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Vessel Loss Dispatches For May 2008

Zanzibar-based passenger ferry Seagull, with capacity for 400, ran aground 3km from the port entrance to Mombasa on Apr. 30. The incident occurred after the vessel encountered strong winds and currents which forced the vessel onto the Nyali reef. The vessel only carried a crew of 15 at the time. The vessel was later towed off the reef and into the harbor, where it exhibited a slight list from water ingress in the ruptured hull. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. May 6 2008).

77-m German M/V Jütland (IMO 7803475) ran aground north of Kleppen on the way from Rostock to Struer, Denmark, in the foremidday hours of May 4. The tug Butler was called from Holstebro-Struer harbor and started to refloat the ship. Also the Navy ship Manø was on scene. After several attempts, the Jütland was towed off the ground and anchored off the coast for inspections. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. May 6 2008).

27,670-gt Bahamas-flagged cruise ship Mona Lisa (IMO 6512354), Kiel, Germany to Riga with 984 people on board, ran aground in the Baltic Sea, off the northwest coast of Latvia, on May 4. Initial efforts to free the vessel were unsuccessful and evacuation of passengers began on May 5. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. May 6 2008).

Barbados flagged tanker Athina suffered engine failure and went adrift in Çanakkale Straits on May 2 at 0035LT. Tugs Kurtarma 2 and Söndüren 10 were dispatched to assist. The Athina was safely anchored at Karanlik Port at 0230LT. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. May 6 2008).

79-m, 15,000-tonne Vietnamese cargo vessel M/V Sao Bein-09, Kakinada, India to Hafam, Vietnam, became stranded as a result of an entangled propeller 225 nautical miles southeast of Kakinada on May 3. Indian Coast Guard vessel Sagar came to the rescue and took the vessel in tow. All 19 Vietnamese crew reported safe. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. May 6 2008).

Ferry boat Comandante Sales capsized and sank in a sudden rainstorm in the Solimoes river in northwest Brazil on May 4. At least 17 people reported drowned, 70 confirmed survived. Overcrowding is believed to be a contributing factor of the accident. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. May 6 2008).

A 100-ton South Korean Coast Guard vessel sank after striking a reef in waters off the southern island of Jeju on May 3. All 12 sailors were rescued by nearby fishing vessels. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

A grain barge became lodged on the foot of a bridge on the Mississippi River near Burlington, Iowa, on May 1. The barge was one of five that broke free in the morning from the Matteson Marine facility in Burlington, Iowa. The other four barges were quickly recovered. An initial attempt to pull the barge off of the bridge failed due to strong river currents and the weight of the loaded barge. The barge will be lightered to reduce its overall weight. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

A 273-ft gravel barge buckled and spilled gravel at the Ash Grove Cement Facility in the Duwamish Waterway in the vicinity of Harbor Island, Washington on May 2. The barge is still afloat and crews are working to offload the remaining gravel. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

47-ft F/V Robin ran aground and took on water near Kewalo Basin on May at approximately 2300LT. Coast Guard Station Honolulu and Hawaii Fire Department personnel respondend to the call for assistance. The crew made it safely ashore on a life raft. The Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO) is onscene attempting to remove the vessel's fuel. There are no reports of pollution in the water. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

Inland passenger M/V Spreeperle, owned by Berlin-based company Riedel, went adrift on the Landweh Canal in Berlin on May 1. The incident was attributed to unknown individuals loosening the ship's ropes at its Tempelhof shore berth. The vessel came to rest perpendicular to the shipping lane, thus blocking it. It was successfully refloated and brought back to its berth. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

Floating restaurant Berblinger caught fire on the Danube River in Ulm on the night of May 3. No injuries were reported, likely in part because all guests had already left. Both decks burnt out and damages are estimated to be approximately 200,000 Euro. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

105-m Cyprus cargo M/V Wilson Malo (IMO 7707839) is suspected to have sunk the Dutch Yacht Regina 65 kilometers off Ijmuiden on May 1. The Regina called for assistance after having been struck by an unknown vessel in the night of May 1 at 0200LT. Rescue boat Koos van Messel retrieved the 4 crew of the Regina, but an attempt to tow the Regina to port was abandoned and the vessel foundered. The captain of M/V Wilson Malo was arrested in Terneuzen after traces of a collision were found at the bow during the investigations. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

50-ft yacht Fog Cutter suffered a damaged stern tube and took on water in Rye Bay, UK, on Apr. 27. Three RNLI lifeboats dashed to assist and their crew were able to board the vessel and install pumps to save the vessel. The Fog Cutter was then put under tow and taken to Dover. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

1967-built 3,514-gt Panama-flagged ferry Assalama (ex-Botnia, IMO 6712631), with 113 passengers and over 30 crew, suffered water ingress and machine failure off Tarfaya on Apr. 30. The passengers and crew were evacuated from the ship which was lying at anchor in shallow water. The Assalama connects Tarfaya and Fuenteventura. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

APL Cargo vessel Jeddah, Karachi to Colombo, became stuck up in the channel in breakwater near the KTP berth number 29 due to engine failure on Apr. 30. Marine traffic was affected until the vessel was freed. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

A 30-ft fishing trawler and a 23-ft overloaded cruiser collided at Sydney Harbor on May 1. Six people were killed and eight injured from the cruiser. The accident is being described as the worst fatal crash on the harbor in living memory. The cruiser was licensed to carry only eight people. Police are investigating potential factors of alcohol and navigation lights. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

13,457-gt Greek-flagged roro ferry Rodanthi (IMO 7353078) was in collision with high speed ferry Aelos Kenteris on Apr. 22. The Rodanthi was hit on the starboard side and suffered two holes above the water line, but safely docked in Piraeus port. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. May 3 2008).

