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Sinking of the Fiji Siren

Operator
Vessel
Date
Location
Bligh Water, off the Namena Marine Reserve, Fiji
Fatalities
0

According to the Fiji Sun and Divernet, the Worldwide Dive and Sail liveaboard Fiji Siren struck a submerged object at about 1am to 1.30am on 15 November 2017 while under way in the Bligh Water off the Namena Marine Reserve, between Vanua Levu and Nakodu. The wooden hull was breached near the engine room; crew dived under the vessel with epoxy to try to stem the flow while pumps ran, but could not keep pace with the water. Passengers mustered in lifejackets and were taken off by skiff; the vessel sank at about 10am into water reported deeper than 250 m and was not salvaged. Fiji Navy figures gave 16 tourists and 13 crew aboard, all safe.

Conditions that day

Wind
3 to 10 kn from 80°
Strongest gust
14 kn
Hour by hour (24 of 24 hours, UTC)
UTCWindGustFrom
00:004 kn10 knE
01:007 kn13 knSE
02:006 kn13 kn110°
03:005 kn12 kn70°
04:003 kn9 knE
05:003 kn8 kn120°
06:005 kn8 kn110°
07:005 kn9 kn100°
08:005 kn9 kn100°
09:006 kn9 kn80°
10:006 kn10 kn80°
11:006 kn10 kn60°
12:006 kn11 kn80°
13:007 kn10 kn80°
14:005 kn11 kn70°
15:004 kn11 kn60°
16:005 kn10 kn60°
17:007 kn10 kn70°
18:009 kn11 kn80°
19:0010 kn14 kn70°
20:007 kn13 kn70°
21:007 kn10 kn80°
22:007 kn10 kn80°
23:007 kn10 kn70°

ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, sampled 8 km from the recorded position. Modelled conditions across the whole day, not an observation at the vessel: a grid this coarse averages away the localised squall or wave a report may describe. Not a statement of cause.

Sources

Fiji Sun
Fiji Siren Not To Be Salvaged·18 November 2017
Divernet
Fiji Siren liveaboard lost·15 November 2017