International Vessel Casualties & Pirates Database For Year 2006 - Jan. Through Dec. 2006

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Year 2006 Vessel Cassualties & Pirate Attacks
January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006	July 2006 August 2006 Sept. 2006 Oct. 2006 Nov. 2006 Dec. 2006

Vessel Loss Dispatches For Dec. 2006

80mt. Antiguan flagged M/V Emsland (built 1984), with 6 crew & 2,000 tons of log timbers -- aground in the channel just outside Montrose harbor Dec. 30 as she was heading to sea. Montrose lifeboat was launched and along with two pilot boats attempted to tow her off the sand. UK Forth Coastguard checking tow lines hourly as winds to strengthen to a gale force 9 increasing to storm force 10 . From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sun. Dec. 31 2006)

88.9mt. Russia flagged 2755dwt. river-sea dry-reefer M/V Samur-5 (built 1988 - IMO # 8869919, owner SK Albatros-Petersburg), Astrakhan for Erzeli (Iran) with 2,517 tons seafood, & 12 crew ran aground Dec. 30 on 158 km mark Volga-Capsian Channel. No injures, no spill. Icebreaker Captain Bukayev standing by. Weather wind NW 6-11 m/sec, waves force 1-2 Beaufort. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Sun. Dec. 31 2006)

WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___ Only 10% of Attacks Reported __

21 Dec. 2006    0115 UTC  06:11N &endash; 003:20.1E, 13nm South of Lagos, Nigeria. Deck watchmen on the ship spotted 2 pirates, dressed in black overalls, armed with crow bars on forward deck - broke open forward bosun store & a container. Goods were stolen. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

21.12.2006 0345 to 0445 LT in position 05:52.80N - 119:25.50E, Sibutu Passage, Philippines -- 3 wooden boats doing a speed of 30 knots each approached chemical tanker underway simultaneously from starboard bow, port bow & from stern. Master took evasive maneuvers, directed search lights. Pirates aborted boarding after an hour due to vigilant anti piracy measures onboard. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

19 Dec. 2006  0430 LT at Pilot Ground, Jakarta Roads, Indonesia. Pirates armed with long knives boarded a container ship awaiting for pilot. The pirates unlashed starboard liferaft & threw it overboard. They jumped overboard & escaped when the crew noticed them. Incident reported to authorities. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

18 Dec. 2006 2100 LT in position 27:03.4N - 056:13.5E, Merchant Anchorage, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Master of a tanker noticed orange glow emanating from starboard liferaft through his cabin porthole. Alarm raised & Duty Officer and AB with fire extinguishers rushed to extinguish the fire. They noticed pirate nearby who upon hearing crew jumped overboard & escaped. Small boat was noticed waiting nearby. Port control was informed & they informed that a Coast Guard boat had been summoned. Crew on rounds noticed a forward life raft was also missing & forepeak hatchcover had been forced open. Later, port authorities advised that the robbers had been arrested and the stolen items will be returned to ship. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

18 Dec. 2006  0610 LT at Cebu Inner Anchorage, Philippines. Two boats came close a LPG tanker & personnel from the boat attempted to board. Alert ship crew raised alarm & directed water hoses on the boats to foil the attempt. Later the boats left the vessel. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

18 Dec. 2006 0125 LT at Belawan Outer Anchorage, Indonesia. Pirates boarded chemical tanker & broke padlocks of starboard side chemical equipment locker & paintroom door. Security watchman at forward reported to Duty Officer who raised alarm, sounded ship's whistle, activated fire pump with pressurized water jets, closed all access to bridge and accommodation & gathered crew on bridge. Robbers jumped into water & escaped in a waiting boat. No injuries to crew. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

77mt. cargo M/V OLVY 01 (built 1975 as Aerdnholt, ex-Schoonbeek, ex-Naga XXXVIII, ex-Mira) -- ran aground at Labuan Dec. 29. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

29.4mt. F/V Sophia (owner Altair-2000), with 12 crew -- ran aground entering port, seeking escape from N storm -- Dec. 28, 00.20 LT &endash; Tatar strait, Chekhov port, 47.27N 141.58E -- 10 crew left vessel on liferaft & managed to shore, Master & CE stayed on board to check vessel condition. Water ingress in hold. Weather wind 15 meters/sec N, waves up to 2 meters. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

South Korean M/V Marine Eagle drifting in Japan sea, Russian salvage rushing to scene Dec. 27 - RCC Dongae, South Korea, asked russian RCC Vladivostok to help M/V Marine Eagle (owner Pan Korean Co., Korea flagged) &endash; engine down, vessel drifting in 40.07N 130.57E, Japan sea, 190 nm S off Vladivostok, in N.Korean responsibility zone. S/S Naporisty (owner Vladivostok-based RIMSKO, russian-flagged) dispatched to scene, ETA Dec. 28, 13.00 Moscow time. Dec. 28, 04.00 Moscow time S/S Naporisty was 95 NM off distress vessel. Weather stormy, wind 22-24 m/sec from N, waves 5 meters. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

Nuclear submarine USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN-708)<<Webfeature, -- departing Plymouth harbor, UK accompanied by police boats in rough weather when 4 sailors washed overboard. Sailors tied to the vessel with ropes - a routine precaution - but were knocked into the water by surging waves. Police boats - small inflatable dinghies with outboard motors - picked up all 4 -- 2 were given CPR as they were carried ashore, but it was not enough to save them. McD (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

30-m-yacht S/Y Maximus in the Sydney-Hobart-Race<<Webfeature, from New Zealand suffered a broken mast in rough seas -- 3 sailors were hurt seriously. The men evacuated by helicopter, 3 others were slightly hurt. Seven other boats abandoned the race due to the storm. The crew of 8 of Australian S/Y Koomooloo evacuated by another boat after it suffered water ingress which could not be brought under control. The Dutch S/Y ABN Amro of skipper Mike Sanderson also lost her mast. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

