Bulk carrier Sophia Z (IMO 9445708) suffered a steering failure during the evening of October 14th while in the Bosphorus Strait, travelling south and en route from Bulgaria to Spain. Three tugs responded and the ship reportedly had to be anchored for at least two hours, However, it was able to resume its journey later the same evening after the crew fixed the fault.
2009-built, Bahamas-flagged, 33,280 gt Sophia Z is owned by Calm Ocean Shipping SA care of manager Saint Michael Shipping Co Ltd of Piraeus, Greece. It is entered with UK Club on behalf of Calm Ocean Shipping SA. As of October 16th the vessel was at Istanbul Anchorage South. ETA at Barcelona listed as October 19th.
A Chinese crew member of chemical/oil products tanker Hua Wei 8 (IMO 9647485) suffered a medical incident, possibly a stroke, and was medevaced by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) from around 40km off the coast of Mumbai on October 14th. Owing to the medical emergency the vessel altered its course towards Mumbai. He was brought to Mumbai and handed over to the ship’s local agents for further medical care.
2012-built, Panama-flagged, 18,561 gt Hua Wei 8 is owned by Fujian Xinhai Shipping Ltd of Fujian, China. It is managed by Dalian Haida International Fleet-Chr of Dalian, Liaoning, China. It is entered with West P&I (Claims Team Hong Kong) on behalf of Fujian Xinhai Shipping Co Ltd. As of October 16th it was off the west coast of India en route from Mangalore, India, to Simasima, Qatar, ETA October 16th.
Cargo ship Volgo Balt 232 (IMO 8230467) ran aground on the Volga-Caspian Sea Canal at the KM 146 mark on October 15th while en route from Astrakhan, Russia, to Nowshahr, Iran with a cargo of 3,000 tons of corn on board. No leak was reported. A tug was called to refloat the ship.
1981-built, Russia-flagged, 2,600 gt Volgo-Balt 232 is owned and managed by Caspian-Terminal Stevedoring of Moscow, Russia.
Bulk carrier Xin Hai Tong 26 (IMO 9585338) suffered an engine malfunction late on October 13th while travelling north in the Marmara Sea, south of Istanbul, en route from Djen Djen, Algeria, to Novorossyisk, Russia. Istanbul VTS Centre coordinated the transfer of the ship to Ahırkapı Anchorage, assisted by tug Kurtarma 6. As of October 16th the vessel was at Istanbul Anchorage South.
2011-built, China-flagged, 33,044 gt Xin Hai Tong 26 is owned by Fujian Highton Development Co of Fuzhou, Fujian, China. It is managed by Hai Dong International Shipping Co of Fuzhou, Fujian, China. ISM manager is Fujian Daqin International of Fuzhou, Fujian, China. It is entered with West P&I (Claims Team Hong Kong) on behalf of Fujian Highton Development Co Ltd.