On March 27, 2023, the 'Sirocco' broke free from its moorings at the Convent Marine Terminal in Louisiana and drifted down the Mississippi River, alliding with a moored barge. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation revealed that the incident occurred due to excessive tension on the forward mooring lines, which exceeded the winches’ brake capacity in strong river currents.The NTSB emphasized the critical importance of proper mooring techniques, stating, “To reduce the risk of a vessel breakaway, it is important for vessel crews to understand the forces that act on a vessel when it is moored into a strong current at a dock.” The investigators recommended continuous monitoring and adjustment of mooring lines, especially as vessels load cargo and sit lower in the water.The NTSB also stressed the importance of preparedness, advising vessel masters to develop breakaway response plans and implement additional safety measures. These include keeping propulsion systems on standby and having anchors ready for immediate use: "Vessel masters should also consider incorporating additional safety measures such as keeping propulsion, thrusters, and steering systems on short standby and having anchors ready for immediate use (even if not required by the loading facility), and should be familiar with how to request tug support on short notice.” While no injuries or pollution were reported, the incident resulted in an estimated $5 million in damages to the bulk carrier, the barge, and the Mosaic Uncle Sam dock.
News
KOMMANDOR ORCA
The second officer aboard the 'Kommandor Orca' sustained serious crush injuries to his lower left leg while operating the deck crane on August 16, 2022, while the vessel was docked in Portland, UK, preparing for its first research charter after a year-long conversion. The officer’s leg had to be amputated below the knee after being trapped in the crane’s rack and pinion system. The incident happened while the ship’s second officer used the rail-mounted crane to relocate equipment on the main deck. During the process, he used emergency controls located 12 feet above deck, which had become common on the ship. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found out in its investigation that the method of operation was risky and did not comply with the manufacturer’s guidelines. The crane’s controls, designed only for emergencies, were concealed in an unobtrusive hatch on the crane’s base. According to the MAIB, the second officer was instructed by senior officers to operate these controls but was unaware of the remote or bridge-based operation options. As he operated the crane, his foot got stuck in the unprotected pinion gear. A fellow crew member provided immediate help, and the officer was taken to a hospital, where doctors found his leg could not be saved. The 'Kommandor Orca', formerly sailing as 'Bourbon Orca', had just been acquired by its present owners. A lack of handover from the previous crew led to poor operational procedures. The vessel’s safety management system (SMS) failed to address proper crane operation, leading to unsafe practices and inadequate training. The MAIB investigation found that operating the crane with emergency controls, standing on the unguarded motor, and working at heights without guardrails all led to the accident. The incident revealed major flaws in safety management, as the crew was unaware of the risks posed by this method of operation. The investigation found that senior officers’ training unintentionally encouraged dangerous practices. The vessel operator has updated the SMS and installed safety guards and an emergency stop option on the crane since. A third-party crane training provider retrained the crew, and remote control tools were made mandatory for crane operations. The company also provided the injured officer with employment and support.
GOLDEN LION
A Russian missile strike damaged the 'Golden Lion' in the port of Odesa on Sep 20, 2024. Four people were injured in the airstrike. Debris, believed to be from an “Iskander-M missile,” was discovered afterwards. The missile damaged both the port and civilian buildings. The ship had arrived from Varna with a cargo of metal products and was next destined to Sulina.
GUARDAMAR URANIA
The 'Guardamar Urania' rescued 168 people from three inflatable boats on the morning of Sep 21. The castaways were taken to Arrecife, where they disembarked at 7:00 a.m. (local time). The operation was coordinated from the RCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas. REpot with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1837430743980441883
NISSOS SAMOS
On the morning of Sep 19, officers of the Port Authority of Chios arrested a 21-year-old Albanian citizen for violating article 372 of the Criminal Code. Following an investigation by the officers of the Port Authority, theman was found to be in possession of €3,600 as the product of a theft, which took place on the 'Nissos Samos'. The Central Port Authority of Chios, which conducted the preliminary investigation, confiscated the amount of money.
CALEDONIAN ISLES
The 'Caledonian Isles'’ return was further delayed as engineers had to deal with issues with mounting the starboard engine. An issue has occurred with securing the starboard main engine to the bedplate on the ferrym following extensive repairs in dry dock for over eight months in Birkenhead. The ship remained stationary as of Sep 20.
DALI
The 'Dali' has officially left the Port of Norfolk on Sep 19, and is expected to head towards Zhoushan. The US Coast Guard provided a 500-yard safe zone with three tugs, not affiliated with the Coast Guard, as well as two additional Coast Guard crews — one from the Portsmouth station and one from Station Little Creek - around the 'Dali' up until the Chesapeake Bay Lighted Whistle Buoy, where the ship then continued unaccompanied. Report with photos: https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/dali-leaving-port-of-virginia-headed-towards-china-u-s-coast-guard-says/
CHAMPION JET 3
On the afternoon of Sep 20, the Port Authority of Lavrio was informed about the emergency approach to the port of the 'Champion Jet 3' n order to disembark a 45-year-old passenger, who needed immediate hospital care, in deviation from the scheduled itinerary. The patient was dropped off and transported by an ambulance to the General Hospital of Attica, while the ship continued its route to the port of Piraeus.
