News

The 'Komodo' was approached by a canoe and boarded by perpetrators, while being moored in pos. 08 44 38 S, 013 17 22 E at the Luanda anchorage on March 26, 2023, at 02.30 a.m. UTC. The ISPS duty crew spotted the perpetrators and alerted the Officer of the Watch, who raised the alarm. Hearing the alarm, the perpetrators fled the vessel and escaped. Vessel's properties were reported stolen by the perpetrators. The Luanda Port authorities were informed of the incident.

Washington State Ferries has concluded that a captain’s loss of situational awareness,” and not any mechanical failures, caused the 'Cathlamet' to veer off course and crash into dolphins near the Fauntleroy dock on July 28, 2022. Portions of the upper car and passenger decks crumpled on impact, causing $7.7 million in damages. The 'Cathlamet' was out of service for eight months. The captain resigned one day after the accident after a long career in which he started as a deckhand in 1985. The U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are still probing the incident. The names of all crew were redacted in the 17-page state report released on March 30, 2023. As the incident unfolded during the trip from Vashon Island to West Seattle, the captain was at the helm of the ferry, as is expected within a half-mile of reaching the Fauntleroy terminal. Colleagues said he preferred to approach Fauntleroy from the south and maneuver slightly north into the berth- Diagrams in the report show the vessel stayed south, and did not slow, until it stuck the south dolphin at 8:14 a.m. at a speed of 15 knots. WSF could not pinpoint why the captain lost awareness, because he declined to answer questions on the advice of his attorney. Testings found no sign of drug or alcohol use. After the impact a watch captain, who happened to be in a stateroom, went forward into the wheelhouse, took the controls, reversed the ferry away from the beach and took it to the dock. One passenger suffered minor injuries and one vehicle was damaged. The ship was fully staffed with Coast Guard-qualified deckhands and navigating officers. However, a quartermaster was distracted from lookout duty while reading an agency report about the Clinton-to-Mukilteo route. The state agency also reported that its training for deck officers meets domestic requirements but falls short of international standards for oceangoing ships, which emphasize the navigators’ exact roles and responsibilities, along with extensive safety drills. This higher standard was discontinued in 2012 to save money but will be reinstated in summer 2023.

A Greek ship manager has pleaded guilty to criminal MARPOL violations in connection to oily-waste discharges aboard the 'Galissas'. The owner also admitted to sailing the tanker across the Atlantic and U.S. waters without notifying the Coast Guard that the inert-gas system was broken, creating a hazardous condition on board. On Feb 2, 2022, when the tanker was getting ready to leave Rotterdam, the crew discovered that the inert gas system was not working. Rather than wait for a spare part to fix it, the ship's master and shipmanager Zeus Lines Management decided to sail the ship to the U.S. and get the part on arrival in Newport, Rhode Island, even though there could be unsafe levels of oxygen in the cargo tanks during the transit. The master knowingly failed to report this hazardous condition to the Coast Guard on pre-arrival paperwork and at the time of the arrival in Newport. The crew received and installed the spare part they needed as soon as they arrived in the U.S., but the system remained broken after they installed it. On Feb 20, the day after the arrival, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the 'Galissas' and began an inspection. The captain told them that the inert-gas system did not work, and the inspectors took measurements of the oxygen percentage in the vessel's cargo tanks. The oxygen level measured 15-17 percent, well in excess of the maximum safe level of 8 percent. Given the possible fire or explosion hazard created by this condition, the Coast Guard ordered the tanker to relocate to an anchorage further offshore, where the vessel would not pose a risk to life and property. The master consulted with Zeus' operations manager about the situation, and the manager instructed him to fabricate a logbook that showed regular readings of the tank's oxygen levels during the voyage. This fake log was designed to show that the oxygen level had been safe at the time of departure and throughout most of the vessel's transit. In reality, the crew had taken no readings of the kind. The task of making up this logbook fell to the chief mate, who took care of it, and the log was presented to the Coast Guard. Meanwhile, as the marine inspectors continued their examination of the ship, they found more than two dozen deficiencies. The garbage record book, load line certificate and fire drill records were missing, life boat launching arrangements were inoperable, and there were problems with the steering gear, electrical systems, winches, potable water system, and oil water separator. In the course of the inspection, they discovered that the chief engineer's oil record book log entries did not line up fully with the electronic records on the oil-water separator. The Coast Guard interviewed the chief engineer, who claimed that the ship's oily waste had been properly discharged to shore reception facilities - a costly compliance service that increases overhead for the vessel operator. However, the Coast Guard determined that his claim was not accurate. Instead, the chief engineer had ordered lower-ranking crewmembers to discharge untreated oily bilge water into the sea on three separate occasions, releasing a total of 9,500 gallons of oily waste into the marine environment. None of these discharges were recorded in the oil record book. To conceal this practice from the U.S. Coast Guard - the agency with the world's most stringent reputation for MARPOL prosecutions - the chief engineer repeatedly ordered his subordinates to lie about where the oily waste had gone. The Zeus Shipmanagement has agreed to plead guilty to one count of failing to maintain an accurate oil record book and one count of failing to immediately report a hazardous condition. The firm agreed with prosecutors to recommend a fine of $2.25 million and four years of probation. The chief engineer, Roberto Cayabyab Penaflor, has pleaded guilty to one count of violating MARPOL. The maximum possible sentence is six years' imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The captain, Jose Ervin Mahigne Porquez, has pleaded guilty to one count of failing to immediately report a hazardous condition. The maximum possible sentence is the same - six years' imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

