On December 25, the MSV Sarojini was abandoned in the Indian Ocean off Mumbai, India. The dhow was en route to Beypore from Porbandar with 430 tons of soda ash when the vessel suffered a hull failure. A crack in the hull was near the vessel’s engine room which quickly flooded. The Sarojini sent out a distress call to the Indian Coast Guard which responded to the scene. The eight crew on board the Sarojini were safely rescued. The Coast Guard is monitoring the MSV Sarojini.
On November 29, the 23 meter long, 100 dwt passenger ferry Sea Prince struck an object near the Nongsapura ferry terminal. The Sea Prince had departed with 97 passengers and 7 crew when it struck a floating object off Batam. Passengers stated they hear a loud bang and then a sound of something scraping against the hull.
The Sea Prince tried to continue on its journey, but the ferry lost power. Passengers were ordered to don life vests and to evacuate to the vessel’s life rafts, but the life rafts tore and began to sink. The Sea Prince requested assistance and another ferry attempted to come to their aid. However, the water was too shallow for the ferry to get close to the Sea Prince. Small wooden boats were able to reach the Sea Prince. All the passengers were transferred to the small boats and taken ashore. No reports of injuries. Indonesian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
On August 18, the 23 foot long fishing vessel Cecily Jean sprung a leak off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Cecily Jean discovered it was taking on water and sent out a distress call. Two 47-foot lifeboats were launched to the scene while two other vessels remained nearby the Cecily Jean. The Coast Guard lifeboat arrived and provided a dewatering pump to bring the flooding under control. The lifeboat took the Cecily Jean under tow back to port. No reports of injuries to the 2 crew on board.