Beached at Gadani 03.03.24
News
HUMANITY 1
The German humanitarian NGO SOS Humanity is protesting what it calls “false allegations,” after the 'Humanity 1' was involved in an altercation with the Libyan Coast Guard on March 2 in the Mediterranean. After offloading 77 people they had rescued, the Italian authorities slapped the vessel with a 20-day detention order. Italy and the NGOs have been at odds for more than a year now as the government imposed stricter rules on the operation of the private charity vessels. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government imposed the new rules, but so far, the detentions were due to reports of conditions on the vessels or charges that the crews disregarded orders from the Italian authorities on when and where to offload the people rescued from the small boats in the Mediterranean. SOS Humanity however contended the Italian authorities “attempted to justify the arrest of the Humanity 1 on the grounds that the Humanity 1 would have caused a dangerous situation for the people in distress at sea.” The captain of the vessel claimed the authorities could not explain to him why his vessel was being detained. He said in a statement, “Our vessel has been detained even though we followed international law at all times. We have been transparent and provided all evidence.” Report with photos: https://maritime-executive.com/article/german-ngo-protests-vessel-s-detention-in-italy-after-dispute-with-libyans
MARGARITAVILLE A.S.P
A bartender on the 'Margaritaville at Sea', who snuck into a cabin and sexually assaulted a passenger has been sentenced to two years behind bars. Hoobesh Kumar Dookhy, who is in his 20s, had faced the possibility of life in prison on a federal charge of sexual abuse, but pleaded guilty in Oct 2023, to one count of abusive sexual contact. During a recent court hearing, his attorney Peter Birch argued for an even lighter sentence, saying the victim in the May 2023 incident was scantily clad and “had no desire to escape” from him. The US District Judge Aileen Cannon sentenced Dookhy to two years in the slammer — one year more than Birch and federal sentencing guidelines advised but what prosecutors had asked for. Assistant US Attorney Brian Ralston rejected Dookhy’s claim that the woman gave Dookhy her stateroom key, arguing instead that he grabbed it while serving her drinks on the Jimmy Buffett-themed cruise. The victim’s roommate recorded the assault and reported it to security the following morning. Investigators found the key in the pocket of Dookhy’s work vest, as well as selfies he took beside the woman while she slept. Dookhy, who pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact, will not be required to register as a sex offender. He later admitted to having sex with the woman but insisted that their encounter was consensual. Dookhy avoided a trial by jury and took the plea deal, which dropped the worse of the two charges he faced. The married roommate from West Virginia filed a lawsuit against the Classica cruise line claiming that she had also been assaulted by Dookhy. She was initially classified as a witness to the first woman’s assault, but decided to file her lawsuit after Dookhy’s conviction. The victim and her cabinmate have filed separate lawsuits against the ship and its parent corporation, Classica Cruise Line. Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Cruise. The roommate “became pregnant, and was forced to terminate the pregnancy from which she suffered serious complications,” according to the lawsuit and is seeking a jury trial and $75,000 in damages from Classica. Dookhy, who is scheduled to be released before his 28th birthday, will remain on supervised release for five years and must register as a sex offender, according to court records.
