The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) has reconstructed the collision of the 'MSTX 21' and the tour boat 'Marco Polo' on July 21, 2022 at 1:19 p.m. in Rotterdam under the Erasmus Bridge and found that inattention and violation of sailing rules characterized the navigation in the minutes prior to the accodemt. The water taxi had picked up four passengers at the Hotel New York at 1:09 p.m. and dropped off the first two in the Rotterdam ferry port, where three people were waiting, a pair with a child. They wanted to take the water taxi, but had not made an appointment. After approval from the control center, the skipper let the three passengers on board. At 1:16 p.m. the water taxi - with the skipper and five passengers on board - left the ferry port and sailed via the Nieuwe Maas in a northeasterly direction to the Leuvehaven. The tour boat was preparing for the third trip on that day and was scheduled to leave at 1:15 p.m.but was a little delayed. There are 84 passengers on board the 'Marco Polo', which finally departed from the Spido mooring pontoon at 1:17 p.m. in a northeasterly direction onto the Nieuwe Maas. The water taxi passes an inland vessel port-to-port and approaches the Erasmus Bridge. On the port side, the driver could still see the 'Marco Polo' almost still. At 1:18 p.m., just before the water taxi passed under the Erasmus Bridge, it passed the passenger ship 'Liza' that was departing. That passage was also port-port, which meant that the 'Liza' was sailing exactly between the water taxi and the 'Marco Polo'. The water taxi could not see the 'Marco Polo' which had now left the quay and in turn was also sailing under the Erasmus Bridge. The Dutch Safety Board has not been able to determine the exact speed of the' Marco Polo', but it would not differ from other times. At 1:19 p.m. and the water taxi wanted to enter the Leuvehaven immediately after passing the Erasmus Bridge. To do this, the skipper made a gentle turn in a northerly direction. The passenger ship 'Liza' was now out of sight, and there was again a direct line of sight between the water taxi and the' Marco Polo'. However, the skipper of the water taxi had his eyes on the Leuvehaven, to see if a ship was coming out of it . Moreover, the captain of the' Marco Polo' did not report the departure on the VHF channel, while he should have done so. The water taxi and the tour boat could see each other for 12 seconds. However, the water taxi was located in the blind spot of the tour boat. One of the passengers warned the skipper of the water taxi. It is unclear whether the skipper heard that warning. The water taxi then suddenly appeared in view of the captain of the 'Marco Polo'. The captain did not expect that, because the agreement is that slow-sailing water taxis sail on the starboard side. In this case, this would have meant that the water taxi would have had to make the crossing from the ferry port and then cross the waterway again at right angles at the Leuvehaven. The only thing left was an emergency stop. But it was too late, and a collision was inevitable. The water taxi capsized and floated upside down in the water. An air bubble ensured that the five passengers and the skipper survived. The skipper tried to open the sliding door of the water taxi, but this did not work. The six occupants were trapped in an air bubble underwater for nine minutes. During that time, another water taxi managed to attach a rope and turn the capsized water taxi. The five passengers and the skipper were able to leave the ship alive via the rear. One of the passengers siffered a broken arm, another bruised ribs, but no fatalities occurred. Report with photos and video: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2024/01/18/reconstructie-aanvaring-watertaxi-en-rondvaartboot-onoplettendheid-met-grote-gevolgen/
News
GR. COSTA DAVORIO
The US Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded their formal public hearing proceedings for the fire on the 'Grande Costa D’Avorio' on Jan 18 in Union, New Jersey. The joint investigation reviewed and considered evidence related to the fire and subsequent fatalities that occurred aboard the ship in the Port of Newark, New Jersey on July 5, 2023. The hearing was broadcast live, recorded and can be viewed at https://livestream.com/USCGinvestigations and documents, exhibits, investigator biographies and other hearing information can be viewed at https://www.news.uscg.mil/News-by-Region/1st-District-Northeast/PADET-New-York/Grande-Costa-DAvorio-Investigation/. The formal hearing convened daily Jan. 10 through 12, and Jan. 16 through Jan 18. The hearing detailed the condition of the 'Grande Costa D’Avorio' prior to and at the time of the fire, including the cargo loading process for vehicles at the Port of Newark, initial response actions by the ship’s crew, and subsequent response and recovery efforts by local land-based fire departments. After this hearing, the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board will compile their independent Reports of Investigation, inclusive of recommendations to improve maritime and first-responder safety and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. At a future date, both the Coast Guard and NTSB will issue separate reports of findings, which will include the respective agency’s official determination of the probable cause of this incident and recommendations to correct safety problems discovered during the investigations. Preliminary recommendations from the Coast Guard were published and shared with industry partners on Nov. 20, 2023, through Marine Safety Alert 09-23, recommending coordinated marine firefighting preparation efforts nation-wide through area contingency plans.
