The 'Begonia S', en route from Varna to Novorossyisk, was in collision with the tank m/v 'Natig Aliyev' (IMO:: 9194000) in the Black Sea between the Russian ports of Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk. Damage was minimal, so both ships continued on their way. The accident occurred at an anchorage due to adverse weather conditions, when the 'Natig Aliyev' dragged anchor and drifted into the 'Begonia S', which suffered minor damage to its bow. The rudder blade of the tanker got caught on the anchor chain. Nobody was injured, and no environmental pollution occurred, Report with video: https://www.vesti.az/v-mire/sudno-natig-aliyev-stolknulos-s-suxogruzom-v-cernom-more-video-538303
News
HESSEN
There has apparently been an attack on the "Hessen" on FEb 20, 2025, in Wilhelmshaven at the Heppenser Groden naval base in Wilhelmshaven, where the ship is currently being serviced. Unknown persons have contaminated the frigate's drinking water system with used oil. An external company from Lower Saxony was entrusted with filling the fresh water tanks. Insiders believed thatan accidental contamination was unlikely. Rather, there was a suspicion that the "Hessen" was deliberately sabotaged in order to prevent its imminent deployment. The damage was apparently limited. An attentive crew member discovered the contamination early on, so that large-scale contamination could be prevented. Otherwise, extensive cleaning of the systems could have been necessary. The Wilhelmshaven police confirmed that they were investigating in cooperation with the German armed forces. The Ministry of Defense also spoke of a "possible security-related incident" and emphasized that both military and civilian investigative authorities were investigating the matter. The Federal Office for Military Counterintelligence Service (BAMAD) is also involved in the investigation.
VOLCAN DE TAUCE
Tuvalu is the new flag and naval registration of the “Volcán de Tauce”. which for the moment maintains the same name, after the change of ownership was carried out on Feb 19 in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The ferry is now owned by the company Emirates International Air Cargo, from the United Arab Emirates. Since Jan 14, it has been moored in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, after repairs at ASTICAN and has changed berths several times, until returning to the Santa Catalina dock on Feb 18.
HELEN MARY
The master of the 'Helen Mary', which was detained in Cork for suspected fishing offences, has appeared before the Cork District Court on the morning of Feb 20. Seven charges under sea-fisheries law have been brought against the master of the pelagic fishing trawler, The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that charges relating to suspected offences of illegal equipment use, a non-compliant boarding ladder, and non-compliant plans in relation to the vessel be prosecuted on indictment in the Circuit Court. A summary charge of failing to comply with a direction of a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer was also brought against the vessel master. The man was released on bail to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on April 28. The Court ordered that the vessel be released on the payment of a bond of €425,000. The ship left the port the same evening.
BESIKTAS-M
Capt. Dave Snowden was fired just over a week after the aircraft carrier USS 'Harry S. Truman' had been in collision with the 'Besiktas M' at the mouth of the Suez Canal as the carrier prepared to return to the Red Sea. Snowden was relieved by Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, which includes the USS 'Harry S. Truman' . The official reason given by the Navy was a loss of confidence in Showden’s ability to command: “The U.S. Navy holds commanding officers to the highest standard and takes action to hold them accountable when those standards are not met. Naval leaders are entrusted with significant responsibilities to their Sailors and their ships,” according to the Navy release. The Truman is expected to continue its mission after completing repairs. Snowden will be temporarily assigned to Naval Air Forces Atlantic. He was a former executive officer on the USS 'Harry S. Truman' . He became captain in December 2023 after completing a tour as captain of the amphibious transport dock ship USS 'San Antonio'. His interim replacement is Capt. Chris Hill, who commanded the Norfolk-based USS 'Eisenhower', whch is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
HANOEY
After the engine breakdown, the 'Hanøy' has been sent to a repair yard in Svolvær on Feb 19 for an engine replacement. The operator worked to get spare parts on the route, but was unable to get a replacement ship inserted on Feb 20. On Feb 21, the ferry 'Kjerringøy' operates a scheduled service between Kaljord and the islands with departures at 10:00 a.m. from Brottøy, at 10:15 a.m. from Lonkan, at 10:45 a.m. from Kaljord, at 11:00 a.m. from Lonkan, at 11:15 a.m. from Brottøy and 11:45 a.m. from Hanøy. Furthermore, the 'Ingøy', which is a car-carrying express boat, will be in place during the weekend of Feb 22/23.