Vessel Loss Dispatches For April 2008

17 April 2008: 0455 LT: Apapa / Tin Can Island, Nigeria -- 10 pirates in 2 speedboats boarded a vessel berthed -- broke open the paint store & stole ship’s stores. Alarm raised & ship’s crew locked themselves inside the accommodation for own safety. Another group of robbers on motorcycles arrived near the vessel & the stolen ship’s stores were lowered. The 2 shore watchmen employed for security duties were missing during the incident & appeared once pirates had gone. Authorities informed but no action taken.

22 April 2008: 1715 – 1855 LT: 06:41.00S-039:42.00E: 30 nm Off Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- 8 pirates armed with long knives boarded an anchored container ship -- stole ship’s stores, broke open 2 containers & stole contents. Robbers escaped once alarm was raised. Local authorities informed.

22 April 2008: 0430 LT: Mumbai anchorage, India -- 4 pirates in a motor boat attempted to board a research vessel at anchor. Attempt failed due to strict anti piracy watch.

22 April 2008: 0315 LT: Anchorage no. 1, Dar es Salaam anchorage, Tanzania -- 8 pirates armed with knives boarded a container ship at anchor. Before the watch keepers could contact & warn the bridge the robbers tied them up. Alarm was raised only when the chief officer could not contact the watch keepers. By then the robbers had stole contents from several containers. Robbers escaped when alarm was raised. Port authorities informed.

21 April 2008: 2030 UTC: Vung Tau Song Go Gia STS anchorage, Vietnam -- pirates boarded a tanker from the forecastle. They broke open forward storeroom & stole ship’s stores. Duty crew spotted robbers & raised alarm. Foghorn sounded. Robbers escaped immediately. Later, police patrol boarded for investigation. Anti piracy watch doubled up. No injuries to crew.

21 April 2008: 11 miles off Bosaco, Somalia. Pirates armed with guns opened fire on a general cargo ship underway -- hijacked the vessel & took 16 crew hostage. Local security forces raided the vessel &rescued the 16 crewmembers & ship. All crew safe. Some pirates injured & captured.

19 April 2008: 1452 UTC: 00:06.24S – 049:08.56E: Somalia. Pirates armed with guns & grenade launchers attacked fishing vessel and hijacked to an unknown location. Pirates have taken 26 crew hostage & are demanding a ransom for their safe release.

11,894-gt general cargo M/V Margaretha Green, built 1999 and en route to the Red Sea, lost power and ran aground in the Suez Canal on Apr. 29. Traffic of more than 33 vessel was held up in the strategic waterway as a result of the incident. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Wed. April 30 2008).

112-m Norwegian ferry Vardehorn ran aground at Sulesund near the ferry quay on Apr. 25 at 2120LT. The ship proceeded with own power to the Hareid terminal after it was refloated at 1030LT. There, divers checked the ship for damage and found at least one bowthruster damaged. The ship was undertaking trials after repairs at the Fiskerstrand Verft when it suffered a blackout and ran into the stone jetty. The ship is owned by Ferge & Hurtigbåt, and has a capacity for 650 passengers. Thorough inspections and repairs are to be carried out at the Myklebust Yard. The ship had already suffered a similar mishap in Hareíd on Apr 6, 2002. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Wed. April 30 2008).

53,000-dwt M/V Sibulk Innovation collided with 53,000-dwt tanker M/V Li Ping Tan in Singapore at the Eastern Anchorage on Apr. 24. No injuries or pollution reported, however the Sibulk Innovation suffered water ingress. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 29 2008).

25-m river cruise ship Bleckeder Löwe was completely gutted by fire on the Elbe river at its berth in Bleckede. The damage was assessed to be several 100 000 Euro. No pollution reported. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 29 2008).

100-m German inland water craft Silke, homeport Leer, suffered ballast tank leaks and developed list of 30 degrees in the Sandau harbour in Hamburg on Apr. 27. The vessel was reported to be in danger of sinking, and hence intentionally ran aground. The ship was able to reach a berth at the Kali Quay near the Rethe bridge after 400 tons cargo had been successfully taken off. The water ingress was controlled by the reduced draught after lightering. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 27 2008).

16 April 2008: 0640 UTC: 14:02.0N-050:35.9E: Gulf of Aden -- tanker underway approached and trailed by two, 15-meter long boats. One boat had 3 persons in it & had a yellow hull. The other boat had 5 persons in it and had a white hull. Crew alerted and all anti piracy, preventive measures enforced. Ship took evasive manoeuvres. The two suspicious boats moved away and headed in a southwesterly direction. Ship reported to a coalition warship in the area. When warship arrived in the area, the suspicious boats disappeared.

16 April 2008: 0600 – 1000 LT: 14:26N-050:30E, Gulf of Aden -- 5 speedboats, with 3 persons in each boat, chased a bulk carrier underway. Ship took evasive maneuvers, increased speed & crew mustered. 30 minutes later, the boats retreated & regrouped closer to the mother vessel 10 nm on a parallel course. 4 hours later, the boats moved away.

15 April 2008: 0600 UTC: 14:35.8N - 050:55.7E, Gulf of Aden. Three speedboats approached a LPG tanker underway -- boats crossed bow of tanker several times. Master altered course & contacted coalition warship in the vicinity. After 5 minutes the boats moved away & stopped 2.5nm from the tanker.

