On January 16, the 160 meter long, 8487 dwt training vessel Patriot State (IMO: 9910325) caught fire in the Caribbean Sea off Puerto Rico. The fire started with the vessel’s incinerator and was quickly extinguished by the vessel’s fixed water mist system. Reports state the crew and cadets responded to the incident without issue. There were no reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
On the morning of January 14, Vietnam authorities reported the fishing vessel KH 90026 TS as missing in the South China Sea approximately 35 miles off Bãi biển Đại Lãnh, Vietnam. The KH 90026 TS departed from Danong, Vietnam on January 7 bound for gillnet fishing with 8 crew on board. Authorities state the fishing vessel was proceeding at a speed of 2 nautical miles per hour in severe weather. The KH 90026 TS was in gale force winds and high waves when contact was lost around 1:45 a.m. on January 9. The vessel’s last location was at 12°40’55” N, 110°01’03” E.
Authorities attempted to contact the missing KH 90026 TS, but did not receive contact. Nearby vessels were asked to keep vigil for any signs of the KH 90026 TS.
As of January 16, there has been no sighting of the vessel or the 8 crew on board. One news report states a gillnet was spotted floating near Phu Quy Island.
On January 16, the 12 meter long fishing vessel CP-3-1674 became disabled in the Balearic Sea off Castellón, Spain. The CP-3-1674 had gone adrift after suffering steering failure. The 2 crew on board contacted Spanish authorities with the Salvamento Maritimó dispatching the 21 meter long Salvamar Sabik (MMSI: 224228230) to assist. The Salvamar Sabik would take the CP-3-1674 under tow and proceed back to port later the same day. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.