The general cargo vessel, MV Onego Traveller sank off the coast of Bahamas, near the Hole in the Wall lighthouse, South Abaco.

The Bahamas Ministry of Transport and Housing informed that the vessel started taking in water in one of its ballast tanks, and that due to the adverse weather conditions, attempts to beach the vessel to a nearby sand bank to remove fuel and conduct repairs proved unsuccessful.

The ministry was advised that the fuel that remains onboard the vessel is heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil.

Seeking more information on the vessel itself, Project Cargo Journal reached out to Onego Shipping and Chartering, the charterer of the general cargo vessel built in 2002. The company said the vessel was on a passage from Finland to New Orleans in the United States, with a cargo of steel products. “All12 crew members of the vessel were safely evacuated,” the company’s statement reads.

BP Update| Live scenes of the MV Onego Traveller following distress around Hole in the Wall, South Abaco. The crew was rescued. pic.twitter.com/7vSb5JfQ6O

— Bahamas Press (@Bahamaspress) January 1, 2023

Onego further notes it is being kept closely informed on the current salvage operations following the vessel’s submerging. “Onego Shipping and Chartering would like to express their deepest concern over the marine incident and are being updated on the situation on site by the vessel’s managers who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the ship,” the statement reads.

The company added that salvage experts are meanwhile on site making their first assessments and measures are being taken to mitigate any negative effects on the marine environment.

“The exact cause of the incident is yet unknown. A full investigation will follow,” Onego said in its statement.