Due to bad weather, the 'Jetliner', sailing from Kendari City to the port of Raha City, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) with 39 crew members and five passengers on board, ran aground in Muna waters on May 23, 2013, at around 01.30 a.m. WITA, while entering Raha port. Ahead of the grounding, the ferry had suffred damage to the port side main engine, so that during its voyage it used the starboard side main engine. When it entered Muna waters, it was caught by stron winds and currents and got stuck. The KUPP together with the Raha Port Area Police evacuated the passengers. The Harbour Master and related parties planned to return to the ship at around 10.00 p.m. WITA when the water has started to rise to monitor the refloating process. Reports with photos: https://kiatnews.co.id/akibat-cuaca-buruk-kapal-jetliner-kandas-di-perairan-muna-upp-raha-lakukan-evakuasi/ https://butonpos.fajar.co.id/2024/05/22/jetliner-kandas-di-perairan-laino-raha/2/
News
MAUNALEI
A substandard propellor blade caused a loss of propulsion and large spill of hydraulic oil from the 'Maunalei' in August 2022. The ship lost power as a result of a flawed propeller blade on a voyage between Anchorage and Portland according to a US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. The NTSB revealed its findings on May 21, 2023, concluding that the vessel’s controllable pitch propeller had failed to meet design requirements. En route to a drydocking in Portland, theship’s controllable pitch propeller failed, resulting in a loss of propulsion about 245 nautical miles from the entrance to the Columbia River, close to Portland. The vessel’s propeller system was thought to have lost more than 1,632 gallons of hydraulic oil and resulting damage has been estimated at $3m. The NTSB concluded that the manufacture of the propeller was substandard. Cracks and fractures at the base of the fourth blade in the five-blade propeller failed to meet specification requirements and did not meet requirements for impact toughness, tensile, or yield strength. The NTSB investigators concluded that the blade damage was probably an isolated incident. The analysis of other five-bladed propellers on similar vessels indicated no problems. However the blade manufacturer has adjusted the specification to improve propeller fatigue fracture resistance. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2411.pdf
Beirut
The Port of Beirut (PoB) resumed partial operations on Aug 10 with the first two container ships berthing in the container terminal after the explosion which killed at least 160 persons, injured thousands and made hundred thousands homeless. Out of 16 cranes at the container terminal, 12 were currently operational. The port was gradually resuming operations to ensure the supply of all kinds of goods to citizens. Bassem Al Kaissi, the new Director of the PoB, said that the container terminal will be fully operational by Aug 14. Al Kaissi said that 420 containers were unloaded on Aug 10. The container terminal storage area has been cleaned up and restored to its state before the blast. The container terminal represents 80 percent of the overall cargo movement at the PoB. It is located one kilometer away from the blast epicenter. Container vessels can dock at quay number 16. Shipping movement at the PoB had already plunged by 75 percent due to the economic crisis and has reached 15 percent following the blast. Customs have opened offices in the PoB’s warehouse number 14 which was partially damaged. The customs have become able to carry out the inspection of merchandise- Customs duties are being temporarily paid at the Rafic Hariri International Airport. Tthe PoB is now handling only full containers as groupage consignment requires warehouses which don’t exist now. Amer Al Kaissi said groupage, which represents 15 percent of shipments at the PoB, will be diverted to the Port of Tripoli until the rebuilding of warehouses at the PoB is completed. The first two containerships to berth at the PoB after the blast were the 'Electra' (Gezairi Transport) and the 'Nicolas Delmas' (CMA CGM). The 'Electra', which was carrying 400 containers, was diverted to Tripoli where there was a license to operate but the company insisted to unload it in Beirut when it was told that the PoB has resumed operation. The CMA CGM Group and CEVA Logistics said they are fully operational and ensuring business continuity to serve their customers. The Group has redeployed its employees in its two back-up sites in Beirut Digital District and reinforced its presence in Tripoli. Part of CMA CGM’s vessels has been temporarily directed to Tripoli. Few shipping companies are authorized to operate in other ports such as Tripoli or Saida. BCTC, the Customs and the PoB’s authorities did their best to handle the clearing formalities despite the difficult working conditions. The general cargo area was fully operational on Aug 12 both for imports and exports. This includes wheat and other grains as well as construction steel bars. The cost of rebuilding the port is estimated at around $1 billion.
