The Admiralty Court, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, issued an order on September 30th to arrange the discharge and disposal of the damaged cargo on general cargo ship Bene (IMO 9237204). The vessel was likely to sail after the completion of cargo off-loading and the issue of a Court Release Order. 2001-built, Croatia-flagged, 27,993 gt Bene is owned by Bene Maritime Inc care of manager Jadroplov International Maritime Transport Ltd of Split, Croatia. It is entered with Steamship Mutual (Smuab) (European syndicate) on behalf of Bene Maritime Inc.
Fuel removal from sunken German World War II heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen ended on October 14th. The vessel is in the Kjawalein Atoll, Micronesia. About 97% of the bunker oil was reported pumped off. The remainder was secured inside inner tanks. The oil was pumped to another vessel after divers of the Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 1 drilled holes into the bunker tanks of the wreck. The removal of the oil brings to a close a long-running and fascinating history for the cruiser. She was one of the few German naval vessels to survive the war, but after some period in the US, she was eventually scheduled to be disposed of in nuclear tests in the Pacific. However, she survived two atomic bomb blasts. In late 1946 she began to list badly and, despite attempts to beach her before she capsized, she sank. The US government denied salvage rights to interested parties because the steel was irradiated. Beginning in 1974 there appeared warnings of potential fuel leaks, and the US and the Federated States of Micronesia have been conducting an (intermittent) joint oil removal effort ever since.
On October 3rd the master of cargo ship Mount Apo (IMO 9493755) noticed a diesel oil tank manhole opened and traces of oil leading towards the ship’s side during his routine morning rounds on board. An investigation indicated that robbers had boarded the vessel, stole oil from the tank and escaped. 2012-built, Liberia-flagged, 91,792 gt Mount Apo is owned by Cisslow Shipping Inc care of manager Eastern Pacific Shipping Ltd of Singapore. It is entered with London Club on behalf of Cisslow Shipping Inc.
Tanker Maersk Tacoma (IMO 9708617) was boarded by two robbers on October 13th while she was anchored at the Apapa-Lagos secure anchorage in Nigeria. The duty watchman noticed the robbers and raised the alarm. The robbers jumped overboard and escaped after hearing the alarm. The incident was reported to the local authorities and a patrol vessel was dispatched to investigate. Upon investigation, nothing was found to have been stolen. 2015-built, Singapore-flagged, 29,445 gt Maersk Tacoma is owned by Maersk Tankers Singapore Pte of Singapore. It is managed by Maersk Tankers of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is entered with Gard P&I (Bermuda) on behalf of Maersk Tankers AS.
Container vessel Maersk Newbury (IMO 9231470) was boarded by pirates while transiting under pilot at Guayaquil River in Ecuador on October 2nd. The master alerted the local authorities after he spotted unauthorized persons on board. One of the crew members was assaulted by the robbers and sustained a small cut to his forehead. The crew hid in the forecastle store. After the robbers realized that they had been discovered, they left the ship. The ship resumed its voyage. There were no injuries to the remaining crew members and no items were stolen. 2001-built, Singapore-flagged, 26,592 gt Maersk Newbury is owned by Moller Singapore AP Pte Ltd of Singapore. It is Managed by Maersk Line AS of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is entered with Britannia Club on behalf of Maersk Line AS.
Passenger/cargo RoRo St Clare (IMO 9236949) was pulled from service on October 12th after it was discovered that her certification had expired. Ferries started to back up on the Solent during the afternoon when the vessel was sidelined at Fishbourne. The delay grew to five hours, with thousands of people on both sides of the Solent affected. The ferry was apparently withdrawn from service on the basis of advice given by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). A Lloyd’s Register surveyor attended on October 13th to inspect the ship, after which she returned to service. The St Clare re-entered service that afternoon. It was unclear when exactly the previous certificate expired and how the expiration date was missed. 2001-bult, UK-flagged, 5,952 gt St Clare is owned by ING Lease UK Ltd care of manager Wightlink Ltd of Portsmouth, UK. It is entered with Shipowners’ Club on behalf of Wightlink Ltd.