The 'Pacific Achievement' ran aground at km 341.8 of the Paranà River on April 21, 2024. The Coastguard has re-instated navigation at the area on April 22 with a draft restriction of 10.39M FW. The ship was refloated and resumeit its voyage from San Lorenzo to the Delta Zone with an ETA as of April 25.
News
TAI KEYSTONE
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report stated that the tail rotor of an Agusta A109 helicopter struck a handrail while landing on the 'Tai Keystone' on Dec 6, 2023, as the pilot did not detect the obstacle, and the ship’s crew were using an older version of the vessel’s helicopter operations checklist. The report detailed that the helicopter was conducting marine pilot transfer operations to the bulk carrier, which was about 240 km north-east of Mackay, Queensland. As the helicopter’s wheels touched down on the ship’s helicopter landing site, the tail rotor struck an upright handrail that was not identified by the pilot during his approach. The pilot reported hearing a shredding noise and an increase in the engine pitch before completing the emergency shutdown procedure. The helicopter siffered substantial damage and was secured to the deck of the vessel, which then returned to Hay Point to allow the helicopter to be recovered. The ATSB investigation found that the ship’s crew was using an older version of the vessel’s helicopter operations checklist, which did not require the removal of the handrail, and the handrail was not removed during preparation of the landing site. In addition, the handrail was not painted in a color that contrasted with the ship’s deck, which was not in accordance with international guidance. The helicopter was also not positioned correctly during the landing, resulting in its tail rotor being outside the obstacle free zone. While it is the responsibility of the pilot in command to ensure that a landing area is safe, vessel operators should ensure their procedures and landing areas on ships are aligned with the relevant guidance material. To best aid pilots, objects that present a threat to a landing helicopter that are retractable, collapsible or removable should be painted in an appropriate color to ensure they are visible if forgotten or missed. Since the accident, the ship’s operator has updated the relevant checklist, and the helicopter operator has amended its procedures to ensure helicopter pilots are provided with a visual representation of each individual vessel’s helicopter landing site prior to departure. Report with photo: https://www.marinelink.com/news/old-checklist-led-helicopter-incident-513209
CALEDONIAN ISLES
Caledonian MacBrayne announced further delays to the return of the 'Caledonian Isles', which will be out of action until the end of August. The vessel was deemed unfit to return to service during its annual inspection at the Cammell Laird Yard in Birkenhead in January, leaving the main means of crossing between Ardrossan and Brodick relying on a single, smaller ship, the 'Isle of Arran'. In February, the ferry operator insisted the 'Caledonian Isles' would return in June, but this has now been revised until at least the end of August. The scope of repairs will take significantly longer than anticipated. The steel repair work required is understood to involve removing all the engines at a cost of £5 million. As part of the works, the auxiliary engines and their bedplates were removed from the vessel to allow access to the double bottom water ballast tank tops. The structure below the main engines is being supported using hydraulic jacks, whilst the steel around these engines is renewed. The main engines will need to be lifted off their bedplates to allow access under the engines for renewal of the tank top steel directly below the sump.