TRUE CONFIDENCE
The U.S. Central Command has confirmed three fatalities on board the 'True Confidence', after the ship was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden on March 6. This marked the first civilian casualties in a series of attacks launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis terrorist group on merchant and navy vessels in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November. The incident followed the sinking of the 'Rubymar', which was the first sinking claimed by the Houthis after a missile strike in February. The missile targeting the 'True Confidence' was launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on March 6 at around 11:30 a.m. Sanaa time. The missile caused significant damage on the bulk carrier, resulting in three fatalities and at least four injuries among the multinational crew, three of which were critical. Following the strike, the crew abandoned the ship, and coalition warships have since responded and were currently assessing the situation. The vessel was last reported drifting with the fire continuing on board. The ship’s owners and manager confirmed the incident took place as the vessel was about 50 nautical miles southwest of Aden. It said the crew of 20 consisted of one Indian, four Vietnamese, and 15 Filipinos, along with three armed guards, two Sri Lankans and one Nepalese. The Central Command reported that this is the fifth ASBM fired by Houthis in just two days. Two of the five missiles hit two vessels, the 'MSC Sky II' and the 'True Confidence', while the destroyer USS 'Carney (DDG 64)' shot down another ASBM. These latest attacks have taken place despite the international efforts to curb the activities of the terrorist group. Since January, U.S. forces in the region have carried out several strikes on more than 230 Houthi targets in Yemen, plus countless defensive actions against drones and missiles launched towards international shipping lanes. The U.S. and UK have also carried out at least four joint bombing campaigns in Yemen. The Indian Navy ship INS 'Kolkata' successfully rescued 21 crew members from the 'True Confidence' The crew, facing imminent danger, sought refuge in a life raft as the INS 'Kolkata', deployed for maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, sped to the scene and arrived at 4:45 p.m. The crew swiftly executed the rescue using its integral helicopter and boats. The castaways, including the critically injured, received essential medical aid from the ship’s medical team. Following the successful rescue, all 21 crew members, along with the injured personnel, were trasnferred to Djibouti on the same day. Reports with photos and video: https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/indian-navy-warship-rescues-21-from-ship-struck-by-houthi-missile/ https://newsable.asianetnews.com/gallery/india/ins-kolkata-comes-to-barbados-flagged-bulk-carrier-s-rescue-in-gulf-of-aden-photos--s9z16e#image4 https://twitter.com/i/status/1765605384784593275
AMBITIOUS
The Aran Islands RNLI responded to a Mayday call of the 'Ambitious' in the early morning of March 3, 2024, at 4.51 a.m. after the ship had run aground at An Coirnéal Port Eochla on the north side of Inis Mór. The lifeboat launched shortly after with six crew members onboard. In the 20 minutes it took to get to the scene, the fishing vessel had started to take on water and was beginning to list to port side. Arriving on scene, the lifeboat crew observed that all five fishermen had abandoned their trawler and were in a life raft alongside the vessel. All were safe and well and in good spirits. The northwest wind was blowing with force 5, and there was a moderate swell of two meters and good visibility. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 from Shannon was also tasked along with Coast Guard and Fire Service units to the shore side. Having assessed the situation, a decision was made by the Aran Islands RNLI Coxswain Declan Branigan to launch the lifeboat’s smaller daughter inflatable lifeboat, should it be needed to access closer to shore. Upon the arrival of the helicopter, the situation was further assessed, and it was agreed that the safest option was to winch the five fishermen on board. The lifeboat stood by until all casualties were accounted for. before returning to Kilronan Pier at 7.30 a.m.
FN 537 BOUET
On March 6, 2024, at 7.30 a.m., the 'Bouet-FN 537' suffered a leak north of Grenen, and the ship's own pumps were not sufficient to cope with the flooding in the engine room, which made the situation challenging. Waves reached heights of up to 3-4 metres. Both lifeboats from the rescue station Skagen headed towards the shp. When the 'FRB 08' arrived, a pump and two rescuers were immediately transferred onto the cutter. The pump was quickly installed, but the rescuers wanted an extra pump, which was retrieved from the lifeboat 'Lars Kruse' and brought to the cutter. Fortunately, the waves had subsided a bit, making it easier to maneuver the pumps between the ships. The skipper of the 'Bouen' had already tried to contact the shipyards in Skagen and Strandby, but they were unfortunately unable to receive the ship. Therefore, the decision was made to sail towards Læsø. It was agreed that the two rescuers on board the cutter should remain there, while the 'Lars Kruse' followed them to Læsø. The 'Bouet' reached the port of Østerby at 12.30 p.m. Report with photo: https://www.skagensavis.dk/2024/03/06/redningsaktion-fuldfoert.html
NISALAH
