Cormorant-Ii

The 'Cormorant II' ran aground near Punta Suárez, upon Española Island in the Galapagos province on March 6, 2025, at 5 a.m. with 13 passengers and 14 crew members on board. The Ecuadorian Navy launched an SAR operation after the captain issued a distress call, A Coast Guard and a Navy ship were dispatched to the grounding site, The nearby passenger m/v ''Galaxy Orion' (IMO: 9093050) assisted in evacuating the passengers and crew. The authorities were analyzing the situation to establish a plan for refloating the vessel, which had sailed from Baquerizo Moreno on March 5 en route to Cristobal with an ETA as of March 10. Report and photos: https://kchcomunicacion.com/2025/03/06/un-barco-con-27-ocupantes-se-quedo-varado-en-la-isla-isabel-galapagos-este-jueves-6-de-marzo/ https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3862113?navList=gallery&category=61&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest

On June 27, after four months aground on Isla Española, the 'Cormorant II' was refloated under strict environmental protocols. The operation, led by the Subtech S.A.C. with oversight from the Ecuadorian Navy and Galápagos National Park, began at 12:50 p.m. and concluded with the safe removal of the vessel at 3:08 p.m. without incident. However, on the morning of June 28, during final manoeuvres to take the ship to safety, it unexpectedly sank. No injuries or casualties occurred. The wreck was resting at a depth of 65 metres. The salvage operation had aimed to remove the vessel while minimising ecological harm. It followed national maritime law and IMO safety standards, including protective measures to safeguard the island’s fragile environment. After the sinking, a joint investigation by the Captaincy of Port of Baquerizo Moreno, the Galápagos Government Council, and National Park officials is underway to determine the cause and assess any environmental impact. Reports with photos: https://www.primicias.ec/sucesos/barco-turismo-varado-cormoran-galapagos-isla-espanola-99533/ https://ecuador221.com.ec/desencallan-barco-cormorant-ii-en-la-isla-espanola/