DALI
One month after the allision of the 'Dali' with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, four bodies have been recovered, over 1,300 tons of steel have been salvaged, and three temporary channels have opened. Access to the Port of Baltimore remained limited since the collapse, and a complex salvage effort is underway in the Patapsco River. Support programs are underway to assist the thousands of workers impacted by the were . Since the collapse, the FBI and NTSB have launched separate investigations into the incident and Baltimore City announced a lawsuit against the owners and managers of the ship. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is leading the salvage effort. Its priority was to clear the main channel through the river to reopen access to the Port of Baltimore. Massive floating cranes were being used as wreckage and debris removal continues. Engineers have to break the mangled bridge into smaller pieces to lift them away, and Navy sonar images revealed wreckage in the deepest part of the channel. The rubble and debris are going to nearby Sparrows Point for processing and recycling. The progress has enabled the opening of three temporary channels for some ships to get in and out of the Port of Baltimore. On April 20, the third temporary channel opened on the northeast side to allow commercial vessels some access to the port, allowing about 15 % of the pre-collapse vessel traffic through as part of a phased approach to opening the river's main channel, which spans 700 feet, by the end of May, restoring port access to normal capacity. The 'Dali' remained pinned under tons of steel at the crash site, and removing more shipping containers from the vessel remained essential to move the ship. Engineers aimed to remove 140 containers to refloat the Dali; 120 containers were removed as of April 19. The 'Dali''s crew of 22 have remained on the ship since the accident. They do not have the appropriate visas to leave the ship, so they rely on organizations to bring them essentials. Officials have been in communication with the crew, as well as the crews aboard other cargo ships stuck in the port. All were in good health. The men killed in the Key Bridge collapse were working for Brawner Builders, filling potholes on the center span of the bridge. Most were immigrants, but all were Marylanders. As a memorial grows on Fort Armistead Road for the six men killed in the accident, recovery efforts to locate the two workers still missing under the wreckage were ongoing. They have been identified as Miguel Luna, of El Salvador, and Jose Maynor Lopez, of Guatemala. Three of the victims recovered were identified as: Dorlian Cabrera, 26, who was originally from Guatemala and lived in Dundalk; Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, who lived in Baltimore and was from Mexico; and Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, 38, of Guatemala. A fourth body who was recovered last week has not been identified at the request of his family, but he was known to be from Mexico. Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched probes into the crash. The NTSB investigation focused on the ship's electrical system, as it had lost power and the ability to steer before the collapse. The agency expected the preliminary report on the collapse to be released by the first week of May. When the FBI launched its investigation, it confirmed it had agents on the ship who were conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity. Baltimore City is suing the owners and managers of the 'Dali', claiming the owners of the ship were negligent in letting the vessel leave the Port of Baltimore without failing to fix known power problems. Perhaps anticipating a wave of lawsuits, the companies that own and manage the ship took steps about a week after the collapse to limit their legal liability. Local, federal and community resources continued to pour in to support the port workers, victims' families and others impacted by the collapse. The disaster affected 15,300 jobs directly related to port activity, but overall about 140,000 people have been impacted. Federal grants were freed up for dislocated workers to help replace jobs affected by the collapse. The government also allocated $8 million in grant funds for infrastructure improvements at Sparrows Point, the only port unaffected by the collapse. Two weeks after the collapse, Gov. Moore signed the PORT Act, which allows the governor to use up to $275 million from the state's rainy day fund to offset wage losses for those impacted by the closure and reduced operations at the Port of Baltimore. The Port of Baltimore Worker Support Program provides temporary relief to Port workers who have lost work and income. The Small Business Administration has also opened recovery centers to assist small businesses. Applications are open for the Port Business Wage Subsidy program, which is administered by the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Employment Development. It will grant $1 million in wage subsidies to help businesses at the port pay their employees. The WJZ has partnered with The United Way of Central Maryland on the Bridging the Gap Fund to support eviction prevention, food access, and other needs. Maryland also launched a website centralizing assistance for those impacted by the collapse. A fourth temporary channel was scheduled to open at the Port of Baltimore on April 25. It will only be open for four days, but at 35 feet deep and 300 feet wide it will allow several ships that are stuck in the Port of Baltimore to get out. There were seven ships ready to get out of the port. Five will be able to get out, including a loaded car-carrier.