CROWN GARNET
A joint operation by the National Police, the Civil Guard and the Customs Surveillance Service resulted in the seizure of 120 kilos of cocaine that arrived in the Pontevedra estuary attached to the hull of the Crown Garnet'. The shipment was the first to be seized in the Port of Marín in years, as a diversion of drug routes towards the neighbouring Port of Vigo was observed. The operation was carried out on the morning of Feb 21, 2025, after receiving international information indicating that the ship, coming from the port of Natal and bound for Dover, via Rotterdam, was contaminated with drugs. The concealment system required the participation of specialized divers to embed the cargo under the waterline of the ship and to collect it at destination. In fact, it was the GEAS of the Civil Guard who located the drugs. The crew of the ship, in principle, were not aware of the illegal activity, so no arrests were made. Report with photos: https://narcodiario.com/2025/02/localizan-120-kilos-de-cocaina-adosados-al-casco-de-un-buque-en-la-ria-de-pontevedra/
VALDAY
On Feb 17, 2025, the 'Valday' was etained in Gdynia with eight deficiencies, four of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm systems Inoperative 2) Alarms - UMS - Alarms Inoperative 3) Emergency systems - Emergency source of power - emergency generator Inoperative 4) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Feb 21 and left the port en route to Tallinn, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
ST CLARE
The 'St. Clare' remained sidelined in Portsmouth because of the ongoing technical problem as of Feb 21. Both of the ferry's engines have developed faults which were believed to be linked.. The operator Wightlink had to cancel all of the scheduled sailings on Feb 21 and have informed customers. The "St Faith' was operating a shuttle service and was fully booked. Travel plans for customers were disrupted, and they were asked to cancel or amend bookings online, full refunds were given free-of-charge. Engineers were working to fix the problem. Extra sailings were run between Lymington and Yarmouth overnight. Customers who had booked on the 'St Clare' and had their sailing cancelled can travel on the FastCat free-of-charge.
HARMONY OF THE SEAS
Marina personnel assisted in the medevac of a passenger from the 'Harmony of the Seas' on Feb 18, 2025. The ship's doctors had reported that the male passenger has suffered a heart attack. an MLB vessel from the Fifth Naval Region out of Isla Mujeres rendezvoused with the 'Harmony of the Seas' after the ship had requested assistance to urgently transfer the 65-year-old man who was suffering from an acute myocardial infarction. The MLB had specialized rescue personnel and Naval Health personnel on board. Upon arriving at the emergency site, approximately five nautical miles northeast of Isla Mujeres, the medical staff proceeded to examine the passenger, who was transferred to the MLB-type vessel to be transported by sea to Puerto Juárez. The man descended the cruise ship’s ladder on his own feet and at no time was it necessary to use a stretcher. Paramedics from a private company were waiting, who took charge of the patient and channeled him by emergency ambulance to a local hospital in order to receive specialized medical attention. Report with photos: https://riviera-maya-news.com/curious-rescue-of-cruise-ship-passenger-made-off-coast-of-isla-mujeres/2025.html?cn-reloaded=1
US GOV VESSEL 75
Capt. Dave Snowden was fired just over a week after the USS 'Harry S. Truman' had been in collision with the 'Besiktas M' at the mouth of the Suez Canal as the carrier prepared to return to the Red Sea. Snowden was relieved by Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, which includes the USS 'Harry S. Truman' . The official reason given by the Navy was a loss of confidence in Showden’s ability to command: “The U.S. Navy holds commanding officers to the highest standard and takes action to hold them accountable when those standards are not met. Naval leaders are entrusted with significant responsibilities to their Sailors and their ships,” according to the Navy release. The Truman is expected to continue its mission after completing repairs. Snowden will be temporarily assigned to Naval Air Forces Atlantic. He was a former executive officer on the USS 'Harry S. Truman' . He became captain in December 2023 after completing a tour as captain of the amphibious transport dock ship USS 'San Antonio'. His interim replacement is Capt. Chris Hill, who commanded the Norfolk-based USS 'Eisenhower', whch is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
HANOEY
On Feb 19, 2025, the 'Hanøy', serving on the Hadsel - route, had to cancel the sailings starting with the scheduled departure Stokkmarknes express boat pier at 12:50 p.m. until further notice, due to technical trouble with the main engine, and was sidelined at the Marhaug Slip og Mek. Verksted AS in Svolvær for troubleshooting. Alternative transport was provided for travelers departing from the Stokkmarknes express boat pier at 4:20 p.m. Travelers from Kaljord to Stokmarknes were offered to use bus route 821 from Kaljord at 07.05 a.m. to Sortland, and then bus route no. 754 from Sortland at 0830, a.m., arriving in Stokmarknes at approximately 08.50 a,. The Nordland Fylkes community was investigating the possibility of setting up extra transport back to Kaljord on the afternoon.
