Professor W. Besnard Partially Sinks at Santos Port

Overview

• The landmark oceanographic vessel heeled over at Parque Valongo on March 13, leaving part of the hull submerged as responders reinforced moorings and deployed an environmental containment boom.
• The Port Authority of Santos says the ship will be removed and taken to a shipyard for evaluation, noting it cannot directly pay for the operation and will mobilize partners from the port community.
• The Brazilian Navy’s São Paulo Port Captaincy attended the scene and opened an Administrative Inquiry into Navigation Accidents and Facts to determine causes and potential liability.
• Officials reported no casualties or observed water pollution, and the vessel was assessed as settled on the bottom alongside the quay without imminent risk to navigation at the time.
• ONG Imar, the ship’s steward, says pumps could not be powered after copper cables supplying shore electricity were stolen, and it cites a lack of funding as a hurdle to recovery.