Daily Vessel Casualty, Piracy & News Report

 

 

Edited By Christoph M. Wahner, Esq.

 

 

 

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




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




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




Casualty Reports archive for period 1997- 2009


4 2010 MARITIME LOSSES AROUND THE WORLD ARE BELOW

 

 

 

VESSEL LOSS & NEWS DISPATCHES FOR MARCH 2010

 

23,270-gt Marshall-Islands-flagged tanker M/V Arionas (IMO 538002693), Cyprus to Rotterdam with cargo of kerosene and crew of 20, lost 3 sailors to food poisoning on Mar. 10. French officials have sent a helicopter with two gendarmes and a doctor for a preliminary investigation before the ship reached Le Havre approach in the early morning hours and anchored off the port for more thorough investigations. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

135-m Dutch inland water craft Avalon ran aground on the Rhine at km-mark 372.5 on Mar. 9. Initial refloating efforts unsuccessful. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

259-ft historic vessel Day Peckinpaugh, moored in the Erie Canal Locks, was intentionally flooded by vandals on Mar. 7. Damages are estimated in excess of $10,000. The ship was a familiar site on the canal in Central New York; from the 1950s to the 1990s, it hauled cement from Oswego to Rome. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

949-gt Dutch dredger Heron (IMO 7825527), with crew of 5, took on water 6 miles off St. Anne's Head on Mar. 8. A lifeboat responded to the scene and the vessel was successfully stabilized. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

832-gt vessel I.V.Y. Queen (IMO 8114352), with crew of 12, took on water and sank off the coast of Khorfakkan in the Gulf of Oman on Mar. 6. The crew abandoned ship to life raft and were rescued approximately 2 hours later; they were presented to immigration authorities at Khorfakkan port. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

15,786-gt Chilean-flagged cargo M/V Laurel (IMO 8316352) was pushed hard aground at the Asmar Yard at Talcahuano in Chile as a result of tsunami following earthquake on Feb. 27. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

114,500-gt Italian-flagged cruise ship Costa Pacifica (IMO 9378498) suffered 20-degree list in a severe storm in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Mar. 8. The vessel's visit to Rhodos was cancelled and the vessel proceeded to Limassol where it safely berthed. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

2,208-gt Danish ferry Vesborg (IMO 9107370), with 19 passengers, suffered vehicle (bus) fire 10 minutes after departin Spodsbjerg on Mar. 7. The fire was safely extinguished. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

Unidentified 280-ton F/V, with 15 aboard, sank off South Korea's southern island of Jeju on Mar. 6. 3 people reported killed and 6 others missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

69.69-m Dutch inland water craft Antilope suffered water ingress and reported in danger of sinking at Headammen in Oudega, Netherlands, on Mar. 6. The vessel's cargo was lightered onto a barge and the water ingress was successfully controlled. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

1,505-gt sheerleg Cormorant (IMO 7328073) suffered collapse of 60-m crane at Southampton docks on Mar. 7. No serious injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-3-10]

 

NThe World Peace Foundation reports that piracy off the coast of Somalia is costing the international shipping industry at least $100 million per year. Aside from payments in ransom — estimated at about $110 million over the past two years — there have also been increased transportation and insurance costs, as well as costs related to protecting ships. The report notes that piracy is now “big business” with an estimated 1,500 buccaneers off the coast of Somalia involved in seven syndicates. Piracy attacks increased by around 40 per cent last year with over 1,050 members of crew held hostage, eight killed and 68 injured. [7-3-10]

 

NMaltese merchant vessel M/V Melina I, Ukraine to Paradip, was attacked by pirates in 4 skiffs 200-nm west off Lakshadweep Islands, India, on Mar. 6. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard deployed response teams in response to the vessel's call for assistance. The threat was averted by the time response teams arrived. [7-3-10]

 

NSomali pirates released F/V Thai Union on Mar. 7. The vessel, with crew of 27, was hijacked by 2 pirate skiffs 200-nm north of the Seychelles on Oct. 29. A ransom of $3 million was reportedly paid for the release. [7-3-10]

 

German ferry Störtebeker suffered fire in the port of Waren on Mar. 6. The fire was attributed to arson. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 7-3-10]

 

5,573-gt German research vessel Maria S. Merian (IMO 9274197) was in collision with 20,344-gt Cyprus-flagged roro ferry Pontos (IMO 7718450) on Mar. 5. The vessel remained berthed in the port of Limassol on Mar. 7, with its next research expedition cancelled due to vessel damage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 7-3-10]

 

125-m German inland tanker M/V Saskia Reich ran aground on the Rhine at km-mark 272.5 on Mar. 6. Tanker M/V Eiltank 1 was called to assist and lightered a part of the cargo. M/V Saskia Reich was successfully refloated on Mar. 7. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 7-3-10]

 

5,232-gt St. Vincent-Grenadines-flagged tanker M/V Bitumen Express (IMO 8014344), Kiel to Rotterdam, ran aground on the northern embankment of the Kiel Canal near the Breiholz canal ferry on Mar. 7. Tug Conrad, fortutiously nearby, refloated the vessel, which subsequently safely berthed at Brunsbuettel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 7-3-10]

 

4,174-gt Morocco-flagged ferry Atlas (IMO 7361049), running between Tánger and Algeciras (Cádiz) with 125 passengers, was struck by a large wave in the Gibraltar narrow on Mar. 6. 5 passengers were injured by broken glass when the wave shattered the windows of a forward saloon. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 7-3-10]

 

4,096-gt Malta-flagged cargo M/V Alexandra (IMO 8876340), Iskelesi to Rostov with crew of 13, went adift off Istanbul and was in danger of running aground on Mar. 3. The vessel was safely secured with outside assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 7-3-10]

 

N28 suspected pirates were taken into custody on Mar. 5 by the European Union Naval Force after a handful of failed attacks on fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean, the EU mission said. In the first incident, the mission intercepted the a mother ship and two skiffs early Friday in the southern Indian Ocean between the Seycelles and Mombasa, Kenya. The mission said the suspected pirates were in an area where an earlier attack had occurred. A helicopter from the French warship FS Nivose then tracked the vessels and saw the suspects throwing things overboard, the mission said. When a French team arrived at the scene, it found 11 suspected pirates and "pirate paraphernalia" in the skiffs: a rocket launcher, grappling hooks and several fuel barrels. The forces destroyed the pirate ship and a skiff and took the suspected pirates into custody. The fate of the second skiff was not immediately known. Soon after, pirates tried to attack a French fishing vessel near two other fishing boats. The French fishing vessel collided with the suspected pirates' vessel and sank it, Harbour said. 6 suspected pirates were picked out of the water by the EU force, he said. Later, pirates tried to attack a Spanish fishing vessel; the boat alerted the EU Naval Force, and air and naval units intervened. 11 suspected pirates were taken into custody and were on board the Nivose. An increase in pirate attacks is likely in the next few weeks as the monsoon season is ending and ocean becoming calmer. [6-3-10]

 

Over 30 vessels were reported stuck in ice that formed heavily in the Baltic Sea off the coasts of Sweden and Finland on Mar. 4. The vessels were stranded until the ice was cut away on Mar. 5. Gale force winds prevented ice breakers from clearing the way, according to the Swedish Maritime Administration. There was never any danger for the safety of the vessels. One of the ships, the Viking Line's Amorella, had 943 passengers on board. Two ships, Finnfellow and Amorella, suffered minor collision with one another. The affected vessels reportedly largely ignored warnings about the icy conditions issued by the Swedish Maritime Administration. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 6-3-10]

 

Vessel Cranowgen collided with Svitzer tug Svitzer Ramsey in Milford Haven near Pembroke Dock, UK, on Mar. 4. One crew member of the Cranogwen sustained minor injuries. Both vessels sustained damage, though the Cranowgen was determined unseaworthy while the tug was not. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

10,500-dwt Antigua-Barbuda-flagged cargo M/V Nadja (IMO 9294953) allided with a quay in the Neustädter port in Bremen on Feb. 4. The quay was significantly damaged, the bulkhead dented and torn, the paving buckled. The incident was attributed to technical problems with the vessel's propulsion. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

34,384-gt ferry Amorella (IMO 8601915), with 699 passengers, was in collision with Finnfellow (IMO 9145164) off Nörrtälje, Sweden, on Mar. 4. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

F/V Zhe Xiang Yu 23069 capsized in the East China Sea after having collided with a Republic of Korea cargo ship on Mar. 3. All aboard the F/V reported saved. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

Unidentified boat capsized in Lake Victoria on Mar. 2. 6 people reported drowned. The incident was attributed to bad weather and overloading. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

U.S.A.-flagged 712-ft, 21,291-dwt fully cellular container M/V Horizon Tacoma (IMO 8419154), Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Tacoma, Washington lost propoulsion in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, 3-nm north of Neah Bay, on Mar. 2. The vessel was taken under tow to Tacoma. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Correspondent John Hardiman, 6-3-10]

 

332-m, 276,052-dwt Malaysia-flagged crude oil tanker Hercules (IMO 8614417) suffered explosion during welding work while anchored approximately 3-nm south of Pulau Kukup, Pontian, Malaysia on Mar. 2. Two crewmen reported killed. The vessel had aboard a crew of 24 and 20 contractors at the time. The fire was safely extinguished. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

109.93-m Dutch inland vessel Singa lost 2 cover hatches in heavy winds in the port of Germersheim on or about Mar. 1. The hatch covers were located with sonar and recovered on Mar. 3. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

84.63-m Belgian inland vessel Philadelphia (built 1971 as Maresma 12), with cargo of fertilizer, lost 10 hatch covers in heavy winds on the Rhine at Dormagen, river-km 710, on or about Mar. 1. Initial efforts to recover the hatch covers were unsuccessful. The vessel berthed at Keiulen-Niehl where the wet fertilizer was surveyed. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

Tanker Patriot III, with 644,000 liters of bunker oil, ran aground near Napindan Channel in Taytay, Rizal (Laguna de Bay), Philippines on Mar. 2. No spill reported and lightering efforts were implemented. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-3-10]

 

