- One injured after tanker–fishing boat collision off Kobe coast
The Japanese-flagged chemical tanker Maruoka Maru collided with a fishing vessel off Kobe Coast, east of the Akashi Strait, leaving one person injured on 11 February.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:15 pm local time, when the tanker’s captain reported the collision to the Kobe Coast Guard. Both vessels sustained bow damage; however, no fuel leakage was observed. Maruoka Maru later continued its voyage to Kure.
In the collision the captain of the fishing vessel had a head injury and was taken to the hospital for treatment and evaluation. The Kobe Coast Guard launched an investigation into the incident.
Maruoka Maru is a 2020-built vessel operating between Kure, Kobe and Osaka. It is managed by a Japanese firm.
- Tanker runs aground in shallow waters off Philippine coast; crew safe
The Philippines-flagged tanker Espada, without any cargo, ran aground in the waters off Barangay San Antonio, Philippines, on 9 February.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that the vessel encountered adverse weather conditions while en route from Calaca to Bais. The vessel sought shelter but subsequently grounded in shallow muddy-sand water, about 300 meters from a river estuary.
All 18 crewmembers, including the captain, were reported safe and unharmed. The PCG conducted an on-site inspection and found the vessel to be stable, with no hull damage or seawater ingress. No fuel leakage or marine pollution were observed, however, oil booms were positioned as precaution.
- Off shore runs aground off Dominican Republic
On 9 February, the Multi-Purpose Offshore Vessel ENE Vision, while en route to Puerto Plata from Louisiana, ran aground at the entrance to Luperón Bay, Dominican Republic.
The vessel was transporting a towboat and a barge under tow when it suffered engine problems, leaving it unable to manoeuvre. The crew subsequently released the towline to the barge and dropped anchor.
The barge was towed by local vessels to Luperón Harbour while authorities plan to remove the towboat from ENE Vision. In the incident, the vessel sustained hull damage, with fuel tanks holed, resulting in a diesel fuel spill. Pollution has since been observed along the shoreline.
Carried by the ebb tide, the vessel was pushed toward shore by wave action and ultimately grounded. Multiple tugs were dispatched in an attempt to refloat the vessel; however, the operation failed after a towline parted, and the ship remained aground. A second refloating attempt at high tide the following day was also unsuccessful.
