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A Florida jury has awarded a cumulative $2,888,300 in damages to three former crew members of the 'Utopia IV' (IMO: 9851050), as a result of a lawsuit against the yacht and Utopia Yachting LLC. The plaintiffs, Eric Ward, Samuel Parrott and Fred Wennberg, filed suit under the Jones Act for negligence, unseaworthiness and failure to provide prompt and adequate maintenance, cure and wages following the collision with the tanker 'Tropic Breeze' on the night of Dec 23, 2021, approximately 15 miles north-northwest of New Providence Island. According to court documents, each plaintiff claims to have been injured in the collision, for which the defendants have "admitted liability". The complaint, which was initially filed on Nov 22, 2022, officially went to trial on March 24, 2025. with the jury set to decide whether each of the three Plaintiffs were injured in the collision, and, if so, the extent of their injuries and to then fairly compensate them for their injuries based on the testimony and evidence presented. An accident report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) previously found that the collision was caused by the yacht crew not maintaining a lookout. At the time of the accident, the 'Utopia IV' was carrying seven charter guests and 12 crew members. She was en route to Bimini Island when she hit the stern of the tanker at 10.00pm. The force of the collision pierced the hull, and the tanker sank at a depth of 2,000 metres. The 'Utopia IV' was sailing at 20 knots when she struck the tanker. The captain was not in the wheelhouse, having left 12 minutes prior to check on the guests.The bosun, who was left in the wheelhouse, was not certified as mate or captain and therefore was not allowed by regulations to perform watchstanding duties by himself. The bosun was multitasking and logging navigation data, and therefore was distracted from performing effective lookout duties. The tanker was sailing at a speed of five knots, carrying a cargo of marine gas oil and liquid petroleum gas. The captain of the 'Tropic Breeze' had also left the wheelhouse to use the restroom prior to the incident. None of the watchstanders on both ships reported seeing the other vessel on radar, which was set to a three-mile radius, while visibility was good, in spite of bow spray reported to have been collecting on the windshield of the 'Utopia IV'. Given the relative speed of both vessels, it was likely that none of the watchstanders had looked at the radar in the 12 minutes before the collision or completed a visual assessment of the surroundings. CCTV in the galley of the 'Utopia IV' captured the moment of the collision. Equipment and several of the yacht's crew were thrown to the deck or into bulkheads; three crew reportedly sustained minor injuries. Utopia IV’s captain was in the main dining area and was thrown into the forward bulkhead and door frame. The chief engineer of the 'Tropic Breeze' investigated the damage and discovered that the engine room was flooding rapidly. The captain made a VHF distress call and decided to abandon the vessel; a life-raft was launched. Meanwhile, the 'Utopia IV’s chief engineer restarted the yacht’s engines, which had shut down after the collision, and a distress call was made from the wheelhouse. The yacht attempted to rescue the crew from the tanker, but sea swells prevented them from boarding. The tanker crew were eventually rescued by the passing m/y 'Amara', which had heard the distress calls and diverted its course to assist. The 'Utopia IV’s chief stewardess told investigators she saw the 'Tropic Breeze’s navigation lights illuminated following the collision. According to the 'Utopia IV’s crew, Utopia IV’s lights were all on. 156,500 gallons of marine gas oil was lost with the tanker. The accident resulted in nearly $7.9 million in damages. As the 'Utopia IV' had approached the 'Tropic Breeze' from directly astern, the yacht as the overtaking vessel was required by 72 COLREGS to give way to the tanker. However, as the watchstanders on both vessels had failed to maintain a proper lookout, they were unable to identify the risk of collision and respond suitably. Although the Utopia IV bore responsibility as the overtaking vessel to manoeuvre away from the tank vessel, once the yacht’s intentions were unclear and a close-quarters situation had developed, the tank er should have taken action. The NTSB investigators concluded that the probable cause of the collision was the 'Utopia IV’s wheelhouse crew not maintaining a proper lookout and therefore not identifying the vessel they were overtaking, but with contribution from the 'Tropic Breeze’s bridge team also not maintaining a proper lookout, which is required by the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 and is essential in determining the risk of collision. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2229.pdf

Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia

Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia

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A Florida jury has awarded a cumulative $2,888,300 in damages to three former crew members of the 'Utopia IV', as a result of a lawsuit against the yacht and Utopia Yachting LLC. The plaintiffs, Eric Ward, Samuel Parrott and Fred Wennberg, filed suit under the Jones Act for negligence, unseaworthiness and failure to provide prompt and adequate maintenance, cure and wages following the collision with the tanker 'Tropic Breeze' (IMO: 8906315) on the night of Dec 23, 2021, approximately 15 miles north-northwest of New Providence Island. According to court documents, each plaintiff claims to have been injured in the collision, for which the defendants have "admitted liability". The complaint, which was initially filed on Nov 22, 2022, officially went to trial on March 24, 2025. with the jury set to decide whether each of the three Plaintiffs were injured in the collision, and, if so, the extent of their injuries and to then fairly compensate them for their injuries based on the testimony and evidence presented. An accident report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) previously found that the collision was caused by the yacht crew not maintaining a lookout. At the time of the accident, the 'Utopia IV' was carrying seven charter guests and 12 crew members. She was en route to Bimini Island when she hit the stern of the tanker at 10.00pm. The force of the collision pierced the hull, and the tanker sank at a depth of 2,000 metres. The 'Utopia IV' was sailing at 20 knots when she struck the tanker. The captain was not in the wheelhouse, having left 12 minutes prior to check on the guests.The bosun, who was left in the wheelhouse, was not certified as mate or captain and therefore was not allowed by regulations to perform watchstanding duties by himself. The bosun was multitasking and logging navigation data, and therefore was distracted from performing effective lookout duties. The tanker was sailing at a speed of five knots, carrying a cargo of marine gas oil and liquid petroleum gas. The captain of the 'Tropic Breeze' had also left the wheelhouse to use the restroom prior to the incident. None of the watchstanders on both ships reported seeing the other vessel on radar, which was set to a three-mile radius, while visibility was good, in spite of bow spray reported to have been collecting on the windshield of the 'Utopia IV'. Given the relative speed of both vessels, it was likely that none of the watchstanders had looked at the radar in the 12 minutes before the collision or completed a visual assessment of the surroundings. CCTV in the galley of the 'Utopia IV' captured the moment of the collision. Equipment and several of the yacht's crew were thrown to the deck or into bulkheads; three crew reportedly sustained minor injuries. Utopia IV’s captain was in the main dining area and was thrown into the forward bulkhead and door frame. The chief engineer of the 'Tropic Breeze' investigated the damage and discovered that the engine room was flooding rapidly. The captain made a VHF distress call and decided to abandon the vessel; a life-raft was launched. Meanwhile, the 'Utopia IV’s chief engineer restarted the yacht’s engines, which had shut down after the collision, and a distress call was made from the wheelhouse. The yacht attempted to rescue the crew from the tanker, but sea swells prevented them from boarding. The tanker crew were eventually rescued by the passing m/y 'Amara', which had heard the distress calls and diverted its course to assist. The 'Utopia IV’s chief stewardess told investigators she saw the 'Tropic Breeze’s navigation lights illuminated following the collision. According to the 'Utopia IV’s crew, Utopia IV’s lights were all on. 156,500 gallons of marine gas oil was lost with the tanker. The accident resulted in nearly $7.9 million in damages. As the 'Utopia IV' had approached the 'Tropic Breeze' from directly astern, the yacht as the overtaking vessel was required by 72 COLREGS to give way to the tanker. However, as the watchstanders on both vessels had failed to maintain a proper lookout, they were unable to identify the risk of collision and respond suitably. Although the Utopia IV bore responsibility as the overtaking vessel to manoeuvre away from the tank vessel, once the yacht’s intentions were unclear and a close-quarters situation had developed, the tank er should have taken action. The NTSB investigators concluded that the probable cause of the collision was the 'Utopia IV’s wheelhouse crew not maintaining a proper lookout and therefore not identifying the vessel they were overtaking, but with contribution from the 'Tropic Breeze’s bridge team also not maintaining a proper lookout, which is required by the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 and is essential in determining the risk of collision. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2229.pdf

Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia

Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia

The 'Red Eagle' has been pulled from service once again, with a number of cancellations on the night of April 22. An issue with the cooling pump has led to the cancellation of at least four sailings on the East Cowes-Southampton vehicle ferry service. Affected were the 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. sailings from Southampton and the scheduled departures at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. from East Cowes. It was unclear if there would be subsequent cancellations on April 23.

if it is definitively confirmed that the 'Bruma' and 'Cobra' collided, that does not mean establishing liability for this accident on the part of the 'Cobra' crew, stated their lawyer. Alejandro Espinoza. He told the Biobío Prosecutor's Office that they could have been involved in the accident off the coast of Coronel. The lawyer specified that the 'Cobra' was positioned in an area similar to the 'Bruma' at the same time it stopped transmitting, following a georeferencing report prepared by the Cunlogan company. The document showed that the last signal emitted by the 'Bruma' was at 3:08 a.m. and that the signal it was supposed to send at 3:17 a.m. never materialized, so the shipwreck could have occurred during that time. At that moment, the 'Cobra' was 72 meters from the boat's last reported position. Based on this information, there was no certainty, but a reasonable presumption of an impact between the two ships, though all of the 'Cobra's collision avoidance equipment was activated and operational, and the captain, pilot, and lookouts were attentive to the navigation conditions. The lawyer also referred to the 'Bruma's potential responsibility in the sinking, as the crew had failed to inform maritime authorities and other vessels in the area of ​​its position. The Public Prosecutor's Office's investigation must technically analyse whether both vessels had the operating systems required by regulations and whether their crews acted in accordance with the obligations imposed by navigation regulations. The 'Cobra's detention period will end on April 23, but the prosecutor in charge of the case, Marcela Cartagena, has requested an extension to conduct additional expert examinations. However, he acknowledged that the resources available at the police level are insufficient to cover the needs of a case of this magnitude, so the possibility of requesting support from specialized external entities is being evaluated. The National Prosecutor's Office is assessing budget availability.

Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia

ISACOL S.A.S. - Ship Agents in Colombia. With more than 40 years of experience in Colombia's ports, ISACOL is the country's leading agent for tanker ships. Our services: - Ship Agents - Protective Agents - Husbandry - Consultancy Please visit our website at https://www.isacol.com and contact us!