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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

"Make 25 Knots, Then Sit"

M/V Marko Polo - Her Last Voyage?

Feature Date: Nov. 1 2009

Event Date: Oct. 24 2009

Countryman & McDaniel

 The Air & Ocean Logistics- Customs Broker & Hull Attorneys

International Trade Consultants

"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

On The Scene --On The Island of Sit, Croatia

 A 2009 Countryman & McDaniel

Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

UPDATES:

To Nov. 10 2009 - Death Sentence?

Nov. 18 2009 - Crew Indicted & Underwater Photos

Nov. 19 2009 - The Underwater World of M/V Marco Polo

Nov. 20 2009 - She Floats!

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Other Great Disasters of our Time

The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss - Items Below Are Only A Sample

"Meet Me At The Roundabout" - M/V MCS Nikita - Sept. 2009

"Auckward Straddle" - Sept. 2009

"Death of M/V Ioannis N.V." - August 2009

"Big Bunch 'O Black Barges - Beached" - Barge Margaret

"Walvis Wollover" - June 2009

"Pacific Mis-Adventure" - May 2009

"MV Maersk Alabama - 206 Year Deja Vu" - April 2009

"The Retaking of M/V Maersk Alabama" - April 2009

"Miracle At Schiphol" - Flight TK 1951 - March. 2009

"Do Not Chill" - FedEx life with the ATR-42 - March. 2009

"Miracle On The Hudson" - Flight 1549 - Jan. 2009

"The Attack On M/V Zhen Hua 4" - Dec. 2008

"The Taking of MT Biscaglia" - Jan. 2009

"M/V Ciudad de Ushuaia Stuck At The Pole" - Dec. 2008

"The Taking of M/T Sirius Star" - Somalia Pirates Take Supertanker - Stakes Raised - Nov.- Jan. 2008

"Fedra Backs In" - Death of M/V Fedra" - Oct. 2008

"Tank You, From The Somali Pirates" - Somalia - M/V Faina - Sept.- Jan. 2009

"The Death of Hercules" - Nov. 2008

"JAXPORT Jumble" - August 2008

"Callsign Connie: 44 Tragic Days" - July 2008

"Too Little Runway - Too Much Plane" - TACA Flt 390 - June 2008

"Recurring Dream" - M/V Norwegian Dream - May 2008

"Paradise & Pirates" - S/V Le Ponant - April 2008

"The Light At The End of The Tunnel" - M/V Zhen Hua 10 & 23 - Mar. 2008

"Mess At Manzanillo" - M/V CMA CGM Dahlia - Mar. 2008

"Big Battered Banana Boat" - M/V Horncliff - Feb. 2008

"Back To The Beach" - M/V Riverdance - Feb. 2008

"Glider Operations At Heathrow" -- B-777 Crash - Jan. 2008

"Fighting Fires On Mars"- Martin Mars - Dec. 2007

"Steeplechase"- A340 - Nov. 2007

"Explorer Ship Down" - M/V Explorer - Nov. 2007

"Kwanyang Crane Kaboom" - Nov. 2007

"Den Den Done" - M/V Denden - Sept. 2007

"For The "L" of It" - M/V Action Alpha - August 2007

"Stack Attack!" - M/V Ital Florida - July 2007

"Pepito Flores Did Not Need To Die " - OUR INVESTIGATION RESULTS

"Riding Down The Marquis" - M/V Rickmars Dalian - June2007

"Carrying Coal To Newcastle" - M/V Pasha Bulker - June 2007

"Between A Yacht & A Hard Place" M/V Madame Butterfly - May 2007

"Boxing Up The Rhine" M/V Excelsior - April 2007

"Best Worst Laid Plans?" M/V Republica di Genoa - March 2007

"Crack'n On The Sidmouth" - M/V MSC Napoli - Jan. 2007 - Disaster In Real Time

"Full Speed Ahead" - M/V Alva Star - Nov. 2006

"Where The Trade Winds Blew" - Oct. 2006

"Maersk Montevideo Melee!" - M/V Leda Maersk - Oct. 2006

"Laying Down On The Job" - M/V Cougar Ace -- Aug. 2006 -- Amazing !

