«It is necessary to intervene immediately to clarify and ascertain whether there is any type of responsibility. In this sense, the competent local public transport company of Gorizia did well to present a formal complaint to the judicial authority to shed full light on the nature of the accident”. The President of the Region, Massimiliano Fedriga, said this today, commenting on the accident that occurred yesterday in Grado to the motor vessel Audace with 85 people on board, all rescued by rescuers.
The other priority at this moment, as underlined by the highest representative of the regional council, is to guarantee users a rapid resumption of the service, in order to create as little inconvenience as possible for users. Finally, Fedriga wanted to thank, starting from the Port Authority and Commander Luciano Del Prete, to all those who did their utmost in the rescue efforts, demonstrating competence and professionalism. Among these: the Fire Brigade, the Regional Civil Protection, Sores, Sogit, the Financial Police and the volunteers.
The accident and the rescue
The motor vessel Audace, in service from Grado to Trieste, launched a “mayday” late yesterday morning due to the risk of sinking while it was sailing towards the port of Monfalcone. All passengers on board and crew members – a total of 85 people, including 5 children – were transferred to life rafts and taken to the port of Grado. They were visited in the tent set up at the port of Grado: 6 people were taken to the hospitals in the area and the other 79 to the Grado first aid point. For those shipwrecked without accommodation, the Municipality of Grado has provided a bed. The Coast Guard vehicles located between Trieste and Lignano Sabbiadoro, the Fire Brigade, with helicopters and the diver unit, and the Financial Police intervened to help the motor vessel.
The ship, now half sunk, was towed to Porto Nogaro for the necessary checks. In fact, an administrative investigation was opened by the Trieste Coast Guard to clarify the causes that forced the motor vessel to launch the SOS. According to what we understand, the ship took on water from the bow side.
«From an initial examination of the grounded vessel, no signs or tears emerged due to impacts to the hull», Apt spa Gorizia informs in a note. «The Audace – continues the note – regularly made the first trip from Trieste to Grado. Shortly after the restart, Commander Tessari noted the loading of an anomalous quantity of water and immediately requested intervention from the Port Authority”.