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an investigation report on the collision between the tug 'Mark E Kuebler' and the 'Nisalah' on Jan 22, 2023, at 3.30 p.m. LT, while the tanker was transiting inbound in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel near Ingleside, Texas. The tug’s hull was breached and the tanker’s propeller was damaged in the collision. The captain of the 'Mark E Kuebler' grounded the ship to prevent it from sinking, and, while aground, a small sheen of hydraulic oil was observed. The oil was recovered with absorbent pads. No injuries were reported. The damage to the 'Mark E Kuebler' was estimated at $3 million; the damage to the 'Nisalah' was estimated at $3.9 million. The 'Mark E Kuebler' was one of five tugs assigned to assist the inbound tanker in transiting through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel to a terminal in Ingleside. After meeting the 'Nisalah' in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, the 'Mark E Kuebler' transited off the tanker’s starboard quarter for a brief period. The mate on the tug then executed a clockwise 180° spin maneuver in preparation for making up to the tanker. During the maneuver, the tig fell back toward the stern of the 'Nisalah', and, in response, the mate increased the speed of the tugboat to regain a position off the tanker’s starboard quarter. However, as the tug, now transiting in the astern direction, moved forward about 50–60 feet off the 'Nisalah', its stern was drawn in toward the tanker. The mate attempted to counteract this motion by increasing engine power and turning the Z-drives to steer the stern away from the tanker; however, the thrust was not able to overcome the hydrodynamic forces pulling the vessel into the tanker. Consequently, the 'Mark E Kuebler' collided with the 'Nisalah'. As the 'Mark E Kuebler' moved to get into position alongside the 'Nisalah' after executing the 180° spin, the tugboat (moving in the astern direction) approached the area of low pressure on the tanker’s starboard quarter. Because the 'Nisalah' was in ballast, the inward curve of the ship’s hull toward the stern at the waterline was more pronounced than it would have been if the ship was loaded. Thus, the pressure near the VLCC’s starboard quarter was further reduced as compared to the vessel at its loaded draft. In addition, the drop in pressure was further accentuated near the propeller. The hydrodynamic suction produced by the low pressure in this area caused the 'Mark E Kuebler'’s stern to be drawn into the tanker. As the tug attempted to regain position on the Nisalah, the VLCC’s speed was 9.6 knots. Hydrodynamic forces created by a ship increase exponentially with speed, and therefore an increase of even a few knots has a significant effect on the forces acting on a tugboat operating nearby. Moreover, as the 'Mark E Kuebler' attempted to move into position, the tugboat’s speed increased to 11.6 knots—just 1.4 knots less than its maximum-rated ahead speed. Higher speed reduces the amount of reserve propulsion power available to the operator. Because most of the tug's engines’ power was being used to regain position on the 'Nisalah', the 'Mark E Kuebler' had insufficient power to counteract the hydrodynamic forces created by the tanker. After the collision, the tugboat’s operating company instituted a policy limiting stern-first landings of tugboats on assisted vessels to speeds of 7 knots or less. The National Transportation Safety Board determineed that the probable cause of the collision between the ships was the mate maneuvering the tugboat near the starboard quarter of the tanker, which resulted in the tugboat being drawn in toward the tanker by hydrodynamic forces that the tug had insufficient reserve power to counteract due to the transit speed of the vessels. Report with photos: https://www.workboat.com/coastal-inland-waterways/ntsb-tugboat-was-pulled-into-tanker-s-prop-during-texas-collision
SEA-WATCH 5
The Italian Coastguard has airlifted four migrants in critical condition from the 'Sea Watch 5' in the Mediterranean seven hours after a 17-year-old boy died on board the vessel on March 6. The Four men were flown by helicopter to the island of Lampedusa. They had been rescued earlier the same day from an overcrowded wooden boat in waters off the coast of Tunisia, together with around 50 other migrants. The four airlifted men were from Ethiopia and Eritrea. The medical evacuation came too late to save a fifth person. Despite the efforts of volunteer medical staff on board, a 17-year-old boy suffered a heart attack and died on the rescue ship in the afternoon. The German non-profit organization Sea-Watch blamed authorities in Italy, Malta and Tunisia, saying the state rescue centers had refused their requests for the boy to be evacuated. According to the Italian Coastguard, the 'Sea-Watch 5' had picked up the migrants in the Libyan Search and Rescue zone and should have proceeded to the closest port in Tunisia. Authorities in Germany, the flag state of the 'Sea-Watch 5', had instructed the ship to head to Tunisia. When the four men were evacuated from the Sea-Watch 5, it was in the Maltese SAR area of responsibility, the statement added. The 'Sea-Watch 5' has been ordered to take the migrants to Ravenna. Since enacting the so-called Piantedosi law, Italy has systematically assigned ports far away from the Central Mediterranean, causing days of unnecessary travel for humanitarian ships. Sea-Watch has complained that Italian authorities carrying out the medical evacuation refused to take the body of the boy who died on March 6.
