- Two killed in engine room fire aboard Singapore-flagged “Mandy” off China
A fatal fire broke out aboard the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier Mandy off Shandong, China, on 17 February, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and injuries to another.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) stated that fire originated in the engine room of the vessel at approximately 7:35 p.m. Singapore time. The blaze was brought under control and was later extinguished by the crew.
A total of 25 Myanmar nationals were abaord the 295-meters-long vessel. Two crew members were reported deceased, while a third was evacuated to a shore-based medical facility for further treatment. No pollution has been reported.
Mandy is a 2010-built vessel operated by Pacific Rim International Shipping. At the time of the incident, the vessel was sailing from Singapore. The operator has since arranged for the ship to be towed to Yantai Port, China.
- Crew member killed in fire aboard World Legacy off Singapore
A fatal fire accident occurred aboard the Liberian-flagged Ro-Ro/passenger vessel World Legacy while the ship was bound for Singapore in the early hours of 20 February.
The blaze reportedly originated at about 4:00 am (Singapore time) on deck nine of the vessel. Emergency teams from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) attended the scene and brought the blaze under control.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed the incident and reported that one crew member, an Indonesian national, was deceased. No injuries among the remaining crew and passengers were reported.
At the time of the incident, the 154.48-meter-long vessel built in 1982, had a total of 271 passengers that include 139 passengers of Singapore national.
- Merchant vessel approached by armed skiffs off Aden
On 17 February, a merchant vessel encountered three small craft approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden, Yemen. One white skiff with five individuals approached the merchant vessel while two additional skiffs were observed operating in the surrounding area. Initial reports indicated that small arms fire had been exchanged.
The incident was reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) which later clarified that the arm fire was for warming and no weapons were directed at either vessel. The incident has since been assessed as suspicious activity.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and have advised vessels transiting in the region to remain vigilant and promptly report any unusual movements.
- Cargo vessel “Yangze Venus” suffers breakdown in Turkish waters
On 17 February, the cargo vessel Yangze Venus suffered a machinery failure off the coast of Gelibolu while en route from Karabiga, Canakkale, to Italy. No injuries or pollution were reported.
The vessel experienced a breakdown approximately 17 nautical miles off Gelibolu, in open waters off Sarkoy, Turkey. The incident was coordinated by the Canakkale Ship Traffic Services (VTS) Center.
Authorities deployed the tugboat Rescue-19, which successfully secured the disabled vessel and towed it to the Karabiga Anchorage Area, where it was safely anchored.
Yangze Venus is a Marshall-Island-flagged vessel built in 2013. The vessel measures 137 meters long, 18.9 meters wide, and has a carrying capacity of 12,094 tonnes.