Cruise ship Louis Majesty, Barcelona to Genoa with 1,350 passengers and 580 crew, was struck by 26-ft waves off northeast Spain on Mar. 3. 2 passengers were killed and 14 others injured after 5 windows in public areas were smashed. The vessel returned to Barcelona. The incident occurred 24 miles off the coast of Cabo de San Sebastian near the Spanish town of Palagrugell. [3-3-10]

 

NDanish warship Absalon, engaged in NATO's counter-piracy efforts, sank a pirate mothership in the Indian Ocean on Feb. 28. The pirates were first evacuated from the vessel. [2-3-10]

 

67-gt Dutch pusher tug Zebulon (IMO 6002897) allided with a quay on the Hartel Canal, Netherlands, on Feb. 26. The incident was attributed to strong currents and wind. The captain was able to free the vessel from the quay and berth the vessel for survey. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

42,929-gt Greek bulk carrier Kesaria (IMO 9418444) went adrift while at anchor in stormy wind gusts in the approach of Terneuzen on or about Mar. 1. The vessel was secured with tug assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

54.82-m, 414-dwt Russian trawler Tobago (IMO 8834005), with crew of 6, suffered fire in Kirkenes, Norway, on Feb. 28. No injuries reported, but the blaze was reported out of control with vessel gutted and listing. The vessel was towed out of Kirkenes by two tugs. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

13,117-gt Finnish roro ferry Global Carrier collided with Marshall Islands-flagged bulkcarrier Ecostar G.O. (IMO: 9386421) outside the port of Oxelösund, Sweden, on Feb. 27. The cargo vessel was berthed at the quay and suffered hull damage and water ingress. The bow of the ferry suffered significant damage as well. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

67-ft shrimp boat Miss Suzanne, with 3 aboard, took on water 50 miles NW of Key West on Feb. 27. Multiple Coast Guard units, air and sea, responded to the scene. The vessel was stablized and taken in tow. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

48-ft F/V Ruth & Gail, with crew of 3, lost power and was pushed up against a jetty near Sesuit Harbor, Massachusetts on Feb. 27. The crew was safely evacuated without injury. The vessel did not appear to be seriously damaged and was expected to be removed by private salvage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

NSingapore-flagged tug Asta (IMO 9622884), hijacked off Malaysia 3 weeks ago, was found off a remote southern Philippine island on or about Feb. 5. The vessel was badged "Roxy 1" but with the same IMO number. The tug was boarded by masked pirates armed with assault rifles and machetes on Feb 6 off Tioman island on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia while en route to Cambodia from Singapore with 12 crew members. 11 Indonesians among the crew were set adrift on a life raft five days later and were rescued near a Malaysian navy post off Borneo island after surviving at sea for 8 days. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

Submarine INS Sindhurakshak suffered fire at naval dockyard in Visakhapatnam city of Andhra Pradesh, India, on Feb. 27. 1 sailor was killed and 2 others were injured. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

47,095-dwt tanker M/V SCF Amur (IMO 9333436), proceeding to Murmansk, Russia in ice convey, was in collision with 74,997-dwt vessel Mari Ugland (IMO 9326885) on or about Mar. 1. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

46-dwt unmanned tug Grifon-4 (IMO 8846424) sank at berth in Obukhovskiy Shiprepair Yard, Russia, on Mar. 1 at 0430LT. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

Romanian inland water craft Dunav, with cargo of corn, took on water and was in danger of sinking at the Hausen lock on the Rhine on Feb. 28. The flooding was controlled and patched and the vessel proceeded on the Main-Donau-Canal towards the Danube river, still with a slight list to port. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-3-10]

 

VESSEL LOSS & NEWS DISPATCHES FOR FEBRUARY 2010

 

NNavios Apollon, seized by Somali pirates on Dec. 28 while enroute from the U.S. to India with crew of 18 and cargo of fertilizer, was released on Feb. 28. All aboard reported safe. An unspecified ransom was air dropped aboard the vessel on Feb. 27.

 

45-m tanker OB SMS 2000 exploded at a dockyard in Musi River, India, on Feb. 25. 2 workers were killed, 6 others seriously injured. The incident was attributed to likely being triggered either by welding or a cigarette. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

3,180-dwt Russian M/V Alexander Tvardovskiy (IMO 9057290) suffered capsized lifeboat on Feb. 24. The vessel was enroute to Antwerp when it anchored in Vivero (Lugo), Atlantic coast of Spain, to shelter from story weather. A lifeboat with 3 crew was lowered to go to shore, which capsized. One crew member reported killed. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

49-ft F/V Ocean Mist was completely destroyed after running aground near the entrance to Nassau Harbor on Feb. 25. The incident was attributed to rough weather. No serious injury reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

529-dwt Russian reefer vessel Senite (IMO 8829177), with crew of 14, ran aground on the rocks in Morzhovaya Buhta Bay, southern tip of Krilyon Peninsula, Sakhalin Island, on Feb. 26 at 0335LT. Salvage tug Atlas was dispatched to assist. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

130-ft schooner American Pride ran aground in the Rainbow Habor in Long Beach, California, on Feb. 25. The U.S. Coast Guard sent an MH-65C Dolphin-helicopter of the Air Station Los Angeles and a 41-ft-boat of the Station Los Angeles-Long Beach. The vessel was refloated with the rising tide. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

54,763-gt Italian-flagged cruise ship Costa Europa (IMO 8407735), with 1,473 passengers, allided with a pier in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on Feb. 26. 3 sailors were killed and 4 tourists injured. Strong winds may have been a factor. The vessel offers 19-day tours, stopping at Dubai, Aden and various ports in Egypt. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Correspondent Charles Emberton, 28-2-10]

 

F/V Chareonchai, with crew of 7, sank off the coast of Koh Juang in the Pattaya Bay, Thailand, on Feb. 24. The crew was in the water for over an hour before being rescued by a Navy boat. The sinking was attributed to overloading of the vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

48-ft Class Act, a Viking Sport Fisherman, suffered fire off Delray Beach, Florida, on Feb. 24. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

45-ft trawler Miranda II suffered fire near the Channel 5 bridge between Craig Key and Fiesta Key, Florida, on Feb. 24. The Coast Guard was on scene. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

1,814-gt Russian tanker M/V Roskem 1 (IMO 8883290) ran aground off Urdyuk Point in Kazakhstan territorial waters in the Caspian Sea, while heaving anchor in ice conditions, on Feb. 21. The vessel was refloated with assistance by icebreaker Kapitan Meitsak. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

2,495-gt Barbados-flagged cargo M/V Leiro (IMO 8017085) caught fire off Flushing on Feb. 25. The ship was moored at the Goesche wharf in Terneuzen, where the fire department was able to tackle the blaze. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

 

167-gt Norwegian trawler Leif Roald (IMO 8406494) suffered machine failure on the Halte Bank 122 miles off Kristiansund on Feb. 22. The vessel was taken in tow toward Smøla. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-2-10]

1,838-gt Antigua-Barbuda flagged cargo M/V Petersburg (IMO 8420103) was in collision with 12,105-gt Panama-flagged tanker M/V Oak Galaxy (IMO 9317195) in the southern Elbe while the former was departing Hamburg and suffered machine failure on Feb. 23. Damage to both vessels reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-2-10]

6,704-gt Antigua-Barbuda flagged cargo M/V Angeln (IMO 9298600), St. Lucia for Barbados with crew of 15, suffered starboard list and sank 2-miles off Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, on Feb. 22. The vessel is owned by Briese-Bereederung in Hamburg and was part of the Miami, Florida-based Bernuth Line. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-2-10]

2,598-gt Norwegian trawler Remøy (IMO 9219094) suffered machine damage in Lomfjord on Feb. 23. The vessel was brought to safe anchor and was later taken in tow. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 24-2-10]

 

Towing vessel Alice I. Hooker, pushing 27 barges, was in allision with the Cairo Bridge on the Ohio River at mile marker 980.4 near Cairo, Illinois, on Feb. 22. 2 empty hopper barges sank as a result of the incident. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-2-10]

Inland container M/V Jero was in collision with a tanker vessel on the Waal between Tiel and Echteld on Feb. 22. Both vessels suffered severe bow damage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-2-10]

21.71-m, 205-gt Norwegian trawler Veagutt (IMO 8870061), with crew of 4, ran aground northeast of Gjerøy on Feb. 22. The vessel was refloated with tug assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-2-10]

Ferry boat Gitanjali, Mumbai to Mora with approximately 60 passengers, struck a wreck near Butcher Island on Feb. 21. The vessel took on water but all aboard were safely rescued. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-2-10]

 

Showboat Becky Thatcher sank on the Ohio River in Pittsburgh on Feb. 20. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-2-10]

29.75-m, 98-gt Comores-flagged cargo M/V Alborado, Varna in Bulgaria to Zarzis in Gurkey with crew of 5, sank approximately 5 miles northeast of the island of Tilos on Feb. 21. All aboard were saved. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-2-10]

109.65-m inland container M/V Veritas (ex-Birgitte I) ran into 2 barges in dense fog in the port of Rotterdam on Feb. 21. Both barges and the ship were damaged. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 23-2-10]

 

Hong Kong-based firm Fleet Management was ordered to pay US$10 million on Feb. 19 for its role in the Cosco Busan spill which dumped 53,000 gallons of bunker fuel into the San Francisco Bay. The 902-ft container vessel struck the Bay Bridge on 7 Nov. 2007, leading to the biggest Bay Area spill in 20 years. Fleet Management pleaded guilt on 13 August 2009 to criminally violating federal pollution laws and felony obstruction of justice. The firm admitted that after the ship hit the Bay Bridge, it concealed ship records and created false, forged documents intended to influence the Coast Guard's investigation. Those documents included fabricated passage planning checklists and navigational charts that showed fixes not actually recorded. In addition, the firm was convicted of creating false and forged documents at the direction of shore-based supervisors with an intent to deceive the U.S. Coast Guard. As part of the sentence, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston also ordered the shipping firm to institute a compliance plan to heighten training and voyage planning for ships engaged in trade in the United States. The training will include more preparation for masters in command of Fleet's vessels, more classroom and shipboard navigation training, and a thorough navigation plan by Fleet vessels calling in U.S. ports. The sentencing ends the criminal case of the incident, however several civil lawsuits by private fishermen, the city of San Francisco, and the state and federal governments remain pending. Last year, the pilot, Capt. John Cota, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, one year of supervised release and 200 hours of community service. [20-2-10]

