The 86 meter long self-propelled barge Stranger ran aground on the Wester Scheldt near Hoofdplaat, Netherlands. The Stranger had its anchor drag and drifted onto a sandbar by the stern. A lighter vessel was requested and the barge Carla assisted in lighter the cargo off the Stranger. Both barges remained aground until the next high tide when a tug pulled the Stranger free. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. Reports state the Stranger was allowed to proceed under its own power to Antwerp.
The 60 meter long, 1400 dwt tanker Tamaya 1 went ashore near Robertsport, Liberia. The tanker had been last reported off Dakar on April 22 before drifting onto the beach in Liberia on May 4. When authorities boarded the vessel, they found there was no crew on board. Local reports suspect the owner was unable to pay the crew. Thus, the crew decided to abandon the tanker off Dakar. No reports of any pollution released. Liberia authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
https://youtu.be/Xr4m73ly4Dc
Update May 7
The mystery deepens around the grounding of the Tamaya 1. The Liberian newspaper, The New Dawn, reports that three unknown men were spotted fleeing the vessel around the same time a fire broke out in the captain’s cabin. Authorities have boarded the tanker, but have not stated if the incident was tied to looting or the destruction of evidence. There are additional rumors that the cause of the abandonment of the tanker was either due to piracy or illegal dumping off the coast.
The 84 meter long, 1157 gt fishing vessel Arkos Ichiapas caught fire in the Pacific Ocean off Puerto Chiapas, Mexico. The fire started in a supply room by a butane tank. The crew requested assistance with a patrol ship responding. A team from the patrol vessel boarded the Arkos Ichiapas and extinguished the blaze. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
