Video: Cargo Vessel VFM Alita Sinks Off Panama

On Sunday, the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) announced that the 4,000 dwt geared general cargo ship VFM Alita sank following a collision with another vessel. The 1986-built Alita was at anchor on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal and awaiting scrapping at the time of the incident.

No injuries or casualties were reported, nor the name of the other vessel involved in the collision. The AMP indicated that it would begin its investigation on Monday.

Image courtesy AMP

As the Alita was bound for the scrapyard, she was not carrying cargo at the time of her sinking. Her last AIS signal showed her at the same anchorage near the canal in March 2015.

She was also the subject of an attempted hijacking and robbery last year. Local authorities received a report on June 8, 2015 that pirates had boarded the Alita at the Atlantic side canal anchorage. The two crew members onboard the ship were held for approximately two hours while the thieves searched the vessel for valuables. 

Panama’s National Air-Naval Service (SENAN) dispatched a coastal patrol boat to investigate the incident. They found five assailants aboard the cargo vessel, which included four adults and one child.

The pirates were brought aboard the patrol boat and transferred to the Christopher Columbus SENAN naval base to be processed by authorities.

The Venezuelan-flagged VFM Alita is owned by Venezuela Feeder Maritime of Puerto Caballo, according to Alphaliner. While records indicate that she is a general cargo ship, imagery from 2009-2013 show her in use as a feeder, with containers as deck cargo. The firm is the owner of record for one other vessel, the 1999-built VFM Eduardo (ex name Yong Da).

Media reports from September indicate that feeder operators have been cutting ship capacity on Venezuelan routes due to reductions in trade volume.