OLAVO BILAC

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Tanker allided with quayside and patrol boats

On March 12, 2025 , at 11.20 p.m., the 'Olavo Bilac', carrying 50,000 tons of fuel oil, lost rudder control while manoeuvring at the port of Santos, near São Paulo, when the ship was leaving the port bound for Angra dos Reis. After the rudder was jammed, the ship first crashed into the quay and then into one of three docked Brazilian Navy patrol boats, the 'Guarajá P-44' and 'Guaporé P-45' of the Grajaú-class) and the 'Maracanã P-72' of the Macaé-class. The tanker suddenly veered to starboard side and first hit the quayside before turning to port while scraping along the pier, pushing one of the patrol boats into the two others from astern. One Navy officer suffered minor injuries and has been treated in hospital, since having been released. The tanker was brought back to the the Alemoa 1 pier with the assistance of tugs. On March 13, the Port Authority inspected the vessel and confirmed a large scrapes and dents at port side at the height of and above the waterline, but no leaks nor signs of an oil spill nor pollution. The pier it hit is controlled by the Brazilian Navy, which was conducting an inspection to determine the extent of the damage. The companies were waiting for permission from the navy to enter the site. The tanker was detained after the accident. The port of Santos remained operational. Reports with video: https://www.twz.com/sea/out-of-control-tanker-plows-into-docked-brazilian-navy-vessels https://www.naval.com.br/blog/2025/03/13/navio-tanque-perde-o-controle-e-atinge-tres-embarcacoes-da-marinha-no-porto-de-santos-sp/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP-PT57XhsY