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Daily Vessel Casualty, Piracy & News Report

 

 

Edited By Christoph 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

 

 

4 2014 REPORTS ARE BELOW













 

 


VESSEL LOSS & NEWS DISPATCHES FOR FEBRUARY 2014


 

Danish-flagged container vessel Svendborg Maersk was in the Bay of Biscay last week as hurricane-force winds battered the Atlantic coast of Europe. Amid waves of 30 feet and winds of 60 knots, the Svendborg began losing containers off northern France. After the ship arrived in the Spanish port of Malaga this week, Maersk discovered that about 520 containers were unaccounted for. Stacks of others had collapsed. (21-02-2014)

 

The 56-year-old master of the Dutch flagged, self propelled barge Fryslan was killed in the port of Rotterdam, after a piece of steel fell off a container and crashed into the wheelhouse of the barge on Feb. 16. His 60-year-old wife and a 45-year old employee of the port terminal suffered fractures and cuts. The accident happened during loading a ship-ship transfer with the 10,585-gt Antigua-Barbuda-flagged container M/V Conmar Avenue (IMO 9483358). (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-02-2014)

 

N4,291-gt Sierra Leone-flagged cargo M/V Andrea (IMO 8209690) was attacked by suspected Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia on Feb. 14. The heavily armed attackers came by boat, but the 17 crew members were safe and no one was injured. Security guards aboard the ship opened fire and could repel the attack, so that the pirates aborted their boarding attempt. The vessel was carrying goods to Mogadishu before sailing to the Comoros. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 21-02-2014)

 

Belgian flagged, self propelled tank barge Emma, ran aground near Oberwesel on the Rhine on Jan. 30. The ship was running river downstream with a cargo of 1000 tons benzol when it got stuck on the Jungern Ground on rocky bottom. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

76,928-gt Panama flagged container M/V NYK Themis (IMO 9356696) collided with the barge AZ Fuzhou on the East Keppel Fairway on Jan. 30. The container ship suffered a hole in a bunker tank in the collision, resulting in a slight discharge of oil. The two vessels were safely anchored and in stable condition. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

48,311-gt Chinese container M/V Fei He (IMO 9060182) collided with the 11,623-gt Hongkong flagged chemical tanker Lime Galaxy 2,7 miles south of Jurong Island in Singapore on Jan. 29. In the collision a bunker tank of the container ship was ruptured, and some oil spilt. There were no reports of damage to the tanker. Both ships anchored after the collision. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

Pusher tug Amber Brittany (MMSI: 367547330) got stuck on the Ohio River just off of Evansville's riverfront on Jan. 29. The tug was pushing a 15-barge tow with corn to Cairo, Illinois, when the accident happened. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

Austrian pusher ship Herzog Tassilo (MMSI:203999220) underway with barges carrying 3200 tons of coal allided with the entrance of the Main-Danube-Canal-lock in Haidhof, Riedenburg on Jan. 29. The ship which had a crew of seven damaged a dam and continued its voyage. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

2,854-gt Marshall Islands flagged cargo M/V Alba (IMO: 8812942), suffered an engine problem in the Adriatic sea and was taken in tow by the Montenegro-flagged tug Boka Sky (IMO: 6620321) on Jan. 27. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

7,606-gt British ferry Clipper Ranger (IMO 9119402) running the freight ferry service from Stornoway to Ullapool allided with a pier in Stornoway on Jan. 28. Vessel damage reported. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

24-m German sailing vessel Roland von Bremen (MMSI:211146410) sank on the Weser on Jan. 28. Only the mast and some upper works were remaining above water. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

11,435-gt Liberian flagged reefer Costa Rican Star (IMO: 9150822 ) of the Star Reefers UK Ltd., lost two empty containers on Jan. 27. Due to the relatively accurate initial position provided by the ship, the helicopter crew quickly identifed the two containers and marked the boxes with a tag which allowed the maritime prefecture to track the containers in real time and thus avoid collisions. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

NSeven pirates on a speedboat attacked a tug operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in the waterways of Nembe, near Peter’s town on Jan. 25. Pirates reportedly kidnapped the captain and the engineer. Four other crew members were robbed of their valuables. The tug was en route from Port Harcourt to Brass. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

