The 80 meter long general cargo vessel Sylvia became disabled in the Gulf of Finland off Kalbådagrund, Finland. The Sylvia, loaded with cement, had suffered engine failure and went adrift. The crew was able to drop anchor and alerted the MRCC. A tug arrived on scene a few hours later and was able to connect a towline to the Sylvia. The vessels proceeded safely to Palkasaare. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
The 29 meter long offshore supply vessel JHC Transporter collided with the 63 meter long general cargo ship Elvi Kull on the Kiel Canal at the 88.7 kilometer mark. The Elvi Kull struck head-on with JHC Transporter and sustained only minor scratches. The JHC Transporter suffered significant damage to its bow with a large gash above the waterline. Both vessels proceeded to Kiel for inspection. The water police launched an investigation into the incident. The Elvi Kull was allowed to continue on its voyage to Heiligenhafen. The JHC Transporter proceeded to a shipyard in Kiel. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
On January 5, the 69 meter long fishing factory trawler North Ocean caught fire in the Norwegian Sea. The fire started in the vessel’s engine room disabling the trawler. The North Ocean sent out a distress call asking for assistance. The fishing vessel Christian í Grótinum responded along with vessel Melkart II which was able to take the North Ocean under tow. The vessels proceeded towards the Faroe Islands, but the towline broke in the rough seas.
A few hours later, a Danish naval vessel and a Faroese vessel arrived and were able to re-establish a towline to the North Ocean. A crew member, on which vessel was not disclosed, sustained an injury while setting the towline. All three vessels proceeded to Tórshavn with 18 crew members of the North Shore transferred over to the Faroese vessel. The vessels arrived safely in Tórshavn a few days later. There the local fire brigade inspected the vessel and found the fire had been extinguished, but the entire engine room was badly damaged.
