News

The authorities in Estonia have, during an inspection of the 'Kiwala', which was intercepted in the Baltic Sea by units from the Estonian Navy, found 40 shortcomings and deficiencies. Inspectors from the Transport Administration conducted a full-day inspection and identified several significant deficiencies. Of on the whole 40 deficiencies being found, 29 were deemed significant and formed the basis for detaining the vessel. 23 of those were documentation-related, while others concerned failures in the ship’s safety management system, crew emergency preparedness, and technical malfunctions. Estonian authorities stated that the vessel lacks a valid flag state and insurance. The ship could not to continue sailing, as it could endanger safety at sea and the marine environment. According to the ship's Chinese captain, the tanker is registered in Djibouti, which was however rejected by Djibouti, which has not been able to find the ship in its ship registe after having withdrawn the flage due to previous illegal activities of the ship, which has changed owners and names several times in recent years. The tanker had thus entered the Gulf of Finland on April 10 without valid flag state certification or insurance. The vessel is also subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, and Switzerland for past illicit conduct. After entering Estonia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the ship was contacted and directed into Estonian territorial waters for inspection. The tanker is sailing in ballast and was on its way to Ust-Luga in Russia, when the Estonian authorities intervened, exercising its rights and international obligations to inspect a stateless vessel. Operating without a flag leaves a vessel outside any national jurisdiction, violating international maritime norms. The majority of the ship's 24-man crew is from China, the rest from Mauritania. Report with photo: https://tvpworld.com/86137104/estonian-inspectors-find-detained-shadow-fleet-tanker-has-dozens-of-deficiencies

Om March 28, 2025, the 'Sea Star 74' was detained in Tuapse with 20 deficiencies: 1) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm systems Inoperative 2) Living and working - Other (Mooring) Other 3) Pollution Prevention - Suspected of discharge violation 4) Pollution Prevention - Pumping, piping and discharge arrangements Not as required 5) Water/Weathertight - Scuppers, inlets and discharges Not as required. 6) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Expired 7) Safety of navigation - Navigation records Not as required 8)) Safety of navigation - Bridge operation Not as required 9) Safety of navigation - Voyage or passage plan Inoperative 10) Living and working - Cleanliness Not as required 11) Living and working - Ropes and wires Not as required 12) LIving and working - Anchoring devices Not as required 13) Fire safety - Fire pump and its pipes Not as required 14) Fire safety - Fire doors/openings in fire resisting division Not as required 15) Fire safety - Fire fighting equipment and Appliances Not as required 16) Fire safety - Other (Fire safety) Other 17) Life saving Appliances - Lifeboats Not properly maintained 18) Pollution Prevention - Retention of oil on board Not as required 19) Fire safety - Remote Means of control Inoperative 20) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on April 5 and has remained stationary in the port since. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On April 7, 2025, the 'Sea Breeze' was detained in Trieste with 23 deficiencies, seven of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Safety of navigation - Charts Not updated 2)Labour conditions - Provisions quantity Insufficient 3) Fire safety - Fixed fire exthinguishing installation Inoperative 4) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm system Not as required 5) Fire safety - Fire fighting equipment and Appliances Not as required 6) Fire safety - Evaluation of crew performance Lack of training 7) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on April 14 and left the port en route to Constanta with an ETA as of April 22. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On April 9, 2025, the 'Ayana Sea' was detained in Kocaeli with 18 deficiencies, five of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Certificate for Master and officers Not as required 2) Living and working - Cleanliness of engine room Insufficient 3) Water/Weathertight - Doors Not properly maintained 4) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Not as required 5) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion main engine Not as required The vessel was released again on April 11 and left the port en route to Sulina, where it arrived on April 15. The last detention was on Feb 21, 2024, also in Kocaeli, with 25 deficiencies for five days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

Already on Dec 26, 2024, the 'Kristin' was detained in Setubal with nine deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Liability for the removal of wrecks certificate Expired 2) Certificate & Doc - Certificate or documentary evidence of financial security relating to shipowners liability Expired 3) Certificate & Doc - Certificate or documentary evidence of financial security for repartriation Expired 4) Certificate & Doc - Civil liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage Certificate Invalid 5) Certificate & Doc - Minimum safe manning doc Invalid 6) Emergency systems - Emergency source of power - emergency generator Not as required The vessel was released again only on April 14, 2025, afte r110 days. The last detention was on March 15, 2024, Papenburg with 27 deficiencies for 25 days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591