WEEKLY MARINE INCIDENTS:

.The MSC Container ship; Elsa 3 that was approached by pirates last week in the Gulf of Guinea

Warning Shot From MSC Boxship Deters Nigerian Pirates

A Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) feeder container vessel MSC Elsa 3 was able to deter what could have presumably developed into a pirate attack in the Gulf of Guinea    . A boat was approaching the 1,728-teu MSC Elsa 3 (built 1997), but a warning shot made it turn away. The crew is safe.

Cargo Ship Partially Sank After Water Ingress, Java SeaCargo ship partially sank after water ingress, Java sea

General cargo ship SATYA BERIAYA suffered water ingress and partially sank, probably resting on bottom, on Jan 20, in Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands, northern Java sea, while en route to Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, with cargo of kaolin. Of 15 crew on board, 7 left the ship, 8 remained, understood to assist in salvage.

 
Container ship grounding, Mar del Plata, Argentina

Container ship MADRID TRADER ran aground in fairway while entering Mar del Plata Port, Argentina, at around 1830 UTC Jan 20, with pilot on board. Reportedly, the ship grounded on a sandy bottom because of sailboats in the channel, obstructing safe navigation. Pilot requested port authorities to remove sailboats, and understood, the ship ran aground while waiting for sailboats to clear channel. The ship was refloated in about an hour, and was safely berthed at port. She’s to undergo underwater hull survey. MADRID TRADER arrived from Montevideo, and is bound to sail to Montevideo, after completing cargo operations, providing survey won’t find any significant damages. In the morning Jan 21 she was still at port.
 

Collision At Valdez Oil Terminal Alaska

An accident involving crude oil tanker and tug took place at Valdez Oil Terminal Alaska, on Jan 11, details of an accident having been released on Jan 19. Crude oil tanker POLAR ENDEAVOUR was about to leave terminal after she completed oil loading, when she was struck by maneuvering tug COURAGEOUS, after the tug suddenly went out of control. Tanker sustained a 0.6 meter long gash above waterline, tug also suffered damages, one of tug crew was slightly injured. Tanker remained at Valdez to carry out repairs, she was cleared to go on Jan 18, port of destination Long Beach.

Offshore Supply Tug Sank In Sulu Sea, Northeast Borneo

Offshore supply tug MERMAID CHALLENGER sank off Segama, Lahad Datu, northeast Borneo, Malaysia, in the evening Jan 17, while en route to offshore deployment with some cargo on board, 7 crew abandoned sinking ship on a lifera ft and later were rescued by Royal Malaysian Navy, no injures reported. Sinking was caused by water ingress in bow section of the ship.