5,107-dwt general cargo vessel Seminole (IMO 8990396, built 1995) ran aground in Azov-Don Sea Canal on Jan. 24. The vessel was en route from Rostov-on-Don to Turkey with 3000 mt of grain on board. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 01-02-2014)

 

VESSEL LOSS & NEWS DISPATCHES FOR JANUARY 2014


 

42,112 Stadt Freiburg suffered a loss of numerous containers in the North Pacific this week. She is engaged in regular transpacific liner service among Shanghai, Ningbo, Osaka and Tokyo and U.S. West Coast ports of San Francisco and Los Angeles, under Evergreen bills of lading which provide for jurisdiction in the Southern District of New York. At the time of the loss, the vessel was fully laden with containerized cargo bound for U.S. ports. A declaration of General Average is anticipated. Cargo is said to include shipments for some of the largest U.S. retailers. (24-01-2014)

 

Philippine ferry Weesam 7 ran aground at Lauis Ledge, Talisay, Cebu with 160 passengers onboard on Jan. 23. A rescue operation of the passengers was ongoing. Philippine Coast Guard says that the probable cause why the vessel ran aground is due to the strong winds and waves. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

35 Korean tourists were rescued after their motor banca Black Dragon sank in Taal Lake on Jan 19. The vessel was 50 meters away from the shoreline of Pulo Island when big waves punched a hole into the hull. The Black Dragon eventually took on water until it submerged. The Coast Guard and other boats in the area rescued the Koreans and brought them to Pulo Island in good physical condition. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

French trawler Estran ran aground off its homeport Saint Guénolé as it left for a trip to Ireland on Jan. 20. It is suggested that during the recent storms, channel buoys have moved causing the ship to get stuck. The ship rolled over onto its starboard side and was flooded. The crew of five was safely evacuated by fire fighters. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

1,805-gt ferry KM Sahabat (IMO 8122593, built 1982) sank 22 miles off Jakarta with 139 people on board on Jan. 21. 132 were rescued, 7 are missing, including 3 passengers and 4 crew. Weather reportedly was calm, what caused sinking is yet unknown. Vessel had on board some cars and motorcycles. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

450-dwt general cargo vessel Kurilgeo (IMO 9458470, built 2007) was disabled after a steering gear failure around on Jan. 22. Vessel had to anchor SE of Urup island, Kuril Island. There was no immediate danger to vessel and crew. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

21,317, 500-ft cargo ship Rich Forest (IMO 8126135, built 1982) suffered engine room flooding and lost propulsion on Jan. 22. Crewmembers at Coast Guard Sector Guam assisted 24 crewmembers who abandoned the vessel. The 24 survivors were safely transferred from the bulkcarrier C.S. Sunshine to the Coast Guard Cutter Sequoia. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

Vietnamese 25m-hydrofoil Vina Express 01 (MMSI-Nr.: 574012757) caught fire and sank following an explosion on Jan. 20. Ho Chi Minh City authorities have halted the use of all hydrofoils in the city pending safety inspections. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

3,884-dwt Bitumen tanker Bitu Gulf (IMO 8875798, built 1991) sank in South China Sea on Jan. 20. 16 crew were rescued by 75,246-gt container vessel Ever Summit (IMO: 9300453) to be disembarked in Malaysia. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

Guyana-registered General Cargo Vessel Stollie 1 sank between the entrance of the Pomeroon and Waini Rivers on Jan. 18. There were four crew members on board. According to the initial investigation, the vessel was believed to have sunk after its engines failed and it became disabled. Cargo apparently shifted, thus causing the vessel to list heavily before it began to take in water and sank. The captain and crew safely evacuated the sinking vessel with their lifesaving equipment and they were rescued by a passing vessel some 12 hours later. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-01-2014)

 

1,937-gt ferry Joyful Star (IMO 7105639, built 1971) ran aground with 237 passengers aboard in the vicinity of Bantolinao Point, Cebu, on Jan. 16. The Coast Guard evacuated passengers by rubber boats. All passengers were safely transported to Porter Yacht Club in Liloan in good condition. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-01-2014)

 

