MV Dubai Moon

MV Dubai Moon was a cargo ship which sank on (or soon after) May 21, 2010 due to strong waves caused by a tropical storm. The ship was carrying vehicles in the Gulf of Aden when she was struck by Cyclone Bandu, which pushed it off the track. The ship sent a distress call which was picked by Royal Navy frigate HMS Chatham. 23 crew members were rescued by the Westland Lynx[2] helicopter from Chatham before Dubai Moon sank.

MV Dubai Moon listing before sinking
History
Name:	M/S Dana Optima
Owner:	P/R (DFDS A/S & DFDS UK) Ltd.
Operator:	DFDS A/S
Builder:	Elsinore Værft A/S, Helsingør, Denmark[1]
Laid down:	29 September 1977
Launched:	16 June 1978
Christened:	11 November 1978
In service:	14 November 1978
Name:	Nopal Optima
Owner:	P/R (DFDS A/S & DFDS UK) Ltd.
Operator:	Nopal Caribe Lines inc.
Acquired:	31 August 1978
Name:	Optima
Owner:	P/R (DFDS A/S & DFDS UK) Ltd.
Operator:	Nopal Caribe Lines inc.
Acquired:	31 August 1978
Name:	Dana Optima
Christened:	1 November 1983
Fate:	Sold February 1984
Name:	Meskerem
Owner:	Ethiopian Shipping Lines
Acquired:	14 February 1984
Fate:	Sold May 2000
Name:	Marag III
Owner:	Hanan Cleaning Cargo & Shipping Co., Batum
Acquired:	May 2000
Fate:	Sold August 2001
Name:	Marine Star
Owner:	Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Acquired:	August 2001
Fate:	Sold September 2003
Name:	Noor
Owner:	United Maritime Services Inc
Acquired:	September 2003
Fate:	Sold September 2008
Name:	MV Dubai Moon
Owner:	ASM Shipping Inc, Panama
Port of registry:	Panama
Acquired:	September 2008
Identification:	IMO number: 7708649 Callsign: HPNK
Fate:	Sank on (or soon after) 21 May 2010 following cargo shifting in tropical storm; 12.150079°N 52.975131°E / 12.150079; 52.975131, approximately
General characteristics
Tonnage:	GRT 1599 tonnes (5786 following refit in USA in 2006)
Length:	105.62 m
Beam:	18.98 m
Draught:	4.97 m
Installed power:	4500 hp.
Propulsion:	12MU453AK MaK diesel.
Speed:	15.5 knots
Crew:	23

Sinking

HMS Chatham's helicopter after successful rescue of the crew members

On May 20, 2010, HMS Chatham received a radio distress call from the master of MV Dubai Moon, Capt Hassan Madar. Capt Madar reported that his ship, which was transporting vehicles[3] and 175 nautical miles (324 km) from Chatham,[2] was caught in the Cyclone Bandu tropical storm and that the deck cargo had shifted causing the vessel to list 20 degrees[2] in the extremely rough seas and winds of 70 mph (113 km/h).[3]

At that time, the Panamanian-registered[2] Dubai Moon was being blown towards the island of Abd al Kuri[2] in the Gulf of Aden and there were fears that it would run aground on the island. Efforts to alter the ship's course caused it to list further and risked capsizing it. Chatham set course for the ship.

Dubai Moon missed the island and dropped her anchors early on 21 May to try to stop as she was approaching the island of Jazirat Samhah. Although the anchors did not hold they prevented the ship from hitting a reef.[4]

Weather conditions improved during the day so that Chatham was able to launch her helicopter to rescue the entire crew of 23 over a period of three hours, and the ship sank after the rescue. In an interview following his rescue, Captain Madar explained that his ship had been operating further out to sea than normal to avoid Somalian pirates, and was consequently unable to seek shelter in the storm.[3]

References

1. "M/S Dana Optima". Fakta om Fartyg (Facts about Ships). Retrieved 2010-07-05.
2. Foggo, Daniel (23 May 2010). "Navy wrestles cyclone to save 23 from ocean". The Times. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
3. "Devon-based ship praised for rescuing crew in cyclone". BBC News. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
4. "NATO Warship Makes Dramatic Rescue of 23 Seamen in Raging Storm" (PDF). NATO Brussels. 23 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2010-05-23.