Daily Vessel Casualty, Piracy & News Report

 

 

Edited By Christoph M. Wahner, Esq.

 

 

 

The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs broker. It's dangerous out there. Buy the cargo insurance, before the loss!

 

 

Many container vessel incidents go unreported until some complaint by cargo interests. Please report events and send photos to us in confidence. Our reporters remain anonymous upon request.

 

 

Drop us a line and we will properly inform the industry.

 

 

Casualty Reports archive for years past

 

 

Casualty Reports archive for January through June 2010

 

 

4 2nd SEMESTER (JULY-DEC.) 2010 REPORTS ARE BELOW

 

 

 

VESSEL LOSS & NEWS DISPATCHES FOR SEPTEMBER 2010

 

854-dwt Swiss-flagged river cruise ship Frederic Chopin, with 70 passengers, was in collision with German F/V Anne Margen on Aug. 31. No injuries but vessel damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

2,446-gt Barbados-flagged cargo M/V Wilson Gaeta (IMO 9171096) allided with a jetty of the outer harbor in Cuxhaven on Aug. 31. A pilot was on board at the time of the incident. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

Mauritius-flagged offshore supply vessel Beas Dolphin (IMO 9413482) was in minor collision with bulk carrier Nand Hajara at Mumbai port on Aug. 31. No spill or injuries reported, however Nand Hajara suffered water ingress and list, which was controlled and corrected. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

112,639-dwt Panama-flagged container M/V MSC Maureen (IMO 9251717) contacted the lock wall in Berendrechtsluis, Antwerp, on Aug. 30. Hull damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

139-m German frigate Brandenburg suffered engine room fire at the naval port of Kiel on Sept. 1. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

39-m Cook Islands flagged cargo M/V Unique R 1, with crew of 8, suffered machine failure during the passage of Hurricane Earl causing it to drift and run aground on a reef in the Caribbean Sea off the shores of the Southeast Peninsula on or about Aug. 29. The ship was abandoned and the crew swam a short distance to the shore. Minor injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

French oil tanker Flandre (IMO 9235256), Ningbo, China to UAE, was in collision with an unidentified Chinese cargo vessel off the coast of China's eastern Zhejiang province on Aug. 31. The tanker was sailing empty at the time of the incident. 6 people from the Chinese cargo vessel reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

79-m, 1,964-gt Norwegian-registered vessel Sally (IMO 7703273), with load of timber and crew of 6, lost cargo in heavy seas off the east coast of the UK on or about Aug. 30. The incident was attributed to cargo shift. Yarmouth Coastguard issued a warning of the situation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

Roro Super Shuttle Ferry 23 ran aground at the Vicinity Iloilo River entrance, Philippines, on Aug. 28. The vessel was refloated the same day. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

Cargo M/V Sea Ford 2 ran aground at the Vicinity Iloilo River entrance, Philippines, on Aug. 27. The vessel was to be refloated at high tide. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

1,400-dwt LD Lines' UK-flagged high speed catamaran ferry Norman Arrow (IMO 9501590, built 2009), running between Portsmouth, UK and Le Havre, France, allided with a buoy at the French port on Aug. 29. The vessel service was suspended. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

A combination of naval forces involving NATO, the EU and Japanese military cooperated on Aug 29 to save two merchant ships from pirates. First the pirates launched an attack on the 51,964-gt Hoegh Oslo (IMO 9382396) coming from Jeddah, but aborted their attempt after the arrival of a military aircraft. Later they closed in on the 16,382-gt Panama-flagged Caribbean Carrier 1 until the arrival of a Japanese patrol aircraft from the Japanese Maritime Self Defence unit based at Djibouti, which noted details of the skiff with seven suspected pirates on board. The Japanese alerted a Danish warship under NATO command, the Esbern Snare, which launched its helicopter to intercept the skiff. On sighting the helicopter the suspected pirates threw their weapons overboard and made signs of surrender. The Danish helicopter was joined by another chopper from an Italian ship also under NATO command. Subsequently a US warship, USS Kauffman which is also operating under NATO command sent personnel to board the skiff where they found a ladder similar to those used by pirates to board ships as well as other materials including spent and unspent ammunition. The pirates were disarmed and later released. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [1-9-10]

 

VESSEL LOSS & NEWS DISPATCHES FOR AUGUST 2010

 

NHong Kong registered bulk carrier, Ideal Bulker, was attacked by pirates approximately 24.3-nm southest of Pulau Mangkai on Aug. 30. 6 pirates in a small craft boarded the vessel from the stern. The pirates, who were armed with long knives, took control of the bridge; and tied up the bridge duty crew and anti-piracy watch with ropes. The pirates then forced the electric engineer to bring them to the Master’s cabin, where they attempted to enter the cabin. The Master raised the alarm and escaped through the porthole. The crew was mustered and they approached the Master’s cabin. Upon seeing the crew being alerted, the pirates escaped with two binoculars and two sets of walkie talkies stolen from the bridge. The Master suffered injuries while escaping through the porthole and the electric engineer suffered head injuries when the pirates assaulted him. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [30-8-10]

 

4,074-dwt general cargo M/V Volgo-Don 225 (IMO 8954958) ran aground on river Volga, km-mark 2,591, on Aug. 26. No damage, spill or injury reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [30-8-10]

 

330-ft cruise ship Clipper Adventurer (IMO 7391422), built 1975 and with 128 passengers and 69 crew aboard, ran aground on an uncharted rock in the Arctic Ocean while on a cruise through the Northwest Passage on Aug 27. No injuries were reported and the passengers were evacuated and transferred to Kugluktuk, a former copper mine townof about 1,300 people in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, Canada. The ship is sitting with a slight list to port of about 4 degrees but is stable. It had been travelling from Port Epworth to Kugluktuk, Nunavut, when it got stuck about 55-nm east of Kugluktuk. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [30-8-10]

 

110-ft tour boat Kirkland, a 1924 ferryboat that is on the Washington Heritage Register and belongs to Argosy Cruises, suffered fire in Kirkland on Aug. 28. With the help of fire fighters, the blaze appears to have been confined to the area around the engine room. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [30-8-10]

 

57.6-m Ukrainian river pusher M/V Krasnodon, bound for Komarno pushing 4 barges, ran aground on the Danube, near Göd (Hungary), north of Budapest, on Aug 26. The waterway at the grounding site was closed by the Hungarian authorities. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [30-8-10]

 

848-gt Guyana-flagged North West ferry Kimbia (IMO 8008230), Georgetown to Port Kumaka with over 100 passengers, suffered steering mechanism failure leaving the vessel stranded in the Atlantic while en route to Kumaka on Aug. 26. The vessel was towed by tug back to Georgetown on Aug. 27. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [30-8-10]

 

<<CHITRA UPDATE>> Ship masters from MSC Chitra and bulker Khalijia 3 are facing criminal charges following the Aug. 7 collision outside Mumbai port which led to widespread pollution and the loss of approximately 250 containers. Mandeleno Ranjit Martin, the master of the MSC Chitra, and Laxman Dubey, the master of the Khalijia 3, applied for bail and are facing charges of negligence and breaches of environmental regulations. [28-8-10]

 

Maersk Line has banned the carriage of calcium hypochlorite on its container ships from China following the major fire aboard the 8,194-teu Charlotte Maersk in July, which took 11 days to put out and destroyed some 130 containers. Calcium hypochlorite is suspected but has not been confirmed as the cause of that fire. As a result, Maersk has stopped accepting the commodity for export from all mainland China and Hong Kong origins. [28-8-10]

 

95-gt Danish ferry Sallingsund suffered engine trouble and ran aground on the sand bar Feggerøn 100-m off the ferry terminal at Mors on Aug 24. The vessel was refloated by the Coast Guard Cutter Jupiter 7 hours after the grounding. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, [28-8-10]

 

Kodeco Energy's platform KE 40, located off the coast of East Java, approximately 80-km north of Gresik, was struck by an unidentified cargo vessel on Aug. 25. No loss of life, spill or fire reported. The allision caused the platform to tilt by 40 degrees and caused some other damage, forcing the company to stop operations immediately. The incident might cause a production loss of 1,600 barrels of oil a day, or 15 million standard cubic feet per day. Officials were assessing the stability and safety of the damaged platform, to determine where operations would be able to continue. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

77,332-gt Liberian-flagged cargo M/V Magdalene (IMO 8718134) spilled oil on Kooragang Island, Australia, on Aug. 25. Clean-up teams worked through the night to contain the spill. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

Vessel Putra Romo, with over 26 passengers, sank in Badung Strait, Bali on Aug 26. 9 passengers died and 2 others reported missing. Preliminary investigation indicated the vessel was overloaded and had no lifejackets aboard. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

Ferry Darma Rucitra ran aground in Singaraja, Bali, on Aug 26. 138 individuals were evacuated. The incident was attributed to poor weather conditions. The vessel was to be refloated at high tide. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

2,113-gt Cook Islands flagged cargo M/V Swan Diana (IMO 8843848), Rotterdam to Dunkirk, ran aground off Mistli in Essex on Aug 25. The vessel was refloated with tug assistance and safely berthed at Dunkirk on Aug. 27. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

31,546-dwt Canadian bulk carrier Algosoo (IMO 7343619) and 34,938-dwt CSL Niagara (IMO 7128423) collided between Locks 7 & 8 along the Welland Canal, Canada, on Aug 24. The incident was attributed to machine failure aboard the Algosoo, causing that vessel to move out of position in the canal. Minimal damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

3,962-dwt Russian-flagged general cargo Volgo-Don 5077 (IMO 8866618) ran aground on 2035 kilometer mark Volga river due to navigational error on Aug 24. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

Russian tug Alexei Kulakovsky capsized on its way to assist a distress signal from trawler Polus-TB-0012, in the Laptev sea on Aug 26. Nearby tanker Lenaneft-2064 picked up 3 survivors from the water, including the master; 11 people reported missing. Search and rescue under way, but with strong wind and sea and water temperature +11C, there is little hope for additional survivors. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

3,651-gt Cambodian flagged M/T Seven Seas (IMO 7228118) exploded at the Tema Newtown beach, Ghana, on Aug 14. 4 persons were killed and 70 others were injured. The explosion occurred after a mob allegedly siphoned fuel from a vessel that had docked at the beach. The vessel had been at anchorage since Nov. 15, 2008 and had been poorly manned without any form of lighting thereby posing danger to other users of the port.[From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-8-10]

 

563-gt German tallship Grossherzogin Elisabeth (IMO 5309413), Amsterdam to Bremerhaven, suffered damage in heavy weather and had to alert the KNRM-stations West Terschelling and Vlieland on Aug 24. Wind gusts of up to 11 bf had torn several sails and the ship lost its rudder power. By the time the two rescue boats reached the ship, the weather calmed and the situation was under control. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