AMERA
A 143-day trip around the world with Phoenix Travels ends in the Seychelles as the “Amera”, planned for the trip, is still at the Remontowa shipyard in Gdansk, and the replacement ship “Celestyal Journey” that was used for the start, must be returned to the owner. This means that there is now no vessel for the continuation of the world trip planned until May. The reason for the longer stay in the shipyard was supply chain problems with necessary components, so that the “Amera” could not start in December on time and is supposed to be delivered on Feb 10, 2024, now. Phoenix had chartered a replacement ship from the Greek shipping company Celestyal Cruises, with which at least the first part of the world trip from Genova to Cape Town and then to the Seychelles could be carried out, but Phoenix has to return the ship to Celestyal because the company The ship will be used for cruises in the Mediterranean from spring onwards and therefore the charter contract cannot be extended for the remaining travel time. Phoenix has now announced that the trip with the “Celestyal Journey” in its current form will end in Victoria in the Seychelles on Feb 2. The journey could be continued later from Gran Canaria on the “Amera”, however, on a different route. Phoenix now offers its guests different options for the next few weeks.
LUCKY OCEAN NO.1
Scrapped at Busan 01/2024 https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3668206?navList=gallery&category=70&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest&page=1
BVT FORMIDABLE
Sold to Esbjerg Breakers ,towed by Tug Server,arrived Esbjerg 18.01.24
BH LAPEROUSE
In the night of Jan 16 and on Jan 17, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the strait of Pas-de-Calais. The emergency tug 'Abeille Normandie' was deployed to assist a boat in difficulty off the coast of Wimereux. 37 people were then rescued by the crew of the emergency tug and dropped off at the quay in Boulogne-sur-Mer. In the morning of Jan 17, the 'Lapérouse' was engaged for a boat whichwas in difficulty off the coast of Cayeux-sur-Mer. The crew rescued nine people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered and continued on their way. In connection with the CROSS Gris Nez, surveillance is maintained on the boat by on-site resources. The castaways were then dropped off in Boulogne-sur-Mer too, where they were taken care of by the shore based rescue services and the border police. In total, 46 people were rescued by the French means.
GUARDAMAR C.ARENAL
The pleasure boat 'Bravo' reported the sighting of a canoe 123 nautical miles south of La Restinga (El Hierro) on Jan 18. The MRCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Tenerife mobilized the Sasemar 101 aircraft and the 'Guardamar Concepción Arenal'Ä, which rescued the 40 sub-Saharan people on board the boat and took them to La Restinga. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1747888108899557615
ANCIER
The 'Ancier' was identified as the source of an oil sheen and smell that has been plaguing the area around Charlottetown, Price Edward Island, since Jan 14, 2024. The Canadian Coast Guard was investigating the ferry as the source of the leak, and a containment boom has been strung around the vessel. The Coast Guard was investigating to determine the amount of the leak and the type of oil involved. The ferry had made a port stop in Charlottetown as it was beginning a trip to the scrapyards of Alang. She had been repositioned from Georgetown on the eastern end of Prince Edward Island to Charlottetown on Jan 12 and was refueling to prepare for its final voyage. The fueling took place on Jan 13 with the first complaint filed with the local Department of the Environment the following afternoon.
