Browsed by
Category: Grounding

Coral Adventurer

Coral Adventurer

Coral Adventurer
Photo: 7news.com.au

On the morning of December 27, the 93 meter long, 1271 dwt passenger cruise vessel Coral Adventurer (IMO: 9838644) ran aground in the Solomon Sea approximately 30 kilometres from Lae, Papua New Guinea. The Coral Adventurer had departed from Cairns on December 18 with 43 crew and 80 passengers for a 12 night voyage. The vessel was en route to Madang when it stranded on a coral reef off Dreghafen Point, Morobe, Papua New Guinea. There were no reports of injuries to crew or passengers.

Papua New Guinea Authorities were alerted and dispatched a team. The Lae Water Police conducted a full inspection along with safety checks while a verification of documentation was carried out. Afterwards a ship grounding permit was granted while the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) authorities assess any damage to the vessel’s hull and surrounding marine environment. Authorities had vessels on standby to assist if needed.

Reports state the Coral Adventurer was awaiting high tide to assist in refloating. The cause of the grounding was under investigation.

Sea Dragon II

Sea Dragon II

Sea Dragon II
Photo: facebook

On the morning of December 23, a 50 foot fishing vessel Sea Dragon II ran aground in the Pacific Ocean at Ventura Beach, California. The Sea Dragon II with 3 crew members on board had run up unto the beach leaving the fishing vessel high and dry. Authorities arrived to the site and found all 3 crew were uninjured.

Reports state the cause of the grounding was due to the crew were asleep when fishing vessel ran ashore. No reports of damage or pollution released.

High and Dry on Llangollen Canal

High and Dry on Llangollen Canal

Whitchurch Canal Breach
Photo: Youtube/Narrowboat Life Unlocked

On the early morning of December 22, more than a dozen narrow barges were left high and dry on the Shropshire Union Canal Llangollen Branch near Whitchurch, England. The barges had been moored along the canal when part of the canal embankment failed causing an 50 meter by 50 meter sink hole to open up. Water in this section of the canal poured out pulling 2 narrowboats into the sinkhole. Several more barges were more fortunate and were left resting on the bottom of the canal. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. Those who were living aboard the barges had heard strange noises and had evacuated their vessels beforehand.

Local authorities and firefighters arrived on scene and secured the location. Firefighters placed a flood gate to stem off the flow water from the compromised section of the canal.

List of  some of the narrowboats impacted from the incident:

  • Sefton
  • Pacemaker
  • This is the Way
  • The Singing Kettle

Reports state this portion of the canal embankment had been built over 200 years ago and had been recently been inspected. These canals limited barges to the be no longer than 72 feet long and 7 feet wide.

Reports state authorities plan to return water levels to normal either side of the breach.  The narrowboats in the impacted area would be provided support. Damage to the vessels was not disclosed.