View source for Concordia (ship)

{{Short description|Steel-hulled barquentine}}
{{Hatnote|This article is about the sail training ship. For the cruise ship that ran aground in 2012, see [[Costa Concordia]]. For other ships, see [[Concordia (disambiguation)|Concordia]].}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image               = Concordia i Sørlandet 5.JPG
| Ship caption             = ''Concordia'' and ''Sørlandet''  in 2007.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header              = 
| Ship country             = 
| Ship flag                = 
| Ship name                = ''Concordia''
| Ship owner               =  [[West Island College]], Montreal
| Ship ordered             = 
| Ship builder             = [[Colod]], [[Szczecin]]
| Ship original cost       = 
| Ship laid down           = 
| Ship launched            = 1992
| Ship completed           = 1992
| Ship commissioned        = 
| Ship decommissioned      = 
| Ship in service          = April 1992
| Ship out of service      = 17 February 2010
| Ship renamed             = 
| Ship struck              = 
| Ship reinstated          = 
| Ship registry =*{{flagicon|Bahamas|civil}} [[Nassau, Bahamas]] (1992– )
*{{flagicon|Barbados}} [[Bridgetown, Barbados]] ( -2010)
| Ship homeport            = [[Lunenburg, Nova Scotia]]
| Ship honours             = 
| Ship captured            = 
| Ship fate                = Capsized and sank
| Ship notes               = 
| Ship identification      =*{{IMO Number|1001269}}
*{{MMSI Number|314178000}}
*Callsign: 8PRN
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header              = 
| Header caption           = 
| Ship class               = 
| Ship tonnage             =*{{GT|413}}
*{{NetT|123}}
*{{DWT|495}}
| Ship length              = {{convert|57.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam                = {{convert|9.44|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught             = 
| Ship draft               = {{convert|4.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship height              = {{convert|35.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship hold depth          = 1 × MAN diesel engine ({{convert|570|hp|kW|abbr=on}})
| Ship propulsion          = 
| Ship sail plan           =*[[Barquentine]]
*{{convert|993|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} sail area
| Ship speed               = {{convert|9|kn|km/h}} (engine)
| Ship complement          = 
| Ship armament            = 
| Ship notes               = 
| Ship crew                = 8 (min) – 66 (max)
}}
|}
{{location map|Brazil|width=303
|lat=-27.467
|long=-40.883
|caption=Location where ''Concordia'' sank off Brazil.}}

'''''Concordia''''' was a steel-[[hull (watercraft)|hulled]] [[barquentine]] that was built in [[Poland]] in 1992 for the [[West Island College]], Montreal, Canada. She served as a [[sail training]] ship until she capsized and sank on 17 February 2010.

==Description==
''Concordia'' was built by Colod of [[Szczecin]], Poland in 1991, and completed in April 1992.<ref name=ATSB>{{cite web|url=http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1996/MAIR/mair105.aspx |title=Departmental investigation into a fall from aloft aboard the CONCORDIA on 5 December 1996 |publisher=Australian Transport Safety Board |accessdate=21 February 2010}}</ref> She was {{convert|57.50|m|ftin}} long, with a beam of {{convert|9.44|m|ftin}} and a draft of {{convert|4.00|m|ftin}}. She was {{convert|35.00|m|ftin}} to the top of the highest [[Mast (sailing)|mast]]. Her hull was made of steel, and she was [[rigging|rigged]] as a [[barquentine]]. As well as [[sail]]s, she was propelled by a [[MAN SE|MAN]] [[diesel engine]], which could propel her at {{convert|9|kn|km/h}}.<ref name=Spec>{{cite web|url=http://www.classafloat.com/THEJOURNEY/SVConcordia/OurCampusbySea/tabid/65/Default.aspx |title=Specifications and Decks |publisher=Class Afloat |accessdate=21 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703180333/http://www.classafloat.com/THEJOURNEY/SVConcordia/OurCampusbySea/tabid/65/Default.aspx |archivedate=3 July 2007 }}</ref>

==History==

''Concordia'' was designed by Ryszard Langer and owned by the [[West Island College]] Class Afloat program. Her [[port of registry]] was [[Bridgetown]], [[Barbados]] but she was based in [[Lunenburg, Nova Scotia]].<ref name=report /> On 5 December 1996, an explosion on board during battery charging resulted in the death of a crew member, 18-year-old Derek Zavitz.<ref name=ATSB/> Zavitz was thrown overboard and his remains were never found.

