On the morning of February 18, the 22 meter long, 163 gt towboat Thor (IMO: 8842246) caught fire on the Delaware River near Pea Patch Island, Pennsylvania. The Thor was pushing two barges between Delaware City and Old New Castle when a fire broke out in the engine room. The crew was able to escape the blaze, but the fire had disabled the steering and the towboat went adrift. The crew sent out a distress call and were rescued by a nearby vessel. No reports of injuries.
Photo: USCG
Photo: workboat.com
The United States Coast Guard along with local authorities dispatched fire fighting vessels to the scene. Reports states the fire was extinguished and the Thor was taken under tow by the tug Wye River (IMO: 9512379). The incident is under investigation.
On February 18, the 50 meter long, 450 dwt cargo vessel Shayesth (IMO: 9033036) was reported to sink in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Bahrain. The Shayesth had departed from Bushehr, Iran when it developed a strong list to starboard. Unable to correct the list, the crew sent out a distress call and requested assistance. The United States Navy minesweeper Devastator and the United States Coast Guard cutter Clarence Sutphin Jr. assisted to rescue the 7 crew off the cargo vessel. While there were no reports of injuries, authorities did state the crew did received medical care onboard the Clarence Sutphin Jr.
Photo: USGS
A short time after the crew were rescued, the Shayesth rolled over and sank. The cause of the list was not disclosed, but some reports assume the vessel suffered a cargo shift or possible suffered water ingress.
On the evening of January 23, the 87 foot long, 297 gt scalloper Vanquish (IMO: 9633056) collided with the 55 foot long trawler Mattie and Maren II (MMSI: 367388850) in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 10 miles south of Block Island, Rhode Island. The two fishing vessels were operating in foul weather with six foot waves and winds reaching 25 miles per hour when they collided. The Vanquish was undamaged and there were no injuries to the 6 crew onboard. However, the Mattie and Maren II sustained hull damage resulting in uncontrolled water ingress. The 4 crew on board donned survival suits and prepared to abandon ship due to the flooding.
A distress call was sent out with the United States Coast Guard responding. The Coast Guard dispatched the 47 foot motor life boat from Montauk, New York along with a Jayhawk helicopter from Cape Cod. Within an hour the motor life boat reached the Mattie and Maren II and assisted in dewatering efforts. Unfortunately, the trawler was too far waterlogged and weather conditions were deteriorating. The four crew were transferred safely off the trawler to the motor life boat and later taken to Montauk. No reports of injuries.
The Vanquish was able to proceed under its own power to port in New Bedford. The Coast Guard issued out a marine alert that the trawler was adrift in the area.
There were no additional reports of the status of the Mattie and Maren II. It may be assumed the trawler sank after the incident. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