"Vine Ripened Tires" - M/V Saga Spray -- May 2006 -- Amazing !

"Mis-Fortune" - M/V Hyundai Fortune - March 2006

"Scheldt Snafu!" - M/V Grande Nigeria - Feb. 2006

"A Day A The Beach - M/V APL Panama - Jan. 2006 - OUR EPIC COVERAGE

"NO Rails" - destruction of New Orleans - Dec. 2005

"Singles Only" -- Our One Photo Disasters

These Are Only Examples

"Backhaul !" - for July 2005

"The Boeing Tri-Motor" - for April 2005

"Catch of The Day" - for March 2005

"One Brick Short of A Runway" - for Jan. 2005

"Taichung Tumble" - May 2009

"World's Most Stupid Pirates" - May 2009

"LAX Lunch Deja Vu" - May 2009

M/T Vicuna Explodes - for Jan. 2005

"Unstacked" - overboard & Dr. Beach - Nov. 2004

"Coal Face" - the cargo was danger - July 2004

"Super Loss" - March 2004

"On A Wing & A Prayer" - Jan. 2004

"Stepping In It" - Dec. 2003

"Angel Fire" - Nov. 2003

"Broken Spirit" - M/V Tasman Spirit - Aug. 2003

"Denise & Polargo" - a love story - July 2003

"Columbia River Round Up" - June 2003

"Keel Hualed" - M/V Hual Europe - May 2003

"Thrice Bitten" -- M/V Tricolor - Jan. 2003

"Ramp-Age" - Feb. 2003

"Piñata" - breaking the box - Jan. 2003

"Halifax Hash"--M/V Maersk Carolina - Jan. 2003

"Thar She Blows!" - M/V Hanjin Pennsylvania - Nov. 2002

"T-E-U Bar-Be-Cue" - aftermath of M/V Hanjin Pennsylvania

"Container Pool" - a mystery - May 2002

"Strangers On My Flight" -- by Frank Sinatra - don't blame us - we only report this stuff!

"Dropping In On The Trucker" - it happened again - April 2002

"UNDER Achiever" - tell your friends ! - March 2002

Tell It To The U.S. Marines! - A Symbol of Our Day of Infamy - Sept. 11

Heavy Metal - lifting the un-liftable object - Disaster at Monrovia July 2001

Rail Mate -- an Egyptian rail loss - Tragedy At Ain Sokhna July 2001

Meals: Ready To Explode - Navy container barbecue at Guam! June 2001

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U.S. Navy EP- 3 -- China Hostage Situation - Spring 2001

Attack On USS Cole (DDG-67) - - Dramatic Photos!

M/V OOCL America - Feb. 2000

M/V APL China - world's greatest container disaster - Nov. 1998

M/V New Carissa - the ship that would not die - 1999

M/V Tampa Maersk "on a dock diet"

Hanjin's Bad Stab - Under The Dock At Pusan, Korea - Exclusive Photo!

The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss

 

 

 

"Make 25 Knots, Then Sit"

M/V Marko Polo

On The Scene On The Island of Sit, Croatia

October 24 2009

 

M/V Marko Polo - In Better Days

A Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

The Date: October 24 2009

The Time: 0250 Hrs.

The Place: On The Island of Sit, Croatia

Jadrolinija Is A Croatian Ferry Company Founded In Rijeka, Croatia In 1947.

"Holidays Begin Aboard"

Jadrolinija operates car ferries, both on domestic local & coastal routes to the islands on the Croatian coast, as well as some ferry routes to and from Italy.

Jadrolinija operates 33 ferries, 5 catamarans, 1 hydrofoil and some classics sailing ships.

M/V Marko Polo (1988 - ), ex-Peter Wessel 3 (1973 - 1984), ex-Zeeland (1984), ex-Stena Nordica (1984 -1988)

Above, M/V Marko Polo Opens Her Bow To Take On Passengers & Vehicles At Rijeka, The Principal Seaport of Croatia.

M/V Marko Polo Serves Both Local Commerce & Delightful Tourist Transit.

M/V Marko Polo's Regular Route Is From Rijeka, Croatia &endash; To Split, Croatia &endash; To Dubrovnik, Croatia &endash; To Bari, Italy.

