On 10 March 2019, Grande America caught fire while traveling the Atlantic Ocean between France and Spain on its route from Hamburg (Germany) to Casablanca (Morocco), and sank 4,600 m (15,100 ft) into the Bay of Biscay on 12 March.
The 27 people on board were rescued by the Royal Navy ship HMS Argyll after they abandoned ship on 11 March.
After their lifeboat's engine broke down entering the water, a Royal Navy sea boat towed it to safety in a 6 m (20 ft) swell.
Leading Seaman David Groves, the sea boat coxswain , was later awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for his bravery in the rescue.
On 10 March 2019, Grande America caught fire while traveling the Atlantic Ocean between France and Spain on its route from Hamburg (Germany) to Casablanca (Morocco), and sank 4,600 m (15,100 ft) into the Bay of Biscay on 12 March. The 27 people on board were rescued by the Royal Navy ship HMS Argyll after they abandoned ship on 11 March. After their lifeboat's engine broke down entering the water, a Royal Navy sea boat towed it to safety in a 6 m (20 ft) swell. Leading Seaman David Groves, the sea boat coxswain , was later awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for his bravery in the rescue.
Grande America