News

90 miles northwest of Brest, a 70-year-old English single-hand-sailor got in difficulties in the night of Jan 23, 2020, aboard his 8,5-meter sailboat when being injured when his ship was dismasted. The man has no more means of radio communication. Luckily, the brdige watch 'Maersk Nienburg', coming from Bremerhaven, remarked his distress light signals west of the Ouessant Traffic Separation System At 9 p.m. the CROSS Corsen which had already organized the rescue of two sailors whose sailboat sank off the Pointe du Raz in the afternoon, was alerted and coordinates the rescue operation. Despite wind force the container ship managed to recover the British sailor at 10.20 p.m. The ship was then asked to approach the French coast. At the same time, the SNSM station Conquet was alerted and deployed the lifeboat 'SNS 151 - La Louve' to rendezvous with the freighter 10 miles off the coast. On Jan 24 at 6 a.m. he was transferred aboard the lifeboat 'La Louve' which took him back to shore at Le Conquet, where the injured was taken care of and transported to the Cavale Blanche hospital in Brest. The 'Maersk Nienburg meanwhile had resumed its voyage, heading south-west. The damaged sailboat remained adrift in the sea, and an urgent notice to mariners (AVURNAV) was issued to reinforce the watch. The last known position of the boat was 48.52 N 06.46 W with navigational lights on. French report with photos: https://voilesetvoiliers.ouest-france.fr/securite-en-mer/naufrage/blesse-a-90-milles-de-brest-un-marin-solitaire-de-70-ans-sauve-de-nuit-par-un-porte-conteneurs-9baf2740-3eaa-11ea-9684-70194a6e810b

On Jan 12, 2020, at 8.40 a.m. he 'Seaways Skopelos' suffered main engine issues in Vancouver, British Columbia, in position 49 18 18.6 N, 123 06 48.6 W. The vessel proceeded to anchorage X in Vancouver Harbour for repairs. It left the port again on Jan 13 at 8 a.m., headed to Crockett, where it arrived on Jan 16 aroudn 6 p.m.

After 13 months of inactivity, the 'F.-A.-Gauthier' will resume its service between Matane, Baie-Comeau and Godbout in the coming days. The ship headed to sea on Jan 20, 2020, for trials which were going well. On Jan 23, the ship made the round trip Matane-Baie-Comeau. On Jan 24 it sailed between Matane and Godbout. On Jan 23, the preparation of the crew for the operationalization stage started, and the last tests and mechanical adjustments were effected. The captains will also be re-acquainted with the orders and docking in our various infrastructures. There were several safety tests and exercises to do and also everything relating to customer service such as checkouts, computer system, food service, etc. to be tested. Experts from Europe to identify problems with the electric motors who were working for General Electric were still on board the ferry. The 'Le Vacancier', which has actually been acting as a relief vessel, will make its last crossing on Jan 25. The next day, she will leave for his home port of Cap-aux-Meules in the Magdalen Islands. If be F.-A.-Gauthier will not be able to take over service on Jan 26, the state-owned ferry company STQ will bring back the 'Saaremaa', which is currently moored at the port of Trois-Rivières. The service will be offered continuously and without interruption. In addition, the STQ continues to offer air links between the airports of Mont-Joli, Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles until Jan 31.

The situation of the 'Reem 5' further deteriorated after being abandoned by its crew. The aspahlt tanker was drifting in western direction on Jan 23 partially submerged in pos. 22 19 00N 65 03 00 E. Due to the engine room flooding the vessel finally sank in pos. 22 19 20 N, 065 06 36 E on Jan 24. The Indian Coastguard had continued to monitor the status of the vessel, failing to contact its operator, the Aurum Ship Management of the United Arab Emirates. Also the 'Ganga K' had waited to monitor the condition of the asphalt tanker, before taking the rescued 13 crew members to Mumbai. The 'Reem 5' had been detained in Oman in June 2019 due to a problem with ship certificates.

More than 2,5 years after its collision with the ferry 'Finnsky' on the Warnow on Aug 12, 2017, the 'Stettin' finally entered the Norder Yard in Hamburg on Jan 24, 2020, at 7 p.m. for permanent repairs. Drydocking had been planned for this day, but dense fog prevented the ice breaker from being shifted there, so the planned dock date was now on Jan 27. The repairs were expected to take eight weeks. The starboard side of the ship had been sliced on a length of two meters at starboard side, luckily above the water line. The breach had only been patched with a steel plate which had been welded onto the hull. Now it is to be restored in original condition with rivets. At this opportunity the hull will also be painted and general maintenance be carried out. The repairs costs were expected to take be about one million Euros. During the Port Birthday in Hamburg in May the 'Stettin' will offer tours again from its berth in Hamburg-Övelgönne.