The 'Hebrides' serving on the route Uig.Lochmaddy.Tarbert suffered a technical issue on April 28. As a consequence, the 07:20 a.m. sailing from Lochmaddy departed late at 08:28 a.m. and was due in Uig at 10:13 a.m. Investigations into the technical issue were ongoing. Remaining sailings were liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice.
News
SCOTER
The 'Scoter' was in collision with the bulk carrier 'Marathassa' (IMO :9698862), on Feb 15.02.2025 in Yeosu. Up to now there was no attempt to repair the damaged bow. Photo on April 26 in Leixoes https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3831629?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest:
Holyhead
Damage to Holyhead Port during storm Darragh is feared to be worse than originally thought, and could see ferry services cancelled until after Christmas, resulting in Christmas parcels travelling to and from Ireland being delayed until after the festive season, with people travelling for the festive period also affected. Initally all services were cancelled until Dec 20, but the damage was becoming more apparent as the days went by. Port bosses revealed on Dec 16, that the reported two separate incidents on December 6 and 7 had led to part of the berth structure collapsing and becoming unusable, with underwater inspections of the structural integrity of other berths taking place from Dec 10, after the passing of Darragh. This process was still ongoing. Ferry services will only be permitted to resume once it was sure it would be safe. On Dec 15 the junior minister at the Department of Transport, James Lawless, met his Welsh counterpart Ken Skates. Both met with Stena Line on Dec 16 at 1 p.m. Both ministers were asking for Stena Line to give more accurate and timely updates on the scale of the damage and repairs needed at Holyhead.
Holyhead
Following the allision of the 'Ulöysses', where part of the pier collapsed, the port will remain closed until at least Dec 20. Irish Ferries has redeployed the “James Joyce” to the Rosslare - Pembroke route whilst the “Ulysses” has deviated from the Holyhead route for the first time in history. On Dec 12 the ferry left Dublin on the 4 p.m. service to Cherbourg in place of the“WB Yeats” Meanwhile, the Stena Line have sent the ‘Stena Adventurer' to Fishguard and the ‘Stena Estrid' to Birkenhead.
MARIE CURIE
On the night of April 28, 2025, a medical evacuation of a Spanish passenger was requested from the 'Marie Curie. The SAR helicopter Helimer 204 was mobilized to the ship which wa sailing 45 nautical miles off Punta Anaga. The patient was thoited and ransferred to Tenerife North Airport, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to the University Hospital. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1916752005592240605
ISLAND STAR
On April 17, 2025, the 'Island Star' was detained in Bartin with 21 deficiencies.: 1) Safety of navigation - Charts Expired 2) Safety of navigation - Navigation records Not as required 3) Safety of navigation - Echo sounder Inoperative 4) Safety of navigation - Lights, shapes and sound-signals Not as required 5) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Not updated 6) Safety of navigation - Voyage or passage plan Inoperative 7) Pollution Prevention - Pumping, piping and discharge arrangements Not as required 8)) Pollution Prevention - Ballast Water Management System Not as required 9) Pollution Prevention - Ballast Water Management Plan Not as required 10) Pollution Prevention - Ballast Water Record Book Not as required 11) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm system Inoperative 12) Fire safety - Fire prevention structural integrity Not as required 13) Life saving Appliances - Lifejackets incl provision and disposition Not as required 14) Life saving Appliances - Lifebuoys incl provision and disposition Not as required 15) Certificate & Doc - Fire controll plan - all Not as required 16) Water/Weathertight - Freeboard marks Not as required 17) Water/Weathertight - Railing, gangway, walkway and means for safe passage Not as required 18) Radio communications - SART/AIS-SART Not as required 19) Structural conditions - Closing devices/watertight doors Damaged 20) Certificate & Doc - Oil record book Not as required 21) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on April 23 and left the port en route to Sulina. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
Flensburg
The shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) and the superyacht shipyard Nobiskrug Rendsburg have officially filed for insolvency on Dec 12, 2024, deepening the ongoing crisis for their parent company, Tennor Group, and its owner, Lars Windhorst. District courts in Flensburg and Neumünster have appointed the lawyers Christoph Morgen, Partner, Brinkmann & Partner and Hendrik Gittermann, Partner, REIMER as provisional insolvency administrators. The insolvency filings, submitted to the district courts in Flensburg and Neumünster, follow months of financial instability and reported mismanagement. The bleak reality of the situation became evident on Dec 9, when the SH public utility company threatened to cut off the power supply at the Rendsburg facility due to a lack of payments since Dec 1. No immediate action was taken because the federal police ship 'Neustadt' was still in the drydock for repairs. Workers at both firms are bearing the brunt of the crisis. The shipyards’ financial woes have left around 500 employees in limbo before Christmas, many of whom have already been laid off. At a recent rally in Flensberg, workers' union representatives alleged repeated delays in salary payments, including November wages and Christmas bonuses. Local sources report that Flensburg Works Council chairman Jan Brandt accused Windhorst of lying repeatedly and breaking promises of timely payments. Windhorst has become a target of criticism. He has been accused of mismanagement, poor communication and unfulfilled promises. In recent months, workers, unions and politicians have all demanded his resignation. Schleswig-Holstein’s Economics Minister, Claus Ruhe Madsen, called for Windhorst to face up to his responsibility and sell the shipyards or insolvency would clear the way for new investors. The Tennor Group took over the FSG in 2019, relaunching it as “FSG 2.0” without old debts or new orders. Despite repeated announcements of future projects, they failed to materialise, leaving the shipyard vulnerable. In 2021, FSG acquired the Rendsburg-based yard Nobiskrug as it filed for insolvency, but the acquisition has done little to alleviate the financial strain. In the summer 2024, the situation worsened as the German federal government withdrew a €62 million grant intended for the construction of liquefied gas bunker ships at FSG, citing Tennor’s inability to demonstrate sufficient equity capital. Now, the provisional insolvency administrators are working with the project managers of the RoRo ferry at FSG and the yacht Nobiskrug to resolve both projects. If necessary, the administrators plan to consult with federal and state governments about potential interim financing to bridge construction costs until client acceptance and payment. Meanwhile, they will explore further restructuring strategies for both shipyards. Insolvency pre-financing has also been arranged to secure financial recompense for the 340 workers at the Flensburg site and the 140 employees from the Rendsburg facility. This measure will cover payments through the end of Jan 2025, including the overdue November salaries.
