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Beached at Aliaga 05.02.25

Surging water from the Mississippi River led to a barge strike on a gate at Algiers Lock in New Orleans, according to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), on July 4, 2023. The 'Kitty' was pushing two loaded tank barges into the Algiers Lock during low water conditions.The tow surged within the lock chamber and the lead barge struck one of the lock gates. The contact did not result in any injuries or pollution. The damage to the lock gate was estimated at $2 million. The NTSB found the surge was likely due to wake effects from deep draft ships transiting the Mississippi River adjacent to the Algiers Lock forebay during extremely low water conditions, which moved water in and out of the forebay and lock chamber, causing the vessels in those areas to surge. The ​NTSB noted that before the contact, three loaded ships had transited near the lock within about 10 minutes’ time. NTSB investigators determined the size and the speed of the three ships transiting near the lock within a short time span likely would have produced wakes that affected the forebay and lock chamber. The 'Kitty''s crew members described a three-to-six foot change in water level in the lock chamber while transiting. The NTSB studied the water-level variations in the Algiers Lock based on footage from the Kitty and found the minimum change in lock water level during the casualty to be 3.4'. The NTSB report highlighted how water displacement from deep-draft vessel wakes can intensify when funneled into narrow or confined spaces, such as shallow waterways and lock chambers. This phenomenon can create significant operational challenges, particularly in low water conditions.

The "Song of America" was the largest tourist cruise ship in the world when it was delivered in November 1982 and emblem of Royal Caribbean International, which became an icon of the American industry based in Miami on trips through the Caribbean. The construction number 431 from the Wärtsilä shipyard, Helsinki, was launched on Nov 26, 1981 and on Nov 11, 1982 she was delivered. After crossing the Atlantic, on Dec 5, she began her first voyage from the cruise terminal in Miami In May 1999, as Royal Caribbean expanded with ever larger ships, the ship “Song of America” was sold to Sun Cruises, a subsidiary of Airtours, and renamed “Sunbird”. During this period, it frequently came to the Canary Islands with British tourists. In July 2004, it was resold to Fulmar Shipping Co., a Louis Cruise Line company, and in May 2005 it was chartered to Thomson Cruises, renamed “Thomson Destiny”, being registered in Cyprus and focused on British tourism, with great success in terms of occupancy during its winter campaigns in the Canary Islands. In May 2012 it was registered under the name of the company Destiny Trading Opco Llc, being flagged in Malta and renamed “Louis Olympia” and “Celestyal Olympia” in Nov 2014, when the Louis Cruise Lines rebranded itself, making short trips around the Greek islands. Then came the coronavirus health and financial crisis, and the ship remained moored from March 2020 until June 2021, when it resumed its activity. At the end of 2023, she was moored in the port of Lavrion when Celestyal Cruises announced the acquisition of the “Celestyal Discovery”, formerly “AIDAlaura”, for replacement from March 2024. In January, the “Celestyal Olympia”, flagged in Liberia, was renamed “Bella Fortuna” and moored in Cesme, and in May she traveled to Ras Al Kahimah (UAE) until it was finally decided to scrap her. Report with photos: https://www.puentedemando.com/desguace-del-iconico-song-of-america-el-crucero-de-turismo-mayor-del-mundo-en-1982/

The captain and chief mate of the 'Tyrhaug' have been sentenced to 90 and 45 days in prison on probation on Feb 4. In June 2023, the 'Tyrhaug' and the workboat "Frøy Loke" collided in the area between Smøla and Aure. Four people have been injured in the accident. The court ruled that the two Trøndelag residents in their 40s and 50s acted grossly negligently on the trip between Kristiansund and Trondheim: There was not much traffic on the Edøyfjord, and it was not a matter of a momentary inattention or a misallocation of attention in a demanding traffic situation. Nor were there other reasons that can explain why no lookout was kept. It was incomprehensible that the 'Frøy Loke' was not observed in time before the collision, and the court had no doubt that the collision was caused by grossly negligent navigation. The two must also pay a total of 60,000 Norwegian crowns in fines, and 120,000 Norwegian crowns in compensation to one of the passengers who was subsequently partially disabled as a result of the accident. According to the indictment, the collision occurred because the bridge on the speedboat was not manned in accordance with applicable procedure, and because the bridge guard was not sufficiently observant of other traffic. Both of the two convicted have pleaded guilty. Report with photo and video: https://www.nrk.no/mr/skipperen-og-styrmannen-domde-til-fengsel-etter-hurtigbatkollisjon-1.17251937

On Feb 3, 2025, at 03.59 a.m. the 'Belaja' was boarded by six perpetrators, armed with knives, in pos. 1°6' N 103° 43.16' E about 2.3 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Cula, while transiting the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait. The crew members were not injured. The intruders stole engine spares.

On Jan 29, 2025, at 1.05 a.m. the 'Manali' was boarded by one perpetrator in pos. 1° 4.6' N 193° 42.2' E about 2.1 nautical mile north of Pulau Cula, while transiting the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait. The crew members were not injured. The intruder stole engine spares.

