On the evening of March 12,, the Port Authorities of Piraeus, Saronic Gulf, Lavrio, Rafina, Kea and Karystos were informed by the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED) of the Greek Coast Guard Headquarters, that a 61-year-old passenger of the 'Nissos Rhodos' fell over board, while the ferry was sailing in the sea area between Piraeus and Karystos. The ship was operating a route from the port of Piraeus to the ports of Chios and Mytilene at the time of the incident. Immediately, under the coordination of the EKSED. searches were launched to locate the passenger by three patrol boats of the Coast Guard and passing ships, while a Navy helicopter also took off. The searches were continued by four patrol boats, passing ships and supported by a helicopter and a plane of the Coast Guard with negative results so far.
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DONALD M JAMES
On the afternoon of March 11, the 'Donald James' was towed from Bremen to Bremerhaven by the tugs 'VB Pioneer' (IMO: 9190614) and 'Fairplay 31' (IMO: 9416575) without its rudder. The damage occurred when the ship's stern got stuck on the oppsite embankment of the Weser at Hasenbüren while casting off from the Steel Works Bremen in the Weserport on Feb 17, damaging the steering gear. It had arrived on Feb 16, en route from Narvik. On March 12 the ship was docked at the Lloyd Yard in Bremerhaven for repairs of the damage. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y14nlma8rEo
OLAVO BILAC
On March 12, 2025 , at 11.20 p.m., the 'Olavo Bilac', carrying 50,000 tons of fuel oil, lost rudder control while manoeuvring at the port of Santos, near São Paulo, when the ship was leaving the port bound for Angra dos Reis. After the rudder was jammed, the ship first crashed into the quay and then into one of three docked Brazilian Navy patrol boats, the 'Guarajá P-44' and 'Guaporé P-45' of the Grajaú-class) and the 'Maracanã P-72' of the Macaé-class. The tanker suddenly veered to starboard side and first hit the quayside before turning to port while scraping along the pier, pushing one of the patrol boats into the two others from astern. One Navy officer suffered minor injuries and has been treated in hospital, since having been released. The tanker was brought back to the the Alemoa 1 pier with the assistance of tugs. On March 13, the Port Authority inspected the vessel and confirmed a large scrapes and dents at port side at the height of and above the waterline, but no leaks nor signs of an oil spill nor pollution. The pier it hit is controlled by the Brazilian Navy, which was conducting an inspection to determine the extent of the damage. The companies were waiting for permission from the navy to enter the site. The tanker was detained after the accident. The port of Santos remained operational. Reports with video: https://www.twz.com/sea/out-of-control-tanker-plows-into-docked-brazilian-navy-vessels https://www.naval.com.br/blog/2025/03/13/navio-tanque-perde-o-controle-e-atinge-tres-embarcacoes-da-marinha-no-porto-de-santos-sp/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP-PT57XhsY
HUCKLEBERRY FINN
On March 13, the German Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation presented the investigation report on the fire in the engine room of the "Huckleberry Finn" on Aug 16, 2023. The exact cause of the accident could not be determined during the investigation. However, three possible errors were identified: What is undisputed, is that the non-fully functional pneumatic remote control system caused the clutch to slip while the main engine was running. It can also be assumed that the oil from the cylinder oil lubrication system, which was extensively distributed in the area of the main engine and particularly under the clutch cover, ignited due to the heat generated by the slipping clutch. During the first two inspections by the the investigators, the condition of the 'Huckleberry Finn' was acceptable, but not good. This was also communicated to the responsible inspector of the shipping company. During the course of the investigation, the shipping company remedied the deficiencies mentioned as well as various deficiencies that had not been communicated. This extensive work, the implementation of which was not mandatory, included the following points: − The cylinder oil lubrication systems of all four engines were replaced with new models. − All engines were largely resealed, and oil leaks there were stopped. The engine room floor was generally restored to good condition. − At the end of April 2024, the coupling of main engine No. 2 was completely replaced or overhauled. − The separator area was cleaned, and defective electrical connections were repaired. − Defective pressure and/or thermo-manometers were replaced. − The engine room and its adjoining spaces were completely repainted. − The engine crew's changing rooms were renovated. The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation considered the shipping company's measures to have improved the general safety of the 'Huckleberry Finn' to be appropriate and assumed that the shipping company's focus has been sharpened on the coupling system as a whole and that such accidents will not occur again in the future. Therefore, safety recommendations are unnecessary. Full report: https://www.bsu-bund.de/SharedDocs/pdf/DE/Unfallberichte/2025/Summarischer_Untersuchungsbericht_437_23.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1
