News

The LPG tanker 'Victoire' (IMO: 9321885) has been safely anchored in pos. 37° 05' W 149° 54' E in the Twofold Bay on the evening of April 9 off Eden, having been towed from a position east-south-east of Gabo Island by the 'Wambiri' after suffering a main engine failure on April 4, 2025. On April 4 at about 4 p.m. the AMSA was notified that the 'Victoire' had lost main engine power due to a mechanical issue about 45 kilometres southeast of Mallacoota in Victoria. The 'Wambiri' was sent from Eden to assist on the morning of Apri 6, but fouled a line from the ship and was taken back to Eden by the tug 'Flinders Bay' (MMSI: 503185500) for the removal of the rope. It then returned to the 'Victoire' and reached Eden on April 9 at 9.45 p.m. In Twofold Bay, the vessel will be inspected by the AMSA. It is classed with NKK, insured with Gard and due for its next special survey in May.

Investigators have concluded the master of the 'Fiordland Navigator'was asleep at the wheel when it ran aground in Doubtful Sound on Jan 24, 2024. It was moderately damaged, including a small hole below the waterline, and several of the 57 passengers on board suffered minor injuries. Following a comprehensive investigation, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission released a report on April 10, 2025, noting it was virtually certain the fatigued master fell asleep at the helm. Chief investigator of accidents Naveen Kozhuppakalam said that the operator RealNZ's policies didn't oversee exhaustion properly. The safety system didn't monitor actual rest hours or effectively manage fatigue risks for sole-charge masters. While the master held a valid medical certificate, there was no process to ensure ongoing medical fitness during the two-year certification period. Also the staff member responsible for safety oversight had an excessive workload, limiting their ability to manage fatigue risks. The master was on the sixth day of a seven-day swing. He was very likely suffering from workload-induced fatigue that had not been recognised or mitigated by the operator's safety management system. This may have been compounded by a potential drowsiness side effect of a prescribed medication they were taking, but the Commission was unable to make a determination on this. Since the accident, RealNZ had improved its standards, strengthened fatigue policies, training, and work-hour monitoring. They have added a second person to the wheelhouse during navigation and reinstated the master's assistant role. And they have introduced a maritime resource planner role and adjusted responsibilities to improve safety oversight. RealNZ chief executive Dave Beeche has welcomed the learnings TAIC identified in relation to the grounding of the 'Fiordland Navigator', including its acknowledgement of the measures already taken by RealNZ as a result of the accident.

Three South Korean brokerage firms, including Samsung Securities Co. Ltd., underwrote around 250 billion won ($208 million) of a subordinated debt on Abbot Point coal terminal in Australia in the second investment by South Korean institutions in the export terminal. Samsung and Hanwha Investment & Securities Co. Ltd. acquired 150 billion won of the five-year debt in aggregate for an expected yield of about 8%. They are selling them down to domestic institutional investors.

Carnival Cruise Line is to fully renovate and significantly expand Cruise Terminal F at Florida’s PortMiami to accommodate its Excel-class cruise ships, which will be the largest in its fleet and will be powered by LNG. Following approval from the Miami-Dade County Commission, Carnival has shared its plans to work with Miami-based design firm Berenblum Busch Architects to create a terminal with a simple and open layout. The terminal will be equipped with various technologies, such as facial recognition systems, to make the embarkation process quicker and safer. Terminal F is set to open in October 2022 to coincide with the arrival of Carnival’s second Excel-class ship (yet to be named) and is one of three dedicated to the line’s operations in Miami.

The 'Victoire' has been safely anchored in pos. 37° 05' W 149° 54' E in the Twofold Bay on the evening of April 9 off Eden, after almost a week adrift off South East Australia. The tanker was towed from a position east-south-east of Gabo Island by the tug 'Wambiri' (IMO: 8515518) after suffering a main engine failure on April 4, 2025. The LPG tanker had departed Western Port on April 3 at 08.50 a.m. and later reported ‘not under command’. On April 4 at about 4 p.m. the AMSA was notified that the 'Victoire' had lost main engine power due to a mechanical issue about 45 kilometres southeast of Mallacoota in Victoria. The 'Wambiri' was sent from Eden to assist on the morning of Apri 6, but fouled a line from the ship and was taken back to Eden by the tug 'Flinders Bay' (MMSI: 503185500) for the removal of the rope. It then returned to the 'Victoire' and reached Eden on April 9 at 9.45 p.m. In Twofold Bay, the vessel will be inspected by the AMSA. It is classed with NKK, insured with Gard and due for its next special survey in May.

