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 December 23, the 142 meter long, 9400 dwt cargo vessel Ursa Major (IMO: 9538892) sank in the Mediterranean Sea some 58 miles off the coast of Almeira, Spain. The Ursa Major had departed from St. Petersburg, Russia on December 11 and reported to be bound for Vladivostok with empty containers in the hold, cargo hatches for icebreakers and two cranes on deck. While sailing between Spain and Algeria, the vessel suffered an explosion in the engine room. The crew had been trying to fix the fuel line to the main engine when vapors ignited. The explosion damaged the main engine resulting in a power blackout and hull damage. The vessel’s hull had partially blown out resulting in uncontrolled water ingress. Unable to contain the flooding, the vessel developed a starboard list.
Fourteen of the 16 crew on board abandoned the Ursa Major in the vessel’s lifeboat. Spanish authorities were alerted and the Salvamento Maritimó sent out two vessels and a helicopter to assist. All 14 crew would be rescued and safely transported to the port of Cartagena, Spain. A Russian warship arrived on scene a short time later and took charge of search and rescue operations. No further details on the 2 missing crew.
Photo: x.com
Photo: x.com
The Ursa Major would later sink the following morning on December 24. Authorities have alerted of the possible damage from drifting wreckage around where the vessel sank. News reports outside of Russia state the Ursa Major was most likely headed for Syria or Libya and not Vladivostok.
On the morning of December 11, the 161 meter long, 24935 dwt cargo vessel BBC Iceland (IMO: 9605906) allided with boardwalk in the port of Veracruz, Mexico. Strong northerly winds caused the BBC Iceland‘s bow mooring lines to break. The cargo vessel drifted until the bow struck the boardwalk and a small tour boat docked along the boardwalk. Authorities dispatched four tugs to slowly push back the cargo vessel to its berth. No reports of injuries.
Navigation was closed at the port of Veracruz as strong winds had reached gusts up to 110 kilometers per hour. Authorities stated there was only minor damage to the boardwalk and the BBC Iceland.
