On the afternoon of December 26, the 180 meter long, 38683 dwt bulk carrier Phillip Bay (IMO: 9714757) caught fire in the English Channel some 40 kilometers north of Cherbourg, France. The fire started in the living quarters aboard the bulk carrier and sent out a distress call. French authorities dispatched a Navy helicopter with a response team including two fire fighters and a nautical expert. The tug Abeille Liberte and SNSM lifeboat were deployed assisted by an United Kingdom patrol boat. A few hours later the fire fighters extinguished the blaze. No reports of injuries.
Photo: SNSM
Reports state there was no damage to the cargo of food on board. The extent of damage to the living quarters was not disclosed. The Phillip Bay was escorted to Le Havre where it undergo inspection and repairs.
On December 23, the 75 meter long, 1392 dwt ro-ro cargo vessel Maelys II (IMO: 7035456) capsized in Port-au-Prince Bay while berthed at des Varreux, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Maelys II was loading trucks as part of cabotage operations between Grand Sud and Port-au-Prince when the vessel lost stability. The ro-ro quickly developed a severe list to port eventually allowing water ingress. Unable to stop the flooding or correct the list, the Maelys II partially sank on its port hull. Reports state 17 were injured and 7 crew on board perished during the incident.
The vessel owners stated the vessel will be righted and put back into service. There was no statement that this incident would be investigated by Haitian authorities.
On the afternoon hours of December 21, the 128 meter long, 8753 dwt container ship Kuala Mas (IMO:9555632) sank in Kupang Bay off Bolok Village, West Kupang District, Indonesia. The Kuala Mas was proceeding from Makassar to Kupang with cargo of containers loaded with rice and cement. Reports state the Kuala Mas had suffered a breakdown and went adrift before it allided with the anchored 127 meter long, 12959 dwt tanker Maritim Khatulistiwa (IMO: 9300776). The allision resulted in a hole in the hull below the waterline on the Kuala Mas. The vessel suffered water ingress and developed a 10 degree list to starboard.
After several hours of attempting to control the flooding, the crew determined the water ingress could not be abated. The master of the Kuala Mas decided the only action left was to head for shallow water to prevent the vessel from sinking in deeper waters. The vessel headed towards the Bolok Kupang pier, but the Kuala Mas was in danger of sinking before reaching the dock. Authorities received a request for evacuation with the NTT Police responding. Three rescue boats arrived and transported all 20 crew safely to shore. No reports of injuries.
The Kuala Mas would later capsize and sink a short time later. Many of the cargo containers broke free from the sinking ship with some floating away while others sinking to the seabed. Authorities plan to collect the floating containers. A boom was placed around the wreckage to contain any oil pollution. The incident is under investigation. The Kuala Mas had previously caught fire back in 2018 off Nirwana Island.
