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An integrated tug and barge (ITB), operating in the Prince William Sound, suffered a complete connection failure on Jan 11, 2025, at 2.50 a.m. LT, when all four push lines of the 'Krystal Sea' parted during routine transit conditions, leading to a constructive total loss of the barge 'Cordova Provider', valued at $2.9 million, according to a National Transportation Safety Board investigation. After the four lines connecting the tug to the barge suddenly parted, the barge uncoupled and drifted for approximately four hours before grounding on the coast of Axel Lind Island, Alaska at about 06.35 a,m, The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the grounding of the 'Cordova Provider' was due to shock loading that led to the parting of the push lines connecting the barge to the tug The connection system utilized three wedges fitting into recesses within the notch, along with four push lines, two each on port and starboard sides, that were tensioned by winches to secure the vessels together. At the time of the incident, the ITB was operating in seas of 4-6 feet with approximately 35-knot winds on the vessel’s port quarter—conditions that investigators noted were routinely encountered on the vessel’s normal transit route between Whittier, Cordova, and Valdez. The investigation revealed that five days before the casualty, the captain had visually inspected the four push lines and documented no deficiencies. A post-casualty inspection by a technician from a local industrial and maritime supply company determined that the lines were in fair condition with no visible defects, concluding that the lines and soft shackle parted due to exceeding their breaking strength. The investigators believed that after the first push line parted due to shock loading, the remaining three lines experienced a cascading failure as they took up additional strain. However, the NTSB noted it was “undetermined how the first push line that parted was shock loaded”, given that the ITB was operating in familiar conditions with properly rigged lines. The barge was later refloated, towed offshore and disposed of through sinking in deeper water. Report with photo: https://maritime-executive.com/article/ntsb-barge-grounded-in-prince-william-sound-because-atb-s-lines-parted

On Aug 25, the humanitarian organisation SOS Méditerranée issued an accusation, alleging a "deliberate" and "unlawful" attack by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard against the 'Ocean Viking' while it was conducting rescue operations in international maritime zones near Libya. The vessel was intercepted by a Libyan patrol boat, which ordered them to move north, ignoring Italy's authorization allowing them to remain in the area to continue their rescue mission. SOS Méditerranée reported that without warning, two men on board the patrol boat opened fire on the humanitarian vessel, unleashing 20 minutes of incessant gunfire. While no injuries were reported, "everyone on board feared for their lives." The attack caused significant damage to the ship's bridge, including bullet impacts at head height, the destruction of several antennas, the shattering of four windows, and damage to the fast rescue boats, as well as to other humanitarian equipment. At the time of the attack, there were 87 migrants on board, who were rescued over the weekend and found refuge on board thanks to personnel from SOS Méditerranée and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Following the incident, the MV 'Ocean Viking' issued a distress signal and alerted the NATO, requesting protection and assistance,. The promised assistance from an Italian Navy vessel never materialized. The NGO's director of operations, Soazic Dupuy, has denounced this event as "an outrageous and unacceptable act" that demonstrates a "deliberate and targeted attack against our crew and our rescue capabilities." He also emphasized that this is not an "isolated case" and criticized the Libyan Coast Guard's "long history of reckless behaviour." He demanded a thorough investigation into the events and that those responsible for these life-threatening attacks be brought to justice and the immediate end of all European cooperation with Libya due to its behaviour on the high seas.

The 'Wenatchee', serving on the route between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, had to bely taken out of service due to mechanical issues, experiencing problems with two of its four drive motors on Aug 15, 2025, shortly after 10 a.m., while docking at Seattle’s Colman Dock. The ferry had recently rejoined the fleet in July after a 22-month conversion to a hybrid-electric system at Vigor Marine's Seattle shipyard. The issue was not tied to the vessel’s hybrid-electric power system, but was related to having a ship out for 22 months and then commissioning and getting back in service. The vessel was moved to Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island for further inspections. The problem may be linked to control system communication wires, which may have caused intermittent instability. Technicians of WSF were looking at those wires and how that signaling happens, in order to repair it and get the vessel back in operation. The service on the route continued uninterrupted, with the ferries 'Walla Walla' and 'Tacoma' filling in.

The 'Falkor Too' had to interrupt its scientific mission during the first days of the expedition "Visualizing the Depths off Uruguay" off Uruguay due to a technical failure and returned to the port of Montevideo on Aug 25, 2025. The incident occurred with the A-frame structure, used to handle underwater equipment and heavy loads.While the A-frame was being raised from its storage position to a vertical position, it stopped working. No one was injured. The device was, however, key to the mission’s development. Once the problem has been resolved, the vessel will resume scientific work at “point 3” of the 32 planned for the campaign with the least possible impact.

On Aug 24, the 'Ocean Viking' was attacked by a Corrubia-class patrol boat of the so-called Libyan Coastguard in international waters. Hundreds of shots were fired at the ship, according to SOS Méditerranée, the ship's operator, which also published photos of shell casings and shattered portholes. There were 87 migrnats aboard, rescued between the night of Aug 23 and the morning of Aug 24 — when the Coastguard opened fire. The ship had been asked by the Italian authorities to pause her course to the assigned disembarkation port and search for an additional boat in distress in International waters. While the teams were actively engaged in searching for the boat, a Libyan patrol boat approachhed and unlawfully demanded the ship to leave the area and head north. The information was first given in English, and then in Arabic, with translation by a cultural mediator on board, who informed them from the bridge that the 'Ocean Viking' was leaving the area. However, without any warning or ultimatum, two men aboard the patrol vessel opened fire on the humanitarian ship, unleashing at least 20 relentless minutes of assault gunfire directly at them. During the time of the assault, the patrol vessel circled the 'Ocean Viking', deliberately targeting crew members on the Bridge — the part of the ship where the navigation and steering take place. The attack caused bullet holes at head height, the destruction of multiple antennas, and four broken windows on the Bridge, and several bullets struck and damaged the three RHIBS along with other rescue equipment. While the attack was Underway, the teams from SOS Mediterranée and the IFRC secured the 87 survivors before taking shelter inside the ship. Fortunately, no crew members or survivors on board sustained any injuries. The incident has been confirmed by the Norwegian Central Rescue Service. On board were nine crew members and 111 survivors from previous rescue operations. No one was injured, and the ship suffered minor damage. The ship had rescued 47 migrants, including nine minors, in a recent operation off Libya on the night of Aug 23. Many of them had been fleeing the war in Sudan. Among them were nine unaccompanied minors. The migrants had been taken to safety from a rubber dinghy off the Libyan coast. The 'Ocean Viking' got designated the port of Marina di Carrara as destination. SOS Méditerranée criticized the great distance of the assigned port – around 1,300 kilometers from the rescue site – which meant a transit time of 3,5 days. The Libyan coast guard is funded and equipped by the Italian authorities under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) renewed in 2022 for another five years. The agreement provides financial support, vessels, and training for personnel. The patrol boat, built for the Guardia di Finanza, Italy's militarized police agency, has been donated to Libya. Reports with photos and video: https://www.sosmediterranee.org/sos-med-libyan-attack/ https://www.nicematin.com/faits-divers/un-acte-scandaleux-et-inacceptable-le-navire-ambulance-ocean-viking-victime-d-une-attaque-armee-pardes-garde-cotes-libyens-999239