PROTOPOROS XIV
On May 22, 2024, at noon, the Port Authority of Salamina was informed that the ferry 'Empedoklis' ((IMO: 9812793) allided with the docked 'Protoporos XIV' during the berthing manoever at the port of Palukia, causing minor property damage, on a scheduled route from the port of Perama with 136 passengers and 77 vehicles on board. The 'Pioneer XIV' had no passengers and vehicles on board. No injuries were reported from the incident, and no marine pollution was observed. The Port Department of Salamina of the Central Port Authority of Piraeus, which was conducting the preliminary investigation, banned both ships from sailing , until the certificates of seaworthiness have been presented by the attending classification societies.
PS DREAM
The U.S. Department of Justice stated on May 21, 2024, that the two operator companies of the 'PS Dream', the Prive Overseas Marine LLC and Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, have pleaded guilty to intentionally violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and misleading the authority of justice by providing a false report of oil records. The guilty plea was logged in the federal court of Orleans, presided over by the Chief Justice of the U.S. District Court. If convicted, the two companies will be charged $2 million and probation for four consecutive years. Moreover, the captain of PS DREAM has also been separately charged. On Jan 11, 2023, a crew member reported to the Coast Guard of Orleans, by sharing a video that showcased the oil being pumped overboard and trailing behind the vessel. After two weeks, the vessel made a port call at New Orleans, where the crew member submitted the video as evidence to the Coast Guard of Orleans.
EMPEDOKLIS
On May 22, 2024, at noon, the Port Authority of Salamina was informed that the 'Empedoklis' allided with the docked ferry 'Protoporos XIV' ((IMO: 9848974) during the berthing manoever at the port of Palukia, causing minor property damage, on a scheduled route from the port of Perama with 136 passengers and 77 vehicles on board. The 'Pioneer XIV' had no passengers and vehicles on board. No injuries were reported from the incident, and no marine pollution was observed. The Port Department of Salamina of the Central Port Authority of Piraeus, which was conducting the preliminary investigation, banned both ships from sailing , until the certificates of seaworthiness have been presented by the attending classification societies.
Kiel
The PORT OF KIEL has redesigned the port apron in Ostuferhafen, which is the freight and logistics centre on the fjord. Where once stood a grain silo, there is now an expanded pre-stacking and stand-by area of three hectares for trucks, trailers and pas-senger cars.The State Premier of Schleswig- Holstein, Daniel Günther, visited the Ostufer-hafen on 12th August to hand over the grant notice coming from the State Programme Economy for 5.44 million Euros: The project to redesign the port apron included dismantling three hall areas of the former grain silo, excavation and road works as well as drainage, lighting and security measures and the connection of the area to the infrastructure. Through the new and generous port apron it has been possible to merge formerly separated pre-stacking areas, shorten distances and gain more space for trucks, busses, trailers and passenger cars. Furthermore, IT solutions have been developed to accelerate the handling processes at the gate, which also allow truck drivers to reduce personal contact.Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director at the PORT OF KIEL: “Even under the current circumstances the Ostuferhafen operates in a reliable and safe way. The port of Kiel has proven its systemic importance regarding the transshipment of cross-border freight transport.”In the first seven months of the year 2.1 million tons of cargo have been tran-shipped via the Ostuferhafen (+ 1 %). Additional volumes have been transported by the ferries of the DFDS shipping company to the Baltic States or they have been delivered by the SCA-RoRo-freighters from Scandinavia. Not only general cargo and forest products are unloaded resp. transhipped in Ostuferhafen but also project and heavy cargo, scrap metal and agricul-tural products. The integrated passenger terminal to handle cruise vessels emphasizes the universal character of this port part.