Beached at Alang 20.04.25
News
Port Elizabeth
On April 30, 2020, at 11.15 a.m. the NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were alerted by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) requesting assistance to evacuate a Filipino crew member of a bunkering tanker at anchorage off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth. The man required transportation to a dentist as soon as possible and considering the Covid-19 lockdown the Port Health Authorities advised the tasking of NSRI to carry out the operation, taking into consideration that NSRI are well prepared for all Covid-19 Department of Health protocols, regulations and precautions. At 1 p.m. the sea rescue craft 'JLT Rescuer' was launched and rendezvoused with the tanker thre miles off Port Elizabeth in calm seas. The patient was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and he was brought to shore and transported to a dentist appointment by the ships agent. At 3.30 p.m. the patient returned to the Port of Port Elizabeth and he boarded our sea rescue craft JLT Rescuer and we transported him back to the ship and returned to base without incident.
Grenaa
After the gas explosion aboard the Danish dredger vessel ‘Grete Fighter‘, 582 gt (IMO: 7944762), on April 23 in the port of Grenå,the Grenaa Shipyard has not yet received a report from the Labor Inspectorate on the cause of the accident which was thought to be be due to gas emissions or diesel fumes. However, the yard has already chosen to tighten security in several areas. On April 28, a joint meeting was held where staff and management discussed what they could do to be 100 percent sure the accident cannot recur. It was decided to buy a lot of technical equipment to prevent such an explosion in the future, and some new procedures for this type of work will be intrduced. The two survivors of the accident were in critical condition.
ISLE OF CUMBRAE
The 'Isle of Cumbrae', , serving on the route Largs-Cumbrae, suffered a technical issue on April 19. The 'Loch Shira' continued operating the route as timetabled. After the issue has been resolved, the vessel was available for service if required.
B-LPG SOPHIA
The tanker 'Captain Nikolas' (IMO: 9008108)( was arrested at Chattogram on April 11, 2025, following an order from a Bangladesh court. The lawsuits leading to the arrest were filed due to the vessel's involvement in a fire at the port on Oct 16, 2024, at around 12:45 a.m., during an LPG transfer with the 'B-LPG Sophia'. While the fire on the 'Captain Nikolas' was extinguished by 3:30 a.m, the fire on the other ship continued to burn for another 12 hours, and the ship was found beyond repair and has been broken up in Chittagong since. The LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh alleged that the origin of the LPG cargo aboard the LPG tanker was unclear and that the records regarding its origin were falsified. The issue that the vessel possibly had violated sanctions was under investigation separately. The 'Captain Nikolas' was seized following the fire and remained stationary in Chattogram since due to legal disputes, still holding around 34,000 tons of cargo. The two separate court orders stem from the two admiralty suits filed against the vessel. One suit was filed by the Atlantis Gas DMCC, the owner of the 'B-LPG Sophia', which led to an arrest warrant being issued on April 9. The second admiralty suit was filed by theXenon Energy DMCC, a UAE-based company, which led to a warrant being issued against the same vessel on April 10. The vessel was finally seized on April 11, following two separate court orders for its arrest. The owner of the 'Captain Nikolas' has appointed counsel to contest the lawsuits and was trying to get the vessel released.
Port Elizabeth
On May 2, 2020, at 08.50 a.m. the NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew and EC Government Health EMS were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority to respond to rendezvous with a bulk carrier approaching Port Elizabeth from Cape Town to attend to a 52 year old Iraqi crew member onboard the ship suffering an emergency medical condition, not Covid-19 related. The sea rescue craft 'Spirit of Toft' was launched accompanied by an EMS rescue paramedic and rendezvoused with the ship seven miles East of Cape Recife. The EMS rescue paramedic and an NSRI rescue swimmer were transferred onto the ship and the patient was found to be in a critical condition. The paramedic took over emergency medical treatment from the ships medical crew and the patient, secured into a stokes basket stretcher, was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and the EMS paramedic and NSRI medics continued with medical care onboard the sea rescue craft while the patient was brought to the NSRI Port Elizabeth sea rescue base and in the care of paramedics he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance. Despite extensive efforts by hospital medical staff the patient passed away.
Rostock
On May 2, a HLC 295000 heavy load crane of Liebherr mounted on the deck of the 'Orion I' crashed in the Seaport of Rostock during a test when lifting a pontoon which was filled with 5.550 tons of water. The crane boom broke off, and parts fell onto the 'Orion I', which started to list to port side, and onto the quay edge. Heavy metal pieces flew around. Five people inside the crane's cabin were injured by the heave jerk. The fire brigade, ambulances and police attended with a large contingent. They tried to free the victims from the steel mesh. There were two serious and three minor injuries. A total of 120 people were on board the 'Orion I' who were now being evacuated and looked after. A rescue helicopter has landed. In addition, large amounts of oil leaked out, which the fire brigade has to collect before it got into the water. It is the second accident on the Liebherr site within a few months. In January, two loading cranes fell into the water during tests. The salvage then took several months. Reports with photos and video: https://www.nonstopnews.de/meldung/32916 https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/Rostock-Erneutes-Unglueck-mit-Hafenkran,hafenkran156.html https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/panorama/id_87809036/rostock-krank-knickt-im-hafen-ab-fuenf-verletzte.html
ARGYLL FLYER
The 'Argyll Flyer', serving on the route Gourock- Dunoon, suffered an exhaust fault on April 1 and had to be removed from service. Calmac operated a single vessel timetable until further notice. During the amended timetable, a replacement shuttle bus service was operated for these sailings: Mondays - Saturday Departure Gourock – 10:15 a.m. Departure Dunoon – 10:45 a.m. Mondays & Fridays Departure Gourock – 11:15 a.m. Departure Dunoon – 11:45 a.m. Due to the exhaust fault, the Gourock-Dunoon route operated a single vessel timetable until further notice. During the amended timetable, a replacement shuttle bus service was operated. As of April 3, the 'Argyll Flyer' still remained off service. Modification and repair plans were underway. Due to crew availability, a replacement bus operated for these cancelled sailings: Depart Gourock April 13: 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Departure Dunoon April 13 10:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Gourock-Dunoon service will operate a single vessel timetable until further notice. Until further notice, this amended timetable with a replacement shuttle bus service will be operated by CalMac. Modification and repair plans were underway. https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/service-status/#/service-status/001?route=01.
Durban
On May 3, 2020, at 10.15 a.m. the NSRI Durban launched the sea rescue craft 'Alick Rennie' to transport a ShipsMed doctor to a bulk carrier at the outer anchorage off-shore of the Port of Durban. The Port Health Authorities had arranged for the doctor to take sample swabs from a crewman onboard the ship, which is due to enter Port, for Covid-19 laboratory testing prior to the ship being granted permission to enter Port. Observing all Covid-19 Department of Health and Port Health Authority safety regulations and protocols on arrival at the ship the doctor was transferred onto the ship and sample swabs were collected from the crewman. The doctor returned to the sea rescue craft accompanied by the samples that he had collected and he was brought into Durban Port without incident. Port Health Authorities evaluated the samples to determine safe passage for the ship to enter Port. The operation completed at 11.40 a.m.