News

A generator explosion in the engine room of the 'Master Dylan' triggered a fire that forced the crew to abandon ship on Dec. 1, 2020. Despite rescue and firefighting efforts by responding vessels, an initial knockdown of the fire ended with a flareup as the boat was under tow, leading to a total $300,000 loss, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. NTSB investigators found the 'Master Dylan' crew was unable to cut off diesel fuel lines feeding the fire because the valves were inside the burning engine room. The agency recommended that fishermen, boat designers and builders should think about putting cut-off valves for fuel and lubrication oil outside of engine rooms where they can be closed off in an emergency. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAB2119.pdf

A team of divers investigates possible leaks in the hull of the 'Vera SU' on the rocks near the Yayla nature reserve, which is home to numerous protected species of birds, as well as endangered marine species. To date, the ship was in a stable position, and the situation was under control, the country's Emergency Rescue Directorate announced. There were no indications of any spillage around the ship, neither of fuel or lubricants nor of residues or remnants of cargo. Greenpeace, however, assured that the analyzes of the water in the area indicated the presence of contamination, with levels of nitrogen compounds close to those that would be in a city sewer. Although the weather conditions were improving in the area, cargo removal operations have been postponed for days, largely due to disputes with the owner of the ship. The investigations have concluded that the grounding occurred due to the negligence of the duty officer, who fell asleep at the helm. Both the captain and the second on board were currently in preventive detention. The prosecution accuses both of causing an accident, causing significant damage and endangering the lives of other people. Report with video: https://es.euronews.com/2021/10/14/preocupacion-en-bulgaria-tras-el-naufragio-de-un-barco-con-fertilizantes-nitrogenados

The coast guard found signs of an accident on the British oil tanker Orange Victoria which was seized in COCHIN after the accident involving a fishing boat on the coast of Vizhinjam The Fort Kochi Coastal Police and the Marine Mercantile Division conducted an inspection of the ship anchored in the open sea on Saturday morning .The paint on this part has been collected by scientific experts for scientific examination . Captain Nikhil told the Coastal Police that they were not aware that the ship had collided with the boat . There are 23 sailors on board . The ship while en route from Singapore to Indian port, presumably struck fiberglass fishing boat 46 nm off COCHIN at night Mar 18. boat was damaged, all 6 crew safe. Hull paint samples are taken, to conduct lab analysis

The Cochin Port Trust handled a record 3.20 million tonnes of cargo in December 2020, a monthly record volume for it. The volume is a 10.55 per cent growth over December 2019, said Cochin Port Trust chairperson M. Beena, in a message to the employees and officials of the port trust. Container movement too touched a consistent 60,000 TEUs consecutively in the four months leading to December. The surge in the movement of cargo is being looked upon as new shoots in the port business after the plans of 2020 were washed away in the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth in cargo movement is “charting a new growth trajectory. However, we need to find new vistas for revenue generation by optimum utilisation of resources available to us,” the chairperson told the port community. The port has been recovering from the losses, which had affected it for the past decade. But the pandemic and resultant loss in business had pushed the port into the red. But the port was expected to make a recovery by the end of 2021, the chairperson said. There was optimism stemming from the fact that though there was a substantial fall in cargo movement in the first half of the current financial year, there was some recovery in the second half. The port trust was also optimistic that the inauguration of the Kochi-Mangaluru LNG pipeline earlier this month would pave the way for more gas volumes and revenue for the port. Meanwhile, figures from the Indian Ports Association showed that ports across the country suffered owing to the pandemic and its impact on the global economy. The average fall across the major ports in the country is nearly nine per cent for the period. Mumbai suffered a fall of more than 17 per cent and the Momugao traffic fell more than 23 per cent and JNPT traffic was down by over 12 per cent. Haldia Dock Complex, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, and New Mangaluru suffered lesser falls in business.

A court in Naples has convicted the captain of the 'ASso Ventotto', now sailing as 'Utty Jean', for returning 101 migrants rescued at sea to Libya on Oct 14, 2021. The verdict issued by judge Maria Luisa Miranda, was the first of its kind in Italy and has been welcomed by human rights groups. The ship's captain, Giuseppe Sotgiu, was found guilty of abandonment-related charges and sentenced to one year in prison. However, the court absolved the defendant of the most serious charge - abuse of office - according to a copy of the sentence.

The Port Authority of Kalymnos was informed in the morning of Oct 14, 2021, by the Master of the 'Blue Star 2' that a person was located in the water southeast of the Pserimos prefecture and north of the Kos prefecture. A patrol boat rushed to the scene and recovered the person, which was taken to the port of Kos and then transported to the General Hospital of Kos for medical treatment. During a search in the wider sea area by the patrol boat, no other person was found. The rescued person, aged 28, had no legal travel documents and was arrested by the Kos Port Authority, which was conducting the preliminary investigation.

Crew change have resumed at the port of Chittagong, albeit to a limited extent. In case of joining, covid negative certificate is required. In case of sign off, the crew will have to undergo a covid test at a local government approved hospital. Which takes a total of 3 days to stay in a hotel. Then he has to show immigration and airlines authorities when he gets on the plane.  We've learned from talking to a crew service provider that this process is safe for all parties. NC Shipping's operations manager said Chittagong port service is now much more efficient and less time consuming. All rules are governed by international standards. "Even in the covid pandemic lockdown, we get international quality service from Chittagong port which has played a positive role in the operation of our ships and maintaining the dynamism of the maritime trade," he added. He thinks crew change approval is part of a continuous process. This is a valiant decision of the government and port authorities 

Ships

The port of Pozzallo has been assigned for the docking of the 'ResQ People' with 58 migrants on board. The ship had left on the evening of Oct 8, just over a month after the end of the first mission, from Porto Empedocle for its second rescue mission, with a crew of 21 people on board. Immediately after departure, the ship rescued the migrants in the night of Oct 9, including 6 women, one in an advanced state of pregnancy, and 17 minors. The ship berthed at the Cargo Terminal on Oct 15 at 9 a.m.

On Oct 15, 2021, a fire broke out on the foreship of the "General Troshev" in the port of Busan during welding works by local contractors during scheduled dock repairs. The fire was quickly extinguished by the crew which was supported from neighboring ships. The affected area was 21 square meters. No casualties were reported. The prosecutor's office will check compliance with fire safety requirements on the ship. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1CZ4s4JhqQ

Vessells

Ships