ADVANTAGE SWEET
An Iranian court has issued an order confiscating the crude oil cargo from the 'Advantage Sweet' tanker a year after the country’s navy forcibly stopped the ship. The Iran was alternately referring to the cargo or the tanker as American, although the ultimate owners of the vessel registered in the Marshall Islands is a Chinese leasing company that is part of the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The vessel managed by the Turkish company Genel Denizcilik Nakliyati for Advantage Tankers of Switzerland. At the time of the seizure in April 2023, it was operating under charter to Chevron. The vessel loaded a partial cargo of refined product in Kuwait departing on April 25, 2023, bound for Houston. On April 27, Iranian forces boarded the tanker outbound in the Gulf of Oman and directed it into Iranian waters where it was confiscated under a court order. Iran justified its actions by citing a collision of an unknown ship with an Iranian vessel in the waters of the Persian Gulf, which resulted in the loss of two people and the injury of several other crew members. They alleged at the time that the 'Advantage Sweet' struck the vessel and kept on sailing. The court ruled after a lawsuit was filed by Iranian patients suffering from a rare genetic skin disorder, Epidermolysis Bullosa. The suit reportedly is based on the refusal of a Swedish manufacturer of specialized bandages and dressing to sell the supplies to Iran due to the U.S. and Western sanctions. There was no mention of the previous accusations of the collision with the Iranian vessel. Iran said the cargo was then confiscated under the court order. They were valuing the cargo at approximately $50 million. Timing of the seizure of the 'Advantage Sweet' came shortly after reports emerged that the U.S. had moved to seize an Iranian oil cargo of approximately one million barrels aboard the Greek tanker 'Suez Rajan', which at that time was anchored off Singapore. The U.S. action was taken on behalf of the families of the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York and Washington D.C. The cargo was ultimately offloaded in Texas and sold with the proceeds going to the compensation fund. The seizure of the 'Advantage Sweet' was one of several reported by Iran which also included the January 2024 seizure of the 'St Nikolas' (ex 'Suez Rajan') which had been directly involved in the 2023 incident. Iran had vowed retaliation for the taking of its oil cargo. Iran is currently holding a total of 90 crewmembers and has seized five tankers. Previously, Iran held Greek tankers when it was involved in a dispute with Greece which impounded a tanker that Iran claimed ownership of after it previously was identified as a Russian tanker. The U.S. lost a court battle in Greece to also seize the cargo from that vessel.
FV SAE IN CHAMPION
The Argentine Naval Prefecture medevaced a crew member from the 'Sae In Champion', who needed urgent medical attention for suffering symptoms compatible with appendicitis. The Comodoro Rivadavia Maritime Traffic Management Center was notified that a crew member of the vessel, which was sailing outside the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone, 261 nautical miles from the city of Puerto Madryn, was suffering from severe abdominal pain compatible with appendicitis. After establishing communications with the ship's maritime agency and the South Korean consulate in Argentina, prefectural personnel, specially trained for this type of emergency, took off from the Comodoro Rivadavia Air Station aboard a helicopter and headed to the area. With the support of an Institution plane, the helicopter was positioned over the ship, when it was sailing 87 nautical miles from the Chubut city of Rawson and was hoisted in a sanitary basket aboard the helicopter, while the arrival of an ambulance was coordinated on the ground. Once the helicopter landed, the man was transferred to the Trelew Sanatorium for medical care. Report with video: https://www.diariojornada.com.ar/364302/policiales/video__aeroevacuaron_a__un_marinero_surcoreano_y_lo_trasladaron_a_trelew
SALVAMAR ADHARA
In the night of March 6, Salvamento Maritimo located a canoe with 68 sub-Saharan immigrants on board, among them 57 men, two women and nine minors, including four deceased adult men, near the island of El Hierro, about five nautical miles south of La Restinga, after the Civil Guard issued a warning. The JRCC of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara' at around 8:48 p.m., which accompanied the canoe to the dock.