On Feb 4, 2025, the 'Fresán' suffered a mechanical failure and went adrift four nautical miles from Estaca de Bares. The CCS of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR boat 'Salvamar Shaula' to assist, which took the fishing vessel in tow and safely pulled it to the port of Cariño.

Beached at CHittagong 05.02.25

On Feb 3, 2025, the 'Chrysalis', which had been targeted by the Houthis on July 12, 2024, made its first transit through the Suez Canal. The tanker had been attacked while it was entering the Red Sea. Later as it transited the Bab el-Mandeb, they launched drones for a second attack on the ship. The Houthis announced they would honor the Gaza cease-fire reached in January and suspended their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. While many of the major shipping lines have taken a wait-and-see attitude stressing their focus on security the Suez Canal Authority is anxious to restore traffic. The 'Chrysalis' was ballasting from Seka to the Sidi Kerir oil terminal in Alexandria, eight months after the Houthis had claimed to have heavily damaged the vessel due to its association with Israel. The tanker s registered in Liberia and reported to be owned by Turkish interests. Report with photos: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/tanker-targeted-by-houthis-returns-to-suez-as-canal-seeks-more-traffic

The “Dominica” has assisted a sailing vessel with three Spanish crew members on board on the Atlantic coast on Jan 30, 2025. The vessel was en route to Praia (Cape Verde), off Mauritania, when it received a notice from the National Rescue Coordination Centre (CNCS) requesting assistance in the search for a sailing vessel whose radio beacon had been activated. At 2:50 p.m. UTC, the vessel “Dominica”, which was carrying a cargo of bulk cement, diverted to the position, and assisted the yacht crew amid adverse weather conditions, who boarded the vessel safely. On Feb1 1, the three sailors were accompanied to the Spanish Consulate in Praia by the immigration authorities and the shipping agency, after verifying their good condition.

On Jan 15, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Maritime Accident Investigation (BSU) has published the investigation report on the fire on board the "Wotan" seven nautical miles west of Büsum in the Süderpiep on Aug 18, 2023. The ship sank, the crew was rescued, and the vessel was later recovered with the floating crane "Enak". Experts from the BSU had inspected the partially burnt-out wreck of the shrimp cutter. The exact cause of the fire could ultimately not be determined. The lack of a fire alarm system on board and an anchor watch or fire patrol contributed to the fire only being discovered at a stage where it was no longer possible for the two crew members to react, who were taking a break at the time the fire broke out in the engine room. When the captain discovered the fire by chance, the flames had already spread to the entire engine room and the open companionway. The crew took refuge in a life raft and was rescued by the slifeboat "Theodor Storm" after an emergency call. At the scene of the accident, there was a spill of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil. During the investigation, the BSU identified security gaps in relation to the watch service, fire protection, emergency preparedness and the crew of both the "Wotan" and comparable fishing vessels, the inspection system of the Professional Traffic Association and applicable safety regulations for fishing vessels up to 24 meters length sailing under the German flag. Accordingly, safety recommendations were sent to the Federal Ministry of Transport and the association. These included in particular recommendations on emergency preparedness, such as safety training and continuous, regular training for the entire crew. In addition, regulatory gaps in the operating, construction and equipment regulations for fishing vessels up to 24 meters length must be closed. In addition, a security service should be ensured at all times. The BG Verkehr should refrain from dispensing with fire detection and display systems on fishing vessels. Existing systems should also be checked intensively during inspections. Full report: https://www.bsu-bund.de/SharedDocs/pdf/DE/Unfallberichte/2025/Untersuchungsbericht_444_23.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3

On Feb 3, 2025, at 04.15 a.m. the 'Zevirous' was boarded by four perpetrators, armed with knives and gun like objects in pos. 1°6.35' N 103° 44.46' E about 2.64 nautical miles north of Pulau Cula, while transiting the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait. The crew members were not injured. The intruders stole engine spares.

On Feb 4, 2025, the 'Argyll Flyer', serving on the route Gourock-Dunoon, suffered a technical issue with the starboard side main engine. As a consequence, the scheduled departures from Gourock at 12:15 p.m. and Dunoon at 12:45 p.m. had to be cancelled..The following sailings from Gourock at 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p..m. and from Dunoon at 1:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. were operated as per timetable. After the technical issue has been resolved, the normal timetable has resumed.

On Feb 4, 2025, the "Urreburu I" contacted the CCS Bilbao of Salvamento Marítimo to inform that it had suffered an engine failure next to the lighthouse of the Arriluze jetty and was being dragged by the current. The fishing vessel requested towing assistance. The CCS Bilabo mobilized the 'Salvamar Alcyone', which took it in tow and safely pulled it to the port of Getxo.

