General cargo ship 1976-built, 1474 gt Fortuner (IMO 7621114), loaded with steel bars, sank during the morning of Sunday May 7th off Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City, Philippines. The master reported a crack in the hull some two hours before sinking. All 22 crew rescued by a merchant vessel and no injuries were reported. However, a sheen of oil was spotted near place of sinking site. It was immediately surrounded by booms. The vessel, which is owned by Matsya Shipping Lines Corp, Philippines, is apparently only 30 metres below the surface, making it a potential hazard to navigation. No details found of vessel insurance in databases.
CMA CGM container vessel, Centaurus (IMO:9410777), collided with the harbour wall while berthing at Jebel Ali Port, Terminal 1 on May 4th. It struck the leg of a large quay crane, causing it to fall onto the quayside and nearly destroying an occupied building nearby. Dubai-based terminal operator DP World confirmed the collapse, and that a second crane shifted off its rails during the incident but remained upright and stable.Ten people were injured but none seriously, the worst injury being
a man who suffered both a fractured arm and leg. According to database, 2011-built Centaurus (131,332 gt) is entered with North of England P&I on behalf of senior member and registered owner Alize 1996 of Marseille, France.
Tug VT Electron (IMO: 8207379) was pushing a coal-loaded barge in the Baltic Sea, north of Bornholm island on May 6th when the barge’s bow struck tanker Purple Gem (IMO: 9403827) portside in the superstructure area, inflicting visible damages. The tanker had been at anchor since April 27th in a heavy traffic zone, apparently after its engine failed. Purple Gem, built in 2009 and 4,859 gt is owned by Purple Gem Shipping Ltd, Care of manager Swede Chem Tankers AB, Stockholm. According to database Purple Gem is entered with London P&I on behalf of Purple Gem Shipping Ltd. VT Electron, built 1984, is owned by VT Shipping AS of Copenhagen, which is also ship manager. According to database it is entered with Assuranceforeningen Skuld on behalf of member Vattenfall Shipping. Gard also lists VT Electron under Hull & Machinery, with Skuld Services ltd listed as claims leader. http://www.expressen.se/kvallsposten/oljetanker-och-bogserbat-har-kolliderat/
RoRo passenger ferry Plym II (IMO:9310927), built in 2004, 748 gt, ran onto a slipway at Plymouth harbour, crushing railings on the afternoon of May 7th. Vehicles were on board, but none suffered any damage, reported the Plymouth Herald. The ferry was taken off schedule, leaving only one ferry operating. At 17:15 on May 7th the Tamar Crossing Co tweeted that “due to a safety concern on one of the ferries we are currently running a one ferry service. 30 Minute wait now at Torpoint.” No details of vessel’s insurance in databases http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/torpoint-ferry-beached-after-overshooting-slipway-in-plymouth/story-30317860-detail/story.html
An odd report in Nezavisimaya Gazeta accused Lebanese livestock carrier Youzarsif H of being the “sole culprit” in its accident with Russian “spy ship” Liman, claiming for the first time that the latter was stationary, at anchor, at the time of the accident, and demanding the seizure of Youzarsif H, said to be Romanian-owned by an ethnic Tatar. There has been little enlightenment from either the Turkish or Russian authorities about what happened and who was to blame. Russia has hinted at NATO or Turkish involvement in the event, with Youzarsif as a pawn in the game. Turkey too has been quiet. Meanwhile, Youzarsif is effectively a prisoner, as Russia has threatened to arrest it if it touches international waters. Was Liman a spy ship messing around in a heavily-trafficked area that happened to collide with an innocent vessel? Or did Youzarsif take offence at Lima’s actions? Or was Youzarsif also part of a more complex game? No-one on any of the sides involved appears keen to throw any light on the matter.