A 293kg stash of cocaine was found hidden in a container with bananas on board containership Maersk Batam (IMO 9355331) upon its arrival at Izmit, Turkey on May 11th, en route from Malta. Turkish anti-drug agencies had apparently been tipped off and were waiting for the vessel to arrive in Turkish waters. 122 containers were scanned by X-ray, suspicious were checked with dogs. Its expected departure was moved back three days to May 14th. The Master and Chief Engineer were detained. The ship had come to European waters from Central America, with calls at Colombia and Panama ports. 2008-built 35835 gt Maersk Batam is entered with Standard P&I Club. Registered owner is Moller Singapore. Manager is Maersk Line AS of Copenhagen.
Vehicle carrier cargo ship Tosca (IMO: 9605798) contacted the Belgium emergency agency on the morning of May 14th while en route from Bremerhaven to Zeebrugge requesting medical assistance for 14 crewmembers, out of a total of 25, who had fallen ill apparently from food poisoning. Tosca was moored on Zeebrugge outer anchorage at midday before calling for assistance. A doctor was helicoptered in and decided that only two people required emergency evacuation. 2013-built, 61,106 gt Tosca listed as covered by UK P&I. Registered owner WWL Shipowning Singapore Pte. Manager is Wallenius Marine Singapore Pte.
The Italian military has confirmed that a navy submarine struck a cargo ship off the coast of Calabria, but said there were no casualties or major damage as a result of the incident. Naval officials said the Scire, a 180-foot U212 sub, had been sailing to take part in a training exercise when it hit the unnamed ship in the Ionian Sea. The ship was not damaged, while the Scire rerouted back to base.
Ro-Ro ferry Lomaiviti Princess IV (IMO: 8873128) ran aground in Viani Bay in Cakaudrove, Fiji while trying to shelter from Tropical Cyclone Ella, which hit the north of the island at the weekend. The ship is expected to resume operations along the Taveuni Buca Bay route in July after about $100,000 of repairs in Suva. The grounding was caused by human error. The ferry, which has a capacity of 400 passengers and six 10-wheeler trucks or 19 cars, will not be replaced while it undergoes repairs. Lomaiviti Princess IV owned and managed by Goundar Shipping, Fiji. No details of vessel’s insurance found in databases.
The master of vehicle carrier Morning Ninni, (IMO 9367592), which was transiting the Mediterranean Sea off the Spanish coast, fell overboard on the afternoon of May 15th near Tarifa. He was found unconscious on the beach at Tarifa, Algeciras, with a lifering of the ship, about six hours later and taken to hospital in a serious condition. The vessel resumed the voyage to Derince. 2008-built, 52,917 gt Morning Ninni entered with Britannia P&I on behalf of owner Ocean PCTC Pte. Managed by United Ocean Ship MGMT, both of Singapore.