A fire broke out following an explosion aboard the 'Kapitan Lobanov' in the Kaliningrad Region on March 19, 2024. Around 11 a.m. the ship activated a distress signal. The trawler had seven crew members on board, four of whom were injured. The trawler sank in the Baltic Sea near the city of Pionersky. One person was said to have died and two others were missing.The injured were to be given all necessary medical aid. The regional authorities would provide support for the families of those affected. The"Kapitan Lobanov" in July 2021, already sank at the coast of Svetly, while being put on a slip for repairs of small vessels. Report with photos: https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/uzsienis/baltijos-juroje-nuskendo-rusu-laivas-pranesama-apie-sprogima-denyje-n1325651?priority=6
News
ABDULLAH
Somali police and international navies were preparing on March 18 to attack the 'Abdullah', that was hijacked by pirates in the latest of more than 20 attacks since November by Somali pirates, two days after Indian commandos rescued the 'Ruen', also held by pirates. The police force from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland was on high alert and prepared to participate in an operation against the pirates holding the 'Abdullah', after they got reports that international navies were planning an attack. On March 17, the Puntland police said they had seized a vehicle that was transporting the narcotic khat to be supplied to the pirates on board the 'Abdullah'. Meherul Karim, chief executive officer of SR Shipping, stated on March 18 that they had not been informed of any such plan: "The safety of our crew members is our top priority. We couldn't afford to risk the lives of our sailors, so we declined the proposal for a rescue operation by the EU Maritime Force and the Indian Navy. We have already informed the government to deny any further approach to conduct military operations. The news of preparation to launch an attack caught our attention and we are trying to communicate with the government as we do not have any plan to allow any military intervention on the ship as there is always a risk of casualties on board." The ship was located four nautical miles from the Godobjiraan shore in north-eastern Somalia as of March 17.
RUEN
The 35 Somali pirates who surrendered to the Indian navy after it freed the'Ruen' are being brought back to India to stand trial. The pirates had hijacked the bulk carrier with the intention of using it as a mothership to launch attacks on other commercial vessels in the region. They also shot down a small observation drone flown from the destroyer INS 'Kolkata' during the rescue operation. The pirates opened fire on the warship, thereby implicating in an act of aggression against the Indian Navy, which is why they are being brought back to India. In a calibrated response in line with international laws, the INS 'Kolkata' disabled the ship's steering system and navigation aids, forcing it to stop. The Indian Navy forced the pirates to surrender and secured the release of 17 crew members from Bulgaria, Angola and the Myanmar, without any injuries. The pirates will be prosecuted in accordance with international law and guidelines. There was concern that if these pirates were allowed to leave, they could regroup and restart their attacks.
MSC FANTASIA
A cruise entertainer of the 'MSC Fantasia' allegedly has raped a passenger. A British tourist says she danced all night with the entertainer on the ship. But then the man from Kenya is said to have harassed the 30-year-old woman and forced her to have sex. In a state of shock, the tourist told the captain of the ship what just happened to her. He then reported the suspected rape to the Spanish police. When the 'MSC Fantasia' berthed in Palma de Mallorca on March 15, 2024, the man was arrested. But the entertainer refused to make a statement on March 17. The man has been temporarily released under conditions. Now his cell phone should be examined.
SLEIPNIR
The SAR helicopter Helimer 402 medevaced a sick crew member from the 'Sleipnir', en route to Rotterdam, more than 300 miles from Galicia on March 15, 2024. The patient was hoisted and taken to Alvedro with a doctor on board at 10:20 p.m. The response was coordinated by the Fisterra Rescue Center, which mobilized the helicopter, based at the Alvedro airport in Coruña, and the Sasemar 102 plane, which operates from the Rosalía de Castro in Santiago. The sailor was transported to Alvedro, where an ambulance was waiting for him and took him to a hospital for further medical care. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1768983943099957492
UTOPIA
An SAR operation was underway for a crew member who went missing in Singapore waters from the 'Utopia'. The MRCC was notified of the incident on March 15, 2024, at about 3.30 a.m. The MPA, Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force craft have been deployed to search for the missing person within Singapore Port Limits. The MPA also issued navigational safety broadcasts and requests that vessels in the vicinity and in port to keep a lookout and report sightings to MRCC Singapore. The bulk carrier was anchored in Singapore’s Eastern Anchorage, located in the waters south of the East Coast Park.
