Marine accident round-up : 17th November 2023

General cargo ship MF Breeze (IMO 8821577) suffered a technical failure and moored at Dikili anchorage, Turkiye on November 11th. Repairs were started by the crew. As of November 16th the ship remained there at anchor.

1989-built, Togo-flagged, 4,717 gt MF Breeze is owned and managed by Smooth Waves Shipping Ltd of Athens, Greece. ISM manager is Middle Bridge Maritime Co of Constanta, Romania.

A Nigerian Navy Ship patrol team on NNS Beecroft apprehended four stowaways on November 13th who were attempting to leave the country illegally onboard container ship Tema Express (IMO 9238765), which was en route to Dubai. Tactical teams were dispatched to the vessel at Lagos Anchorage after they had received information from the Maritime Domain Awareness Facility. Upon arrival, the teams noticed movements inside the rudder compartment. The teams boarded the ship and found the stowaways, aged from 18 to mid-20s, with a bag filled with snacks, and another polybag containing sachet water. They were taken off the boat and detained

2003-built, Liberia-flagged, 3,941 gt Tema Express is owned by HLAG Vessel Holding Ltd care of manager Hapag Lloyd AG of Hamburg, Germany. ISM manager is RHL Reederei Hamburger Lloyd of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with Britannia on behalf of HLAG Vessel Holding Ltd. As of November 14th it was en route from Lagos, Nigeria, to Jebel Ali, UAE, ETA December 1st.

After the explosion on the external bottom section of crude oil tanker Ali Najafov (IMO 9175195) off Sulina, Romania, on October 15th, which caused structural damage and water ingress in the starboard side ballast tanks, the vessel was taken to Izmail, Ukraine with the assistance of tugs, where it was berthed at a repair pier. A detailed damage survey was carried out by the attended class surveyor, the owner’s superintendent and an H&M insurance expert. Repairs were begun by shore-based technical teams along with the crew, following the class surveyor’s recommendations. A new set of spare parts was provided by the owners. Upon completion of repairs a final inspection will be carried out by the class surveyor.

2001-built, Liberia-flagged, 4,606 gt Ali Najafov is owned by Kazym Shipping Co Ltd care of manager Palmali Shipping Agency of Istanbul, Turkiye. It is entered with American Club on behalf of Kazym Shipping Co Ltd. As of November 16th it was at Varna Anchorage, Bulgaria.

Environmental permission has been granted by the local authority and the harbour master with a wreck removal contract for container ship Maren (IMO 9245677), which had run aground on April 2nd this year after its rudder locked near Kerempe in the Black Sea (IMN April 11th 2023). Dismantling and wreck removal operations will commence at the end of November, although this will depend on the weather in the area. The Maren ran aground after its rudder failed and locked while en route from Piraeus, Greece, to Poti, Georgia.

2002-built, Antigua & Barbuda-flagged, 9,966 gt Maren is owned by OSS Shipping GmbH care of manager Jens U Waller GmbH of Drochtersen, Germany. At the time of the incident it was entered with West P&I Club on behalf of OSS Shipping GmbH. However, it is no longer on the West P&I Club online database.