Bulk carrier Green K-Max 6 (IMO 9862621) suffered engine failure and went adrift on August 31st in the South China Sea while it was 290 nm east of Vung Tau, Vietnam. On September 2nd the Chinese Coast Guard was alerted, although it was not clear how this occurred, as the vessel did not appear to have issued a distress signal. The CCG Command dispatched a ship to the ship’s last known location. The Green K-Max 6 was then taken on tow on September 3rd and towed towards Vung Tau. As the afternoon of September 5th local time the carrier was nearing Vung Tau outer anchorage, apparently sailing under its own power, but at a reduced speed. The vessel had been en route from Ust Luga, Russia, to Caofeidian China. However, it was understood that there was an issue with the engine, requiring repairs. As of September 6th the vessel was at Ho Chi Minh Port Anchorage.
2020-built, Liberia-flagged, 44,051 gt Green K-Max 6 is owned by Saor Cheer Shipping Ltd care of manager Aegean Eco Carriers SA of Piraeus, Greece. It is entered with Skuld (Piraeus) on behalf of Soar Cheer Shipping Ltd.
Passenger/vehicle RoRo Dada Star (IMO 7501613) suffered a ramp hydraulic system failure on September 3rd after its arrival from at Famagusta from Mersin, Turkiye, and a ramp collapsed with a loaded heavy truck on it during the discharge operation of trucks from the upper deck. The truck driver was seriously injured and taken to the state hospital by ambulance. The Harbour Master launched an investigation. The Chief Officer and Captain of the ferry were arrested by the Public Prosecutor. State surveyors attended the incident scene. Permission to depart was withdrawn by the Maritime Authority until the completion of both legal and technical investigations. In the meantime, repairs to the damage were begun by the crew, together with shore based technical support teams. The vessel remained stationary at the Famagusta ferry terminal pier.
1976-built, Lebanon-flagged 9,079 gt Dada Star is owned by Alouf MS of Tripoli, Lebanon. It is managed by Med Star Shipping Co SA of Tripoli, Lebanon. As of September 3rd the vessel was underway off Mersin.
Police and firefighters were on alert at Reykjavík harbour, Iceland during the morning of September 4th after two activists fastened themselves to the masts of two whaling vessels, one of which was the Hvalur 9 (IMO 5361148). One of the activists, identified as Anahita Babaei, said that: “I am part of the growing group of people here in Iceland that is against whaling. We are doing what we can to stop these ships from leaving the harbour” She said that she would stay on the mast for as long as she could. “The reason I am doing this is not to cause trouble for anyone directly apart from the owners of Hvalur HF. I understand though that my actions will affect other groups of people indirectly, and to them I would like to apologize in advance. The actions of the owners of Hvalur HF affect many people and so action against them will also do the same. If a law is unjust, one is not only right to disobey it, one is obliged to do so.”
1952-built, Iceland-flagged, 573 gt Hvalur 9 is owned and managed by Hvalur HF of Hafnarfjordur, Iceland.
Dive boat Honeydew (MMSI 235052721), with 14 people on board, ran aground on a rock at the entrance to Loch Sunart during the morning of September 4th. The Tobermory RNLI lifeboat was tasked to assist, and the landing craft Sarah Ann tried in vain to tow the Honeydew off the rocks. It then took on board the 11 passengers and three crew members. They were transferred to the Tobermory lifeboat and returned to Tobermory. The dive boat was refloated and escorted into Tobermory port by the Tobermory lifeboat, and the rescue operation concluded at 20:30 local time. As of September 6th the vessel was heading from Tobermory to Stromness.