73,235-dwt, 5,782-TEU M/V CMA CGM Strauss was in collision with 289-dwt Italian tug Genua while on approach of Genova on Feb. 19. One fuel tank of the Straus reported ruptured with oil pollution as consequence. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 20-2-10]

 

513-gt 3-masted Canadian sailing vessel Concordia, with 64 passengers and crew, sank in high winds off the coast of Brazil on Feb. 18. The vessel had been due in Montevideo on Feb. 23. A Brazilian Air Force plane spotted the rafts from the Concordia floating about 300 miles off the coast of Rio de Janeiro three hours after distress signal. Successful rescue with no injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 20-2-10]

 

Fishing vessel Travis & Natalie, with crew of 4, took on water approximately 69 miles east of Chincoteague, Virginia, on Feb. 18. Coast Guard Cutter Northland responded to the scene as well as air support. The vessel was stablized with Coast Guard assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 20-2-10]

 

4,206-gt Antigua-Barbuda-flagged Dutch cargo M/V Hunzeborg (IMO 9321380) was in collision with 2,848-gt Nemuna (IMO 9179361) in Kvarken on Feb. 18. No injuries and only minor damage reported. Both vessels were underway in a shipping lane at the time of the incident. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 20-2-10]

 

26-m, 55-dwt German sail training vessel Roter Sand, a 2-masted steel ketch built in 1994, suffered water ingress in the City Marina in Hamburg on Feb. 17. The vessel was stablized with the assistance of response teams. The cause of the ingress was unclear. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 20-2-10]

 

92-ft passenger catamaran ferry Nathaniel Bowditch (IMO 8994087) ran aground on Natasket Beach near Pemberton Pier, Massachusetts, on Feb. 17 shortly after 0700LT. The incident was attributing to mechanical steering failure. The passengers were transferred to another vessel and the ferry was returned to service following a Coast Guard inspection. The vessel has a capacity of 149 passengers and is servicing between Salem and Boston. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 20-2-10]

 

N700-ton F/V Win Far 161, seized by Somali pirates last April 4 in the Seychelles region 1,100-km off the coast of Somalia with 30 crew, was released on Feb. 18. The amount of ransom paid, if any, is unknown. The vessel is from Taiwan with a crew from various Asian nationalities. [18-2-10]

 

Princess Cruise parent company Carnival Corp. announced a memorandum of understanding with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build 2 new vessels for the Princess line to debut in spring 2013 and spring 2014. At 139,000 tons, the ships will be the largest ever at Princess Cruises. They'll hold 3,600 passengers at double occupancy. Carnival Corp. says the new Princess ships will cost 558 million euros a piece -- or about $768 million at today's exchange rates. That's slightly more on a per berth basis than Carnival Corp. is paying for the recently ordered Carnival ship, but notably less on a per berth basis than rival Royal Caribbean paid for its recently unveiled Oasis of the Seas. The line currently operates 17 ships in all, including nine Grand Class vessels that range from 109,000 to 116,000 tons. It also operates eight smaller ships that range from 30,200 to 92,000 tons. [18-2-10]

 

Norwegian F/V Fredriksen, with crew of 4, ran aground while entering Kalvåg to deliver its catch on Feb. 17 at 1936LT. Water ingress reported, though the vessel was safely refloated and escorted into port. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-2-10]

 

Several vessels were pushed aground in the Takway Bay off Lagos on Feb. 14, including 663-gt Ghana-flagged coaster Hollgan Star (IMO 6618964), 1,703-gt Cambodian LPG-tanker Arcturus No. 3 (IMO 7326568) tanker M/V Sunshine, 2,907-gt tanker M/V Morlap Trader (7217597), coastal tanker Peni, tanker M/V Odyssey (IMO 6917504) 997-gt tanker F.K. Badmus (IMO 7219088) and cargo M/V Ella L. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) contracted tugs from Port Harcourt which are to pull of the vessels from the beach within the coming four weeks. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 18-2-10]

 

656-ft Panama-flagged cargo M/V Stellar Harvest required helicopter medevac of Filipino crewman 200 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor on Feb. 13 at 0925LT. The victim, Angelo Tomado, 30, reportedly suffered 2 broken arms after falling 16 feet into a cargo hold on Feb. 11. Two Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews responded. [From our correspondent Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis, USCG, 17-2-10]

 

Russian coaster Aviakonstruktor Polikarpov, proceeding in a convoy in the Azov-Don Canal, was pushed aground by ice beyond Canal boundary ib Fev, 16 at 2020LT. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

25-m Brixham trawler Korenbloem (IMO 6825567), with crew of 4, suffered hull breach and water ingress 20 miles south of Start Point, UK, on Feb. 13 at 2100LT. The Coastguard immediately sent the RNLI lifeboat from Salcombe to the scene. The vessel made it ashore under own power with the assistance of 2 pumps. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

90-ft, 160-gt Norwegian trawler Sjøvik VA 122 K caught fire 40 miles south of Kristiansand on Feb. 17 at 0200LT. The crew was evacuated by helicopter. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

3,450-gt Moldavian-flagged cargo M/V Elf (IMO 7715989) ran aground underway to Tartus off Akcansa after dragging anchor on Feb. 16. The unloaded vessel was awaiting weather improvement at the time of the incident. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

13,864-dwt Malta-flagged cargo M/V Magdalena (IMO 8302234), St. Petersburg to Muuga w/o cargo, was in collision with 4,585-dwt Danish cargo M/V SC Nordic off the Finnish coast on Feb. 16 at 1044LT. The Magdalena is operated by Euroafrica Linie Zeglugowe in Poland and has a crew of 22. The SC Nordic is operated by Janus Andersen and Co. A/S and has a crew of 10. The Magdalena berthed with a damaged forepeak in the Bekker Port at Tallinn on Feb 17 at 0900LT. The SC Nordic reached Muuga around the same time with a gash to its ballast tank no. 3. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 17-2-10]

 

Cargo M/V Kabir Jaya XI, with crew of 4, capsized in the Strait of Makassar on Feb. 11. The crew was rescued on Feb. 14 by a local fisherman. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

17,944-gt Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier CS Manatee (IMO 9255189) ran aground in the Houston Channel while departing from the port on Feb. 15. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

498-gt Cambodian cargo vessel Lofty Hope (IMO 8889555) was in collision with 4,105-gt vessel Ty Ever (IMO 9403920) in the Japanes Cammon St. when coming from Yingkou on Feb. 13. Both vessels reportedly suffered only minor damages. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

254-m, 51,035-gt Australian ore carrier River Embley (IMO 8018144), en route from Newcastle, suffered machine room fire on Gledstoun Roads off the Australian coast on Feb. 16. 3 crew members suffered smoke inhalation, 2 were evacuated by helicopter. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

687-gt Turkish cargo M/V Mersin D (IMO 6829733), Bandirma to Kherson, ran aground on the Mola Bank on Feb. 9. The vessel suffered a 20 degree port list by Feb. 13. Water ingress reported. Cargo lightering efforts abandoned due to rough weather. 10 men were evacuated by rescue boat. By Feb. 14 the vessel had a 45 degree list and considered a wreck. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 17-2-10]

 

Cruise ship Carnival Legend, on a 7-day Caribbean cruise out of Tampa, Florida with over 2,100 passengers on board, suffered machine failure on Feb. 13. The vessel was required to proceed under slow speed, returning to its homeport on Feb. 14 7 hours delayed. Speculation is ongoing whether the incident was associated with a sudden pitch suffered by the vessel while leaving Roatan, Honduras, the vessel's prior port of call. [15-2-10]

 

153,000-ton, 4,200-passenger cruise ship Norwegian Epic successfully completed its sea trials on Feb. 14. Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship – the largest in the world not carrying the Royal Caribbean brand – cruised the Atlantic Ocean for four days before returning to the STX Europe shipyard at St. Nazaire, France. A second round of sea trials is slated for April, and if all goes well the vessel will be delivered on June 15. [15-2-10]

 

947-gt Norwegian supply vessel Sea Safety (IMO 7129130) caught fire in the port of Skagen on Feb. 14. The fire was extinguished in 1 hours without report of injury. [15-2-10]

 

40,940-dwt bulk carrier Gina (IMO 8312174) suffered crane collapse in Chittagong on Feb. 9. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-2-10]

 

Cargo M/V Yong An Cheng (IMO 8919532) ran onto a reef while leaving port of Spain Trinidad on Feb. 10. Serious hull damage reported. A pilot was aboard the vessel at the time of the incident. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-2-10]

 

Ferry Raffy Nantes, with approximately 73 aboard, suffered engine failure off the waters of Infanta in Quezon Province, Philippines, on Feb. 12. Passengers were safely evacuated by a Navy boat and the vessel was towed to safety. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-2-10]

 

248-m, 45,647-dwt Panama-flagged container ship MSC Tina, Antwerp to Barcelona, suffered machine failure and grounded in the Westerscheldt near Hansweert on Feb. 12 at 1915LT. The vessel was refloated within 3 hours with tug assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-2-10]

 

4,766-dwt Antigua-Barbuda flagged cargo M/V Angela (IMO 9071076) collided with 5 fishing vessels at St. Malo, France while moving to another pier on Feb. 12. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-2-10]

 

18,747-gt Canadian ferry Spirit of British Columbia (IMO 9015668) suffered engine room explosion and severe damage on Feb. 10. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-2-10]

 

Uelzen-based ice breaker Seewolf suffered water ingress on the Mittelland Canal near Hannover, Germany, on Feb. 13. A rescue response crew was able to control the ingress. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-2-10]

 

45-ft drive boat Tenacity suffered severe fire while tied up at Grotto Bay Hotel in Bermuda on Feb. 11. Three fire engines and 15 fire fighters descended on Grotto Bay in Hamilton Parish to tackle the blaze. They spent more than five hours trying to bring the fire under control. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 14-2-10]