Maltese-flagged cargo M/V Flora, with 11 crew -- adrift off Amasra town of northern city of Bartin under strong winds in the early morning of Dec 26 -- had anchored at Amasra port, was adrift and listed to one side after it suffered water ingress. Neither zodiac rescue boats nor 2 Sikorsky helicopters of Prime Ministry Maritime Undersecretariat could reach the ship due to bad weather conditions -- helicopters returned back to Ankara and will back rescue efforts after heavy snowfall ends in Amasra. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

Ro/Ro M/V Acacia (built 1974) -- Dec. 21 reported a list of 30 deg to starboard, 70 miles from Barcelona-- vessel proceeded to Barcelona and was moored safely alongside. A diver's survey found a crack in the aft part of the vessel's hull. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 30 2006)

ALERT>> Indonesian M/V Senopati Nusantara, with 628 passengers betweem Borneo & Java Islands -- sank in heavy seas Dec. 29 at midnght -- only 9 rescued & taken to Bawean island 663 km (412 miles) E. of Jakarta, in Java Sea. McD (Fri Dec. 29 2006) UPDATE>> At least 200 people survived the sinking of the Indonesian ferry wreck -- survivor told Reuters he was surrounded by floating bodies after the sinking and many had also gone down with the ship. According to the manifest, M/V Senopati Nusantara was carrying 628 people, including a crew of 57 -- 35 survivors picked up by fishing boats landed in Tuban in East Java province early on New Years Day. They appeared weak and exhausted. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Tues Jan. 2 2007) UPDATE>> 15 people who spent 9 days in a liferaft were rescued by passing M/V KRI Layang hundreds of kilometres (miles) east of where the ship sank. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Jan. 8 2007)

U.S. 58ft. F/V Oak Bay (homeport Neah Bay, WA - built 1944) with 4 crew -- taking on water 22 miles SW of Cape Flattery, Wash. on Dec. 29 -- U.S. Coast Guard & Canadian Coast Guard racing to aid vessel. Canadian Buffalo search aircraft & Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter have dropped pumps to crew of F/V Oak Bay to assist with the flooding -- fishing vessel's pumps unable to keep up with flooding. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri Dec. 29 2006)

Cargo M/V Lemo got stuck into the embankment at KM# 28,5. She succeeded in getting free with own power Dec. 28 & turned around to proceed with very low speed in Western direction to berth in the passing point Duekerswisch. The grounding was caused by a rudder failure. The passing traffic was advised to limit speed as the rudder was still not working correct. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri Dec. 29 2006)

UK Lifteboat Juan dangerously listed to its starboard side 90 degrees Dec. 28, 2006, 70 miles S. of Gibson, La. Coast Guard monitoring the situation, and all personnel aboard the boat were safely evacuated. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri Dec. 29 2006)

M/T King Edward (built 2004 Hyundai) -- underway from Immingham to St. Petersburg when she hit gate 3 of the Kiel Canal locks on Dec. 27 -- minor damage -- she meanwhile berthed in the North Harbour of Kiel & not allowed to proceed further. All berths in the harbor are meanwhile occupied. The damaged gate is just being floated out and shall be towed away -- another gate will be floated in. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri Dec. 29 2006)

Former German rail ferry M/V Baltijsk (ex- Railship II, ex Finnrider, IMO. 8318130 built 1984) -- suffered fire on Dec. 24 while underway from Luebeck to St. Petersburg, N. of Cap Arcona on the island Ruegen in the East Baltic -- crew succeeded in extinguishing flames, but 1 man hurt seriously. M/V Baltisjk towed into Port of Mukran by 3 tugs. Passengers not hurt. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri Dec. 29 2006)

Pay Attention>> M/V Al Rashid -- capsized in choppy waters off the coast of Bahrain & sank on way to Iraq. M/V Gulshan-e-Medina rescued the sailors -- but she then capsized in stormy seas near the Iraqi port of Basra on Dec 22 on its way to Khor Jubair after dropping off the 13 rescued sailors in Bahrain. As M/V Gulshan-e-Medina neared Basra, en route to its final destination, a sudden storm threw her off balance, hurling crew into the water -- sailors were picked up by a larger vessel M/V Gulshan-e-Medina & are now recuperating in Basra. The 13 sailors, who were rescued from M/V Al Rashid initially scheduled to travel on board M/V Gulshan-e-Medina to Iraq & make their way to their homeport of Porbandar on the West coast of India. A last-minute decision to send them to Dubai instead prevented them from traveling to Iraq. M/V Gulshan-e-Medina, however, continued its voyage. What peole are in charge of this mess? From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri Dec. 29 2006)

Antigua-flagged cargo M/V List (homeport St. Johns) -- in collision Dec. 24 at 05.57 a.m. with -- St.Vincent cargo M/V Rona (homeport Kingstown) in the locks of the Kiel Canal in Holtenau. M/V List could continue her voyage to Kaliningrad. M/V Rona suffered water ingress in rudder machine room -- crew was able to make a temporary repair. Then contact was made with the "Seeberufsgenossenschaft" in Hamburg & ship afterwards allowed to proceed to the Scheerharbour in Kiel where it berthed for permanent repairs -- not allowed to proceed further.Merry Christmas! From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon.. Dec. 25 2006)

15,000-ton roll-on-roll-off cargo M/V Yin Chu -- capsized in the Huangpu River when berthing by a dock near Nanpu Bridge on Dec. 2 -- off the Shanghai World Expo site apparently after a door was inadvertently left open. A dozen of the most skilled salvage divers in the country on Christmas have arrived in Shanghai to raise the vessel. An underwater investigation on Dec. 10 showed that the ship's bottom is buried 2 meters in silt on the river bed, while divers found waste, mainly iron scraps & steel wires, entangling the wreck. The divers also discovered 10 holes, ranging from 7 to 10 square meters, on the deck, filling the vessel with water & silt. These conditions will make the salvage operation even more tricky. Vessel is estimated to weigh an extra 7,500 tons in the water now, according to salvage experts. Frogmen will have to dive more than 20 meters to clear the waste surrounding vessel to make way for salvage work. Insiders said salvage program will cost less than the earlier forecast of 20 million yuan (US$2.55M). Merry Christmas! From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon.. Dec. 25 2006)

