MTM RIO GRANDE

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Tanker hit by cluster shell

On May 3, 2022, a cluster shell fired by Russian forces hit the 'MTM Rio Grande' at the port of Nika Tera. The vessel was likely to have been hit by indirect fire by a cluster shell. It had arrived at the port before the Russian invasion to load a cargo of sunflower oil, but has not been able to leave the port, due to the war situation. The use of cluster bombs is prohibited by the UN Convention, but since February 24, the use of cluster bombs and phosphorus bombs (also banned) by Russia has been repeatedly recorded.

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Tanker saved crew of sinking British yacht

The "Maersk Mediterranean" enroute from Sohar to Durban rescued the crew of three of the sinking British yacht "Simanderal" (MMSI-No. 235024791), 300 miles south of the Seychelles island Mahé which had suffered rudder damage and water ingress enroute to Mayotte. The crew two women and a man of British nationality – had been desperately pumping and bailing out the vessel as it began taking on water., but was unable to cope with the flooding. The Falmouth MRCC upon receiving the mayday alert asked the tanker to divert to the casualty which was adrift in winds exceeding 25 knots. Bad weather meant the ship’s progress was slower than normal, and the yacht’s crew were preparing to abandon ship and take to a life raft when they were finally rescued. The tanker was on scene at 7.30 p.m. and took on board the castaways on June 24 at 3 a.m. They were taken to the Comores islands. Zhe MRCC had also alerted nearby authorities, including the Seychelles Coastguard, and other resources in the region, but the yacht’s remote location meant that a rapid rescue was not possible. Skipper's account of the rescue: http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Sailing-crews-battle-to-save-yacht-lost-in-the-Indian-Ocean/123782