Fiji Siren - Lost at Sea

[KathyV]

The Chuuckese did this??? Unbelievable!!

I don't have any personal experience but it sounds like a reliable eye-witness account. A disaster will bring out the worst in some people everywhere in the world (and the best in other people) but what impressed me was that the storm was still raging yet the looters were swimming out to the ship with clubs and machetes just 30 minutes after they grounded.

 

[Dogbowl]

The Truk liveaboard operators were certainly not to blame for being hit by a typhoon in 2015 and then grounded and looted (and the Truk Siren was burned) but the info below makes somber reading.

I was never very interested in going to Truk/Chuuk but Palau has always sounded wonderful and magical to me - but after reading this I lost all interest in visiting any place in Micronesia.

These are excerpts from a letter written by Kim Forbragd, photographer/videographer on the Odyssey, one of the Truk LOBs that was run aground by a typhoon in March, 2015:

"...Through March 31, my husband and I worked in the scuba diving tourism industry on a live-aboard dive boat in Truk Lagoon, which is located in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. As you may know, Chuuk was hit very hard by Typhoon Maysak on Sunday, March 29.

We nearly lost our lives trying to save the dive boat before the typhoon pushed us into the rocks. Within 30 minutes of hitting the rocks, the looters were swimming out to us. The storm was still raging and these criminals were willing to risk their lives for the opportunity to steal whatever we had....Defending yourself ... against one person is not an easy task... Defending yourself against a mob carrying machetes and clubs is even harder...

By the grace of God, we escaped with our lives for the second time that day. All the boats that went on the rocks were looted and vandalized over the next couple days. It was not enough for them to steal the items from the boats. They smashed everything to bits, sprayed graffiti, and defecated everywhere. If they are willing to do that to inanimate objects, what would they be willing to do to people?

We are now anxiously awaiting our flight out of this country, which leaves here at about 3:30 pm today. It is Thursday here, April 2. The governor of this state and his officials have predicted a massive shortage of drinking water and food due to destruction of local fruit and vegetables. Their media has indicated many people will be out of food and water by the weekend. If that happens, I believe the people here will turn on each other and the looting will begin anew, but this time at an incomprehensible level of viciousness. My husband and I are praying we can escape with our lives yet a third time..."

I had no idea conditions were that dangerous in Truk. Now, I'll be more wary.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Technically, the above is correct. The Palau Siren ran aground, was repaired, and returned to service. Their first boat the Siren which was hit by a large ship, I believe was also repaired and returned to service (I have tried to find details on this incident but can not). So while serious incidents the vessels were not lost.

FWIW, while the Siren Fleet has had multiple incidents as a company they have taken care of the clients when Davy Jones came a calling. This is quite different than the Aggressor/Dancer Fleet which has consistently left their clients figuratively adrift or worse.

Disclaimer I was on the Indo Siren this summer and would utilize them over any vessel that is part of the Aggressor/Dancer Fleet.

I’m curious about the Aggressor. Can you please elaborate what you mean by them leaving clients figuratively adrift or worse? Was there an event that you can share?

Thanks.

 

[Scared Silly]

I’m curious about the Aggressor. Can you please elaborate what you mean by them leaving clients figuratively adrift or worse? Was there an event that you can share?

Thanks.

The most infamous is the Belize Wave Dancer incident. More recently was the Carib Dancer and the Galapagos Aggressor. In all of these cases the response by the company has been less than adequate.

Here are threads on the two more recent incidents.

Bad news from Galapagos, Aggressor 1 Liveaboard is out of service 06/13

Trip Report: Aggressor/Dancer Fleet's New Carib Dancer (lots of pics)

An a site about the Wave Dancer incident: Wave Dancer Tragedy

 

[KathyV]

The most infamous is the Belize Wave Dancer incident. More recently was the Carib Dancer and the Galapagos Aggressor. In all of these cases the response by the company has been less than adequate.

Here are threads on the two more recent incidents.