STENA IMMACULATE
A team from the maritime services provider Boskalis boarded the 'Stena Immaculate' on March 13 at around noon on Thursday. Five salvors were involved, including gas experts. Various inspections were carried out, and a small fire was extinguished in a storage area at the front of the ship. Boskalis will be carrying out further inspections of kerosene tanks for explosion hazards in the coming days. The power supply on board is still working. Boskalis wants to prepare the ship in the coming days to pump out kerosene and bring the vessel to a port. The detention of the Russian captain of the 'Solong', who was arrested on March 11 and is suspected of serious negligence resulting in death, was extended by 36 hours on March 13 by a British court. This gives more time to him to be questioned, There were still small fires on the upper deck of the 'Solong'. The multi-purpose vessel 'Mellum' and the sensor aircraft DO228 have completed their deployment off the British coast. The United Kingdom Coast Guard informed the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies on the afternoon of March 12, that it would be able to release the two units from the operation during the course of the evening. The DO228 headed home after a final surveillance flight and landed at the naval air base in Nordholz on the evening. The 'Mellum' arrived at its home port of Wilhelmshaven on the afternoon of March 13. The Mellum' was tasked by the British Coast Guard with, among other tasks, monitoring the tanker and being ready in case of an oil spill. The crew also surveyed the stricken vessel with the aid of an onboard drone. On March 12, it was dispatched to the container ship. There, the crew launched the drone again and provided the Coast Guard with detailed images of the situation on board. The British authorities also sought advice from a ship firefighting expert from the Bremerhaven Fire Department, who was assigned to the operation on board the 'Mellum'. The DO228 conducted several surveillance flights on March 11 and 12. The aircraft operated from Humberside Airport. The flights provided high-resolution images of the two parties involved in the accident, helped the Coast Guard's decision-makers assess the situation, and relieved the crews of the British surveillance aircraft. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has launched an investigation into the allision,which occurred on March 10 at 09.47 a.m. UTC when the 'Solong', traveling at 16.4 knots, struck the anchored tanker, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel and awaiting berth at the Port of Killingholme, near the entrance to the River Humber. The vessel was operating under charter to the Military Sealift Command when the incident occurred. At 01.30 a.m. UTC, the 'Solong' had passed to the east of the Longstone lighthouse and altered course onto a heading of approximately 150° at a speed of about 16.4 knots. Initial reports indicated the 'Solong', which regularly traveled between Grangemouth and Rotterdam, did not take any evasive action before the allision. The MAIB investigation involves collaboration with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, U.S. Coast Guard, and Marine Safety Investigation Authority Portugal. The UK branch will lead the safety investigation, with Portugal and the United States serving as substantially interested states. The tanker’s operator, Crowley, is working closely with UK authorities on salvage operations while prioritizing crew welfare and environmental protection. The MAIB investigators are currently focused on gathering witness accounts and digital data, including Voyage Data Recorders from both vessels. The investigation will examine navigational practices, manning and fatigue management, vessel condition and maintenance, and environmental conditions at the time of the allision. Reports iwth photos: https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20250310_94435008 https://www.havariekommando.de/SharedDocs/Aktuelles/DE/2025/20250310_Internationale_Hilfe_KollisionUK.html;jsessionid=9F22A62EC2816B85C9EA1490422E0AAE.live21324?nn=1461832 https://gcaptain.com/uks-maib-leads-multi-national-investigation-into-north-sea-ship-collision/