The 18 meter long fishing vessel Guide Us – FR 4 became disabled while off Durinish Point, Scotland. The Guide Us had it’s propeller snagged in the vessel’s nets and disabled the engine. The fishing vessel drifted toward the rocks and requested assistance. Two nearby fishing vessels responded to the mayday call and took the Guide Us under tow. The Kyle of LochalshRNLIlifeboat arrived on scene and assisted keeping the Guide Us from going ashore. The RNLI lifeboat from Portree arrived a short time later and took over the tow. The two lifeboats with the Guide Us under tow proceeded to Kyleakin Harbour. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
The passenger ferry Weesam Express 7 went aground off Lauis Ledge, Philippines. The ferry departed from Ormoc with 160 passengers bound for Cebu when it encountered bad weather causing the vessel to go aground. The Philippine Coast Guard responded along with the ferry Weesam Express 8. The Coast Guard was able to safely evacuated the passenger and crew to the Express 8 which arrived at Cebu. No reports of injuries.
The 112 year old, 74 foot tugboat Elf sank twice in three days. The first was in Mamquam Blind Channel in Squamish on January 14. The tug spilt some 1500 litres of diesel fuel and lubricant oil. The Coast Guard placed booms around the sunken vessel to contain the pollution. The Elf was later raised using a barge and crane. It was surveyed and no cause for the sinking was determined. The Elf was taken under tow and was headed to a shipyard on the Fraser River when the tug sank again off Point Atkinson, British Columbia. The tugboat sank and rests some 120 meters below the surface. No reports of injuries. Reports state the cause of the sinkings remains unknown.
Photo: cbc.ca
A 52 foot tugboat sank on the Fraser River on January 22 near Richmond, British Columbia. The tugboat had been at anchor when the vessel anchor dragged allowing the vessel to go adrift. The vessel drifted until it collided with a piling and began to take on water. The tug eventually sank. No reports of injuries. A small amount of pollution was released.
On January 20, a tugboat and coal barge sank on the Batanghari River near Jambi, Indonesia. The tug and barge were proceeding down the river when the tug became unstable by the river current and capsized. The tug struck the barge and both sank. Two men were reported missing presumed lost.