M/V Sea Carrier ran aground Dec 17 near Barrier Islands in Sumner Strait -- currently partially submerged. After running aground at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Juneau U.S. Coast Guard rescue coordination center was notified and the operator of M/V Sea Carrier was taken off the vessel & assisted by M/V Loon. With recent heavy weather vessel became partially submerged. U.S. Coast Guard is currently monitoring situation.Merry Christmas! From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon.. Dec. 25 2006)

Russia flagged 2,963gt. dry cargo M/V Vodoley (built 1982) in 38.53N 130.28E, Japan Sea -- found drifting boat Dec. 23 with 4 North Korea citizens. People evacuated, M/V Vodoley is on the way to Vladivostok port. Coast guard & North Korean consul informed. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Sun. Dec. 24 2006)

Russia flagged 15.9mt. fishery reefer M/V Metelitsa, with 24 crew -- in collision Dec. 23 with -- with 7,519grt. UK flagged container M/F Francop (built 2003) -- anchored close to pilot receive buoy S. Peterburg main channel). Reefer damaged, hole below waterline in holds area, water ingress. Reefer anchored, trying to control water ingress, hold flooded 1.5 meters high. 09.00 LT &endash; reefer towed to Kronshtadt & berthed, salvage under way. Container M/V Francop slightly damaged. No injures, no spill. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Sun. Dec. 24 2006)

Cambodia flagged F/V Shoya-Maru 52, with 19 crew -- Mayday call from distress radio buoy ARB-406, Cambodia, in position 49.52.7N 147.35.5E Okhotsk sea, 200 miles off Terpeniya point, Sakhalin island Dec. 20, 02:22 Moscow time -- capsized & drifting, crew abandoned vessel on life rafts. F/V Zhanna-SH & F/V Captain Komratov directed to save crew, vessels being 1.5 & 2 miles off distress position respectively. F/V Captain Komratov took on board all crew, 19 persons, no injures, in good condition. Vessel capsized due to ice-coating in bad weather, storm from NW with wind up to 25 meters/sec. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Sun. Dec. 24 2006)

WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___ Only 10% of Attacks Reported __

13 Dec. 2006  0030 UTC in position 08:45S - 013:17E, Luanda Roads, Angola. Pirates in small boats boarded a ro-ro ship via the anchor chain -- escaped when they realised the crew had detected their presence. The locks on the forepeak store had been forced open. Nothing stolen. Master advised all ships bound for Luanda to maintain a vigilant anti-piracy watch and have all main deck lights on. McD (Fri.. Dec. 22 2006)

11 Dec. 2006  0200 LT in position : 05:00N - 00:00, Tema, Ghana -- 7 pirates armed with knives boarded a chemical tanker at anchor & tied up the duty AB's legs and hands and kept him at knife point. The robbers entered forecastle store & stole ship's stores and lowered them into a canoe waiting alongside. The AB untied himself & reported to the Duty Officer who raised alarm and informed port control. A patrol boat arrived and searched the surrounding area but could not find the canoe or robbers. McD (Fri.. Dec. 22 2006)

01 Dec. 2006  at km 346 Parana River Anchorage, Argentina -- 17 pirates boarded a general cargo ship. They destroyed communication equipment on board, broke into containers & stole electronic and other goods from the vessel. Robbers escaped in a boat. The vessel contacted a naval base which responded by sending 3 naval cutters. Navy succeeded in intercepting the pirate boat marked "Luchando Voy" bearing no. "M-1085".  The robbers were arrested & stolen goods confiscated. Robbers will be prosecuted in a local court. McD (Fri.. Dec. 22 2006)

Red Funnel operated ferry M/V Red Eagle came into contact Dec. 21 at 7:30pm with the bunker barge Humber Energy operated by Whittaker Tank Ships, in the Thorne Channel, approaching Southampton water. Solent Coastguard alerted to incident by VTS (Vessel Traffic Services). Vessels had suffered a very light impact & reported no damage, no injuries or pollution and both continued with their separate passages. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri.. Dec. 22 2006)

11mt. Police boat Bussard -- sunk by unknown persons in Rendsburg in the Kiel Canal. Crew found ship half sunk Dec 21 morning. Someone had forced way inside & destroyed some sea valves in the engine room thus sinking the ship. Bussard said a total loss - new building will cost about 330,000 Euro. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri.. Dec. 22 2006) UPDATE>> Vessel raised & transported into a hall of the Saatsee Yard -- constructive total loss -- damage is about 400000 Euro. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sun.. Dec. 24 2006)

French ferry -- Atlantic island of Ile d'Yeu for the port of Fromentine on France's Vendee coastwith 196 passengers & crew grounded Dec. 21 on a sand bank on the W. coast of France late Dec 21. Ferry ran aground at around 9:00 pm LT & was waiting waiting for high-tide at around 2:00 am before attempting to float off. No injuries. Vessel mistakenly followed channel-marker buoys which had been displaced by a storm earlier this month. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri.. Dec. 22 2006)

Barge laden with logs meant for export sank Dec. 20 near the river mouth of Sungai Batang Kemena in Bintulu, while another one was partially submerged after being hit by strong waves in early morning. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri.. Dec. 22 2006)

M/V Jolanda -- sank on the Westerscheldt Canal -- raised Dec 22 & towed to the Terneuzen locks by M/V Multratug 15, M/V Multrasalvor & M/V Zephyrus. She will be repaired at the shipyard De Schroef in Sluiskil. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri.. Dec. 22 2006)

7,943 TEU Malayan-flagged MSC container M/V Bunga Seroja Satu -- running upstream destroyed a floating breakwater in Luehe on the Elbe in the night of Dec 19 as result of large waves. Police suggest ship had too much speed when approaching the Altenwerder Container Terminal in the Port of Hamburg. When vessel passed the point where the river Luehe joins the Elbe at 02.30 a.m, the water rose up to 2 meters. Damage at the breakwater was about 40000 Euro. Capt. fined by the police. Pilot also was responsible has still to be investigated. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