The Maritime Interests, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Committee will request that funds be secured to extend the search for the crew of the 'Bruma'. Additionally, at the beginning ofthe regular session on April 9, the Senate Chamber observed a moment of silence in memory of the seven fishermen missing since March 30. "The collision was not the result of navigation between the two vessels, since the "Bruma" was anchored. The "Cobra" was sailing under its own propulsion, and this proves that the impact was from the side. Furthermore, the position of both vessels coincides," said Claudia Urrutia, president of the Maule Cod Fishermen's Association and spokesperson for the families of the missing fishermen from the 'Bruma'. The spokesperson gave a detailed presentation before the Maritime Interests, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Committee—chaired by Senator Fidel Espinoza—and called for "justice" for the families, along with a series of proposals for improvements "to eradicate bad, reckless, and inappropriate practices. Urrutia stated that the fleet is equipped in general, not only in compliance with regulations, but also with modern technological systems that support the vessel from the moment it leaves port in fishing areas and when it lands (POSAT equipment, emergency radio beacons, radar, GPS, Starlink satellite antenna, among others). Along with the account of the events, he recorded a series of short- and medium-term proposals, which were evaluated by the senators present at the session. Among others, the Navy proposed adequate navigation controls to prevent accidents and reckless and dangerous behaviour; the National Institute of Traffic (INDESPA) proposed a program to acquire safety equipment; and adequate training for SENCE (National Service for the Protection of Mariners). Furthermore, he proposed that, through the Regional Government, SAR equipment be acquired along the entire coastline. He urged the allocation of resources for due compliance with the international standards of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the provision of the Navy, in its oversight role, with modern equipment and technology for effective control of maritime operations involving all types of vessels; "that is, a Maritime Traffic System, which I would love to see called the 'Buma Law.'" After the presentation, the senators assessed the proposals and agreed to send all the information to the Minister of the Interior and request grace pensions for the families. In addition, the minister will be asked to secure resources to extend the search, which is currently scheduled to last until April 13. The Undersecretary of Fisheries, Julio Salas, present at the session, reiterated his solidarity with the families of the crew members of the "Bruma" and the search efforts. The situation became even more complex with the mysterious disappearance of Juan Sanhueza Henríquez, a 58-year-old crew member of the 'Cobra', who was working as a lookout the morning of the accident. According to his family, Sanhueza left his home in Coronel for Talcahuano on April 4 to attend a meeting with his colleagues and an appointment with the company psychologist. However, he never arrived. His last appearance was captured by security cameras in Vega Monumental in Concepción, after he got off a bus. Since then, there has been no trace of him. His family suspects that Juan may have received sensitive information related to the case, which would explain his strange disappearance. The Blumar company noted that the crew of the "Cobra" was facing high pressure following the incident, which prompted the company to provide psychological support. Blumar's general manager, Gerardo Balbontín, confirmed that Sanhueza was working two-hour shifts as a lookout on the ship's bridge at the time of the accident. Sanhueza's lookout work consisted of observing potential vessels while sailing. He was on one of the night shifts between 3 and 6 a.m. on the bridge. The manager also made a public appeal to the man: "Your colleagues and your family need you here. I'm calling on you to hopefully return as soon as possible."

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has signed a contract to supply Infraestructura Portuaria Mexicana (IPM) with two ship-to-shore (STS) and three rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes for the IPM Altamira terminal. The order, which also includes Kalmar SmartPort process automation solutions for the RTGs, was booked in Cargotec’s 2019 Q3 order intake with handover scheduled to be completed during Q1 of 2021. The IPM Altamira terminal is located on the Gulf of Mexico, in the state of Tamaulipas. The terminal’s current equipment fleet already includes one Kalmar STS crane, eight Kalmar RTGs and a variety of Kalmar mobile equipment such as terminal tractors and forklifts. The Kalmar STS cranes will be Super Post-Panamax size with an outreach of 21 container rows and have twin-lift capability with a capacity of 65 tonnes under the spreader.