Remember, "Holidays Begin Aboard" As A Few Cocktails Liven The Spirits of All For The Voyage.

Ferries Operate The Year Round, And Are More Frequent In The Summer Months.

Above,128 Meter M/V Marko Polo Departs On Her Run


There Appears To Be A Tug Workig At The Stern of M/V Marko Polo. Could There Be A Problem?

Tug M/V Mak Is Pushing At 90 Degress To Vessel, As If To Swing The Stern of M/V Marko Polo.

Could There Be A Problem?

QUESTION: Could M/V Marko Polo Be In Some Difficulty?

ANSWER: Yes, Indeed

The Cargo Letter - Oct. 27 2000

128-m ferry Marco Polo, operated by Jadrolinija Rijeka and with 41 passengers and 64 crew, ran aground on the Croatian island of Sit on Oct. 24 at 0250LT. No injuries reported. The accident has been attributed to human error. The vessel was on its regular Rijeka-Split-Dubrovnik-Barin service at the time. [From our Correspondent Capt. Nebojsa Vukalovic, 27-10-09]
128 Meter (420 ft.) M/V Marko Polo Has Made An Unscheduled Stop.

M/V Marko Polo Has Decided To Sit.

M/V Marko Polo Has Hit Sit Island! A 90 Degree Hit At 25 Knots!

None of The 41 Passengers And 64 Crew Were Hurt In The Incident At 2:50 am.

But Many Passengers Were Propelled From Their Beds -- At 25 Knots! Remember, "Holidays Begin Aboard"

M/V Marko Polo First Scraped The Small Balabr Island On Her Starboard Side & Then Crashed Into Sit.

Hard Aground With A Damaged Starboard Screw On The Island of Sit -- A Small Island Located In The Vicinity of Sibenik.

Passengers Arrive Aboard Catamaran M/V Carolina At Port of Biograd On Smaller Jadrolinija, After Evacuation From M/V Marko Polo

An Organized Effort Was Made On Oct. 29 To Discharge Cargo, Including 18 Vehicles

The Bridge Crew Blames Deflection of The Autopilot. Perhaps Srttings From A Prior Voyage Were To Blame

On The Other Hand - Capt.Zdravko Radic, The Duty Office & The Helmsman Are Also Being Substance Tested. The VDR (Voice Data Recorder) Is Under Study.

Above, Tugs M/V Gea & M/V Mak Make Repeated Atempts To Swing The Stern of M/V Marko Polo To Starboard.

Video Clip M/V Marko Polo -- Stranded On The Sit Island In Sibenik archipelago As Broadcasted On NOVA TV &endash; Croatian

M/V Marko Polo Is So Deeply Embedded Into The Shore That The Impact Almost Shattering The Wall of A Nearby Family Home.

For The Scientific Records -- M/V Marko Polo Was Not Able To Move Sit Island.

Full Speed Ahead Does Not Always Promise Safe, On Time Arrival.

Owners of The House, The Family Kovaev -- Iva, Bozidar, Their Son Miro And Friends.

They Are Happy That -- A Few Meters To Starboard -- Did Not Put M/V Marko Polo Into Their Living Room

Hull Cracks Are Reported Along With Water Ingress & Damaged Starboard Screw

Inspectors From The Port Authority View The Consequences of 25 Knots

The Bulbous Bow Is Embedded To A Depth of 15 Meters (45 ft.)

Considering All The Bad Luck For M/V Marko Polo Thus Far -- We Don't Recommend Him Standing Under The Anchor!

Powerful Bow Thrusters On M/V Marko Polo Are of No Use

Efforts Continue To Free M/V Marko Polo

M/V Marko Polo Crew Watch Attemps To Free Thier Vessel

 Tugs M/V Gea & M/V Mak Make Repeated Atempts To Free M/V Marko Polo

After Days of Attempts, It is Estimated M/V Marko Polo Has Been Moved Only 1.5 Meters (4.92 ft.)

Tugs M/V Gea, M/V Lukas & M/V Mak Pull Along With Engines of M/V Marko Polo -- All To No Effect.

Experts From Rotterdam Will Soon Arrive In Croatia To Help Re-float M/V Marko Polo. Salvage Is Declared.

