Seven Indian seafarers have claimed via social media that they have been abandoned by Alco Shipping Service on waste disposal vessel MU Dharma (IMO 7853420), currently in anchorage at Ajman, Dubai, where it has been for the past 22 months. 1976-built, Panama flagged, 495 gt Dharma is owned by Hassan Si care of manager Alco Shipping Services Inc of Sharjah, UAE.
Rescuers ended a search for the 21 crew members of fishing vessel Vostok (IMO 8504791) on January 29th, stating there was no realistic hope of finding any of the crew alive. Emergencies ministry planes and several ships carried out searches for five days in rough seas and strong winds but with no success.
General cargo ship Kota Bahagia (IMO 9593672) broke from its moorings and allided with a pier at Zonguldak in heavy seas and swells on January 21st. She suffered damages to her hull plating, while damaging the pier. The vessel has shifted from pier to anchorage and on January 28th sailed to the Yalova shipyard for repairs, where as of February 2nd she remained. 2011-built, Singapore-flagged, 18,189 gt Kota Bahagia is owned by PSI 2 Pte Ltd care of manager Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd of Singapore. It is entered with Standard Club (Standard Asia Division) on behalf of PSI (2) Pte Ltd.
Technical inspections and underwater surveys at general cargo ship Bilal Bal (IMO 7358664) were finalized by the Maritime Authority on January 28th subsequent to the ship capsizing off Sile in November 2017. 1974-built, Turkey-flagged, 1,863 gt Bilal Bal is owned by Ucel Deniz Ve kara care of manager Cavusoglu Kara ve Deniz Nakliyat Ticaret Ltd of Istanbul, Turkey.
Freighter Berg (IMO 8896039) reportedly suffered a hull breach on January 31st in the waters of the Crimean Peninsula while en route from Kerch, Crimea, to Bandirma, north-west Turkey. The cause of breach is currently unknown. After the incident the ship changed course and headed for Feodosia Bay where she anchored. Twelve crew members were evacuated and, divers were sent down to survey the hull damage. 1974-built, Moldova-flagged, 2,516 gt Berg is owned by Orka Shipping Ltd care of manager Efem Gemi Kiralama ve Denizcilik Ticaret Ltd Sti of Istanbul, Turkey. It is entered with Navigators on behalf of Orka Shipping Co, through to December 25th 2018.
Passenger Cargo RoRo La Caranta (IMO 9542972) sustained a hull breach at portside above the waterline due to an engine failure while docking at Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, on January 31st, according to local media reports. The ship was taken out of service leaving only one ferry left connecting Puerto la Cruz and Margarita Island. However Nueva Conferry Co said that the information was false. Pictures from the Conferry Twitter page seemed to confirm a hull breach. 2009-built, Venezuela-flagged, 1,550 gt La Caranta is owned by Karpenision Maritime care of Naviera Star Del Caribe CA of Altamira, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela. Manager is Star Del Caribe CA of Altamira, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela. It is listed as being entered with British Marine under owner Navibus.