The 'Queen of Capilano' allided with three moored yachts at the Bowen Island Marina dock in Snug Cove on the morning of Feb 2, 2025, after the 7:30 a.m. departure from from Bowen Island. The ferry slammed into the dock, causing significant damage to the structure. With safety as the top priority, the captain made the decision to continue into open water rather than risk further complications in a confined space. The vessel needed to assess the cause of the issue and doing so in open water helped prevent any further incident, and it completed its run to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, along with several more morning runs. But beginning with the cancellation of the 10:15 a.m .sailing from Horseshoe Bay, the vessel remained sidelined until 6:50 p.m. In total 14 sailings between Bowen and the mainland, spanning more than eight hours, were cancelled during the day due to the mechanical difficulty with the propulsion system. The 'Queen of Capilano' conducted sea trials as required by Transport Canada prior to resuming sailings in the evening. Passenger-only water taxis made runs between Bowen and Horseshoe Bay while the ferry was out of service. An investigation has been launched into the accident. Reports with photos and video: https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/bc-ferries-vessel-collides-with-moored-boats-at-bowen-dock-10174745 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ferries-bowen-island-hits-boats-1.7450625

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) unveiled the design for the new Francis Scott Key Bridge almost a year after it was hit by the 'Dali', causing it to collapse. "Today, we take an important step toward recovering from the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse that has affected not just Maryland's economy, but the nation's economy. While we mark the unveiling of the new bridge design, we continue to honor the six Marylanders who lost their lives while serving our state and their families who carry their legacy forward. Together, we will show the world what it means to be Maryland Tough and Baltimore Strong," said Governor Moore. The proposed bridge design honors the architectural tradition of the original Key Bridge. The new bridge will also be constructed in accordance with the most advanced industry standards and the very best in infrastructure design, usng the best materials available and employ many Marylanders to build it. The cable stay design of the new bridge will allow the federal shipping channel to expand from 700 ft. to 1,000 ft. wide. The base of the bridge will also be raised to 230 ft., which is a 45-foot increase to accommodate ship traffic. The roadway will still be two lanes wide going in each direction. Other pier support structures will be implemented to secure the structure. In spring 2025, demolition will begin to remove the remaining pillars of the old Francis Scott Key Bridge. Immediately after that, construction will begin. In Nov 2024, the former president included money for the Key Bridge in a $100 billion disaster fund request sent to Congress. By Dec, Maryland lawmakers announced that federal funding would cover the full cost of rebuilding the bridge as quickly as possible. The provision also ensures that the federal taxpayers will be reimbursed through proceeds from insurance payments and litigation taken on by the Department of Justice, the Maryland Attorney General and others. In August 2024, the MDTA approved a $73 million contract with Kiewit Infrastructure Company for the design and construction of a new bridge. Pre-construction began in Jan 2025, and the rebuild is expected to be completed by fall 2028. Kiewit Infrastructure estimated that the project will cost about $2 billion. The pre-construction activities include inspecting about 1,100 homes and businesses in nearby communities, scanning the riverbed, collecting soil samples and surveying. In January, the MDTA also approved a $75 million contract with the Bridging Maryland Partnership for General Engineering Consultant services. The partnership will perform planning, engineering, construction, management and program support for the rebuild project. Report with photo and video: https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-key-bridge-collapse-design-new-construction/

The captain and chief mate of the 'Tyrhaug' have been sentenced to 90 and 45 days in prison on probation on Feb 4. In June 2023, the 'Tyrhaug' and the workboat "Frøy Loke" collided in the area between Smøla and Aure. Four people have been injured in the accident. The court ruled that the two Trøndelag residents in their 40s and 50s acted grossly negligently on the trip between Kristiansund and Trondheim: There was not much traffic on the Edøyfjord, and it was not a matter of a momentary inattention or a misallocation of attention in a demanding traffic situation. Nor were there other reasons that can explain why no lookout was kept. It was incomprehensible that the 'Frøy Loke' was not observed in time before the collision, and the court had no doubt that the collision was caused by grossly negligent navigation. The two must also pay a total of 60,000 Norwegian crowns in fines, and 120,000 Norwegian crowns in compensation to one of the passengers who was subsequently partially disabled as a result of the accident. According to the indictment, the collision occurred because the bridge on the speedboat was not manned in accordance with applicable procedure, and because the bridge guard was not sufficiently observant of other traffic. Both of the two convicted have pleaded guilty. Report with photo and video: https://www.nrk.no/mr/skipperen-og-styrmannen-domde-til-fengsel-etter-hurtigbatkollisjon-1.17251937

On Jan 27, 2025, at 11.50 p.m. the 'Success' was boarded by two perpetrators, while it was anchored at the OPL Kakinada in the Bay of Bengal in pos. 16°64.56' N 82° 25.27' E. The crew members were not injured. The intruders stole unsecured items

On Jan 28, 2025, at 11.55 a.m. the 'Bristol' was boarded by two perpetrators, armed with knives, in pos. 1° 7.9' N 103° 45.2' E about 1.4 nautical miles west of Helen Mar Reef,, while transiting the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait. The crew members were not injured, no reports on stolen items.

Due to the ongoing technical issue with the main engine, the service of the 'Loch Ranza' was still liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice on Feb 4. The crew was monitoring the issue with the main engine, while the sailings were expected to operate. On Feb 3, the final sailing of the day departed from Tayinloan to Gigha at 04:30 p.m., and the vessel then had returned to the Gigha South pier for repairs. On Feb 5 the technical issue has been resolved, and the ship was sailing according to schedule.