MEHLE
The USA have blacklisted the 'Ady Sofia' after a ship-to-ship transfer with ‘fake’ vessel linked to the Houthi financial fixer Sa’id al-Jamal. The tanker was expected to deliver its cargo of alleged Iranian oil to China. It had received the cargo on Jan 31, 2024, off Singapore from a tanker that was falsely broadcasting its location and disguised as a fictitious tanker, the 'Amor', according to US Treasury officials. The “fake” tanker, the 'Mehle' (built 1999), had been blacklisted earlier that month because it was said to be linked to the network of the alleged Houthi financial fixer Sa’id al-Jamal.
RED JET 7
Disruptions on Red Funnel's Red Jet service were to continue until at least March 22. A replacement vessel of Blue Funnel was running in its place but journeys are taking up to 50 minutes, as opposed to the usual 28 minutes. Red Funnel was to run three extra sailings from both Southampton and Cowes at peak times after a water jet issue was reported with the 'Red Jet 6' and a technical issue with the starboard jet room on the 'Red Jet 7'. The 'Red Jet 6' was docked in Southampton, alongside the 'Red Jet 4', while the 'Red Jet 7' was sent to the Wight Shipyard, East Cowes. Repairs to the 'Red Jet 7's jet propulsion system were underway. Red Jet crossings - March 19 to March 22: Departing Southampton: 05:30 / 06:40 / 07:50 / 09:00 / 10:20 / 11:30 / 12:40 / 13:50 / 15:00 / 16:10 / 17:20 / 18:30 / 19:40 / 21:05 / 22:30 Departing West Cowes: 06:05 / 07:15 / 08:25 / 09:35 / 10:55 / 12:05 / 13:15 / 14:25 / 15:35 / 16:45 / 17:55 / 19:05 / 20:15 / 21:40 / 23:05 Additional Blue Funnel crossings: Departing Southampton: 07:30 / 09:50 / 16:50 Departing West Cowes: 06:30 / 08:50 / 15:50
VIKING SKY
The National Accident Investigation Board has made 14 safety recommendations after the accident with the 'Viking Sky' on March 19, 2029, when it lost engine power at Hustadvika in Møre og Romsdal, and believed the cruise ship should never have left the dock. It was estimated that the ship was only about a ship's length away from hitting the ground, and with 1,374 people on board, the accident had the potential to become one of the worst disasters at sea in modern times, the Accident Investigation Board wrote in its report. A disaster alarm was sounded and a massive rescue operation was launched to evacuate passengers from the 'Viking Sky'. During the long and dramatic rescue operation, more than 400 passengers were hoisted and transported to shore by rescue helicopter. The accident was due to low oil levels in all the operating diesel generators' lubricating oil tanks, in combination with pounding and rolling in high seas. The investigation has revealed operational, technical and organizational security problems which in various ways contributed to the blackout. The direct cause of the vessel's engines stopping was low oil pressure, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate stated a few days after the accident. Due to the low level of the tanks, combined with the heavy storm, the oil on the tanks sloshed so much that air was eventually sucked in. The result was that the engines were not supplied with lubricating oil and stopped. Recovery from the blackout was time-consuming, and it took 39 minutes to get both propulsion engines operating so that the ship had enough power to maintain a speed of between 1 and 5 knots. Blackout exercises had previously been carried out on board, but never based on a full blackout without a stand-by generator available. The engineers were therefore faced with a situation they had not trained to handle. The situation was stressful, the control system was complex, and there was a need to perform certain actions in a given order. Inadequate training probably contributed to the recovery being time-consuming, the Accident Investigation Board stated in its report from March 19, 2024: https://havarikommisjonen.no/Sjofart/Avgitte-rapporter/2024-05
OCEAN VIKING
After the 'Ocean Viking' has rescued over 350 people from distress at sea in several rescue missions. the ship has been assigned Ancona as a safe port, which was 1450 kilometers away. Some survivors have already had a very long and stressful time at sea. In one rescue mission, 25 people were safely brought aboard the 'Ocean Viking', who had previously been on board an unseaworthy boat for around sevendays. They report that about 60 people died along the way and fell overboard. Two people were in such critical condition that they had to be evacuated. One of them has since died. The 'Ocean Viking' finally has reached Ancona on March 18 with the survivors.