..........To Be Continued

UPDATE - Nov. 3 2009

Reported to us that Capt.Zdravko Radic was a relief master, not the usual route Captain.

UPDATE - Nov. 4 2009

The re-floating of ferry MV Marco Polo that ran aground on Sit Island on 24 October should start tomorrow. Jadrolinija company head Slavko Loncar said all necessary preparations would have been made by then, including the purchase of special equipment for ship re-floating.

Experts from Rotterdam are helping their Croatian colleagues in performing a last analysis of how best to re-float the 128-metre-long ferry.

UPDATE - Nov. 8 2009

According to a report from this morning's Rijecki Novi List newspapers, there is a serious possibility that ferry MV Marko Polo, which is still stranded in Kornati Archipelago, will head for breaker's yard.

Due to high costs of  re-floating of the ferry and relativly low insurance sum that is eventually expected, the future of this ferry will be known on Nov. 9, when decision by Jadrolinija Ferry Company, the owner of the ferry, is expected to follow. How sad.

UPDATE - Nov. 10 2009

According to experts, MV Marko Polo has suffered enormous damage. The Croatian daily "Novi list" has reported that the only sail the ship will have is one to the scrap yard, to which "ships go to die."

According to the daily newspaper, the 36-year old ferryMV Marko Polo is insured for US$4M and its low-budget re-floating will probably cost US$1M.

Experts from Smit Salvage Company in Rotterdam have come to Croatia to help their Croatian colleagues analyse how best to re-float the ferry. Whether Salvage has been declared is unknown.

It seems the re-floating price for MV Marko Polo, including the purchase of special equipment, is the main problem.

On the other hand, ferry owner Jadrolinija head Mr. Slavko Loncar said Nov. 8, MV Marko Polo would not be scrapped and her final status would be known only on 17 Nov.

Editor Note:

Sit Island is fairly remote. We have no updated photos of the loss. We will await the decision of Jadrolinija Lines for the fate of MV Marko Polo -- a vessel with much service life left, ecept for the bridge decisions of October 24 2009. Oh yes, there remain 18 stranded vehicles aboard MV Marko Polo.
McD
November 18 2009 Update

Divers Had A Difficult & Dangerous Task As The Space Between Seabed & Hull Was Only 40 Centimeters Wide.

M/V Marco Polo Has Sustained Major Hull Damage & Loss of Her Screws

UPDATE - Nov. 18 2009 - Crew Indicted

The Sibenik Maritime Safety Inspection Bureau has indicted crew members of the ferry M/V Marco Polo that ran aground on Sit Island on 24 Oct. 2009.

The indictment claims the shipmaster, 2nd deck officer and two helmsmen were guilty of navigation errors. Capt. Zdenko Radic did not navigate the ship on his own as he should have.

Investigators said the ship was in good technical condition but the 128-meter-long ferry ran aground because crew members forgot to change its route in the navigation computer from that of a previous route.

The indictment read:

"Commander Zdenko Radic is responsible for the boat when passing through Rivanj Channel before Nasukavanja and not personally managing the ship, which was his obligation in accordance with the Maritime Code. Another pilot Zeljko Cheung is responsible because he was not on the bridge, although he was in office and therefore obliged to observe the proper course of navigation, and on reports of officers on duty."

Blood & urine tests showed the crew were not under influence of alcohol.

The crew members could be fined between 137 Euros & 4,000 Euros (up to US$6,000) and have their licences suspended for 2 years.

A low budget approach to re-floating will probably cost US$1M -- assuming M/V Marco Polo is to be saved

The Sibenik Port Authority has now handed the case over to the criminal police and State Attorney's office.

 15 Meters of Rough Road May Have Doomed This Proud Liner

330 Tons of Oil Began To Leak -- But Divers Halted Potential Ecological Disaster

Editor Note:

Our current reports to you come from our attempts to translate the Croatian language. While some interpretation was required, be believe these reports accurate
McD
November 19 2009 Update

The Underwater World of M/V Marco Polo

Editor Note:

As promised - here is the current and very sad uderwater world of M/V Marco Polo.

