Cargo Ship in Distress After Fire or Explosion

Fort-de-France, Martinique [April 15, 2024] - An undetermined distress alert was received on April 15th, 2024, from the Liberian cargo ship GSL Arcadia. The MRCC Fort-de-France, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center responsible for the area, is coordinating the response.

The GSL Arcadia, a 277-meter container ship, issued a distress call indicating a fire or explosion on board. The ship's last reported position was at 08 degrees 30.85 north and 51 degrees 31.24 west, approximately 83 nautical miles northeast of Trinidad and Tobago.

The MRCC Fort-de-France is requesting all vessels in the vicinity of the GSL Arcadia to establish contact with the ship and report any information to them. The MRCC can be contacted by the following methods:

Phone: +596 596 70 92 92
Telex: (42) 912008
Fax: +596 596 63 24 50
INM C: 422 799 024
Email: ANTILLES@MRCCFR.EU

Current weather conditions in the area:

Wind: West northwesterly at 17 knots with gusts up to 22 knots
Waves: Up to 2.6 meters (8.5 feet)
Sky: Partly cloudy

The GSL Arcadia was reportedly heading for Santos, Brazil, with an estimated arrival time of April 21st, 2024, at 7:30 PM.

The cause of the fire or explosion and the extent of any injuries or damage onboard the GSL Arcadia are currently unknown. This is a developing situation, and further updates will be provided as they become available.

Comments

Distress Alert: Sailing Vessel Kiliki Overdue and in Need of Assistance

UPDATE: The crew members were rescued.

The Dramatic Ordeal of M/V CHRISTINA DEBORA: From Mechanical Failure to Abandonment in the Mid-Atlantic

In June 2025, the standby safety vessel CHRISTINA DEBORA , 38.77 meters in length, experienced a maritime emergency that culminated in its abandonment in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean after drifting powerless for more than two weeks. The vessel had been sold and reflagged to Zanzibar either shortly before or just after leaving South Africa. The Beginning of the Crisis – June 8, 2025 The ordeal began on Sunday, June 8, when CHRISTINA DEBORA , navigating approximately 300 nautical miles northwest of St. Helena Island, suffered a major clutch failure, completely losing propulsion. Seven crew members were onboard at the time. The distress call was officially reported by MRCC NATAL on June 11: the vessel was adrift and urgently required clutch repair parts as well as potable water. Captain Victor managed to contact Johnny Clingham, the administrator of the Facebook group “St Helena’s Talk Group,” who verified the authenticity of the request and informed the wider maritime community. ...

Tragedy in the Mozambique Channel: What Is Known About the Deaths of Sailors Deirdre Sibly and Pascal Mahe

1 December 2025 — International authorities are investigating the deaths of Australian sailor Deirdre Sibly , 67, and French sailor Pascal Mahe , who were found dead aboard their yacht in the Mozambique Channel after issuing a distress signal. Although the circumstances remain unclear, several key facts have been confirmed. Deirdre Sibly, an experienced sailor from Port Lincoln, South Australia, had been at sea for nearly four decades. She had been travelling for several months aboard the French-registered yacht Acteon , accompanied by French sailor Pascal Mahe. The two reportedly met on Réunion Island and had been planning a passage across the Indian Ocean. Their most recent route led them from Réunion towards Durban, South Africa , where Sibly intended to catch a flight back to Australia. The distress signal 🚨 #MAYDAY RELAY 🚨 Sailboat #ACTEON issued a DSC distress call on 26 Nov at 0430 UTC (17°05.00S / 040°05.00E). Two persons onboard, but no signs of life reported since. A...

Sea warnings

Search This Blog