Bulk carrier GLORY TRADER ran aground in Mississippi river estuary, above Pilottown, at around 1930 UTC June 13, while en route from New Orleans to Haifa, apparently in load. According to latest available AIS data, at 1000 UTC June 14 vessel was still aground.
June 15: Vessel is aground in position 10 02N 108 58E, 28 nm south of Phu Quy island, Vietnam, South China sea. On June 14 a board of officials and experts, including SAR agency, local authorities and Coast Guard, visited grounding site. There’s no chemicals or oil leak and hopefully, there won’t be any, if salvage goes smoothly and no storm hits the area. Tanker is having 15 degrees portside list, two salvage options are under consideration: tilting tanker aft, thus lifting fore section, which is resting on bottom, and pulling tanker free by tug; or lightering tanker before refloating attempts. Salvage tug, understood of Nippon Salvage, was to arrive at grounding site in the evening June 14. On a photo CHEMROAD JOURNEY aground.
See previous news: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2017/18467/tanker-aground-breached-south-china-sea/
Chemical tanker PUTRI SEA or AQUARIUS reported sank after explosion and fire on June 14 in position 4.6 nm southwest of Tanjung Pengelih, Malaysia, eastern Singapore Strait. Tanker loaded with fuel was reported to Singapore CG as missing by its’ Singaporean agent, Singapore contacted Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which sent patrol boat, but didn’t find tanker. It was reported later, that tanker was on fire after explosion, 6 crew missing. Local officials and media identify tanker as MT PUTRI SEA, MMEA mentioned IMO number, which is 8319160, belonging to a small Malaysia-flagged tanker AQUARIUS. Most probably (if MMEA was correct with IMO No.), vessel changed name and flag, latest AIS dated morning June 14, southwest of Tanjung Pengelih. All crew are Indonesians. SAR is under way.
Product tanker CHEM POLARIS suffered engine failure (probably a blackout, too) while maneuvering in Iroquois Lock, while sailing downstream St. Lawrence River, at 0814 LT June 15. Vessel damaged Lock’s fender boom (arresting cable), maybe inflicted some other damages, too. As of 0400 UTC June 16, tanker was still at Iroquois Lock, stopping traffic. Tanker en route from Hamilton Canada to Portsmouth USA. Photo by Craig Raymond, more photos at his page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprescottanchor/permalink/1047852348682708/
Fire erupted on board of ferry MED STAR soon after she left Rhodes in the afternoon June 15 with 32 people (30 crew and 2 drivers) and 33 vehicles, bound for Santorini. Fire spread around superstructure, 20 people evacuated into a lifeboat, which was towed to Rhodes, 12 remained on board in an attempt to take fire under control. As of 0500 UTC June 16, vessel was adrift east of Rhodes, with AIS on, with at least two vessels, tugs, at her side. On photo burning MED STAR.
Product tanker DAMIA DESGAGNES ran aground at around 0300 UTC June 16 on St. Lawrence river below Iroquois Lock. As of 1320 UTC, she was still aground. Tanker sailing upstream to Nanticoke.
Update: USS FITZGERALD hull was breached above and below waterline, with water ingress in some compartments. The ship is under own power, though her propulsion is limited. Crew are pumping out water.
Container ship ACX CRYSTAL though Philippines-flagged, said to be operated by Japanese NYK. Her damages though substantial, aren’t too serious, let alone critical.
Container ship ACX CRYSTAL collided with destroyer USS FITZGERALD at around 0230 Tokyo time June 17 in vicinity 34 32N 139 05E, 10 nm southeast of Shimoda, Izu peninsula, Honshu island, Japan. Container ship was en route from Nagoya to Tokyo, while USS FITZGERALD understood to be sailing either to, or from, Yokosuka Naval Base. Container ship bow struck destroyer starboard in bridge area, destroying part of superstructure. Container ship suffered bow damages, reportedly bow stern was breached, but vessel remained seaworthy and resumed sailing towards Tokyo, at 1300 Tokyo time she was entering Tokyo Bay at some 12 knots speed.
Seven USS FITZGERALD crew reported missing, several were injured, at least three medevaced by helicopter.
As in most collision accidents, most probably in this accident too, both ships are responsible for the collision, to a more or less degree. Navies in most cases, are more to blame, if you ask me. Navy ships have a specially assigned sailor for each and every task, from watching to plotting maneuvers. Navy ships are always ready to reverse engines or change course. Merchant ships are resembling big passenger jets – take-off, straight flight, landing, with as few maneuvers as possible. Their manning is based mainly on monetary considerations, crews are severely limited. The bigger is the merchant ship, the more difficult and unpredictable is her maneuvering. Merchant marine needs as obstacles-free (including such obstacles, as Navies or fishing vessels, especially coastal boats) and wide lanes, as possible.