14 April 2008: 1622 UTC: 15:17N - 052:23E, Gulf of Aden. Four speedboats approached a tanker underway. At 3nm master altered course and the boats moved away.

14 April 2008: 0340 LT: Lagos anchorage, Nigeria -- 5 pirates armed with knives boarded bulk carrier at anchor -- took hostage one duty crew, tied his hands & feet and injured another crew. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Upon hearing the alarm, robbers escaped in their motor boat.

21 April 2008: 0110 UTC: 13:00N-049:07E: Gulf of Aden -- 5 pirate speedboats chased & opened fire on a VLCC tanker underway, in ballast. Vessel increased speed & enforced anti piracy preventive measures. Speedboats aborted the attack after 30 minutes & disappeared. Some damage to Hull. No injuries to crew

16 April 2008: 0630 LT: Posn: 6:01:9S - 106:53.8E, Tanjung Priok, Indonesia. Ships crew, on a general cargo vessel, noticed pirates on board just after anchoring. The robbers had broken into the safety equipment locker and had stolen ship stores. When challenged, the robbers jumped over board and escaped. No injuries to crew.

11 April 2008: 1550 UTC: 14:31.1N - 120:50.3E, Manila Bay, Philippines. Three pirates armed with knives boarded an anchored general cargo ship via the anchor cable & breaking the hawse pipe cover securing. Two-duty crew saw the robbers & raised alarm. Robbers succeeded in escaping with ships stores and property.

85-m German inland cargo M/V Vivarium collided with Weser ferry Rönnebeck at Bremen-Blumenthal on Apr. 24 at 2100LT. The Rönnebeck suffered a large gash in the hull. No injuries reported, but preliminary damage estimates exceed 100,000 Euro. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 26 2008).

80-m Antigua -Barbuda-flagged cargo M/V Lianne (IMO 9422275), homeport St. John's, ran aground at Brakel on Apr. 24. The pusher tug Flumar was soon on scene and refloated the ship. The vessel proceeded to Nijmegen after being freed. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 26 2008).

86-m, 1,392-ts Dutch tanker M/V Liburna, homeport Moerdijk, ran aground on the Rhine between Bingen and St. Goar on Apr. 13. The vessel was ultimately freed with the assistance of tugs and container M/V Nova. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 26 2008).

Dutch inland craft Isabelle, with 6 aboard, allided with a high voltage cable spanning the Saar River at km 66.8 on Apr 22 at 0607LT. A short circuit caused an automatic closure of the cable network. The Saar traffic had to be closed until the evening due to repair works on the cables. No one was hurt when a flash lit the scene of the allision. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 26 2008).

375-ts 1983-built German Navy speedboat Nerz, with 35 crew, was damaged in a storm off Wales on Apr. 18. 3-meter waves caused an anchor to break loose and tear a gash into the hull which caused water ingress. The crew managed to reach the port of Milford Haven, where temporary repairs will be undertaken. The ship is expected back in its homeport Warnemuende on May 8. No injuries reported. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 26 2008).

Single-hull inland tanker M/V Luka, Hamburg to Magdeburg with 1,227 tons heating oil, ran aground at Gnevsdorf, Prignitz, on the Elbe river at km 438 on Apr. 20. Initial refloating efforts were unsuccessful. The vessel was ultimately freed only after 500 tons of cargo were lightered. The vessel will be drydocked for inspection at Magdeburg. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 26 2008).

Inland tanker M/V Energie caught fire at Govert van Wijnkade in Maassluis, Netherlands, while berthed on Apr 22. The fire brigade was able to quickly get the fire under control. No injuries reported. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 26 2008).

N150,053-gt, 264,457-dwt, 332-m Japanese oil tanker VLCC Takayama (IMO 9052343), with crew of 23, was attacked by a small pirate ship with weapons reported to be rocket launchers off the coasts of Somalia and Yemen on Apr. 21. The vessel sustained damage but was able to continue its voyage. The attack occurred in international waters some 440 kilometres (275 miles) east of the Yemeni port of Aden. The tanker increased speed and managed to prevent the pirates from boarding and taking control of the oil tanker. The tanker was on its way to the Saudi port of Yanbu in the Red Sea after unloading oil at the South Korean port of Ulsan when the attack happened. The tanker diverted to Aden for repairs caused during the incident. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 22 2008).

105-m Belgian inland water craft Tiberias allided with the Vogelheimer Bridge on the Rhein-Herne-Canal on Apr. 18. The roof of the wheelhouse was sheered off. The damage was assessed to be between 20,000 and 40,000 Euro. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 22 2008).

Unidentified 195-ft barge buckled and cracked, becoming partially submerged and shutting down the Miami River to vessel traffic over 30-ft on Apr. 20. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 22 2008).

Cargo M/V Herex 4 caught fire while anchored at the Pendik breakwater, Istanbul, Turkey, on Apr. 18 at approximately 1655LT. Rescue boats and tugs were dispatched to the scene and successfully extinguished the fire. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 22 2008).

149.6-m Malta-flagged reefer Electra, built Norway 1984, was in allision with a berthing pier in the East Shore Harbor of Kiel on Apr. 18. The damaged was assessed to be approximately 10,000 Euro, and the vessel was allowed to depart with tug assistance after investigations were completed. The pier will be out of use until repairs have been carried out. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 22 2008).

