As the Republic of Fiji Navy welcomed RFNS 'Savenaca' along with the crew of RFNS 'Puamau' on the night of June 14, salvage works in Lau seemed impossible as the patrol boat was partially submerged and flooded. The oncoming salvage operations, set against a backdrop of favourable weather forecasts for the next few days, will prioritise safety, fuel extraction, and the careful recovery of the vessel from the reef, with a steadfast commitment to minimising environmental impact. The Crisis Management Team and contracted salvage subject matter experts, have also mapped out contingency plans to tackle potential issues, while also recognising the challenging conditions surrounding the passage at the reef. The logistical challenges , including the distance of Fulaga from Suva, interim measures will be implemented post-reef recovery until a dedicated salvage vessel arrives in the country. Report with photo: https://www.fijivillage.com/news/RFNS-Puamau-slowly-takes-in-water-on-the-reefs-in-Fulaga-f548xr/
News
BOEMLAFJORD
A 31-foot fishing vessel took in water in the Bømlafjorden in Vestland with one person on board on June 14, 2024, at 5 p.m. and asked for assistance. An ambulance boat and a boat from the defense which was nearby were sent to tthe scene. The first ship on site was the 'Bømlafjord', which launched its MOB. It reached the casualty just before 5.30 p.m. The skipper has left the boat, and had boarded a smaller dinghy. He was then taken aboard the ambulance boat 'Rosedoktoren'.
VOX MAXIMA
Cleanup operations were moving ahead at Pasir Panjang Terminal on Sentosa in Singapore after the 'Vox Maxima' allided with the berthed Singapore-flagged bunker tanker 'Marine Honour' (IMO: 9422811) on the morning of June 14, 2024, resulting in an oil spill. A cargo tank of the 'Marine Honour', which was next to a container vessel berthed at Pasir Panjang Terminal, was breached and leaked oil into the sea. In the evening the affected oil tank has been isolated and the spill has been contained. The oil slick has affected three beaches. Floating barriers were laid out to prevent further spread of the oil. The clean-up work was in full swing. It was not clear how much oil has leaked. There was no impact to navigational safety and berthing operations. Reports with photos: https://www.destentor.nl/buitenland/stranden-in-singapore-kleuren-pikzwart-na-ongeluk-met-nederlands-schip-vox-maxima~a1977559/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.de%2F
TUTOR
The 'Tutor' which was hit by a surface drone and a missile in the Red Sea, was drifting downwind abandoned by its crew and slowly taknig on water on June 14. The 21 surviving Pinoys were rescued by the USS 'Philippine Sea (CG 58)' and partner forces. and taken to port. The rescue took place between 10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. One crew member was seriously injured in the attack, while another crew member was still missing. It was feared that the missing crew member, who comes from the Philippines, was trapped in the flooded engine room. The fire on board that arose as a result of the attack has been extinguished, but the damage is so great that the ship cannot be maneuvered and the crew has not returned. The Tsavliris Salvage Group has been hired to salvage the 'Tutor'. The company has two tugs on their way to the position, but the first of them will not arrive until June 17.
LASHETTE
On June 13, 2024, an accident investigation report has been releasedon the allision between the trawker 'Kirkella' (IMO: 9808405) and the unmanned 'Shovette' at the King George Dock in Hull on June 24, 2022. The incident resulted in pollution and raised safety concerns. On that day, while the trawler was docked at Hull, the crew of the 'Kirkella' lost control of its propulsion system. The vessel allided with the 'Shovette', which was moored ahead and hat its hull and starboard fuel tank breached by the 'Kirkella'’s bulbous bow. As a result, approximately 7,000 litres of marine diesel oil spilt into the dock. There were no injuries, the 'Kirkella' suffered minimal damage. The pitch levers for the 'Kirkella'’s propulsion control system were not aligned between the bridge and engine control room during control transfer. The 'Kirkella'’s engineer failed to check the pitch lever when control was passed between the bridge and the engine room. There was no established procedure for control changeover. The classification society’s rules for remote control of engines were not in line with international unified requirements. The report included the following recommendations: - Det Norske Veritas (DNV): Propose a review of Unified Requirement M43.12 to clarify its intent. - Inform customers that the Rolls-Royce Helicon-X3 system may allow remote control station changeover with mismatched levers and recommend contacting the manufacturer for advice. - Kongsberg Maritime: Issue a service letter to customers advising them that the Rolls-Royce Helicon-X3 system’s remote control changeover process can lead to significant alterations in propelling thrust due to mismatched levers. Provide guidance on operation and rectification if requested. In addition to the report, a safety flyer has been distributed within the shipping industry. It emphasised the risk associated with mismatched propeller pitch levers during control transfer and suggests potential mitigation measures.
