MV Flag Theofano, Greek Registered Cargo vessel Lost off Isle of Wight with all hands in 1990 Storm, findings seem incomplete?.

If anyone has or can provide further information, feel free to contact me.

Now that 18 yrs time has passed, I can disclose a little more on the loss of MV Flag Theofano, a matter which does bring disgust to me.

Position 50 43 4'North. Not far off Bembridge IoW. 0 59 43 West. in approx 20 Metres since 20th January 1990 when a huge storm had been lashing particularly along the South Coast. & the vessel reportedly laden with around maximum capacity of cement. (One unofficial report on this suggested 4000 Tons, however this wd need considerable back-up & support to be considered.

My own particular involvement? initially NOTHING.

Unless I was Directed by Owners, Insurers or Classification Society involved I had no business taking particular or formal note.

For 10 yrs I had been involved Internationally plus in War damage locations, taking Surveys of Maritime Losses plus Damage or Groundings, collision, sinkings, Missile plus Minings damage & Extension Certifications in lieu of Drydocking for parties concerned, without prejudice by those affected or those qualified to commission or direct such.

Sitting back in a large comfy chair, well away from waves & spray watching evening news showing a storm battered South Coast, one clip showed a RN Helicopter with media reporter talkover stating the RN Helicopter was dropping a Diver to check one large orange buoy, verbal reporting used visuals provided from another helicopter, spectacular news, interesting to the public.

What drew my attention to it was that the dropping in of a Diver to check a Buoy in such heavy conditions suggested it was not a "we will go back when the weather improves" reason.

I as a pro also noted the diver did not have SCUBA DIVING equipment, plus that Helicopter & Diver was being pictured from another presumably Civilian News hired Helicopter.

Suddenly transmission of that stopped & no reference to reason was made & listeners & watchers were supplied no further Pictures or information at all.

It did arouse my interest & after weather improvement when a South Coast Diving concern became commissioned to conduct a Survey upon a Vessel which had strangely been lost after one brief Mayday Call on that 20th January 1990 with the entire crew.

British Media made NO REFERENCE TO THE FLAG THEOFANO WRECK WHILST NEW YORK TIMES on 31 Jan 1990 reported 19 Crew were feared lost as 2 Greek Crew members and a Flag Theofano Lifeboat had been washed up on the British South Coast after the vessel capsizing.

Difficulty obtaining any information in assembling facts arose & whilst I was engaged on another diving operation I later became approached by International Marine Survey concern who had conducted a inspection recorded on Video of some rather explanatory subsea visuals which did not seem to fit in with patterns suggested at the inquest.

What this and the likes of Derbyshire brought up was the virtue of a 'Black Box' on vessels.

It is such as these where no crew member survives, such is warranted.

The MV Flag Theofano, a Steel cargo Coaster of circa 1148 GRT carrying concrete was laying on a sandy/shell bottom in 60 metres.

That Video onpassed to me for evaluation showed there had been that large Orange Buoy leading to the winch in ahead of the vessel accomodation, fastened to a Royal Navy Subsea Sonar detection practice reflector plus it's anchor.

Flag Theofano however had the buoy firmly hitched to the Windlass/deck winch Port head, after it had passed thru the rolling bits from heavily numbered fouled turns crammed beneath the ropeguard & around the propshaft.

Thereafter it led aft to the Ropeguard around propellor shaft and showed a great many turns of a thick new plastic line in a direction which indicated the vessel propellor had been turning for astern movement. (not for me to suggest it to be an attempt to tear or come free of the snagging line.)

A very strange outcome is that whilst the Flag Theofano on the Video recorded by the Inspecting divers initially was not sitting squarely on the bottom but leaning circa 30 degrees to starboard.

Nowadays however & after a August 1990 Salvage attempt by a Southampton Concern (which would be strange in itself on a concrete filled 'capsized' vessel) it was a surprise to learn that same vessel is now upside down as a reported capsized vessel would often lay. (cover-up? who shall ever know?)

The rigging & Mast matter wd naturally be dealt with in the course of providing navigation vessel clearance above the now Marked wreck.

However some effort wd have been applied in the process to make the hull move further & depending on vessel & method of removing the masts rigging etc.

A sad aspect of this was that identifiable RN line used in this way & for such a training apparatus has clearly inlaid navy coloured strand readily visible in the Video I was supplied with.

Each of such Naval apparatus has a Registration Number, each has to be signed out from a store & the RN store would still have that signature & if not signed in? the item is plainly known to be out on use to whosoever signed for that equipment, plus that operation area could be determined.

Flag Theofano had completed a journey in heavy weather & had tiredly called to Isle Of Wight radio. (we all know the name) for a safe anchoring position and was provided & guided with one.

Fouling a strongly anchored item and laying stern to such huge seas should certainly have caused it to take stern seas disabling generator etc. so whilst my own view is probably plain, we have to reach a well considered one.

However the official TCL loss cause & crew members insurance was recorded to be reached as due to the concrete cargo shifting & that fouled propellor & ropeguard not even being a contributory cause.

Had the RN recorded where the Buoy & Sonar locating device was, then there would have been no need to have fouled the device & lost 19 Men.

That newsclip I saw was NEVER EVER shown again, no news clip relating to it was broadcast, newspapers said nothing & even today on the Isle of Wight, no record of their involvement remains.

The Inquest on that 19 man crew brought a verdict which I shall think about for a considerable time.

Any relating information? think first then contact me.

Whether the Dept of Transport Marine Accident Investigation Branch felt there was no way of benefitting by rapping RN wrists since lost seamen were qualifying for Insurance anyway.

Who shall know eh?

All known info to follow as time permits.

Many Many Thanks to Dave Martin, we now have the progress of MV FLAG THEOFANO, from it's first Building.

Data Follows:-Single Ship Report for "7010107"
IDNo: 7010107 Year: 1970
Name: BOSTON EXPRESS Launch Date: 10.1.70
Type: Cargo ship Date of completion:
Flag: DEU Keel:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tons: 2812 Link: 1780
DWT: 4400 Yard No: 94
Length overall: 99.0 Ship Design:
LPP: 89.6 Country of build:
Beam: 14.1 Builder: Jansen
Material of build: Location of yard: Leer
Number of
screws/Mchy/
Speed(kn): 1D-14
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

7010107 7010107 1970 BOSTON EXPRESS 2812

7010107 7010107 1970 INO 2812 1970

7010107 7010107 1970 INO A. 2812 1971

7010107 7010107 1970 RABAT 2812 1974

7010107 7010107 1970 VICTORIA 2812 1980
7010107 7010107 1970 FLAG THEOFANO 2812 1989

Thereafter the Vessel and Entire Crew were sadly lost.