The 'Rubymar', which was hit by missiles fired from the Houthi-controlled part of Yemen, was now leaking large quantities of oil. A 29 kilometer long oil streak strechted out from the ship on Feb 24. The oil is not the only environmental threat. The bulk carrier is loaded with 22,000 tonnes of fertiliser, which could cause a massive pollution if it ends up in the sea. It was not known whether the ship was stable enough to be towed. The bulk carrier's 20-strong crew and four armed guards have all been brought ashore and were reportedly safe. American and British planes attacked several targets on the night of Feb 25 in the Houthi-controlled part of Yemen. Among the targets were weapons depots, radar installations and a helicopter.
News
SUKHOTHAI
The salvage crew of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and its US counterpart on Feb 23 successfully recovered the metal nameplate of the HTMS "Sukhothai" in the Gulf of Thailand. The limited salvage mission started on Feb 22 off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The mission was initially unsuccessful in retrieving the ship’s nameplate as the divers had only 45 minutes to work underwater, while most of the ship’s surface was covered with barnacles from being under water for nearly two years. The mission continued on Feb 23 and comprised four diving trips. The first two trips were aimed at surveying the ship's exterior and retrieval of its nameplate. The divers succeeded in their mission in the morning and brought the nameplate of the HTMS Sukhothai up from the seabed. The last two trips, to be resumed in the afternoon, were to explore damage to the ship’s prow, seal doors, and Aspide missile launcher at the ship’s tail. The RTN-US navy joint mission, scheduled until March 14, will cover the search for the bodies of five crew from the HTMS 'Sukhothai' still missing and presumed dead. The divers were to also to retrieve certain armaments and objects that are emotionally valuable for the Thai Navy, as well as defuse and neutralise explosives. Report with photos: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40035828
ISLANDER
The 'Islander', en route from Pap Ta Phut to Aladabiyah, diverted its course by 90 degrees after the Houthi attack, which set the ship on fire, on Feb 22. The operator of the Islander is a company called Gemstone Marine Ltd., which is based in Liberia and only owns that ship. Its technical manager is a Romania-based business called African Express Ltd. The ship moored in Djibouti Anchorage on Feb 23 at 8.10 a.m. in pos. 11° 39.22' N 043° 10.55' E.
RAPIDA
The Rapida hits the Railway Bridge at Elsfleth , Train services interrupted https://cdn.vesseltracker.com/hires/2085968.jpg https://cdn.vesseltracker.com/hires/2086059.jpg German Report: https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/119277/5721508
MTT SINGAPORE
Beached at Gadani as Gap 24.02.24 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=801263388685697&set=a.404370641708309
PETUNIA SEAWAYS
Strong winds in western Götaland with speeds with 30 meters per second created difficulties when the roro ferry 'Freesia Seaways' (IMO: 9274848), en route from Immingham, was mooring at Arendal in Gothenburg in the morning. When the vessel was due to dock at Berth 750, allided with the berthed 'Petunia Seaways' and ended up at Berth 751. The impact was light, and there were no indications of damage. Tugs were on site to tow the ship to the right berth, and there was also a pilot on board.
FU YUAN YU 676
The 'Fu Yuan Yu 676, which had transgressed into Indian territorial waters, was spotted by local fishermen off the Mangaluru coast in the deep sea about three days ago. The men on the Chinese boat signalled the Indian fishermen to move away. The Chinese vessel was spotted in the night indulging in light fishing which is banned in India. In a video shot by the Mangaluru fishermen, several boats can be seen indulging in light fishing, which the fishermen claimed were all Chinese. The ship was spotted early the next morning too. When one of the Indian boats approached the vessel, some people can be seen signalling them to move away. The local fishermen have insisted that the Indian Coast Guard should investigate whether the Chinese fishing vessel had entered Indian waters inadvertently or whether it was intentional. Report with photos: https://english.publictv.in/chinese-fishing-vessel-spotted-off-mangaluru-coast-fishermen-want-coast-guard-probe/
PETREL
An autopsy will determine the cause of death of a 31-year-old Galician sailor who died on Feb 20, 2024, aboard the 'Petrel', which had left Vigo for Malvinas on Feb 9. The native of Ribeira (A Coruña), was in the Atlantic two days' journey from the coast of Brazil. The body arrived aboard the ship on Feb 21, 2024, at the port of Recife (Brazil). In the absence of autopsy results, it was believed that the young man suffered some type of cardiovascular accident, such as a stroke, according to information provided by the Medical Radio Center in La Mar. The Vigo shipowner was working on the repatriation of the body of the ship's chief engineer.
HERMES
Arrived Liepaja Scrapyard 22.02.24 https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3680979?navList=homeMostPopular
FREESIA SEAWAYS
Strong winds in western Götaland with speeds with 30 meters per second created difficulties when the 'Freesia Seaways', en route from Immingham, was mooring at Arendal in Gothenburg in the morning. When the vessel was due to dock at Berth 750, allided with the berthed roro ferry 'Petunia Seaways' (IMO: 9259501) and ended up at Berth 751. The impact was light, and there were no indications of damage. Tugs were on site to tow the ship to the right berth, and there was also a pilot on board.
ST NIKOLAS
Iran will be allowing the release of all crew members — mostly Filipinos — of the seized 'St. Nikolas' once their replacement to man the ship has arrived, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Feb 22. At least 17 of the 19 original crew members remain on the vessel after a Filipino and a Greek cadet were released early this month and in January, respectively. To compensate the crew managing the vessel in Iran, the concerned manning agency doubled their salary.
XIANG YANG HONG 03
The Chinese spy ship 'Xiang Yang Hong 03' has arrived near the Maldives on Feb 22, after spending a month in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives government had last month allowed the Chinese ship to dock at a port in Male, where the vessel was anchored in the morning. The ship was later in the day positioned near Thilafushi. The ship started its journey on Jan 14 and spent about a month near the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), arrived near Male. The ship reached Male on the day when the coast guards of Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka were holding the trilateral naval exercise “DOSTI-16”. Also, observers from Bangladesh joined the exercise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre expressed its concern over the movement of the Chinese ship. The Maldives government had on Jan 23 permitted the ship to dock at Male port. Also, an American think-tank had then claimed that the Chinese vessel was collecting data from the oceans for military purposes. On Jan 5, the Sri Lanka government had denied the entry of the Chinese vessel saying that it had declared a moratorium on foreign research ships entering its waters for a year amid concerns from the Indian government. On Feb 23, the ship was moored in pos. 04° 11.97' N 073° 28.47' E.