A crew member of the 'Ameland' died after falling from the ship in Westdorpe in the evening of March 30, 2023. Divers from the fire service recovered the victim from the water, but the life could not be saved. The body was taken to the side with the aid of a cherry picker. It was not known what caused the person to fall into the water. The police reported that consultations were being held with the labor inspectorate about a possible investigation. Report with photo: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2023/03/31/persoon-overleden-na-val-van-schip-in-zeeuwse-westdorpe/

The 'Monjasa Reformer' has been found, but three of the 16 crew members have been kidnapped by the pirates. The ship was located by the French navy 91 nautical miles from the island state of Sao Tome & Principe in the Gulf of Guinea in the night, of March 30. At this point the pirates had left the ship and taken some of the crew members with them. The remaining crew members were all in good health and safe and receiving appropriate treatment. Monjasa continued to work closely with the local authorities to ensure that the abducted sailors can return home safely to their families. Monjasa thanked the French Navy and all other parties for their assistance. The tanker was boarded by pirates off Pointe Noir in the Congo on March 25.

The 'Turu' was arrested by theFirst Hall Civil Court at Church Wharf, Marsa, Malta, due to claims made by Bezzina Ship Repair Yard Ltd. on March 17, 2023, at aroudn 4 p.m.

On March 29, 2023, the 'Lider Express', which was waiting for its turn on the Kartal anchorage, en route from Izmit, to dock at the Dentaş Shipyard, was in collision with the cargo m/v 'Skymoon King' (IMO: 8607658), which was coming from the other direction. The 'Lider Express' was damaged and taken from Kartal to the Tuzla anchorage area assisted by the tug 'Tuzla Yellow' after the incident and berthed in Tuzla on March 30 at 8.50 a.m. UTC. The 'Skymoon King' was moored in pos. 40° 51.90' N 029° 12.97' E at 2.30 p.m.

The three passengers Grant Fagan, 31, Ross Millar, 32, and Paul Thomson, 29, of the 'King Seaways' have accused security guards on the ferry of beating them up when they were travelling from Amsterdam to Newcastle on an overnight DFDS sailing after working in Germany. The Danish ferry company DFDS was co-operating fully with the investigation. after a report was made to police of the assault of three men on board a ferry between Amsterdam and Newcastle.

Beached at Aliaga 24.03.23 https://www.instagram.com/p/CqcJ9grK5Ke/

The Barcelona public prosecutor's office is demanding four years in prison for the captain of the 'Midvolga 2' which was in collision with the fishing boat 'El Fairell' in March 20177 when leaving the port of Barcelona en route to Alexandria, in which two fishermen drowned. Despite favourable weather conditions and a good sight, the tanker hit the 25-metre long fishing boat which approached the fishing quay from the starboard side. Three crew members fell overboard, of which only one managed to surface. The other two, a 33-year-old Moroccan and a 36-year-old Senegalese, were first reported missing and found dead a few days later by the Civil Guard. The captain of the Russian ship appeared before the Barcelona criminal court on March 28, 2023, accused to be responsible for the two deaths due to gross negligence. The prosecution is demanding a four-year prison sentence and a special six-year ban on operating merchant ships in Spanish jurisdiction. In addition, the justice wants the captain, the owner of the merchant ship and their insurance company, to pay compensation of 616,796 Euros to the relatives of the two deceased sailors, 27,216 Euros to the survivors, 514,813 Euros to the owners of the ship and 514,813 Euros to the maritime rescue service. If the court imposes a prison sentence of more than 12 months, the public prosecutor asks that the captain of the Russian ship be removed from Spanish territory and banned from entering Spain for 10 years. According to the expert, a merchant captain and maritime safety coordinator in Barcelona, the Russian merchant ship was responsible for 70% of the accident.

On MArch 28 the US Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the fire that damaged the 'Spirit Of Boston' in its hompe port on March 24. The investigation will allow for a full understanding of the incident that led up to the fire and provides a way forward to prevent future incidents. The investigation was authorized by the commander of the Coast Guard First District. The Coast Guard asked anyone with information about the fire to contact them. Upon completion of the investigation, the Coast Guard will issue a report of investigation with collected evidence, established facts and conclusions and recommendations regarding the marine casualty.

