News

Due to issues identified during the sea trials, there is a delay with the return of the 'Caledonian Isles' to service ountil June 17. Repair works were continued, and following the successful completion, more sea trials will be required. The booking system was closed for new bookings and amends from June 15. Further information were to be provided by the operator CalMac on June 16. During this period, the 'Glen Sannox' and 'Alfred' continude to operate on the route Troon-Brodick. At the same time, the gangway of the 'Glen Sannox' has been repaired. Passengers were no longer required to embark and disembark via the car deck at Troon. The following additional buses will operate between Ardrossan port and Troon port for foot passengers for the sailings of the ferry 'Alfred': Departure Ardrossan - 08:15 a.m., 12:35 p.m., 5:00 p.m. Timetable: https://www.calmac.co.uk/route-information/troon-brodick/#/

The first of three salvage teams arrived at the location of the 'Morning Midas' around 220 miles south of Adak Island, Alaska, on June 11. But, apart from watching the burning hull from the tug 'Gretchen Dunlap', there was little they can do. Operated by Fort Lauderdale-based Resolve Marine, the vessel was the first of three tugs due on scene as the Zodiac Maritime car carrier drifed northeast at about two nautical miles per hour. It will be several more days before the second tug arrives and more than a week until the third reaches the scene. As lithium-ion battery fires generate a range of toxic gases, the tug teams will have to remain to windward of the vessel. The fire could eventually burn itself out, allowing a tug or tugs to take the hulk in tow. A more likely scenario, however, is that burnt-out components within the vessel shift, causing a list, and eventually the car carrier sinks. The ship was laden with 3,048 cars including 70 fully electric cars and 861 hybrids. If the vessel sinks, there is a significant pollution risk. The 'Morning Midas' has more than 300 tonnes of marine gasoil on board, and about 1,500 tonnes or very low sulphur fuel oil in its tanks.

On the morning of June 7, 2025, the Port Authority of Corfu was informed by the Captain of the 'Azimut' about a failure of the starboard side main engine on its scheduled route from the port of Gaios n. Paxos to the port of Corfu. The ship sailed to the port of Corfu, where it safely disembarked its seven passengers. The Central Port Authority of Corfu prohibited the departure of the ferry until the repair of the damage and the presentation of a certificate of seaworthiness from the supervising classification society.

The Director General of Shipping has issued a formal notice to the MSC Ship Management for gross negligence in salvage operations of the 'MSC Elsa 3' off the Kochi coast and imminent threat to the marine environment and the coast line. The progress made in this operation was grossly inadequate and continued to fall short of the timelines and operational commitments previously provided by the owners and salvors. Should the extraction of oil not commence within next 48 hours, the government shall be left with no alternative but examine all avenues against the ship owners and salvors under applicable Indian legislation for the continuing threat posed to Indian waters and the coastal environment, a notice said. Despite repeated instructions and coordination meetings, the response from salvors has been consistently delayed and insufficient. The lack of prompt action has resulted in a continued and serious risk to marine environment and coastline, particularly affecting Kerala’s coastal region. The local communities in the region have already suffered extensive loss of work and income due to the prolonged presence of the sunken vessel, floating debris, oil sheen and ongoing pollution risks. The salvors not only delayed the required diving support vessel and personnel, but also failed to file visa applications for saturation divers from 11 countries, even after the Indian government facilitated diplomatic support for their clearance. The vessel, which lies at the depth of 51 metres, requires saturation diving for oil recovery. However, only limited air diving has been conducted so far, insufficient for the safe and complete extraction of oil trapped in the tanks. Capping of vents was still being conducted at present. The extraction of oil, originally scheduled to commence around June 5, has not even begun as of this date. The Directorate General of Shipping placed the owners and salvors on formal notice that any further delay beyond the specified period will be treated as wilful and deliberate noncompliance, and the government shall proceed to exercise its full legal rights and remedies without further reference. A Division Bench of the High Court has directed the Vizhinjam Port Authority to detain another MSC vessel, the 'MSC Manasa F'. The directive came in response to a petition filed by the Cashew Export Promotion Council. The petition stated that the 'MSC Elsa 3' was supposed to reach Vizhinjam with a cashew cargo on board, alleging a loss of ₹6 crore due to the accident. The court ordered the detention of the 'MSC Manasa F' and that the ship will be released upon presentation of a demand draft of ₹6 crore to the court. The High Court will reconsider the petition on June 12 at 1:45 p.m..

On the afternoon of June 11, the bulk carrier 'Kaye E. Barker' (IMO: 5097450,) went alongside her fleetmate 'Hon. James L. Oberstar' to take on her cargo of limestone. Until the evening the offloading had not started. The crew of the 'Hon. James L. Oberstar' used their self-unloading boom to transfer the cargo of 29,000 tonnes of limestone onto the 'Kaye E, Barker'. A crane barge was also on scene to assist. The ship had suffered unspecified bottom damage after grounding near Johnson Point in the East Neebish Channel. It has a total maximum capacity 108,000 gallons of fuel and other products. There were no reports of pollution in the water or surrounding area of the Hay Lake Anchorage. The Coastguard cutter 'Spar' and other smaller USCG vessels, as well the tug 'Wm. Boyd' and a barge, wee also on scene as part of a Unified Command Coast Guard operation. Anti-pollution equipment has been deployed around the vessel’s stern. The operator Interlake Steamship was working with the Coast Guard, a third-party spill response company, and commercial salvors to resolve the situation. No injuries or pollution have been reported, and the vessel was a stable condition. It has an estimated 108,000 gallons of fuel and oil products on board, and the Coast Guard was conducting periodic overflights to monitor for any leaks.