Photos Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News, via Associated Press.
Pic of AIS track of ACX CRYSTAL.
USS FITZGERALD (DDG-62), Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the US Navy, displacement 9000 tons, commissioned 1995, complement: 33 commissioned officers 38 chief petty officers 210 enlisted personnel.
Ferry MARIA BUONO collided with pier while docking at Casamicciola, Ischia Island, Italy, Gulf of Naples, at around 0930 LT June 17, on arrival from Napoli. Some 50 passengers were slightly injured from a strong jolt. Ferry said to remain generally, undamaged. She was detained by Port Authorities for inspection, suspecting probable technical deficiencies.
High-speed ferry IYANOUGH collided with jetty at Hyannis Harbor, Barnstable, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, at around 2130 LT June 16. Understood ferry struck jetty and grounded on rocks while entering harbor en route from Nantucket, with 48 passengers on board. Vessel reportedly was breached, there was water ingress, six people suffered injures. According to local sources, by 0130 LT June 17 all passengers were evacuated, including 10 airlifted by helicopter, the rest were went to a tug. Photo/The Boston Globe.
Superyacht TALES in the afternoon June 16 smashed into small recreational boats at Portofino Marina, Italian Riviera, while maneuvering to leave the port. Superyacht was taken under control after she damaged several boats, it is said that something went wrong with the reverse gear. Reportedly, damages to boats estimated several thousand euro, half a dozen boats were damaged. There were 8 passengers and 12 crew on board of TALES, she’s thought to cost £200,000 a week to charter.
June 18: According to salvage works plan, more than 200 tons of fuel were to be pumped into aft tanks in order to lighten and raise bow section of grounded tanker, on June 17. Some 10,000 tons of cargo, chemicals, are to be siphoned to a lightering tanker.
June 15: Vessel is aground in position 10 02N 108 58E, 28 nm south of Phu Quy island, Vietnam, South China sea. On June 14 a board of officials and experts, including SAR agency, local authorities and Coast Guard, visited grounding site. There’s no chemicals or oil leak and hopefully, there won’t be any, if salvage goes smoothly and no storm hits the area. Tanker is having 15 degrees portside list, two salvage options are under consideration: tilting tanker aft, thus lifting fore section, which is resting on bottom, and pulling tanker free by tug; or lightering tanker before refloating attempts. Salvage tug, understood of Nippon Salvage, was to arrive at grounding site in the evening June 14. On a photo CHEMROAD JOURNEY aground.
June 12 Update: CHEMROAD JOURNEY grounded on rocky bottom, suffering hull breach or breaches in ballast tanks area, tide drying may also add to portside 15 degree list. According to latest information, all 27 crew remained on board, because there is no imminent danger to vessel and crew, the weather is fine. Tanker is loaded with some 30,000 tons of chemicals, plus some 800 tons of fuel, no leak reported so far. Owner of the vessel contracted Nippon Salvage-Japan for salvage works, Vietnamese experts are already on the site, evaluating possible contamination risks, fore which job they need cargo specifications. Vietnam doesn’t have experience in fighting big-scale chemicals pollution.
Grounding news:
Tanker aground, breached, South China sea
June 11: Product tanker CHEMROAD JOURNEY reported running aground in the morning June 11 some 28 nm south of Phu Quy Island, off Phan Thiet city, north of Saigon, Vietnam, South China sea. 27-crew vessel en route from Singapore to China, understood in load, probably breached, 15 degrees portside list reported. MRCC Vietnam launched SAR.
General cargo vessel IREM KAAN ran aground at night June 17 at Assos Sokak Agzi beach, Turkey, Mytilini Strait, north of Lesvos Island. Captain didn’t ask for assistance, according to Dardanelles Traffic Control, and said vessel will be refloated by own means, next tide. According to AIS, vessel has been refloated in the afternoon June 18, as of 1430 UTC June 18 she was slowly moving near grounding site, maybe to anchor. No damages reported so far. Vessel is en route from Nemrut Aegean sea to Izmit, Marmara sea. Reportedly grounding was caused by “going out of control” due to probably, steering failure. On photos grounded IREM KAAN, see all photos at www.denizhaber.com.