110-m French river cruise ship Symphonie, with 135 passengers, was in allision with a floating hotel on the Main at Frankfurt in the morning of Apr. 20. No injuries reported. The hotel ship was severely damaged but remained afloat. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 22 2008).

Tug Wilhelmine was in collision when attempting to connect to a container M/V in Hamburg on Apr. 6. The vessel was hit on port side, rudder house and bulwarks were also damaged, and the bulbous bow caused water ingress and damages to the electric installations. The tug will be repaired at Kroeger Yard Rendsburg. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 19 2008).

Two EECV barges sank in Rotterdam-Europort, one on Apr. 11 the other on Apr. 15. One worker was killed and another hospitalized. Dutch waterway authorities are investigating the causes of the sinkings. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 19 2008).

Seal hunting vessel White Bay Challenger, with 7 crew, was struck by ice and took on water faster than the pumps could remove off Newfoundland on Apr. 17. The vessel was under escort by the Canadian Coast Guard ship Ann Harvey at the time of the incident. The seven crew were taken aboard the Ann Harvey which was headed to port in St. Anthony, N.L. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 19 2008).

38-ft F/V Elisabeth Mae took on water and sank approximately 50 miles southeast of Apalachicola, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico in the morning of Apr 17. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala. launched HU-25 Falcon rescue jet. Coast Guard cutter Seahawk, HU-Falcon rescue jet and Jayhawk rescue helicopter deployed. The Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew rescued two of the survivors from a life raft and the third survivor clinging to a cooler in the water without a life jacket. No injuries were reported and they were transported to the Apalachicola Airport. The Coast Guard Cutter Stingray conducted a safety inspection on the Elizabeth Mae in early February and noted a discrepancy that the vessel had no life raft onboard. The acknowledgment of this discrepancy may have saved the lives of F/V Elisabeth Mae's crewmembers. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 19 2008).

Twin-hulled passenger M/V Hardangerprins of Bergen-Nordhordaland Rutelag was in collision with tanker Sotraoil of Bergen Tankers AS near Damsgård, Norway, on Apr. 17. M/V Hardangerprins was able to proceed with own power and berthed at the Skjøndal Slip at Damsgård. The police undertook routine drug testing on board Sotraoil after the collision. The Sotraoil suffered only minor damage. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 19 2008).

Pusher tug Scaldis, with barge, ran aground in the Western Outer harbor of Terneuzen, Netherlands, on Apr. 17. The tug was able to refloat itself under own power. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 19 2008).

06 April 2008: 2000 UTC: 05:17.7N – 004:43.03E: Nigeria. An unlit speedboat approached a tanker from the stern. Alarm raised & SSAS alarm activated. The speedboat Fired warning shots from automatic weapons and left. No injuries to crew or any damage to ship suffered.

13 Aprl 2008: 0205 LT: 03:13N – 105:26E, Off Pulau Mangkai, Indonesia. 12 pirates, in speedboat, armed with guns, swords & iron bars approached bulk carrier underway. Master raised alarm, crew directed fire hoses & SSAS activated. Pirates boarded the ship & stole crew personal belongings, ship's cash and property. After 50 minutes, they left the ship. No injuries to crew except minor bruises. Ships in vicinity alerted.

13 April 2008: 0355 LT: 03:16.18N - 105:26.68E, off Pulau Mangkai, Indonesia. Pirates armed with long knives in speedboat boarded product tanker underway. They stole crew personal belongings and ship's property and escaped. No injuries.

12 April 2008: 0511 UTC: 14:33.6N - 050:32.2E, Gulf of Aden. Two suspicious crafts doing 17 knots approached container ship underway. Master took evasive maneuvers and increased speed to outrun the crafts. Both crafts had 6 to 7 persons onboard. No weapons sighted. Several other small boats in vicinity; however, there was no indication that these boats were associated with the two suspect crafts.

09 April 2008: 1720 UTC: 13:57.5N – 051:13.1E: Gulf of Aden. A general cargo ship, underway, noticed a target on radar at range of 6nm. When 4nm off, the boat switched off her lights altered course and headed towards the general cargo ship. As the ship altered course to increase the CPA, the suspicious boat kept altering course to get closer to general cargo ship underway. Ship switched off navigation & other lights to take cover in the darkness. At a range of 2nm, the boat aborted. At a distance of 6nm the ship switched on it’s navigational lights and resumed her original course.

08 April 2008: 0247 LT: Dar es Salaam anchorage no. 6, Tanzania. Anti piracy watchman sighted pirate near the boson store, on container ship at anchor. On sighting watchman, the robber jumped overboard and escaped in a waiting boat. Alarm raised. Investigations indicated duty watch keepers had abandoned their stations to look into a noise they had heard, allowing the robber to access the ship unnoticed. Ship’s stores were found stolen.

08 April 2008: 0700UTC: 14:30N-051:52E: Gulf of Aden. Suspicious boats approached & circled a tanker underway 3 times in 20 minutes. At first, one boat circled the vessel. In the 2nd and third instance, four boats circled the vessel. Master increased speed, took evasive maneuvers & enforced effective measures to prevent suspicious boats from closing in.

07.April.2008: 0900 LT: 15:06N-052:55E: Gulf of Aden. Fishing boat approached a vessel underway -- boats showed white flags & asked for food. Ship activated fire hoses. After 30 minutes, the boats left.

01 April 2008: 14:30N – 049:10E:75nm South of Mukalla port: Gulf of Aden. Pirates armed with guns attacked and hijacked a fishing vessel and sailed into Somali territorial waters. Fishing vessel and its 34 crew released when a military helicopter intervened.

