Ferry - Shipwreck Log

On May 28, the 112 meter long, 1129 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Melshorn became disabled on the Tysfjord. The ferry was en route to Skarberget from Bognes with seven passengers and three crew when it suffered a power blackout after an engine failure. The Melshorn went adrift and was being blown toward shore by a strong breeze. The crew dropped the ferry’s anchor before it struck land. The Melshorn requested assistance with several boats coming to her aid. The Melshorn was taken under tow back to port. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.

Northern Star

May 28, 2018 Paul Hancock

The 33 meter long passenger ferry Northern Star allided with a pier just outside the terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The Northern Star with 136 passengers was on its way to the ferry terminal Sha Tsui ferry terminal when it suffered some mechanical failure. The failure caused the ferry to veer off course and hit a the pier before crashing onto the shoreline. The impact caused many of the passengers and crew to be knocked off their feet. Seven crew suffered injuries, but all passengers were unharmed. The Northern Star had to be towed from the scene to the ferry terminal. The pier sustained damage to several pillars.

Bukit Raya

May 20, 2018 Paul Hancock

On May 18, the 100 meter long, 1408 dwt passenger ferry KM Bukit Raya ran aground on a coral reef in the Lapma Strait near Riau, Indonesia. The Bukit Raya was headed to Pontianak from Anambas with 248 passengers on board when it struck the reef. The ferry sustained hull damage and was holed along its starboard side allowing water ingress.

Authorities were contacted who dispatched several patrol boats to the scene. The patrol boats safely transferred the passengers off the Bukit Raya who were transported to Batu Hitam. No reports of injuries. Reports state a salvage plan was being developed to refloat the Bukit Raya. Reports stated the water ingress did not impact the engine room and there was no damage to the vessel’s propellers. Estimates state the vessel would not be refloated until early June.