On the early morning of January 26, the 48 meter long, 250 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Trisha Kerstin 3 (IMO: 9125516) sank in the Sulu Sea approximately one nautical mile off Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, Philippines. The Trisha Kerstin 3 had departed from Zamboanga with 332 passengers and 27 crew bound for Jolo Island. Reports state the ferry was making a regular voyage when it reported technical problem. The crew sent out a distress call stating the vessel had suffered a serious technical problem. The ferry had suffered water ingress and developed a list. The crew distributed out life vests to the passengers who had to move evacuated from the lower decks to the upper decks as the vessel sank.
The vessel’s safety officer alerted Philippine authorities which launched a search and rescue operation. The Philippine Coast Guard and Navy deployed vessels to the area. The rescuers were aided by aircraft and local fishing boats in the area. The Coast Guard stated that rescuers were able to save 316 passengers. They also stated that 15 bodies were recovered. The search was ongoing for the missing 28 people on board.
Photo: inquirer.net
The cause of the incident is under investigation. There was some speculation the water ingress was caused by a strap snapping allowing a vehicle to break free on the lower deck. There is also some confusion around weather conditions at the time of the sinking. Some accounts stated the weather was fair, but others stated there were strong waves before the Trisha Kerstin 3 sank.
On January 17, the 168 meter long, 1550 dwt passenger cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II (IMO: 9850460) became stuck in ice in the Southern Ocean approximately 8 nautical miles from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. The Scenic Eclipse II had become trapped in pack ice and was unable to free itself. The cruise ship requested assistance with the 122 meter long, 7000 dwt United States Coast Guard Icebreaker Polar Star (IMO: 7367471) responding.
Photo: United States Coast Guard
Photo: United States Coast Guard
Photo: United States Coast Guard
Photo: United States Coast Guard
Photo: United States Coast Guard
Photo: United States Coast Guard
The Polar Star made two passes near the Scenic Eclipse II breaking up the ice freeing the cruise ship. The Polar Star then escorted the Scenic Eclipse II approximately 4 nautical miles until it was in open water again. There were no reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
On the afternoon of January 24, the 85 meter long self-propelled barge Cycloon (MMSI: 244025954) ran aground on the Rhine River near Cologne, Germany. The Cycloon was headed to Venio with a 1300 tons of sand from Nijmegen when it struck the riverbank near the 681 kilometer mark. The vessel sustained damage to its keel allowing uncontrolled water ingress in the bow. To avoid sinking, the barge would later be grounded on a nearby sandbank.
Photo: express.de
The Cologne fire brigade was called out and found the bow section flooded with water reaching over 2 meters in the cabins. Using multiple fireboats from Cologne and Bonn, pumps were able to control the flooding. A dredger was requested and would lighter some 500 tons of sand off the Cycloon allowing the vessel to be refloated. With the vessel stabilized, the Cylcoon was towed to Mülheim for repairs.
