On June 11, the 62 meter long, 1065 dwt cargo vessel Hein (IMO: 6702284) ran aground in the Gulf of Paria off the Chaguaramas Peninsula on Monas Island, Trinidad and Tobago. The Hein was headed to St Vincent and Grenadines with a cargo of bricks when it suffered a cargo shift and developed a heavy list to port. The vessel changed course and was intentionally driven aground before it capsized. No reports of injuries.
Authorities report the Hein partially sank along the portside stern. Oil pollution was spotted around the cargo vessel caused by the bilge. Island authorities have stated efforts are being made to stabilize and refloat the cargo vessel. A local advocacy group has asked urgent action taken to avoid damage to the marine life.
On June 1, the 100 gt cargo vessel Ayar Linn ran aground in the Indian Ocean in Jak bay in the northern end of the Mu Ko Surin National Park in the Surin Islands, Thailand. The Ayar Linn had departed from Ranong with a cargo of consumer goods bound for ports in Myanmar. While en route to Mergui, the crew discovered the vessel had suffered water ingress caused by a leak in the bilge. Unable to make repairs and control the water ingress, the crew steered the vessel towards shore. All seven crew members of the Avar Linn were rescued. No reports of injuries.
Photo: facebook
Photo: facebook
Photo: facebook
Photo: facebook
Photo: facebook
Photo: bangkokpost.com
The Avar Linn wasn’t able to reach shore, but instead ran aground on the coral reef. The cargo vessel drove some 75 meters into the reef destroying some 150 square meters of corals. Thai authorities stated the Avar Linn had 7700 litres of diesel fuel on board. An initial inspection found there was no pollution released, but officials have concerns that any fuel released would do significant ecological damage to the reef.
On the morning of May 25, the 94 meter long, 5006 dwt cargo vessel Ali Aykin (IMO: 9166510) ran aground in the Øresund near Malmö, Sweden. The Ali Aykin was headed to Setubal from Gdansk with a cargo of scrap went hard aground on a shoal after veering out of the shipping channel south of the Øresund Bridge. The cargo vessel sustained hull damage with at least one ballast tank punctured. There were no reports of injuries.
Photo: Swedenherald.com
Photo: pppress.se
Photo: sverigesradio.se
Photo: Swedish Coast Guard
Photo: Swedish Coast Guard
The Swedish Coast Guard conducted an aerial survey and found the Ali Aykin had not released any oil pollution. Authorities launched an investigation and conducted interviews of the crew members. One crew member was found to be intoxicated while at the helm and was later charged with gross negligence. Divers would later conduct a survey and found the cargo vessel resting on both rocks and sand with the majority of the hull firmly aground. The Coast Guard dispatched multiple environmental vessels including the 81 meter long KBV 001 (IMO: 9380441) and the 23 meter long KBV 034 (IMO: 9536650) to monitor the vessel. The concern is the 69 tons of diesel in the vessel’s fuel tanks that could be released if there is further damage to the hull.
Authorities have stated they are waiting on the vessel’s owner and insurance company to provide a salvage plan. The plan will most likely focus on removing all fuel and any other potential oil pollution before any attempts to pull the Ali Aykin free. News reports also state the vessel had been barred from the port of Halmstad, Sweden in 2024. Inspectors had found 40 deficiencies in 2024 which may play a factor in the salvage plan.
