News

On March 22, 2025, at around 11:00 p.m., the 'Fugro Mercator', engaged in seabed monitoring operations, ran aground on the reef of the Enfola promontory, near Portoferraio. The vessel, while seeking shelter from the bad weather, got too close to the coast, hitting the shallow water and coming to rest along the rocky cliff in that area. The accident caused water to enter the hull, which was initially contained by the crew, but which subsequently damaged part of the engines, causing a total blackout of the on-board equipment. During the night, under the coordination of the Maritime Directorate of Livorno, the patrol boat 'CP 805' of the Port Authority of Portoferraio intervened, rescuing the crew members and the technical-scientific personnel, 11 people in total of different nationalities, in good health. The transfer operations were made difficult due to the blackout that affected the ship, the proximity to the rocks and the undertow present in the area. The causes of the accident are not yet known: the Coast Guard investigations will determine whether the ship got close to the coast due to the strong wind present yesterday or whether it had technical problems with the propulsion systems. During an operational meeting held the next morning at the Port Authority of Portoferraio, the shipping company was asked, for environmental protection reasons, to remove the ship and the detailed aspects of the activities aimed at its subsequent recovery were examined. Preliminary underwater inspections are currently underway, carried out by a company specialized in the sector, aimed at drawing up an operational plan for the removal of the unit. Monitoring by air and naval means of the Coast Guard has not recorded any marine pollution due to fuel spills. On March 23, a salvage operation was being prepared together with international experts and local officials. Report with photo and video: https://www.agenzianova.com/es/news/Un-barco-de-42-metros-encalla-en-Elba-y-once-tripulantes-son-rescatados/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfwfwNgWRdQ

On March 26, 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard responded to a medical evacuation request of the 'Voy Trust' in waters of the Basilan Strait. The National Maritime Center received the request as it transited near Zamboanga City. The PCG District Southwestern Mindanao deployed the BRP 'Capones' to take the injured crew member off. He was given first aid and later transferred to a vehicle to travel by land to the Brent Hospital in Zamboanga City. The Chinese national has since been turned over to the ship’s local agent, Albert Abanilla, for further assistance.

The recovery of weapons and ammunition from the HMZS 'Manawanui' will begin as the salvage crew has completed the removal of diesel fuel and pollutants eliminating an environmental threat, New Zealand Defense Force officials said on MArch 26. The next phase of the operation focuses on recovering weapons, ammunition, equipment, and debris from the wreck, according to Commodore Andrew Brown, the NZDF Senior National Representative for Operation Resolution. After a brief visit to the Port of Apia to reconfigure the salvors’ barge, it’s back moored over the 'Manawanui'. Salvors have accessed secure compartments to retrieve weapons and ammunition using specialised diving and salvage techniques. The authorities have worked closely with the Samoan Police Service to ensure the safe and secure storage of recovered weapons and ammunition. Some of the ammunition has deteriorated due to prolonged exposure to seawater and is being safely disposed of with assistance from Samoan officials. The remaining weapons, equipment, and debris will be transported back to New Zealand. The Samoan and New Zealand governments are determining the next steps, with independent experts conducting a wreck assessment. The evaluation includes studies of the reef and marine environment surrounding the wreck. The Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa continues to monitor the area and has reported no contamination of seawater or marine life.

On March 26, 2025, at 7.14 a.m. the 'Crystal Asia', with 23 people, 22 of whom Russians, has caught fire off the coast of South Korea. Six Russians were injured, two of them were in serious condition. The ship was eight kilometres from the port of Gamcheon in Busan at the time of the accident. An explosion occurred in the engine room of the reefer before the fire. A patrol boat of the Busan Marine Police, which was nearby, arrived to help. The Central Marine Rescue Group and the Coast Guard were called to assist too. The fire was extinguished at about 8 a.m. The ship was towed by the South Korean rescuers to Busan for repairs, although before that it had undergone repair work in Korea. The ship had no cargo on board. Reports with photos: https://censor.net/en/p3543265 https://morvesti.ru/news/1679/114753/ https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/67e3b7fa9a79471e1b013666 https://vl.aif.ru/incidents/8-postradavshih-na-rossiyskom-sudne-crystal-asia-proizoshel-pozhar

A tugboat has placed loose tanks on board the 'MSC Baltic III'. The intention is to pump the environmentally hazardous liquids on board into them. Dangerous cargos have been removed. Containers which carried dangerous goods (polymeric beads (plastic nurdles) have been removed from the vessel and were safely secured as of March 23. Meanwhile the Coast Guard was doing everything they can to ensure the salvage of the grounded ship won’t impact fish harvesters as they head out from Little Port. They met with Small Craft Harbours over the weekend of March 22/23 and met with officials from the town of Lark Harbour. The command post consists of 14 people from the Coast Guard, two from Environment and Climate Change Canada, and a representative from Transport Canada.