Master seriously injured as reefer vessel loses containers in gales

Master seriously injured as reefer vessel loses containers in gales The master of a refrigerated cargo ship is recovering in an English hospital from serious injuries after his vessel lost 60 containers overboard in rough weather some 225 miles off the Isles of Scilly.
   The 12,887-ton Horncliff, built in 1992 and owned by Pluto shipping company, reported to Falmouth Coastguard just after midday on Friday that the vessel had lost all her deck cargo but was still managing to make its own way amid force 9 gales.
   The master, some passengers and one crewman were later airlifted to a hospital, while the ship arrived in Falmouth Harbor on Saturday morning, when an inspection revealed an 18-inch hole on its port side.
   Insurance underwriters are expected in Falmouth this morning to assess the damage. A crane barge will be brought in to lift and secure containers, and a diving inspection will be carried out to assess damage, which may have been caused by the lost containers.