Oil products tanker Eko 2 (IMO 9393955) ran aground off the coast of Psara, an islet northwest of Chios in the eastern Aegean Sea, on January 16th, while carrying an unknown quantity of oil products. The tanker, with a crew of 17, was en route from Lesvos to Chios when it grounded. Coastguard authorities are monitoring the situation in case of a leak. A tug was on its way to help refloat the tanker. There have been no reports of injuries. 2009-built, Greece-flagged, 2,978 gt Eko 2 is owned by Eko-Hera Shipping Co care of manager Kinetic Shipping Co, Athens, Greece. It is entered with North of England P&I Group on behalf of Eko-Hera Shipping Company.
Legal representatives for the owner of passenger/cargo RoRo Norman Atlantic (IMO 9435466) have insisted on the release of the ferry in a hearing before the investigating judge of the Court of Bari. The lawyers said that there was no longer any reason to confine the ship , which has been moored in front of the Bari cruise terminal since February 2015. According to the prosecutors, the wreck must remain there because it might be necessary to carry out further investigations aboard. 2009-built, Italy flagged, 26,904 gt Norman Atlantic is owned and managed by Visemar Di Navigazione SRL of Porto Viro, Italy. It is entered with Assuranceforeningen Gard – gjensidig – on behalf of Visemar Trasporti SRL.
The Drug Control Police (PCD) of the Ministry of Public Security in Costa Rica have seized a cocaine load attached to the hull of container ship Cap Palmerston(IMO 9344643) in Caldera de Esparza, Punta Arenas, Costa Rica. Divers noticed something strange in the hull of a ship on January 13th after the vessel had arrived from Colombia. The agents confirmed the discovery of 47 kilos of cocaine in the compartment, but no crew were detained. The vessel sailed again on January 14th. 2007-built, Liberia-flagged, 22,914 gt Cap Palmerston is owned by San Alberto Offen care of manager Reederei Claus-Peter Offen GmbH of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with Standard P&I Club (Europe Division) on behalf of Kommanditgesellschaft MS “SAN ALBERTO” Offen Reederei GmbH & Co.
M/V Peikko (IMO 8324684) allided with two other ships at the pier in the port of Brake, Wesermarsch municipality during the afternoon of January 15th. The master had tried to shift berths after completing unloading operations in the port, but misjudged the tide currents and wind conditions. The vessel hit bulkcarrier Aracari Arrow (IMO: 9008706) and Mistral (IMO 6923888), both of which were moored at the pier. The bulkcarrier suffered sufficient damage to be detained in port. The hull of Peikko suffered a breach which had to be welded, before she left for Aarhus. The police launched an investigation against the master. 1983-built, Cyprus-flagged, 1,521 gt Peikko is owned by Swanbridge Shipmanagement Ltd care of manager Afalita Shipping of Klaipeda, Lithuania. It is entered with Shipowners’ P&I Club on behalf of Afalita Shipping Ltd. 1969-built, Germany-flagged, 274 gt Mistral is owned and managed by Luhrs Schiffahrt GmbH of Hamburg, Germany. 1992-built, Bahamas-flagged, 29,369 gt Aracari Arrow is owned by Gearbuolk Shipowning Ltd care of ISM manager Gearbulk Norway AS of Laksevaag, Norway. Commercial manager is G2 Ocean AS of Bergen, Norway. It is entered with Gard P&I (Bermuda) on behalf of Gearbulk Shipowning Ltd.
Container ship Tzini (IMO 9625906) became stuck on one side of Chittagong port’s channel in dense fog on the morning of January 15th, disrupting vessel movement. She was moving from the outer anchorage to a port jetty to berth and grounded while trying to avoid a collision with a fishing trawler which had suddenly appeared in the fog. The channel remained safe for vessel movements. 2013-built, Malta-flagged, 20,239 gt Tzini is owned by Seashell Shipping Ltd-MTA care of manager Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Ltd of Athens, Greece. It is entered with Standard Club (Mediterranean and Middle East Division) on behalf of Seashell Shipping Ltd.
Oil products tanker VF Tanker 1(IMO 9640499) was in collision with an underwater rock south of Kea, Greece. The ship suffered a small breach in a ballast tank in the foreship. There was no pollution. The ship refloated without assistance and was escorted to an anchorage at Lavrion. The vessel had been en route from Tanger to Istanbul with a crew of 12. 2012-built, Russia-flagged, 5,075 gt VF Tanker-1 is owned by VEB Leasing OJSC care of manager VF Tanker Ltd of Novgorod, Russia. It is entered with Standard Club (London Class) on behalf of JSC VEB-Leasing.