After having been severely damaged by chemical oil products tanker Elsa Essberger (IMO 9481001), on December 31st 2017 off Den Helder, unmanned gas platform Unocal Q1 is to be scrapped on site. Operator Petrogas E&P Netherlands has recruited DEME subsidiary GeoSea to dismantle the installation, some 20 miles off the coast. Liftship Apollo (IMO 9769764) will carry out the job. Two of the four legs of the Unocal Q1 were bent when the tanker struck it. Elsa Essberger underwent repairs at Søby, Denmark, from January 23rd to March 20th. 2013-built, Portugal-flagged, 4,824 gt Elsa Essberger is owned by Funfzehnte Oceania Schiffahrts care of manager John T Essberger GmbH & Co KG of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with UK P&I Club (Area group London L1) on behalf of KG Fuenfzehnte OCEANIA Schiffahrtsgesellschaft mbH.
General cargo ship Mekhanik Kottsov (IMO 8904410) ran aground shortly after midnight on August 16th in the port entrance of Onega, Arkhangelsk Oblast, while loaded with 3,903 cubic meters of timber bound for Saint-Malo. The accident happened while the vessel was leaving port, with a pilot on board. A tug was sent to assist. The ship apparently left the fairway after an engine failure. 1991-built, 2,489 gt Mekhanik Kottsov is owned and managed by Northern Shipping Co of Arkhangelsk, Russia. It is entered with West of England (Claims Team 1) on behalf of Northern Shipping Co.
Containership Pocahontas (IMO 9376892) was suspected of having collided with three small fishing boats at Nouadhibou Roads, Mauritania, early on August 16th. Nine fishermen were reported either missing or dead. 2007-built, Liberia-flagged, 16,162 gt Pocahontas is owned by Bomar Eight LLC care of manager Hanseatic Unity Chartering of Hamburg, Germany. ISM manager is V Ships Germany GmbH of Hamburg. It is entered for hull with Norwegian Hull Club on behalf of Borealis Maritime Ltd, with Gard having a subscription position. The vessel has had a number of names during her lifetime: Bomar Regent; Mell Sayang; Montana; Rickmers China, and Yard No.YZJ2005-697C Jiangsu Y.
Passenger/cargo RoRo Nissos Chios (IMO 9215555) suffered ramp damage during the evening of August 18th when leaving the port of Chios during its scheduled service from Piraeus to Chios. The Central Port Authority of Chios detained the ship. After the damage was repaired and a certificate of the classification society was presented, she was allowed to sail again, only slightly delayed. 2007-built, Greece-flagged, 13,955 gt Nissos Chios is owned and managed by Hellenic Seaways of Piraeus, Greece. It is entered with Gard P&I (Bermuda) on behalf of Hellenic Seaways Maritime SA.
Fish carrier Migdale (IMO 9220689) reported a fuel pump malfunction and was drifting at 1.5 knots while en route from Lerwick, with a crew of four and a cargo of live fish on board, on the morning of August 18th. Within half an hour emergency tug Ievoli Black was tasked to tow the vessel into Lerwick. The vessel was carrying 20,000 litres of marine diesel oil as bunker on board. However, the pump defect was rectified, all safety checks were completed, and the vessel continued her way at 8.7 knots towards Hoganes. 2000-built, Norway-flagged, 482 gt Migdale is owned and managed by Migdale Transport Ltd of Inverness, Scotland, UK. It is entered with Carina on behalf of Migdale Transport Ltd.