EVENTIN
On Feb 18 it was officially announced, that the Russian shadow tanker "Eventin", which has been off Rügen for weeks, will in future be subject to strict EU sanctions. The tanker is now on the list of almost 200 ships subject to sanctions. The decision from Brussels is likely to hit the 24 crew members on board particularly hard. The sanctions state, among other things, that they will no longer be supplied with food from land. The Stralsund public prosecutor's office is investigating - against the crew, especially the captain. According to a preliminary assessment, a change in the criminal assessment of the previous conduct of the crew of the 'Eventin' is unlikely to be expected. The ship remained anchored between Binz and Sassnitz on the Sassnitz roadstead as of Feb 21.
BAAGOE-FAERGEN
On FEb 21, 2025, at 7.30 a.m. the 'Bågøfærgen ' touched the bottom off the port of Assens, en route to Bågø, in very foggy conditions, which caused the ferry to get a little off course and scraped over a sandy shallow. It was banned from sailing until the Danish Maritime Authority has inspected the ship's bottom with a diver. The ship was expected to sail again at 3 p.m.
STRIDE
An improperly installed valve led to a fatal engine room fire aboard the 'Stride' while docked at the Barbours Cut Marine Terminal in LaPorte, Texas, on Jan 8, 2024, according to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation, which was published on Jan 29, 2025. The fire resulted in the deaths of two crew members, serious injury to another, and the total loss of the vessel, which was valued at $12 million. Six weeks before the incident, a replacement valve was ordered for the port double bottom diesel oil (DBDO) tank. The investigators determined that the installed valve was not the type specified in the vessel’s fuel oil system drawing. Instead of an angle stop valve, an angle stop check valve, designed to allow diesel oil to flow in only one direction, was installed. During fueling, the incorrect valve prevented the intended flow of diesel oil, leading to an overflow that was redirected up the common vent line. NTSB reported the oil then leaked from a previously sealed cut-out section of the vent pipe. The flexible sealing and tape covering the cut-out failed, allowing fuel to spill into the engine room and onto operating machinery, igniting the fire. The NTSB report also highlighted crew oversight as a contributing factor. The company’s bunkering procedures required a minimum of two engineering officers and two engine ratings to be on duty during fueling operations. However, at the time of the fire, only three engineering crew members were involved. Additionally, the crew failed to monitor the tank levels adequately, as required by the vessel’s safety management system. The lack of oversight allowed the tank to overfill, ultimately leading to the fuel spill and fire. The NTSB emphasized the importance of proper part identification when replacing ship components. The agency also underscored the need for adequate staffing and monitoring during bunkering operations. “Vessel owners, operators, and crews should ensure adequate personnel are available to take frequent soundings, establish fuel tank filling rates, and communicate to the person in charge so tanks are monitored and do not overflow,” the NTSB said. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2505.pdf
QUEEN OF CAPILANO
A Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation into the 'Queen of Capilano', with 34 people on board, hitting a classical Grand Banks yacht at Snug Cove on Bowen Island has revealed more details about what happened. The vessel had departed from Bowen Island, when it allided with the moored boat at the Bowen Island Marina. The 'Queen of Capilano’s stern smashed through the boat's cabin, tearing off railings, shattering windows, and crushing the door and its frame. The boat subsequently slammed into the dock, causing significant damage to the structure. The ferry was taken out of service later in the morning and held at Horseshoe Bay until the evening. “The passenger ferry reported touching the wooden dock structure and docked pleasure craft, while departing the ferry terminal at Snug Cove, Bowen Island, B.C. due to high wind gusts and issues with the control of the azimuth thrusters,” said the summary. On Feb. 20, the TSB stated that the incident has been classified as a "class 5 occurrence." That's where the incident is not subject to a comprehensive investigation followed by an investigation report. However, these types of occurrences are recorded in suitable scope for possible future safety analysis, statistical reporting, or archival purposes. A summary of the incident stated the accident caused a minor degree of damage. A class 5 occurrence investigation can, in some cases, result in a safety letter highlighting a safety issue. The internal investigation of BC Ferries is still ongoing to understand the contributing factors and the role that weather and mechanical issues may have played. The company continued to cooperate with the TSB and other involved parties to take forward any learnings
L.E. NIAMH
The OPV 'LÉ Niamh (P52' suffered damage on Feb 19, 2025, in Cork Harbour, while conducting Sea Acceptance Trials in the port following an extensive period of overhaul. The ship was returning to the Cork Dockyard on the afternoon, when it allided with the quay, resulting in a gaping hole in its side above the waterline. No personnel were injured in the incident. The ship had departed from a quay alongside the dockyard in Rushbrooke, near Cobh, to carry out the trials beyond the entrance of the harbour. The damage meant the vessel will need extensive repairs and will be out of action once again. Report with photos: https://www.thesun.ie/news/14753741/le-niamh-navy-training-blunder-rips-hole-ship-refit/