- 10 killed, 18 Injured in Fire Aboard Vessel “Federal II” Undergoing Repairs in Indonesia
A fire aboard the vessel Federal II has caused the deaths of 10 people and injured at least 18 more. The vessel was undergoing repairs and conversion work and was drydocked at an Indonesian shipyard at the time of the incident.
The fire aboard the vessel reportedly broke out around 4:00 am local time on 15th October as the vessel was drydocked at the PT ASL Shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. The ship was undergoing repair and conversion work, and police briefings state that the fire quickly engulfed the hull while drydocked.
Firefighters and emergency teams quickly arrived on the scene, and the fire was reportedly subdued within an hour. Workers caught in the accident were quickly rushed to nearby hospitals. Ten people died in the accident, and more than 18 people injured are in the hospitals being treated for burns and smoke inhalation.
The vessel was not carrying any fuel and was reportedly emptied before repairs began.
This is the second incident of a fire breaking out aboard the same vessel. In an earlier incident on 24th June of this year, a fire aboard the same vessel killed four workers.
- Cameroon-Flagged Cargo Vessel Eileen Sinks; Turkish Vessel Rescues Crew
The general cargo vessel Eileen sank in the Black Sea due to water ingress. All the crew of the vessel evacuated and were later rescued from life rafts by a Turkish vessel.
A distress call was sent from the Eileen before it sank. The crew reported water ingress in the vessel at around 1:00 pm on 12th October. Later, the captain of the vessel ordered the crew to evacuate to life rafts and abandon ship.
The ship sank within the Ukrainian Search and Rescue zone. Ukrainian authorities contacted the Turkish MRCC Ankara (Turkish search and rescue coordination center) for assistance, and the Turkish-flagged vessel Murat Ilhan was directed to the location.
The Turkish vessel found the crew members aboard life rafts, and they were reported to be in good health. The crew members have been handed over to authorities for further processing.
The Eileen is a Cameroon-flagged general cargo vessel that was built in 1993. The vessel has a length of 86.4 metres, a beam of 14.54 metres, and a gross tonnage of 2,598.
- Mechanical Failure Disables Sofular 1 Off Port-la-Nouvelle
The general cargo vessel Sofular 1 became disabled in the Mediterranean Sea about 20 nautical miles off Port-la-Nouvelle, France, in the afternoon of 10th October. The incident occurred while the vessel carrying a cargo of fertiliser from Sulina suffered a gearbox failure that left it disabled and drifting.
After unsuccessful onboard repair attempts, the crew issued a distress call requesting assistance. In response, French maritime authorities deployed the tug Abeille Méditerranée, which reached the vessel later that day.
The tug secured a tow and safely brought Sofular 1 to Port-la-Nouvelle, where it arrived on 11th October to undergo repairs. No injuries, pollution, or further damage were reported in the incident.
Sofular 1 is a 2011-built vessel sailing under the flag of Panama. It measures 88.8 meters in length and 13.5 meters in width.
- General Cargo Vessel Hagaland Captain Runs Aground Near Svinesund Bridge in Fog
The general cargo vessel Hagland Captain ran aground near the Svinesund Bridge, which connects Norway and Sweden. No pollution or injuries have been reported.
The incident occurred on 16th October at around 1:00 a.m. local time. The vessel was en route from Porsgrunn to Halden, loaded with timber, 85 tons of diesel and 3 tons of lubricants, when it struck ground in dense fog near the bridge.
The Swedish Coast Guard was alerted at 1:30 a.m., and a tugboat directed by the Vessel Traffic Service arrived at the scene around 3:30 a.m., along with the patrol vessel KBV 310. Divers were dispatched to inspect the hull for underwater damage.
The crew of the vessel was questioned and underwent breathalyzer tests that indicate no alcohol involvement. The Norwegian Environmental Emergency Response Team was placed on standby, while the Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS) assisted in transporting environmental protection equipment. The Swedish Transport Agency and the Strömstad rescue service were also informed.
- Vessel Transferring Crew Over to Tanker Capsizes Near Port of Beira, Mozambique
A vessel carrying personnel to the Marshall Islands, a flagged oil and chemical tanker, Sea Quest, capsized on 16th October. Search and rescue operations are continuing as seven people still remain missing.
The incident occurred in the outer anchorage of the port of Beira in Mozambique. A vessel transferring personnel to the tanker Sea Quest capsized in circumstances that remain unclear. The vessel was carrying 21 sailors, 14 of whom were to sign on as crew for the Sea Quest.
The Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre in Mozambique issued an alert to nearby vessels, and 14 people were rescued from the water by the crew of the Sea Quest and nearby good Samaritan vessels.
Seven people are still missing, which includes five sailors who were to sign on as crew for Sea Quest, and a technician and vessel crewmember of the now capsized vessel. Three of the rescued individuals are receiving medical care aboard the Sea Quest.
The operator of the Sea Quest, Scorpio Marine Management, has responded and stated that they are in touch with the sailors’ families. Search and Rescue efforts are continuing around the clock.
