Capesize bulk carriers Spartacus and Stella Cherise collided at early in the morning local time on January 10th on Shanghai outer anchorage. Stella Cherise was leaving Shanghai, bound for Australia, while Spartacus was sailing to Shanghai. The bow of Spartacus is understood to have struck Stella Cherise to starboard in the hold area, breaching the hull and causing water ingress. Spartacus was said to have suffered only superficial damage, and was brought to anchor. Stella Cherise is surrounded by tugs and SAR vessels, with salvage under way. Stella Cherise, probably in ballast, is understood to be in danger of sinking. According to database Stella Cherise is covered by Swedish Club through owner Stella Cherise Shipping Pte Ltd. Spartacus is covered by North Of England P&I through owner Hayward Corporate Inc.
Containership Gustav Maersk grounded early on the morning of January 10th while transiting the Strait of Messina, Southern Italy. It had left Rijeka, Croatia, destined for Gioia Tauro in Italy, when it suffered a mechanical failure and grounded close to the village of Torre Cavallo. No pollution or crew injuries were reported, and the vessel was freed by three tugs, who arrived from the ports of Milazzo and Messina, permitting it to sail again after a five hour delay, aided by two tugs. According to database. Gustav Maersk is covered by Britannia through Maersk Line A/S.
Eight fishermen have died in what appears to be an attack by armed pirates in the southern Philippines. The local coast guard said a Filipino fishing boat with 15 crew on board was operating off Laud Siromon island near the Zamboanga peninsula on Monday night when five armed men on a speedboat attacked, opening fire. Eight were killed, while five men jumped overboard and swam to a nearby island. Two crew who remained on the boat were unharmed. “We consider this a piracy attack. If these were Islamist militants, they would have been taken captive and held for ransom,” the coast guard said.
Commercial fishing vessel Lady Gudny reported just after midnight last Thursday that it was experiencing fuel filter issues in the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska. Within hours the crew had exhausted their supply of fuel filters, disabling the fishing vessel 230m east of Kodiak, Alaska. On Friday during heavy seas a USCG helicopter rescued the four people on board and transported them to Kodiak. All were reported to be in good health. Meanwhile USGC cutter SPAR attempted to bring Lady Gudny under tow. Unfortunately the tow line separated, entangling SPAR’s propellers and causing the cutter itself to become disabled. Commercial tug Anna-T took the SPAR under tow on Saturday, arriving in Kodiak on Sunday. Commercial tug Chahunta was scheduled to take Lady Gudny into tow Saturday evening, the last update received.
Inland pusher tug Aries suffered a fire in its engine room while en route from Hansweert to Ghent. Aries was pushing two barges when, in the East lock of Terneuzen in Netherlands, a diesel generator overheated and caught fire. Two fire trucks were needed to help extinguish the flames. Some of the crew were treated for smoke inhalation. The ship was able to return to service and it will be inspected at its next port of call.
General cargo ship Rich Mighty spilled oil at Vladivostok, Russia during bunkering operations, after a fuel leakage on the main deck. About 50 to 60 litres of fuel poured
onto the ice between the board and the dock. The crew immediately stopped the fuel transfer and reported the accident. Hazmat and environmental teams monitored and assessed the water pollution. The oil spot was estimated to cover an area of 1,200sqm. The environment response team collected around 600kg of oiled ice and said that all water pollution had been eliminated. The vessel will be detained for special inspection and the authorities will estimate the responsibilities for the water pollution. Rich Mighty is 3,994dwt and 1,996grt. No details of vessel in P&I databases.
At least five people died in the latest fire to hit Gadani shipbreaking yard in Pakistan, with an unknown number missing. The fire broke out inside LPG tanker Chaumadra, allegedly from combustible foam inside the tanker. There were apparently 55 people inside the ship when the fire began.
Korean media reported a collision between bulk carrier Inspiration Lake, en route from Shanghai to Vostochniy Russia, and a local fishing vessel at around 14.00 local time on January 10th, about 22nm east of Pohang, Korea. The fishing vessel capsized but did not sink. Three crew were rescued and four are missing. According to database Inspiration Lake is covered by Assuranceforeningen Gard for P&I, through owner Regina Bulkship SA.
Cargo vessel Huifengnian298, carrying a cargo of stone, collided with Nansha Fanzhong Highway Bridge, Guangzhou area, Pearl River on the evening of January 8th. The bridge suffered serious damage and was closed for all traffic, including pedestrians. No details of vessel in P&I databases.