 

56-ft tug boat J.R. Nichols, with crew of 5, sank in the Houston Ship Channel on Feb. 10. 4 people were rescued; 1 person remains missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

12,854-dwt Liberia-flagged container vessel Cape Horn I (IMO 9004229) suffered machine failure off the UK coast, Spurn Hd, North Sea, on Feb. 10. Tugs reportedly dispatched to assist. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

Tanker Sichem Osprey (IMO 9396024), with crew of 16, ran aground at Clipperton Island, Pacific Ocean, 10 17 N 109 12 W, after passing Panama Canal from origin Houston on or about Feb. 10. No immediate report of vessel condition or circumstances. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

Car carrier Trianon (IMO 8520680) was in collision with bulk carrier Brisbane at the Singapore Eastern anchorage on Feb. 7. Damage to both vessels reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

541-dwt Philippines-flagged passenger vessel Maharlika 2 (IMO 8129773), owned and operated by Philharbor Ferries and Port Services, Inc., was struck by 166-gt Philippines-flagged passenger vessel Ocean King 1 (IMO 8627737), owned and operated by Sea Marine Transport, Inc., at the port of Liloan, Southern Leyte, on Feb. 8. The Maharlika 2 had 150 adult passengers aboard, while the Ocean King 1 had 47 adult passengers and 5 infants aboard. Vessel damage but no injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

7,223-dwt German container feeder Sven (IMO 9134139) allided with a quay in the Danish port Fredericia while berthing on Feb. 6. Significant damage to the vessel's bulbous bow reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

687-gt Turkish cargo M/V Mersin D (IMO 6829733), Bandirma for Ukrainian port Herson with crew of 10 and cargo of 949 tons wheat, ran aground at Bandırma Mola Bankında on Feb. 9 at 1530LT. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

998-gt German passenger vessel Funny Girl (IMO 7315569) suffered water ingress in the port of Cuxhaven on Feb. 8. The vessel was taken out of service for drydock repairs. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

Vessel Pengxiang 9, with 14 aboard and registered in the northern port city of Tianjin, was in collision with vessel Jintai 628, in the Zhangjiagang section of the Yangtze River on Feb. 8. The Pengziang sank as a result of the collision. 12 of the 14 people aboard reported missing as of Feb. 9. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

Taiwanese-flagged F/V Hou Chun 11, with crew of 28, suffered fire approximately 50 miles north of Kingman Reef, on Feb. 8. Coats Guard crews from Alaska and Hawaii came to the vessel's aid; all aboard were safely evacuated by Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley. 2 serious burn injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

3,165-dwt Russian-flagged general cargo M/V Volga-Balt 210 (IMO 8230376), 2,893-dwt Russian-flagged general cargo Volgo-Balt 244 (IMO 8230584) and 2,350-dwt Polish-flagged general cargo M/V Osa (IMO 8420086), all part of an ice-convoy of 9 vessels proceeding in Velik-Zalev Bay, Poland, were in "pile up" collision on Jan. 24 after M/V Volgo-Balt 210 got stuck in ice. Damage to all 3 vessels reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

Turkish-flagged tanker Alfa Marmara (IMO 8418241) was in collision with Sierra Leone-flagged general cargo M/V Sun (IMO 7112515) at Kartal Istanbul, Turkey, Marmara Sea, on Feb. 7. Both vessels reported light hull damages above the water line. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

80-m, 8,694-dwt Sierra Leone-flagged cargo M/V Irtysh 1 (IMO 7112515) ran aground on a sandbank in Burgas Bay in the Black Sea after strong winds and waves broke its anchor on Feb. 8. Initial refloating efforts unsuccessful. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-2-10]

 

162-dwt Russian-flagged passenger vessel Alushta (IMO 6726060) suffered fire in Shiprepair yard Krasnaya Kuznitsa, Astrakhan, Volga, on Feb. 9. Vessel reported engulfed in flames. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 13-2-10]

 

34,752-dwt Bahamas-flagged cargo M/V Algoma Discovery (IMO 8505848), Québec City to Norway with cargo of nickel and titanium, suffered engine failure and ran aground 45 minutes after departure on Feb. 9. The vessel was with pilot at the time of the incident. It was refloated the same day with the assistance of the rising tide and 3 tugs. The vessel is operated by Algoma Shipping Inc. Bridgetown, Barbados. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Correspondent Capt. Hubert Desgagnés, 13-2-10]

 

3,296-gt, 666-dwt ferry Isle of Arran (IMO 8219554), with 14 passengers and commercial vehicles, crashed into a pier on the Kintyre Peninsula on Feb. 5 at 0930LT. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-2-10]

 

3,289-dwt Turkish-flagged cargo vessel Murat Hacibekiroglu III (IMO 8127323), Italy to Croatia with cargo of wheat, ran aground in the Adriatic Sea on Mrduja Island, position 43 20 N 16 25 E, on Feb. 7. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-2-10]

 

332-dwt F/V Svyatogor (IMO 8834782) caught fire during welding work in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy on Feb. 8. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-2-10]

 

49.93-m inland tanker M/V Imke (built 1958 as Esso Nederland 66) caught fire in the outer harbour of South-Shiedam, Netherlands, in the evening of Feb. 5. Fire rescue was dispatched to extinguish the flames. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-2-10]

 

9,131-gt M/V Linda (IMO 9354325), Rotterdam to St. Petersburg, lost 3 containers between Oeland and northern Gotland, position 57 02.6N 017 31.1E, on Feb. 6. The vessel reached St. Petersburg with pilot assistance on Feb. 7 and was berthed in Kronstad at Kotlin Island on Feb. 8. The Swedish Coast Guard issued a navigational warning and searched for the containers, now presumed sunk. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-2-10]

 

37-ft, 1,248-dwt Bermudas-flagged luxury yacht Grand Bleu (IMO 1006829) allided with the Stoer-barrage on its way to an overhaul at the Peters Yard in Wewelsfleth, Germany, on Feb. 7. Both the barrage and the yacht suffered minor damage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-2-10]

 

1,200-metric ton Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker collided with the stern of whaling vessel Yushin Maru No. 3 on Feb. 6. The Bob Barker suffered a meter long gash. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-2-10]

 

Belgian inland water craft Yona, homeport Brugge and bound from Antwerp to Gent, ran around in the Westerscheldt at buoy 58 on Feb. 5. Lightering efforts facilitated the vessel's re-floating at high tide. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-2-10]

 

734-bulk carrier Voge Trader (IMO 9108269) ran aground at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Habor, Oahu, on Feb. 6. Vessel traffic affected by salvage efforts. The vessel was inbound with a pilot on board at the time. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-2-10]

 

12.62-m Belgian-flagged hyrdographic and topographic survey vessel Geosurveyor II sank in the outer fish harbor of Zeebrugge, Belgium, on Feb. 5. No injuries reported. A salvage company was engaged to raise the vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 6-2-10]

 

255-m former French aircraft carrier Clemenceau suffered fire at a yard on Teesside on Feb. 5. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

77,073-dwt Malta-flagged bulker Clara (IMO 9304083, Johann M.K. Blumenthal GmbH & Co. KG Reederei) was in collision with 7,902-dwt chemical tanker Lucky 7 (9063811, Vesta Shipping Co. Ltd) in the Taiwan Strait on Feb. 2. No serious damages reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

44,875-dwt bulker GO Friendship (IMO 9082958) and 441-dwt ferry Galatasaray (IMO 8604735) collided in Istanbul Strait on Feb. 2. No spill or injury reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

2,550-dwt freighter Evagelismos (IMO 7431105, built 1976) suffered cargo shift and list of 25 deg in Dardanelles on Feb. 3. The vessel was anchored to be secured. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

Cement carrier Orebic (IMO 5018832) ran aground on sand bank off Nevetra river estuary, Adriatic, Croatia, on or about Feb. 5. Tug dispatched; vessel refloating same day without damages anticipated. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

Vessel Soledad II, with 10 aboard, sank in heavy weather in the Chacao Channel, approximately 715 miles south of Santiago, Chile, on Feb 3. 8 people reported missing; 2 bodies recovered. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

Vessel Sunfa 38, carrying sand to Zhuhai with 9 aboard, was in collision with M/V Jinhang 69 and sank in south China's Guangdong Province on Feb. 4. 4 people reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

1,121-gt Dutch ferry Rottum, running between Schiermonnikoog and Lauwersoog with 29 people aboard, ran aground near the Glinder Buoy 11 on Feb. 5. The vessel was refloated the same day with the rising tide. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

110-m Dutch inland container M/V Qinto ran aground in the port of Karlsruher on the Rhine on Feb. 3. Damage to the vessel and breakwater reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

3,828-gt Dutch cargo M/V Sereno (IMO 8917728) suffered oil spill of 500 liters in the Kiel Canal at Holtenau on Feb. 2. Some wild life reported affected. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

50-ft F/V Akash, with crew of 9, reported in distress 286-nm north west off Kochi coast, India, on Feb. 3. The message was relayed by Danish container M/V Albert Maersk. The Coast Guard responded to the scene and took the craft in tow. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

7,736-dwt Panama-flagged cargo M/V El Greco (IMO 7916997) was in collision with 31,900-dwt Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Pax (9412622) in the port of Odessa on Feb. 3. The El Greco suffered bow damage and the Pax suffered damage to the stern above the water line. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

2,391-gt St. Vincent & Grenadines-flagged chemical tanker M/V Athens (IMO 8878764), with crew of 11, was damaged by ice flows in Buzhskiy Liman, Ukraine on Feb. 3. The vessel was holed in the engine room. It is owned by Oceanbulk Maritime S.A. Athens. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

Unidentified ferry and boat collided on the Padma on Mawa-Kawrakandi route, Bangladesh, on Feb. 3. 3 passengers reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

Boat Alam, with 32 laborers aboard, sank in Narayanganj Port, Bangladesh, on Feb. 3. At least 3 drowned and 3 others went missing. 26 managed to swim to shore. The incident was attributed to probable overloading. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 5-2-10]

 