MARGARITAVILLE A.S.P
A 35-year-old woman, who was a passenger aboard the 'Margaritaville Paradise', died on the evening of Feb 27, 2024, after she developed difficulty breathing during dinner. The ship's doctor arrived to assist, but she was unconscious and died a short time later. The incident happened in international waters during a 2-day-round-trip Bahamas cruise from West Palm Beach. The body was offloaded in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Feb 28. Local police officials, the Colonel's Office, and the American embassy were notified. The police launched an investigation into the matter.
TRUE CONFIDENCE
The 'True Confidence' was hit by a missile of the Iranian-backed Houthis on March 6, 2024, at 9.30 a.m. UTC 50 nautical miles southeest of Aden in pos.11 58N x 044 31E. Four mariners were severely burned and three missing, the first report of serious injuries since Yemen’s Houthi movement began attacking shipping in one of the world’s busiest waterways. The vessel was struck about 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden and was drifting and ablaze. No information was available about the status of 20 crew members and three armed guards, two Sri Lankan and one Nepalese national, on board. The crew included 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, two Sri Lankans, an Indian and a Nepali national. The vessel appeared to have been abandoned. Smoke was seen coming from the 'True Confidence'. Alifeboat has been seen in the water near the ship. The 'True Confidence' is owned by the Liberian-registered company True Confidence Shipping and operated by the Greece-based Third January Maritime, both firms said in their joint statement. The 'True Confidence' was on passage from Lianyungang to Jeddah and Aqaba with a cargo of steel products and trucks. Report with photo: https://gcaptain.com/three-dead-after-houthi-missile-attack-on-bulk-carrier/
BLUE STAR PATMOS
The 'Blue Star Patmos' returned to Piraeus due to a medical emergency, affecting schedules to the Dodecanese islands on March 4, 2024, to drop pff a 69-year-old passenger, in order to ensure the passenger could receive the necessary medical attention. Emergency services were alerted and prepared to receive the patient upon the ferry's arrival back at the port. The incident affected the service to the islands of Patmos, Leipsoi, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi, and Rhodes. The incident caused delays and alterations to the ferry's itinerary.
JULIETTA D
Transport Malta’s Marine Safety Investigation Unit has issued an investigation report into the loss of control of the 'Julietta D'Ä on the morning of Jan 31, 2022. The ship was holding its anchorage position in Ijmuiden Anchorage Area no. 7, using the port anchor and the main engine. At one point, the 'Julietta D'’s heading altered substantially, and the vessel started falling South, onto the nearby anchored 'Pechora Star'. Within a few minutes, the 'Julietta D'’s port hull made contact with the bow of Pechora Star and continued making contact with the 'Pechora Star'’s port side until both vessels were eventually clear of each other. The 'Julietta D' suffered two breaches in way of its engine-room and water ingress. She continued drifting in a southerly direction into a windfarm area, still under construction. Shortly after making contact with the windfarm’s transition section, the crew of the 'Julietta D' was airlifted from the vessel, following which, preparations for a salvage operation ensued. Unmanned and not under command, the vessel made contact with another platform within the same windfarm area. Eventually, the tug 'Sovereign' was assigned to salvage Julietta D, reaching its position at 3.50 p.m. LT. After securing the towing line, and while the crew members were on their way to the bridge, a wave washed over the main deck, inflicting serious injuries to two crew members. The 'Julietta D' was towed towards the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and arrived within port limits onFeb 1 at 2 p.m. The port anchor, along with 10 shackles of chain, was found lying on the seabed, in the vicinity of the 'Julietta D'’s re-located anchorage position. This suggested that rather than dragging her anchor towards the 'Pechora Star', the 'Julietta D' had in fact lost her port anchor and drifted towards the 'Pechora Star'. The 'Julietta D'’s port anchor cable broke, causing the vessel to fall away from the wind and drift in asoutherly direction. The ship’s light ballast condition contributed to a larger windage area and for her propeller to be only partially immersed. This reduced her manoeuvrability capabilities, and which contributed to the vessel being overwhelmed by the prevailing weather conditions. The master of the 'Julietta D' was under the impression that the vessel was dragging its anchor rather than drifting, dedicating time to try and make sense of the incomplete contextual