383-gt Norwegian guard vessel Karm Viking (IMO 7905259) caught fire after two bottles of argon exploded in the foreship on Jan. 16. The two men on board left the ship in time and were taken to the emergency room at Nordfjordeid as a precaution due to smoke inhalation. At this time there was less smoke visible, and the temperature inside the hull was controlled with thermal cameras. The cause of the initial explosions was still unknown. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-01-2014)

 

855-gt Norwegian ferry Sunnfjord (IMO 7710501) suffered engine failure on Jan. 17. The ship was towed to shore at the Rysjadaltvika by an ambulance boat in blustery seas. The Solund was inserted for the passenger traffic and followed the same timetable as the disabled ferry. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-01-2014)

 

Ferry Our Lady of All Nations, with over 100 passengers and crew, ran aground at Danajon Island on Jan 16. The 56-meter search and rescue vessel BRP-Edsa (SARV-002) immediately responded to render assistance to the distressed passengers. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-01-2014)

 

M/V Subic Bay 1 ran aground along the Mactan Channel on Jan. 16. The vessel was waiating assistance from its company tug. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-01-2014)

 

10,585-gt Antigua-Barbuda flagged container M/V Wes Janine (IMO 9504073) went adrift in tidal currents on the Northwest anchorage off Brunsbüttel and allided with the 11,935-gt Malta flagged tanker M/V Stenberg (IMO 9283978) on Jan. 16. When hitting the tanker foreship, the anchor chains of both vessels got entangled. Once the chain was off, the ship was towed to Cuxhaven for further surveys. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-01-2014)

 

Tug Sea Lion (MMSI 367000930) sank off the Long Island shoreline after having suffered water ingress on Jan. 15. One hour later, a good Samaritan pulled two crew members from the frigid waters off Atlantic Beach. The men were medically evacuated and transferred to an EMS team standing by at the Atlantic Beach bridge. One of the mariners was reported as having serious injuries. No oil leaks or environmental damage was reported. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-01-2014)

 

160-gt, 24-m German trawler Aquarius - SK 18 (MMSI 218264000) was seized by the Dutch police on Jan. 14. The arrested persons were suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. The five people arrested included the three owners of a fishing company. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-01-2014)

 

3,329-gt Cyprus flagged cargo M/V Merita ( IMO: 8422034) ran aground while entering the port of Rostock, due to an engine failure on Jan. 9. The strong west wind pushed the ship into the eastern embankment of the sea canal. Two tugs pulled off the vessel and towed it to port. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-01-2014)

 

114,144-gt Liberian flagged container ship Hanjin Italy (IMO: 9484936) was in collision with the LNG tanker Al Gharaffa (IMO: 9337717) on Dec. 29. Both ships actually remained at the anchorage off Singapore after the accident. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-01-2014)

 

386-gt catamaran Kilimanjaro II (IMO: 9588811, built 2010) encountered rough seas in the Nungwi area on Jan. 5. More than 20 passengers were swept overboard or fell overboard. 5 dead bodies recovered, 3 people rescued. Captain Nassor Abubakar had been arrested for questioning. Fresh details emerging from the scene says the divers found only cargo floating around and that no more bodies had been recovered, although reports say it is suspected that 27 people drowned in the Nungwi waters. Passengers blamed crew for negligence and incompetence. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-01-2014)

 

65,730-gt French container M/V CMA CGM Rossini (IMO: 9280639) lost 14 containers on Jan. 4. The containers were not carrying hazardous material. The vessel was in the traffic separation zone off Ushant en route from Le Havre. An urgent notice to mariners was issued by the maritime prefecture of the Atlantic. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-01-2014)

 

39,746-gt Liberian flagged bulk carrier Pantazis L (IMO: 9272955), encountered bad weather in the English Channel on Jan. 1. Some hatch covers were damaged and shifted by wave impact, leaving hatches open to the sea. The bulk carrier was assisted to port by tug and docked at the Quay Johannes Couvert with a hatch hanging over the port side. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-01-2014)

 

92,293-gt Container M/V Maersk Stepnica (IMO: 9352004) docked at the Felixstowe Trinity Terminal at berth 6 with a storm damaged stack aft of the bridge on Jan. 7. About 20 boxes were lost, dozens more toppled to starboard and some crushed. All boxes aft of the bridge were done on Jan 8 so engineers could get in there and begin the salvage. (From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-01-2014)