SALVAMAR MACONDO
In the night of Jan 18 a canoe was located 13 nautical miles south of Gran Canaria. The MRCC of Salvamento Maítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Macondo' to assist, which escorted the boat to the port of Arguineguin. At midnight the 43 sub-Saharan occupants safely disembarked.
SALVAMAR MACONDO
The CCS Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo has coordinated the rescue of a canoe 12 nautical miles from Puerto Blanco with 45 people on board. It was accompanied to Aguineguín by the 'Salvamar Macondo'. The 'Salvamar Izar' has rescued 60 people from an inflatable boat located by the SAR helicopter Helimer 204 east of Fuerteventura. The castaways were transferred to G.Tarajal. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1748028718126182902
SALVAMAR MACONDO
On Jan 18, the 'Salvamar Macondo' has rescued 25 boat people, among them 24 men and one woman of sub-Saharan origin, from a canoe which had been located 11 nautical miles south of Gran Canaria. The castaways were transferred to Arguineguín.
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
In the night of Jan 16 and on Jan 17 the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the strait of Pas-de-Calais. The 'Abeille Normandie' was deployed to assist a boat in difficulty off the coast of Wimereux. 37 people were then rescued by the crew of the emergency tug and dropped off at the quay in Boulogne-sur-Mer. In the morning of Jan 17, the hydrographic vessel 'Lapérouse' of the French Navy was engaged for a boat whichwas in difficulty off the coast of Cayeux-sur-Mer. The crew rescued nine people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered and continued on their way. In connection with the CROSS Gris Nez, surveillance is maintained on the boat by on-site resources. The castaways were then dropped off in Boulogne-sur-Mer too, where they were taken care of by the shore based rescue services and the border police. In total, 46 people were rescued by the French means.
BLUE DREAM MELODY
The former 'AIDAvita' which that left the German AIDA company a few months ago, will continue its career in China. The ship has remained tied up in the port of Tallinn since Nov 29, 2023, after finishing her career with AIDA, and since then there have been several rumors about her future. Eventually Blue Dream acquired it, and the ship has been renamed 'Blue Dream Melody' on Jan 17, 2024. It will start its voyage to China in the next few days where it will be refurbished for the new role.
PLUTO
The 'Pluto' en route from Fukuyama to Busan, suffered engine trouble on Jan 11, 2024, at around 7.40 a.m. and anchored off the port of departure. A radio call notifying one crew member was missing with a possibility that he fell into the sea was made to the Japan Coastguard, which launched an SAR operation. The 'Pluto', with its navigation status as NUC, remained moored in pos. 34 19 28 N, 133 22 11 E, about 4,4 nautical miles from Numakuma as of Jan 19.
CHEM RANGER
Hours after American forces conducted strikes on Houthi missile launch sites in Yemen, the group claimed another attack on the 'Chem Ranger', en route from Jeddah to Shuwaikh, with missiles on Jan 18, 2024. U.S. forces denied that the missiles struck their target with both of them splashing down in the water without causing any damage. The ballistic missile attacks appear to have been just one of several attempted Houthi strikes reported on Jan 18. In a series of advisories released in the night, Royal Navy security agency UKMTO reported two UAV approaches and apparent near-misses in the Gulf of Aden. In one instance at the east end of the gulf, a merchant ship reported that four unidentified UAVs were flying nearby, and one UAV went into the water at a position about 800 meters away. In the second incident, at a position about 115 nautical miles southeast of Aden, a vessel reported that one UAV went into the water 30 meters off the port side. No damage was reported in either encounter.
