Was on USNS Mizar and we received a SOS about the hatches coming off an Indian bulk grain carrier. Rivets popping and water intrusion as the grain swelled. Probably south Pacific area. We were sent to help. Green water close to the bridge.
We go to the location and saw only a life preserver. Time to return but the Captain and Mate were wary of turning around. Had to time the waves just right for a 180 degree turn. Everyone had life jackets on. Took 10 minutes of decision time…(yes…no) and we made the course correction OK with green water over the stern.
Before my time but who doesn’t like unraveling maritime history & mysteries? You are probably talking about the Indian freighter Chandragupta. All hands lost on January 5th 1978, 68 souls. It was wheat picked up in Portland Oregon & it was a bad storm as you mentioned. A suspected rouge wave caused the sinking.
I don’t recall that incident, but experienced a similar situation. We had loaded soybeans in Paranagua and Rio Grande, Brazil, and encountered a terrific storm enroute to Tilbury. Green water aplenty. The Captain had the ship stop when the weather subsided, and we hand shoveled quite a bit of wet and expanding beans over the side.