95-gt Danish ferry Sallingsund (built 1958) ran aground on a sand bar 100 metres off the ferry terminal at Mors on Aug 24. The vessel drifted onto the sand bar after the machine failed while it was coming from Thy. The vessel was unable to refloat under own power. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

2,998-gt Irish flagged cargo M/V Arklow Fame (IMO: 9361720) collided with a quay in Brake on Aug 19. The vessel was able to depart from the port the next day and reached its destination Dublin on Aug 23. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

A Seastreak fast ferry, returning from Martha's Vineyard to New York City, was damaged and changed course to New London, Connecticut on Aug 22. The decision to change course was made after a large wave dislodged a deck storage box that smashed a window on the first deck. 3 people reported minor injuries. Passengers were transferred to an available sister vessel and continued on to New York City without incident. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

25-ft tug Renee ran aground as it was transporting a 135-foot barge carrying five tons of rock to the El Jobean bridge, Florida, on Aug 23. The vessel reportedly experienced steering problems. Members from Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Fort Myers are inspecting the barge for damage and conducted alcohol and drug testing on the vessel crew members. No injury, pollution or disruption to vessel traffic reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

36 ft long wooden charter schooner Valora broke off its mooring in outer Vineyard Haven Harbor and went ashore on the harbor breakwater on Aug 23. No one was on board at the time. Observers are reporting that the vessel is taking a heavy beating and is expected to be declared a total loss. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

12,702-gt Panama-flagged Silica II (IMO 8605208) suffered fire in cargo hold 1 while berthed at Selaata port, Lebanon on Aug 23. The fire was extinguished by crew, no reports on injures and damages. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

80-ft F/V Clarisa allided with the southern tip of the Galveston jetties on Aug 23. The vessel took on water in the engine room and the vessel sent a distress call. The Coast Guard responded and all 3 individuals on board were evacuated and taken to the Galveston Yacht Basin. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

2,781-dwt cargo M/V Ekaterina (IMO 8858025) ran aground in Azov-Don Channel on Aug 21. The vessel was ballasting from Rostov to Taganrog and was pushed off channel by strong wind gusts; no damages and spill have been reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

Cruise ship Viking Princess became disabled about half a mile from Provincetown on Aug 22. The Coast Guard responded and removed all 20 individuals from the cruise ship and transferred them back to the Coast Guard Station Provincetown. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

4,480-gt Greek high speed ferry High Speed 1 (IMO 9125932), with 226 passengers, suffered fire while sailing to Tinos on Aug 23. The fire had started in the ship’s engine room. All passengers were transported safely to Tinos port where the ship berthed on Aug 23. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

30-m French trawler Concerto, with crew of 10, ran aground off the Cuntyo Kerry coast early in the morning of Aug 21. The crew was safely evacuated and the vessel was refloated with the high tide the same day [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

50-m vessel Edmonton Queen ran aground in the North Saskatchewan River on Aug 20. The vessel remained firmly aground about 5-m from shore in the North Saskatchewan River in the late afternoon, despite the best efforts of a fire crew that used a watercraft to try to haul the vessel free. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

50-foot cabin cruiser Wilhelmina ran aground on Devil's Back in Boston Harbor about a mile from Deer Island, Massachusetts on Aug. 21. The Coast Guard and the Massport Fire Crew arrived to assist the boat. The Massport Fire crew removed 18 people from the vessel, leaving 2 aboard to stay with the boat. No injuries have been reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

3,434-gt Dutch suction dredger Mellina (IMO 9260689) lost approximately 600 liters hydraulic oil prior to berthing at Cuxhaven on Aug 20. An oil boom was laid out around the vessel as it underwent repairs. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 25-8-10]

 

The London insurance market's Joint War Committee added the southern Red Sea to its list of excluded waters as a result of increasing pirate attacks. Eritrea and the Red Sea south of 15 degrees north will be excluded from the annual cover provided by war0risks policies. The additional premium required to buy back cover for the region was not immediately made clear. Premium for a Gulf of Aden transit reportedly costs between .05%-.175% of vessel hull value depending on terms of cover and bargaining power. Because a large area of the Gulf of Aden extending out into the Indian Ocean has already been excluded from annual cover, ships entering the Red Sea to transit the Suez Canal have already been required to buy back war-risks cover. Other already excluded areas include Sudan and Egypt to the north of Eritrea on the western side of the Red Sea as well as Djibouti to the south and Yemen and Saudi Arabia to the east. Approximately 25 areas around the world - including much of the Middle East, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Venezuela, parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines - are excluded by London underwriters. [21-8-10]

 

394-gt 3-masted German tall ship Alexander von Humboldt (IMO 8626886), London to its homeport of Bremerhaven, was in collision with 346-gt Dutch F/V Andrea (IMO 8008187) off Vlieland on Aug. 20. Both vessels incurred minor damage but no injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

1,978-gt Cook Islands flagged Swanland (IMO 7607431) nearly grounded at the rocks at Lizard Point, Cornwall, on Aug. 20. Falmouth Coastguard coordinated the rescue after the alarm was raised after the Swanland’s engines failed. The vessel was then towed to Falmouth port. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

3 vessels were attacked by pirates within 24 hours off Pulau Mangkai Indonesia in South China Sea on Aug. 16/17. 11,553-dwt Stolt Botan (IMO 9156553), where the pirates escaped empty-handed; 173,149 Bet Fighter (IMO 9004839) where the Master was tied up and the pirates escaped after taking with them the ship’s cash, stores and crews’ personal belongings; Chem Orchid, where the Master and Second Officer were tied up and the crew was robbed of cash and personal belongings. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

26,456-dwt Vietnam-registered bulk carrier Vinalines Star was attacked by six robbers approximately 11-nm west of Pulau Mangai, Indonesia, on Aug. 18. The robbers, armed with knives, entered the bridge, tied up the duty officer and another crew member. They brought the crew to cabins and stole their cash and valuables. The Master was held hostage until the robbers left the vessel. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

Unidentified F/V rented by students capsized in the Songhua river in northeastern China in strong winds on Aug. 20. 4 people reported rescued, 4 people reported missing. The incident occurred after the craft lost power and drifted. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

Two unidentified vessels collided in the shipping channel of the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall on Aug 18. 1 death and 4 injuries reported. Akwesasne Mohawk Police are investigating the cause of the collision. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

Unidentified vessel caught fire in the Arabian Sea on Aug. 18. 8 Iranian sailors were rescued by U.S. Navy helicopters from the carrier USS Harry Truman. Humanitarian and medical care were extended to the rescued sailors after they landed on the carrier. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

7,616-dwt German general cargo Carla (IMO 9306304) and 2,210-dwt UK general cargo Jonsen (IMO 7530846) collided off Dungeness on Aug. 18. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

1,380-dwt Latvian general cargo vessel Riga (IMO 8324749) was towed to Goole, UK, and berthed at a ship repair yard after grounding and damaging its rudder on August 15. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

7,722-dwt Indonesian flagged Timur Galaxy (IMO 8318726) allided with South Korea’s Kodeco Energy (oil production platform) on Aug 11. Several parts of the facility were damaged, including the dock and hand rails. Estimated loss is some 15-20 mil USD. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

2,998-gt Irish flagged cargo M/V Arklow Fame (IMO: 9361720), arriving from Southampton, allided qith a quay in the port of Brake on Aug. 19. The incident was attributed to bow thruster failure. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-8-10]

 

American vessel Sagamore, Syrian vessel Sana Star, North Korean flagged Crystal Wave and Antiguan registered Aremenia were all attacked and robbed by Gunmen while anchored off Iraq's Basra oil export terminal on Aug. 8. The attacks are considered armed robberies rather than piracy as they appear to have occurred within Iraq's territorial waters. The Iraqi authorities reported recovering a boat with some of the stolen goods. Two men were arrested, others fled. [19-8-10]

 

N173,149-dwt Seanergy Capesize vessel Bet Fighter, built 1992, was attacked by pirates on Aug. 17. The pirates successfully boarded the vessel but left on their own accord. No injuries or damage to the vessel was reported. [19-8-10]

 

4,200 berth NCL cruise ship Norwegian Epic, only hours into a 7 day cruise, suffered passenger fatality and returned to Miami on Aug. 15 to allow the body to be removed and the rest of the family of 6 to leave the ship. The 21-year-old man evidently suffered an allergy death by heart attack after eating a meal. The vessel was approximately 40-nm from Miami at the time of the incident. [19-8-10]

 

47-ft Swedish water-bus Ida I ran aground and later sank entirely off the island of Replot in the narrowest part of the Gulf of Bothnia on Aug 17. The vessel was transporting tourists to the island of Mikkelinsaari near Vaasa when it struck a reef. All tourists were rescued by private persons in other small pleasure-boats in the vicinity. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 19-8-10]

 

2,141-gt British research vessel Jean Charcot (6505777, built 1965) caught fire in St. John's, Newfoundland on Aug. 17. The vessel was evacuated while firefighters extinguished the blaze with the help of 2 crew members. There was only minor damage confined to the cargo hold area and no injuries. The vessel will reportedly leave for a 20-day expedition as scheduled on Sunday to assess the deteriorating condition of the RMS Titanic. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 19-8-10]

 

41-gt Swedish ferry Djurgårdsfärjan 4, ran into the Nybro Quay at Stockholm on Aug 18. 24 persons were hurt and some of them treated in hospital with fractures or head injuries. The incident was attributed to mechanical failure. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-8-10]

 

German tall ship Roald Amundsen struck a shoal about 5 miles north from the Sturgeon Bay entrance canal, Wisconsin, on her way to an anchorage and grounded on Aug 16. No crew members were injured and no pollution was reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-8-10]

 

A 60-foot barge has become submerged in Tellico Lake, Tennesee on Aug 15 and environmental officials are trying to contain fuel leaking from it. The barge is owned/operated by Marine Designs, a local dock building company. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has put two 400-foot booms around the partly sunken barge to contain fuel that had leaked. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-8-10]

 

A River-going vessel, belonging to the fishing state-run farm Oktyabrsky, capsized off the Sea of Okhotsk coast in western Kamchatka on Aug 17. 7 fisherman reported missing. The Kamchatka EMERCOM department is controlling the search operation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-8-10]

 

75-ft F/V Captain Kiet took on water in Turner Creek, Georgia, on Aug 17. The vessel contains paint cans, chemicals, batteries and other potential pollutants aboard. Authorities responded to address threat of pollution. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-8-10]

 

A Russian cruise ship collided with a barge on the Volga River on Aug 18. The barge carrying sand hit the cruise liner, piercing a hole in its starboard side. None of the 202 tourists and 91 crew aboard had suffered any injuries and the crew patched the hole. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-8-10]

 

