THE MV VATUD STAR – beached by heavy seas whipped up by tropical cyclone Judy this week – was finally refloated on Friday afternoon as on-lookers and passersby cheered the vessel’s freedom.
Heavy seas forced the Vatud Constituency-owned ship to beach on the foreshores of the Prince Philip Highway at Kukum last Wednesday. Large crowd gathered to witness the spectacle.
The vessel, believed to be fully laden with Constituency building supplies broke off its anchor as a result of the strong winds and heavy seas associated with cyclone Judy.
Crew members reportedly jumped off the ship just before it beached early Wednesday afternoon. None was injured.
It is unclear whether the Temotu Province vessel suffered any structural damage from the incident.
By Alfred Sasako
