The submersible 'Titan' had malfunctioned days before its final voyage, the scientific director of the company that owned the craft said during a US Coast Guard investigation. Other testimonies indicated a lack of safety checks before the unconventionally designed craft set sail. Steve Ross, the scientific director for the company that owned the submersible testified on Sep 19 that the sub had malfunctioned just prior to the fatal dive. Appearing before a U.S. Coast Guard panel, He told the board about a platform issue the experimental submersible experienced in June 2023, just days before it imploded on its way to the 'Titanic'. The malfunction caused passengers onboard the submersible to tumble about, and it took an hour to get them out of the water. The submersible pilot, OceanGate co-founder Stockton Rush, crashed into bulkheading during the malfunction, Ross said. One passenger was hanging upside down. The other two managed to wedge themselves into the bow end cap. Ross did not know if a safety assessment of the 'Titan' or an inspection of its hull was performed after the incident. An investigatory panel has listened to three days of testimony that raised questions about the company's operations before the doomed mission. Rush was among five people who died when the submersible imploded en route to the site of the 'Titanic' in June 2023. Earlier on Sep 19, Renata Rojas, a mission specialist for the company, told the Coast Guard that the firm was staffed by competent people who wanted to “make dreams come true." Rojas is a member of the Explorers Club, which lost members Hamish Harding and Paul-Henri Nargeolet in the implosion. “I knew what I was doing was very risky. I never at any point felt unsafe by the operation,” Rojas said during the public hearing that is part of a high-level investigation into the cause of the implosion. The public hearing began on Sep 16. Some of the testimony focused on problems the company had prior to the fatal 2023 dive. During the hearing, former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge said on Sep 17 that he frequently clashed with Rush and felt the company was committed only to making money. The hearing ran to run through Sep 20 with more witnesses still to come and resumes this week. Lochridge and other witnesses have painted a picture of a company led by people who were impatient to get the unconventionally designed craft into the water. The deadly accident set off a worldwide debate about the future of private undersea exploration.Coast Guard officials noted at the start of the hearing that the submersible had not been independently reviewed, as is standard practice. That and the 'Titan'’s unusual design subjected it to scrutiny in the undersea exploration community. OceanGate suspended its operations after the implosion. The company has no full-time employees currently, but has been represented by an attorney during the hearing. During the submersible’s final dive on June 18, 2023, the crew lost contact after an exchange of texts about the 'Titan'’s depth and weight as it descended. The 'Polar Prince' then sent repeated messages asking if the 'Titan' could still see the ship on its onboard display. One of the last messages from the 'Titan'’s crew to the 'Polar Prince' before the submersible imploded stated, “all good here.”
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SALVAMAR MACONDO
On the night of Sep 21, 44 migrants were rescued by the crew of the 'Salvamar Macondo' and transferred to Arguineguín on Sep 22 a 12:30 a.m. (Canary Islands time). The 'Salvamar Adhara' accompanied a cayuco to La Restinga, where 133 people disembarked, on Sep 22 after midnight.
SIROCCO
On March 27, 2023, the 'Sirocco' broke free from its moorings at the Convent Marine Terminal in Louisiana and drifted down the Mississippi River, alliding with a moored barge. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation revealed that the incident occurred due to excessive tension on the forward mooring lines, which exceeded the winches’ brake capacity in strong river currents.The NTSB emphasized the critical importance of proper mooring techniques, stating, “To reduce the risk of a vessel breakaway, it is important for vessel crews to understand the forces that act on a vessel when it is moored into a strong current at a dock.” The investigators recommended continuous monitoring and adjustment of mooring lines, especially as vessels load cargo and sit lower in the water.The NTSB also stressed the importance of preparedness, advising vessel masters to develop breakaway response plans and implement additional safety measures. These include keeping propulsion systems on standby and having anchors ready for immediate use: "Vessel masters should also consider incorporating additional safety measures such as keeping propulsion, thrusters, and steering systems on short standby and having anchors ready for immediate use (even if not required by the loading facility), and should be familiar with how to request tug support on short notice.” While no injuries or pollution were reported, the incident resulted in an estimated $5 million in damages to the bulk carrier, the barge, and the Mosaic Uncle Sam dock.
KOMMANDOR ORCA
The second officer aboard the 'Kommandor Orca' sustained serious crush injuries to his lower left leg while operating the deck crane on August 16, 2022, while the vessel was docked in Portland, UK, preparing for its first research charter after a year-long conversion. The officer’s leg had to be amputated below the knee after being trapped in the crane’s rack and pinion system. The incident happened while the ship’s second officer used the rail-mounted crane to relocate equipment on the main deck. During the process, he used emergency controls located 12 feet above deck, which had become common on the ship. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found out in its investigation that the method of operation was risky and did not comply with the manufacturer’s guidelines. The crane’s controls, designed only for emergencies, were concealed in an unobtrusive hatch on the crane’s base. According to the MAIB, the second officer was instructed by senior officers to operate these controls but was unaware of the remote or bridge-based operation options. As he operated the crane, his foot got stuck in the unprotected pinion gear. A fellow crew member provided immediate help, and the officer was taken to a hospital, where doctors found his leg could not be saved. The 'Kommandor Orca', formerly sailing as 'Bourbon Orca', had just been acquired by its present owners. A lack of handover from the previous crew led to poor operational procedures. The vessel’s safety management system (SMS) failed to address proper crane operation, leading to unsafe practices and inadequate training. The MAIB investigation found that operating the crane with emergency controls, standing on the unguarded motor, and working at heights without guardrails all led to the accident. The incident revealed major flaws in safety management, as the crew was unaware of the risks posed by this method of operation. The investigation found that senior officers’ training unintentionally encouraged dangerous practices. The vessel operator has updated the SMS and installed safety guards and an emergency stop option on the crane since. A third-party crane training provider retrained the crew, and remote control tools were made mandatory for crane operations. The company also provided the injured officer with employment and support.