189-m Greek cargo vessel Anangel Innovation (IMO 9286798) was approached by a pirate skiff in the Gulf of Aden on Aug. 16. Dutch fregate Hrms De Zeven Provinciën reacted, launching a helicopter and firing warning shots. The pirates were captured and released. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-8-10]

 

82-m, 1,379-dwt Korean-flagged chartered trawler Oyang 70 (IMO 7238852) sank about 800-km southeast of Dunedin on Aug 18. 45 crew were rescued; 3 were killed and 3 more remain missing. The Rescue Coordination Centre states seven fishing vessels, including the Almatal Atlantis, are at the scene and searching for the remainder of the crew. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-8-10]

 

78-m, 2,277-dwt Indian flagged cargo M/V Nand Aparita (IMO 9082075) ran into a coral reef off the Kavaratti Island in Lakshadweep on Aug. 15. Reports suggest that 400 sq. meters of pristine reef have been damaged. No spill reported as of yet. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-8-10]

 

Taiwan-flagged longliner De Sheng Fa No. 3 ran aground after failing to find the main passage leading out of the Suva Harbour on Aug 16. The Fiji Islands Maritime Safety Administration will conduct an investigation into how the vessel ran aground. There was no visible damage to the ship but officials said it would be docked for further inspection. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-8-10]

 

60-gt M/V Aegir suffered water ingress while being berthed in Norddeich, Germany, on Aug. 13. The ingress was attributed to a propeller shaft leak and was controlled with the assistance of response teams. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-8-10]

 

4,217-dwt Malta-flagged cruise liner Thomson Spirit (IMO 8024014) was in collision with 50,500-dwt Hong Kong flagged container M/V UASC Madinah (IMO 9351608) while maneuvering in Koper on Aug 15. The cruise liner was slightly damaged but no injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-8-10]

 

The patrol boat Rio Piura boat sank off the Peru’s southern Pacific coast on Aug 11. 3 of the boat’s 13 crew remain missing after an aircraft spotted a Zodiac inflatable craft with 10 people aboard, who were rescued by a patrol boat and who are in good health. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-8-10]

 

7,545 gt Cyprus flagged cargo M/V WMS Harlingen (IMO 9339040) collided with the empty inland water craft Anton while bound for Rotterdam and passing the Berghaven of Hoek van Holland, on Aug. 15. The Anton was discovered to be leaking; an oil boom was placed around the vessel. Meanwhile, the WMS Harlingen continued her voyage to Rotterdam, where the authorities will investigate the cause of the collision. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-8-10]

 

Panama flagged bulkcarrier Royal Oasis (IMO 9086083) contacted the Norwegian bulkcarrier Berge Atlantic (IMO 9164184) 8 miles off Mumbles Head, on Aug 15. There has been no discharge of oil and neither vessel is taking on water. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-8-10]

 

2,461-gt Antigua-Barbuda-flagged cargo M/V Ostenau (IMO 9280706) ran aground off Dueodde after suffering machine failure on Aug. 14. The vessel was able to refloat under own power.[From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-8-10]

 

2,650-gt Antigua-Barbuda flagged cargo M/V Hanseatic Spirit (9088263) was in collision with German inland water craft Ascania near Brake, Wesermarsch community on Aug 15. No injuries but damage and water ingress reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-8-10]

 

The Paris MOU on port-state control will start a 3-month Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) to verify proper damage stability on tankers and gas carriers beginning Sept. 1. The vessel stability information book and other documentation will be verified to ensure compliance. The Paris MOU on Port State control is a system of harmonized inspection procedures designed to target sub-standards ships with the main objective being their eventual elimination. [14-8-10]

 

Insurers are urging bulker masters to exercise extra care when taking on iron-ore cargoes in India as the south-west monsoon takes hold. Cargoes of iron-ore which exceeded moisture-content levels in the rains of last year's monsoon led to the loss of two bulkers off the loading ports of Paradip and Mangalore. The wrecks of 38,000-dwt Black Rose and 14,400-dwt Asian Forest remain off the coast of India. The situation is particularly perilous in India, where iron-ore cargoes are left in the open and hence exposed to the elements. Industry association Intercargo has called for the Indian authorities to introduce precautionary practices. In a note to shipowners, Norwegian P&I club Gard advised masters to reject cargoes that exceed safe limits of moisture content and to adhere to guidelines set out under Solas and the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSCB) Code 2009. It warned that a cargo shift due to excess moisture could happen at any time, from when a ship has just left port or weeks into a voyage in heavy or calm seas. [14-8-10]

 

2,999-gt Dutch cargo M/V Flinterforest (IMO 9313773), Riga to Grenock, ran aground off Helsingborg in southern Sweden on Aug.13. When the Coast Guard Karlskrona arrived, they found the skipper intoxicated. The vessel remained intact. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

39-gt Dutch F/V Hunsingo drifted aground off Schiermonnikoog on Aug 11. The incident was attributed to the propeller being caught in a net. The vessel was refloated by a rescue boat and towed to Lauwersoog. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

142-gt Norwegian catamaran ferry Vetlefjord (IMO 9264348) ran aground south of the bridge of Tansøy in the Flora community while approaching the quay at Askrova on Aug 12. The vessel suffered a gash in the hull on starboard side but was able to refloat the same day. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

66,214-dwt Chinese bulk carrier Huan Le Hai (IMO 8916736) grounded in river Parana South America on August 8. [From our Sr.Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

A tugboat allided with the fender system of the Gilmerton Railroad Bridge in Virginia on Aug. 12. The incident damaged the sensors that control the closing of the bridge. A maintenance crew arrived on scene and fixed the sensors. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

78-ft F/V Kathy Ann-Michelle Diane sank at Long Beach on Aug 12. Approximately 25 gallons of diesel spilled into the harbor. Nobody was on board when the boat went down. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

81,058-gt Panama flagged bulkcarrier Royal Oasis (IMO 9086083) collided with 91,962-gt Norwegian bulkcarrier Berge Atlantic (IMO 9164184) off the coast of Port Talbot, southeast of Swansea, UK on Aug 13. There was some damage on the superstructure above the water line to both vessels, and they have been anchored in deep water. No pollution or injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

F/V Jay Penelope suffered machine failure in gale force winds near Jackson Bay in south Westland, New Zealand, on Aug. 13. The vessel remains anchored at Smoothwater but is listing badly. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

2,300-dwt Norwegian cargo M/V Icelandica Hav was detained in Aberdeen from June 4-12 after a Russian sailor died breathing in dangerous fumes while in the hold. Several issues with the vessel were found, including difficulties monitoring the atmosphere in the ship's hold. [14-8-10]

 

134-m American ferry Walla, operated by Washington State Ferries, suffered problems with steering system on or about Aug. 13. Ferry service was affected, but the vessel has since been repaired by engineers. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

15,690-gt Norwegian ferry Finnmarken (IMO 9231951), presently accomodating 270 workers off Barrow Island, was struck repeatedly by a barge during strong winds on Aug. 10. Vessel damage and 1 injury reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

1,242-gt Norwegian Arctic Trans (IMO 7612228), with 6 aboard, suffered machine failure in the Busse sound off VardÞ in Finnmark, on Aug 11. The rescue centre at BodÞ sent the rescue boat Gjert Wilhelmsen from Båtsfjord which reached the vessel as it was drifting only 500-m off the shore. After 3 hours, power was restored and situation relieved. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

3,389-dwt tanker Dzamrat (IMO 8857174) suffered explosion while berthed at Berth 36 Murmansk Sea Port on Aug 11. The incident occurred while a tank was heated for oil discharge. The automated fire system prevented any fire; one fire team arrived to cool off tank. No spill or no injures reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

12,680-dwt general cargo Banglar Moni (IMO 8120818) while mooring to 16,226-dwt general cargo Laila Queen (IMO 8311390) for offloading operation contacted the vessel on Chittagong road on August 9. Both vessels incurred slight damages. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

A unidentified chartered ferry boat with approximately 50 passengers sank in a reported whirlpool on the Tilyuga, a tributary of the Kosi, Supaul district of Bihar, India, on Aug. 11. 20 people reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

8.3-m Leon Robert II suffered fire while moored and unoccupied 70-m off shore in Halifax on Aug 12. RCMP are investigating the suspicious fire. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Unidentified tug, pulling a barge down the Intercoastal Canal, capsized near Avoka Island, Louisiana, on Aug. 10. The 3 crew members were thrown in the water but rescued by a crew from a nearby gas platform. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Canadian-flagged tanker Mokami (IMO 8700151) ran aground in the harbor at Pangnirtung, Nunavut, during low tide on Aug 8. No spill or damage reported; the vessel was freed at high tide. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

46,990-dwt Hong Kong flagged cargo M/V Saga Tucano (IMO: 9160803) ran aground on the eastern harbor jetty of Flushing, Netherlands, on Aug. 12. The vessel was successfully refloated with assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

N77,636 gt Liberian flagged tanker Ice Explorer (IMO 9296391) was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Aug. 10. The attack was thwarted with the arrival of a NATO helicopter from American frigate USN Kauffman. Upon arrival overhead the pirates were seen dumping weapons and other objects into the sea, although NATO claimed that a subsequent search of the pirate boat revealed other pirate paraphernalia. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

494-gt trawler Marie Claire (IMO 7109312) caught fire 50-km south of Cape Recife near Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on Aug.10. 40 crew members were forced to abandon the vessel; 21 crew were picked up by the fishing boat Torolla, and the remaining 19 were rescued by another trawler, the Maverick. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

16,765-dwt bulk carrier Oriental Sapphire (IMO 9273014) and 6,174-dwt general cargo Esperanza II (IMO 9108582) collided in the Kanmon Strait, Japan on Aug 11. No spills or water ingress reported. Both vessels anchored for survey and investigation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Philippine flagged trawler Salvan, which had departed from Dawahon Bato, Leyte, with crew of 10, sank in the waters off Iloilo and Anini-y in Antique on Aug 10. Search and rescue teams dispatched. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

F/V Bell Cay overturned at Swain Reefs, 250-km off Rockhampton, in central Queensland, on Aug 11. 21 people thrown overboard but were able to get into lifeboats without report of serious injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

F/V Captain Sunil, with crew of 3, remains missing a week after they ventured out to sea on what was supposed to be a quick trip that began on July 31. On Aug 4, the matter was reported to the Vigilance Police Station and on Aug 6, a plane flew from Berbice to Waini looking for the vessel. The Coast Guard was also notified and searched too. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

A sand barge collided with a container that had floated off the MSC Chitra near Gharapuri Island off the Mumbai coast on Aug. 10. 10 sailors aboard the barge fell overboard as the vessel capsized, but were rescued by an Oil and Natural Gas Commission boat crew. The sailors were taken to Belapur and treated for minor injuries. The barge was tugged to Reti Bunder. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