M/V Marco Polo - Hard Aground In The Underwater World.

Smit Salvage Co Must Decide To Rescue Or Salvage. A Million Dollar Decision Is In The Balance.

M/V Marco Polo Rests Hard On The Shelf of Sit Island

The Huge Impact of Oct. 24 Destroyed Her Screws -- M/V Marco Polo Now Has Only A Paddle

But At The End of This Day -- M/V Marco Polo Was Rammed So Far Ashore -- That She May Meet The Breakers

Simple Human Error While in The Context of Routine Tasks Has Brought A Great Lady To Her End

It Apprears That An Erroneous Computer Setting Overcame The Crew Duty of Visual Observation

AGAIN: These Are THe People Who Have Your Cargo. To Ship Without Marine Cargo Insurance -- You Are A Fool

The Cargo Letter - Nov. 20 2009 - SHE FLOATS!

According to the Croation Times, M/V Marco Polo was re-floated free this morning. Ferry owner Jadrolinija paid a reported US$1.15M for the operation.

Two tugs, among them M/V David Prvi from Rijeka, towed the ship to deeper water, thereby continuouly dewatering it. The bulbous bow had partially to be welded off prior to refloating.

The salvage was coordinated by Smit Salvage.

M/V Marco Polo has been anchored not far from the scene of the accident as experts examine damage. It will later be taken to shipyards in Mali Losinj.

The next question is what will become of M/V Marco Polo? When will the 18 vehicles aboard be released?

McD


Shippers Must Have Quality Marine Cargo Insurance ........ Because......... "Ship Happens! ©"

To Repeat -- No Matter How Careful You Are -- Or Who You Hire ....... "Ship Happens! ©"

Get Your "Ship Happens! ©" Gear!

Visit The Cargo Law Ship's Store For Great Industry Gift Ideas!


The Dedication of This Feature Is Simple: To The Crews of M/V Marko Polo and her families.


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by air & sae 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 very dangerous out there.


INDEX TO OUR "Make 25 Knots, Then Sit" PAGE SPECIAL FEATURES:

Important Links To Our Feature:
M/V Marko Polo
On Board M/V Marko Polo

Video Clip M/V Marko Polo -- Stranded On The Sit Island In Sibenik archipelago As Broadcasted On NOVA TV &endash; Croatian

Photo History of The Vessel

Croatia's Islands

Korcula, Croatia - photo credit for several images in this Feature

Our Daily Vessel Casualties - stay informed

"Singles Only" - visit our individual moments of transport crisis for more.

The Greatest Container Losses Of All Time - these are the grand fathers -

M/V OOCL America

M/V APL China

M/V APL Panama - The EPIC

"Great Misfortune"- M/V Hyundai Fortune - March 2006


SPECIAL NOTE: 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 very dangerous out there.

Thanks To Our Contributors For The "Make 25 Knots, Then Sit" Feature

Our Contributor for this feature is greatly appreciated:
Capt. Nebojsa Vukalovic

Jolly Roger

Anonymous Contributors Must Always Remain Anonymous*


NOTE: Please Provide Us With Your Additional Information For This Loss.

EDITOR'S NOTE FOR SURVEYORS, ATTORNEYS & MARINE ADJUSTERS: The Internet edition effort of The Cargo Letter now celebrates it's 8th Year of Service -- making us quite senior in this segment of the industry. We once estimated container underway losses at about 1,500 per year. Lloyd's put that figure at about 10,000 earlier this year. Quite obviously, the reporting mechanism for these massive losses is not supported by the lines. News of these events is not posted to the maritime community. Our new project is to call upon you -- those handling the claims -- to let us know of each container loss at sea-- in confidentiality. Many of you survey on behalf of cargo interests with no need for confidentiality. Others work for the lines & need to be protected. As a respected Int'l publication, The Cargo Letter enjoys full press privileges & cannot be forced to disclose our sources of information. No successful attempt has ever been made. If a personal notation for your report is desired -- each contributor will be given a "hot link" to your company Website in each & every report. Please take moment & report your "overside" containers to us. If you do not wish attribution, your entry will be "anonymous." This will will benefit our industry -- for obvious reasons! McD


* NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% Confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters." Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.  

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