The South African Transport Minister Barbara Creecy intends to release a report into the loss of the MFV 'Lepanto' on May 17, 2024, 34 nautical miles off the coast of Hout Bay, by the end of the year, which killed 11 men. Creecy sreceived a draft report into the accident from the South African Maritime Authority (Samsa) on Nov 10. The minister has requested the Samsa board to urgently finalise the report with its legal team. She has also instructed the Transport Department to begin a process of establishing a Marine Court of Enquiry to further pursue an investigation and bring the report to finality. The minister feels a deeper investigation is needed, in the interest of the public. The 11 missing crew members have since been declared dead by the Western Cape High Court. At the time of their disappearance, the missing crew members were employed by Viking Fishing, a division of Sea Harvest Corporation. The search for the fishermen was called off due to the time that had elapsed since the boat sank. The ship sank a depth of 350 meters, and the bodies of the fishermen were never recovered. A comprehensive investigation had been launched by the SAMSA after the sinking, and a preliminary inquiry into the incident could take between six and eight months to complete. Due to the nature of the incident and the loss of life, one recommendation would be to request the ransport minister to constitute a court of marine enquiry under Section 266 of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1951.
News
OMEGA
On Nov 12, 2024, at 10.47 p.m. a fire broke out in the cargo of scrap aboard the 'Omega', 3014 ts (EU-No.: 02322711), which was berthed in the port of Goor in the province of Overijssel, en route from Hengelo. The fire brigade attended at the berth with three four engines and an aerial platform.. The fire was scaled up to a 'medium fire' within 10 minutes. Reinforcements were called in from Diepenheim and Hengelo, among others. The fire brigade has been busy extinguishing the fire for several hours, while a lot of smoke was released and people advised to stay away from it.
MARIA OLIVA
The 'Maria Oliva' ran aground in the waters off Romblon, Romblon, on the morning of Nov 11, 2024. All passengers were safely transferred to Romblon Port, except for a dialysis patient and his companion since he needed access to his dialysis equipment, which was in his vehicle on the vessel. The 156 passengers of the ship were turned over to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Romblon town for further assistance. The 'Maria Oliva' had departed from San Agustin Port with 38 crew members and 26 wheeled cargoes on board, and sailed toward Romblon port. The PCG immediately dispatched a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) to assist the provincial government’s speedboat and the rescue boat to assist in the rescue of passengers. The PCG-Romblon continued to monitor the grounded vessel’s position. Report with photos: https://maritime-executive.com/article/ferry-evacuated-after-running-aground-in-the-central-philippines
TSIU
The US Coast Guard rescued the three crew members of the 'Tsiu' after it lost power due to an electrical fire on Nov 10, 2024. The vessel deployed its anchor, but continued drifting and was at risk of running aground.they abandoned ship 58 miles east of Kayak Island, Alaska, Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and the U.S. Arctic command center received notification at 4:23 a.m. from the fishing vessel and requested the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from the Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, and issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert nearby vessels of the situation. The helicopter arrived on scene at 12:07 p.m. and rescued all three fishermen from the water. They were safely transported to Yakutat, where they were reported to be in stable condition. The abandoned 'Tsiu' continued to drift prior to catching anchor east of Kayak Island. The owner was making arrangements to salvage the vessel. On-scene weather at the time was 29-mph winds, 15-foot seas with an air and water temperature of 47 degrees. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3963044/correction-coast-guard-rescues-3-from-the-water-near-kayak-island-alaska/
REGAL PRINCESS
After three cruises of the 'Regal Princess', due to depart on Oct 27, Nov 3 and Nov 10, had been canceled due to a technical issue with the power generators on the ship, Princess Cruises has now confirmed that all repairs have been completed, and it will depart on the Nov 17 sailing as scheduled from Galveston. Princess Cruises gave all guests who were booked on one of the three canceled cruises a full refund and a 50% credit to use for a future cruise. The Nov 17 sailing is a seven-night cruise to the Western Caribbean from Galveston. The ship will visit Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel.