The 366 meter long, 139,439 dwt container ship MSC Katrina suffered a fire while in the North Sea off the island of Helgoland, Germany. The fire broke out in a container containing charcoal giving off heat and smoke. The crew attempted to contain the fire and was later aided by two firefighting teams from Cuxhaven were able to extinguish the blaze. The MSC Katrina proceeded to Hamburg where it unloaded the damaged containers. No reports of pollution released.
On November 1, the 129 meter long, 11215 dwt tanker Akdeniz collided with the 155 meter long, 17145 dwt container ship Matilde A in the Black Sea off Constanta, Romania. Both vessels had pilots on board proceeding in bad weather when the Akdeniz struck the Matilde A. The Matilde A sustained damage with a two meter gash and a small hole below the waterline in a starboard ballast tank. No reports of injuries or pollution released. Both vessels proceeded to Constanta under their own power. The Matilde A was reported to proceed to a shipyard for my repairs. Constanta authorities has launched an investigation into the incident.
On August 24, 1999, the 230 meter long, 6731 dwt passenger cruise ship Norwegian Dream collided with the 294 meter long, 55527 dwt container ship Ever Decent in the English Channel. Around 1:15 a.m., the Norwegian Dream was en route to Dover, England from Zeebrugge, Belgium with 2,400 passengers when it struck the Ever Decent four miles southeast of the Falls Head Buoy. Passengers awoke hearing a loud bang and cruise ship shaking violently.
Frighten the passengers were mustered up on deck and told to put on life jackets. The crew inspected the vessel for damage and found a large section of the bow was crushed or had been torn away. On the deck the crew found 5 containers from the Ever Decent on the cruise ship’s deck. The containers held cyanide, but luckily they did not rupture. While severely damaged, the Norwegian Dream remained afloat and was able to reach Dover under its own power. Some 21 passengers suffered minor injuries.
The Ever Decent had sustained heavy damage from the collision. Several containers carrying paint on board had caught fire and multiple ballast tanks had been ruptured causing the vessel to develop a 40 degree list. Fire fighting tugs, RNLI lifeboats and Coast Guard vessels were later able to extinguish the blaze, but it required efforts from Dutch and UK fire fighters efforts over several days. Later, the disabled container ship was towed to Zeebrugge.
Both vessels were later repaired and went back into service.