San Esteban

San Esteban
Photo: cadenaser.com

On the morning of August 26, the 17 meter long former tugboat San Esteban ran aground on the Ría de Vigo at Plaia América, Spain. The tugboat had suffered a mechanical failure and drifted ashore onto the beach.  The San Esteban remained aground until later that afternoon when it refloated by the 15 meter long  rescue vessel Punta da Guía (MMSI: 225990314) on the rising tide.  The Punta da Guía took the San Esteban under tow back to the Baiona docks. No reports of injuries or pollution released.

The San Esteban was built in 1902 as a fishing vessel named Venture. The vessel was converted into a tugboat in 1907 and served in the port of San Esteban until it was decommissioned in 1970. The vessel was restored in the late 1990s and recently in 2021.

SCH 2640

SCH 2640
Photo: abendblatt.de

On August 21, the 28 meter long pusher tug SCH 2640 (MMSI: 211518830) released pollution on the northern Elbe River near Hamburg, Germany. The SCH 2640 had a suffered a leak in one of its fuel tanks releasing 2,000 litres of diesel fuel into the Peute Port. Authorities were alerted and dispatched a response team to the scene. Responders placed booms and absorption pads to contain the fuel from spreading into the river while the remaining 2 tons of fuel was pumped into a secondary fuel tank on the SCH 2640. Divers from the Hamburg fire brigade were able to make temporary repairs. Reports state the response took approximately 5 hours to complete.

The SCH 2640 will undergo repairs to fix the damage to the fuel tank.  A company has been contracted to clean up the diesel fuel.  No reports of injuries.

Sea Ranger

Sea Ranger
Photo: USCG

On the morning of August 1, the 110 foot long tug vessel Sea Ranger sank in the Gulf of Alaska some 130 miles south of Cordova, Alaska. The Sea Ranger contacted the United States Coast Guard that the vessel was taking on water and requested assistance.  The Coast Guard responded by sending an HC-130 Super Hercules aircraft from Kodiak with a dewatering pump. The helicopter arrived and able to deliver0 the pump to the crew and returned to back to shore.

Two hours later the Sea Ranger contacted the Coast Guard stating the vessel was in trouble. The tug vessel had suffered a fire in the engine room and the main engine was now inoperative. With no power for the dewatering pumps, the crew of four were unable to stop the water ingress. The Coast Guard deployed a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter along with an HC-130 Super Hercules airplane to assist. The helicopter arrived a few hours later on scene and hoisted all 4 crew members off the Sea Ranger.  The crew were flown to Cordova and found to be in good condition. The tug vessel was last reported to be in sinking condition and was assumed lost.