175-ton historic tug Mary Woods 2, built in 1930 and sitting on the White River at Jacksonport State Park in Arkansas, was intentionally sunk by two men over the weekend of Jan. 30. The men are being charged, the vessel is laying on its side in 20 feet of water. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

25-ft tug Minnie Mouse sank at the entrance to the Miami River on Feb. 2. No injury reported. Salvage crews were dispatched to recover the vessel. Vessel traffic was affected. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

 

31,122-gt ferry Oscar Wilde suffered engine room fire shortly after departing Falmouth, Cornwall, on Feb. 2. Vessel and air response teams were dispatched to the vessel. The fire was supressed with damage assessment underway. The vessel had been in dry dock in Falmouth and had no passengers aboard at the time. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

 

116.2-m, 7,311-gt Norwegian ferry Bastø III (IMO 9299408), with capacity for 500 passengers and 212 cars, collided with a quay in Horten on Jan. 28 at 2330LT. Hull damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

 

2,140-gt M/V Svealand (IMO 9390276) ran aground in the port of Andenes, Norway, on Feb. 2. A rescue boat was dispatched to the scene and the vessel was refloated 2 hours later. The vessel was safely berthed at a quay in Andenes where a diver surveyed the hull and found minor damage to hull and propeller. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

 

80.3-m, 768-gt ferry Røsund, running between Suth-Rollnes and Harstad with 15 passengers and 7 cars, allided with a ferry quay at the Stangnes terminal on Feb. 2. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

 

3,990-gt Dutch cargo M/V Nordfjord (IMO 9341732), Bremerhaven to Brake, was in collision with 40,399-gt Marshall-Islands flagged wood chip carrier Ocean Pegasus (IMO 9354507) in the port of Brake on Feb. 1 at 2134LT. The Nordfjord was about to berth when it veered off its course and hit the stern of the Ocean Pegasus which was already berthed at the quay with its starboard foreship. The foremast of the Nordfjord was torn off in the incident. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

 

F/V Wilma K reported aground on the rocks 300 meters east of Mcfarquhars Cave, UK, on Feb. 1. The skipper was recovered by a response lifeboat and air lifted to Raigmore Hospital where the skipper was pronounced dead. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

 

42-ft commercial lobster boat Deduction caught fire in Gouldsboro, Maine, on Feb. 1. The vessel was towed to shore with significant damage but no injuries reported. The fire was attributed to a heater and foul play is not suspected. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-2-10]

 

Swordfish punctured part of an oil loading pipe in Angola, causing a 3-day delay to tanker shipments of Girassol crude, according to traders reports of Feb. 2. Force majeure was declared by French Oil company Total TOTF.PA, which operates the crude stream, but was lifted on Feb. 1. [From our Correspondent Vaughan Loucks, 3-2-10]

 

A seaman fell overboard when he was on his way to sign on a ship at anchor outside Copenhagen on Feb. 1. He was recovered and brought to a hospital where the man was pronounced dead. [From our Correspondent Per-Åke Kvick, 3-2-10]

 

14,000-dwt North Korean vessel Chong Chon Gang (IMO 7937317) was detained in Oktyabrsk Sea Port, Nikolayev, Ukraine, for illegal / undeclared drugs, spirits, cigarettes and ammunition on board. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 3-2-10]

 

Russian F/V Hosei Maru (IMO 8630459) sank in rough seas in the Japan Sea 12 miles west off Krilyon, Point, Aakhalin Island, on Jan. 31. The crew of 9 was safely evacuated. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 1-2-10]

 

5,257-gt British cargo M/V Seeland (IMO 9301603) was in collision with 5,312-gt Norwegian cargo M/V Remo (IMO 7419365) in the Holtenau locks of the Kiel Canal on Jan. 29. Both vessels sustained minor damages. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

Catamaran pilot boat Fintry Two suffered machine room fire in the Kiel Canal on Jan. 31. The flames were extinguished and vessel taken under tug tow. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

72,637-gt Bermuda-flagged tanker Genmar Companion (IMO 9255933) lost a rescue sloop during an exercise after departure from Rotterdam on Jan. 28. The rescue sloop had become detached from an affirmation point and was punched against the stern of the tanker, suffering severe damage, before going adrift. KNRM rescue boat Jeanine Parqui was dispatched to assist and recovered the sloop and towed it to Berghaven. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

110-m Belgian inland water craft Zagora (ex-Romantica, built 1989), with cargo of fertilizer, ran aground off Waarde on the Valkenisse plate on Jan. 30. The vessel was refloated on Jan. 31 after lightering efforts. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

85-m German inland water craft Heinrich suffered machine failure and collided with the Maas-faced gate of the St. Andries lock on Jan. 31. The vessel's bow suffered damage as well as the gate. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

87-ft sternwheeler riverboat Willamette Queen, with 80 passengers and crew of 8, grounded near Oregon City, Oregon on Jan. 31. The vessel was successfully refloated with tug assistance and moved to Willamette Park in Portland. Coast Guard investigators from Sector Portland will inspect the damage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

76-ft F/V Maria Jo-Ann, with crew of 4, suffered machine failure, went adrift and took on water 17 miles east of Chatham on Jan. 30. A 42-ft rescue boat from Station Chatham, Massachusetts, responded to the scene. Power was ultimately restored to the F/V, which was expected to arrive in Boston on Feb. 1. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

Chinese fast boat Dolphin with 35 people sank near the Aru Islands, eastern Indonesia, in heavy weather on Jan. 27. 8 people confirmed killed and at least 24 reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

F/V AJ Brother sank off Bataan province, Philippines, on Jan. 31. 8 fishermen reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

12,388-dwt tanker Athina grounded in strong winds near Kali Limenes, southeast Crete, on Jan. 22. The vessel has been stranded for a week. 638-gt tug Megas Alexandros is assisting. 1 minor injuries but no spill reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

5,305-dwt Russian M/V Mikhai Somov (IMO 7518202) collided with berth and crane in Arkhangelsk Sea Port on Jan. 22. No vessel damage, spill or injuries reported. The berth and crane sustained damage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-2-10]

 

VESSEL LOSS & NEWS DISPATCHES FOR JANUARY 2010

 

238-m cruise ship Oceanic, built 1965, suffered propulsion problem and collided with a buoy at her starboard bow while departing the Duncan toward the Table Bay on Jan. 29. The pilot and 3 tugs rushed to assist the vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

6,386-dwt passenger ferry New Breeze was in collision with 644-gt ferry Mehmet Resi 11 near Istanbul's Küçükçekmece on Jan. 29. Minor injuries to 2 people reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

70-ft towing vessel Gentry B allided with the U.S. 41 Day Park Hightway Bridge at mile marker 786 on the Ohio River on Jan. 31. 1 injury reported. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic for survey but subsequently reopened. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

Unidentified boat capsized in the Godavari river in West Godavari District of Anhra Pradesh on Jan. 30. At least 10 pilgrims were drowned and 30 others reported missing. Villagers reportedly rescued 40 people. The incident was attributed to overcrowding. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

M/V Al-Marjan, laden with charcoal, caught fire in Mogadishu seaport on Jan. 29. Limited available fire-fighting response made salvage and mitigation prospects grim. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

169-m, 15,955-dwt British-flagged cargo M/V Barmbek (IMO 9313228), Gavle to Antwerp, suffered machine failure in the Kiel canal at Schacht-Audorf on Jan. 29. The vessel dropped anchor until power could be restored. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

110-m, 208-TEU Dutch inland M/V Lahringen allided with the Loenerslootse bridge on the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal on Jan. 28. No injuries but significant damage to vessel reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

118-m, 47,787-dwt Panama-flagged bulk carrier Dingxianghai (IMO 9209219) suffered machine failure off Utsira on Jan. 28. The vessel was under drift toward the coast within 8 miles; the Coast Guard dispatched 3 tugs to assist. The vessel was taken in to and anchored in the Åmøyfjord. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

22.8-m, 95-gt German tug Weser (ex-Wolf, Bugsier 18), home port Bremen, sank in the Weser on Jan. 30. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

32.14-m, 212-gt German ferry Vitte (ex-Amrum, IMO 6814726), servicing between Schaprode and Hiddensee with capacity for 480 passengers, suffered machine damage on Jan. 29. The vessel's sailings have been cancled pending repair. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

Cruise ship Carnival Miracle, with 2,178 passengers and 914 crew, collided with the pier at port Zante, St. Kitts, while berthing on Jan. 28. No injuries but hull damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

4,041-gt cargo ship Rhea (IMO 8403894) ran aground in strong winds on El Rinconcillo beach near Algeciras, Spain, on Jan 27. The vessel was detained by maritime authorities in Algeciras. A port spokesman reported the vessel's master had turned down assistance from a salvage tug as the vessel drifted toward the shoreline. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

Tug Trojan, with approximately 500 gallons of oil on board, sank on the Big Sandy Beach River, Kentucky, at mile 7 on Jan. 28. The vessel is owned by Gate City River Transportation and was built in 1923; it had been out of service for approximately 1 year. Cleanup and salvage efforts are underway. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

43-m, 787-gt Norwegian ferry Fjordkongen (IMO 9328998), Harstad to Tromsø with approximately 100 passengers, suffered collapsed gangway during passenger discharge at Tromsø on Jan. 28 at 1920LT. No injuries reported. The incident is under investigation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

85-m, 3,040-dwt Panama-flagged cargo M/V Carten Maria (IMO 8405878), underway from Antwerp to Aalborg with cargo of salt, ran aground in the Danish Mariager Fjord on Jan. 27. The vessel was refloated and is undergoing survey. No pollution reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 31-1-10]

 

1,984-dwt Panama-flagged bulk carrier Pu Fa (IMO 8221454) was detained in Vostochiniy port on Jan. 29. The vessel was reportedly contaminated with a pest (worm) - a threat to local agriculture. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 31-1-10]

 

87-dwt F/V Chastoozerskoye (IMO 7830777) reportedly holed by ice in the Okhotsk Sea, near south Kuril Islands, on Jan. 29. Coast Guard assistance underway to assist the vessel, reportedly off Lovtsov Point, Kunashir Island. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 31-1-10]

 