GOLDEN LION
A Russian missile strike damaged the 'Golden Lion' in the port of Odesa on Sep 20, 2024. Four people were injured in the airstrike. Debris, believed to be from an “Iskander-M missile,” was discovered afterwards. The missile damaged both the port and civilian buildings. The ship had arrived from Varna with a cargo of metal products and was next destined to Sulina.
GUARDAMAR URANIA
The 'Guardamar Urania' rescued 168 people from three inflatable boats on the morning of Sep 21. The castaways were taken to Arrecife, where they disembarked at 7:00 a.m. (local time). The operation was coordinated from the RCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas. REpot with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1837430743980441883
NISSOS SAMOS
On the morning of Sep 19, officers of the Port Authority of Chios arrested a 21-year-old Albanian citizen for violating article 372 of the Criminal Code. Following an investigation by the officers of the Port Authority, theman was found to be in possession of €3,600 as the product of a theft, which took place on the 'Nissos Samos'. The Central Port Authority of Chios, which conducted the preliminary investigation, confiscated the amount of money.
PHOENIX
arrived Esbjerg Scrapyard 03.08.24 https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/1751641?navList=gallery&imo=8414116&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest
SALVAMAR AL NAIR
On Sep 22, the 'Guardamar Calíope' accompanyied a cayuco, with about 100 people on board, to La Restinga. They arrived at port at 4:45 p.m. (Canary Islands time). During the same afternoon, the 'Salvamar Al Nair' arrived in Arrecife with 99 people of sub-Saharan origin that it had rescued from two boats (51 from the first and 48 from a second).
CHAMPION JET 3
On the afternoon of Sep 20, the Port Authority of Lavrio was informed about the emergency approach to the port of the 'Champion Jet 3' n order to disembark a 45-year-old passenger, who needed immediate hospital care, in deviation from the scheduled itinerary. The patient was dropped off and transported by an ambulance to the General Hospital of Attica, while the ship continued its route to the port of Piraeus.
BBC VERMONT
On Sep 18, 2024, an explosion occurred in the engine room of the 'BBC Vermont', which killed one crew member, when the vessel was around 490 nautical miles off of the Scilly Isles, en route to Montoir with an ETA as of Sep 22.
ELIM COURAGE
On the evening of Sep 18, 2024, the Port Authorities of Agia Galini, Paleochora and Chora Sfakion were informed about the rescue of migrants on a boat by the 'Lady Claudia' and the cargo m/v "Elim Courage" 36 nautical miles south of Gavdos. They collected a total of 22 people, all of them Sudanese nationals and sailed to the anchorage of the port of Paleochora, where the rescued were transferred to a patrol boat. They were safely transported to the Tigani port of Paleochora and from there to a reception area in Agia Chania. A preliminary investigation was carried out by the Central Port Authority of Chania, while the boat was seized.
SALVAMAR ADHARA
On the night of Sep 21, 44 migrants were rescued by the crew of the 'Salvamar Macondo' and transferred to Arguineguín on Sep 22 a 12:30 a.m. (Canary Islands time). The 'Salvamar Adhara' accompanied a cayuco to La Restinga, where 133 people disembarked, on Sep 22 after midnight.
GUARDAMAR URANIA
On Sep 22, the 'Guardamar Calíope' accompanyied a cayuco, with about 100 people on board, to La Restinga. They arrived at port at 4:45 p.m. (Canary Islands time). During the same afternoon, the 'Salvamar Al Nair' arrived in Arrecife with 99 people of sub-Saharan origin that it had rescued from two boats (51 from the first and 48 from a second).
ADOLF JENSEN
On Sep 19, 2024, at around 1.45 a.m. the “Adolf Jensen” ran aground near the town of Nanortalik, Greenland, and started taking on water during a regular polar explorations. Firefighters and local authorities went to the scene with the landing ship 'Atitooq', loaded with a pump and oil containment equipment to prevent the 15,000 to 20,000 liters of diesel contained in the tank and nearly 1,000 liters of engine oil from spilling. The ship sank at 7:05 a.m.. The four crew members were evacuated. An oil boom was placed in a circle of approximately 50 meters in diameter around the 'Adolf Jensen' to prevent any pollution. The flotation device extended 50 cm deep. Some diesel leaked and caused an oil spill that firefighters were trying to contain in the nearby fjords. The environment and civil protection ministry requested assistance from the Arctic command of the Danish Navy to recover and treat the leaked fuel.
SALVAMAR ACRUX
The engine of the motorboat 'Xatona', with four crew members on board, began to smoke when they tried to start it, and the crew requested assistance in Cala Olivera (Ibiza), near the rocks. The RCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Palma mobilized the 'Salvamar Acrux', which took the boat in tow and safely pulled it to theMarina Ibiza, where it was docked at 5:40 p.m.
EVGENIA
On Sep 19, 2024, at noon the Port Authority of Nafplio was informed that the 'Evgenia' had sailed from Spetses to the Bay of Kryoneri in Arcadia with an incomplete crew. Immediately officers of the Port Authority went to the mooring point, where they found that a crew member was illegally absent from the ship, while a 34-year-old Pakistani citizen was on board, who was not registered in the sea log and did not have a visa in force. The Port Authority of Paralio Astros, which was conducting the preliminary investigation, prohibited the tanker from sailing until its crew was restored, The Master of the shoü was arrested for violation of Article 229 of the Civil Code .D. as well as the Pakistani citizen for violation of article 15 of Law 3386/2005 (Illegal stay in the country). In addition, the prescribed administrative sanctions were imposed on the ship-owning company and the Master.