By John Denny

Observer Reporter

(Basseterre, St. Kitts) – The MV BO II owned by TDC sank pier-side at the deepwater port in St. Kitts on Wednesday. No injuries were reported. The cause of the sinking is still under investigation.

The incident happened at around 1:10 p.m. after the fifth of six scheduled trucks of sand had been loaded to be shipped to Nevis. Sources indicate the Dominican registered vessel began listing, took on water and sank. She settled on the bottom, with about half the vessel still above water.

The BO II is owned by Sakra Shipping, but is the interisland workhorse of the TDC Companies, typically used to haul heavy loads, such as building supplies.

TDC Shipping Department Manager Winston Hendrickson said the load for the vessel was routine and as of press time, the cause of the sinking was still uncertain.

There are a number of interested parties investigating the sinking such as the Maritime Division of the government, the Dominican Registry and the insurers of the vessel to name a few.

Hendrickson refrained from commenting about the cause of the accident because of the ongoing investigation, but stated the salvage operation would be quite expensive.