2,230-gt Freighter Real (IMO 7130153), Japan to Vladivostok with cargo of cars and crew of 19, suffered machine failure and reported adrift in the Japan Sea 90 miles off Nakhodka on Jan. 29. Tug Naporistiy dispatched to assist. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 31-1-10]

 

Fish factory Vsevolod Sibircev (8610277), with hundreds of crew and workers aboard, suffered machine failure and reported adrift off wester coast of Kamchatka Peninsula, close to Ust-Bolscheretsk, on Jan. 29. Salvage tug Spravedliviy was dispatched to assist and arrived on Jan. 30. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 31-1-10]

 

3,737-dwt MSC M/V Ulus Star ran aground in the Volga-Caspian Channel at km-mark 157.7 on Jan. 26. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-1-10]

 

Cable ship Wave Venture suffered fire in a shipyard in Bauan on Jan. 27. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-1-10]

 

2,901-gt cargo M/V Leeswig (IMO 9139335) was in collision with a F/V off the Isle of Arran on Jan. 27. No injuries reported by the F/V suffered damage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-1-10]

 

N294-dwt Greek VLCC Maran Centaurus arrived off Durban on Jan. 28, having been freed for ransom after being captured by Somali pirates on Nov. 29. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-1-10]

 

90-ft, 506-gt Norwegian trawler Herøyfisk (IMO 9240263) ran aground in the Brønnøy sound on Jan. 27. The vessel was refloated with the assistance of a rescue boat. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 28-1-10]

 

77-gt Danish F/V Ingrid Frich - RI524 became stuck in ice at Zoutkamperlaag on Jan. 26. The rescue boat Gebroeders Loeden assisted in freeing the vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

4,927-gt Antigua-Barbuda flagged bulkcarrer Benita (IMO 9053830) suffered a machine blackout while entering the Northern lock of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbuettel on Jan. 27 at 1400LT. The tug Zeus (IMO 9130729) took the vessel in tow. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

98-gt Comores-flagged M/V Alborada, Varna to Zarzi, suffered engine failure in the Black Sea four miles off the Borsprus approach on Jan. 28. The vessel was taken by tug and towed to anchorage at Büyükdere. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

Farstad Shipping's support vessel Far Grimshader, with crew of 14, collided with the semi-submersible drilling rig Songa Dee at the Marathon Oil-operated Volund field on Jan. 18. No injuries reported. Norway's Petroleum Safety Authority is investigating. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

6,529-dwt Thailand-flagged general cargo M/V Sea Angel (IMO 8421389, built 1985), Malaysia to China, sank in heavy weather in the Taiwan Strait, 20-nm off Yunlin, on Jan. 25 at 1900GMT. The vessel is managed by Sinsimon Nav. Co. Ltd. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

Tug RL Enterkin was in collision with an adrift barge offshore Delray Beach, Florida, on Jan. 25. The tug, owned by Great Lakes Dredge in Oak Brook, Illinois, sustained hull breach and suffered bow flooding. The tug was intentioanlly beached. No damage to the barge was reported; the reason for the barge breaking free from its mooring is yet to be determined. No pollution reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

U.S.-flagged tug Betty, with crew of 5, sank 53 miles north of Jamaica on Jan. 25. Four survivors were hoisted by a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk; one crew member remains unaccounted for. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

Ferry Aurora, with crew of 5 but no passengers, suffered fire near Spectacle Island in Boston on Jan. 20 at 1056LT. The fire was safely extinguished without injury. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

55-ft F/V Alaska Adventure, Petersburg to Juneau with crew of 3, ran aground on Jan. 22. Coast Guard Station Juneau at Point Coke near Holkham Bay responded to the distress call and rescued all aboard. No pollution reported; refloating efforts are underway. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

Tanker M/V Vitamin Gas, which departed Vung Tau, Vietnam on Jan. 23 with crew of 12, ran aground 85-km to the north of Quy Nhon on Jan. 24. The vessel suffered hull breach and was beached on a sandbar in Quy Nhon. Vessel Dai Nam 19 responded to distress call and came to aid. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

M/V Calypso, bound for Panama with 18 people aboard, sank 45-nm off the Carribean port of Cartagena, Colombia, on Jan. 15. 3 people reported rescued, 15 crew unaccounted for. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

70-ft Charleston-based shrimp boat Miss Karyn suffered fire while docked at Shem Creek, South Carolina, on Jan. 23. Significant damage but no injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

98-ft Miami-based commercial passenger vessel Sir Winston, with 7 people aboard, ran aground and took on water in Longboat Pass on Jan. 23. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg launched a 25-ft response boat and rescued all aboard. The vessel was brought safely to a Tampa shipyward on Jan. 24. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

Container M/V Horizon Hunter encountered heavy seas lasting more than 3 days on its way from Los Angeles to Guam, resulting in 6 damaged containers stowed above deck. The vessel, which embarked from Los Angeles, made a stopover in Hawaii to discharge some of the damaged containers which posed a hazard and is scheduled to arrive in Guam on Feb. 3. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

Taiwanese F/V Shun Fu Yu 86, with crew of 12, was rendered disabled and adrift after being struck by a large wave crashing through its wheel house and flooding its engine room approximately 260 miles northwest of Midway on Jan. 25. The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the scene, while the crew was evacuated to the F/V's sister vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 27-1-10]

 

544-ft, 10,208-dwt ro-ro M/V Seaboard Intrepid, built 1980 and in regular liner service from Miami to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, lost 30 containers overboard just south of Key West on Jan. 25. The vessel was outbound but reversed course to Miami to address the casualty. The vessel is enrolled in the U.K. Club and is operated by Seaboard Marine Ltd. in Miami. A HU-25 Falcon aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami was launched to assess the situation. The Coast Guard advises all mariners transiting through the area to proceed with caution and report any container. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Correspondent Hilde E. Krause, 27-1-10]

 

496-gt Turkish tanker Oruç Reis (IMO 6502878), with 7 crew, ran aground near Kilyos on Jan. 19 at 1355LT. The crew was safely evacuated. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

Malta-flagged cargo M/V Piper (IMO 8700072) suffered engine failure and was reportedly in danger of sinking near the northern entrance of the Bosphorus on Jan. 19. The crew managed to repair the engine and the vessel was escorted back to the strait. However, after the engine failed again, the vessel had to be towed to Büyükdere, where it was able to anchor. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

1,532-gt ferry Virak (IMO 7805162), en route to Ibestad, Norway, with approximately 6 cars and an ambulance on board, suffered machine failure and ran aground at Stanges on Jan. 23. The ship was refloated and proceeded to the Hamek Yard in Harstad for surveys by divers which started on Jan 25. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

Malta-flagged cargo M/V Frigg (IMO 8015881), with crew of 10, ran aground west of Veddeholmane in Sula on Jan. 26. The vessel was refloated the same day. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

57-m Norwegian trawler Prestfjord suffered machine damage off the Norwegian coast on Jan. 20. The vessel was towed to Tromsö by a sister vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

Russian cargo M/V Monchegorsk (IMO 9404015) encountered rough weather off the Norwegian coast and had to shelter in the port of Stokmarknes on Jan. 20. After the weather cleared, the vessel reached Rotterdam on Jan. 23. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

129-m, 9,989-dwt Antigua-Barbuda flagged cargo M/V Sloman Trader (IMO 8214396) suffered machine failure on the Weser on Jan. 16. The ship remained berthed in Nordenham on Jan 17. It proceeded further to Bremerhaven on Jan 18. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

Cyprus-flagged Athens (IMO 9393527) suffered machine failure on the Elbe on Jan. 22. After machine power was restored the ship proceeded to Antwerp. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

833-gt German cargo M/V Arngast (IMO 5387740) suffered machine failure off Subbenkammer while underway to Wolgast on Jan. 24. The vessel was taken in tow. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

2,545-gt Dutch cargo M/V Blue Sky (IMO 9195767) suffered machine failure and collided with lock 3 of the Kiel Canal gates in Holtenau on Jan. 16. The gate was significantly damaged and taken out of service. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

Norwegian cargo M/V Ability (IMO 7610048) suffered machine room fire and undertook emergency anchoring off the German Baltic Sea coast on Jan. 24. The vessel had just departed from Rostock bound for the Swedish port Soelvesborg. The fire was safely extinguished by crew and the vessel was taken back to Rostock by tug. No injuries but total destruction of machinery reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

2,300-gt Swedish Coast Guard vessel Triton - KBV 002 (IMO 9380453) suffered machine failure in the Kiel Canal approach while entering the Brunsbuettel locks bound for Visby on Jan. 19. The ship was berthed in the outer harbor of Brunsbuettel for repair and subsequently proceeded to Kiel and further to Sweden. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 26-1-10]

 

19,240-dwt FESCO bulker M/V Ivan Makarin (IMO 8131908) lost propeller blade in the Japan Sea, 90 miles Southeast off Nakhodka, on Jan. 21. The vessel was taken under tow to Vladivostok. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 26-1-10]

 

35,750-dwt bulker Federal Hudson (IMO 9205902) suffered engine room fire while berthed in Riga port, Latvia, on Jan. 23. Fire response teams were able to bring the blaze under control. The vessel is managed by Fednav International Ltd., Canada. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 24-1-10]

 

5,540-mt Russian Navy Auxiliary ship PM-138, enroute Tartous Syria to Sevastopol Navy Base with crew of 88, reported disabled with water ingress in Black Sea on Jan. 23. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 24-1-10]

 

The reintroduction of prison ship has been proposed by British Conservatives (Tories) to address overcrowding. Britain's last floating jail - the HMP The Weare - was sold in 2005 after 8 years holding prisoners off Portland, Dorset. [24-1-10]

 

Louisiana offshore operator Gulf Offshore Logistics announced on Jan. 24 it will order 8 new supply vessels, a $250 million investment, for deepwater oil-and-gas operations. 4 of the new vessels will be 300-ft platform supply vessels built at Thoma-Sea Ship Builders in Lockport. The other 4 will be 220-ft high-speed offshore-service vessels to be constructed at the Gulf Craft shipyward in Patterson. The first deliveries are expected in 2012. The vessels modern diesel-electric engines are designed for efficiency and lower emissions. [24-1-10]