31 March 2008: 12:10N-052:10E: Abd Al-Kuri Island, Gulf of Aden. Pirates armed with guns attacked and boarded fishing vessel -- shot & injured Master on his left shoulder, stole 3 zodiac boats and escaped into Somali waters.

90-ft ferry Golden Sunshine ran aground near Liberty Island on Apr. 14 at 1130LT. The vessel was towed into deeper water by a U.S. Park Police vessel. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

Container vessel CSCL Ningbo allided with moored container vessel Vecchio Bridge at the Garden City Terminal in Savannah, GA, on Apr. 13. Both vessels were quickly secured to the dock and only minor damage was sustained to both vessels. There were no injuries or impacts to the Savannah River or surrounding environment. Both vessels have been inspected by the Coast Guard as well as their Classification Society and found to be seaworthy. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

260-ft tug Petaluma with barge of sand allided with 34-ft moored F/V at Haystack Landing in the Petaluma River, San Francisco, on Apr. 14 at 0727LT. The F/V sustained a 3-foot hole on the left side of the vessel, but the tug did not report any damage as a result of the allision. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

Norwegian container M/V Tege, owned by Tollpost Globle, allided with a piling of the Tromsø bridge in strong winds on Apr. 16 at 0715LT. The vessel suffered a leak at the bow above the waterline and berthed at Breivika in Tromsø for inspections after the accident. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

Cargo M/V Present, suffered fire while berthed for repairs at Terneuzen, Netherlands on Apr. 15. No injures were reported. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

36-ft vessel White Shark Projects, with 19 crew, capsized half a nautical mile off-shore of Kleinbaai near Gansbaai, South Africa, on Apr. 13. Two people were killed and several others injured. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

Hongkong VLCC Shinyo Sawako collided with Chinese F/V Lurongyn 2177 off Kyushu, Japanese south coast on Apr. 11. The F/V, with 18 aboard, sank within a short time after the collision. 3 people confirmed dead, 13 others missing. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Correspondent Capt Chawla (Thurs. April 17 2008).

43-ft motor yacht No Worries suffered fire east of Treasure Island, San Francisco, on Apr. 12. The three people aboard were picked up without injury by a good Samaritan, but the vessel burned to the waterline and sank. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

Vessel Pursuit, with nine passengers and crew, grounded on rocks off North Cape, New Zealand on Apr. 13. The vessel was safely freed and towed to Houhora Harbour, 80 km north of Kaitaia. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

Cargo M/V Carola caught fire in the harbour of Århus, Denmark, on Apr. 10. The fire brigade controlled the fire and the cargo was not damaged. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 17 2008).

Unidentified Chinese F/V, with 14 crew, collided with another unidentified vessel near Shanghai on Apr. 11 at 0600LT. 10 people reported missing. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 12 2008).

65-ft ferry boat Enduring Freedom collided with 78-ft ferry boat Christopher Columbus in New York Harbor on Apr. 10 at 0710LT. No serious injuries, damage or pollution reported. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sat. April 12 2008).

4 April 2008: Boma anchorage, Democratic Republic of Congo-- pirates boarded a refrigerated cargo ship at anchor -- broke the seal to the cargo compartment and commenced stealing the cargo. Duty watchman noticed some cargo on deck and raised the alarm. On seeing watchman the robbers threatened him however upon seeing crew alertness, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped.

4 April 2008: 0948 UTC: 13:12.84N - 050:14.63E, Gulf of Aden. Ten pirates armed with AK47 guns & RPGs in 2 speedboats attacked a sailing cruise ship S/V Le Ponant underway. Took hostage 30 crew & hijacked the vessel to Somali coast. SSAS activated. Yemen maritime authorities & coalition forces informed. VISIT FEATURE >> "Paradise & Pirates"

2 April 2008: 0500 LT: Chittagong anchorage B, Bangladesh. Pirates boarded container ship at anchor -- broke aft store padlock & stole ship's stores. Port authority & ships in vicinity informed by VHF.

1 April 2008: 1440 LT: Posn: 13:45.81N – 049:18.79E: Gulf of Aden.Three speedboats chased & attacked the tanker underway with automatic weapons and rocket launchers. Master took evasive maneuvers and increased speed. Later, boats moved away. Ship’s funnel & lifeboat were damaged by gunfire/RPG. An hour later, 5 speedboats chased the ship again from various directions. Ship took evasive maneuvers & prevented the boats from closing in. Later the boats moved away. The IMB Piracy Reporting Center communicated with the coalition Navy, the owners and Master of ship to provide assistance as required. One coalition warship was in the vicinity monitoring the five speedboats.

29 March 2008: 1040 LT: 14:12.1N - 050:44.8E, Gulf of Aden. Armed pirates in 3 speedboats attempted to board general cargo ship underway. Master raised alarm, took evasive maneuvers & contacted coalition warship for assistance. After 2 hours the speedboats aborted the attempt.

Unidentified Kenya Wildlife Service patrol boat, with 14 passengers aboard, exploded in the country's northwestern Lake Turkana (f/k/a Lake Rudolf) on Apr. 9. One woman was killed and six others suffered burns. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 10 2008).

176-m Panamanian-flagged merchant ship Sea Venus, with 23 crew, suffered engine room fire approximately 1,900-km east of Cape Cod, Mass. on Apr. 10. A Canadian navy frigate, HMCS Toronto, is on scene monitoring the situation. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 10 2008).