29,240-dwt bulk carrier Jan S (IMO 9415143) suffered machine failure, became disabled and allided with a buoy awhile transiting Bosphorus on Aug. 9. The vessel managed to safely anchor at Istanbul road. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Container M/V Taurus (IMO 9134593) grounded near Haydarpasa on Aug 9. The vessel was refloated with a tug assistance and was anchored without further incident. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Russian cargo M/V Sailbaron, Bulgaria to Iran, ran aground on River Volga, km-mark 2,948 on Aug 8. No damage or spill reported. The vessel was refloated the next day with tug assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Malta-flagged river cruise ship Avalon Imagery, Budapest to Amsterdam, had to be evacuated on the Danube, due to the very high tide which made it impossible to pass the bridges on Aug 7. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

River cruise ships Scenic Ruby and Rossini collided on the Danube near Passau-Lindau on Aug. 7. Vessel damage but no injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

German container M/V Conti Singa (IMO 9113642) and 10,000-dwt Luxembourg general cargo M/V Norjan ( IMO 9347633) collided in Izmir, Turkey on Aug 8. Conti Singa suffered bow damage and remained in Izmir for repairs. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Vessel Hasmita III capsized and sank just minutes before arriving in Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara, on Aug 9. 10 people dead and countless others missing. 70 people rescued. The incident was attributed to a 3-m wave. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Ferry OceanLala, Magkong to Taichung Harbor with over 300 passengers, encountered strong waves caused by a tropical storm on Aug. 9. The vessel was damaged and required escort aid. Minor injuries reported. After the incident, the Ministry of Transportation said the OceanLaLa was a type of ferry only suited for lakes and internal seas, not for traffic across the Taiwan Straits. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

4480 gt Greek ferry High Speed 1 (IMO 9125932) suffered engine fire while traveling from Mykonos to Paros on Aug 6. The crew successfully extinguished the fire. No injuries or damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

900-dwt Norwegian ferry Gulen, (IMO 8816027) suffered propeller damage and was taken out of the service Lavik-Oppedal on Aug 6. The incident was attributed to a collision with an underwater obstruction. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-8-10]

 

Indian F/V Nethavati and vessel Rajeshwari collided approxiamtely 8-km from Gokarna near Tadadi fishing port on Aug. 9. 5 people from the F/V reported missing while 5 others reported rescued by the crew of the Rajeshwari. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

An unidentified passenger vessel with 50 aboard capsized and sank in waters off eastern Indonesia on Aug. 9. At least 10 people were killed and dozens reported missing. At least 8 people confirmed rescued. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

1,669-dwt general cargo M/V Neva (IMO 8719413) ran aground on river Scheksna, km-mark 541, on Aug. 7. No injury, damage or spill reported and the vessel was refloated with tug assistance and resumed its voyage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

Cyprus-flagged bulk carrier Kapitan Vodenko (IMO 8225498) allided with the Terneuzen Sluice gate and was locked there for several hours, during which time Ghent traffic was closed, on Aug. 7. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

75-ft shrimping vessel Last Chance suffered fire and sank near Bluff Shoal, North Carolina, on Aug. 6. All 3 crew members rescued without report of injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

225.4-gt passenger/cargo vessel Mari III, with 21 passengers aboard, ran aground approximately 120-m off Dumangas Port, Cebu, on Aug. 5. The Coast Guard personnel assisted in the successful transfer of the 21 passengers to a landing craft without report of injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

131-gt passenger vessel Solent Scene (IMO 7340344) drifted aground near Old Harry Rocks, Dorset, England, on Aug. 7. Portland Coastguard coordinated rescue of 37 people without report of injury. All passengers were transferred to a RNLI lifeboat. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

38-m barge Eole II took on water and sank in the Seine at the foot of the Eiffel Tower on Aug. 3. More than 500 tourist and commercial boats pass daily on this section of the river, according to river police. Small fuel spill reported. The vessel was refloated on Aug. 6. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

F/V Qualicum Ribver No. 9, chartered by 4 men and missing since Aug. 2, has been found capsized off the coast of Vancouver Island but there is no sign of the men onboard. The boat was found in calm waters six miles off the Brooks Peninsula on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. The search is continuing and is being focused in the area with a Canadian Forces Buffalo aircraft and a Cormorant helicopter as well as the Coast Guard and RCMP vessels. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

3,978-gt Russian cargo M/V Sibirskiy 2131 (IMO 8104187) was detained while attempting to leave the port of Brake for St. Petersburg on Aug. 4 after the master was found to be intoxicated. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-8-10]

 

498-ton Philippine cargo M/V SF Freighter, with crew of 16 and load of steel products sailing towards Cebu, sank in heavy seas off Romblon province on or about Aug. 7. The vessel, initially reported missing, radioed a distress call on Aug. 7 after encountering heavy waves off the central island of Dos Hermanas. The vessel had been evacuated. The Philippine Coastguard deployed a reconnaissance aircraft to search for crew and advised all vessels in the vicinity to assist. 3 survivors found and rescued, 1 dead body recovered, 12 people reported missing. [9-8-10]

 

41-ton South Korean squid fishing boat Daeseung 55 was reportedly seized by North Korea in the Sea of Japan on or about Aug. 8. The incident comes amid rising tensions over the sunken South Korean warship Cheonan in March. The F/V, which had been traveling off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, was carrying 4 South Korean crewmen and three Chinese sailors. South Korea's Unification Ministry said Monday that Pyongyang has given no comment since seizing the 41-ton squid fishing boat, AFP reported on Monday. [9-8-10]

 

The world's fleet of capesize vessels has reportedly bloated to the point some July contracts were reported below the level of daily operating costs, a phenomenon not seen since the initial global financial crisis. According to Lloyd's List, one Capesize vessel was even hired at a startling rate of $0 per day. The prevailing charter rate dipped well below $15,000 per day during the month, and it actually became cheaper to charter a massive 175,000-dwt Capesize vessel than a 30,000-dwt Handysize carrier (about 80% smaller by displacement). [6-8-10]

 

Panama-flagged container M/V MSC Chitra collided with M/V Khalijia III near the Mumbai coastline on Aug. 7. The incident took place when Khalijia III was entering the anchorage and MSC Chitra was leaving. After the collision, MSC Chitra was grounded in the vicinity of Prongs Reef Light house. The Indian Coast Guard rescued all 33 crew members aboard MSC Chitra. Minor pollution reported. [6-8-10] <<UPDATE>> Operations at Jawaharlal Nehru, India's busiest port, have been suspended. A constable attached with the marine unit of the city police died the morning of Aug. 9 after he fell off a speed boat during patrolling near MSC Chitra. MSC Chitra capsized 80 degrees causing approximately 300 of 1,219 containers to fall into the sea. The containment and recovery of spilled oil is not feasible at present due to the rocky surface and prevailing weather and tidal conditions. Reports said the MSC Chitra was carrying 2,662 metric tons (mt) of fuel oil and 283.8 mt of diesel oil, plus 88,040 litres of lube oils when the collision occurred; some of the MSC Chitra's fuel tanks were ruptured by the collision. Click here to see Cargolaw feature. [9-8-10]

 

An unidentified boat overloaded with passengers and fish capsized on the Ugandan side of Lake Albert on Aug. 1. At least 33 people reported killed. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

18 Tanzanian school children drowned when their boat capsized on Lake Victoria on Aug 5, the third such disaster in the region in a month. The incident was attributed to overloading and strong winds. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

NSt. Vincent-flagged cargo M/V Syria Star (IMO 7608136), sailing west in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden with cargo of sugar, was attacked and hijacked by pirates on Aug. 5. The vessel has a crew of 22 Syrians and 2 Egyptians. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10] <<UPDATE>> Somali pirates freed St. Vincent and Grenadines flagged cargo vessel Syria Star which was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, with crew of 24, on Aug. 5. Naval Force spokesman John Harbour said initial reports seem to indicate the pirates left the vessel on their own accord, using one of the vessel's rescue boats. 2 crewmembers reported injured in the initial attack. [7-8-10]

 

4,273-dwt Estonian general cargo M/V Heli (IMO9081344) suffered cargo hold fire at Newhaven, UK, on Aug. 5. The fire was successfully extinguished. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

109-74-m German inland tanker M/V Eiltank 49 (ex-Leeuw) suffered rudder failure and collided with barge train on the Rhine at St. Goarshausen-Ehrenthal on Aug. 5. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

Unidentified ferry boat sank in Laguna Lake off Binangonan Town, Rizal Province, Philippines, on or about Aug. 5. 3 people reported killed. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

1,572-dwt cargo M/V Trisal Pratama (IMO 7827976) collided with cargo M/V Indimatam in the Selayar Strait on Aug. 4. Trisal Pratama sank; 10 people reported missing. Survivors were pulled from the water by passing ships. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

90,090-gt Bahamas-flagged cruise ship Jewel of the Seas (IMO 9228356) suffered machine failure forcing it to sail at reduced speed and resulting in changes to its itinerary. Preliminary repairs were carried out on July 31 in Harwich, now the crew is awaiting a replacement hydraulic motor and will conduct further repairs while the ship is in St. Petersburg, on Aug 5 and 6. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

BC-ferries ferry Queen of Nanaimo slammed into the dock at the terminal on Mayne Island, approximately 40-km southwest of Vancouver, on 3 August 2010. 4 passengers and 1 crew member were injured. Crab or prawn traps became tangled around propellers and caused the crash. The ferry reportedly struck the dock at about 5 knots, after cutting its speed from the normal speed of 14 or 15 knots. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

533-ft Norwegian tanker Sidsel Knutsen (9019779), carrying fuel to Montreal, suffered engine room fire and as a result came within feet of the St. Clair River sea wall on Aug. 4. The fire started about 1130LT. and, while those on board were fighting the blaze, the ship's master and pilot decided to steer it out of the shipping channel. The ship anchored in the river at the mouth of the Pine River. The Coast Guard is investigating, and the ship will remain anchored until the investigation is complete. Witnesses said the northbound ship hit a buoy before swinging around and dropping anchor near the sea wall. A small boat from Station Port Huron arrived on scene about 1300LT. The vessel is owned by Knutsen OAS Shipping in Haugesund, Norway. Canadian officials say the vessel is unlikely to be moving anytime soon. The ship's owners will repair the engine while the ship is aground. Even though the vessel is lodged in the river, other shipping traffic shouldn't be disrupted. The engine repairs could take several more days. When repairs are complete, the ship will either be towed out by a tugboat or will be lightened by pumping oil off so it can float off the riverbed on its own. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

43,952-dwt Bahamas-flagged cargo M/V Auk Arrow (IMO 8309397) suffered an explosion in Niterói, Brazil, on Aug. 2. 3 people killed, all Brazilian yard workers. The crew of 31 Indians was not injured. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

