The Indonesian captain of tug Svitzer Forti (IMO 9388467), along with 12 crew members, have been stuck in Mumbai for more than six weeks after being arrested for using a banned mode of communication. They have recently being released on conditional bail, but Captain Mohammed Fajar and his crew may not leave Mumbai until the end of the trial. Fajar used a Thuraya satellite phone to communicate with his company.
But these have been banned in India since the 26/11 attacks, when most of the communication from Pakistan was done via satellite phones and the Indian agencies could not intercept calls. The firm owning the tug had to pay fees to park the vessel off the Mumbai port for nearly a month. When a team comprising the coast guard, customs and marine police officers boarded the vessel they found a Nokia satellite transmission set with 15 Thuraya SIM cards, which were sealed. The captain was questioned and then handed over to the marine police.
After extensive interrogation it became clear that no ulterior motives were in play. The tug eventually sailed in the second week of June. 2007-built, Singapore-flagged, 855 gt Svitzer Forti is owned and managed by Svitzer Asia PTE of Singapore. It is entered with Skuld on behalf of Svitzer Asia PTE. LPG tanker Buena Reina (IMO 9643984) was in collision with the chemical oil products tanker Keun Sul 3 (IMO 9191761) on Ulsan’s outer anchorage during the night of July 7th. Keun Sul 3 was approaching Ulsan while Buena Reina was leaving port. The Korean tanker struck the LPG tanker on the portside stern.
Keun Sul 3 suffered damage at the foreship. Keun Sul 3 berthed in Ulsan on the morning of July 8th while Buena Reinar dropped anchor near the collision site. One Filipino crew member of Buena Reina was injured. 2012-built, Singapore-flagged, 2,999 gt Buena Reina is owned and managed by Tabuchi Kaiun Co of Osaka-fu, Japan. ISM manager is Lee & Shipping Co of Busan, South Korea. It is entered with Japan P&I Club on behalf of Tabuchi Marine Pte. 1998-built, South Korea-flagged, 5,819 gt Keun Sul 3 is owned and managed by C&M Co Ltd of Ulsan, South Korea. It is entered with Standard P&I Club on behalf of C&M Co.
General cargo ship Shuya (IMO 9105841) was refloated on July 7th with the help of tugs Bugsier 19 (IMO 9158472), Hans (IMO 9173977) and Wulf 9 (IMO 8714243), plus multi-purpose ship Neuwerk. After 500 tons of cargo lightering the salvage of the ship finally succeeded, with tugs Wulf 9 and Bugsier 19 pulling the vessel upstream on the Elbe on the morning of July 8th, escorted by the Neuwerk. It reached Cuxhaven at 13:00, being berthed at Mützelfeldt Yard. 1994-built, Antigua and Barbuda-flagged, 2,889 gt Shuya is owned by Shuya Marine Ltd of Odessa, Ukraine, and managed by Profy PP of the same city. Bulk carrier Iris II (IMO 9286906) suffered an engine failure while en route from South Africa to Qasim on July 3rd, about 140m west of Réunion in the Indian ocean.
Five Oceans Salvage was contracted for towage and a tug took the bulker in tow on July 6th to Port Louis, ETA July 10th. 2004-built, Panama-flagged, 38,871 gt Iris II is owned by Iris Marine Carriers of Athens, Greece, and managed by Irika Shipping of the same address. It is entered with American P&I Club on behalf of Iris Marine Carriers.