Container M/V Hubstella collided with South Korean chemical tanker World Dynasty just outside Hong Kong waters, near Po Toi Island, in low visibility conditions on Apr. 7. M/V Hubstella was left with a six-meter gash, but sailed into port safely. The World Dynasty suffered no structural damage. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Wed. April 9 2008).

43-ft German-flagged sailboat Born, Washington D.C. to the Zores with five aboard, was demasted in inclement weather approximately 170-miles east of Elizabeth City, N.C., on Apr. 8. A distress signal was received by the Coast Guard at 0640LT, and a C-130 crew was dispatched. The distressed vessel was safely evacuated. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Wed. April 9 2008).

230-ft cruise ship Queen of the West, with 177 people aboard, suffered fire in engine room on the Columbia river. The vessel was evacuated. Three crew members were treated for smoke inhalation, but otherwise no injuries reported. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 8 2008).

Cargo M/V Max, homeport Bratislava, suffered machine failure and ran aground near beacon 11 at the Waterweg at Rotterdam on Apr. 5. The vessel was refloated with assistance of the tug Buizerd and towed to Schiedam. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 8 2008).

Chinese F/V Lujiao Yu capsized after colliding with a 16,000-tonne South Korean cargo ship Panbless off South Korea's southernmost Mara island, on Apr. 7. The cargo vessel rescued two Chinese crew members. Six Chinese sailors remain missing. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 8 2008).

72-m cargo M/V Sveabulk was in allision with a pier in Porsgrunnselva and ran aground on stone blocks on Apr. 8 at 0430LT. The vessel was able to free itself under its own power. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 8 2008).

338-ft Netherlands-flagged freighter Alexandergracht, with cargo of yachts and scrap metal, ran aground in the east passage of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island on Apr. 6. A 41-foot boat crew from Coast Guard Station Castle Hill, R.I., and Coast Guard marine inspectors are currently on scene with the vessel. Commercial tugs Rainbow and Reliance were also on scene. There have not been any reports of damage or pollution from the vessel. The vessel was able to re-float itself at high tide and will now be taken to a safe location in the east passage so that inspectors can check for damage. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 8 2008).

Tug Ramrod, with 4 crew aboard, reported taking on water in the Gulf of Mexico, 90 miles south of Destin, on Apr. 4. The crew moved from the sinking tug to one of the barges being towed. The Coast Guard launched a HU-25 Falcon jet crew from the Aviation Training Center in Mobile and the Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk, home port Carrabelle, Florida. The Seahawk recovered the four crew and transported them safely to St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Florida. The abandoned barges were recovered by the motor vessel Lucky Seven. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 8 2008).

Norwegian car carrier Tagus (IMO 830 9579) allided with the Farnes Bridge in the port of Antwerp in the evening of Apr 6. The bridge could no longer be operated after the allision and will need extensive repairs. The vessel departed Antwerp after inspection, but the bridge is estimated to be out of service for about one year. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 8 2008).

600-dwt bulkcarrier Nyvåg, with crew of 4 and cargo of sand, ran aground at Hjartholm off Sveio, Hordaland, Norway, on Apr. 5 at 0630LT. The vessel ran aground with a speed of 10 knots and suffered damages in the forepeak and the cargo hold. It was unable to refloat under own power. The ship was ultimately freed and berted at Moster harbor, Bømlo for inspections. No injuries reported. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 8 2008).

N 288-ft French luxury cruise ship Le Ponant, with 30 crew and capacity for 64-passengers, was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's coast on Apr. 4. The Le Ponant was next scheduled to carry passengers as part of a 10-day, 7-night trip from Alexandria, Egypt to Valletta, Malta, starting Apr 19. From our Correspondent Leo Cisco (Sun. April 6 2008). VISIT FEATURE >> "Paradise & Pirates"

6,049-ton South Korean cargo M/V Bright Ace, Masan port to Singapore with 6,000 tons steel, collided with an unidentified Chinese fishing boat off South Korea's southern coast early Apr. 5. The Chinese fishing boat, with 7 aboard, sank. Only two sailors reported rescued by M/V Bright Ace so far. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 6 2008).

F/V Matthew Hardy suffered fire off the East Yorkshire coast on Apr. 5. Humber Coastguard lifeboat and a helicopter from RAF Leconfield were dispatched to the scene. A man and a woman were airlifted to safety and taken to hospital, suffering from minor smoke inhalation. The skipper of F/V Matthew Hardy stayed on board while the boat was towed into Grimsby. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 6 2008).

441-ft double-hulled barge with 138-ft tug Yankee, Houston to Tampa with 119,000 barrels fuel oil, ran aground on a sandbar approximately 3 miles west of Egmont Key, Florida. No pollution or injuries reported. Initial refloating efforts were unsuccessful, but success was achieved Apr. 4 after lightering efforts. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 6 2008).

Recreational vessel Sea Weed caught fire in Charleston Harbor, Oregon on Apr. 3. The fire was contained with Coast Guard and fire department assistance. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 6 2008).

Small tender boat operating with tug boat June T capsized as it crossed breaking surf at the entrance to Hagatna Boat Basin, Guam, on Apr. 4. One man reported missing, the other aboard was rescued. The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Guam Police Department, and Guam Fire Department all participated in search and rescue efforts. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 6 2008).

Two barges loaded with concrete structures, underway on the North Elbe with 16.46-m launch vessel Claus, developed list and lost cargo overboard on Apr. 2.The barges remained afloat and could be moored at the "Landungsbrücken" in St. Pauli. The accident site was marked with buoys until the lost cargo was salvaged on Apr 3. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 6 2008).

