MVDanny F II

Don Carlos(top) andDanny F II(bottom)
History
Name	Don Carlos(1975–94) Danny F II(1994–2009)
Owner	Rederei AB Soya (1976–85) Wallenius Lines Singapore Ptd Ltd (1985–94) Rachid Fares Enterprise Proprietary (1994–2009)
Operator	Rederei AB Soya (1976–85) Wallenius Lines (1985–94) Rachid Fares Enterprise Proprietary (1994–2000) Danny F II (2000–05) Falcon Point Intl Co. (2005–09)
Port of registry	Stockholm(1976–85) Singapore(1985–95) Liberia(1995–2000) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines(2000–05) Panama(2005–09)
Builder	Oy Wärtsilä AbTurku shipyard
Yard number	1220
Launched	14 November 1975
Completed	April 1976
In service	30 April 1976
Out of service	17 December 2009
Identification	IMO number:7359462 Callsign J8KU6 (Don Carlos) Callsign 3EDI3 (Danny F II) MMSI number:371575000
Fate	Capsized and sank 17 December 2009
General characteristics
Tonnage	14,478GT 7,258NT 14,800DWT
Length	202.62 m (664 ft 9 in)
Beam	28.15 m (92 ft 4 in)
Draught	8.48 m (27 ft 10 in)
Installed power	1 ×Sulzer 6RND 90diesel engine
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h)
Capacity	5,000 cars (1976–85)
Crew	77

Danny F II(originallyDon Carlos) was acargo shipbuilt in 1975 as acar carrier.She was renamedDanny F IIwhen rebuilt as alivestock transporterin 1994. The shipcapsizedand sank offLebanonon 17 December 2009, carrying 83 people, 10,224 sheep, and 17,932 cattle.40 people were rescued and 11 found dead. The other crew, passengers and animals are presumed to have died.

Construction

Don Carloswas built byOy Wärtsilä AbTurku shipyard,Finland, as yard number 1220.She was launched on 14 November 1975, and completed in April 1976.She was 202.62 metres (664 ft 9 in) long, with a beam of 28.15 metres (92 ft 4 in) and a draught of 8.48 metres (27 ft 10 in).The ship was 14,478GT,7,258NTand 14,800DWT.HerSulzer6RND 90diesel enginegave her a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h).

History

Don Carloswas built for Rederei AB Soya,Stockholm.Originally acar carrier,she was delivered on 30 April 1976. In October 1985,Don Carloswas transferred toWallenius Lines Singapore Ptd Ltd,Singapore. In July 1994, she was sold to BSA Transportation Pte, Ltd. of Singapore and renamedDanny F II.

Danny F IIarrived at Singapore on 15 August 1994, for rebuilding as a livestock transporter.The work was carried out by Pan United Shipyards.She was sold in 1995 to Rachid Fares Enterprise Proprietary,Fremantle,andreflaggedto Liberia. On 25 April 2000, she was registered to Danny F II, St Vincent and the Grenadines.On 16 September 2000,Danny F IIrescued the 25 crew ofMadonasome 200 nautical miles (370 km) north of theCocos Islands.Madonahad developed a severe list after her cargo shifted.On 24 October 2005,Danny F IIwas registered to Falcon Point International, Panama.

In 2005, it was reported thatDanny F IIhad been detained atAdelaidebecause of defects which included holedbulkheads,defectivenavigation lightsand radio equipment and defective watertight doors.

Sinking

On 17 December 2009,Danny F IIcapsized and sank in bad weather in theMediterranean Sea,11 nautical miles (20 km) fromTripoli, Lebanon,(not to be confused with theLibyancity of the same name), while sailing fromMontevideo,Uruguay, toTartus,Syria, carrying six passengers, 77 crew, 10,224 sheep and 17,932 head of cattle.The ship's British captain, John M Milloy, is reported to have remained on board when the ship rolled over in the high seas.

After a distress call made at 15:55local time(13:55UTC), a rescue effort was launched comprising ships from theUnited Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) CTF 448under the command of Italian Navy rear admiral, Francesco Sandalli, onboard theItalian frigateZeffiro.Among the rescuers were two German Navy ships, as part of the CTF 448, and small rescue boats from Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). ABell Griffin HAR2helicopter from84 Squadron,Royal Air Force,based atRAF AkrotiriandCyprus Police Aviation Unithelicopters (Bell 412s) following a request from therescue coordination centreinLarnacawere dispatched to assist in the rescue.

Rescue efforts were hampered by poor weather conditions, high waves and floating carcasses from the ship's livestock cargo.Rescue operations stopped after 72 hours later with 40 men rescued, 11 found dead and 32 men remained missing and presumed dead.All the livestock were presumed dead.