ANIKITOS
The 'Anikitos' allided with the loading wharf of the mining company South32 at Alyangula, Groote Eylandt, Milner Bay, loaded with 41,140 metric tonnes of manganese ore, when the Cyclone Megan hit the region on March 16, 2024, with 100 kph winds and four meter high swell. The wharf has sustained severe damage and partially collapsed into the sea. The ship remained alongside for the time being. It also had 1,070 tonnes of low sulphur fuel and 109 tonnes of diesel on board. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) had completed oil spill trajectory models and provided the results to the state government. The owners and insurers of the vessel were corresponding with tug providers to arrange tugs to assist the vessel with shifting from its current location alongside the wharf to a safe anchorage. South32 has temporarily suspended operations on Groote Eylandt. Initial inspections indicated that there was structural damage to the wharf. The full impact of the damage and subsequent disruption to production and sales values will be assessed when access to the port and other infrastructure have been restored. The company would return to safe operations as soon as possible. The former cyclone has been downgraded to a tropical low following its coastal crossing overnight, but was being forecast to bring heavy rainfall and possible flooding to parts of the NT throughout the week. The NT's Department of Environment was monitoring the situation with the bulk carrier being stable in location. There was no leak of fuels or oils at this time. The master was working to resolve the situation to move the ship away from the damaged wharf as soon as practicable. The Territory government was planning a response should there be a leak, working with the AMSA and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for support if required. Reports with photos: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-19/bulk-carrier-crashes-into-south32-manganese-wharf-groote-eylandt/103604700 https://maritime-executive.com/article/cyclone-drives-bulker-into-wharf-suspending-large-manganese-mine-operations
COLOR FANTASY
On March 19 at 1.08 a.m. a patient was medevaced from the 'Color Fantasy' with a helicopter of the Danish Defence and taken to shore for further medical treatment in hospital, while the ship was sailing in the waters of Djursland. The ferry was en route from Oslo to Kiel at the time of the incident.
LILA LISBON
The 'C 425' of the Indian Coast Guard medevaced a 59 year old Indian crew member of the 'Lila Lisbon' off Paradip in Odisha on MArch 17, 2024, at 7.50 p.m. The patient was handed over to the shipping agent at Paradip for further medical care. Report with photo: https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/coast-guard-conducts-medical-evacuation-of-indian-crew-onboard-liberia-flagged-merchant-vessel-lila-lisbon
LADY SOFIA
The USA have blacklisted the 'Ady Sofia' after a ship-to-ship transfer with ‘fake’ vessel linked to the Houthi financial fixer Sa’id al-Jamal. The tanker was expected to deliver its cargo of alleged Iranian oil to China. It had received the cargo on Jan 31, 2024, off Singapore from a tanker that was falsely broadcasting its location and disguised as a fictitious tanker, the 'Amor', according to US Treasury officials. The “fake” tanker, the 'Mehle' (built 1999), had been blacklisted earlier that month because it was said to be linked to the network of the alleged Houthi financial fixer Sa’id al-Jamal.