6,584-gt Norwegian ferry Fanafjord (IMO 9344758) allided with the ferry ramp at Sandvikvåg coming from Halhjem on Aug 3. Vessel damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

29,965-gt Norwegian tanker M/V Bow Saga (IMO 9215309), coming from Jebel Ali in the Gulf of Aden, was attacked by pirates on Aug. 2. A Spanish frigate of the EU NAVFOR forces sent a helicopter following a mayday of its crew. The attack was thus aborted. Another ship of EU NAVFOR traced the pirate skiff. It was raided and weapons found aboard. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

Mississippi-style cruise boat Bahia Belle suffered collapsed gangplank in San Diego on July 31. Several people were dropped into the shallow water. Firefighters searched the water in boats, and 2 people were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. 13 others refused medical treatment. The craft takes hotel guests from the popular Bahia Resort around Mission Bay. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

509-ft guided missile destroyer Shoup collided with a 21-ft civilian boat during training exercises off the Southern California coast on Aug. 1. No injuries reported. The San Diego-based Coast Guard cutter Petrel escorted the civilian craft from about 50 miles northwest of Point Loma to Oceanside, arriving in port around 0200 on Aug 2. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

37,697 Vanuatu-flagged drill vessel GSF Jack Ryan (IMO 9160705) suffered collapsed crane in the AIRC oil field off Nigeria on July 31. 3 people were thrown overboard, 1 person reported missing, 2 others rescued. Houston-based Transocean Ltd. (RIG) is the owner of the drill ship. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

3,104-dwt general cargo Sailbeauty (8846761) struck upper gates of Balakovskiy Lock at km-mark 2006 on the Volva river on July 31. Water ingress but no pollution reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

Danish container M/V Maersk Tukang, suffered machine failure at Rotterdam on Aug. 2. Tug assistance was required. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

2,490-gt Norwegian ferry Sigrid (IMO 9030369), with capacity for 70 cars and 300 passengers, allided with the quay at Melbu on Aug. 2. Vessel damage reported as well as damage to two vehicles on board. The incident was attributed to excess speed. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

N158-m cargo M/V Suez (IMO 821872000, ex- Evi, Evataki), with crew of 23, was attacked and hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Aug. 2. The vessel was carrying cement in sacks and was transiting along the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor underway from Karachi to Massawa. [2-8-10]

 

Tugboat Jenny Lynn sank in Duncan Bay off Cheboygan on Aug. 1. The cause is unknown. Diesel spill reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-8-10]

 

47-ft shrimp trawler Miss Melodie suffered fire and sank off the Crystal Coast near the Seagate Community, Carolinas, on Aug. 1. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-8-10]

 

An unidentified passenger vessel, with 29 passengers, sank in Karnali River at Sattaghatti Ghat along Bardiya Patabhar, Nepal, on Aug. 1. 4 people reported missing. The incident was attributed to overloading. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-8-10]

 

An unidentified boat, with 80-90 aboard, capsized on Lake Albert, Africa, on Aug. 1. 70 people reported killed. The incident was attributed to overloading, with vessel capacity only being for 40 passengers. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-8-10]

 

57-ft American-flagged catamaran yacht Anna Valdivia capsized in stormy seas approximately 126-nm west of Niue on Aug. 1. The two men aboard were rescued from 2,800-gt cargo M/V Forum Pacific (IMO 8506452). RCCNZ had also dispatched an Air Force P3 Orion from New Zealand to the scene. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-8-10]

 

2,296-dwt Tanzania-flagged Syrian freighter Voyager J. (IMO 6721163) sank in the Mediterranean sea approximately 35-nm SE off Gibraltar on July 29. The cause of the casualty is not immediately known. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-8-10]

 

47,700-dwt Marshall-Islands bulk carrier Balder (IMO 9233416) collided with commercial 72-ft F/V Atlantic Queen 11 miles south of Jones Beach, New York, on July 29 at 0330LT. 1 crew member aboard the F/V sustained injury. The F/V reportedly lost approximately 15-ft of its bow structure but remained afloat. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-8-10]

 

U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act 2010 the week of July 26. The Act will affect cruise ships with over 250 passengers and calling to U.S. ports during international voyages. The Act covers 5 primary safey subjects: design and construction; medical facilities; passenger and crew information; training; and measures to report and combat crime. 1 of the new design regulations involved raising rails to 42 inches above cabin deck height; this is 2.5 inches higher than the previous requirement. Compliance grace time of 2 years is provided. Operators not complying with the new regulations could be rejected U.S. entry or could face penalties of up to US$250,000. [1-8-10]

 

The use of satellite imagery for tracking and measuring oil spills is reportedly becoming increasingly sophisticated, according to North P&I loss prevention executive Colin Gillespie. In particular, the European Maritime Safety Agency and some coastal nations are reportedly using the CleanSeaNet satellite surveillance service to identify oil slicks - a practice which is expected to become more widespread with an increasing focus on oil transfer operations, including bunkering. Following an oil spill alert a spotter aircraft is sent to confirm the slick and all ships in the vicinity are potentially subject to investigation. Accordingly, ships' crews should be vigilant in recording oil sheens in their logs so they can defend themselves and must also account for all oil that comes on and off the vessel. [1-8-10]

 

Lloyd's of London will not insure or reinsure petroleum shipments going into Iran, the insurance market reported in July, in another blow to the Islamic Republic from wide-ranging US sanctions. The move follows U.S. President Barack Obama signing into law new sanctions that aim to squeeze Iran's fuel imports and increase its international isolation. “The U.S. is an important market for Lloyd's and, in recognition of this, the market will not insure or reinsure refined petroleum going into Iran,” Lloyd's General Counsel Sean McGovern said in a statement. “Lloyd's will always comply with applicable sanctions,” McGovern added. [1-8-10]

 

9,149-gt ferry Bohus (IMO 7037806) experienced unloading error resulting in damaged cars at Strömstad on July 31. A hanging car deck on port side was raised instead of lowered during this operation with the result that the cars were pressed against the deck above. Passengers were inside crushed vehicles, causing panic but no injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-8-10]

 

28,915-gt Swedish ferry Silja Galaxy (IMO 9333694), Turku to Stockholm with 1,626 passengers and crew of 245, suffered small fire on car deck on July 31. The fire was extinguished by crew and the vessel continued voyage under own power. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-8-10]

 

VESSEL LOSS & NEWS DISPATCHES FOR JULY 2010

 

4,255-gt Liberian-flagged cargo M/V Maria Elise (IMO 9534250) grounded on the Kiel Canal near Altenesch on July 29 at 1836LT. The vessel was freed with tug assistance. The incident was attributed to power and rudder failure and the vessel was briefly detained in Bremerhaven for investigation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 30-7-10]

 

123-gt Germany ferry Jan Molsen spilled oil on the Elbe at Hamburg-Altona on July 24-25. Pollution was reported; environmental teams were dispatched to the scene. The ship is owned and managed by the HADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst AG, Hamburg. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 30-7-10]

 

150-ft tour boat River Rouge ran aground on the Red River just outside Winnipeg on July 29. 69 passengers on board were stranded. A tugboat from Lockport was called in but was unable to dislodge the ship. The Canadian Coast Guard in Gimli was called on to help shuttle passengers to shore and help to free the ship. The River Rouge owner had to make arrangements for land transportation for the passengers back to Winnipeg. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 30-7-10]

 

Shrimp boat Miss Kaitlyn was reported suffered fire on the Indian River in the waters near Rockledge, Florida, on July 29. The 2 men aboard escaped without injury. The fire was allowed to burn itself out. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 30-7-10]

 

30-ft F/V Bumerang – PQ 1406, with 2 aboard, reported missing of Costa Rica's Southern Pacific Coast. Last report from vessel was on July 27. The Costa Rica Coast Guard began search efforts on July 29 and notified Panama, Nicaragua and Ecuador of the disappearance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 30-7-10]

 

At least 138 people have drowned in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a riverboat capsized in bad weather on July 28. Local police say the accident happened in the western province of Bandundu, about 300 kilometers east of the capital, Kinshasa. Officials say the boat was overloaded with people and merchandise and was unable to navigate through rough waters. Fatal boat accidents are fairly common in the DRC, where a lack of paved roads forces people to travel by river, often on overcrowded, poorly maintained boats. [29-7-10]

 

Turkish tour boat Kayhan-9, on its way from the Turkish resort of Marmaris to Fethiye with 18 tourists and crew of 5, caught fire and sank in the Mediterranean on July 29; a Spanish tourist was reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

314,016-dwt Japanese operated Marshall-Islands flagged oil tanker M. Star (IMO 9515436), loaded with 270,204 metric tons, was reportedly struck by a "freak" wave in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran and Oman on July 28. 1 crew member reported minor injuries and the vessel headed to port for survey. The vessel was bound for Chiba port near Tokyo. No spill reported. Initial reports suggested the vessel suffered an explosion, which have now been discredited. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10] <<UPDATE>> Mitsui O.S.K. Lines is not buying the idea, voiced by some local officials, that the damage to the tanker M. Star was caused by a freak wave. MOL reported the tanker suffered hull damage caused by an explosion which seemed to be an attack from external sources. The ship is now in Fujairah where the damage is being assessed by investigators from classification society NKK and U.S. and British naval experts. With an attack by Somali pirates being discounted, local port officials have suggested a possible collision or an encounter with a stray mine. Another theory that has been put forward that the damage is the result of a botched suicide bomb attack similar to that on the tanker Limburg in 2002. MOL released photographs the M. Star that, according to Japanese newspaper Mainichi, "suggest that there was a powerful blast outside the ship. A lifeboat mounted on its starboard deck was apparently blown away by the force of the blast, while the door of the ship's bridge on its rear starboard side was damaged, exposing insulation materials in the walls and the ceiling inside the room. Another photo shows the window frames of the dining room scattered on tables." "The area around the door was not wet, and it is unlikely that a wave caused the damage," Mainichi quotes a company official, as saying. [30-7-10] <<UPDATE>> The Japanese tanker M. Star damaged last week in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman was the target of a terrorist attack. Remains of homemade explosives had been found on the hull of the M Star, which was damaged on Wednesday while travelling from Qatar to Japan. An examination carried out by specialised teams had confirmed that the tanker had been the subject of a terrorist attack," a news agency said, quoting an unidentified coastguard source. “UAE explosives experts who collected and examined samples found a dent on the starboard side above the water line and remains of home-made explosives on the hull," it said. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-8-10]

 

3,300-dwt Gibraltar-flagged general cargo Bonacieux (IMO 9505297), berthed in Alicante, Spain, suffered cargo hold fire on July 26. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

N20,352-gt Malta-flagged cargo M/V Frigia (IMO 7507485), seized by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean on March 23, was released on July 29. The crew of 21 are reported to be in good health. It is unknown whether a ransom was paid. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

