The 5620 dwt freighter Volgo-Don 195 allided with the anchored 3095 dwt freighter Omskiy-132 on the Neva River near the 1363 kilometer mark. The Omskiy-132 hull was punctured above the waterline while the Volgo-Don 195 had damage to its fender and bulwark. No reports of injury or pollution.
The tugboat Dale White struck an object in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Willow Springs, Illinois. The tugboat began to fill with water and became stuck in the canal. The vessel did settle to the bottom of the shallow section of the canal, but did not sink. All six crew men were uninjured. An empty barge was attached to the tug with no damage reported. No pollution was released.
The 164 meter long bulk freighter Phoenix went aground in heavy seas in Christmas Bay near Durban, South Africa. The Phoenix was under the control of a skelton crew as it was headed to India to be scrapped. As the vessel encountered rough seas, the crew dropped anchor to ride out the bad weather. However, the anchor line broke and the vessel began to drift towards shore. A nearby salvage tug attempted to connect a towline to pull the Phoenix to deeper water, but the weather conditions made it impossible. Waves were 4 to 6 meters and winds reached up to 30 knots. Pushed by the waves, the vessel struck bottom some 200 meters from the shore. The NSRI responded sending out three helicopters who airlifted all 15 crew to safety. A salvage company has already begun operations, but it is likely the vessel will be cut for scrap where it currently rests.
