On the afternoon of Agu 5, the Port Authority of Argosaronic Gulf was informed by the Captain of the 'Flying Dolphin XIX', that an obstruction had got suck in the vessel's fins, during its scheduled route from the port of Aegina to Piraeus. The ship sailed to the port of Piraeus at a reduced speed, where it safely disembarked its 117 passengers. The 1st Port Guard of Argosaronic Gulf of the Central Port Authority of Piraeus banned the hydrofoil from sailing until the damage was repaired and a certificate of class maintenance was presented by the classification society monitoring the ship.
News
SEA LADY II
Authorities were preparing to salvage the 'Sea Lady II', with the crane ship 'Hebo-Lift 2' (IMO: 9829019) having arrived in St Tropez on Aug 5, en route from Civitavecchia. The 'Sea Lady II' was badly damaged in a fire and has been partially sunk ever since. The fire began in her bow before spreading to the lower decks, alongside billows of black smoke. Authorities had difficulties boarding the yacht but did manage to bring the flames under control. Two crew members were evacuated and have been treated for minor smoke inhalation.
FUNNY GIRL
In the port of Büsum, about 500 liters of marine diesel spilled into the water while refueling the "Funny Girl" on the morning of Aug 6. Emergency personnel from the volunteer fire departments in Büsum and Hennstedt deployed oil booms and began removing the oil film. A total of more than 35 firefighters were involved in the operation, which continued into the early evening. Crews were rotated once. The neighbouring Warwerort fire department also helped with a drone. The scheduled departure to Heligoland island had to be cancelled. The port was closed. Those who were originally planning to travel from Heligoland back to Büsum were taken to Cuxhaven on the ferry "Helgoland" and then transported by coach. Services from Büsum were scheduled to resume on Aug 7.
GUARDAMAR CALIOPE
The motor boat 'Jeff One', with 12 people on board, went adrift on Aug 5 ar the port of Ibiza. The 'Guardamar Concepción Arenal', mobilized by the Coordination Center of Salvamento Marítimo in Palma, took the boat in tow and pulled it to the port. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1953167091881689136
WAN HAI 503
The Wai Hai Lines, the owners of the 'Wan Hai 503', have failed in a bid to secure port of refuge in Hambantota in Sri Lanka. While the China Merchant’s run port had agreed to take the 'Wan Hai 503', sources indicated that agreement with government authorities over conditions to bring the vessel into the country’s waters for salvage operations could not be reached. The Sri Lankan authorities did not outright reject the application for the 'Wan Hai 503', however, asked for a Letter of Undertaking (LoU) on the salvage operation to the value of $3.25 billion, a figure which massively exceeded normal limits of liability. As a result, the application for port of refuge has not proceeded. With the failure to agree port of refuge in Hambantota it leaves the 'Wan Hai 503' with the salvors onboard offshore India and Sri Lanka and adrift on the high seas. Other potential options for a port of refuge in Southeast Asia and the Middle East continued to be explored, with Penang ibeing the most promising at present. With Hambantota in Sri Lanka the port operator in Penang has agreed to take the vessel, but again approval from government authorities will be required. There are concerns over the safety of the damaged vessel in a lengthy towage operation across the Indian Ocean that would coincide with the monsoon season.