Firefighters were called in to respond to a new fire aboard wood chips carrier Batativa Express (IMO 9539987) at Cape Town harbour, South Africa, on October 14th, with plumes of smoke emanated from the ship. A fire originally erupted in the cargo hold the vessel while it was sailing west of Cape Town, South Africa, on September 15th or earlier (IMN September 25th). The vessel was en route from Santos, Brazil to Qingdao, China, but had to interrupt its voyage and request assistance. It was taken to Saldanha Bay northern anchorage, where it was assisted by firefighters. Later it moved to Cape Town anchorage until it was designated safe to be moored. The fire was reported to be finally extinguished by September 22nd. SMIT Salvage and a fire crew from the Netherlands had assisted in removing eucalyptus paper bales from the cargo holds. The damaged products were first extinguished at quay side and then transported to the Vissershok landfill site. The salvaged cargo was first inspected and then transported to Paarden Island to a facility for temporary storage. Until the fire re-emerged, this operation had been expected to be completed on October 20th. The new incident was reported to be under control, with assistance from the City’s Fire and Rescue Service continuing to be provided until the vessel leaves the harbour.
2013-built, Hong Kong-flagged, 54,695 gt Batavia Express is owned by Batavia Express Ltd care of manager Nova Shipping & Logistics Pte of Singapore. ISM manager is Orion Ship Management Pte Ltd of Singapore. It is entered with NorthStandard on behalf of Batavia Express Ltd. As of October 18th the vessel was moored in Cape Town, South Africa.
Report with photo:
General cargo ship Aleksander Gusev (IMO 9052678) drifted aground on the coast of Karelinskaya Guba inlet, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, during the morning of October 17th, apparently the result of stormy weather. All eight crew were airlifted to safety, but salvage was postponed until the weather improved. No leaks or pollution were reported.
1993-built, Russia-flagged, 1,598 gt Aleksander Gusev is owned and managed by Inarctica North-West LLC of Murmansk, Russia.
Fishing vessel Antonio Maria (IMO 8792348) was reported to have narrowly avoided a collision with trawler Defiant (IMO 8701698) during the morning of October 16th around 18 miles east of Unst. Defiant skipper Magnus Polson had begun towing when apparently after 15 minutes the Antonio Maria altered course and within five minutes had come dangerously close to the port side of the Defiant. Two crewmen appeared on the French vessel’s stern, and one of them threw a rope into the sea. Attempts by Mr Polson to contact the vessel were unsuccessful. The Defiant had no but to begin hauling back the gear to make room, he said. Following the encounter, Shetland Fishermen’s Association, Scottish White Fish Producers Organisation, and Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael called for an investigation and tougher action against what he described as “offending foreign vessels”.
2001-built, France-flagged, 326 gt Antonio Maria is owned and managed by La Paloma Sarl of Hendaye, France. As of October 18th the vessel was long-line fishing in the North Sea, having left Scrabster, UK, on October 12th.
1987-built, UK-flagged, 241 gt Defiant is owned by Defiant Fishing Whalsay care of manager LHD Ltd of Lerwick, Shetland.
A norovirus outbreak was reported on cruise ship Scarlet Lady (IMO 9804801) during the five-day voyage which started on October 8th, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 70 cases were reported during a cruise that took in Cozumel in Mexico, and Bimini, Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Of 2,198 passengers there were 66 cases, and seven crew members also reported symptoms. Established CDC health protocols require the reporting of gastrointestinal outbreaks affecting at least 2% of a cruise ship’s passengers and crew members or 3% of the passengers alone. The medical team isolated the patients and immediately enacted enhanced sanitization procedures, including additional cleaning of cabins and high-contact areas around the ship, working closely with the CDC and their medical professionals. The ship’s next batch of passengers were alerted. Sanitary measures were undertaken to prevent another outbreak. The next sailing to Grand Turk and Bimini on October 13th proceeded as scheduled. T
2020-built, Bahamas-flagged, 108,192 gt Scarlet Lady is owned by VC Sip One Ltd care of V Cruises US LLC (Virgin Voyages) of Plantation, Florida, USA. ISM manager is Virgin Cruises Intermediate of Plantation, Florida. It is entered with Skuld (Skuld Western Europe and Americas) on behalf of Virgin Cruises Intermediate Ltd. As of October 18th it was underway at Miami Port, Florida, USA.