"Salaam 98" dissapears from radar with 1300 passengers onboard

[Wojtek]

Following Associated Press - Egyptian cruise ship dissapeared from radar during voyage thru Red Sea.
There were 1300 passengers onboard.

Lofeboats were spotted near the place where ship was seen last time.

"Salaam 98" left Dubah on Thu. evening and disappeared about one hour after - it is unofficial statement of Egyptian clerks.

regards,
tadzio  :-(

[Stan Muller]

Were there people in the lifeboats?

[Wojtek]

Yes, there were people in lifeboats.

latest news: Rescue helicopter crew have spotted bodies on Egyptian seaside . There is a supposal that these are bodies from Salaam.

Let's hope many people will be saved

tadzio

[Hans Deijs]

Full name is AL SALAM BOCCACCIO 98

See photo by Yvon Perchoc

http://www.shipspotting.com/uploads/photos/88114.jpg

Regards, Hans

[CvD]

According to the Swedish radio and the homepage of the newspaper Dagens Nyheter, a lifeboat with three persons has been sighted.

[David Harrison]

At noon GMT BBC News 24 and Sky News reported that the cruise ferry Al Salam 98 had sunk. Bodies in the water were sighted by a helicopter and also one lifeboat with people aboard was seen near last reported sight of ferry

[Guest]

So was Al Salam Boccaccio 98 once an Italian Tirrenia vessel (possibly the Petrarca)? Compare photos:

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=174787

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=88114

Certainly it appears to be very similar in the visible lifeboat department.

See Forum post http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=thread&topic_id=1107&forum=1&post_id=4965#4965

[Phil English]

According to LRF she is the former BOCCACCIO, built 1970 Italcantieri, yard no. 4237.

Phil

[Robert J Smith]

According to some www reports, they are saying that it was Al Salaam 89, not 98 that has sunk! They are also show an old photo of a ferry that looks like one the jumboised P&O Portsmouth/Cherbourg ferries.

http://www.msn.co.uk/news/newsflash/

[Guest]

Yes the BBC were reporting 89 initially and then 98 was slipped into reports intermittently, then 89 was dropped completely.

I assume Lloyd's know which way is up on the correct name.  Anyone?

[Susanne]

Has anyone been able to find out her IMO number?
/Susanne

[Mats]

Lots of details and pictures here (in Swedish):

http://www.faktaomfartyg.com/boccaccio_1971.htm

Her IMO No. is 6921282.

Here are all El Salam Shipping's vessels:

http://www.faktaomfartyg.com/el_salam_shipping.htm

Hope as many as possible of those on board made it.

Best regards
Mats
Oslo

[Hawkeye]

The I.M.O. No for the Al Salam Boccaccio 98 is IMO 6921282.

Looking at the photos on a Swedish website, she looks very top heavy, with all that extra accommadation, plonked between the top deck & funnel.

[Phil English]

It's also interesting to note that the image on this site at http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=88114 is being used on the front page of the BBC News site (U.K.)

Phil

[Christian Br]

The same photo is used by the newspaper VG in Norway. However they list AP (Assocoated Press) as source for the picture.

Regards
Christian!