 

NNorth Korean-flagged M/V Napht Al Yemen was attacked by a Somali pirate skiff on Jan. 20. The crew successfully repelled the attack. the USS Porter stopped and boarded the pirate skiff later that day. The incident marked a rare example of the U.S. military aiding North Korea. [24-1-10]

 

240-m tanker Eagle Atome, owned by Malaysian AET Tankers, was in collision with a towing vessel pushing 2 barges near Port Arthur on Jan. 23. The incident resulted in a 4.5-by-2.4-m hole in the tanker near the water line and caused a major crude-oil spill of an estimated 11,000 barrels. An Exxon Mobil spokesman said in an email that the incident involved vessels chartered by Exxon Mobil subsidiary companies. The vessels involved are reported to be in stable condition. A U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said that the ruptured compartment in the tanker held about 80,000 barrels of crude, and the crew was able to transfer 69,000 barrels elsewhere. The Coast Guard said early Jan. 24 that the oil spill had been contained to a two-mile area. Initial reports indicated none of the oil in the Texas spill had affected area marshes or hurt any local wildlife. [24-1-10]

 

84-m, 1,557-dwt, Russian-flagged refrigerator vessel Smolninskiy (IMO 8847131), with crew of 20 and 11 passengers, was disabled in ice, took on water and suffered list of 30 degrees in the Okhotsk Sea, 130 miles off Nogliki, Northern Sakhalin Island, on Jan. 22. A helicopter took passengers from the Smolninsky on Saturday and brought them to Nogliki, Sakhalin. The Spravedlivy tug-boat of reinforced ice class came to the aid of the Smolninsky on Jan. 24. The supply boat Smit Sibu of the Sakhalin Energy Oil Company, that had ensured safety of the Smolninsky for the previous days, was permitted to leave the area of the incident. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 24-1-10]

 

36,000-ton Silver Spirit was christened at Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 21. It is luxury line Silversea Cruises' first new vessel in 8 years. The vessel is designed to hold 540 passengers at double occupancy. The line now has a fleet of 6 vessels. The champagne bottle bounced off the vessel's hull unbroken in the ceremony, but was quickly hoisted up by a crew member and manually smashed against the vessel's side. [21-1-10]

 

Nordic American Tanker Shipping Limited announed on Jan. 21 an underwritten public offering of 4,000,000 common shares. As of this date, Nordic owns or has agreed to acquire 18 modern double-hull Suezmax tankers, including one secondhand vessel which they are expected to take delivery of no later than March 1, 2010 and two newbuildings which they are expected to take delivery of in 2010. The proceeds of the offering announced on Jan. 21, together with other financing sources available to Nordic, are expected to enable the company to make accretive acquisitions, based on present asset prices, of at least 4 additional vessels. [21-1-10]

 

NSomali pirates freed the Maran Centaurus, a Greek-flagged tanker carrying 2 million barrels of oil, for a record ransom on Jan. 17. Witnesses said 4 pirates were killed in a clash between rival groups over the cash dropped onto the vessel's deck. The vessel was seized on Nov. 29 with 28 crew aboard. The ransom was believed to be between $5.5 million and $7 million, officials said. [20-1-10]

 

Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq: EGLE) announced on Jan. 19 that it has taken delivery of the Crane, a 58,000 dwt Supramax dry bulk vessel. The vessel has entered into a nine year time charter. The rate through February 2015 is $18,850 per day; thereafter the contract converts to a profit-sharing charter with a base rate of $18,000 per day. In aggregate, the Crane will contribute approximately $60 million in minimum contracted revenue. [20-1-10]

 

831-ft Exxon tanker Kodiak, with over 25 million gallons crude oil, lost power after leaving Alaska's Prince William Sound on Jan. 17. The failure was attributed to a ream steam generator overheating. Tugboats towed the vessel to safe harbor at Knowles head. Power was transferred to a forward steam generator with an auxiliary generator as a backup, an arrangement that the Coast approved for the ship to sail. The vessel will head to San Francisco to offload its oil, and then proceed to Seattle for permanent repairs. [20-1-10]

 

F/Vs MRS-150-314 and MRS-150-299, between 150-190 dwt, both reported stuck in ice in Okhotsk Sea, Terpenya Bay, Sakhalin Island, on Jan. 14. Sakhalin State Maritime Agency Sakhalin BASU sent salvage vessel Atlas to free them. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 16-1-10]

 

6,033-dwt Panama-flagged tanker M/V Janesia Asphalt VI ran aground while approaching the port of Mangalija on Jan. 15. The vessel was refloated with assistance of 2 tugs. The vessel is operated by Kyoei Kaiun Kaisha Ltd. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-1-10]

 

2,631-gt, 700-dwt Norwegian ferry Vikingen (IMO 903603), with capacity for 104 cars and 399 passengers, ran aground off Grasholmen on Jan. 15. The vesesl is operated by Hardanger Sunnhordlandske D/S A/S. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-1-10]

 

8,106-gt Panama-flagged container M/V MSC Shirley (IMO 8516603) grounded while leaving the port of Conakry, Guinea, on Jan. 14. The vessel was refloated the same day by 2 local tugs and was able to continue her voyage. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-1-10]

 

Wightlink's FastCat Ryde struck the Ryde Pier, Isle of Wight, on Jan. 12. No injuries reported, but vessel damage and disruption to travel between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-1-10]

 

45-ft commercial F/V Helen Virginia, with 4 people aboard, took on water in Tangier Sound on Jan. 14. The vessel made contact with an oyster dredge. The Coast Guard rescued all aboard. After pumping 3,000 gallons of water from the boat, the boat was towed by the Coast Guard to a nearby marina. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-1-10]

 

68-ft racing yacht Cork Clipper, with crew of 16, grounded in the Java Sea 200 miles northeast of Jakarta, near the small Indonesian island of Gosong Mampango, on Jan. 13. The crew abandoned vessel into life rafts for transfer to two nearby sister vessels in the race. The vessels were taking part in the 35,000 mile Clipper Round the World Race, with subject leg being from Western Australia to Singapore. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-1-10]

 

23-m Fraserburgh-registered F/V Lead Us took on water off Fraserburgh on Jan. 13. Aberdeen Coastguard requested the Rescue Helicopter 137 from Lossiemouth to transfer two Coastguard pumps to the vessel, which enabled the vessel to make progress towards Fraserburgh. Two additional Coastguard pumps were transferred to the vesel by the Shetland Coastguard Rescue helicopter. Fraserburgh RNLI all weather lifeboat is on scene with the vessel to escort it into port. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 16-1-10]

 

F/V Zhelingyu 4238 was in collision with cargo vessel Junrong 9 in the East China Sea off the coast of Wenling City, Zhejian Province, on Jan. 13. 1 person reported killed and 4 others missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-1-10]

 

54.92-m, 856-gt Swedish buoytender Baltica (IMO 8010673) ran aground in Sandhamns off Stockholm on Jan. 13. Minor diesel spill reported and divers were engaged to seal the leak. The vessel was able to continue its voyage to be repaired. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-1-10]

 

6,680-gt vessel Lehmann Forester (IMO 9452323) suffered hazardous spill of chemical pentaerythritol tetranitrate, or PETN, at the port in Morehead City, North Carolina on Jan. 12. A 300-yard safety zone was placed around the vessel. The spill (as much as five gallons) prompted officials to close the port and evacuate the surrounding area, which evacuation was later lifted after containment was achieved. The incident was attributed to a forklift operator which punctuered a container and nine drums inside it. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-1-10]

 

7,852-gt Antigua-Barbuda-flagged container M/V BG Dublin (IMO 9328053), Dublin to Cork, lost 7 containers in stormy seas 15 miles south of Tramore in County Waterford, Ireland. The vessel safely berthed in Tivoli, County Cork, on Jan. 12. Response teams are searching for the containers and have located three. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-1-10]

 

422-dwt Cape Verdes-flagged Pentland-ferries vessel Pentalina B (IMO 7009653), St. Margaret in Scotland to Mintendo with no passengers aboard, suffered water ingress 100 miles east of the Isle d’Ouessant on Jan. 12 at 1400LT. Response teams were launched to assist and the vessel was safely towed to Brest Roads for repairs. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 13-1-10]

 

145-m SNCM Lines French Ro-Ro Monte d'Oro, with 157 people aboard, suffered engine failure 4-nm off L'Ile Rousse in Corsica on Jan. 9. The vessel drifted in deeper water where the breakdown was repaired by crew. The vessel was diverted to Bastia and arrived there safely. [From our Correspondent Pierre Llorca, 12-1-10]

 

110-m German inland tanker M/V Eiltank 123 ran aground on the Rhine at river km-445 at Karlsaue when trying to berth on Jan. 11. Vessel traffic was closed but the vessel was ultimately refloated the same day. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 12-1-10]

 

113-ton F/V Yamada Maru No. 2, with crew of 10, went missing and may have capsized off the Goto Islands during heavy weather in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, on Jan. 12. Response teams are searching the region, with a life raft being spotted with no one aboard. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 12-1-10]

 

6,402-gt Danish catamaran speed ferry Villum Clausen (IMO 9216250) encountered rough seas off Bornholm on Jan. 11. Several passengers were injured and hull breaches were reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 12-1-10]

 

Malta-flagged cargo M/V Timberland (IMO 7921954) struck a sea cable with its anchor upon taking shelter during stormy weather off the island of Bornholm, Denmark, on Jan. 9. The incident caused a massive electricity failure on Bornholm. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 12-1-10]

 

45.34-m, 383-gt Danish-flagged cargo M/V Monsunen (IMO 6522593), with crew of 5 and cargo of corn, ran aground at Åstol on Jan 11. Water ingress was reported. Response teams refloated the vessel and escorted to Vallhamn for survey. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 12-1-10]

 

23.85-m, 68-gt Dutch F/V Aleida suffered machine room fire in the port of Bueseum on Jan. 11. The crew of 2 evacuated without injury. The fire was attributed to a defective heater; significant damage reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 12-1-10]

 