115,875-gt Bermuda-flagged cruise ship Sapphire Princess (IMO 9228186), Ketchikan to Juneau, collided with a whale in the Gulf of Alaska on July 28. The dead humpback whale remained stuck to the vessel's bulbous bow until the vessel was stopped south of Douglas Island where the carcass was removed. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

1,493-gt Norwegian cargo M/V Hako (IMO 7116808) collided with a cabin cruiser off Hvaler, Norway on July 17. The bow of the cruiser was crushed and the skipper was injured. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

406-dwt South Korean F/V No.101 Hong Jin (IMO 7416387) suffered engine room fire at Montevideo on July 27. 1 crew member hospitalized with for gas and smoke inhalation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

93-gt U.S.-flagged towing vessel Pere Ana C (IMO 1048817) allided with a wellhead in the Barataria Waterway while pushing the dredge Captain Buford Berry on July 27 at 0100LT. The wellhead emanated oil and natural gas into Barataria Bay. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans issued a Broadcast Notice to Mariners that a report of oil release was detected. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

10-m F/V Sri Thong Prae 4 collided with anchored sand barge Kantang Lamliang 6 off Phuket on July 27. The F/V took on water, its crew of 12 was rescued by another F/V. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

128-ft towing vessel Merrick Jones, pushing 26 barges, was involved in collision with 87-ft towing barge Dixie Express with two barges of acrylonitrile on the Mississippi River, near mile marker 775.5, 1 mile north of the Hachie River inlet, on July 27. Spill of acrylonitrile reported. The Coast Guard responded to the scene and the source of the spill was secured. 3 crew of Dixie Express hospitalized. The incident closed the Mississppi from mile markers 776-769. Environmental teams on scene. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

40-m Indonesian Rapid Patrol Boat Boiga No. 825, belonging to the Indonesian Navy, suffered fire and nearly sank shortly after docking at the Indoensian Navy's Eastern Armada, Semapir Command, on July 25. Significant damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

61,470-dwt Panama-flagged bulk carrier Doric Glory (IMO 7372165) spilt oil on the Mississippi on July 27. The vessel was detained for reporting failures. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

50,701-gt U.S.-flagged bulk carrier Johannes Wulff (IMO 9498896) leaked oil at the Port of Brisbane on July 23. The vessel remains under detention by the authority of the Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) pending investigation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

Bermuda-flagged cruise ship Emerald Princess lost propulsion and went adrift for 4.5 hours shortly after leaving For Lauderdale on a 14-day voyage to the Caribbean on July 25 at 1830LT. Primary power, including air conditioning, was lost. The vessel was forced to cancel a stop at a privatae beach but the rest of the itinerary was not disrupted. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

100-ft Seattle-based F/V Cape Cross ran aground in Main Bay in Prince William Sound on July 26 at 0500LT. Water ingress reported. The crew was rescued by Coast Guard helicopter. Pollution reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

1,528-gt Norwegian cargo M/V Suledrott (IMO 8318063) was in collision with a sailing yacht 5 miles southeast of Torbjørnskjær while coming from Horsens on July 23. The yacht was dismasted but remained afloat. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

768-gt Norwegian Ferry Rosenda (IMO 7405936), with 16 passengers, ran aground off Gjermundshamn at Kvinnherad on July 26. The incident was attributed to rudder failure. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

94,193-gt container M/V Maersk Tukang (IMO 9334686) suffered engine room fire shortly after berthing at the Strom Quay in Bremerhaven on July 26. 2 crew members suffered injuries and were hospitalized. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

225-m, 74,002-dwt Liberian-registered bulk carrier Ocean Emperor (IMO 9153795), transporting coal from Hay Point terminal near Mackay to Japan, broke down 60-nm off Cairns. On July 24, AMSA made an intervention order requiring the owner to engage a tug boat to prevent the vessel from drifting to the Great Barrier Reef. Engineers susbequently were successful in re-starting the stricken vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

13,273-dwt Marshall Islands flagged tanker M/V Marida Magnolia (IMO 9445643) suffered engine room fire 60 miles east of Shri Lanka's coast on July 24. The vessel had been hijacked by Somali piartes on May 8 off the Oman coast. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

Cruise ship MSC Spendida suffered collapsed gangway at Genoa while boarding on July 25. A Spanish passenger was killed and another critically injured. The passengers were boarding for a 7 night cruise to Marseilles, Barcelona, Tunis, Malta, Messina and Civitavecchia. Crew members and dock workers jumped into the water to try and recovered the two passengers but the 65-year old woman was declared dead at the scene after being pulled aboard by a coastguard launch, while her husband suffered severe head injuries. Authorities are looking into the possibility that the ship moved because of high winds and seas but that nevertheless the gangway should have been better secured. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

33,796-dwt German container M/V Jula S. (IMO 9299484) collided with Korean general cargo Zenith Winner at Tianjin Road, China on July 24 at 0630LT. Zenith Winner sank, but its crew of 10 was rescued without report of injury. 10 vessels took part in response and rescue efforts. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

7,260-gt Marshall Islands flagged dive support vessel Orelia (IMO: 8208854) suffered toxic gas leak at the Telford Dock on July 24. 3 men were hospitalized after being exposed to poisonous hydrogen sulphide which had accumulated in the engine room. The hazard was contained and the 3 men released from the hospital. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

154-dwt Russian water tanker Varnek (IMO 8943002) went missing in the White Sea on July 26. Last radio contact was July 23, at which time the vessel was 20 miles off the Cape of Kanin. Poor weather conditions reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10] <<UPDATE>> Capsized wreck found by Russian Emergency Ministry helicopter on coast of Kanin peninsula, White Sea, with no crew aboard, living or dead. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 29-7-10]

 

920-gt Saint Vincent/Grenadines-flagged cargo M/V Janina (IMO 8811728) was in collision with 34.18-m, 239-gt F/V Noordzee - GO 27 (IMO 7907855) 25-km off Hoek van Holland on July 26 at 0240LT. The F/V ran into the cargo vessel, which was at anchor and reported water ingress as a result of the collision. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

6,554-gt Swedish high speed ferry HSC Gotlandia II (IMO 9328015) suffered engine failure on July 22. As a result, its first scheduled departure from Visby to Nynäshamn was delayed as was subsequent trips of the day. The vessel was repaired overnight and returned to timely schedule on July 23. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

8,048-dwt Isle of Man-flagged cargo M/V Monica C. (IMO 9432517) sheared off the towing cable of the Panama-flagged M/V New Horizons (IMO 5371583) which was just being towed out of the anchorage at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, on July 22. The Monica C. was approaching the pilot station with a speed of 10 knots at the time, and reportedly did not reduce speed per instruction of port control. After the incident, the Monica C. was towed into port by 3 tugs, having suffered damage to rudder and propeller. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-7-10]

 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China to come to an agreement on a full code of conduct to avoid maritime disputes in the South China Sea. There are over 250 islands dotting the region with more than one claimant for each landmass. The major disputes though are over the Spratlys archipelago and Paracel Islands. Although the Philippines came up with a proposal for a code of conduct in the South China Sea in 1995, the declaration failed to come through. And in 2002 a similar declaration was signed between China and the ASEAN. However, experts aver that it doesn't have enough teeth to prevent flare ups. Besides the 10 ASEAN member countries-Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam- delegates from 12 other countries including the US, China, Russia, Japan are attending the conclave. [23-7-10]

 

Pakistani F/V Al-Amber, with crew of 10, capsized after it left Ibrahim Hydri jetty near Khahi, about 30 kilometres from the local jetty, on July 21. Only 6 people reported rescued. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-7-10]

 

25,414-dwt German-flagged container vessel AS Scotia allided with a berth in Marmara port on July 17. Hull damage above the water line reported. The vessel went to Tuzla for repairs. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-7-10]

 

42,838-dwt Panama-flagged bulk carrier Majestic (IMO 8307399) ran aground on the Parana river on July 19. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-7-10]

 

N138,102-dwt Cyprus-flagged bulk carrier Cape Cosmos (IMO 7926021) was attacked by pirates in the Singapore Strait on July 22. The attack was thwarted after vessel alarm was sounded. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-7-10]

 

Kenya-flagged ferry Likoni (IMO 9522386) suffered machine failure and drifted into two moored tankers at Mombasa on July 20 at approximately 0500LT. Damage to the tankers and ferry reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-7-10]

 

6,623-dwt Russian-flagged tanker Riroil 4 (IMO 9175212) ran aground in the Don Sea Channel on July 19. No pollution reported. Initial refloating efforts unsuccessful. Vessel owner is Palmali Shipping. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-7-10]

 

65,434-dwt Malta-flagged bulk carrier Hellenic Sea (IMO 8905828) allided with an underwater obstruction after taking evasive maneuver to avoid a collision with another vessel while navigating through an Amazon river passage on July 18. The vessel was under pilot assistance at the time of the incident. No pollution but hull breach and water ingress reported. Vessel owner is Hellenic Ship Management. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-7-10]

 

The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that U.S. authorities are free to search crew cabins without a warrant and without suspicion of a violation of U.S. law. The ruling came after a routine customs inspection for agricultural contraband aboard the 3,400-dwt Rio Miami (now Mambo) at a Miami terminal in April 2008, which lead to a 17 year sentence for a crew member found with child pornography. The issue was whether a search of a crew member's living quarters, without reasonable suspicion, on a cargo vessel entering the U.S. is unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Court held that such searches are reasonable, noting that a ship on its initial call in U.S. waters is at "the functional equivalent of a border" and that therefore all relevant concerns about national security apply to such inspections. [21-7-10]

 

Singapore-owned barge Trans 306, Indonesia for the Philippines with 8,000 metric tons coal, ran aground in Nasugbu while transiting Fortune Island as a result of Typhoon Basyang on July 14. Authorities fear a massive coal spill could damage marine life in Batangas Bay. The barge was reportedly overloaded. It is owned and operated by PT Transpower Marine. Local agent is Bulhead Shipping, Inc. in Manila. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

F/V Kairu Maru, with crew of 9, went missing after leaving Davao City and straying into Indonesian waters. The Philippine Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue operations. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

58-ft F/V Polar Star, with crew of 5, grounded and took on water 65-miles west of Kodiak on July 20. The Coast Guard is monitoring the situation. No pollution reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

34-ft F/V Rose Marie, homeport in Longview, Washington, sank approximately 20 miles west of the Columbia River entrance on July 20. The skipper was air-lifted by the Coast Guard without report of serious injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

1,495-gt cargo M/V West Ocean-1 (IMO 7638492), with crew of 30, caught fire while docked in Manila on July 19. The vessel was evacuated and response teams were able to contain and extinguish the fire. Damage survey is pending. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

