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Year: 2025

Meshka

Meshka

Meshka
Photo: Swedish Coast Guard

On May 31, the 180 meter long, 35829 dwt bulk carrier Meshka (IMO: 9588380)  ran aground in the Öresund near Landskrona, Sweden.  The Meshka was proceeding to Vysotsk from Skagen in ballast when it proceeded to be off course. Authorities alerted the vessel was on the wrong course, but the vessel didn’t change course before it grounded.  The Swedish Coast Guard responded with multiple vessels to the scene. The Coast Guard found the vessel was firmly aground on the sandy bottom and the bulk carrier had no significant hull damage from the incident and there were no injuries to the 24 crew members on board.

Authorities quickly launched an investigation into the grounding. The Coast Guard questioned the crew and checked for any crew member being intoxicated which all returned negative. Reports state the crew of the Meshka was warned it was off course and had enough time to avoid going aground. Either the crew ignored the urgency to change course or failed to complete any maneuvers before it was too late. Swedish Prosecutors are looking into negligence and if criminal charges will be issued to the crew.

The owners of the Meshka have been asked to provide a salvage plan that would be approved by the Coast Guard and Swedish authorities. The Coast Guard has stated they will monitor the vessel for any potential pollution and contain it. The Meshka had some 938 tons of fuel oil in its tanks at the time of the incident.

Four Aground At Chattogram

Four Aground At Chattogram

Photo: prothomalo.com

On May 30, a strong monsoon storm struck the Bay of Bengal along the coast near the port of Chattogram, Bangladesh. The storm had wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour with downpour rain and heavy seas. Several vessels that had been at anchor were blown ashore.

Near Anwara, the tugboat Navimar-3 had been detained due to the over fuel bills. The tugboat along with the barge Mermaid-3 were blown ashore.

North of Chattogram, the tanker Al Herem was driven ashore after dragging its anchors. Reports state the tanker had lost control due to the heavy seas which washed the Al Herem onto the shore. Another tanker the 116 meter long B-LPG Sophia was blown ashore. The B-LPG Sophia had been at anchor since it had suffered an explosion and fire back in October 2024. The burnt out hull drifted ashore.

With all four vessels, there were no reports of injuries.

 

Ali Aykin

Ali Aykin

Ali Aykin
Photo: Swedish Coast Guard

On the morning of May 25, the 94 meter long, 5006 dwt cargo vessel Ali Aykin (IMO: 9166510) ran aground in the Øresund near Malmö, Sweden. The Ali Aykin was headed to Setubal from Gdansk with a cargo of scrap  went hard aground on a shoal after veering out of the shipping channel south of the Øresund Bridge. The cargo vessel sustained hull damage with at least one ballast tank punctured. There were no reports of injuries.

The Swedish Coast Guard conducted an aerial survey and found the Ali Aykin had not released any oil pollution. Authorities launched an investigation and conducted interviews of the crew members.  One crew member was found to be intoxicated while at the helm and was later charged with gross negligence. Divers would later conduct a survey and found the cargo vessel resting on both rocks and sand with the majority of the hull firmly aground. The Coast Guard dispatched multiple environmental vessels including the 81 meter long  KBV 001 (IMO: 9380441)  and the 23 meter long KBV 034 (IMO: 9536650) to monitor the vessel.  The concern is the 69 tons of diesel in the vessel’s fuel tanks that could be released if there is further damage to the hull.

Authorities have stated they are waiting on the vessel’s owner and insurance company to provide a salvage plan. The plan will most likely focus on removing all fuel and any other potential oil pollution before any attempts to pull the Ali Aykin free. News reports also state the vessel had been barred from the port of Halmstad, Sweden in 2024. Inspectors had found 40 deficiencies in 2024 which may play a factor in the salvage plan.