On Nov 7, 2024, the ‚Ding Heng 27’, with 18 crew members on board and carrying 800 tons of petrol, was in danger of running aground on the PNG side of the Great Berrier Reef off Kupiano, after it suffered an engine failure. The PNG authorities quickly responded, as darkness was falling and currents and winds were pushing the tanker towards the reef. The RMC’s marine team along with the crew made up 20 minor alterations to the ship’s trim and heading to ensure it kept off the reef. The deployment of a small improvised drogue with the ship’s crane altered the heading along with the bow thruster. This action brought the drift direction from 320 degrees down to the desired clearance bearing of 275 degrees over the ground. The ship was finally towed into Port Moresby by the tug ‘Svitzer Tusker’ on Nov 11. Report with photo: https://www.postcourier.com.pg/authorities-prevent-environmental-disaster/
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SPAR INDUS
On the morning of Nov 13, 2024, at 1.09 a.m. the “Spar Indus”, with 21 crew members on board, ran aground in the Gulf of Arauco, in the Bio Bio region, about 3.5 nautical miles southeast of Punta Cochinos, Santa Maria Island, in pos. 37° 03' N 073° 10' W, when the vessel was entering the Gulf of Arauco through the Boca Chica sector, en route from the port of Santos to the Cabo Froward port in Coronel, for the unloading of bulk cargo. The Maritime Governorate of Talcahuano activated the respective protocols, which considered the deployment of the “Talcahuano”, the Patrol Boat 2504, together with a group of divers to inspect the hull, whjo found no structural damages. No oil spill and no injuries were reported. Reports with photos: https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-del-bio-bio/2024/11/13/buque-mercante-noruego-spar-indus-varo-en-el-golfo-de-arauco.shtml https://www.diarioconcepcion.cl/ciudad/2024/11/13/el-buque-mercante-spar-indus-varo-en-isla-santa-maria-mientras-ingresaba-al-golfo-de-arauco.html https://portalportuario.cl/investigan-motivos-por-los-que-varo-un-bulk-carrier-en-ingreso-al-golfo-de-arauco/
MV ONGIARA
The 'Ongiara' was pulled from service on Nov 11, 2024, due to a minor issue, which was not expected to take long to fix. While there was no timeline for how long the city expected the repairs wopuld take, the Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said it should be operational in a matter of days. On Nov 12, work vans sat on its deck as mechanics worked to fix the mechanical issue.
GIRAGLIA
On the afternoon of Nov 13, 2024, the 'Giraglia', which connects Santa Teresa Gallura with Bonifacio, suffered an engine failure at the berth in Santa Teresa di Gallura. The ferry will be out of service for several days. There was no replacement ship provided for by the territorial continuity agreement, because the 'Ichnusa' has not been operating since Oct 31 because the seasonal agreement expired, and entered a shipyard for maintenance work. During the entire tourist season, the 'Ichnusa' had made up for continuous breakdowns of the 'Giraglia' There have been numerous protests from those who were unable to return home and had to rent boats in Bonifacio to get to Santa Teresa, leaving their vehicle at the port of departure. Since the afternoon, Sardinia and Corsica are connected only once a week from Porto Torres.
SAN PAWL
On the morning of Nov 13, 2024, at 7.30 a.m. the 'San Pawl' allided with a boat at the Mġarr harbour after the ferry started drifting towards a row of smaller, moored boats off Triq Ix-Xatt Ghajnsielem. A minor technical problem of the ferry was resolved by the crew on the spot. The high-speed vessel was not damaged and was inspected by Transport Malta officials. Report with photo and video: https://timesofmalta.com/article/fast-ferry-crashes-boat-moored-mgarr-harbour-no-one-injured.1100945