Inland water M/T Crooswijk -- on the Dortmund-Ems-Canal at km 102,73 close to Rheine -- collided Dec. 19 with railway bridge Altenrhein. Obviously wheelhouse of M/T Crooswijk, in ballast, was not lowered enough. Capt. did not complete the lowering of wheelhouse. She crashed with its upper part against the bridge & was completely torn off. It fell onto the deck of the ship. Capt. not hurt. Police investigating. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

3,600dwt cargo M/V Wilson Muuga (Cyprus flag) with 12 crew -- stranded at Hvalnes, Iceland 3 miles away from Sandger, Dec 19 morning. Only 50 tons of oil are believed to be left in herside tanks. As water flooded the holds of the ship & her engines went dead -- crew taken to Reykjavik by helicopter. The ship was on way from Grundartangi to Murmansk in Russia. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

925-ton Korean trawler F/V In Sung No . 207 (homeport Busan) -- sank in the Atlantic off coast of Argentina, killing 4 crew & leaving 2 missing. The Coast Guard received an SOS signal from F/V In Sung No. 207 on Dec. 20 & reported it to rescue headquarters. Now 6 rescue ships are on station. All 34 crew, including 10 Koreans, 13 Chinese & 11 Vietnamese, were on the vessel at the time of the sinking -- 28 of them rescued before the ship sank. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

Sand-dredgers M/V Jolanda -- in collision on the Dutch Westerscheldt close to the Hoohe Plate with -- outgoing sand-dredge M/V Vlieree. M/V Jolanda sprang a leak & sank on even keel. Tugs M/V Multratug 15 & M/V Coby tried to prevent her from sinking in deep water, now the wheelhouse & masts are visible. Multipurpose ship M/V Frans Naerbout, the oil protection ship M/V VLB 1 & other craft headed to the scene of the shipwreck. At time of collision visibility low. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

Russian cargo M/V Wilson Muugo 2, Grundartangi, Iceland for Russian port of Murmansk -- ran aground off Iceland Dec. 19 -- inspection vessel M/V Triton came to help-- boat sent with 8 men aboard in stormy weather but boat capsized, one Danish sailor dead. All others were rescued by helicopters. Crew of M/V Wilson Mungo remained aboard the ship which stuck fast off the Sandgerdi peninsula. Meanwhile they have been evacuated. Ship rests on even keel S. of Sandgerdi in shallow water. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

193.90mt. container 28,917dwt M/V MOL Sassandra (ex Sao Paulo Challenger, IMO 9178525) -- ran aground Dec. 19 off Madagascar -- able to refloat in afternoon. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

Cargo M/V Lilleborg (IMO No. 7528130, homeport Kingstown) in the port of St. Nazaire, France -- when loading a large diesel engine an accident happened -- engine fell & vessel sank in Bassin de Penhoët<<Webfeature. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

427t. Spanish 101.6mt. ferry M/V Carmen del Mar (built 1970) -- ran aground in the harbour of Dénia with 80 passengers at 7.30 a.m.Dec. 15 -- passengers able to leave ship 1 hour later -- caused by bad weather but is the 6th ferry accident within 7 years in Dénia. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 21 2006)

Dutch 16mt. F/V Marlouger (homeport Lauwersoog in den Niederlanden) -- suffered rudder damage 8.13 a.m. Dec. 19 -- ship was in approach of Buesum port -- rescue boat M/V Hans Hackmack at once left port after having been alarmed by Bremen Rescue Radio & reached the ship 40 minutes later. F/V Marlouger towed into Buesum harbour where repairs started immediately. In the afternoon F/V Marlouger departed, but at buoy 18 suffered another rudder damage & towed 2nd time into port. Geeez! From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Dec. 20 2006)

190Mt. British 20,781t. RoRo-ferry M/V Thebeland -- in collision Dec. 18 with -- 67mt. German inland water M/V Castor (homeport Hamburg) on Trave River at km 13 (Dänischburg / pile 28). M/V Castor on way from Geesthacht to Luebeck & crossed the river without pilot - visibility poor. Ferry M/V Thebeland on way from Finland to Luebeck -- her bulbous bow hit German ship in stern region on port side -- suffered water ingress through a gash of 50 cm. but able to berth at the Henningskai, where the double bottom was found filled with water. Damage to ferry was minor. No injuries. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Tues. Dec. 19 2006)

16ton wooden dhow M/V Basra II -- 9 crew & with mattresses, tea and coffee destined for Somali -- which plies Indian Ocean waters -- reduced to shell by fire said started in kitchen -- burnt down at Mombasa's Old Port at 5.30am on Dec 17 as it prepared to sail to Kismayo Port in Somali. Tug M/V Ronja-Zanzibar used her heavy jets to put out the fire at 7am, but was too late -- burnt vessel sunk moments after fire extinguished. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Tues. Dec. 19 2006)

Dive support vessel DSNS Pelican -- 35-year-old Christopher McGonigle, who had not been seen since Dec. 16 E. of Aberdeen -- has been found after 42 hours. Not overboard, but in a store room with a broken leg & back injuries. McGonigle was transferred from the boat by helicopter to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Police are expected to investigate the incident -- do you think! From our Correspondent A.L. Griffiths. (Mon. Dec. 18 2006)

U.S. 43ft. F/V Ash from Port Orford, Ore.-- capsized & going under Dec. 15 near entrance to the Rogue River at 3:40 p.m -- 3 crew known to be aboard vessel at the time. 47-foot rescue boat crew from U.S. Coast Guard Station Chetco River, an HH-65 helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station North Bend & 2nd HH-65 crew from Air Station Humboldt Bay were dispatched to the scene where liferaft spotted. No members of crew seen to be aboard the raft. On Dec 17 the U.S. Coast Guard suspended search -- vessel's life raft, 2 survival suits & small pieces of debris have been recovered. No survivors located. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 18 2006)

S/Y Felicia -- sent out emergency signal Dec. 15 after damaging her hull & taking on water. Cape Town's Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) confirmed shortly after 5pm that all 4 crewof had been taken safely aboard car carrier M/V Don Pasquale. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 18 2006)

