Derelict tanker believed sunk; dog's demise 'saddens' group

By Walter Wright,
Advertiser Staff Writer

Forgea, the 2-year-old dog left aboard a derelict oil tanker 300 miles south of Hawai'i last week, apparently has been lost at sea.

The United States and Hawaiian humane societies, which mounted an estimated $50,000 search-and-rescue effort to save the dog, called it off at 3 p.m. yesterday after searchers said the ship probably had gone down.

Chung Chin Po, captain of the Indonesian vessel Insiko 1907, said he was kept from bringing the dog aboard the cruise ship Norwegian Star on Tuesday when it rescued the crew after the tanker drifted for 20 days following a March 13 engine room fire. The body of a sailor killed in the fire was left aboard the vessel.

The Hawaiian society learned Thursday that Norwegian Star passengers reported hearing a dog barking aboard the tanker, president Pam Burns said. An air-and-sea search began Friday.

Scott Vuillemot of American Marine Corporation, owner of the rescue ship American Quest, said "we had the best surveillance equipment, searched the most probable locations and beyond, and we believe the Insiko 1907 has sunk."

Burns said the effort will cost less than $50,000, and that more than half of that had been donated by the United States' society and animal lovers here and elsewhere.

Martha Armstrong of the United States' society said "we did what was right," but "we are deeply saddened" that Forgea apparently went down with the ship.

Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.