The 80 meter long self-propelled barge Meggy (MMSI: 244700774) was damaged on the Waal River near Weurt, Netherlands. The Meggy had struck a groyne tearing a hole in the vessel’s bow. Unable to control the flooding, the Meggy moored at a quay and requested assistance. Local fire fighters arrived on scene with a response team and fire boats. While the fire fighters placed pumps and began dewatering efforts, the 135 meter long self-propelled container barge La Terna (MMSI: 244700631) assisted by lashing straps to the Meggy to keep the vessel stable.
After the vessel is stabilized, divers will inspect the hull and see if the bow can be patched. Reports state the Meggy will required to be lightered before it will be allowed to proceed to drydock for repairs. No reports of injuries.
The 18 meter long fishing vessel Tranquility BF 7 suffered water ingress in the North Sea off Unst, Shetland. The crew discovered the vessel had flooding via its fish hold and sent out a distress call requesting assistance. Two lifeboats with a coastguard helicopter were dispatched to the scene. The helicopter dropped a dewatering pump to the Tranquility which was able to bring the flooding under control. The lifeboats escorted the Tranquility back to port. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
On February 24, the 340 meter long, 300,660 dwt bulk ore carrier Stellar Banner ran aground in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maranhão, Brasil. The 4 year old ore carrier had departed from the Vale terminal Ponta da Madeira in São Luís, Brasil loaded with iron ore bound for Qingado, China. The Stellar Banner only traveled a short distance when vessel developed a sharp list to starboard. An inspection by the crew found the ore carrier had hull cracks and water ingress into the cargo holds. The crew alerted authorities who dispatched multiple tugs to the scene. As the list increased on the vessel, the master of the Stellar Banner decided to run the ore carrier aground rather than risk it sinking. The Stellar Banner was later ran aground on a sandbar some 100 kilometers offshore. The 20 crew on board were evacuated off the Stellar Banner. No reports of injuries.
Authorities state an oil sheen was seen around the hull of the Stellar Banner. A response vessel was dispatched to manage the released pollution. Vessel owners, port authorities and the Navy have teams in the area trying to develop a salvage plan. No details yet reported if the Stellar Banner can be salvaged without the iron ore cargo being lightered beforehand. Some reports state there is additional hull damage near the bow suggesting that the vessel may have struck bottom or an object when it left port.
This isn’t the first VLOC, very large ore carrier, to sustain hull failure after cargo loading. In 2011, the Vale Beijing sustained cracks in the ship’s ballast tanks. The Stellar Unicorn and Stellar Queen also sustained hull cracks. The VLOC Stellar Daisy foundered in March 2017 with the lost of all hands possibly due to improper cargo handling.