ECOsubsea, the Norwegian cleantech firm with a unique hull cleaning technology has won contracts to clean in North European ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge thanks to the technology’s ability to remove all hull fouling from the water, the company said in its release. The technologically-advanced system has now been approved for use in the two North European ports following around 500 vessel cleanings in Southampton and Norway and its proven ability to meet strict environmental requirements. While hull cleaning is an important part of vessel efficiency it has become mired in controversy due to the high risk of invasive species being easily transferred across the oceans and becoming an environmental and economic hazard.

The 'Lunita' remained under investigation in South Korea after authorities found a huge quantity of cocaine on board. The bulk carrier arrived at Okgye Port in Gangneung, Gangwon Province on April 1. It was inspected on April 2 by South Korean officials from the Korea Coast Guard and Seoul Regional Customs Office. The search followed a tip from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations. The authorities found 50 tightly packed bundles of cocaine, each weighing about 20 kilograms, hidden in the vessel’s engine room. In total, the drugs weighed two metric tons. The Korea Customs Service estimated the street value at a staggering $679.6 million. All 20 crew members on the ship were Filipinos and remained on board the vesse, having not been formally detained or charged. The South Korean authorities were still investigating. If they find that the crew members were involved in trafficking the drugs, then charges and possible detention may follow. The possibility that only one person could be responsible, or that the drugs may have been placed on board at a previous port, was not ruled out either. The Norwegian shipowner, J.J. Ugland Companies, confirmed the drug seizure in a public statement on April 3. The company said it is still unclear how the drugs were smuggled onto the vessel and stated that it had already hired a lawyer to represent the crew. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines also stepped in, promising to provide legal assistance. Government lawyers will be joining the legal team within the next two days to help the Filipino crew members. The DMW was coordinating with the DFA to ensure the crew receives all the necessary assistance. He reaffirmed that under the law, the crew members are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. The vessel remaine docked at Okgye Port.

The transfer of jet fuel from the'Stena Immaculate' onto the tanker 'Fure Vyl' (IMO: 9983956), which had gone alongside for an STS transfer, has been completed on April 9, and salvors were now preparing to bring the vessel into the port of Great Yarmouth later this week. The fuel will be transferred to its destination Killingholme.As of April 10, the 'Fure Vyl' was anchored in pos. 53° 44' N 000° 22' E. Meanwhile, the HM Coastguard continued to support local authorities in their response to onshore pollution from the 'Solong' as a result of the allision n both Norfolk and Lincolnshire. The clean-up operation has moved from a proactive to reactive response. HM Coastguard will continue to keep the overall situation under close review. The HM Coastguard has asked the public to keep an open eye for nurdle pollution and to report it via the agency's online tip portal. Report with photo: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tanker-towed-great-yarmouth-month-092300564.html

Container lines Hapag Lloyd, ONE, YML, COSCO and OOCL will jointly run a new direct service from Visakha Container Terminal (VCT), the privately-run facility at State-owned Visakhapatnam Port Trust, to the Mediterranean and Europe, which will also bring connectivity with Africa and the America. The announcement strengthens Visakha Container Terminal’s rising stature as a regional container transshipment hub on the east coast, said shipping industry sources. “The commercial benefits offered by Visakhapatanam Port Trust makes the terminal even more attractive in the long run by being the gateway to the East for both northern and southern regions extending right up to Bangladesh and even Myanmar,” the terminal operator said. The terminal, majority owned by International Cargo Terminals & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, is located centrally and strategically on the East Coast of India between Kolkata and Chennai. The facility handled over 0.45 million TEUs during FY19 and is on the verge of crossing the 0.5-million TEUs in FY20, aided by a 16 pre cent growth in traffic, complemented rail movement and also transshipment.

By the Southern Canal Dock in the inner port of Zeebrugge, a ceremony was held yesterday for the start of the construction of a new 1,071 meter quay wall, an extension of the existing Bastenaken quay. This quay wall is the final missing piece that will connect the Bastenaken quay with the reverse quay at the dock's end, where International Car Operators Zeebrugge is located. When this project is finished, the largest dock in het port of Zeebrugge will be completed.