RED JET 6
Disruptions on Red Funnel's Red Jet service were to continue until at least March 22. A replacement vessel of Blue Funnel was running in its place but journeys are taking up to 50 minutes, as opposed to the usual 28 minutes. Red Funnel was to run three extra sailings from both Southampton and Cowes at peak times after a water jet issue was reported with the 'Red Jet 6' and a technical issue with the starboard jet room on the 'Red Jet 7'. The 'Red Jet 6' was docked in Southampton, alongside the 'Red Jet 4', while the 'Red Jet 7' was sent to the Wight Shipyard, East Cowes. Repairs to the 'Red Jet 7's jet propulsion system were underway. Red Jet crossings - March 19 to March 22: Departing Southampton: 05:30 / 06:40 / 07:50 / 09:00 / 10:20 / 11:30 / 12:40 / 13:50 / 15:00 / 16:10 / 17:20 / 18:30 / 19:40 / 21:05 / 22:30 Departing West Cowes: 06:05 / 07:15 / 08:25 / 09:35 / 10:55 / 12:05 / 13:15 / 14:25 / 15:35 / 16:45 / 17:55 / 19:05 / 20:15 / 21:40 / 23:05 Additional Blue Funnel crossings: Departing Southampton: 07:30 / 09:50 / 16:50 Departing West Cowes: 06:30 / 08:50 / 15:50
GARCIA DEL CID
The Government justified that the woman missing from the 'Garcia del Cio' had a single cabin, and the accused was not present. This was stated by the Executive in a parliamentary response after being asked by Podemos about who made the decision that a woman had to work with her attacker, and what responsibilities were going to be assumed in this regard. The Government recalled that the aforementioned complaint of sexual harassment took place in 2019 and added that when, in 2020, the Prosecutor's Office determined the dismissal of the criminal case,it did so because the complainant and the person she reported signed an agreement in which both explained that it had been a misunderstanding. Among other things, the agreement admitted the possibility of matching the minimum essentials with the occasion of her work activity and the complainant was also provided with an individual cabin. The Executive specified that the ship has its own agreement, with its own working conditions (salaries, permits, vacations, professional categories, etc.) but it did not include mobility of workers who were subject to this agreement. "When the missing person boarded, she did so because she had all the required reports: employment registration, certificate from the Social Institute of the Navy (ISM) and medical examination of fitness for boarding. A failure to board would imply not allowing the worker to carry out her job, counting with all the aptitude requirements. When the disappearance occurred, the person initially reported was not part of the ship's role, so he was not present when she set sail. During the entire procedure the CSIC has acted in accordance with current regulations. The Government indicated that the CSIC had carried out its own internal investigation of the events. The organization considered training in gender equality and prevention of sexual and sex-based harassment as one of the basic pillars for its prevention. Regarding the protocols for cases of sexual harassment of the CSIC, it clarified that on ships, in particular, in addition to systematically authorizing all requests for training on the subject given within the training plan of the research organization that are requested by the staff on-board or shore-based support for the activity of the fleet's vessels, numerous specific activities are carried out for the prevention, detection and treatment of incidents of any type. Finally, it highlights that in the CSIC, between 2019 and 2023, there were 12 formal complaints and 12 activations of the protocol, seven were admitted for processing and disciplinary proceedings were opened in five cases, and in three of them sanctions were applied. Cases that did not fall within the scope of application of the protocol were also monitored.
GEO BARENTS
On March 16, the 'Geo Barents' was threatened by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard during the rescue of 150 migrants who were in distress on a wooden boat. While the rescue was in full swing, the so-called Libyan Coast Guard approached with the patrol boat 'LCG-302', which had been handed over by Italy and carried out dangerous maneuvers, pursued the RHIBs and even tried to board one of the RHIBs. After more than two hours, the so-called Libyan Coast Guard boat finally left the scene, but not without threatening the crew with consequences. In total, the 'Geo Barents' has rescued 246 people from distress at sea with three boats since March 16. During one of the rescues, around 45 people fell into the water, but fortunately everyone was able to be brought to safety on the 'Geo Barents' which demanded that a nearby safe harbor be allocated so that the rescued people can be brought to shore as quickly as possible.