SALVAMAR SPICA
The pleasiure boat "Estelle", with one crew member, requested towing assistance in front of the Almería thermal power plant on April 24, after having suffered an engine breakdown. The CCS Almería of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Spica', which took the yeacht in tow and safely pulled it to the Club de Mar in Almería. Photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1783136991179121112
LA 06695
When on April 24, 2024, the 'LA-06695' was towing the barge 'LA-06883' of the Minh Linh Company Ltd., loaded with gravel, from Ky Ha (Quang Nam) to the Ly Son district (Quang Ngai), the barge suddenly sank four nautical miles from Ly Son district. The incident left at least four people dead and one person currently missing. When the authorities arrived at the scenem they initially found three bodies. By the afternoon, one more body was found. The five crew members included Pham Van Hiep (captain), Dang Minh Phuong (Long An); Vo Tan Khuong, Vo Van Nhieu and Bui Minh Tri (Quang Ngai). Currently, the four bodies found have not been identified. The Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority has coordinated with Ly Son District People's Committee and the Ly Son District Border Guard Station to continue the SAR operation. The Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority also issued a notice to the Region II Maritime SAR Coordination Center to support the search for the missing crew members. Report with photos: https://petrotimes.vn/quang-ngai-chim-sa-lan-khien-4-thuyen-vien-tu-vong-710033.html
DENAK VOYAGER
Beached at CHittagong 25.04.24 https://www.facebook.com/100057226638708/videos/768579022082818
OAK EXPRESS
the cargo m/v 'Everwin 11' (IMO: 8630992) allided with the 'Oak Express' on April 11, 2024, at Batangas. The 'Oak Express' was docked in Mabini town’s Landoor pier when the 'Everwin 11' hit its port quarter due to strong sea currents and winds, causing the vessel to drag while maneuvering. The tanker suffered dents, scratches, and punctured port quarter platings. As of April 25, the 'Everwin 11' was still under the custody of the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog. The 'Oak Express' left the port of Batangas on April 23 at 11.35 a.m. UTC, headed to Shekou.
OASIS OF THE SEAS
A 74-year-old female passenger from Belgium caused the 'Oasis of the Seas' to return to Bermuda on April 24, 2024, at 5 a.m. The ship, which en route from Miami, Florida to Cadiz, arrived in local waters at 1 a.m. to drop off a 69-year-old passenger from the USA, who needed medical attention. The passenger was taken to Ordnance Island and escorted safely to KEMH.
NORWEGIAN SKY
Two men, Pascal Bosman of the Netherlands and Martire Cabrera of the Dominican Republic, who arrived in Tortola aboard the 'Norwegian Sky' on April 19, 2024, have been reported missing, as neither man returned to the cruise ship for departure. Local authorities were asking for the public’s help in locating the missing men, and have noted that neither one has departed the territory in any legal means that would involve their paperwork being officially documented. The Government of the Virgin Islands Immigration Department has asked the public for assistance in locating the men. Anyone with information about either man should contact the Department of Immigration or the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. No details about the men or the circumstances by which they are now missing have been released, other than the fact that Cabrera is carrying a St. Kitts & Nevis passport. The 'Norwegian Sky' was in Tortola from approximately 6:30 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. on April 19. The British Virgin Islands was the last port of call before the ship returned to La Romana in the Dominican Republic, where the vessel had set sail from on April 10 for the 10-day Caribbean cruise. The ship had previously visited a variety of destinations, including Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua. There have been no reports from family members or other concerned individuals about either of the missing men, and it was not known whether or not they were traveling together or had some other connection to one another. The men debarked the ship in Tortola, but failed to return to the vessel before its scheduled departure. In the days since, they have not been seen nor have they been recorded leaving the island by any other legal means, such as via air travel. Just a month ago, also in Tortola and also from Norwegian Sky, three passengers – two women and one man – failed to return to the ship and were reported missing in the same manner. While all three were from Colombia, it is not known whether they were traveling together or involved with one another. Report with photos: https://www.cruisehive.com/two-cruise-passengers-reported-missing-in-the-british-virgin-islands/129774
YM PIONEER
The 'YM Pioneer' ran aground on the night of April 23, 2024, at the height of buoy 8, in the outer area of the access channel to the Port of Bahía Blanca, en route to Port Klang with a cargo of corn. The vessel was obstructing the navigation channel, prompting the Coastguard to restrict the traffic between buoy 11 and buoy 1. Initial efforts during the morning high tide to refloat the ship by the tugs 'Tocanado', 'Ona Paz' and 'Svitzer Endeavour' failed. Another attempt was to be made during the next high tide which was expected in the afternoon. After the ship moved on April 24, as of April 25, the ship was stationary in pos. 39° 05.40' N 061° 47.64' W. The grounding was caused by a navigational error.
