Russian cargo vessel overturns, four crew members missing
A Russian flagged cargo ship, the GRIGORY LOVTSOV, overturned near Korsakov Port on Sakhalin Island on October 18, resulting in the loss of life of crewmembers.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of October 18 while the vessel was conducting loading operations while docked at the KORSAKOV Port. After the vessel capsized, the Korsakov port authority promptly requested assistance from nearby vessels and requested four nearby vessels to divert to the region and conduct a search and rescue operation. The responding vessels included two tugboats.
Reports indicate that there were seven crew members present at the time of the capsizing. When the vessel started listing heavily, three of the crewmembers were flung off the vessel into the sea. These crewmembers were later rescued in the search and rescue efforts and have reportedly suffered from hypothermia due to exposure to the cold waters. One of them was released from the hospital, while another sailor is still reported to be in a serious condition.
Four remaining crewmembers were not found, and unconfirmed reports indicate that the bodies of two of these sailors have been recovered.
Crew of vessel MED ATLANTIC Evacuated Safely Following Engine Room Fire in Singaporean waters
A fire broke out in the engine room of the Malta-flagged products tanker MED ATLANTIC on October 21. All 22 crewmembers aboard the vessel were rescued without any injuries.
The incident was reported to the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) at 10:30 AM on October 21. The vessel was at the East Johor Strait in Singaporean waters at the time the fire broke out in the engine room of the vessel. The MPA promptly deployed assistance to the distressed vessel and alerted the authorities.
An MPA patrol vessel, three firefighting and rescue vessels from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), two vessels from the Police Coast Guard, and two tugboats arrived at the scene. All 22 of the crewmembers were rescued without injury and are reported to be safe.
Bulk Carrier Runs Into Canal’s Embankment in Low Visibility Conditions
On the morning of October 23, at around 10:00 AM local time, the bulk carrier ULTRA INFINITY, which was traveling through the Kiel Canal, Germany, struck the embankment due to low visibility conditions brought upon by thick fog. The vessel was able to free itself, and early reports indicate the vessel did not sustain grievous damage.
The incident occurred as the vessel was traversing the Kiel Canal that connects Brunsbuttel and Kiel. The 98-kilometer-long canal was beset by thick fog at the time, such that visibility was reportedly reduced to around 100 m. The vessel ULTRA INFINITY, likely veering off due to low visibility, ended up hitting the embankment on the northern side.
The ULTRA INFINITY is a Singapore-flagged bulk carrier that was built in 2016. The vessel has a length of 200m, a width of 32.24m, and a gross tonnage of 34,804.
The authorities blocked traffic in the canal due to the halted vessel until it was able to free itself and resume its journey to Kiel. Upon the vessel reaching the northern harbor, the tugboat came to its assistance.
Initial reports confirm that none of the crewmembers were injured, and there was minimal damage to the vessel as it was traveling at a slow speed in the canal. Furthermore, there have been no reports of damage to the hull or any indication of pollution from the vessel.
Bulk Carrier With 85,000 Tons of Iron Ore Onboard Runs Aground
On October 23, the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier MILDRED ran aground at the entrance of the Eregli Iron and Steel Factories port in Turkey. The vessel was refloated, and following inspections, it was declared to be unharmed.
The vessel MILDRED was carrying 85,000 tons of iron ore when it ran aground. The fact that the vessel was heavily loaded raised concerns about its stability and potential environmental impacts. Due to the dense cargo, the vessel would have also been difficult to salvage should things have gone wrong.
The vessel running aground was immediately reported to the Eregli port authority, which in turn closed off the cargo ship entrances. The vessel was then inspected by divers, and following their approval, the vessel was refloated by tugboats.
The MILDRED is a 2011-built, Singapore-flagged bulk carrier. It has a length of 292 m, a beam of 45 m, and a gross tonnage of 93,733.
