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Déjà vu allision with the Delphin XII

Déjà vu allision with the Delphin XII

Delphin XII - July 8
Photo: expressen.se

On the morning of July 8, the 30 meter long passenger ferry Delphin XII (MMSI: 265609580) allided in the Baltic Sea with a quay at Nacka Strand near Stockholm, Sweden. The Delphin XII was headed to Nacka Strand to pick up more passengers for a voyage to Fjäderholma.  As the ferry approached quay, it failed to reverse engines and struck the quay at full speed.  Five of the 160 passengers on board the Delphin XII were slightly injured from the incident. Nacka authorities dispatched police and emergency personnel to the scene.  The injured passengers were taken to hospital for treatment while police investigate the incident.  Authorities are looking into if there was a technical fault or another cause for the crash. The police are treating the incident as a criminal investigation into the negligence in maritime traffic and causing bodily harm.

This wasn’t the first time for the ferry Delphin XII to have an allision at Nacka Strand.  On June 20, the Delphin XII was making a plan stop at Nacka Strand to pickup additional passengers for a voyage to Fjäderholma. As the ferry approached the quay, it suffered rudder failure and drove into an outdoor cafe. There were over 200 persons on board at the time of the incident. The ferry was taken out of service and the passengers would be transported later using another ferry.  No reports of injuries.

Delphin XII - June 20
Photo: aftonbladet.se
Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm
Photo: svt.se

On July 12, the 49 meter long, 658 gt passenger steamship Stockholm (IMO: 5193890) allided on the Baltic Sea at the islet of Kastellholmen in Stockholm, Sweden. The passenger ship was returning from a brunch excursion when it suffered a mechanical failure with the steering.  Unable to control the vessel’s rudder, the crew had just enough time to alert the 204 passengers on board before the passenger ship crashed into the dock. The bow of Stockholm tore into the wooden dock before it finally came to a stop.  There were no injuries to the 204 passengers.

There was significant damage to the quay while the Stockholm only suffered minor damage. There was no reports of water ingress or pollution released from the passenger ship. A tug was dispatched and took the Stockholm under tow.  The maritime police arrived on site and launched an investigation into the incident. The Swedish Transport Agency will also conduct an investigation into the cause of the incident.

Stockholm

The Stockholm was built in 1931 and launched as the S.S. Öland. It is currently used for charters for events, parties and weddings.  This vessel should not be confused with the M/S Stockholm which was infamously involved with the collision of the Andrea Doria in 1956.

 

The Bikin Incident

The Bikin Incident

Bikin
Photo: vladivostok1.ru

On the morning of July 1, the 28.5 meter long, 161 dwt tugboat Bikin (IMO: 9402134) allided in the Sea of Japan with the 56 meter long, 594 dwt fishing vessel Solveiga (IMO: 85220173) at Nakhodka, Russia. The Bikin was proceeding at full speed in the port of Nakhodka and struck head on into the moored Solveiga.  The port side of the Solveiga was severely damaged with a large section of the hull stoved in above the waterline.  The Bikin then immediately proceeded to back away from the Solveiga and departed from the area. There were no reports of injuries and no pollution was released.

This unusual “hit and run” incident was caught on video and presented to Russian authorities. The prosecutor in Nakhodka has launched a criminal investigation into the incident. Initial reports state the master of the Bikin had lost consciousness while at the wheel and there were no one else in the pilothouse at the time of the incident. The master stated he was exhausted from work as he had been working over a month without a single day off.  However, Russian authorities did not disclose the reason for the tugboat to immediately turn and leave the scene after the allision.  Nor there was any explanation why the crew on the Bikin didn’t check to see if anyone had been injured by the allision.

A “hit and run” allision typically occurs in anchorages and rarely if ever in a harbor.  These incidents usually involve larger vessels who have failed to keep a proper watch and strike an other vessel at anchor.  Depending on the size of the vessel, there are many cases where large container ships, bulkers and tankers have struck smaller fishing vessels and were completely unaware the incident took place.  However, there are only a few examples of a tugboat striking a moored vessel then leaving the site with someone at command.