News

The Calmac ferries 'Glen Sannox' and Loch Shira' assisted the HM Coastguard, responding to the 10-m-fishing vessel 'Spitfire' in distress, on Sep 10 at 11.35 a.m. Also the Troon RNLI all weather lifeboat, Largs RNLI inshore lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 were mobilized to the scene just north of Little Cumbrae Island. Coastguard rescue teams from Cumbrae, Greenock and Largs were also sent to assist. The helicopter winched the two people on board from the sinking trawler and flew them to Largs Yacht Haven, where they were checked over by ambulance crew and released. The ferry was stood down by the Coastguard and resumed service with the 1:30 p.m. departure from Cumbrae. The RNLI lifeboat 'R.A. Wilson', with a four member volunteer crew on board, capsized during the response in the Firth of Clyde.. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat overturned on its way to the accident site, sending the rescue volunteers into the water. The crew was able to quickly right the lifeboat and get back onboard. They were then escorted back to the lifeboat station by other crews attending the emergency. The four RNLI volunteers were assessed paramedics and no injuries were reported, however the lifeboat was damaged. The RNLI has sent a relief lifeboat to the area while the original undergoes repairs. The RNLI started carrying out an investigation in conjunction with the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) into the incident. A notice to mariners (NTM 26/2025) has been issued by Peel Ports, advising vessels not to anchor or fish in the area until the wreck’s exact location has been confirmed. Although it’s not yet known what caused the 'Spitfire' to sink, it was feared one of its wooden planks may have given way, leading to water ingress. The 'Spitfire' was launched in 1974 at Dunbar in East Lothian, and was the second last boat to be built at the town’s boatyard, Weatherhead and Blackie, before it closed two years later. The trawler remained at the harbour for 50 years until being sold in 2024 and then sailed north and through the Caledonian Canal on its way to new owners on the west coast. It was trawling for prawns in waters north of Little Cumbrae island on its last voyage.

Five German school children sustained minor injuries in the collision between the charter sailing vessel 'Storebaelt' (MMSI: 244620631) and the 'Prins 3', en route from Eemshaven with three crew members on board, near the Pollendam, a dam of approximately three kilometers length northwest of Harlingen.on Sep 14, 2025, at 9.30 p.m. amid stormy weather conditions with bad visibility. 26 school children and five supervisors from Potsdam were on board the sailing vessel. The KNRM responded with two lifeboats. Ten children were taken to the KNRM boathouse in Harlingen, where they were checked by paramedics. A few were shocked, and some had bumps on their heads. The cause of the collision was not yet known. The bowsprit of the 'Storebaelt' was broken. The damaged sailing ship was towed to the port of Harlingen by the 'Hurricane' of the Noordgat shipping company, which also brought the uninjured children ashore. The municipality provided accommodation in a hotel. On Sep 15 at 1:00 a.m. last night, they were taken to a hotel by bus. The class trip was canceled, and all students and teachers returned home, The Brandenburg Ministry of Education excused the students from classes for two days to recover.The dredger was able to reach the port of Harlingen under its own power despite its bow damage. Reports with photos: https://nos.nl/artikel/2582498-vijf-kinderen-lichtgewond-bij-aanvaring-met-vrachtschip-voor-de-kust-bij-harlingen https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/09/15/kinderen-gewond-door-aanvaring-vrachtschip-en-zeilcharter-storebaelt-op-waddenzee/ https://lc.nl/friesland/harlingen/aanvaring-op-wad-knrm-haalt-vijf-kinderen-van-boord-charterschip-47274534.html

The Loch Shira', serving on the route Largs-Cumbrae, assisted the HM Coastguard, responding to the 10-m-fishing vessel 'Spitfire' in distress, on Sep 10 at 11.35 a.m. As a consequence, the service was delayed. Also the Troon RNLI all weather lifeboat, Largs RNLI inshore lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 were mobilized to the scene just north of Little Cumbrae Island. Coastguard rescue teams from Cumbrae, Greenock and Largs were also sent to assist. The helicopter winched the two people on board from the sinking trawler and flew them to Largs Yacht Haven, where they were checked over by ambulance crew and released. The ferry was stood down by the Coastguard and resumed service with the 1:30 p.m. departure from Cumbrae. Also the 'Glen Sannox', which had been passing by as it returned to Troon from Greenock, was responding to the incident. The RNLI lifeboat 'R.A. Wilson', with a four member volunteer crew on board, capsized during the response in the Firth of Clyde.. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat overturned on its way to the accident site, sending the rescue volunteers into the water. The crew was able to quickly right the lifeboat and get back onboard. They were then escorted back to the lifeboat station by other crews attending the emergency. The four RNLI volunteers were assessed paramedics and no injuries were reported, however the lifeboat was damaged. The RNLI has sent a relief lifeboat to the area while the original undergoes repairs. The RNLI started carrying out an investigation in conjunction with the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) into the incident. A notice to mariners (NTM 26/2025) has been issued by Peel Ports, advising vessels not to anchor or fish in the area until the wreck’s exact location has been confirmed. Although it’s not yet known what caused the 'Spitfire' to sink, it was feared one of its wooden planks may have given way, leading to water ingress. The 'Spitfire' was launched in 1974 at Dunbar in East Lothian, and was the second last boat to be built at the town’s boatyard, Weatherhead and Blackie, before it closed two years later. The trawler remained at the harbour for 50 years until being sold in 2024 and then sailed north and through the Caledonian Canal on its way to new owners on the west coast. It was trawling for prawns in waters north of Little Cumbrae island on its last voyage.

The 'Mi Deseo', enroute to Antwerp, allided with the Sluiskil Bridge, while transiting the Gent-Terneuzen-Canal, on Sep 13, 2025, just after 6:30 a.m. The wheelhouse of the tanker was severely damaged. The vessel was able to continue its voyage from Werkendam under its own power to Terneuzen, where it was moored at the emergency jetty. The Sluiskil Bridge was not damaged, and there were no injuries. Rijkswaterstaat launched an investigation into the incident. The 'Mi Deseo' remained stationary in Terneuzen as of Sep 15. Report with photos: https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/amp/nieuws/17785592/tanker-ramt-sluiskilbrug-stuurhut-zwaar-beschadigd?at_medium=sharing&at_campaign=sharedArticle&at_campaign_group=x

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) declared its liability at just ₹132 crore, while the state government was demanding a staggering ₹9,531 crore in compensation for ecological devastation, widespread coastal pollution, and livelihood losses after the sinking of the 'MSC Elsa 3'. The stark divergence in claims has transformed the wreck from into a deeply emotive issue, pitting international maritime law against local survival, dignity, and justice. The controversy sharpened after the shipowners placed advertisements in Kerala newspapers announcing that all claims must be filed in the Kerala High Court by mid-September, warning that petitions submitted after the deadline would not be considered. For coastal communities still struggling with polluted waters, fouled nets, and declining fish stocks, the public notice, with its strict cut-off date, was received as a fresh humiliation.