Bad news from Galapagos, Aggressor 1 Liveaboard is out of service 06/13

Trip Report: Aggressor/Dancer Fleet's New Carib Dancer (lots of pics)

An a site about the Wave Dancer incident: Wave Dancer Tragedy

The Wave Dancer Tragedy and aftermath were under the management of Peter Hughes. The Aggressor group bought the Dancer fleet from Hughes later.

 

[RB7]

When the proverbial "sh*t hits the fan" thats when the training and safety drills come into light... based on the survivor post it seems that the Siren crew was well trained and handled the situation calmly as well as professionally. The management also took care of the guests post evacuation. In my book this (Fiji Siren) outfit is one that i will definately recommend and will repeat if i were going to Fiji again.

 

[Dogbowl]

On the one hand, 4-6 boats “lost” but excellent “aftercare”.

On the other hand, a sinking ship and a crappy ship, but radio silence afterwards and absolutely meaningless and demeaning “compensation”.

 

[outofofficebrb]

The most infamous is the Belize Wave Dancer incident. More recently was the Carib Dancer and the Galapagos Aggressor. In all of these cases the response by the company has been less than adequate.

Here are threads on the two more recent incidents.

Bad news from Galapagos, Aggressor 1 Liveaboard is out of service 06/13

Trip Report: Aggressor/Dancer Fleet's New Carib Dancer (lots of pics)

An a site about the Wave Dancer incident: Wave Dancer Tragedy

Thank you. Off to do some reading!

 

[KathyV]

Here is an article about the sinking of the Fiji Siren written by one of the passengers:

One of Fiji Siren’s Last Passengers Tells: Abandon Ship | Fiji Sun

 

[scubafanatic]

The Truk liveaboard operators were certainly not to blame for being hit by a typhoon in 2015 and then grounded and looted (and the Truk Siren was burned) but the info below makes somber reading.

I was never very interested in going to Truk/Chuuk but Palau has always sounded wonderful and magical to me - but after reading this I lost all interest in visiting any place in Micronesia.

These are excerpts from a letter written by Kim Forbragd, who was the photographer/videographer on the Odyssey, one of the Truk LOBs that was run aground by a typhoon in March, 2015:

"...Through March 31 (2015), my husband and I worked in the scuba diving tourism industry on a live-aboard dive boat in Truk Lagoon, which is located in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. As you may know, Chuuk was hit very hard by Typhoon Maysak on Sunday, March 29.

We nearly lost our lives trying to save the dive boat before the typhoon pushed us into the rocks. Within 30 minutes of hitting the rocks, the looters were swimming out to us. The storm was still raging and these criminals were willing to risk their lives for the opportunity to steal whatever we had....Defending yourself ... against one person is not an easy task... Defending yourself against a mob carrying machetes and clubs is even harder...

By the grace of God, we escaped with our lives for the second time that day. All the boats that went on the rocks were looted and vandalized over the next couple days. It was not enough for them to steal the items from the boats. They smashed everything to bits, sprayed graffiti, and defecated everywhere. If they are willing to do that to inanimate objects, what would they be willing to do to people?

We are now anxiously awaiting our flight out of this country, which leaves here at about 3:30 pm today. It is Thursday here, April 2. The governor of this state and his officials have predicted a massive shortage of drinking water and food due to destruction of local fruit and vegetables. Their media has indicated many people will be out of food and water by the weekend. If that happens, I believe the people here will turn on each other and the looting will begin anew, but this time at an incomprehensible level of viciousness. My husband and I are praying we can escape with our lives yet a third time..."

Although this is somehow overlooked in all the tourist brochures, in much of the Third World the locals are insanely jealous and hateful towards the 'rich' tourists, and this raw hatred/contempt is barely contained beneath the surface, all it takes is a momentary breakdown of law-and-order to release the savages with blood lust in their eyes......tourists are nothing to them but a paycheck, there is no love lost here whatsoever. You see into their souls, what the 'locals' REALLY think of us (rich tourists) once the paper thin veneer of civilization is, even momentarily, stripped away!