News

Significant progress has been made on the 'MSC Elsa 3' on June 10. Diving operations off the wreck from 'Seamac III' have moved into a stabilised phase. A crucial oil leak from Fuel Oil Tank 22 was successfully sealed using a layered capping of plastic and polyester cloth. Another minor leak from a loose cap on a separate sounding pipe was also contained. Preparations are now underway to seal a newly discovered seepage from the Main Engine Lube Oil Tank 25 or 26. 12 divers are currently operating in shifts, with a second set of 12 being prepared to increase dive rotation and meet the narrow weather window. The operations were being coordinated closely with salvage consultants and are laying the groundwork or the eventual commencement of oil removal operations, which can only begin with saturation diving using specialised equipment expected to arrive within 48 hours. So far, 56 containers from MSC ELSA 3 have been brought ashore, with four more under active recovery by the Marine Environment Response Centre (MERC), volunteers, and district authorities. A fresh survey is planned to verify two containers sighted earlier near Kollam. The Fort Kochi Coastal police have registered a case against the owner of the shipping company, the captain and the crew under Sections 282 (rash navigation of vessel), 285 (addresses danger or obstruction in public ways or lines of navigation), 286 (negligent conduct involving poisonous substances), 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 288 (rash or negligent actions, endangers human life or causes harm by using explosive substances), and 3(5) (criminal act is done by several people in furtherance of a shared common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita..The case was registered on a complaint filed by C Shamji of Neerkkunnam Malsya Gramam in Alappuzha.

An insurance in the range of $24 million is held by the "Cuauhtémoc", the head of the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), Admiral Raymundo Pedro Morales, confirmed during a press conference on June 10 at the National Palace, making it clear that this amount will be used to pay for repairs and compensation for the cadets killed in the allision. With this sum, all repairs will be paid, compensation for the deceased's debts will be covered, and any resulting damages will be covered. At the shipyard, the hull, steering system, and propulsion system will be inspected tol determine if there was an engine failure or other causes behind the accident. The investigation by the United States Coast Guard, the Military Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Transportation Agency continues, It is still unknown how long the vessel will need to undergo the necessary repairs before being able to return to sea to resume its duties as a training ship.

The 'Irmgard' ran aground at the entrance to the port of Burgas, blocking traffic of large vessels, on June 8, 2025, at around 7 p.m.during a maneuver to enter the port, due a navigational error, which cazsed the vessel to deviate from the center line of the narrow channel so that got stuck in the immediate vicinity of the entrance lighthouse of the port, at a distance of about 150 meters from the facility. The vessel was loaded with a bulk cargo of agricultural fertiliser classified as non-hazardous. It was to unload the cargo in Burgas. There was no danger of pollution of the marine environment. The ship was towed out with the help of tugs from local towing companies. Warships that were on standby in the port have been stood down. Tourist ships servicing the Burgas - St. Anastasia Island line also continuied their regular runs. Larger commercial ships could not pass through the channel. A diver inspected the grounding site. Once the survey was completed, negotiations began with the towing companies to provide the necessary equipment to refloat the ship, The tugs 'Alioth' (IMO: 9981908) and ÄAlcor' (IMO: 9974814) from the "BMF Tag Service" fleet towed the bulk carrier free on June 10. The operation on the part of the towing company was led by Capt. Todor Korunchev, manager of "BMF Tag Service" and captain of one of the tugs. Reports with photos and video: https://www.eranova.bg/zasednaliyat-korab-v-burgas-blokira-dostapa-na-drugi-plavatelni-sadove-(snimki)-13639 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/907772-stranded-liberian-flagged-ship-blocks-traffic-for-large-vessels-at-port-of-burga https://bnr.bg/en/post/102169507/ship-loaded-with-agricultural-fertilizers-gets-stuck-in-shallows-in-the-port-of-burgas https://www.maritime.bg/123495/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IEzhUzkhpM

The so-called orange box from the 'Cobra' will be sent to the FBI in the USA for forensic analysis in the frame of the investigation of the suspected collision with the Bruma' off the coast of Coronel, Bío Bío region. According to Claudia Urrutia, president of the Maule cod fishing association, industrial vessels with autopilot, like the 'Cobra', must have a 360-degree camera that constantly records images and audio of what happens on board. Attorney Rafael Poblete, representing the families of the Bruma crew members, emphasized that the results of the orange box examination could have a significant impact on the course of the investigation. For his part, attorney Alejandro Espinoza, who represents the Cobra crew, strongly rejected any suggestion that the equipment on board had been tampered with. According to Espinoza, the bridge cameras are under the exclusive management of a provider approved by the Navy and cannot be accessed by third parties, including the crew. In addition to the forensic examination of the orange box, the results of the biological examinations conducted on the 'Cobra' are expected to be delivered this week to the families of the 'Bruma' crew members. This could provide additional relevant information to clarify the facts.

On June 11, the Ha Tinh Maritime Port Authority chaired a meeting to discuss issues related to the sinking of the 'Cong Thanh 07' on May 25 at 8.40 p.m. with 11 crew members from Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Binh Phuoc provinces on board, off the coast of Ha Tinh, Ky Loi Commune, Ky Anh City, en route from Quang Ninh to Quang Binh, Representatives from the Ha Tinh Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, Thinh Thanh Transport Joint Stock Company (owner of the ship), Northern Coal Trading Joint Stock Company (owner of the cargo), and insurance and appraisal units attended the meeting. The vessel was carrying approximately 30 cubic meters of diesel fuel, 1,400 liters of lubricating oil, and 4,952.06 tons of coal., when it developed a list and sank. On the afternoon of May 26, the rescue vessel 'SAR 631' had transported the crew of the 'Cong Thanh 07' to the port of Vung Ang. The Ha Tinh Maritime Port Authority requested the shipowner to determine the current condition and location of the sunken vessel; to install maritime signals in accordance with regulations to ensure the maritime safety of vessels operating in the area The recovery of the remaining oil on the vessel was implemented to prevent the risk of spills. The Ha Tinh Maritime Port Authority has requested that the shipowner provide a detailed report on the construction schedule and the completion of oil pumping and salvage of the ship by June 16, 2025.