On April 21, the 123 meter long, 3794 dwt tanker Palflot 5 ran aground on the Don River in the port of Azov, Russia. The Palflot 5 had departed from Volgograd with 2951 tons of vegetable oil when it ran aground after a navigational error. The tanker was able to refloat itself the same day. No reports of damage, injuries or pollution released.
The 132 meter long, 6653 dwt inland tanker Mekhanik Voronkov ran aground on the Azov Sea – Don Canal. The tanker was proceeding along the canal when strong winds pushed the vessel out of the fairway. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. The Mekhanik Voronkov was refloated the following day.
On April 6, the 229 meter long, 81434 dwt bulk carrier Privocean allided with the 32 meter long tug Texas and the 249 meter long,116014 dwt tanker Bravo on the Mississippi River near Convent, Louisiana. The Privocean was moored at a terminal loading coal when its lines broke and the vessel drifted down river. Before the vessel was brought under control, it struck the tug Texas before it drifted farther down river and slammed into the tanker Bravo at the Ergon terminal in the St. James area. The Bravo was off-loading oil at the time and the allision caused some 420 gallons of oil to be released into the water and another 126 gallons onto the tanker’s deck. No reports of injuries.
The Texas had run aground during the incident, but did not suffer water ingress. The Bravo sustained damage to its ballast tanks and its propeller became entangled by one of the mooring lines. The Privocean suffered only slight damage. Reports state the Ergon terminal suffered significant damage. The facility has requested a judge to to seize Privocean and auction it to cover the damage costs.
The Coast Guard stop traffic on the section of the river for several days until it was determined no oil could be recovered. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
