On March 12, the Rotsund' was inspected following the grounding incident and then detained in the port of Kishorn with five deficiencies four of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Structural conditions - Hull damage impairing seaworthiness Holed 2) Safety of navigaiton - Voyage or passage plan Missing 3) Safety of navigation - Compass correction log Missing 4) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released on March 19 and permitted a single voyage to Haugesund for permanent repairs, where it arrived on March 21. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D5uDU8SUE/
News
ISLE OF LEWIS
The trouble for the ferry service for both South Uist and Barra continued after last minute engine problems materialised with the 'Isle of Lewis' during her annual overhaul. The ferry remains out of action in Aberdeen while the engine fault was investigated and repairs were undertaken which pushed her absence beyond next weekend when Western Isles schools break-up for the Easter holidays. Final inspections preparing towards formal approval for sea-going duties were being undertaken at a lay-up berth when the issue emerged. The vessel was previously delayed to replace corroded steelwork and should have been sailing back on March 22, 2025, to pick up her Castlebay run, releasing the 'Isle of Mull' to operate a seven-day Lochboisdale to Oban timetable. The 'Isle of Mull' is being shared on a relief service for South Uist - as its own vessel, the 'Lord of the Isles', is reassigned to cover Tiree, Coll, and Colonsay - on a combined schedule with Barra. However, legal restrictions imposed upon the 'Isle of Mull' due to a condemned marine evacuation system have the effect of preventing her from carrying more than 45 passengers at any time. The situation was just about manageable when introduced in January on the South Uist service but difficult to cope with at periods of increased demand as she currently operates to two island ports.The 'Isle of Lewis' has been delayed in dry dock due to an emergent issue relating to the stable running of the vessel's main engines. The vessel should have resumed service on March 23, but based on current estimates, she will now resume service on March 31. The 'Isle of Mull' will continue to operate a combined Castlebay /Lochboisdale service until March 30 with additional connecting sailings being operated on the Sound of Barra service. The Sound of Barra sailings will remain by request at 3 p.m. on the day before travel. The CalMac booking system will be updated to reflect the disruption change and allow port teams a chance to work through affected customers. As a result, bookings between Oban-Castlebay and Lochboisdale from March 24- 30 will be closed for reservations. Impacted passengers who will suffer delays and detours should expect to be contacted over the coming days. Once their travel changes are taken into account, any remaining available passenger and deck space will be re-opened for reservations. Due to the reduction in capacity of MV Isle of Mull, all customers, including foot passengers, are advised to pre-book their journey. The 'Loch Alainn' will operate additional sailings on the Ardmhor - Eriskay route to provide connections to and from MV Isle of Mull.
ANNA
On March 22, 2025, the emergency services were called out to the port of Sliedrecht. At the end of the afternoon, the 'Anna', which was moored in the harbour, was taking on water, and oil ended up in the water. In addition to the fire brigade and the KNRM, Rijkswaterstaat also arrived on the scene. The water was pumped out of the tug by the emergency services. Rijkswaterstaat provided oil booms to prevent the spread of the leaked oil.
STENA IMMACULATE
The crew members of the 'Solong' and the 'Stena Immaculat'e have been repatriated as the investigation into the incident continues. The HM Coastguard gave its last daily update on the morning of March 20, while a government minister traveled to the area to thank the brave first responders and civilian crews that saved the seafarers as the vessels were engulfed in flames. TheTransport Minister Mike Kane visited Grimsby Docks meeting with personnel from HM Coastguard as well as the teams from offshore wind operator RWE and Windcat which provides the crew transfer services from the port. He praised the actions of the commercial crews and thanked everyone for their efforts which saved the crews. Kane highlighted that the 'Windcat 33', contracted by RWE to assist with the transport of its technicians to RWE's Humber Gateway offshore wind farm, was first on the scene. The crew transfer vessel had completed taking technicians out to the wind farm and was 12 minutes away when the Mayday calls were issued. The crew of the 'Solong' was in a lifeboat when the vessel arrived, took them aboard, and brought them ashore. A second vessel repeated the same process rescuing the crew of the 'Stena Immaculate', which had also abandoned the tanker aboard its lifeboat. The 36 seafarers were triaged at Grimsby Dock. They were treated on scene and one person who had been injured declined further medical assistance. The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch was conducting interviews and gathering information as part of its investigation into the incident. On March 20 an approximately 1,500-meter-long and 200-meter-wide oil film was discovered by a satellite of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) 100 kilometers west of Sylt island within the German Economic Zone Fuel analyses will now determine whether the film is the result of the aollision between the 'Solong' and the 'Stena Immaculate'. After the satellite reported the pollution, an oil reconnaissance aircraft from the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCEM) took off from the Nordholz naval air base and confirmed the location. The "Bad Düben," which was on maritime patrol in the North Sea at the time, then headed for the site of the pollution. The crew took two water samples and a so-called background pollution sample for comparison. These samples are now being analyzed on land. Report with photos: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/crews-from-solong-and-stena-immaculate-return-home-as-salvage-continues
JOHANNA JOSEPHINE
On March 24 short past midnight a crew member on board the "Johanna Josephine," docked in Eckernförde, had fallen into the engine room and suffered a cervical spine injury. The rescue of the man proved complicated; it took some time before rescue workers were able to transport him from the ship to shore on a stretcher. A rescued helicopter took him to hospital. Meanwhile, police and firefighters secured the area.