==Sinking==

On 17 February 2010, SV ''Concordia'' encountered what the vessel's captain called a [[microburst]]<ref>{{Cite web| title =U.S. expert says microburst hit N.S.-based sailing school that sank off Brazil| url =http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20100402/CP02/304029982/-1/sechelt/us-expert-says-microburst-hit-ns-based-sailing-school-that-sank&template=cpArt| accessdate =4 April 2010| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20110718134338/http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20100402/CP02/304029982/-1/sechelt/us-expert-says-microburst-hit-ns-based-sailing-school-that-sank%26template%3DcpArt| archivedate =18 July 2011| df =dmy-all}}</ref> some {{convert|550|km|nmi}} southeast of [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]] in rough seas and high winds.<ref name=CBC>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/students-safe-after-capsizing-of-n-s-based-ship-1.866465 |title=Students safe after capsizing of N.S.-based ship |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |accessdate=21 February 2010 | date=19 February 2010}}</ref> The vessel was knocked onto its side within 15 seconds<ref>{{Cite web
  | title = SV Concordia Sinks, Crew Safe
  | url = http://www.luvmyboat.com/listing/view/id_1677/title_sv-concordia-sinks-crew-safe
  | accessdate = 23 February 2010 }}</ref> and eventually sank 20 minutes afterward.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Timeline of a sinking ship
  | publisher = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
  | date = 22 February 2010
  | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/timeline-of-a-sinking-ship-1.899348
  | access-date = 23 February 2010}}</ref>

In September 2011, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada report found, "The wind speeds experienced by the vessel at the time of the knockdown were most likely in the range of {{convert|25|to|50|kn}}. While there was probably a vertical component to the wind, there is no evidence that a microburst occurred at the time of the knockdown." The report also found the vessel was operated in a way that did not allow it to, "...react to changing weather conditions appropriately and maintain the stability of the vessel."<ref name=report>{{cite web|title=Transportation Safety Board of Canada Marine Reports – 2010 – M10F0003 Knockdown and Capsizing – Sail Training Yacht Concordia 300 miles SSE off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil|date=7 July 2011
|url=http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2010/m10f0003/m10f0003.asp
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Calgary family not surprised as investigation blames crew inexperience for sinking of Class Afloat ship |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+family+surprised+investigation+blames+crew+inexperience+sinking/5481321/story.html |accessdate=1 October 2011 |newspaper=The Calgary Herald |date=30 September 2011 |author=Sherri Zickefoose |author2=Bradley Bouzane |author3=Keith Bonnell |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240525123454/https://www.webcitation.org/6262PuaDt?url=http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary%20family%20surprised%20investigation%20blames%20crew%20inexperience%20sinking/5481321/story.html |archivedate=25 May 2024 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>{{Blockquote|text="The risk of a knockdown was not understood," said TSB board member Jonathan Seymour. As a result, "appropriate action" – including reducing sail, changing course or sealing water-ingress points – was not taken before the squall hit.|sign=''Globe and Mail, September 29, 2011''<ref>{{cite news|title=Crew unaware of risks in Concordia sinking near Brazil, report finds |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/crew-unaware-of-risks-in-concordia-sinking-near-brazil-report-finds/article2184447/ |accessdate=30 September 2011 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=29 September 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001140140/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/crew-unaware-of-risks-in-concordia-sinking-near-brazil-report-finds/article2184447/ |archivedate=1 October 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>}}

All aboard successfully abandoned ship. As the capsizing was so fast, no radio distress call was made but an [[Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon station|EPIRB]] was hydrostatically released and automatically activated<ref>{{Cite web| title =GME EPIRB credited for saving all 64 in schoolship sinking| publisher =Sail-world.com| url =http://www.sail-world.com:80/Canada/GME-EPIRB-credited-for-saving-all-64-in-schoolship-sinking./67184| archive-url =https://archive.today/20130201175831/http://www.sail-world.com/Canada/GME-EPIRB-credited-for-saving-all-64-in-schoolship-sinking./67184| url-status =dead| archive-date =1 February 2013| accessdate =9 March 2010}}</ref> when the vessel sank.

