On the early morning hours of February 27, the 136 meter long, 9503 container ship Oyster (IMO: 9418884) became disabled on the Bosporus near Kandilli, Turkey. The Oyster was heading to Novorossiysk from Ambarli when it suffered engine failure. Unable to restart the engines, the vessel alerted authorities and requested assistance. The KEGM dispatched the tugs Kurtarma 7 (IMO: 9598608) and Kurtarma 12 (IMO: 9854404) which took the container ship under tow. The vessels then proceeded to Büyükdere where the Oyster dropped anchor. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
On February 18, the 214 meter long, 26169 dwt ro-ro container ship Grande Brasile (IMO: 9198123) caught fire in the English Channel 15 miles off the coast of Ramsgate, England. The Grande Brasile was bound for Le Havre from Antwerp with a mixed cargo of vehicles and containers when a fire broke out on one of the decks. Both the UK Coastguard and RNLI lifeboat crews responded to the incident along with the French tug Abeille Normandie and a Dutch fixed wing aircraft. Reports state the fire was brought under control using the onboard CO2 fire suppression, but the vessel’s main engine was disabled. The tug Abeille Normandie and Multratug 35 were standing by the Grande Brasile while the crew attempts to restore power and steering. No reports of injuries to the 28 crew on board.
On the morning of February 15, the 207 meter long, 33767 dwt container ship MSC Baltic III (IMO: 9241475) ran aground in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Lark Harbour, Newfoundland, Canada. The MSC Baltic III had lost power and was adrift in stormy weather with winds over 120 kilometers per hour and waves reaching 6 meters in height. The vessel dropped its starboard anchor hoping to keep the vessel from running aground, but the effort failed and the MSC Baltic III ran ashore along the rocky coastline.
The MSC Baltic III issued a distress call with the Canadian Coast Guard dispatching the 100 meter long, 6,166 gt cutter Henry Larsen along with multiple helicopters to assist. Cormorant helicopters arrived on scene a few hours later and was able to airlift all 20 crew off the MSC Baltic III to safety. No reports of injuries.
Photo: x.com
Photo: cbc.ca
Photo: Canadian Coast Guard
The cause of the power failure was not disclosed. Authorities are monitoring the vessel for potential pollution being released from the fuel tanks. An inspection of damage would be conducted when weather conditions improve. No reports of containers breaking free and going overboard. Reports state the MSC Baltic III was headed for Corner Brook, Newfoundland from Montreal, Quebec with a cargo of containers.