YAF HORIZON
There was no evidence that the fire aboard the 'Yaf Horizon' at the Port of Haifa on June 10 came under attack from Hezbollah and was hit by a drone or gunfire. The ship has a history of inspection violations, including issues with engine room cleanliness, fire damper operations and nonworking fire alarms. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVUdSWi-AjQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.polygraph.info%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title
SAMARIA I
On the morning hof Jun 15, 2024, the Port Authorities of Chania, Paleochora and Chora Sfakion were notified of a vessel with a sufficient number of passengers three nautical miles southwest of Gavdos. Immediately, a boat with officers from the Gavdos Coast Guard went to the position, where they spotted a wooden boat with 43 migrants, en route to the Karave port of Gavdos, accompanied by the boat. Subsequently, they boarded the 'Samaria I' and were initially transported to the port of Chora Sfakion and then to a temporary storage area, in the port of Souda. The Central Port Authority of Chania, which conducted the preliminary investigation, confiscated the wooden boat.
VENTA MAERSK
The 'Venta Maersk' was hit by GPS jamming on the night of April 27, 2024, north-east of Bornholm heading for Klapeida. Other ships in the area also lost the GPS signal as a result of Russian harassment. The sihp, however, has processes and equipment to navigate without connection to GPS. The Russians possess the necessary technology and have previously demonstrated the equipment in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. GPS jamming is being experienced more and more frequently in the Baltic Sea area, and André Ken Jakobsson, who researches hybrid warfare at the University of Southern Denmark, links the development to Western support for Ukraine, where Denmark is among the largest contributors.
QUEEN VICTORIA
On June 214, 2024, the 'Queen Victoria' sailing 100 nautical miles wast of Barcelona, en route from La Seyne sur Mer to Palma de Mallorca, requested the medical evacuation of a 32-year-old woman due to premature birth. The CCS Palma and CCS Barcelona of Salvamento Marítimo coordinated the response and mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 206, which hoisted the woman and transported her to the Son Espases hospital in Mallorca. The cruise ship arrived in the port on June 15 at 7 a.m.
PUAMAU
The circumstances leading to the grounding of the RFNS 'Puamau' will be comprehensively investigated and understood through due process by the Fiji Navy. The primary focus remained on conducting salvage operations with utmost regard for environmental safety while also addressing counseling support for the crew and families. The challenging conditions of Fulaga passage highlights the need for thorough planning and proactive measures with salvage experts to address any potential contingencies. Additional recovery equipment and resources were being mobilised, including specialist equipment from overseas, to facilitate the safe removal of fuel and stores before pulling the vessel from the reef. The bulk of salvage resources were anticipated to arrive by the weekend of June 15/16, and a team of Navy divers and engineers continued to monitor the vessel. The Fiji Navy has acknowledged the Australian Government, Pacific Maritime Security Program, local and regional partners for their unwavering support. Reports with photos: https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/grounding-incident-to-be-investigated/ https://www.thedcn.com.au/news/adf-assists-fijian-navy-after-aussie-built-patrol-boat-runs-ground/
KIRKELLA
On June 13, 2024, an accident investigation report has been releasedon the allision between the 'Kirkella' and the unmanned tug 'Shovette' (MMSI: 232031441) at the King George Dock in Hull on June 24, 2022. The incident resulted in pollution and raised safety concerns. On that day, while the trawler was docked at Hull, the crew of the 'Kirkella' lost control of its propulsion system. The vessel allided with the 'Shovette', which was moored ahead and hat its hull and starboard fuel tank breached by the 'Kirkella'’s bulbous bow. As a result, approximately 7,000 litres of marine diesel oil spilt into the dock. There were no injuries, the 'Kirkella' suffered minimal damage. The pitch levers for the 'Kirkella'’s propulsion control system were not aligned between the bridge and engine control room during control transfer. The 'Kirkella'’s engineer failed to check the pitch lever when control was passed between the bridge and the engine room. There was no established procedure for control changeover. The classification society’s rules for remote control of engines were not in line with international unified requirements. The report included the following recommendations: - Det Norske Veritas (DNV): Propose a review of Unified Requirement M43.12 to clarify its intent. - Inform customers that the Rolls-Royce Helicon-X3 system may allow remote control station changeover with mismatched levers and recommend contacting the manufacturer for advice. - Kongsberg Maritime: Issue a service letter to customers advising them that the Rolls-Royce Helicon-X3 system’s remote control changeover process can lead to significant alterations in propelling thrust due to mismatched levers. Provide guidance on operation and rectification if requested. In addition to the report, a safety flyer has been distributed within the shipping industry. It emphasised the risk associated with mismatched propeller pitch levers during control transfer and suggests potential mitigation measures.