Tne 'Inis' of the Santiano violinist Pete Sage sank in the afternoon of March 24, 2023, in the Kiel bight off Schönberg. The alerted emergency services were able to save two people from a small dinghy. The sailing yacht could not be saved, the first sailing tour of the year from Neustadt to Kiel ended on the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Shortly after the alarm was raised at around 4:30 p.m., an SAR operation started with the "Berlin" bein deployed from Laboe, the pilot boat “Stein”, the customs boat “Schleswig-Holstein” and the police boat “Duburg”. The lifeboat cew then found a small dinghy of the sailing yacht with two people floating in the water. Both people were rescued and brought to Laboe aboard the 'Berlin'. How the accident could have happened in the relatively good weather was still unclear. A collision with an unknown object was not rules out. On March 29 the salvage ship 'Elisabeth Hoej' (IMO: 6922391) raised the wreck of the yacht off the Schönberg Beach. Divers patched a leak in the foreship with a leak sail, before the boat was towed to Laboe in the evening and lifted out of the water. The police boat 'Falshöft' secured the salvage operation. An investigation into the cause of the sinking was launched. Reports with photos: https://www.seenotretter.de/aktuelles/seenotfaelle/segelyacht-gesunken-seenotretter-retten-schiffbruechige-aus-kieler-bucht https://www.seenotretter.de/aktuelles/seenotfaelle/seenotretter-retten-pete-sage-von-santiano-nach-untergang-seiner-yacht

The 'Chem P' was arrested by the First Hall Civil Court at Marsaxlokk due to claims made by Somat SpA on March 9, 2023, at around 5 p.m. The cunter warrant was issued by the court on March 24. The vessel remained stationary at Marsaxlokk since Nov 4, 2022.

Sold to Alang Breakers for green recycling

arrived Bhavnagar Anchorage 31.03.23

Beached at Aliaga 29.03.23 https://www.instagram.com/p/CqcJ9grK5Ke/

The 'Alemannia', which is actually serving as asylum ship in Krimoen, may certainly remain at the Sliksloot Port until July 1, 2023, to continue the reception of refugees for longer. The ship moved from Middelharnis to Krimpen upon IJssel at the start of September 2022. On board there are 150 refugees, mostly mothers, teenagers, children and babies, all from unsafe countries. During the holidays, the ship was briefly in Hellevoet lock to make room for the inland skippers who always moor in Krimpen during Christmas, but then returned. Previously, the Sliksloot Port was also used to receive refugees. In the spring of 2022, there was a cruise ship with about 75 asylum seekers, mainly young men from Syria. Krimpen sees placing refugees on cruise ships as an excellent way to contribute to the distribution of refugees across the country. The condition is, however, that the municipality has as little involvement as possible in this solution and that costs are reimbursed.

The gutted 'LAdy Mary Joy 3', still burning, was towed to Baluk-Baluk island on March 30, where the bodies of 18 of the 31 victims were discovered in a budget section of the passenger cabin. According to the manifest, it was carrying 205 passengers and 35 crew members. In addition, it had a security contingent consisting of four coast guard marshals and an unspecified number of soldiers who were not listed on the manifest for their protection. The Coastguard and MARINA-Enforcement Service Central Office Casual Investigating Team were investigating whether the vessel was seaworthy if there were passengers not listed on the manifest and whether the crew properly guided passengers to safety. The inaccurate manifest was making the search and rescue operations more difficult. Because of the different data obtained by the Philippine Coast Guard and the actual people that have been rescued and found dead, there could be more people missing because the count has already exceeded those on the manifest. The captain told the shipping company and officials that the fire on board the vessel emanated from an air-conditioned room on the first deck, which then spread to the kitchen. Report with photos: https://www.socialnews.xyz/2023/03/30/new-york-a-ship-from-the-philippine-coast-guard-tries-to-put-out-the-fire-of-the-burning-m-v-lady-mary-joy-3-along-the-coast-of-basilan-province-the-philippines-march-30-2023-gallery/

Ten robbers armed with knives boarded the 'Tomini Entity' in pos. 12 00 37 S, 077 13 47 W, at the Callao anchorage on March 28, 2023, at 07.30 a.m. UTC. They took hostages and tied up the duty crew, stole crew's personnel belongings, fled the vessel and escaped with the stolen vessel's stores. The incident was reported to the Port Authorities. The Coast Guard boarded the vessel for investigation.

On March 29, 2023, the ferry 'Lider Express' (IMO: 8818312), which was waiting for its turn on the Kartal anchorage, en route from Izmit, to dock at the Dentaş Shipyard, was in collision with the 'Skymoon King' (IMO: 8607658), which was coming from the other direction. The 'Lider Express' was damaged and taken from Kartal to the Tuzla anchorage area assisted by the tug 'Tuzla Yellow' after the incident and berthed in Tuzla on March 30 at 8.50 a.m. UTC. The 'Skymoon King' was moored in pos. 40° 51.90' N 029° 12.97' E at 2.30 p.m.