BBC VERMONT
On Sep 18, 2024, an explosion occurred in the engine room of the 'BBC Vermont', which killed one crew member, when the vessel was around 490 nautical miles off of the Scilly Isles, en route to Montoir with an ETA as of Sep 22.
ELIM COURAGE
On the evening of Sep 18, 2024, the Port Authorities of Agia Galini, Paleochora and Chora Sfakion were informed about the rescue of migrants on a boat by the 'Lady Claudia' and the cargo m/v "Elim Courage" 36 nautical miles south of Gavdos. They collected a total of 22 people, all of them Sudanese nationals and sailed to the anchorage of the port of Paleochora, where the rescued were transferred to a patrol boat. They were safely transported to the Tigani port of Paleochora and from there to a reception area in Agia Chania. A preliminary investigation was carried out by the Central Port Authority of Chania, while the boat was seized.
DE CHAN NO.44
The 'De Chan No. 44' ran aground on the Mabulica reef close to the village of Vione near Gau island on the night of Sep 18, 2024. The crew was safe, and efforts were being made to transport them from the site. The Fiji Maritime Surveillance and Rescue Coordination Centre was coordinating with another vessel to transfer the crew on board., and with the MSAF (Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji) regarding an oil spill near the vessel. Salvage operations were also underway.
CONNEMARA
The 'Connemara' has lost power while heading into the Cook Strait enroute to Wellington with 88 people on board, and drifted in the sea for more than two hours on the night of Sep 19. 2024. The ship had left Wellington at 9.38 p.m. and lost power about 40 minutes later. There was no immediate risk to anyone on board, while the ferry was drifting slowly in a southeast direction, away from the land. Maritime New Zealand, and the Rescue Co-ordination Centre, were both monitoring the situation. On Sep 20 at 2 a.m. the tug 'Tapuhi' took the 'Connemara' in tow back to Wellington, and a second tug, the 'Tiaki', served as steering tug. By 6 a.m. it was towed to the Pipitea Wharf. People started to disembark at about 7.30 a.m. The vessel would have to remain in dock until the MNZ investigation was completed.
ADOLF JENSEN
On Sep 19, 2024, at around 1.45 a.m. the “Adolf Jensen” ran aground near the town of Nanortalik, Greenland, and started taking on water during a regular polar explorations. Firefighters and local authorities went to the scene with the landing ship 'Atitooq', loaded with a pump and oil containment equipment to prevent the 15,000 to 20,000 liters of diesel contained in the tank and nearly 1,000 liters of engine oil from spilling. The ship sank at 7:05 a.m.. The four crew members were evacuated. An oil boom was placed in a circle of approximately 50 meters in diameter around the 'Adolf Jensen' to prevent any pollution. The flotation device extended 50 cm deep. Some diesel leaked and caused an oil spill that firefighters were trying to contain in the nearby fjords. The environment and civil protection ministry requested assistance from the Arctic command of the Danish Navy to recover and treat the leaked fuel.
SALVAMAR ACRUX
The engine of the motorboat 'Xatona', with four crew members on board, began to smoke when they tried to start it, and the crew requested assistance in Cala Olivera (Ibiza), near the rocks. The RCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Palma mobilized the 'Salvamar Acrux', which took the boat in tow and safely pulled it to theMarina Ibiza, where it was docked at 5:40 p.m.
EVGENIA
On Sep 19, 2024, at noon the Port Authority of Nafplio was informed that the 'Evgenia' had sailed from Spetses to the Bay of Kryoneri in Arcadia with an incomplete crew. Immediately officers of the Port Authority went to the mooring point, where they found that a crew member was illegally absent from the ship, while a 34-year-old Pakistani citizen was on board, who was not registered in the sea log and did not have a visa in force. The Port Authority of Paralio Astros, which was conducting the preliminary investigation, prohibited the tanker from sailing until its crew was restored, The Master of the shoü was arrested for violation of Article 229 of the Civil Code .D. as well as the Pakistani citizen for violation of article 15 of Law 3386/2005 (Illegal stay in the country). In addition, the prescribed administrative sanctions were imposed on the ship-owning company and the Master.
LADY CLAUDIA
On the evening of Sep 18, 2024, the Port Authorities of Agia Galini, Paleochora and Chora Sfakion were informed about the rescue of migrants on a boat by the 'Lady Claudia' and the cargo m/v "Elim Courage" 36 nautical miles south of Gavdos. They collected a total of 22 people, all of them Sudanese nationals and sailed to the anchorage of the port of Paleochora, where the rescued were transferred to a patrol boat. They were safely transported to the Tigani port of Paleochora and from there to a reception area in Agia Chania. A preliminary investigation was carried out by the Central Port Authority of Chania, while the boat was seized.
ALPHA OPTIMISM
Five Indonesian fishermen stranded for several days onboard a sinking fishing boat in the South China Sea were rescued on Sep 20, 2024, by the 'Alpha Optimism', en route from Fang Cheng Gang to Port Hedland. The bulk carrier was underway between mainland Malaysia and Borneo when the crew spotted the sinking vessel, with its crew waving with flags from the top deck. Crew from the Alpha Optimism set out in a lifeboat to rescue fishermen from the stricken fishing boat.