CEG COSMOS
On June 13, 2024, at 9.28 p.m. the British Coastguard requested the Islay RNLI to launch to the 'CEG Cosmos', which was suspected of being aground in the Sound of Islay, en route from Kyle of Lochalsh. Following discussions with the Coastguard, Islay’s all-weather lifeboat 'Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II' launched. The seven volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat made good speed down the sound in poor conditions with low visibility, strong winds and rain. The vessel was located close to McArthur’s Head on Islay’s eastern shore. Upon reaching the scene, the Islay Lifeboat found that the 'CEG Cosmos' was already back afloat after being grounded. The lifeboat crew then escorted the ship down the Sound of Islay, while the vessel's crew checked for any damage or water ingress following the grounding. The ship chose to proceed to its destination Ayr, and the Islay RNLI were stood down by the Coastguard. The 'CEG Cosmos' berthed in Ayr on June 14 at 5 p.m.
MARINE HONOUR
Cleanup operations were moving ahead at Pasir Panjang Terminal on Sentosa in Singapore after the Dutch dredger 'Vox Maxima' (IMO: 9454096) allided with the berthed 'Marine Honour' on the morning of June 14, 2024, resulting in an oil spill. A cargo tank of the 'Marine Honour', which was next to a container vessel berthed at Pasir Panjang Terminal, was breached and leaked oil into the sea. In the evening the affected oil tank has been isolated and the spill has been contained. The oil slick has affected three beaches. Floating barriers were laid out to prevent further spread of the oil. The clean-up work was in full swing. It was not clear how much oil has leaked. There was no impact to navigational safety and berthing operations. Reports with photos: https://www.destentor.nl/buitenland/stranden-in-singapore-kleuren-pikzwart-na-ongeluk-met-nederlands-schip-vox-maxima~a1977559/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.de%2F https://www.welingelichtekringen.nl/samenleving/olie-op-stranden-singapore-na-ongeluk-met-nederlands-schip
ARKLOW WIND
The chief of police on Svalbard has issued a fine of one million Norwegian crowns to the Irish shipping company which is behind the 'Arklow Wind' and called at Longyearbyen on June 6, 2024, to load a cargo of coal, carrying heavy bunker oil in the tanks. Since 2022, it has been prohibited to call at Svalbard with heavy bunker oil on board, due to the environmentally sensitive and difficult-to-access nature of the islands, in the event of a spill. It is the first time that the ban, which appears in section 82a of the Svalbard Environment Act, has been applied. In addition to the fine to the shipping company, the captain was fined 300,000 NOK. The Norwegian authorities had received a tip that the 'Arklow Wind' had heavy bulk oil in some of the ship's tanks, and therefore made an inspection on board the ship upon its arrival in Longyearbyen. Both the shipping company and the captain have refused to accept the fines, and the case is therefore now in court. The case is scheduled for the start of October at the Nord-Troms District Court in Tromsø.
TUTOR
The body of the crew member, who was killed in the Houthi attack on the 'Tutor', has been trapped in the flooded engine room. It was not immediately clear whether the man died because of a projectile impact or drowned after water poured into the engine room. The vessel became the first ship to be hit by a Houthi sea drone and was subjected to at least one missile attack as well. The bulk carrier has been NUC since the attack and has suffered severe flooding and damage to its engine room. A Houthi spokesman said late on June 12 that the ship was vulnerable to sinking, which was confirmed on June 13, as the engine room was completely submerged. A salvage operation was in full swing.