Ro/Ro M/V Rokia Delmas -- aground near island of Re off the coast of La Rochelle in high winds & heavy seas as she was approaching Port of La Rochelle when she suffered a complete loss of power & on grounding took a 20 degree list. Most of the crew were evacuated by helicopter and the tugs M/V Abeille Bourbon & M/V Abeille Languedoc responded almost immediately. With the vessel lying in an exposed location, in only 9 meters of water. Salvors removed 560 tons of heavy fuel oil & risk of pollution is said negligible. Work now proceeding to remove the deck cargo of 378 containers. Operation described as delicate due to the vessel's list and the changeable winter weather conditions -- may take considerable time. No attempt can be made to refloat M/V Rokia Delmas until work completed. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 18 2006)

China F/V Zhedingyu No. 14413 -- capsized off east China's Zhejiang Province after being rammed by unidentified ship Dec 12. Only one of 7 sailors on the boat has been rescued -- 6 crew missing. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 18 2006)

China F/V Zhepuyu No. 72329 -- sank 6:50 p.m. on Dec 11, 55 NM east of Shipu port, Xiangshan County. All 12 sailors fell into the sea after being hit by an unidentified ship, which disappeared after the accident. No injuries. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 18 2006)

50mt. reefer 1202gt. M/V Prolyv Friza -- disappeared in Okhotsk sea, no messages & communication during last 3 days. Last known position &endash; Dec. 14, 13.12 LT &endash; 56.05N 155.04E, Okhotsk sea, 22 miles off W. coast of Kamchatka Peninsula. Search & Rescue started Dec 17, with vessels in area & Coast guard, coordinator RCC Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin.From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Sun. Dec. 17 2006) UPDATE>> 1202gt reefer M/V Prolyv Friza on air, messaging all is ok, 3 days silence was caused by radio equipment breakdown. Reefer M/V Prolyv Friza heading for Busan, Korea, by Dec. 17 midday was 27 miles E. off Onekotan island, Kuril chain. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Mon. Dec. 18 2006)

43-ft- French yacht P/Y Zouk, with 7 crew -- disabled after storm Dec 13. Southampton-based Jubilee Sailing Trust's tallship S/V Tenacious -- which had 12 people with physical disabilities, including 3 in wheelchairs, out of a total of 36 -- came to rescue -- then had to sink the damaged yacht as rough seas stopped them from towing it back to the mainland. The dramatic rescue occurred 900 miles from the Caribbean as S/V Tenacious was on a 30-day transatlantic voyage from Gran Canaria to Antigua. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

Cargo M/V Wilma -- in collision with the Levensau Bridge, Kiel Canal is drydocked at the Norderwerft in Hamburg -- her damaged 275ton -crane was placed on the pier where it is to be repaired by end of Jan., 2007. The craneleg itself has to be rebuilt completely, the cranehouse can be repaired. M/V Wilma will leave the Norderwerft on Dec 22. to operate with only 2 cranes left for 4-5 weeks. Police still investigating the Capt. of M/V Wilma -- seems a crew member from the Philippines raised the crane after passage of the Holtenau bridges not expecting more bridges to come so soon. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

German F/V Cap Arcona -- ran aground Dec. 10 off the island Sylt. When trying to help, also F/V Jeverland, homeport Friedrichskoog, stuck fast. The rescue M/V Minden based in List/Sylt came to help & successfully refloated F/V Cap Arcona which sustained no damage in the grounding & towed into open sea. Then F/V Jeverland towed off the bar but due to damage at the propeller it had sustained due to the grounding -- had to be towed into the nearby Danish port Havneby for repairs. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

F/V Chevelle -- returning to the Port of Brookings Harbor, Washington, 2 a.m. Dec. 9 when 4 strong waves pushed the vessel into the south jetty, sending most of her 430 crab pots tumbling across the deck & overboard --gear blocked a third of the channel for 12 hours. U.S. Coast Guard life boats attached lines to tow F/V Chevelle & attempted to tow her back into the port. F/V Chevelle returned with only 40 of her 430 pots. From our Correspondent A.L. Griffiths. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

UK F/V Unity -- Brixham for Weymouth with 3 crew capsized night of Dec. 13. Weymouth RNLI lifeboat found life raft with 2 crew -- skipper missing -- weather conditions are poor with winds force 5-7 occasionally 8 & a moderate to rough sea state. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

22mt. F/V Princess Silva (built 1978) has been put ashore at the Kieler Schrotthandel Gmbh by the sheerleg Enak for scrapping which will be completed in spring 2007. The 75ton ship had stopped in Kiel in July 2002 on way from Estonia to the Cape Verdes with engine damage. Police then found out that the papers of the ship which was registered in Phnoom Penh, Cambodia, were not in order & detained the ship. Then the 22 crew coming from Nepal, Sri Lanka & Estonia disappeared -- some found later as refugees in Germany. Attempts of the seaport Kiel to contact the owner who was from Sri Lanke failed. The neglected ship was towed to the Ostuferhafen (East shore harbour). Now the port authority ordered the ship to be scrapped. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

Dominican-flagged, Finnish owned tug M/V Henric (built 1975) -- reported Dec 11 at 5.46 p.m. that Capt. was drunk. Ship was just about to leave Flensburg harbor for Ventspils with a barge which had carried 3,900 tons coal to Flensburg in Danish charter. Police then found out that the whole Russian-Estonian crew of 6 was drunk -- Capt. had 1.8 blood lvel. Ship refused permission to move. Another alcohol control on Dec 12 at 11.20 a.m. proved that now Capt. was able to do his job. Likely he will not be Capt. of the next voyage to Flensburg. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

95,000t Liberian flagged 335mt. container M/V CMA CGM Don Giovanni -- in collision Dec. 12 -- with 14,290t. Maroccan container M/V Amalthea which was berthed at the Predoehlkai in the Waltershofer Harbor in Hamburg. M/V CMA CGM Don Giovanni was coming Elbe upstream & had tugs and a pilot when entering he Waltershofer Harbour -- she hit with bow to the port side superstructure of 150mt. M/V Amalthea -- severely damaging her main deck, parts of the superstructure & hull. The pier of the Predoehlquay was damaged. Both ships were refused permission to sail until investiagations are finished. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 15 2006) UPDATE>> M/V CMA CGM Giovanni left Hamburg Dec 14, 7 a.m. for Zeebrugge. Some slight damages were still visible at the bow -- M/V Amalthea ist berthed at the Unikai with hope to find repair yard before Christmas. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

