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The 'VB Seal' was in collision with a Marshall Islands flagged chemical tanker on the Caland Canal near the Europoort of Rotterdam on Feb 23, 2025, at around 2 a.m. After the accident, and suffered a leak with ensuing water ingress, The tug started to list to starboard side. The seagoing vessel and two other vessels pushed the tug against the quay in the Europoort to keep it afloat. They had to accelerate considerably, which released a lot of CO2. The exhaust fumes entered the ship, and six people on board became unwell due to the high carbon dioxide concentration. Four ambulances rushed to the scene, and four of the victims were taken to hospital. They were doing well under the circumstances. The two other injured people were checked on site by emergency services. The tugwas ventilated after which further action could be taken. To prevent the tug from sinking, pumps were also placed on board to drain out the water, and the ship could be stabilzed. The emergency services attended with large contingents. The Port Authority and HEBO Maritiemservice with the 'Hebocat 7' were on scene. The cause of the collision was being investigated. On Feb 24, the ship was moored in pos. N 51° 58' N 004° 07' E with the tug 'VB Tiger' (IMO: 9454888) alongside to stabilize it, later joined by the 'VB Beagle' (IMO: 9816359). Reports with photos: https://mediatv.nl/nieuws/nieuws/28090/sleepboot-lek-na-aanvaring-6-mensen-onwel-bij-hulpverleningsactie-calandkanaal-europoort-rotterdam https://www.tugspotters.com/app/content/2025/02/vb-seal-vb-tiger-vb-beagle-hebo-cat-7/# https://www.dehavenloods.nl/nieuws/algemeen/57284/zes-personen-onwel-na-botsing-sleepboot-met-zeeschip-bij-euro

On March 16 at noon, the Port Authority of Patras was informed by the Captain of the 'Superfast II' about a failure in the water cooling system of the generators in the southern port of the port. The ship was to carry out a scheduled route to the ports of Igoumenitsa and Bari with 165 passengers, 56 vehicles and 65 crew members on board. The passengers were informed by the ship-owning company about the departure of another ferry to the port of Ancona. The Central Port Authority of Patras banned the ferry from sailing until the damage was repaired and a certificate of class maintenance was presented by the classification society that monitors it. As of March 18, the ship remained stationary in Patras.

The Dutch Safety Board has launched an investigation into the collision between the 'VB Seal' and a chemical tanker on the New Waterway in Rotterdam on the early morning of Feb 23. The flag state of the tanker is the Marshall Islands, the investigation body of the Marshall Islands acts as a ‘state with a significant interest. The tug was hit by the tanker in dense fog, sprang a leak and started to take on water in the accommodation area. To prevent the tug from sinking, the crew turned on the emergency fire pumps and, as a precaution, the ship was pushed onto a shallow by other ships. Exhaust fumes from the emergency fire pumps developed in the accommodation block, causing six people to feel unwell. As a precaution, four people were taken to hospital for observation, after which they were allowed to go home.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr Arsenio Dominguez, has issued a statement following the Russian attack on the civilian seafarers aboard the 'MJ Pinar' in Odesa on March 11: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of seafarers in the recent attack in Odesa, which has claimed the lives of four seafarers. My thoughts and condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives, as well as those who were injured. Seafarers ensure the continuous flow of essential goods that sustain communities worldwide. They must never become targets in conflicts beyond their control. We must reaffirm our collective commitment to their safety and well-being. I reiterate my call to all parties involved to work together to ensure that such acts of violence against innocent seafarers and shipping do not continue. International shipping should never become a casualty in the broader geopolitical landscape. The IMO remains committed to supporting efforts to improve the safety of all those who work in the global maritime industry.”

There are still small pockets of fire on board the 'Solong', but there is no longer a risk of the ship sinking. However, large amounts of microplastic have been observed in the sea, believed to originate from containers on board the ship. The RNLI identified the pollution reporting on March 16, that a sheen had been spotted on the water. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carried out an aerial survey and confirmed the pollution which has now been identified as plastic nurdles (small plastic pellets). On March 17, observers have found the first clumps of burnt pellets washing ashore at disparate locations along the shore between Old Hunstanton and Wells-next-the-Sea. Microplastics have a size of between 1-5 mm, and are part of the production of plastic. They are typically transported in containers, but the 'Solong's owner has not yet confirmed that there were containers with microplastics on board. Microplastics pose a major threat to marine life, as they normally float on the surface of the water, where many species find their food. They are easily mistaken for fish eggs, and when eaten, plastic gives the feeling of being full, which ultimately leads to starvation and death for many species. The Coast Guard announced that something was spotted in the water on March 16, that turned out to be plastic pellets. Surveillance flights confirmed this. Plastic particles were also found on the beach at Wash Bay, the Coast Guard confirmed on March 17, and the recovery began that day, As of March 18, the tugs 'Brage Viking' (IMO: 9475791) and 'Svitzer Castle' (IMO: 9316397 ) were attending at the accident site, where both the ''Solong' and the 'Stena Immaculate' remained stationary as of March 18, with the latter moored in pos. 53° 44' N 000° 24 E. The salvage experts from SMIT Salvage were continuing with their detailed onboard assessments of the tanker.