from onlookers during the emergency.