102HAEJIN
The 'No. 102 Haejin' sank on March 14, 2024, at 4.12 a.m. on a water depth of 60 meters about 8.5 kilometers south of Yokjido Island in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. The accident left three sailors dead and one missing. The sinking was caused by a loss of stability by loading more catches than usual on the aft deck with a net. The Tongyeong Maritime Police Station has secured statements from surviving crew members on March 18, stating that the ship developed a list to port side while moving after loading more catch than usual on the deck behind the ship without storing it in a fish hold on the stern deck to meet the consignment time of the Tongyeong Fisheries Cooperative at around 5 a.m. the same day. Most of the catches were sardines, two to three times more than usual, and about 40 tons were caught. In the case of mackerel, which is mainly caught by this ship, the usual catch is found to be between 10 and 20 tons. The Coast Guard judged that the maximum amount of catch that the ship can load was up to 4,800 boxes, so it was not overloaded.
SPARTA IV
The 'Sparta IV' is one of the ships at the top of the list of possible targets by Ukraine as the freighters owned by state-owned Russian shipping companies transport weapons. The ship is actually in the North Sea on the way to Baltiysk with an ETA as of March 23, 2024. It is expected in the North Sea on March 19. A Russian naval unit is currently operating there. It is still unclear whether Russia's naval presence in the North Sea is currently connected to the diverted freighter which is of great importance for Russia. On Feb28, the “Sparta IV” was off Istanbul and was supposed to travel through the Bosphorus into the Black Sea to Novorossiysk, the previous hub for Russian military supplies via the Kerch Bridge. As Ukraine expanded naval drone attacks, sinking a landing ship on Feb 14 and a corvette on March 5 and the “Sparta IV” narrowly escaped an attack by Ukrainian Magura-type drones on its way from Novorossiysk to the Bosphorus last year, it is shown that the Russian Navy has not yet succeeded in developing effective defense concepts. The “Sparta IV” turned around off the Bosphorus on Feb 26 and sailed back through the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea. Together with two other supply ships from the Russian army, the ship set course for the Baltic Sea at the beginning of March. Another aspect for the change of course could be that Russia would have to bring military equipment that is landed in Novorossiysk to the front via the Kerch Bridge. So it may be that Russia is now trying not to necessarily carry important supplies over this bridge if there are alternatives such as the Baltic Sea. The freighter “Sparta IV” belongs to the Russian state shipping company SC South LLC in Novorossiysk. The same shipping company also owns the freighter “URSA Major”, which was on its way to the Black Sea behind the “Sparta IV” and has now also set course for the Baltic Sea. Both ships were in the English Channel on March 18. The freighters are followed by a Russian tanker. According to the visible inputs in the AIS devices on board, the destination ports are now the Russian military base Baltiysk in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg. The ships are no longer allowed to pass through the Kiel Canal because they are high on the US and EU sanctions lists. The freighter “Sparta IV” was last seen in the Kiel Canal in Dec 2021, when it was carrying cargo from Russia on its way to the Black Sea. Even then, the ship was suspected of transporting high-value military goods. The return of the “Sparta IV” to the Baltic Sea could also be the reason for the Baltic Fleet’s naval maneuvers that have been underway for several days. Corvettes, frigates and aircraft practice attacks on sea targets and submarines. The frigate “Neustrashimy” sailed past Rügen through the Kadet Trench and Fehmarn Belt on MArch 18 en route to the North Sea. The frigate was shadowed by the patrol ships “Bamberg” and “Neustadt” and the German mine diving boat “Rottweil” from Kiel as well as the patrol boat “Nymfen” of the Danish Navy. The “Neustrashimy” followed the Russian naval tanker “Kola”, which has been in the North Sea since the weekend.
RUEN
The operation of the INS 'Kolkata' to re-capture the 'Ruen' lasted 40 hours. Through concerted actions the crew successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender and ensured the safe evacuation of the 17 crew members in the evening of March 16 without any injury almost 1400 nautrical miles from the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by the INS'Subhadra', RPA 'Hale', the maritime patrol aircraft 'P 81' and Marcos Prahars air-dropped by a C-17 aircraft. The 'Ruen' has also been sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. Reports with photos: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/thats-what-friends-are-for-india-bulgarias-sweet-exchange-after-rescue-of-hijacked-ship-article-108567452