24mt. Russian trawler F/V PTC-0212 (owner Baltrybkomp, port of registry S.Petersburg) with 6 crew -- didn't arrive at ETA time Dec. 12 to Svetly port, Baltic sea. Last message received from trawler in position Lat 55.00N Lon 019.44E, 20 miles N off Taran point. Reason to believe trawler in distress. With daytime, Dec. 13, helicopters of Baltic Sea Russian Navy & Latvian Rescue started searching area. Weather rough &endash; wind up to 20 meters/sec in gusts, waves 4-5 meters. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko. (Thurs. Dec. 14 2006) UPDATE>> In the Baltic 2 bodies were found in Dec 14 by the Latvia Air Force -- believed they belong to missing Russian F/V PTS 0212 -- 4 more missing. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 16 2006)

Antigua-flag M/V Clasier -- in collision Dec. 9 -- with Turkish M/V Mehmet Aksoy. Rescue tugs were sent to the place of collision, however both vessels anchored at Istanbul on their own. The situation under contro. M/V Mehmet Askoy -- 5th hold filled with water. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 14 2006)

94ft. tug M/V Seneca -- flagship of the Duluth-based Zenith Tugboat Company -- lost on eastern Lake Superior after an unexpected storm shredded its towing gear. Vessel drifted off into darkness, away from it's tow, the Susan Hoey -- assumed lost by the Hoey's skipper, Captain Franz VonRiedel, a skilled tugboat captain and president of Zenith. M/V Seneca found by the U.S. Coast Guard, grounded 18 NM east of Grand Marais, Mich. M/V Seneca was 1,200-horespower tug -- built in 1939 for the Card Towing Company at Norfolk, Va. and shortly thereafter requisitioned for use by the U.S. Navy for service as a submarine net tender at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for the duration of World War II. From our Correspondent Randy Waskin. (Tues. Dec. 13 2006) UPDATE>> M/V Seneca remains grounded in an upright position -- 20 milest E. of Grand Marais, MI. The tug became grounded after its tow line with tug M/V Hoey parted in the late evening of Dec. 2, 2006. Inclement weather prevented M/V Hoey & several U.S. Coast Guard assets from locating & reestablishing a tow with M/V Seneca, prior to the vessel's grounding on Dec. 4, 2006. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 14 2006)

Philippine ferry M/V Brian, from Puerto Galera for Batangas -- capsized & sank in Typhoon Utor on Dec 11 off the island Mindoro 120 km S. of Manila -- more than 100 passengers & 5 crew were rescued by pleasure boats & passing tanker. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Tues. Dec. 12 2006)

18,000gt. LNG tanker M/T Prospero, in ballast -- docking at SemLogistics - which stores oil-related products - collided with a jetty in Milford Haven, UK as she was attempting to dock causing damage to vessel & berth -- no injuries or pollution -- suffered a "heavy berthing" Dec. 10. From our Correspondent A.L.Griffiths. (Tues. Dec. 12 2006)

ALERT>> Canadian barque S/V Picton Castle -- struck by rogue wave 700 miles SE of Cape-Cod, night of Dec. 8 -- 1 crew washed overboard. Laura Gainey, daughter of Bob Gainey, general manager of NHL Montreal Canadians<<Webfeature, has not been found after 3 days of intense research in the area. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006) UPDATE>> SEARCH SUSPENDED -- U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for Laura Gainey today at 7:20 p.m. U.S. Coast Guard C-130 airplane that searched through the afternoon was released from the search at about 5:30 p.m. M/V Strong Patriot was also released from the search this afternoon. M/ V Hero remained at the scene this evening to recover a life raft dropped by a Coast Guard C-130 on Dec. 9. After finding no one in the raft, U.S. Coast Guard suspended the active search. Computer models estimated Gainey's maximum time of survival at about 36 hours, and searchers covered 3,175 square miles during the 3 day search. U.S. & Canadian Coast Guard C-130 aircraft searched for her over specific grid patterns, using night vision, infrared sensors & radar during the operation. A massive & valiant effort -- a sad end. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Tues. Dec. 21 2006)

130mt. container M/V Encounter (built 2004),Portuguese Harbor Leixoes for Felixstowe with 5,785t. cargo & 13 crew -- suffered engine problems in the evening of Dec 10 off the island Jersey -- high seas -- escorted by tugs into harbor. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Tues. Dec. 21 2006)

125.6Mt. Russian M/T Andropov (double-hull, year built 2004), in ballast with 13 Russian crew -- Dec. 10, 3000 LT &endash; Black sea, Lat 42.30 N Lon 35.14 E, 30 miles off turkish coast, Sinop area -- ordered by Turkish Coast Guard boat to return to Turkey territorial waters, threatening to fire on failure to obey. Master protested engine failure, tanker & Turkish Coast guard boat drifting 1 mile apart. Owner asked russian consulate in Istambul to intervene. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

Norwegian ferry M/V Prinsesse Ragnhild -- adrift south of Norway in night of Dec 9 -- explosion in the exhaust manifold followed by smoke in the corridors & loss of light & power. M/V Prinsesse Ragnhild arrived safely at Stavanger early Dec. 11 morning. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006) UPDATE>> Norwegian ferry M/V Prinsesse Ragnhild taken to Solheimsviken/Bergen in Norway & will be under repair until Dec 24 -- 1st departure is scheduled for Dec 25, 1 p.m. Meanwhile it is clear that an auxiliary engine caused the fire which led to a loss of power. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 16 2006)

M/V Pegasus Leader -- in collision with the Northern lock of Bremerhaven Dec. 9. The quayside between outer harbor & old ferry berth was damaged -- assessed to be about 20000 Euro. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

F/V Havnatindur KG 464 (built 1947) -- sank in Klaksvík Harbor, Faroe Islands on Dec. 10. 2006 -- wreck has its main deck partially awash, bridge is still above water. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

