Car carrier heavily listed, intentionally grounded
Confirmed by RosMoRechFlot (Russian Maritime Agency) the ship was intentionally grounded, there’s water ingress, SAR underway, ship’s fenced off by several boom layers. 28 crew includes Georgian and Turkish citizen.
Car carrier LIDER BULUT developed heavy starboard list and requested assistance in front of Tuapse Port, Russia, Black sea, in the evening Jun 18. understood she anchored on arrival from Samsun Turkey earlier this day, but later developed list – reportedly because of faulty ballasting – heaved anchor and was moved inshore. As of 0345 UTC Jun 19, ship’s AIS was on, no tugs or aux boats seen nearby, probably awaiting daytime. She looks like she was intentionally grounded in shallows along coastline, to avoid capsizing.
MSC container ship disabled by explosion and fire, 3 crew injured, Med
Container ship MSC RACHELE suffered explosion in engine room, followed by fire, at around 0700 UTC Jun 21 in Mediterranean, some 60 nm SE of Fos, France, while en route from Napoli to Fos. 3 crew were injured and medevaced by helicopter, all 3 transported to hospital, 2 of them in serious condition. The ship was disabled and had to be taken on tow, she was towed to Fos anchorage, anchored at around 0230 UTC Jun 22.
Cargo ship intentionally grounded to avoid sinking, Western India
General cargo ship PRINCESS MIRAL had to interrupt voyage and anchor north of New Mangalore, Western India, on Jun 18, due to unspecified trouble. On Jun 19 the ship had to heave up anchor and sailed south, understood she anchored in front of Mangalore late Jun 19. On Jun 21 the ship issued distress signal, reporting water ingress, and reportedly, intentionally ran aground to avoid sinking. 15 crew, all Syrians, were rescued. PRINCESS MIRAL is en route from China to Beirut Lebanon, with some 8,000 tons of steel coils on board.
Japanese bulk carrier fire, Ghent
Fire erupted at night Jun 23 in cargo hold of bulk carrier LOWLANDS MIMOSA, loading scrap at the Sifferdok in Oostakker, Ghent Belgium. Fire engines and teams were deployed, by 0000 UTC Jun 24 firefighting was still under way. At 0500 UTC Jun 24, fire probably, was still on, with tug at bulk carrier side, most probably deployed in firefighting with her water cannon. No injures reported, extent of damages unknown. Self-ignited scrap fire is a regular type of accident. LOWLANDS MIMOSA docked at Ghent on Jun 18, understood she started loading scrap after shifting berths on Jun 22.
