Paul Hancock - Shipwreck Log

On the early morning of December 31, 2005, the 135 meter long self-propelled passenger ship nickoVISION (IMO: 4029860) ran aground on the Danube River near Gönyű, Hungary. The nickoVISION had departed from Passau bound for Budapest with 200 passengers when it grounded due to low water levels on the Danube near the 1792 kilometer marker. Unable to free itself, the vessel requested assistance.

With water levels below normal and were falling, a tug was requested to assist with refloating. After multiple attempts to refloat the nickoVISION failed, the passengers and crew remained on the stranded vessel overnight until another passenger ship could be brought on site.

On January 1, the 135 meter long Viva Two (MMSI: 269057829) arrived on site and all the passengers were transferred safely off the nickoVISION. There were no reports of injuries. Reports state the vessel would be refloated as soon as water levels allow.

Scot Pioneer

January 1, 2026 Paul Hancock

On the night of December 31, 2025, the 90 meter long, 3638 dwt cargo vessel Scot Pioneer (IMO: 9331347) ran aground in the English Channel at the entrance of the Teign River at Teignmouth harbour, England. The Scot Pioneer had departed from Hamburg and was entering the harbour when it stranded on a sandbank some 50 meters off the shoreline.

The Scot Pioneer remained aground until early the next day. Aided by a tug, the cargo vessel was pulled free on the next high tide. No reports of injuries to the 8 crew on board, damage or pollution released.

Collision off Florya

December 31, 2025 Paul Hancock

On December 30, the 141 meter long, 7786 dwt tanker Kalbajar (IMO: 9821471) collided wit the 115 meter long, 6239 dwt tanker Alatepe (IMO: 9104873) in the Sea of Marmara at the Küçükçekmece anchorage off Florya, Turkey. Both tankers were anchored close to shore when strong winds caused the anchor of the Kalbajar to drag. The Kalbajar drifted towards the Alatepe until the two vessels collided. While the collision did not result in damage or any pollution released, the Kalbajar’s anchor chain became tangled in the propeller of the Alatepe.

Authorities were alerted who dispatched tugboats and a response team to the scene. The tugs stood by as the Kalbajar was able to restart the vessel’s engine, untangle the anchor chain and proceeded under its own power to deeper water where it drop anchor in a safer location. Unfortunately, the Alatepe would run aground during the incident. The following day divers conducted an underwater inspection of the hull and begin operations to refloat the tanker.

Authorities report the Kalbajar was in ballast while the Alatepe had some 2,500 tons of chemicals on board. There were no reports of injuries to the 14 crew on the Kalbajar and no injuries to the 17 on the Alatepe.