101Mt. container M/V Gerda -- in collision Dec. 8 with -- a lock in Brunsbuettel. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

98Mt. cargo M/V Cimbris -- in collision Dec. 8 -- with a piling in the outer harbor of Brunsbuettel. The damage in all 3 cases was minor. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

U.S. tug M/V Kathleen, with 5 crerw -- radioed Dec. 8 for help 5 miles S. of the South Padre Island jetties. Tug crew told U.S. Coast Guard that their pilothouse windows had been smashed in by heavy waves, they had lost all engine control & were losing electrical power as well. U.S. Coast Guard Station South Padre Island took the boat in tow. One injured due to flying glass. Waves were 14 to 16 feet high with occasional 18 footers and winds were in excess of 20 m.p.h. An HH-65B Dolphin helicopter crew was also dispatched from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi to assist but returned to Corpus Christi after a short time on scene. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

534ft. Panamanian flag M/V Sea Honesty -- safely guided to Dutch Harbor Dec 8 after reporting engine trouble on way to Shinizu, Japan, 284 miles W. of Dutch Harbor. U.S. Coast Guard North Pacific Search & Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) received request for assistance at 10:00 a.m. on Dec 4. In response to the request, the RCC directed U.S. Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Alex Haley to accompany vessel to Dutch Harbor for repairs. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

6,000dwt -- 90mt. 1996 built dredger capsized dredger off Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo with tragic loss of life Dec. 8 -- SvitzerWijsmuller Salvage B.V. was instructed to execute oil removal operations -- contains some 250-300 m3 of bunkers that need to be removed. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

F/V Hohe Weg (homeport Brake) -- sank on the Northern Grounds in the outer Weser on Nov 8 -- 2 dead bodies drifted ashore at Pellworm & close to Brunsbuettel on Dec 7 & 8. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Dec. 11 2006)

WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___ Only 10% of Attacks Reported __

29 Nov. 06 0140 LT  in position 04:41N &endash; 098:42E,  Malacca Straits - Bulk carrier underway had to take evasive action to prevent boarding of pirates in small high powered craft at port beam. Crew activated fire hoses. Boarding averted. McD (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

28 Nov. 06 1900 UTC: Kuala Bintulu Anchorage, Malaysia &endash; General cargo ship was boarded by pirates armed with pistols, knives & crowbars. The forecastle store was broken into & ships stores stolen. Robbers jumped into the water when the ship raised the alarm. Port control informed. McD (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

28 Nov. 06 2030 LT, in position 12:25N &endash; 044:25E Gulf of Aden &endash; Bulk carrier underway approached by an unlit vessel which suddenly increased speed as it approached the vessel. Boarding successfully prevented by prompt evasive action taken by the vessel including sounding alarm, mustering crew & activating fire hoses. McD (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

22 Nov. 06 0150 UTC: Off Port Harcourt, Nigeria &endash; 10 pirates armed with guns boarded an offshore processing ship -- kidnapped 7 workers & left the ship. Reported to Nigerian authorities & they intercepted pirate boat. Nigerian authorities engaged in shoot-out with pirates -- rescued 5 hostages. One hostage killed & 1 injured. McD (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

90Mt. Dutch cargo M/v Sydgard - in distress of the Ile de Ouessant on Dec 8 at 7 a.m. after cargo shifted to port in waves of 7-8Mt. & winds of 50 km/h. The ship developed a list of 25 degrees. French tug M/V Abeille Bourbon & helicopter from Lanvéoc proceeded to the casualty which was then safely escorted to Brest where she arrived at 1 p.m. M/V Sydgard then underway from Netherlands to Rochefort. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

French trawler F/V Michel Falmouth ran aground in a severe storm in North Spain in the Biscaya Dec. 8 -- came to rest on her starboard side in shallow water. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

Polish towing M/V Ajaks had been taking 105mt oil barge in ballast from Dungeness, Kent, to St Nazaire, France -- towing vessel set oil barge adrift off West Sussex because of mechanical problems on Dec. 8 -- barge was in danger of straying into busy shipping lanes -- 2 UK lifeboat crew members who scrambled aboard a drifting barge in the English Channel had to abandon it in high winds and be airlifted to safety. Barge ran aground overnight. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

A barge struck a buffer on the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway on Dec 6, shutting down the bridge that links South Padre Island to the rest of Texas. No injuries in the accident, which occurred on the same bridge where a Sept. 2001 barge accident caused part of the roadway to fall, killing 8 motorists. Investigators think a cable on a barge being tugged with 2 others snapped or became loose. It appears the barge struck a rubber buffer & came to rest on a concrete structure supporting the bridge, said U.S. Coast Guard Station South Padre Island. Since weather & current patterns didn't seem unusual, equipment malfunction appears to have caused the problem -- pilot Capt. passed alcohol tests. Accident remains under investigation. A warning system alerted motorists to the danger & crossing bars dropped to keep vehicles from crossing. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

110Mt. inland cargo M/V Toronto, with 3,500 tons rolled steel --- ran aground at the white bouoy Vlije on Dec 8, with the falling tide at 07.30 a.m. Tug M/V Zephyrus on charter to Multraship was on scene short time later. At 4 p.m. M/V Zephyrus, M/V Leendert Muller & M/V Delta of Polderman, Hansweert, refloated the ship -- then towed to the Krammers lock for inspections & allowed to proceed. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Sat. Dec. 9 2006)

377t. partially burnt out former Norwegian ferry M/V Cehili departed from its longtime berth in Hamburg-Finkenwerder in the morning hours of Dec 8 & passed Neumuehlen going river upstream at 9 a.m. Destination is unknown, but is likely to be a scrapyard. The ship had caught fire on Sept. 9 on 2 decks. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

1,972gt. Panama flag general cargo M/V Outsailing 5 (built 2006) -- grounded on SW tip of Hokkaido, crew airlifted off Dec. 8 - being salved by Salvors Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co Ltd. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

Commercial F/V Chief Tapeety towed safely from Pago Pago, Samoa, out to sea on her final voyage. Once at the pre-designated disposal site, Howard Dunham, a local contractor, sank the vessel to a depth of 6,000 feet. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