information. There was not enough time for the 'Pechora Star' to weigh her anchor and move clear from the 'Julietta D'. Data indicated that the 'Julietta D'’s main engine was operating seamlessly on the day of the occurrence, thus it was not considered to have contributed to the occurrence. It was considered likely that the 'Julietta D'’s main engine stopped upon allision with the 'Pechora Star' as her propeller struck the latter vessel’s anchor cable. The crew of the 'Julietta D' was unable to repair the damages to the vessel’s hull in way of the engine-room. Consequently, the master was informed the water flowing into the engine-room would most likely cause electrical damage and hence, he took the decision to stop the main engine to prevent any further damages. The master’s decision to abandon the 'Julietta D' was influenced by the time required for a tug to reach the vessel’s position, and his concerns on the hazards posed by the windfarm and rigs, which lay in the direction of the 'Julietta D'’s drift. The 'Sovereign' took almost five hours to reach Julietta D’s location. She was about 25 nautical miles away and its crew members were engaged in maintenance work on the tug’s crane when it was appointed, and the inclement weather in the area, which would have reduced the tug’s speed. The intraship communication on board the 'Sovereign' was not effective once the tug was in the open sea in inclement weather conditions. This contributed to both the chief officer and second officer being unaware of a rolling wave on deck, which slammed them against a portable ladder leading to their injuries. As the 'Julietta D' had sufficient reserve buoyancy and the salvors were able to take control of the vessel and secure the vessel in a safe port.
SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS
A Royal Caribbean cruise employee is accused of hiding cameras inside bathrooms of passenger cabins to spy on guests, including underage girls. Arvin Joseph Mirasol, 34, was arrested on March 3, 2024, on federal charges of production and possession of child sexual abuse material after the 'Symphony of the Seas' arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of Florida. He also faces six counts of voyeurism in state court. A guest staying in a cabin where Mirasol was an attendant found a camera in the bathroom Feb 25. It was “affixed to the counter underneath the sink," according to the affidavit. She reported it to ship officials, who sent security to the room to investigate. Mirasol, who is a citizen of the Philippines, was detained on the ship until March 3, when it docked in Fort Lauderdale. He was questioned by agents from Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and the Broward Sheriff's Office. Agents discovered “numerous videos of naked females” as well as images of child sexual abuse while looking at his phone, an SD card and USB stick. One of the videos showed Mirasol installing a camera in a guest cabin's bathroom. In one five-minute video, a 10-year-old girl entered the bathroom, removed her clothes and got into the shower. Mirasol told investigators he had been placing cameras in bathrooms since he began working on the ship in Dec 2023. He admitted he knew it was illegal to film underage girls. In addition to the hidden cameras, Mirasol told agents he went into rooms while guests were taking showers and hid under the bed. He would then record them getting dressed, according to the affidavit. Royal Caribbean said in a statement that the company has fired Mirasol and is cooperating with the investigation. Mirasol is represented by Robert Berube of the federal public defender's office, who said in an email that he would not comment on the case. Mirasol remained in the Broward County Jail on March 6.
SEA-WATCH 5
A 17-year-old refugee from Africa died on board the 'Sea Watch 5' in the Mediterranean on March 5. The boy was rescued from an overcrowded wooden boat along with around 50 other migrants in international waters, but then suffered a cardiac arrest. Doctors on board were able to resuscitate him. However, all requests for an urgent medevac were refused by the authorities in various countries, so he ultimately died after two hours.
SY CHRISTINE
In the night of March 5, 2024, Salvamento Marítimo rescued the three German crew members from the 'Christine' that was sinking about 55 miles south of Tenerife. At 10:01 p.m. the JRCC of Tenerife received an emergency notice from the yacht. The Helimer 206 helicopter and the SAR boat 'Salvamar Alpheratz' came to their rescue. In addition, Salvamento Marítimo asked three vessels that were close to the sailboat, the 'OOCL Spain', 'Aidamar' and 'Yuan bei Hai', to keep lookout. The three crew members of the sailboat were hoisted onto the helicopter at around 11:48 p.m., and transferred to the Tenerife South airport in good condition. They did not need medical assistance. The boat was left adrift.
