An SAR operation was underway for a crew member who went missing in Singapore waters from the 'Utopia'. The MRCC was notified of the incident on March 15, 2024, at about 3.30 a.m. The MPA, Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force craft have been deployed to search for the missing person within Singapore Port Limits. The MPA also issued navigational safety broadcasts and requests that vessels in the vicinity and in port to keep a lookout and report sightings to MRCC Singapore. The bulk carrier was anchored in Singapore’s Eastern Anchorage, located in the waters south of the East Coast Park.
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RED JET 6
On March 16, 2024, the Isle of Wight to Southampton Red Jet service has been suspended. Initially the service had been running a revised timetable due to a water jet issue on the 'Red Jet 6'. However, the operator has confirmed its Red Jet services have now been suspended following an issue with the 'Red Jet 7' regarding the starboard side jet room. The Red Jet sailings at 10.20 a.m. from Southampton and 10.55 a.m. from Cowes were cancelled due to the same technical issue.
OCEAN VIKING
23 of the 359 migrants still on board the 'Ocean Viking' after being rescued by the SOS Méditerranée ship were disembarked in Catania to receive emergency medical care on March 16. They were transferred at the port's anchorage to an Italian Coastguard boat. The NGO appealed that the 336 other migrants still on board can be disembarked in a port closer than that of Ancona, which was assigned to them by the Italian authorities, some 1,500 km from the rescue site. Many were in an extremely fragile physical and mental state, the majority suffered from severe dehydration, some having had to drink sea water. Others were burned by the mixture of fuel and sea water in the bottom of their boat. During four successive rescues, the 'Ocean Viking' had rescued 361 migrants between March 13 and March 15. The first 25 were rescued while they were drifting in a boat en route from Zawiya in Libya. According to testimonies from these survivors, at least 60 people on board this boat died at sea before they could be saved. Two of these 25 migrants, in serious condition, were immediately airlifted from the Ocean Viking and hospitalized, but one of them, too weakened, did not survive too.
KING RICH
On March 13, 2024, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province requireds the authorities to ensure that the process of salvaging the 'King Rich' from the Cu Lao Cham beach must be on schedule and absolutely avoid environmental pollution. It has sent a document to relevant agencies and units on monitoring and coordinating the salvage process in the Tan Hiep commune (Hoi An city, Quang Nam). The People's Committee of theQuang Nam province assigned the Provincial Commanding Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and SAR, the Provincial Border Guard Command, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the People's Committee of Hoi An City and related branches such as the Quang Nam Maritime Port Authority to inspect and supervise the Vietnam National Marine Co., Ltd. as salvors. The salvage work must be carried out on schedule according to the approved plan, with absolutely no environmental pollution occurring during the process. On Dec 1, 2023, at around 10:30 a.m. the tanker had been spotted adrift off Cu Lao Cham island and ran aground at 11:05 a.m. near Bai Huong village. At the time of discovery, there were no crew members on the ship, its bow was damaged, and it was at high risk of sinking. The ship is owned by the Kindom Co., Ltd. in Tainan City (Taiwan). Report with photo: https://thanhnien.vn/quang-nam-truc-vot-tau-king-rich-mac-can-o-vung-bien-cu-lao-cham-1852403130904314.htm
SEROJA III
On March 9, 2024, the 'Seroja III' went adrift after the anchor dragged, amid strong currents. It then ran aground in extreme weather with wave heights of 2,5-3,5 meters and heavy rain in the waters of the Sumenep Regency, ballasting en route from Makasar to Gresik, at the coast of Kangean Island in pos. 06°50, 054'S 115° 13, 656' E. The accident was first noticed by a number of Kangean Island fishermen who then reported to officers of the Republic of Indonesia Sea and Coast Guard. The Kangean Police have been coordinating with officers from the Republic of Kangean Maritime and the Coast Guard. The officers were still investigating the cause of the breakdown and the impact the accident had on the marine environment.