Unidentified F/V sank as a result of typhoon in the South China Sea on or about July 18. 11,964-gt Antigua-Barbuda flagged cargo M/V Jade Trader (IMO 9117662) rescued 10 of the fishermen who survived by clinging to debree; one fisherman reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

58-ft commercial shrimper Cracker Boy took on water and sank in the Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, on June 19. Coast crews and good Samaritans rescued the 3 fishermen aboard. The wreck was marked with a buoy. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

Three vessels were torn off moorings at Bach Dan Shipyard in Hai Phong, Vietnam by typhoon Conson and allided with the Binh Bridge on July 17. The vessels are Shinsung Accord (IMO 9476147), container vessel Vinashin Express 01 (IMO 9430583) and the Vinashin Orient (IMO 9385568). [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

Philippine-flagged cargo M/V West Ocean-1 of the West Ocean Lines, homeport Cebu, suffered explosion and subsequent fire before dawn in the Manila North Harbor on July 20. The fire was contained without report of injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

25,525-gt St. Kitts-Nevis flagged cargo M/V Khalijia 3 (IMO 8128690), with a crew of 28, sank 8 miles of Mumbai's coast on July 18. The Indian Coast Guard rescued the crew without report of injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

F/V Tany Rose suffered water ingress approximately 475 miles north of Kauai on July 19. A Coast Guard aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point launched an HC-130 Hercules aircraft to establish communications and drop water pumps to the stricken vessel. JRCC search and rescue coordinators immediately issued a radio broadcast asking for any AMVER vessels in the area to assist. The crew of the container ship Csav Rahue responded to the call and diverted to the scene. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 19-7-10]

 

217-gt German cargo M/V Sandshörn (IMO 51497600), with 270 tons gravel, collided with 9-ton motor yacht Ambronia at the harbor Wittdün, Amrum, Germany. The yacht sank as a result of the collision. The yacht has since been raised. No injuries or pollution reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 19-7-10]

 

84.5-ton F/V Yu-Fa 236, with crew of 9, suffered fire and sank off the coast of Taipei County on July 16. All aboard were rescued by Coast Guard authorities without report of injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 19-7-10]

 

694-dwt Panama-flagged Andrian 3 (IMO 7436105), with an Iranian master and crew of 7 Indonesians, suffered water ingress approximately 11-nm off Kochi on July 12. The ingress was reportedly the result of an internal crack on its bulkhead separating the forepeak tank from the ballast tanks. The situation has been temporarily stabilized; authorities are inspecting the vessel. The ship, which has sought permission to enter Kochi harbour, would be permitted entry only after a competent authority like the Principal Officer of the Mercantile Marine Department certifies the vessel is fit for movement. The ship is reportedly in a poor condition and has insufficient fuel and provisions for its intended voyage. Vessel owner is Iranian Mohsin Adib Zadeh, who has been contacted. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 19-7-10]

 

2,094-gt Singapore-flagged tanker M/V Birthe Theresa (IMO: 9083184) allided with a gate of the Kiel Canal at Brunsbuettel on July 17 at approximately 1800LT. Minor damage to the gate and vessel reported. The vessel was allowed to proceed after investigations and survey; it reached Kiel Holtenau in the early morning of July 18. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 19-7-10]

 

5,619-gt Norwegian ferry Fjord Cat (IMO 9176060), Hirtshals to Kristiansand, suffered damage in rough seas on July 16. Also, vehicles aboard shifted and reported damaged. The vessel's sailings were cancelled and the ship repaired in Denmark. 2,500 passengers affected. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 19-7-10]

 

Workers at the World Trade Center in New York City unearthed the ribs of a ship form New York's maritime past on July 15. Investigation is underway to determine the vessel's identity. Archaeologists believe the ship was buried during the 1700s. The ship was most likely used with other debris as a landfill to extend the land in Lower Manhattan. The area was a series of wharfs in the 18th Century. [17-7-10]

 

NAttacks by pirates in the dangerous Gulf of Aden have come down in the first half of the current year, the International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) piracy reporting center said in an update. In a statement in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, IMB said a six-month period from January to June marked 196 incidents of attacks by pirates, 44 less than that was reported in the corresponding period last year. Fifty-one of those attacks took place in Somali waters. Pirates took 597 crew hostage from 31 vessels they hijacked during this period. IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan noted that Somali pirates are extending their venture as far as the Indian Ocean region, where 544 sailors had been taken hostage. They are now operating near the Maldives and India, beyond the Seychelles. He also expressed concern over the increasing threat of piracy in the Indonesian waters. The London-based maritime watchdog called on sailors to maintain vigil, and Navies to increase patrol surveillance in waters vulnerable to pirate attacks. There is a strong presence of international naval forces in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off the African coast. NATO and the European Union have deployed special maritime surveillance vessels to protect one of the world's busiest shipping areas. [17-7-10]

 

F/V Merlin, with 2 aboard, sank off Atwick on July 16. It appears that the vessel was snagged by fishing lines while recovering its pots and was pulled over and swamped. Both people aboard were rescued without report of injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

750-gt Swedish ferry Ebba Brahe (IMO 8816900), with 102 passengers and 17 cars aboard, allided with a pier at Gränna on July 17. No injuries but damage to some vehicles was reported. The master attributed the incident to technical failure. The ferry was taken out of the service Visingsö - Gränna for investigations. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

Unidentified boat transporting sand and crew of 9 allided with a construction platform on an east China river and sank on July 16. 7 people reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

6,207-dwt Russian-flagged cargo M/V Rasul Gamzatov (IMO 8861058) struck buoy 65 while heaving anchor in Volgo-Aspian Channel on July 14 at 1420LT. The buoy sank; the vessel was not damaged. The vessel is operated by Mezhregionalnaya Transport Corporation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

Typhoon Basyang (international codename Conson) struck the Philippines on July 13. Tanker Devorah-Uno, fully loaded with liquified petroleum and 3,000 liters fuel, reported half-submerged in the vicinity of Petrochem, in Limay, Bataan, on July 14. Another vessel, tanker Jors fully loaded with 497,000 liters of bunker oil and 5,000 liters fuel, ran aground at the vicinity of Planters Pier, barangay Lamao, Limay, Bataan. 5 other merchant vessels were similarly found aground in the area. Separately, fishermen reported trapped inside sunken fishing boats off Balsin Island. 3 divers found the sunken commercial F/V Godswill II 80 feet below the sea surface. 6 fishermen have been confirmed killed, 19 survived and 21 were still missing after 3 commercial fishing boats – F/V Godswill I, F/V Godswill II and F/V Joan – that had sought refuge near Balesin at the height of typhoon Basyang were battered by strong winds and huge waves and sank. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

523-ft, 22,377-dwt chemical tanker Isabel Knutsen (IMO 9175535), with 15,520 metric tons liquid chemical cargo and 663 metric tons fuel oil, ran aground in the southeastern corner of the intersection of the intracoastal waterway and the Houston Ship Channel on July 13. The vessel was reported stable and structurally intact; no pollution reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

56-m Taiwanese F/V Gian Seng 18, with crew of 8, caught fire while passing through the Straits of Malacca on July 15. The crew was rescued by passing cruise ship Superstar Virgo, Singapore to Port Klang. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

229-gt German vessel Thor Heyerdahl (ex-Minnow) and Oman-registered Shabab Oman, both participating in Tall Ships Races, collided in the port of Antwerp on July 13. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

Ferry Langsung Jaya, with 15 people aboard, capsized in the Strait of Sunda between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra on July 13. No injuries reported; the 15 people aboard were picked up by local fishermen. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

32,269-dwt Panama-flagged general cargo M/V C.S. Ocean (IMO 9363273) collided with a fishing vessel while leaving Hiroshima on July 13. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

11,137-dwt chemical tanker Martina (IMO 9143439) collided with the yacht Aliva near Santa Marinella, Italy, on July 13. 1 yachtsman reported killed. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

5,820-dwt Hong Kong flagged container vessel OSG Beautec (IMO 9361275) was in collision with 5,820-dwt Japanese-flagged car carrier Kinuura Maru (9372339) at Chiba, Japan on July 14. Both vessels were detained for investigation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

2,224-gt Netherlands-Antilles flagged cargo M/V Mary Christina (IMO 9184665), bound for Rotterdam with cargo of 3,000 tons barley, suffered machine failure and ran aground at the port of Rostock on July 14. The vessel was refloated the same day with tug assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

5,372-gt Panama-flagged chemical tanker Eastern Honesty (IMO 9246944), Vietnam to Kuantan, suffered onboard explosion 76 miles northeast of Kuantan on July 12. 1 person reported missing and 2 others injured. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

Crane barge Panurgic 11 ran aground 4 miles east of Goole, England, on the River Ouse and suffered list on July 12. Humber Coastguard responded to the scene. 1 of the crew of 3 was evacuated. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

60.38-m Dutch river cruise ship Oceandiva Futura (ex-Enterprise), with crew of 3, caught fire on the Waal off Ooy on July 12. No injuries reported and the fire was successfully controlled. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

82,318-gt cruise ship Noordam suffered a fouled propeller on July 12 at Bremerhaven. A diver attempting to remove the obstruction was caught in strong currents and went missing; his body was recovered July 16. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

157-m, 8,900-gt, 475-TEU Wagenborg-newbuilding Fivelborg broke loose from its berth at Ferus & Smit in heavy winds on July 12 at 1430LT in the port of Leer. The vessel drifted and struck a crane structure which collapsed onto the ship and on two buildings. Preliminary damage assessments are approximately 1 million Euro. The vessel had just been launched on July 1. An investigation is being undertaken to determine whether the vessel was properly moored. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

A vessel loaded with construction material capsized with 6 crewmen in Kaashidhoo Kandu near Kaaf atoll Gaafaru July 11 afternoon. All six men were rescued in good health. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

120-ft Harbour Queen 4, with crew of 6 and construction materials, capsized in Kaashidhoo Kandu near Kaaf atoll Gaafaru on July 11. The crew was rescued without report of injuries. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

Kodiak-based 52-ft F/V Nakat suffered fire 5 miles off Sitkinak Island, 80 miles southwest of Kodiak, on July 11. Coast Guard crews responded to an emergency position-indicating radio beacom and rescued the 4 fishermen aboard. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

Schooner Alabama, with 27 passengers, ran aground in the mouth of the Mystic River on July 7 at 1800LT. The vessel was refloated by Towboat US the same day. No structural damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

