On May 27, the 133 meter long, 4150 dwt tanker Volgoneft 217 ran aground on the Nizhnyaya Scheksna River near Cherepovets, Russia. The Volgoneft 217 was headed to St. Petersburg from Yaroslavl when it suffered steering failure and ran aground. The vessel was able to refloat itself the next day and proceeded to a nearby anchorage. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
The 88 meter long, 3710 dwt cargo vessel Vitin ran aground near Tonnes in Lurøy, Norway. The Vitin had run ashore during the early morning hours and stranded itself just a few meters off the shoreline. The vessel sustained damage and water ingress to a ballast tank, but there were no injuries and no pollution released. The Vitin notified authorities who dispatched a rescue boat and tug to the scene. The tug was able to pull the Vitin free several hours later. The cargo vessel was escorted to Sandnessjøen where it can be inspected further. The cause of the grounding was not reported.
On April 21, the 142 meter long, 3500 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Volcán de Tamasite became disabled and allided with the pier at the port of Luz in Las Palmas, Canary Islands. The Volcán de Tamasite had just departed the port for Santa Cruz with 140 passengers and 33 crew and began a turn to port when it suffered a power blackout. Without power, the crew lost steering and the ferry continued its turn to port. The crew attempted to stop the Volcán de Tamasite by an emergency anchoring, but it was unsuccessful. The vessel completed its arc and struck bow first into the reinforced concrete wall along the outer edge of the pier.
Thirteen passengers sustained injuries in the allision. Five passengers were taken to hospital for treatment. The Volcán de Tamasite sustained significant damage to the bulbous bow and the tip of the bow was crushed. The pier sustained major damage. A portion of the concrete wall was crushed and fell onto several parked vehicles on the pier.
Refueling pipelines that ran along the pier were partially destroyed. Some 10 meters of pipe were damaged allowing some 60 tons of diesel fuel to be released into the water. Authorities closed 20 kilometers of beaches as a slick over 15 kilometers long drifted just off the coast. Anti-pollution vessels were deployed in an effort to collect some of the pollution released. Repairs to the pipeline are expected to take 4 months.
The Volcán de Tamasite was able to restore power and was escorted back into port by two tugs. Passengers disembarked and were taken to local hotels. and the ferry was later taken to drydock for repairs. Reports state several passengers were unnerved by the incident. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
