By Kathy A. Smith
Shipowners in Norway have made it known that they are working toward the goal of having the Norwegian fleet be completely climate neutral by 2050, and from 2030 on, vessels being ordered will have to be equipped with zero emissions technology.
Deadly Disasters and Other Incidents
Transiting too fast in the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel, Germany ensured the cargo ship Rimini crashed into the lock gate, damaging her bow and making the gate completely inoperable. Thankfully, there were no injuries or fuel spills.
Again in the Kiel Canal, only this time in Hochdonn, Germany, fog was the culprit that resulted in a collision between the ro/ro passenger ferry Hochdonn and the cargo vessel Scheldebank. The Hochdonn suffered damage to her port side, and one of the vehicles aboard was also damaged, while the Scheldebank had minimal bow damage.
In Indonesia, an explosion on the Jag Leela tanker resulted in crude oil cargo flashing into flames while the ship was at berth in the PT Nusa Sentana shipyard at Belawan. Nearby vessels were set aflame during the incident. A massive response saw several firefighters and fire boats arrive at the scene. It took seven hours for firefighters to finally put out the blaze. Seven crew aboard Jag Leela didn’t make it, while several others with injuries were taken to hospital.
In France, in the Bay of Biscay, the Le Marie Louis fishing vessel sank after authorities received a distress call. Luckily four crew made it into two life rafts. While authorities mustered to action, the Mat Ma Co fishing vessel found the beleaguered crew, who were subsequently airlifted to get medical attention.
Near Sambu Island, Batam in the Strait of Singapore, two vessels crashed into each other while trying to avoid a tug. Apparently, authorities tried to raise the attention of both ships before the collision occurred but could not. The bulk carrier Samudra Sakti hit the Shahraz containership amidships, resulting in both vessels grounding.
In Texas, off Port Aransas, an injured crewman had to be medevaced off the Cap Guillaume tanker after injuring his arm. Local authorities dispatched a helicopter crew to get the man hoisted off the ship and safety taken to hospital for treatment.
Piracy Pulse
A routine fishing trip turned out to be quite stressful when 10 bandits were able to get aboard a fishing vessel near the Ivory Coast and threaten the crew. Luckily the quick work of authorities made sure that a Nigerian navy patrol vessel was able to come to the rescue, taking the would-be thieves off the fishing vessel and getting the crew and ship to safety.
In the Singapore Straits, three watchmen aboard a barge under tow, had to contend with six marauders brandishing machetes, intent on a very nasty mission. The bandits took one of the watchmen hostage, while the other two watchmen were able to get away and raise the alarm. In the scurry to escape, the thieves grabbed the watchmen’s mobile phones.
A lone, knife-wielding robber got onto an anchored tanker at Anyer Anchorage in Indonesia but an alert crew ensured the alarm was raised. The crew were surprised, however, to see another bandit exiting the emergency steering room. The thieves then quickly excited the ship with stolen engine spares.
Odds and Ends
The first Japanese-built LNG-fueled ferries are to be equipped with a Wärtsilä LNG package, comprising the company’s W31DF engine, LNGPac storage, gearbox, supply and control systems. The Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki are being built for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) subsidiary Ferry Sunflower Ltd. Each vessel will accommodate up to 136 trucks, 100 cars and 763 passengers. They are expected to enter into service in 2023.
Hyundai Merchant Marine recently revealed it will be launching the reportedly world’s largest containership later this year. The 24,000-TEU HMM Algeciras is one of a dozen being built with optimized hull designs and innovative environmental equipment including high-efficiency engines and scrubber systems.
Kathy Smith writes for global maritime trade journals and provides marketing copy to maritime businesses worldwide. She can be reached at maritimewriter@gmail.com.
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Could be about news, trends, basic industry terms, ‘how-it’s-done’ or something you’re observing in your own industry sector. Send them to maritimewriter@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to answer them, either by email or in one of my upcoming columns (where first name-only references will be used).
