SOFIA

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Sofia found beyong repair

The 'Sofia' has suffered such extensive damage that it cannot be repaired and the ship, which was ttowed to a yard in Landskrona for investigations, is going to the scrapyard. The five crew members, four of them within the Seko seafarers' agreement area, were laid off as a consequence. The union negotiation with the shipping company was completed and signed on Dec 9. The cause of the explosion is still unclear. The accident is now being investigated by the Accident Commission, which found that the explosion on the foredeck knocked out the ship's power supply. The main engine still worked, but not the other propulsion systems.

Damaged ship towed to Landskrona

On Dec 4 at around 2 p.m. UTC, the 'Fairplay 20' has towed the 'Sofia', into the port of Landskrona, where it was berthed at the Oresund Drydocks AB. The case has ended up with prosecutors and an accident investigation was to be carried out.

Damaged cargo ship towed by Fairplay 20 to Karlskrona

On Nov 29 the Polish authorities have dispatched the emergency tug 'Kapitan Poinc' (IMO: 9072290) along with the tug 'H8' from the 3rd Flotilla of Navy Ships, towards the slowly drifting 'Sofia'. The vessel was located 16 nautical miles from the coast of Ustka as of Dec 20. During the night, the ship drifted around a dozen nautical miles to the east. The vessel’s owners dispatched the tug 'Fairplay 20' (IMO: 9112739) from Rostock to take the ship in tow to a shipyard for repairs. Two life rafts were been removed, which the crew had attached to the sides when planning to evacuate the vessel. There was water in the cargo hold, the hatches have been blown away by the explosion, and the ship was listiing to port side. However, the authorities stated that the 'Sofia' was not a threat to navigation in the area. It was initally towed to the roadstead of the port of Gdynia, but remained in the Bay of Gdańsk, scured by the 'Fairplay 20' and escorted by the 'Kapitan Poinc'. However, the ship did not enter the port and had not received permission to enter any Polish port because the shipowner did not comply with all formalities. Among other things, the shipowner did not send an official letter to the director of the Maritime Office in Gdynia requesting permission to enter the port of Gdynia. On the evening of Dec 1, the ship started the tow to Karlskrona by the 'Fairplay 20' with an ETA as of Dec 3. No details on the cause of the explosion nor the extent of damage caused by the explosion and the fire were reported. Reports with photos and video: https://www.portalmorski.pl/zegluga/57009-uszkodzony-statek-sofia-jest-holowany-w-strone-szwecji https://www.trojmiasto.pl/biznes/Na-statku-doszlo-do-wybuchu-Sofia-odeslana-do-Szwecji-n196429.html https://www.gospodarkamorska.pl/sofia-jest-holowana-w-strone-szwecji-81971 https://www.gospodarkamorska.pl/statek-dryfujacy-na-baltyku-bedzie-holowany-do-gdynskiego-portu-81959