Tug Ray A Eckstein, with barges, allided with Vicskburg's Hwy. 80 bridge on Apr. 1. One barge with steel coil sank, causing the Mississippi river to briefly close between mile markers 422 and 440 until the wreck was located and determined not to be a navigation hazzard. The U.S. 80 bridge at Vicksburg was struck a week ago today by the Keith Darling, southbound with a load of 30 corn barges. Vicksburg-based Big River Ship Builders & Salvage has been contracted by St. Louis-based AEP River Operations, owner of the Keith Darling, to salvage a barge which sank in that incident. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 6 2008).

Tow boat Salween, with two empty barges, ran aground off Nijmegen, Netherlands, on Apr. 1. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. April 6 2008).

4,807-dwt tanker Tigran Martirosyan, Belize-flagged and built 2006, allided with jetty mole (a breakwater used as a loading pier) at Sheskharis oil terminal, Novorossiysk, Russia, on Apr. 2 at 1859LT. The mole suffered damage and the vessel was anchored for survey and investigation. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Sun. April 6 2008).

28 March 2008: 0200 LT: Posn 22:47.18N – 070:04.63E, Kandla outer anchorage, India -- 3 pirates boarded a tanker at anchor via the main deck. Crew were maintaining anti piracy watches forward & aft. Alarm raised as soon as robbers spotted. On hearing alarm, the robbers escaped in their waiting boat. Investigation revealed ship’s stores stolen. Port authorities were informed.

24 March 2008: 0230 LT: Chittagong TSP jetty, Bangladesh -- pirates armed with long knives boarded a bulk carrier during discharging operations. Fearing injuries, crew on anti piracy watch retreated into accommodation. Within 10 minutes, crew mustered & went forward to investigate. By then, robbers had escaped in waiting boat after stealing ship stores.

Bangladesh Waters -- 62 incidents have been reported since Jan. 2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Most attacks reported at Chittagong anchorages & approaches. Although the number of attacks has fallen recently, the area is still listed as very high risk.

Lagos (Nigeria) -- Pirates are violent & have attacked and robbed vessels/kidnapped crews along the coast and river, at anchorages and ports. A total of 42 incidents have been reported in Nigeria since 08.01.2007 -- 25 attacks alone for Lagos & 7 for Bonny River. Generally be vigilant in other areas in Nigeria.

Somalian waters -- 31 actual & attempted attacks in 2007. Many more attacks unreported. Some pirates are dangerous & would fire their automatic weapons at ships to stop them. Occasionally, they would use their RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) launchers at ships. Pirates believed using “mother vessels” to launch attacks at very far distance from coast. These “mother vessel” able to proceed to very far out to sea to launch smaller boats to attack & hijack passing ships. Eastern & Northeastern coasts are high risk areas for attacks and hijackings. Vessels not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia should keep as far away as possible from the Somali coast, ideally more than 200 NM.

Disabled refrigerator vessel Volga disabled 7.4-nm off Kamui Point, Hokkaido, Japan on Apr. 1. Tug Atlas towed the vessel to Morzh Cove, Aniva Bay. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Thurs. April 3 2008).

303-mt Tug Bulayevo (IMO 8935043), built 1972, suffered fire while dry-docked in Vladivostok Ship repair yard, Russia, on Apr. 2. Two people reported killed. From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko (Thurs. April 3 2008).

42-ft classic wooden sloop yacht Bosun of Forth ran aground off Great Yarmouth, UK on Apr. 2. All three aboard were reported safe and well, and the vessel was towed to Great Yarmouth. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 3 2008).

2,026-gt Latvian-registered cargo vessel Sava Ocean suffered mechanical failure 6 miles northeast of Cape Wrath in the north of Scotland on Apr. 1. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency tug Anglian Prince went to aid the vessel and took it under tow to Ullapool. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 3 2008).

Trawler Leik entangled its propellers in fishing nets off Måløy, Norway on April 1. The rescue boat Halfdan Grieg came to assist and take in tow the disabled ship which was 100 miles west of its position in the Northsea. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. April 3 2008).

88-m Norwegian coaster Advance (IMO 8111910), with 6 crew, suffered water ingress and sank off Penmarch, France, on Mar. 31. All crew were evacuated without injury. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

10 unidentified vessel were reported destroyed in a fire at a boat manufacturing workshop in the Jaddaf area of Dubai on Mar. 29 at 0330LT. It took nine hours to bring the fire under control, and the losses are estimated to be around Dh20 million. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

Taiwan F/V Manqingshun 6, with five crew aboard, sank in Hong Kong waters on Mar. 31. All crew were rescued from life raft by passing mainland vessel Anshengji 2 nearly five hours after their boat sank. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

F/V Quantas took on water near Arran, Scotland, on Mar. 31. Two crew were airlifted off the trawler while the skipper remained on board to monitor pumping efforts. No injuries reported, and the vessel was towed to Campbeltown harbour in Argyll. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

Dutch F/V Yerseke 91 caught fire in the Beatrix Harbour at the Meerpaal Way, Yerseke on Mar. 31. The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported, but the vessel suffered fire and water damage. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

F/V Eynhalla, with two aboard, took on water and capsized off Skye, Scotland on Mar 31. The men were forced to abandon the vessel and were rescued. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