Schooner ALABAMA with 17 passengers on board ran aground near Mystic River mouth, Connecticut, USA, in the evening June 18, reported USCG. USCG rescue boat was launched, all passengers were safely transferred to Noank Shipyard, Groton. ALABAMA understood to be refloated, awaiting inspection. Schonner ran aground in the same area in 2010 – see details and photos at http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f106/schooner-alabama-aground-in-mystic-river-43408.html
Schooner ALABAMA, displacement 150, built 1926, flag USA.
June 19: vessel still aground.
First news:
June 17: General cargo vessel KUTAI RAYA DUA was beached by storm on June 14 on eastern coast of Pulau Buru Island, northern Banda Sea, Indonesia. Vessel understood to be in ballast, arriving in the area to load cargo of wood. As of June 17, vessel was still aground, owner being not able to contract tug for salvage.
General cargo vessel BBC WISCONSIN reportedly contacted pier tower crane while berthing at Vaasa, Finland, on the night June 19, on arrival from Poland. Crane collapsed, but luckily, nobody was injured. Material damage isn’t serious, too, because crane was old. Understood vessel suffered slight damages, if any. Not clear why did it happen – vessel had a pilot on board, both pilot and Master decided not to use the tugboat. Weather was fine. The cause of an accident is under investigation. See full-scale photo at https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9678705
Coastal Canadian tankers TRAVESTERN and HAVELSTERN collided at Comfort Cove-Newstead Anchorage, northern Newfoundland, on June 18 according to local media citing TSB Canada. HAVELSTERN was anchored at the time of an accident, TRAVESTERN was passing by, but gust of wind pushed her stern towards the stern of HAVERSTERN. No serious damages and no leak reported, both tankers’ sterns suffered damages above waterline, TRAVESTERN continued voyage and arrived at port of destination, Lewisporte, on June 19. Both vessel at the time of collision had cargoes of diesel and jet fuel on board.
Bulk carrier CONCEPTION LIGHT suffered engine failure in the morning June 20 on approaches to Brunsbuettel Locks in Kiel Canal, vessel had to drop both anchors to avoid possible collision. Tug assisted CONCEPTION LIGHT to heave up anchors, engine was restarted, CONCEPTION LIGHT passed lock and sailed to North sea, en route from Kotka Finland to Huelva Spain.
As of morning June 20, tanker CHEMROAD JOURNEY is still aground, preparations under way to lighter vessel of some of its’ cargo, and siphon bunker fuel. No leak so far. Vessel is having an 11 degree portside list, hull said to be breached in fore area.. Philippines salvage tug TRABAJADOR 1 (IMO 7817945, manager Salvtug - Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation, Manila), together with a number of Vietnamese SAR boats. A team of Nippon Salvage experts are on tanker’s board, busy with preparing vessel for refloating. Tanker’s 26 crew are on board, including 11 Korean and 15 Myanmar nationalities.
Previous news: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2017/18531/tanker-chemroad-journey-grounding-update-june-18/
Fire erupted on board of Russian fish factory PILENGA 2, docked in Busan port, South Korea, on June 20 or earlier, during wielding works in control room, with deck mechanisms control panel. According to crew, firefighters were late, uncontrolled fire engulfed the room which burned out. According to owner, Korean company contracted for repairs commenced wielding works without notifying the crew, Korean company is to compensate all losses inflicted by fire. On video burning PILENGA 2.
June 21: Bulk carrier ST. GREGORY was refloated and taken to Gythio anchorage, north of grounding site, and brought to anchor. Exact date of refloating unknown. As of June 21, vessel was at anchor off Gythio, with general cargo MEERDIJK at her side, seemingly moored, and two tugs. Most probably, lightering is under way. Master, officer and two deckhands said to be detained, suspects in negligence, which led to grounding. Salvage company was contracted, probably salvage still under way. Hull was breached, but there was no leak.
Grounding news:
Bulk carrier ST. GREGORY hard aground, Greece
June 7: Bulk carrier ST. GREGORY ran aground on a rocky beach at Kokkala, Laconian Gulf, south-eastern Peloponnese, Greece, early at around 0230 UTC June 7, while en route from Ukraine to Tunisia, in load. According to AIS track, vessel didn’t change course after passing strait between southernmost Peloponnese and Kithira Island, heading straight for Kokkala. Reportedly, vessel suffered a breach on fire section, with ensuing water ingress. As of 1330 UTC June 7, vessel was in the same position. All photos full-scale can be seen here:http://www.zougla.gr/greece/article/afto-ine-to-fortigo-plio-pou-prosarakse-ston-lakoniko-kolpo