NEPTUNE
On April 24, 2024, at 12.28 a.m., the RNLI boats of Burton-on-Trent and the Barry Dock offshore lifeboat were tasked to support a a medical evacuation from the 'Neptune'. A man was suffering from chest pains, and the Coastguard helicopter Rescue 187 had been tasked to the incident. The lifeboat 'Doris Day and Brian' was quickly launched, andheadedy towards the Hinkley nuclear power station exclusion zone, whereit liaised with the Barry Dock lifeboat and the rescue helicopter. The lifeboats were on scene in case the helicopter was unable to land a winch man on the 'Neptune'. In that case, they would have been able to take the casualty on board, and transfer him onwards to the helicopter. The patient was air lifted to Southmead hospital and the lifeboats were stood down as not required. Report with photo: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/april/24/burnhamonsea-rnli-paged-at-0028-am-to-support-a-medical-evacuation
EVERWIN 11
the 'Everwin 11' allided with the tank m/v 'Oak Express' (IMO:9405916), on April 11, 2024, at Batangas. The 'Oak Express' was docked in Mabini town’s Landoor pier when the 'Everwin 11' hit its port quarter due to strong sea currents and winds, causing the vessel to drag while maneuvering. The tanker suffered dents, scratches, and punctured port quarter platings. As of April 25, the 'Everwin 11' was still under the custody of the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog. The 'Oak Express' left the port of Batangas on April 23 at 11.35 a.m. UTC, headed to Shekou.
ODYSSEY OF THE SEAS
The 'Odyssey of the Seas' diverted to Bermuda on April 23, 2024, to drop off a 31-year-old male crew member who required medical attention. The ship, which was on its way from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Ponta Delgada in the Azores, arrived in local waters at 7 p.m., and the Indonesian crew member was taken to Ordnance Island by the pilot and rescue boat 'St George' and transported by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
NORWEGIAN PRIMA
An accident report by the traffic accident investigation committee found out that the 'Norwegian Prima' with 4,600 passengers on board was only about 10 meters away from running aground off the island of Viðey on May 26, 2023, after it had gone off course in a storm and the captain had apparently underestimated the situation. The crew of the tug 'Magni' did everything in their power to prevent a major accident. According to the report, the ship had left the Sundahöfn cruise port in Reykjavík on the evening with the assistance of the tug 'Magni'. A strong wind was blowing from the southwest. The pilot recommended that the captain delayed the departure. The captain decided to stick to the schedule, despite the weather and against the pilot's recommendation. The ship had to be turned around before it could head out to sea. Shortly after the turn, strong gusts of 50 knots came in from the west. At the same time, the captain increased the speed. The ship drifted with the wind eastwards toward the shallows while the tug pulled against it at full speed. At the outer edge of the shipping channel, the 'Norwegian Prima' drifted over a buoy, and it was very lucky that a chain hanging from the buoy did not get entangled in the ship's propeller. It was already clear that the ship was way off course and was in great danger of running aground. The captain, who was sailing into Reykjavík harbor for the first time, tried to countersteer with the ship's propellers, but that wasn't enough. The report stated that only ten meters separated the ship from shoals that would have left less than half a meter of space for the keel. The tug had to be repaired after the incident, but the cruise ship remained undamaged. The report contains recommendations on how such incidents can be prevented. Among other things, there is a recommendation for the shipping company to evaluate all information to supplement its own risk assessment. It is also recommended that the Port of Faxaflói update its workflows to ensure good communication between tugs and pilots. This communication must be in English and understandable to everyone. The government is being asked to extend the powers of pilots so that they can refuse ships to leave under certain circumstances. Finally, the report proposes a risk assessment for all ports where passenger ships anchor. Full report with photos: https://www.rnsa.is/media/5200/hs-norwegian-prima-msi-report.pdf