Selected items from compilation of Intership Navigation Training Center. Issue 27 / 2010

1. CASUALTY WEBRIEF

M/V AFRICAN ZEBRA (Bahamas, 23207gt) collided with F/V NINA NITU (Denmark), in S-Kattegat, 6-July-2010. A Swedish helicopter rescued 2 men before the fishing vessel sank.

M/V MEDBAY (Philippines, 957 teu, Aboitiz) while berthing in Manila South Harbor hit M/V SUN GLORY (Panama, 11600dwt) causing significant damages, 5-July-2010.

M/V YEOMAN BONTRUP (Bahamas, 96772dwt) had major fire on board that started from the loading conveyor belt, in Glensanda, Scotland, 2-July-2010. There were acetylene cylinders explosion on board. The crew accommodations suffered significant damage. One person was hospitalized and a number of crewmembers were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation and for minor injuries.

M/V KOTA KADU (Singapore, 31070 gt, 3081teu) Nansha for Singapore, w/22-crew, hit an underwater obstruction in approx. 21-55.9N, 114 05E, between Miaowan and Beijian Islands, 29-June-2010. Ship suffered flooding to FP tank, No.2 and 3 holds and bottom tank room. Master beached the vessel in Hong Kong shallow waters - lat 22 10.4N, long 114 03.27E on 30-June-2010.

M/V POLAR STAR (Barbados), w/ 67 passengers and 46-crew ran aground off Hornsund, South-Spitsbergen, 30-June-2010. The next day, M/V FRAM (Norway) came and evacuated all passengers to Longyearbyen. There was report of damage and water ingress, but no injury and no spill.

M/V BELOMORSKIY RYBAK (Russia) had explosion during fuel tank cleaning, Murmansk, 7-July-2010. Safety rules were violated resulting in explosion. The shockwave caused 3 men on deck to lose balance and fall into the hold. One of them has severe burns. 7-July-2010.

2. PORT STATE CONTROL

Fm GL: In 2010 the main PSC regions decided not to carry out a Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CIC) on an agreed topic. The following CICs are planned starting in September-2010:

Paris MOU and Black Sea MOU: CIC on Tanker Damage Stability

Tokyo MOU and Indian Ocean MOU: CIC on the IMDG Code and MARPOL Annex III

GL has published a recommendation on tankers that cover topics about approved Stability booklet with reference to intact stability, damage stability and strength requirements, Loading computer able to perform damage stability calculations and a Questionnaire sheet already used by a flag state is included in the annex. 

3. PIRACY

Chem. M/T MOTIVATOR (Marshall I, 13000dwt) w/ 18-Filipino crew, was hijacked by pirates in the southern Red Sea, about 50 miles north of the Bab el Mandeb Strait, 4-July-2010.

M/V NORTH SPIRIT (St. Vincent &G, 6395gt)’s Russian master and chief engineer, and M/V ARGO (Lithuania, 3998gt)’s master were released by their abductors after ransom was paid, 3-July-2010. The 2 ships were attacked 16-May, abducting the 3 officers, in the anchorage of Douala, Cameroon.

BBC POLONIA (Antigua &B, 7752dwt, German owned) was attacked by gunmen off the coast of Niger Delta, near Bonny. One crewmember was shot in the leg and 12 others kidnapped, 2-July-2010. Two days after, the hostage crewmembers were released.

4. POLLUTION CASES

M/V PACIFIC ADVENTURER (HK, 18391gt)’s master is accused in Brisbane of discharging oil into the sea off Queensland, 5-July-2010. If convicted, he faces a fine of AU $ 350,000. Prosecutors claim that there was a reckless failure to maintain the ship’s container lashings causing the 31 boxes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer to be lost overboard in 11-March-2009 during cyclone HAMISH. About 270 tons oil leaked out as a result of containers puncturing the hull. Two shipowner companies of the Pacific Adventurer, its charterer and the ship operator will jointly pay a fine of about  AU $ 5.9M if found guilty. About AU $ 27m had been paid already last year.

M/V ISLAND EXPRESS I (Panama, USA owned)’s shipping company is facing federal charges in connection with the alleged dumping of oily wastewater from its ship directly into the ocean in the Dania Beach, Florida. The company faces two counts for failing to maintain an accurate Oil Record Book. Each count can carry a fine of $500,000. The master, chief engineer and a marine services company also face charges related to the case for allegedly claiming that the ship's pollution prevention systems were adequate. 30-June-2010.

Update- DEEPWATER HORIZON 6-July-2010: Oil spill has hit 5 US Gulf States including Texas. Tar balls have landed on the coasts. Up to 60,000 barrels of oil a day have leaked into the Gulf since 22-April. BP continuously collects or burn captured-oil. Clean-up operation is continuously done. There are reports that mid-August is the target for intercepting and killing the blown out well.

Care should be taken by vessels navigating in the affected area, including daily monitoring and compliance with Coast Guard updates and bulletins (some useful sites are http://homeport.uscg.mil/morgancity and http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/).