On the afternoon of November 21, the 36.5 meter long, 363 gt catamaran passenger ferry Silba (IMO: 8843927) ran ashore in the Adriatic Sea at Božava, Croatia. The Silba was attempting to berth at Božava when it suffered a technical fault. The vessel drifted until it ran aground on the breakwater. Locals provided a ramp to allow passengers to disembark. No reports of injuries or pollutoin released. Later, the crew was able to move the Silba off the breakwater and moored at Božava where it would be inspected for seaworthiness.
On the morning of November 18, there was a report that the 240 foot long, 2338 gt barge Mighty Quinn ran aground on a sandbar on the Thames River near Gales Ferry, Connecticut. Reports stated there were no injuries and no pollution released, but there was a mistake. The vessel stranded was not the barge but the 35 meter long, 485 gt tugboat Arctic Dawn (IMO: 7404047). The Arctic Dawn had been pushing the empty barge Mighty Quinn from Ledyard when it struck the sandbar. The tugboat remained stuck for several hours until it could be freed. No reports of damage on the Arctic Dawn.
On the evening of November 15, the 38 meter long, 147 dwt catamaran passenger ferry Princ Zadra (IMO: 8822363) ran aground in the Adriatic Sea off the island of Premuda, Croatia. The Princ Zadra, loaded with 70 passengers, was running its route from Zadar and the offshore islands of Premuda, Silba and Olib when it ran up onto rocks off Premuda. The vessel requested assistance as the catamaran was hard aground at the bow.
Authorities from Zadar arrived on scene and found all 70 passengers were uninjured and began evacuation. Passengers were transferred to private boats and the passenger ship Vladimir Nazor which had been diverted to the area to assist in the evacuation. No reports of injuries to crew or passengers.
The following day the Princ Zadra was pushed by strong winds and slipped off the rocks. With extensive hull damage the ferry quickly flooded and sank by the stern. The vessel now rests under 50 meters of water. There has been no reports of pollution so far. Reports do state authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