321-ft Coast Guard icebreaker vessel Des Groseilliers was in collision with 177-ft Sea Shepherd Conservation vessel Farley Mowat on Mar. 30. Two separate impacts reported, but no injuries. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

17-m sealing vessel Annie Marie, with seven sealers aboard, took on water and sank off Cape Breton, Canada on Mar. 29. All aboard were rescued without injury by helicopter. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

Sealing vessel L'Acadien II capsized off Cape Breton, Canada, on Mar. 29. Three sealers were reported dead and another missing. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

M/V Cason J. Calloway and M/V American Republic collided in the Straits of Mackinaw on Mar. 28. The Calloway was attempting to clear ice that was impeding the Republic when it sheered the ice and struck the Republic. Both vessels incurred damage to the staboard sides of their forward peaks. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie launched a helicopter out Air Station Traverse City to survey the scene. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

Container ship MSC Lugano, Adelaide to Fremantle, Australia, with 25 crew, caught fire 150 nautical miles off Esperance after catching fire. The fire was extinguished without injuries. Damage remains yet to be ascertained. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

102-m Norway-registered cargo M/V Cometa, with 13 crew, suffered machine problems west of Vigdel and ran aground at Feistein on Mar. 29 at 1310LT. The vessel was towed to Mekjarvik later that evening where it was berthed. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

86-m inland water craft Princess, with 2 crew and cargo of 1,700 tons of gravel, sank at Urk, Netherlands, in the morning of Mar. 29. Both crew were rescued. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Tues. April 1 2008).

Vessel Loss Dispatches For March 2008

23 Mar. 2008: 0055 LT: Tema anchorage, Ghana. Three Pirates boarded a chemical tanker at anchor. Duty crew noticed the robbers. Bridge informed. D/O raised alarm, sounded ship's whistle & crew mustered. Robbers jumped into the water & escaped. Nothing stolen. Port control informed. A security boat came & conducted a full search of the area.

19 Mar. 2008: 0312 UTC: 10:46.8N - 066:44.5E, Arabian Sea --tanker underway detected suspicious boat about 6nm ahead. As the tanker altered to keep clear of the boat, the boat kept altering to remain in front of the vessel. Alarm raised, crew mustered & anti-piracy measures initiated. Master increased speed and crew activated fire hoses. At a distance of 3 cables, boat finally stopped and tanker and moved away. The crew noticed 6 persons onboard the boat.

19 Mar. 2008: 0300 LT: Tanga anchorage, Tanzania. A robber from a fishing boat boarded an anchored container ship. Robber jumped overboard as soon as the anti-piracy crew spotted him. Alarm raised, crew mustered and searched the ship. Nothing stolen. The watch keepers noticed seven more people in the boat.

18 Mar.2008: 0350 UTC: 12:53.2N-050:14.7E: Gulf of Aden. Two speedboats, length 5 meters, with 5 persons in each boat, dressed in camouflage cloths & armed with automatic weapons approached a VLCC in ballast. Master raised alarm, crew alerted, evasive manoeuvres taken & speed increased. Boats fired shots in the air. Later, the boats aborted the attempted boarding. All vessels in the vicinity warned.

17 Mar. 2008: 0230 LT: Enroute Cagbalite, Mituban and Balisen, Polilio Island, Philippines. Passenger vessel with 10 passenger including 5 crew was returning to Polilio Island after discharging her cargo on the mainland. Two passengers who had earlier boarded after asking for a ride to Polilio Island took control of the vessel & shot dead 3 crew including the Capt. The pirates then tied injured crew to the anchor & threw them overboard. The pirates shot the remaining crew and injured them. One of the injured jumped into the sea & is still missing. The other injured crew is recuperating in the hospital. Three other passengers including a child were unharmed. The Coast Guard has mounted a search for the missing and dead crewmembers and the pirates who fled in a motor boat.

29,729-gt, 47,032-dwt China flagged Saga Tucano (IMO 9160803) was in allision with bridge at Antwerp on Mar 23. Both the vessel and bridge sustained damage. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. March 30 2008).

12-m sealing vessel Ancien II, with 6 people aboard, capsized while under tow by Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Sir William Alexander off Cape Breton on Mar. 29. Four men reported dead. The incident is being attributed to the Coast Guard's towing efforts. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. March 30 2008).

An unidentified barge collided with an unidentified yacht on the Tennessee River on Mar. 27 at 2015LT. The yacht sank quickly after the collision, and at least two people reported killed. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. March 30 2008).

23,500-gt, 148-m Bahamas-flagged car carrier Baltic Ace (IMO 9386213), built 2007, was in allision with pier of the Kiel Canal locks in Brunsbuettel, Germany, on Mar. 27. The ship was surveyed and found to have only suffered minor dents to its hull. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. March 30 2008).

2,925-dwt cargo M/V Sabine (IMO 7101891), St. Grenadine flag, reportedly taking on water while berthed in Brunsbuettal on Mar. 27. 400 tons of water were pumped out without significantly changing the ships' draught, and divers have yet been unable to determine the source of the water ingress. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. March 30 2008).

An unidentified passenger boat, with 14 people aboard, capsized in the Sarangani Strait on the southern tip of the Philippines on Mar. 26. Only 1 of the 14 aboard is confirmed survived. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Sun. March 30 2008).

Viking Lines ferry Viking Isabella, with 1,500 passengers and 249 crew, suffered a fire in the bow thruster room after departing from Åbo, Finland on Mar. 27 at 2130LT. The crew successfully extinguished the fire and vessel was able to continue its voyage to Mariehamn and Stockholm. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen