Christena disaster

What this source establishes

The Wikipedia entry on the MV Christena, the precedent Caribbean commentators have invoked after the MV Barima sinking. It records a 160 ft ferry built 1958-1959 by Sprostons Ltd in Georgetown, British Guiana, recently refurbished in Barbados, which capsized on 1 August 1970 near Nags Head between St Kitts and Nevis with approximately 320-322 aboard against a certified capacity of 155, killing 233 with 91 survivors, and states her hermetic doors would not close. Sprostons is the same yard that built the T&HD's MV Torani and MV Malali, a connection the commentary in this corpus does not make.

Key claims

• MV Christena: 160 ft ferry built 1958-1959 by Sprostons Ltd, Georgetown, British Guiana
• Recently refurbished in Barbados before the loss
• Capsized 1 August 1970 near Nags Head between St Kitts and Nevis
• Certified capacity 155 passengers; carried approximately 320-322
• 233 deaths, 91 survivors; 57 bodies identified, 66 unidentified, more left in the wreckage
• Hermetic doors would not close
• Memorials at Charlestown waterfront, Nevis, and a headstone in Bath cemetery

Prior warnings recorded

• None (historical precedent source).

Vessel facts recorded

• fact: MV Christena was a 160 ft ferry built 1958-1959 by Sprostons Ltd in Georgetown, British Guiana — the SAME yard that built the T&HD's MV Torani and MV Malali
• source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christena_disaster
• fact: Recently refurbished in Barbados before the disaster
• source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christena_disaster
• fact: Capsized 1 August 1970 near Nags Head, between St Kitts and Nevis
• source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christena_disaster
• fact: Certified capacity 155 passengers; carried approximately 320-322 at the time of loss
• source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christena_disaster
• fact: 233 deaths; 91 survivors; 57 bodies identified; 66 unidentified; additional bodies left in the wreckage
• source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christena_disaster
• fact: Hermetic doors would not close
• source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christena_disaster
• fact: Memorials: waterfront memorial in Charlestown, Nevis; headstone in Bath cemetery
• source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christena_disaster

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