Shipwreck Log

The 189 meter long, 6475 dwt r0-ro ferry Nils Holgersson struck the berthed 170 meter long, 6235 dwt ro-ro ferry Urd at Travemuende, Germany.  The Nils Holgersson was approaching its berth and was performing a maneuver where the ferry was to turn around when it lurched forward and plunged into the side of the Urd.   The bow of the Holgersson punctured the Urd’s hull leaving a two by three meter hole below the waterline.   The Urd quickly flooded and began to list over.   The crew attempted to control the flooding by sealing the damaged compartments and engaged the Urd’s pumps.   The local fire brigade responded to the scene and brought additional dewatering pumps to help stabilize the ferry.   However, the flooding continued until Urd’s bow touched bottom.   Along with flooding, the Urd suffered significant damage to a portion of its upper deck and cargo deck.   Several vehicles were damaged or destroyed with another 50 left below deck.   Reports state many vessels were safely unloaded, but no word to the fate of the vehicles below deck.

The Nils Holgersson proceeded to its berth where it safely disembarked it’s 63 passengers.  The Nils Holgersson’s bow was damaged, but no reports of water ingress.    Luckily, there were no injuries on either ferry.  After the allision, an oil slick was spotted near the Urd.   The Coast Guard placed two oil booms around the Urd to contain the pollution.    Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.   Initial reports state the accident may have been caused by a technical fault and not human error.

VideoVideo Report at hl-live.de

The 228 meter long, 74035 dwt oil tanker FR8 Pride collided with the 7279 gt jackup oil rig Rowan EXL-1 in the Gulf of Mexico near Corpus Christi, Texas.  The FR8 Pride was en route to the Aransas Pass Channel when it suffered a power blackout before striking the rig.   The tanker’s forward ballast tanks were holed and rig suffered significant damage.   The FR8 Pride was towed to shallow water where it grounded to prevent further flooding.   No reports of injuries.   Some pollution was released when hydraulic oil leaked from the oil rig.  The Coast Guard dispatched a cutter to the scene help with clean-up efforts.  The Coast Guard has also started an investigation into the incident.


Video from the Coast Guard

Photo: SUNDT FLYER

The 49 meter long fishing vessel Ramnfjord went aground off Kristiansund, Norway.   The vessel went onto the rocks and immediately sent out a distress call.  A rescue boat responded and reached the scene and found five crew on the rocks with two more in the water.   The water was too shallow for the rescue boat, but another vessel came to the rescue.  The vessel was able to pull the two crew out of the water.   A rescue helicopter arrived and winched the remaining five crew off the rocks.   No reports of injuries.   The vessel suffered significant flooding and damage.  The Ramnfjord has heeled over to port and some pollution has been released.  The fishing vessel had some 60 tons of diesel fuel and lubricating oil on board when it went aground.

Authorities have stated they are not concern that the vessel will sink as the water is quite shallow.  However, the is concern that more pollution could be released.   Reports state the fuel on board is to be remove as soon as weather permits.   A salvage tug was dispatched to the scene to assess the vessel condition and if the Ramnfjord can be salvaged.

The 86 meter long, dwt 3582 freighter Truong Hai Star collided with the 188 meter long, 41213 dwt bulk freighter Krairatch Dignity near Vung Tau, Vietnam (10-26.16N 107-03.17E).    The Truong Hai Star quickly sank after the collision sending some 64 containers into the water and another 40 sunk with the vessel.  The 16 crew on the Truong Hai Star were later rescued.  The Krairatch Dignity proceeded to drop anchor at Vung Tau awaiting investigation by Authorities. Authorities have reported there has been oil released from the sunken Truong Hai Star.

Photo: Victoria Police

The 27 meter long fishing vessel Lady Cheryl ran aground near Point Nepean, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia.  The vessel was headed out of port to fish in rough seas with swells up to 6 meters when it struck an object on the rocky bottom.  All six crew on board the vessel were safely rescued by the water police.  The vessel later sank with only a section of the stern visible surrounded by a fuel spill.   The Lady Cheryl was fully loaded with 30,000 liters of diesel fuel at the time of the grounding.  Authorities state the master of the vessel had tested positive for alcohol.  Authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident.

View video at news.ninemsn.com.au

2007 photo before converted to an ore carrier

The infamous oil tanker Exxon Valdez has been sold for demolition.   The tanker had changed hands many times since it had run aground in Prince William Sound in 1989.  The vessel was converted from an oil tanker to an ore carrier in 2007 and was sailing as the  Dong Fang Ocean until 2012.  In November 2010, the Dong Fang Ocean collided with the Aali in the South China Sea severely damaging both vessels.  In March 2012, the vessel was sold for scrap and renamed to Oriental Nicety. It made its last voyage under her own power to Singapore where it will be dismantled.

The Exxon Valdez ran up on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989.  The vessel’s tanks were ruptured allowing upwards to over 11 million gallons of oil into the water.   The cause of the sinking was focused on the captain who was below deck sleeping off an alcohol “bender”, but more problems were revealed later in the investigation.  The tanker’s radar was not functional for over a year before the incident.  There was a lack of equipment and personnel to cope with an oil spill.   As the investigation revealed, there was a widespread failure in the industry requiring new laws and reforms.  The Valdez was the worse oil spill in United States waters until the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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• Judge makes ruling in Exxon Valdez case (sfgate.com)
• Judge makes ruling in Exxon Valdez case (seattletimes.nwsource.com)