The ''Concordia'' sank at 1423 hrs local time Wednesday.  At 1425 Concordia's [[Bosun]] Geoffrey Byers swam to retrieve the EPIRB and brought it aboard the rafts. The Captain directed that someone hold the EPIRB upright at all times and keep it safe from damage.<ref name=Sun2>{{cite news|last=Pynn|first=Larry|title=Shipwrecked: Adrift on the high seas|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/news/4229778/story.html|accessdate=6 February 2011|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240525045533/https://www.webcitation.org/5wJ1U5DHh?url=http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html%3Fid=4229778&sponsor=|archivedate=25 May 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[EPIRB]] signal was received at 1505 hrs by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite [[GOES 12]]. The position of the sinking, {{coord|27|28|S|40|53|W|display=inline, title}}, was resolved at 1525 local time. The TSB report noted the EPIRB database only listed one telephone number for the ''Concordia'' and that number had not been in service since 2004.<ref name=report/>

The following morning at 0806 hrs the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Brazil sent a fax to Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax requesting information about the ''Concordia''.<ref name=report />
After attempting to contact  ''Concordia'' a Brazilian Air Force aircraft was dispatched at 1700 hrs local time Thursday and sighted the [[liferaft]]s 3 hours later.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Brazil defends its search efforts in shipwreck
  | work = The Seattle Times
  | date = 22 February 2010
| url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2011154239_webbrazilshipwreck22.html?syndication=rss
  | accessdate = 7 March 2010
| first=Tales
| last=Azzoni}}</ref>

The survivors spent nearly 30 hours in liferafts before the aircraft spotted them. Flares were fired from the rafts, and the aircraft blinked its landing lights in response and directed nearby merchant ships to the scene. The lights of the [[Mitsui O.S.K. Lines]]<ref>{{Cite web
 |title       = Two MOL-owned Woodchip Carriers Rescue Shipwrecked Students
 |publisher   = Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Press Release
 |url         = http://www.mol.co.jp/pr-e/2010/e-pr-1012.html
 |accessdate  = 7 March 2010
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100329095042/http://www.mol.co.jp/pr-e/2010/e-pr-1012.html
 |archivedate = 29 March 2010
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> woodchip carriers {{MV|Hokuetsu Delight||2}} and {{MV|Crystal Pioneer||2}} were sighted by the survivors at 1:30 am local time and the rescue was completed by 8 am local time.<ref name = Sun2/>

41 hours after the sinking the crew were safely aboard the rescue ships.<ref name=GAM>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/rescued-canadians-dock-in-rio/article1475527/ |title=Rescued Canadians dock in Rio |work=The Globe and Mail |accessdate=21 February 2010 |location=Toronto |first=Jeffrey |last=Simpson |date=20 February 2010}}</ref> All 64 people (48 students, eight teachers and eight crew) who were on board were rescued from 3 large and 1 small liferafts.<ref>{{Cite news
  | title = Ship's survivors recall scramble to safety
  | work = The Globe and Mail
  | url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/ships-survivors-recall-scramble-to-safety/article1475848/
  | accessdate = 1 March 2010
  | location=Toronto}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|IMO 1001269}}
*[http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2010/m10f0003/m10f0003.asp#sec1_12 Transportation Safety Board of Canada Marine Reports – 2010 – M10F0003 Knockdown and Capsizing – Sail Training Yacht Concordia 300 miles SSE off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil] Also available as PDF (4715 kB) [http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2010/m10f0003/m10f0003.pdf]
*[http://www.classafloat.com/ "Class AfloatTM"]
*[https://archive.today/20130131064041/http://www.photoshelter.com/c/mattjacques/gallery/Concordia-Tall-Ship-Sinks-off-Rio-de-Janeiro-Feb-18-2010/G0000AV0xF24n6a0 "Concordia Image Gallery"]
*[http://www.cbc.ca/landandsea/2010/11/concordia.html Tall Ship Down. 21 minute documentary of SV Concordia's last voyage. CBC]
*[http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/Doc_Zone/1242299559/ID=1789155094 Abandon Ship: The Sinking of the SV Concordia] A 45-minute CBC documentary on the sinking of the SV Concordia, first broadcast 10 February 2011
*https://archive.today/20130118200345/http://www.canald.com/emissions/docu-d/505646973-abandonnez-le-navire-le-naufrage-du-concordia/ Abandonnez le navire: Le naufrage du Concordia

{{2010 shipwrecks}}

[[Category:1992 ships]]
[[Category:Tall ships of the Bahamas]]
[[Category:Tall ships of Bermuda]]
[[Category:Individual sailing vessels]]
[[Category:Barquentines]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2010]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in Brazil]]
[[Category:2010 in Brazil]]
[[Category:Ships built in Szczecin]]
[[Category:Lost sailing vessels]]
[[Category:Ships sunk with no fatalities]]