Holyhead
On Dec 12 the divers were still carrying out their inspections on the berth at Holyhead with all the steel columns being checked for any damages under the waterline. Stena was still deeming this an ongoing technical issue- Once the inspections have been finished a decision is made by the relevant teams regarding the chance that the T5 berth can begin operating again and Holyhead Por can once again resume operations.
MARATHASSA
The bulk carrier 'Scoter' (IMO: 990229) was in collision with the 'Marathassa' on Feb 15.02.2025 in Yeosu. Up to now there was no attempt to repair the damaged bow. Photo on April 26 in Leixoes https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3831629?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest:
MSC PROSPERITY II
On April 26, 2025, the 'MSC Prosperity II' suffered an engine failure while transiting south of Kepez in the Dardanelles Strait, en route from Port Said to Yalova. Under the coordination of the Çanakkale Ship Traffic Services Center, the vessel was successfully relocated to ensure the safety of navigation and avoid disruption to maritime traffic. No injuries or pollution were reported. As of April 26 the ship was NUC auf Position 40° 55' N 028° 45' E. Video: https://x.com/i/status/1916078405709136235
Rendsburg
The shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) and the superyacht shipyard Nobiskrug Rendsburg have officially filed for insolvency on Dec 12, 2024, deepening the ongoing crisis for their parent company, Tennor Group, and its owner, Lars Windhorst. District courts in Flensburg and Neumünster have appointed the lawyers Christoph Morgen, Partner, Brinkmann & Partner and Hendrik Gittermann, Partner, REIMER as provisional insolvency administrators. The insolvency filings, submitted to the district courts in Flensburg and Neumünster, follow months of financial instability and reported mismanagement. The bleak reality of the situation became evident on Dec 9, when the SH public utility company threatened to cut off the power supply at the Rendsburg facility due to a lack of payments since Dec 1. No immediate action was taken because the federal police ship 'Neustadt' was still in the drydock for repairs. Workers at both firms are bearing the brunt of the crisis. The shipyards’ financial woes have left around 500 employees in limbo before Christmas, many of whom have already been laid off. At a recent rally in Flensberg, workers' union representatives alleged repeated delays in salary payments, including November wages and Christmas bonuses. Local sources report that Flensburg Works Council chairman Jan Brandt accused Windhorst of lying repeatedly and breaking promises of timely payments. Windhorst has become a target of criticism. He has been accused of mismanagement, poor communication and unfulfilled promises. In recent months, workers, unions and politicians have all demanded his resignation. Schleswig-Holstein’s Economics Minister, Claus Ruhe Madsen, called for Windhorst to face up to his responsibility and sell the shipyards or insolvency would clear the way for new investors. The Tennor Group took over the FSG in 2019, relaunching it as “FSG 2.0” without old debts or new orders. Despite repeated announcements of future projects, they failed to materialise, leaving the shipyard vulnerable. In 2021, FSG acquired the Rendsburg-based yard Nobiskrug as it filed for insolvency, but the acquisition has done little to alleviate the financial strain. In the summer 2024, the situation worsened as the German federal government withdrew a €62 million grant intended for the construction of liquefied gas bunker ships at FSG, citing Tennor’s inability to demonstrate sufficient equity capital. Now, the provisional insolvency administrators are working with the project managers of the RoRo ferry at FSG and the yacht Nobiskrug to resolve both projects. If necessary, the administrators plan to consult with federal and state governments about potential interim financing to bridge construction costs until client acceptance and payment. Meanwhile, they will explore further restructuring strategies for both shipyards. Insolvency pre-financing has also been arranged to secure financial recompense for the 340 workers at the Flensburg site and the 140 employees from the Rendsburg facility. This measure will cover payments through the end of Jan 2025, including the overdue November salaries.
Holyhead
As the 'Stena Adventurer' makes her way to Fishguard on Dec 11, Stena Line has now cancelled sailings to/from Holyhead up until the departure from Dublin on the afternoon of Dec 12. Irish Ferries have, so far, also cancelled all sailings on Dec 11. The port has been closed to SHIP traffic since the weekend when its infrastructure was damaged during the storm when the 'Ulysses' destroyed a dolphin. The port’s management has been surveying and addressing the damage since and it was previously indicated that crossings would be able to resume on Dec 10 from 6 p.m. However, underwater inspections in the port last night were hindered by bad weather, causing the resumption of sailings to be further delayed.