Selected items from compilation of Intership Navigation Training Center. Issue 25 / 2010

1. CASUALTY WEBRIEF

M/V JING FENG (Panama, 21000dwt) collided with M/V HAI JUNG (Cambodia, 2250dwt), off Dalian, China, 20-June-2010. M/V Hai Jung, with 9-crew, sank. Five crewmen including the captain died. Two crewmembers were rescued. Two crewmen are still missing.

M/V BILAL CAVUSOGLU (Turkey, 1400dwt)’s cargo shifted causing the ship to capsize and sink in the Marmara Sea, Turkey, during bad weather, 20-June-2010.  Its five crewmembers were rescued.

Aframax TORM MARINA (Norway, 110000) collided with c.c MSC CAMILLE (Panama, 13200 teu) some 42 miles of Gibraltar, 20-June-2010. No injuries and no pollution.

M/V SOPHIE OLDENDORFF (Liberia, 70000dwt)’s cargo conveyor belt caught fire, while discharging granite in Tampa, Florida, 16-June-2010. Close to a hundred firefighters and 24 fire trucks responded to the scene. Five firemen were hospitalized. No injury to crewmembers.

M/V KEIWA MARU (Japan) was in collision with M/T HAMAKO MARU No.15 (Japan) between Shikoku and Hunshu Islands, 17-June-2010. The M/T Hamaku Maru sank with magnesium hydroxide cargo. Its five crewmembers were rescued. No pollution reported.

M/V FU PING YUAN (China, 3725dwt) sunk after colliding with M/T CS CRANE (Panama, 11347dwt), near Palmido Island, S.Korea, 16-June-2010. All crewmen were rescued by S.Korean Coastguards.  

2. PORT STATE CONTROL

M/V SYCAMORE GLOBAL w/ 17000 tons coal cargo was detained by authorities in the Philippines after it hit a quay wall in Toledo City, Cebu and was investigated. The ship was found with no valid safety/security certificate and no permit to operate as required by MARINA. The master faces revocation of his license.

TOKYO MOU held 20^th Port State Control Committee Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, 14-17 June-2010. Prior to this, the meeting of the Technical Working Group was held. Discussed are PSC Technical procedures and guidelines, Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CIC), Information system and exchange, evaluation of work done. The committee approved the arrangements for the CIC on Harmful substances (Marine Pollutants) Carried in Packaged Form (MARPOL Annex III, SOLAS VII and the IMDG Code to be carried out from 1-September to 30-November-2010.

3. PIRACY

M/V KOTA DAMAI (608teu) was boarded by 8 pirates in 2-59.50'N, 108-11'E 40nm west of Pulau Subi Besar. Less than 24 hours later the KOTA DAHLIA ( 608-teu ) was boarded by six pirates 5nm northeast of the first incident. In both incidents the attackers boarded the containerships from the starboard quarter using a hook with rope. In both incidents the attackers boarded the ships from the starboard quarter using a hook with rope. They spent little time aboard the ships and after stealing personal items such as mobile phones and cash they escaped by speedboat. No crewmember was injured.

Five Somalis were found guilty of piracy and were sentenced to five years in jail, by the Dutch court, 17-June-2010. The men were convicted of attacking M/V SAMANYOLU (3254dwt) in the Gulf of Aden in January last year. In the case, apparently the crew did not attend to give evidence in person but provided written testimony, and also since the pirates apparently threw their weapons over the side, but evidence from the frigate’s crew that they had used them prevailed." The pirates were captured by a Danish patrol vessel during their hijacking attempt.

“21.06.2010: 1359 UTC: Posn: 13:32.7N – 042:59.1E: Bab el Mandeb: Red Sea. Six pirates armed with guns in a skiff chased a bulk carrier underway. The vessel made evasive manoeuvres and enforced anti piracy measures. Pirates in the skiff opened fire on the vessel. Due to effective anti piracy measures the vessel evaded the attack. “(icc-ccs.org)

4. PROBLEMS  WITH  STOWAWAYS

M/V RUI NING 3 (China, 53500dwt) was impounded and its master and 2 crewmembers are under arrest in Takoradi, Ghana after reports that three stowaways from Ivory Coast were allegedly found hiding in the ship’s crane then thrown overboard. Two of the stowaways were rescued by a navy patrol boat while the third is feared to have drowned. 15-June-2010.

5. POLLUTION CASE

M/V MARGIT GORTHON (Cyprus, 14240dwt): The U.S Justice Department has dropped charges against the bulk carrier that had been held in Eastport, Maine, the Bangor Daily News reported. The Margit Gorthon was accused of falsifying a logbook, removing a gauge so an alleged discharge of bilge oil waste could not be detected and ordering two crew members to lie to authorities. Ship was detained 4-February. Earlier this month, prosecutors at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, Environmental Crimes Section, asked a judge to dismiss the charges without providing a reason. On Monday, U.S. Magistrate in Portland granted the motion.