The 100 meter long, 8874 dwt container ship Everton caught fire in the Mozambique Channel near Sofala, Mozambique. The fire started in the engine room and quickly consumed the vessel’s superstructure including the bridge. The fire disabled the Everton, but the 12 crew on board were safely evacuated. Three tugs were dispatched to the scene and took the vessel under tow. The Everton was en route to Pemba, Mozambique, to Mitsamudu, Comoros.
The new 90 meter long, 2500 tonne container vessel Huelin Dispatch went aground near Alderney, England. The Huelin Dispatch was on its maiden voyage with containers from Southampton to the Channel Islands when it grounded onto the rock pinnacle Pierre au Vraic. The vessel contacted the RNLI lifeboat from Alderney which inspected the vessel spotting damage to the Huelin Dispatch’s stern. The crew also reported that there was some water ingress, but was able controlled by temporary repairs. No reports of injuries to the eight crew on board. The container vessel refloated on the rising tide and proceeded to Falmouth to drydock.
One half of the self-propelled tanker barge Anna Soraya was towed into Ijmuiden by the tug Ferox on September 6. The Anna Soraya had broke-in-two in the Bay of Biscay with the bow section sinking.
A 25 meter long, 250 ton section of the Rena broke off and sank into the water during rough seas this week (Visible in the photo above). The section held salvage equipment including cutting equipment worth thousands of dollars. Reports state the equipment will be recovered by divers and the the section will be cut-up and removed.
Two fishing vessels sank in Breaksea Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand after filling with rainwater. The oyster boat Karaka and the fishing vessel Michelle had been moored together when they sank spilling some 100 litres of fuel and oil into the water. Authorities state the pollution was dispersed by strong winds and waves. No one was on board the vessels at the time of the sinking.
United States Coast Guard Crews work on removing the grounded 202 foot long freighter Jireh. The Jireh’s hull had deteriorated making salvage impossible. The response crew are working to lift the freighter off the beach and refloat it a short distance to a site where it will be allowed to sink. More on the grounding can be read here.
