A 30-year-old crude oil tanker, the Zulu (IMO 9018464), suffered a technical failure and moored at Datca anchorage, Turkiye on November 5th. The crew began repairs.
1993-built, Tanzania-flagged, 79,978 gt Zulu is owned and managed by Veline Shiptrade Inc of Mahe Island, Seychelles. As of November 7th it was at anchor in the Eastern Med, waiting for order.
Netherlands-flagged Greenpeace vessel, 63 gt Witness (IMO 8977259) on October 20th entered the area off Uruguay in which energy company Equinor was carrying out offshore exploration. It was turned back by the Naval Prefecture, days after the country’s Supreme Court rejected the organizations’ protest proposals. Greenpeace claimed that the exploration was causing environmental damage. The vessel tried to approach the ship that was carrying out seismic studies, and after the intervention of the Prefecture it was forced to return to the port of Piriápolis, Uruguay. Greenpeace said that the aim of the ship was documenting the biodiversity of the Argentine Sea rather than stopping eh exploration work. Greenpeace denied that its intention had been to approach the vessel hired by Equinor to carry out the exploration tasks, or to generate any type of propaganda movement against the work being carried out in the Argentine Sea.
As of November 8th the vessel was moored at Piriapolis, Uruguay.
Self-discharging bulk carrier American Courage (IMO 7634226) ran aground in the St Clair river in front of Marine City, Michigan, on November 7th while sailing downstream from Detroit to East Marina, USA. The US Coast Guard said it was notified at 07:21 local time that the 617ft vessel had grounded with a cargo of 20,000 tons of stone on board. No injuries or pollution have been reported. The river remained open to navigation, although a marine safety broadcast was issued urging mariners to use caution while transiting the area. The USCG said that it was coordinating with the vessel’s owner –Traverse City, Michigan-based Grand River Navigation, a subsidiary of Rand Logistics – to devise a plan to refloat the elderly vessel. “We are working closely with Grand River Navigation, our port partners, and international, federal and state entities to ensure the safety of the waterway and the quick resolution of this incident,” said a USCG Sector Detroit spokesman. “With no injuries or pollution reported, our plan is to refloat the American Courage and coordinate with partner services for assistance and safe navigation”, he said.
1979-built, USA-flagged, 11,688 gt American Courage is owned and managed by American Steamship Co of Williamsville, New York, USA. It is entered with Steamship Mutual (Americas Syndicate) on behalf of American Steamship Co. As of November 8th the vessel was Stopped on Belle River north of Lake Saint Clair, Great Lakes, USA.
Nigerian Navy ship NNS Beecroft apprehended eight Nigerian stowaways trying to exit the country aboard container ship Natal (IMO 9333072) on November 3rd. The stowaways were found inside the rudder compartment.
2007-built, Liberia-flagged, 35,573 gt Natal is owned by Diamond Sea Maritime Ltd care of manager NSC Shipping of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with Shipowners’ Club on behalf of PT Meratus Line.
https://punchng.com/navy-arrests-eight-stowaways-on-abidjan-bound-ship/