- Cargo Ship Damaged in Explosion off Ukraine’s Odessa Coast, No Crew Injured
On Sunday, 31st August, Ukrainian news media reported that the Belize-flagged general cargo vessel NS Pride sustained damage after hitting an explosive device near the coast of Ukraine’s Odessa region, close to the port city of Chornomorsk, Ukraine.
The vessel was en route from Zonguldak, Turkey, to Sulina, Romania, at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported among the crew, and the ship remained stable without water ingress, allowing it to continue its voyage.
Odesa’s governor stated on Sunday that Chornomorsk suffered a large-scale overnight drone attack by Russian forces, which targeted energy facilities and caused widespread power outages across the region. According to preliminary reports, the vessel was damaged after an unexploded part of the previously downed Russian drone attack exploded beneath it.
Ukraine Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk confirmed the incident, stating that the vessel struck an unidentified explosive device.
NS Pride is a 1988-built cargo vessel that measures 95 metres in length,16 metres in width and has a carrying capacity of 3,376 tonnes.
- Collision Reported Between Tanker and Bulk Carrier off Tanah Merah, Singapore
A collision occurred between the Singapore-flagged Bunkering tanker Marine Dynamo and the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Flag Gangos. Fortunately, both vessels were stable following the collision and only one crew member sustained minor injuries. An oil sheen near the collision site has also been reported.
The incident occurred around eight kilometers from the coast of Tenah Merah in Singapore. The captain of the Marine Dynamo notified the Marine Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) about it at around 9:25 AM in the morning. The captain also mentioned that the impact on their vessel had caused a leak in the service tank, resulting in Marine Gas Oil (MGO) being released into the waters.
The MPA promptly dispatched patrol vessels and spill response vessels to the scene. The situation is being monitored via aerial drones, and authorities have confirmed that navigational safety in the area has not been compromised.
One crewmember aboard the Marine Dynamo suffered minor injuries and is being provided medical attention aboard the vessel itself.
The MPA has reported that both the vessels are stable and that the leaked MGO is expected to evaporate from the sea surface and degrade naturally.
- Barbados-Flagged Cargo Vessel Runs Aground at Greece’s Mantoudi Port
On 1st September, the Barbados-flagged general cargo vessel Hagrid with 13 crewmembers ran aground at the port of Mantoudi, Greece. The vessel after loading 5,002 metric tons of white stone was en-route to Ireland when it struck the sandy bottom of the port and became grounded.
No injuries or marine pollution were reported. The pier sustained only minor surface abrasions in the incident.
The Hellenic Coast Guard at Mantoudi initiated a preliminary investigation and arrested the vessel’s captain for violating article 277 of the Greek Criminal Code, “Causing a shipwreck,” and article 378 of the Criminal Code, “Damage to another’s property”.
The vessel has been detained and moored at Mantoudi Port until its seaworthiness is certified by the classification society.
Hagrid is a 2008-built vessel that measures 99.89 metres in length, 16.8 metres in width and has a carrying capacity of 6,064 tonnes.
- Update:Israeli-Owned Vessel Experiences Explosion While Sailing Near the Port of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
An Israeli-owned, Liberian-flagged chemical tanker Scarlet Ray reported an explosion and a splash while sailing around 40 nautical miles off the port of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. The crew and the vessel are reported to be unharmed, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call.
The incident occurred on 31st August, when the vessel’s crew reported a loud bang along with a splash in close proximity to the ship. The captain reported the incident to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and confirmed that the crew were unharmed and the vessel undamaged.
Authorities are reportedly investigating the incident, and UKMTO has issued advisories for vessels in the area to exercise caution.
In an update, on 1st September, Yemen’s Houthi rebel group claimed responsibility, stating that it had launched a missile towards the tanker Scarlet Ray near Yanbu.
Scarlet Ray is a 2020-built tanker that measures 145.26 metres in length, 24.20 metres in width and has a carrying capacity of 19,974 tonnes.
- Portuguese Navy Searches Container Ship After Report of Armed Boarding
The Portuguese Navy confirmed earlier media reports that an operation is underway off the coast after a containership requested assistance. The vessel said there were boarders aboard, and unconfirmed media reports said at least two crewmembers had been locked in the engine room.
The vessel, Odysseus (39,420 dwt), is managed by Cosmoship of Greece and was underway last night, September 3, from Virgo to Malga. The alert requesting assistance went out around 2300 local time while the vessel was off the Algarve coast near the city of Lagos, Portugal.
Built in 2006, the vessel has a capacity for 2,824 TEU. It is registered in Liberia