91,560-gt, 8,194-TEU Danish container M/V Charlotte Maersk (IMO 9245744), with crew of 21, caught fire off Port Klang, position 3°17.500' N 100°41.100' E, on July 7 at 2130LT. The fire was attributed to a container with dangerous goods. No reports of pollution or injuries to the crew. A Canadian-made Bombardier water bomber, designed to fight forest fires, attempted to supress the blaze. Two Malaysian Coast Guard vessels were at the scene and tugs were dispatched. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Correspondent Bruce Lee, 17-7-10] <<UPDATE>> Vessel berthed in Malaysian port of Tanjung Palepas. 150 containers reported destroyed. The vessel will be temporarily replaced by the British-flagged Maersk Brooklyn (IMO 9313931). The Charlotte Maersk is expected to return to service some time in August after repairs. Click here to see CargoLaw feature story. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-7-10]

 

16,761-gt Malta-flagged bulk carrier Odin Pacific (IMO 9132674), Ghent to Uusikaupunki, Finland, ran aground 800-m off shore of Bornholm on Sorthat Odde on July 9. The incident was attributed to the coxswain being intoxicated; the 26-year-old was alone in the wheelhouse at the time. No spill reported. The vessel's oil tanks were lightered and the vessel refloated on July 13. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-7-10]

 

7,903-gt Luxembourg-flagged tanker M/V Crystal Topaz (IMO 9327047), Finland to Antwerp, allided with a gate of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel, Germany, on July 4. The gate was severely damage and the vesel sustained minor damage. The vessel was allowed to continue its voyage on July 5 after inspection. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

1,662-gt Antigua-Barbuda flagged cargo M/V Eilsum (IMO 9015436), Ghent to Randers port via Kiel, ran aground north of Djursland, Denmark, on July 4. The vessel was refloated the same day under own power. The vessel was to be surveyed after berthing at Randers with pilot's assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

9,981-gt Philippine-flagged cargo M/V Medbay (IMO 9347786) collided with Panama-flagged Sun Glory (IMO 9230294) in the port of Manila on July 5. Damage to both vessels reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

87-ft passenger vessel Spirit of Massachusetts, with 168 passengers and crew of 6, ran aground approximately 1.5 miles off the coast of Deer Island, Massachusetts on July 3. The vessel was evacuated. Response efforts included Coast Guard Station Point Allerton, Coast Guard Station Boston, several state and local agencies as well as Good Samaritans. A Falcon Jet crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod observed a slight sheen around the vessel. The vessel was later towed to the Fitzgerald Shipyard in Chelsea. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

MBTA commuter ferry the Massachuetts collided with another commuter ferry, the Laura, while traveling through heavy fog on July 10. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

96,772-dwt Bahamas-flagged cargo M/V Yeoman Bontrup (IMO 8912297), with crew of 27, caught fire while loading at Glensanda Quarry, Scotland, on July 2. No serious injuries reported, but damage to the vessel is reported to be extensive. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

Nigerian gunman captured 12 sailors from cargo vessels in the Niger Delta on July 2. Seven Russians, two Ukrainians, two Germans and a Lithuanian were taken from two ships near Bonny in the southern Rivers state. The hostages were released on July 4. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

M/V Algobay ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway near Chippewa Bay, New York, on July 4 at approximately 0900LT. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

Tugboat Stafford sank while docked at the Port of Little Rock, Arkansas, on July 3. The boat had 2,000 gallons fuel aboard, prompting the Coast Guard to seet up protective booms around the submerged vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

Swedish sail training ship Biscaya Av Vindalso, with 16 people aboard, took on water in heavy seas and issued mayday call 12 miles off the coast of Fraserburgh on July 5. The Fraserburgh lifeboat and an RAF helicopter with pumps were scrambled to the scene. The rig support vessel Maersk Advancer also assisted. The yacht was escorted into Fraserburgh harbour at about 0500. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

38,623-dwt Bahamas-flagged cargo M/V African Zebra (IMO 8315920) was in collision with the Danish F/V Nina Nitu east of Grenå, Djursland. The F/V was destroyed; the 2 men aboard were air-lifted by a Swedish rescue helicopter before their vessel sank. The cargo vessel anchored in the Kalundborg Fjord after the collision for surveys and investigations. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

2,136-gt Chilean-flagged cargo M/V Cerro Alegre (IMO 7524299), with crew of 4, broke from anchor and was washed into a beach wall off Valparaiso by a storm. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

75-ft passenger vessel Catalyst, on a whale watching tour, ran around on Robert Island, Alaska, on July 6. The passengers were evacuated by skiff. No injuries or pollution reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

F/V BDD 50819 sank after being struck by another vessel 15-nm off Da Nang City, Vietnam, on July 3. Marshall Islands-flagged Hubsterllar, Singapore to Hai Phong, rescued all 6 crewman aboard. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

Pakistani F/V Al An Wari, with 16 fisherman aboard, sank in the Gulf of Aden on July 2. The Norfolk-based frigate Elrod, on counterpiracy patrol, rescued the men on July 5, after the men had been adrift in a life raft for more than 2 days. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

250-m barge / 30-m tug Caribbean Sea (IMO 287211) collided with a duck boat, with 37 people aboard, near Penn's Landing in Philadelphia on July 7 at 1439LT. 2 people reported killed, 10 others injured. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

53-ft F/V Nils Finnøy T-528 K, with 16 passengers and a crew of 3, ran aground off Trondenes, Norway, while entering Harstad on July 7. Norwegian cargo vessel Feed Balsfjord (IMO 8906559) helped evacuate the vessel. The F/V was later refloated with only slight damage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

18,007-gt vehicle carrier Al Mahmoud 2 (IMO 8417625) suffered fire at a Beirut yard while undergoing work to convert it into an animal carrier on July 6. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

4,562-gt Danish ferry Kanhave (IMO 9548562) allided with the ferry terminal at Hou on July 5. The accident was attributed to one door being opened too early. The vessel was back in service the next day. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-7-10]

 

<<SS UNITED STATES SAVED!>>The SS United States Conservancy announced at a ceremony on the Delaware River that Philadelphia philanthropist H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest will donate up to $5.8 million to help save the vessel. Current owner Norwegian Cruise Lines had been offered more than $5 million from scrap companies, but was willing to sell the vessel to the Conservancy for $3 million. The Lenfest donation enables the Conservancy to enter into an exclusive purchase-option agreement with Norwegian. Once title is transferred, the donation will provide the conservancy with 20 months to begin development. The famed ocean liner, built in 1952, was retired in 1969. Read more about the "Big U" and the fantastic news by clicking here. [2-7-10]

 

The Evergreen Group, which has been very cautious about adding vessel capacity in the last few years, reported on July 2 that it placed orders with Samsung Heavy Industries in Taipei for 10 container vessels with 8,000-teu capacities. The vessels on order are of the L-type class that incorporate technology designed to reduce their environmental impact. Evergreen Line has slipped to 5th place behind APL among the world's largest container lines in terms of vessel capacity. The 8,000-teu ships are the size container ships that are expected to become the workhorses of the all-water services that will ply the route from Asia to the U.S. East Coast after the new locks under construction at the Panama Canal open in 2014. The vessels will have an LOA of 1,100-ft, a beam of 150-ft, and a cruising speed of 24.5 knots. The 10 ships are the beginning of a program of a new generation of container vessels that Evergreen Line will order from several shipbuilding yards in Asia. Evergreen reported in April that their plans for new ships include orders for 32 vessels of a new type with capacity of 8,000 TEUs, for 20 additional S-type (7,024-TEU) ships, for 20 additional U-type (5,364-TEU) ships and for 20 or more 2,000-TEU ships of a new type that will be used for feeder services. [2-7-10]

 

233-m, 3,081-teu, 39,916-dwt Singapore-flagged container vessel Kota Kadu (IMO 9307396), Hong Kong to Singapore, reportedly struck an uncharted underwater object while passing between Miaowan and Beijian islands, near Hong Kong, on June 29. With 2 holds flooded, the master grounded the vessel as a precautionary measure. Vessel interest is Pacific International Line (PIL). [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-7-10]

 

43-ft F/V Master Simon and 34-ft F/V Linda Diane collided off Schoodic Point, Maine, on June 30. One person died and another injured. The Linda Diane sank in approximately 85-ft of water and is not considered a hazard to navigation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-7-10]

 

USCG ice breaker Polar Sea suffered machine failure on June 25 which will eliminate its fall patrol providing Arctic support to Alaska. The vessel was scheduled to support operations in the Arctic but will likely be in a maintenance status and unavailable for operations until at least January 2011. The vessel was also preparing to conduct oil spill recovery exercises and extending community outreach activities to rural Alaskans Natives in the high latitudes. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-7-10]

 

Barbados-flagged ice breaking cruise ship Polar Star (IMO 6905754), with 67 passengers and crew of 46, ran aground off Hornsund, South Spitsbergen, Norway on June 29/30. The vessel was reflaoated under own power on June 30. Damage and water ingress reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-7-10]

 

NThe 5 Somali pirates recently tried by the Rotterdam courts for the failed hijacking of Dutch-Antilles-flagged cargo M/V Samanyolu in January 2009 have been sentenced to five years imprisonment. The case could have precedential effect, since the crew did not attend to give oral testimony but rather provided only written testimony, and also since the pirates apparently threw their weapons over the side but evidence from the frigate's crew that they had used them prevailed. The Netherlands is trying the suspects under international piracy law, though the country has said it only wants to handle Dutch-related cases. In December, experts at a conference in The Hague said efforts to establish an international court to prosecute Somali pirates face complex laws governing the seas and national sovereignty as well as the lack of an effective police force. In May, the defense lawyer for another group of suspected Somali pirates held by Dutch authorities spoke out against a German request to extradite them, seeing no reason for Germany to take over the prosecution. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has called for a regional court in Africa to be set up to try Somali pirates. [1-7-10]

 

<<BP Spill Containment Issue>> The Jones Act has been accused by Conservative critics of hampering foreign ships from offering assistance in the cleanup of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Indeed, Senator McCain, supported by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, introduced last week draft legislation to repeal the 90-year-old law, which, among other things, requires ships transporting goods between U.S. ports to have been built in the United States, be crewed and owned by U.S. citizens and fly the U.S. flag. However, there is no indication the Jones Act has in any way impeded response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The National Incident Commander (NIC) reported that there are 15 foreign-flagged vessels currently involved in the the oil spill response efforts, and that no Jones Act waivers have been granted because none of these vessels have required such a waiver to conduct their operations as part of the response in the Gulf of Mexico. The NIC further stated that “in no case has the Federal On Scene Coordinator (FOSC) or Unified Area Command (UAC) declined to request assistance or accept offers of assistance of foreign vessels that meet an operational need because the Jones Act was implicated...In anticipation of Jones Act waiver requests the NIC has coordinated closely with relevant agencies to ensure accelerated processing for any waiver requests. To date, no waivers of the Jones Act (or similar federal laws) have been required because none of the foreign vessels currently operating as part of the BP Deepwater Horizon response has required such a waiver." If the vessels are operating outside state waters, which is 3 miles and beyond, they don't require a waiver. [1-7-10]