SALVAMAR BETELGEUSE
On March 6 the 'Salvamar Betelgeuse' has carried out the medical evacuation of a crew member of the Spanish flagged fishing vessel 'O Artabro' near A Coruña. The patient was transferred to the Oza dock, where an ambulance was waiting for further transport to a hospital.
MARK E KUEBLER
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an investigation report on the collision between the tug 'Mark E Kuebler' and the 'Nisalah' on Jan 22, 2023, at 3.30 p.m. LT, while the tanker was transiting inbound in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel near Ingleside, Texas. The tug’s hull was breached and the tanker’s propeller was damaged in the collision. The captain of the 'Mark E Kuebler' grounded the ship to prevent it from sinking, and, while aground, a small sheen of hydraulic oil was observed. The oil was recovered with absorbent pads. No injuries were reported. The damage to the 'Mark E Kuebler' was estimated at $3 million; the damage to the 'Nisalah' was estimated at $3.9 million. The 'Mark E Kuebler' was one of five tugs assigned to assist the inbound tanker in transiting through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel to a terminal in Ingleside. After meeting the 'Nisalah' in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, the 'Mark E Kuebler' transited off the tanker’s starboard quarter for a brief period. The mate on the tug then executed a clockwise 180° spin maneuver in preparation for making up to the tanker. During the maneuver, the tig fell back toward the stern of the 'Nisalah', and, in response, the mate increased the speed of the tugboat to regain a position off the tanker’s starboard quarter. However, as the tug, now transiting in the astern direction, moved forward about 50–60 feet off the 'Nisalah', its stern was drawn in toward the tanker. The mate attempted to counteract this motion by increasing engine power and turning the Z-drives to steer the stern away from the tanker; however, the thrust was not able to overcome the hydrodynamic forces pulling the vessel into the tanker. Consequently, the 'Mark E Kuebler' collided with the 'Nisalah'. As the 'Mark E Kuebler' moved to get into position alongside the 'Nisalah' after executing the 180° spin, the tugboat (moving in the astern direction) approached the area of low pressure on the tanker’s starboard quarter. Because the 'Nisalah' was in ballast, the inward curve of the ship’s hull toward the stern at the waterline was more pronounced than it would have been if the ship was loaded. Thus, the pressure near the VLCC’s starboard quarter was further reduced as compared to the vessel at its loaded draft. In addition, the drop in pressure was further accentuated near the propeller. The hydrodynamic suction produced by the low pressure in this area caused the 'Mark E Kuebler'’s stern to be drawn into the tanker. As the tug attempted to regain position on the Nisalah, the VLCC’s speed was 9.6 knots. Hydrodynamic forces created by a ship increase exponentially with speed, and therefore an increase of even a few knots has a significant effect on the forces acting on a tugboat operating nearby. Moreover, as the 'Mark E Kuebler' attempted to move into position, the tugboat’s speed increased to 11.6 knots—just 1.4 knots less than its maximum-rated ahead speed. Higher speed reduces the amount of reserve propulsion power available to the operator. Because most of the tug's engines’ power was being used to regain position on the 'Nisalah', the 'Mark E Kuebler' had insufficient power to counteract the hydrodynamic forces created by the tanker. After the collision, the tugboat’s operating company instituted a policy limiting stern-first landings of tugboats on assisted vessels to speeds of 7 knots or less. The National Transportation Safety Board determineed that the probable cause of the collision between the ships was the mate maneuvering the tugboat near the starboard quarter of the tanker, which resulted in the tugboat being drawn in toward the tanker by hydrodynamic forces that the tug had insufficient reserve power to counteract due to the transit speed of the vessels. Report with photos: https://www.workboat.com/coastal-inland-waterways/ntsb-tugboat-was-pulled-into-tanker-s-prop-during-texas-collision