SALVAMAR IZAR
The CCS Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo has coordinated the rescue of a canoe 12 nautical miles from Puerto Blanco with 45 people on board. It was accompanied to Aguineguín by the 'Salvamar Macondo'. The 'Salvamar Izar' has rescued 60 people from an inflatable boat located by the SAR helicopter Helimer 204 east of Fuerteventura. The castaways were transferred to G.Tarajal. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1748028718126182902
VIKING IDUN
Topal F., the former captain of the “Viking Idun,” pleaded not guilty in his criminal trial on Jan 15, 2024. The prosecution accuses him of failing to provide assistance in 27 cases in connection with the collision of the sister ship “Viking Sigyn” with the excursion ship “Hableány” in Budapest in May 2019. The “Viking Idun” was in the immediate vicinity of the “Viking Sigyn” at the time of the accident as both ships approached Margaret Bridge. 27 people died, and a South Korean passenger is still missing. The Ukrainian captain Topal F., who was unable to appear in person due to the ongoing war in his country and his health condition, took part in the hearing at the Central District Court of Pest using video conferencing technology. The public prosecutor had previously recommended that he be sentenced to a suspended sentence and a ban on driving ships, but the defendant did not accept this. As the defendant explained, he felt that the “Viking Sigyn” was slowing down considerably. After consultation, he began to overtake them. Since there were two large passenger ships, both could not pass the Margaret Bridge at the same time. According to Topal F., the weather was bad, it was raining, there was a strong wind and the radar images were blurry, which made orientation difficult. The defendant did not notice how the “Viking Sigyn” collided with the much smaller “Hableány”. He only found out about the collision, when his ship docked further south. The crews of the smaller ships in the area had caused chaos via radio in Hungarian, so the international “Mayday” warning signal could not be heard. According to Topal F., no one on board the “Viking Idun” was able to notice the accident. In his defense, the defendant pointed out that he was primarily responsible for his own ship, its crew and passengers and could only take part in a rescue operation if it did not endanger anyone on his ship. The captain of the “Viking Sigyn”, Yuriy Chaplinsky, who was also Ukrainian, had already been sentenced to 5,5 years in prison for causing the accident.
GREEN ISLE
The 'Green Isle' (IMO: 9963645), was disabled with seven people on board, en route from Ardglass to Mallaig, due to serious weather conditions amid a snowstorm in pos. 57 13 00 N, 005 39 24 W, about 1,4 nautical miles south of the Glenelg Ferry Slip on Jan 16, 2024 at 5.30 p.m. UTC. Subseuqently it aground in the Sound of Sleet, Isle of Skye. The RNLI boats of the stations Kyle and Mallaig were mobilized at 5.50 p.m. and reached the scene at 6 p.m. Upon the arrival of the 'Spirit of Fred. Olsen', from Kyle, the vessel was on the rocks and listing slightly to port. The seven crew on board were all accounted for and uninjured. The U.K. Coastguard helicopter Rescue 498 from Inverness arrived on scene, however at this point there was no danger to the crew, so the helicopter was stood down and returned to its base. The tide was coming in rapidly, and approximately 10 minutes later the vessel began to move. The tides in the narrows, which were running at 6,5 knots, began to pivot the vessel around the rock, forcing it hard aground and the list to port side soon increased to 26 degrees, with the potential for this to increase as the tide pressed against the side of the vessel forcing it further towards capsizing. The crew readied their life raft and got prepared to abandon the vessel. The lifeboat could not get alongside the vessel but stood by to rescue the crew who entered the water. At 6.30 p.m. the Mallaig lifeboat arrived on scene, and a couple of minutes later the tide rose sufficiently, so that the vessel began to level off and then came off the rocks. Due to the nature of the grounding the vessel decided to proceed to the nearest port to be inspected for damage, therefore they headed for Mallaig. The Mallaig lifeboat escorted the vessel back to the harbour to ensure it made it safely, and the Kyle lifeboat returned to its station.The fishing vessel 'Naomh Peader 2' went on standby and escorted the ship into Mallaig harbor along with the Mallaig RNLI boat, where the vessel was met by the Mallaig CRT. Divers attended the vessel on Jan 17. Report with photo: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/january/16/kyle-and-mallaig-lifeboats-launched-to-trawler-hard-aground-at-kylerhea-narrows