Container carrier M/V YM South -- enrolled in the Britannia Club -- aground Dec. 8 at Wilmington, North Carolina & began taking on water, position lat. 34¢ª 10.8¡¯ N, long. 77¢ª 57.4¡¯ west -- vessel continued to take on water at the rate of 6 tons an hour via her engine room -- bilge pumps & oily water separators have been lit off and have apparently kept ahead of the ingress since the vessel refloated several hours later. Anticipated there will be substantial damage to cargo below decks.Vessel is in regular liner service for Y M & other slot charterers having loaded in Kaohsiung twice, Hong Kong & Busan and thereafter called at Savannah prior to the grounding at Wilmington. She was also to have called at New York before returning to the Far East. McD (Fri. Jan 5 20070

Dutch Warship Johan de Witt -- on a delivery voyage to the Belgian Navy near the Hinder1 Bouy in the Dover Straits with 113 crew -- suffered a mechanical problem & unable to proceed under her own power to next port in Belgium on Dec. 7 -- SW Gale force 8 gusting severe gale force 9 with rough seas. UK Coastguard tug Anglian Monarch was instructed to proceed & tow warship back to Flushing in Holland. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

151mt. heavy goods carrier M/V Wilma ( built 1997 - homeport Hamburg) struck the old 1894 built Levensau Bridge crossing the Kiel-Canal Dec. 7 close to Kiel on the way from the Baltic to the North Sea with one of its 3 cranes. The bridge closed for traffic. Vessel proceeded to Rendsburg Harbor. M/V Wilma had departed from the Kiel-Holtenau locks at 5 p.m. Some time later one of the 3 cranes righted itself & hit the bridge at 5.30 p.m. It was punctured on its east side 2 times, the crane itself severely damaged. Pilot & Capt. had not noted the danger arising from the crane as the ship`s bridge is situated on the foreship. It was almost 2 hours later when the light of the tug M/V Holtenau lit the scene that the holes in the new bridge were seen & it was also closed at 7:22pm. The canal itself was closed for traffic -- over 20 ships were in waiting position at midnight. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

Belgian inland water craft M/V Ru-San, with grain -- ran aground Dec. 7 between the Oude Veerhaven & the Oostbuitenhaven. M/V Multratug 16 of Multraship was soon on scene but M/V Ru-San was taking water. M/V Multratug 15 & M/V Zeeland (URS) came alongside & started pumping out the water. The cargo was loaded onto the M/V Carla. The tug M/V Bravo of Polderman, Hansweert, also helped pumping. Divers repaired the leakages. M/V Ru-San was refloated & taken to the shipyard De Schroef in Sluiskil by M/V Multrasalvor, M/V Bravo & M/V Multratug 15. M/V Carla proceeded into harbor. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

Spanish ferry company Buquebús España's M/V Avemar Dos -- in collision in Strait of Gibraltar Nov. 28 with -- Moroccan ferry M/V Atlas. Two minor injuries. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

British Coastguard Tug Anglian Princess -- took Norwegian registered bulk carrier M/V Spar Garnet, Hamburg for Montreal with 28 crew -- under tow Dec. 7 -- after she had broken down & reported taking water through her stern tube. Anglian Princess now has vessel in tow and is taking her to Torbay to await arrival of a commercial tow to take her to a port for repair. Weather at the time was SW Gale Force 8 to Storm Force 10, moderate visibility with rough to high seas. UK Brixham Coastguard are continuing to monitor the tow using their AIS (Automatic Identification System). From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

USS Intrepid -- 5 tugs pull her free of Pier 86 on Dec. 4 -- moved only in the 2nd attempt during the 2 hours of high tide but then proceeded 5 miles downstream to New Jersey, where she will spend the next 2 years in Bayonne drydock. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

Inland water M/V Rusan -- ran aground between the East Harbor & the Outer Harbor of Terneuzen on the River Schelt Dec. 6. Tug M/V Zeeland headed for the grounded ship. M/V Vebo Runner transported salvage equipment to M/V Zeeland. Divers inspected the hull regarding possible leaks. M/V Multratug 15 came alongside with pump equipment. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 7 2006)

M/V Mighty Servant 3 just completed a dry tow from of oil rig Trinidad Tobago to Angola. Sank at 7pm on Dec. 6 while off loading cargo. When she sank the water below the keel was about 30Mt. (Thurs. Dec.7 2006) SEE OUR PHOTO FEATURE McD

Semi submersible M/V Mighty Servant 3 -- developed a list & sank Dec. 6 after the offloading of the drilling platform 'Aleutian Key'. The vessel is resting at the sea bottom in 62 meters of water. Drilling platform did not sustain any damage & is underway to its drilling location. All 21 crew of the vessel have been taken of the vessel and are on their way to the Port of Luanda on board of one of the supporting vessels on stand by during the offloading. The 83 crew of the drilling platform were all safely on board of the drilling platform at the moment of the incident. The vessel is 1 mile off the North Angolan coast & very close to the entrance of the Port of Luanda. Local authorities have been informed and are assisting in the response effort. Cause of the incident is not known at this time, but is being investigated. The 27,720 dwt. vessel is Dutch flagged & sails with a combination of Dutch and Filipino crew. Families of crew members have been informed. Crew members will be repatriated to their home destinations as soon as possible. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)

133mt. Egyptian cargo M/V Abu Rees suffered engine damage & subsequently ran aground Dec. 6 in the Oostgat of the Dutch river Scheldt while proceeding to Antwerp. The tugs M/V Multrasalvor, M/V Schouwenbank, M/V Multraship Responder, M/V Multratug 12 & M/V Walcheren rushed to the grounding site of the vessel. At 6.45 p.m. it was still aground. The next flood was at 9.06 p.m. At 11 p.m. M/V Union Diamond & M/V Multratug 16 joined the tug fleet. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Dec. 7 2006) UPDATE>> Refloated at 1 a.m. of Dec 7 by 5 tugs & taken to Vlissingen roads where she was anchored for inspections. Unknown when will be able to proceed to Antwerp. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Fri. Dec. 8 2006)