443-ft, 9,900-gt Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Sichem Defiance (IMO 9244374), owned by Eitsen Chemical based in India, ruptered a tank while onloading 55,000 barrels of ethanol in Gravesend Bay, New York, on Jan. 10. The vessel master reported that the #3 tank was over-preassurized, causing the rupture and a 1-m section of the main deck to collapse. The vessel has a double hull design and no pollution was reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 12-1-10]

 

35,966-gt Smyril-Line-ferry Norrøna (IMO 9227390) suffered machine room fire shortly after its departure from Esbjerg, Denmark, on Jan. 9. One injury reported, requiring evacuation by Danish Navy helicopter. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 12-1-10]

 

F/V Minshiyu 3785, with 14 people aboard, was in collision with freighter in waters off Putian City in east China's Fujian Province on Jan. 9. 1 person confirmed dead, 11 others missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-1-10]

527-gt Norwegian trawler Kasfjord (IMO 383372) ran aground off Finnsnes a few hours after departing from Tromsø on Jan. 10. The vessel was refloated the same day with tug assistance. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-1-10]

 

87-m, 1,395-dwt St. Vincent-Grenadines-flagged cargo M/V Lenglo (IMO 8223074), Rotterdam to Villagarsia de Aruda north of Lolland, ran aground on a sandbar off Bandholm port, Denmark, on Jan. 9. The vessel was refloated under own power. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 10-1-10]

 

3,850-gt Barbados flagged container M/V ECL Commander (IMO 9143829) suffered water ingress at berth 20 at Lagmannsholmen in Kristiansand, Norway, on Jan. 6. The vessel developed a list and divers were called to patch the leakage and stablize the vessel. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-1-10]

 

88-M, 4,077-gt Malta-flagged cruise ship Clelia II (IMO 8708672) struck rocks while landing at Petermann Island in the Penola Strait on Dec. 26. The incident was attributed to strong currents. Impact by the starboard propeller resulted in the shutdown of the starboard engine and the loss of electrical power. The vessel is being repaired, with Dec. 29 and Jan. 8 departure cruises being cancelled. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-1-10]

 

767-gt Singapore-registered tugboat Ocean Lark (IMO 7312086), with 13 people aboard, sank off Pedra Branca island on Jan. 6. A passing supply vessel rescued 2 people from the tugboat who were aboard a life raft approximately 16-nm east of Pedra Branca island where Singapore operates a lighthouse. 5 people reported dead, 6 others reported missing. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-1-10]

 

Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherds' 78-ft speedboat Ady Gil (ex-Earth Race), with crew of 6, was struck by Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2 on Jan. 6 in a stand off in the Southern Ocean and ultimately sank on Jan. 8. No serious injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-1-10]

 

18,585-dwt Hong Kong registered container M/V APL Columbia (IMO 9108223) suffered fire at Port Botany in Sydney on Jan. 5. 16 crew were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. A cabin and corridor were severely damaged. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-1-10]

 

694-gt Turkish tanker M/V Kirazlı Yali (IMO 7721847), underway from Izmit to Istanbul with crew of 7, ran aground off the Turkish coast on Jan. 3. The vessel was refloated on Jan. 6 with tug assistance under salvage contract. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-1-10]

 

2,854-gt Bahamas-flagged cargo M/V Baltimar Neptune (IMO 8607672), with 11 people aboard, caught fire 40 miles off the Danish Thiested bight on Jan 5. A Sea King helicopter was scrambled but the crew was able to safely extinguish the flames and continue the voyage to Ventspils under own power. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-1-10]

 

24,45-m, 91-gt Dutch trawler Adrianus - OD 7 (IMO 8432390), with crew of 4, ran aground at the Slijkgat on Jan. 5. The vessel was safely towed to deeper water by a KNRM boat. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 8-1-10]

 

115,577-dwt Hong Kong flagged VLCC Pacific Empire ran aground at Aestna, Estonia on Jan. 2. The vessel was successfully refloated with tug assistance on Jan. 3 and anchored at Muuga Roads. Slight damage reported. The vessel was built in 2008 and is operated by the Cido Shipping (Korea) Co. Ltd. in South Korea. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 4-1-10]

 

40-m F/V Andries de Vries - UK 143 (IMO 9021497), with crew of 5, suffered fire 70-km off Terschelling on Jan. 3. As a precaution, 2 crew members were evacuated to Den Helder by two Dutch SAR helicopters. Several vessels responded to the scene and the fire was brought under control. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 4-1-10]

 

60-m F/V Pacific Princess suffered fire at Singapore Technologies Marine's shipyard in Tuas Road on Jan. 2. The vessel was ablaze for over 40 minutes before being brought under control by response teams. No injuries reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-1-10]

 

Irish Naval Service patrol vessel LE Roisin was damaged in severe weather off Kerry coast during a New Year's Eve fishery patrol. The port side of the bow's flaring was reportedly pushed inward. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-1-10]

 

260-m Hong-Kong-flagged CSCL Hamburg grounded in the northern sea between the Sinai coast and Tiran Island on Dec. 31. Water ingress but no pollution reported. The grounding is its second major incident within two years. On the fifth of March 2008 the ship struck the Chinese vessel Lian Hua Feng in the South China Seas, sending four of its containers crashing down on to its bow and damaging the anchors. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-1-10]

 

77-ft F/V Sheila Rene, with crew of 3 and dog, grounded on the Oregon Inlet Bar, North Carolina, on Jan. 2. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City launched a MH-60J Jachawk heilcopter and performed successful air rescue evacuation. The vessel was freed the evening of Jan. 3. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-1-10]

 

F/V Tolirova, with 20 aboard, sank approximately 1,200-nm west of the Chilean coastline on Jan. 1. Falmouth Coastguard sent a distress relay message to all vessels within a 300 nautical mile radius of the fishing vessel's position. F/V Playa Munio Vello ultimately successfully rescued all 20 aboard. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 3-1-10]

 

Tug Pathfinder, scouting for ice along Alaska's oil shipping lanes, ran aground on Bligh Reef on Dec. 23. This is the same reef where Exxon Valdez ran aground 20 years ago. The tugboat captain and second mate have been relieved of duty without pay, according to the tug's operator, Crowley Marine. [1-1-10]

 

2,180-dwt M/V Victor (IMO 7620287, built 1976), Otaru, Japan to Vladivostok, Russia, with crew of 19 and 100 cars, suffered machine failure in stormy weather 40 miles off Olga Bay, Primorye, and reported stranded on Dec. 31. State Salvage Agency Russia ordered to send to distress vessel salvage tug Mashuk, Russian Pacific Navy. [From our Moscow Correspondent Mike Voitenko, 1-1-10]

 

Royal Caribbean cruise ship Monarch of the Sea, Nassau to CocoCay as part of 5-day cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, experienced passenger overboard in the Bahamas on Dec. 31. The passenger reportedly jumped overboard; the U.S. Coast Guard is searching for the passenger.[1-1-10]

 

1,562-gt Cargo M/V RMS Rahm (IMO 9117973) was detained in Husum, Germany, on Dec. 30 after authorities boarded the ship and determined the vessel master to be intoxicated. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

4,400-dwt Gibraltar-flagged cargo M/V Bremer Johanna (IMO 9347085) ran aground on the Nestors ground off Ljusen on Dec. 30. Water ingress and list reported. The vessel was able to refloat under own power on Dec. 31. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

59-m Weser-ferry Bremerhaven, Blexen to Bremerhaven, was in collision with pilot vessel Kapitän Stoehwahse on Dec. 29. Slight damage to the ferry reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

134-99-m Dutch inland water craft Vigilia suffered water ingress and was reportedly near foundering on the Rhine at Rheindorf on Dec. 29. The vessel was dewatered for 8 hours until it could be towed to the port Colonia-Niehl. The flooding was attributed to a faulty computer which caused a box thruster valve to lodge open. The vessel is owned by the Vigilia Shipping BV (M. van Gent) in Ridderkerk. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

British F/V Etoile des Ondes, with crew of 4, sank after being struck by another vessel on Dec. 21. 1 of the 4 crew was killed. British radar indicated the Singapore-flagged ore carrier Alam Pintar (IMO 9296858) to be responsible, having struck the vessel and fled the scene. The ore carrier reached Hamburg on Dec. 22, where damage to the hull confirmed the vessel's involvement. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

Roll-on roll-off M/V Torrijos, with at least 223 passengers, ran aground amidst heavy weather approximately 1 mile from the Buyabod port in Santa Cruz, Marinduque, on Dec. 31. No injuries reported; all passengers were taken to safety at the Buyabod Port. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

Cargo M/V Nam Yang, with load of magnetite and 22 aboard, capsized off Cagayan province, 6-nm off Taggat Norte in Claveria Town, on Dec. 31. The incident was attributed to load shift. 1 person injured, no fatalities reported. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

199-ton Roll-on, roll-off M/V Baleno-9, owned by Besta Shipping Lines, Inc., sank with 123 passengers off Verde Island in Batangas on Dec. 26. 6 people confirmed dead, 44 reported missing. The vessel was reportedly only designed for use in inland waters and numerous safety violations have already been reportedly identified. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

Cargo M/V Chipolobrok suffered fire in the Houston Ship Channel at Dock 21 on Dec. 31. The fire was attributed to welding. No injuries or pollution reported. The vessel did not suffer serious damage and remains seaworthy. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

290-ft cargo M/V El Rama suffered engine room fire while docked on the Miami River, near Northwest 31st Avenue and South River Drive, on Dec. 28. No injuries reported. The fire was attributed to electrical issue and is under investigation. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

22-m trawler Notanda Two hit a reef and took on water at Cape Cuvier, Australia, on Dec. 28. The vessel was safely evacuated and salvage efforts underway. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

200-ft F/V Northern Eagle from Sydney, Nova Scotia, suffered engine room fire off the coast of Labrador on Dec. 25. Nearby vessels provided assistance in extinguishing the flames. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

695-gt Shuttle Ferry 18, serving the Dumaguete-Dapitan route route, ran aground in Dumaguete on Dec. 26. No injuries reported and the vessel was subsequently refloated. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]

 

Venetian Macau's Cotai Jet ferry collided with a Hong Kong F/V near Lantau Island on Dec. 28. One person reported injured. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 1-1-10]