A small general cargo ship, the Ying Hai, which is owned by Taiwan’s Elite Marine Transportation, sank on October 3rd off the southwest of the island. Authorities warned ships in the area to look out for floating containers south of the Penghu archipelago. The Ying Hai developed a heavy starboard list on Tuesday after a number of containers moved on its deck.
A Tanzanian-flagged general cargo ship, Alta, broke down in mid-Atlantic while transiting from Greece to Haiti. The crew reported that they had enough food for two days and water for 15 days. The US Coast Guard has responded; an aircrew aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, was able to airdrop enough food for a week to the crew on Tuesday October 2nd. The shipowner has contracted a commercial tug to tow the vessel to Saint Maarten, but the tug is not expected to arrive at Alta’s location before next week.
Multi-purpose carrier Vafa-3 (IMO 8721301) ran aground at the 153.4-km mark on the Volgo-Caspian Ship Canal on October 1st while en route from Nowshahr, Iran to Astrakhan. Russian MRCC said that the vessel had not been able to refloat on its own. The Captain of the port of Olya suspended vessel traffic during darkness on the canal in the vicinity of the grounded vessel. As of noon local time on October 4th the vessel was reported “at anchor” at Astrakhan. 1984-built, Iran-flagged, 3,086 gt Vafa 3 is owned by Vafa Piroz Shipping Co care of manager Moje Sepide Atlas Co, Bandar Anzali, Iran.
General cargo ship Marina (IMO 9369784) drifted and allided with a seawall in Ogishima, in Kawasaki, Japan, on October 1st. The vessel reportedly was swept away by the strong waves and winds brought by Typhoon Trami. Subsequently the vessel ran aground next to the seawall of JFE Steel Corp. All 12 crew members evacuated the vessel. No injuries were reported. 2006-built, Belize-flagged, 1,920 gt Marina is owned and managed by Credit Ocean Shipping Co Ltd of Hong Kong.
Fishing trawler Frosti (IMO 9256063) suffered a fire in her engine room on October 2nd. Two helicopters of the Icelandic Coast Guard and patrol boat Týr went to assist. The fire was isolated to the engine room but smoke was on the whole ship apart from the wheelhouse. One crew member was medevaced due to smoke inhalation. That evening the Tyr arrived and began towing the ship to Hafnarfjordur. 2001-built, Iceland-flagged, 327 gt Frosti is owned and managed by Frosti HF of Grenivik, Iceland.