This is a story of ship Lokprabha which collied and capsized near Istanbul similar to ship Taitanic. How 45 crew members escape and one died. Before I join this vessel I was on Passenger ship m.v Muzafary as 2nd Radio Officer, as passenger vessel required 3 Radio Officers to maintain 24 Hours watch keeping on distress freuuency 500 Khz. After completing 7 months service on Muzafary I was transferred to m.v.Lokprabha. This was a cargo Vessel carrying 45,000 Tons of bulk cargo. I joined in August 1976 at port Madras(Channi) as Full Fledged Radio Officer and continued upto the day of accident. The Radio equipments on boardship Lokprabha - Main transmitter, Emergency transmitter, two receivers, Auto key device, Auto alarm, and R/T transmitter in good Running condition and gave me efficient service through out the voyage. Vessel loaded about 45,000 Tons Iron ore cargo and we sailed out, bound for Mediterranean seas Rasian port to dicharge. After four days sailing in Aribian Seas near Aden port, we entered in Rrd sea. From Aden Port to Port said entrance of Suez cacal named Red Ses. After three days we reached Port Said and anchored. There were many ships awaiting to enter Suez Canal.
SUEZ CANAL
on November 17,1869 Suez canal opened, connecting Mediterranean Seas(north side) and Red Seas(South side). The Canal took more than 15 years to build. The length 101 miles. Nepoleon Bonapart considered building it. It was built using labours and state-of-the-art machinery. Egyptian government initially supplied most of the labours. Later on using steam and coal-powered shovels and dragers to dig the canal. The Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nassar Nationalized the Suez canal in 1965. During the war between Egypt and Israel the Suez canal was shut down for eight years.
We passed Suez canal and entered in Mediterranen seas. From Mediterranean seas we have to proceed to Black seas a Russian port to dicharge. On the way there is anothor canal in Sea of Bosphars named Insanbul canal. This canal is natural and wide but many curves. At curve it is narrow so Istanbul authorities made a rule, vessels passing through this canal must take Canal Pilot for safety. We took Pilot for passing the sea of Bosphars to enter in Black Sea. On 27 December 1976 afternoon we were passing through Istanbul canal. The Canal was wide but some places was narrow and turns so Istanbul authorities made rule that vessels bound towerds Black sea must maintain left side and Vessels coming down from Black sea must maintain right side.
On 27th Dec.1976 I completed my morning's duty from 8am to 12am (ship's time which are to be read as GMT+2hours). In the evening I came on duty at 4pm. I maintain the watch keeping on distress freuuency 500Khz. This time no message wss exchanged with any ship or Cost station. I received one message from Istanbul cost station about 17:15.The the message which read in essance was as follows 'Fresh wate is arranged at Port Eregli and you contact Eregli Agents. This was originated by Mogul Lines Bombay. I acknowledged and delivered to Master in person and filed the carben copy. Prior to the receiving of this message I had been to the wheel house to test talk back system from wheel house to forward from where anchor to be dropped.
One big thank was coming from north side, bound southwords. Seeing the tanker our ship's Pilot turn our ship port side(left side) to follow canal's rules to pass safely. Same time tanker also turn to his right side as they were not aware of the canal's rules and they did not take Pilot while entering the canel from north side. The tanker was approaching fast. Our Pilot desided to turn right to avoid collision. As our ship was turning tanker came very near and hit our ship near no.4 cargo hatch. Tanker came inside our ship couting adout 60 feet width. Our ship started sinking fast. I rushed to the Master and asked any message to be sent. Captain gave distress message to send. I send Auto alarm sigal by Auto key device on 500Khz distress freuuency I stop auto key device and sent distress message " SOS M.V.LOKPRABHA/ATLD NEAR ISTANBUL BRIDGE HITTED BY SHIP MAUECTA(This name was written on tanker front side)STOP SINKING FAST RUSH FOR HELP = MASTER. Istanbul cost station acknowledged my distress message.
I put on life jacket and came down to boat deck. There I saw Captain, 2 deck cadets, Fitter trying to lower portside Life boat. Most of the crew members were there. I went up Radio room switched off all equipments and came down on boat deck. I saw Port said life boat already left and going towards Istanbul shore. I rushed to other side. All of a sudden ship capsized. Frount portion sank and aft portion lifted up. Ship's propeller came up. I hold ship's relying and climbed up towards propeller. I saw another 6 crew members also climbed awaiting for some help. There was no sine of any bote coming towards us. Finally we desided to jump in the sea and swim towards shore. One by one all of us jumped in the sea. When I jumped I noticed that the sea water was very cold the outside temperature was four degree centigrade. I started swiming towards Istanbul shore. The distance was about 3 miles. Finally I reached near shore wall and cought the wall. Some people saw me. They want to help to take me out. The wall was quite high. I shouted throw some rope. There was no rope, some people remove their trowezers tied together and lowered it down. I cought and hold tite and they pulled me out.
