2004

國際海事案例 2004





日期 船名 事故類型 說明









May God Bless Those At Sea Tonight. God's Speed & Following Seas!





Vessel Loss Dispatches For December 2004





"Unstacked" - overboard with Dr. Beach - Nov. 2004



"Singles Only" - single photos of disaster -- always new.



Singapore-based Sea Consortium's container M/V Jaami - entering Colombo just as Tsunami disaster struck -- pounded against breakwater -- crew abandoned vessel

& Dec. 27, salvage operations reported about to start. Reports indicate both Chennai Port & Colombo Port likely to be operating near normally shortly. (Thurs. Dec. 30 2004)



Cement carrier M/V Sinar Andalas, with 23 crew, in Indonesian Port of Lhok Nga when when earthquake- triggered tsunami Dec. 25 -- M/V Sinar Andalas capsized --

only 4 rescued --19 missing. (Thurs. Dec. 30 2004)



South African trawler taking on water &in imminent danger of sinking in Francis Bay> Early yesterday morning LT Wijsmuller Salvage B.V. and Sri Lanka Shipping Co. succeeded in

refloating the partly sunken & grounded M/V Jaami in a controlled operation. The vessel, after having suffered hull damage, ended up aground off Colombo, Sri Lanka, with

all compartments partly or completely flooded on the 26th of December. (Tues. Jan. 11 2005)



M/V American Republic, passing through Lake St. Claire for Cleveland -- issued mayday -- crew complaining of chest pains -- rescue helicopter launched from U.S. Coast

Guard Air Station Detroit -- on scene -- rescue swimmer lowered to deck of vessel to assess -- transported to Selfridge Air National Guard Base & then to Mt. Clemons

General Hospital via EMS. (Tues. Dec. 28 2004)



Australian super-maxi S/V Skandia abandoned ship & 628-kilometer Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race> Major Earthquake, Measuring 9 On Richter Scale hit NW Sumatra Dec.26 morning, resulting in tidal waves & devastating disaster across region.

Tourist resorts like Phuket affected. Legions of rescuers spread across Asia Dec. 27 after an earthquake of epic power struck deep beneath Indian Ocean, unleashing 20-foot

tidal waves that ravaged coasts across thousands of miles, killed over 15,000 people (thus far reported) & left millions homeless in the 4th-largest temblor in 100 years.

Death toll in 8 nations in southern Asia -- as far west as Somalia, on African coast, where 9 people reported lost -- steadily increased as authorities sort out far-flung disaster

caused by Dec. 26 9.0-magnitude earthquake, strongest in 40 years. (Sun. Dec. 26 2004)



Chennai Port most affected by Sumatra tidal waves that lashed East coast Dec. 26 morning -- port operations suspended for 40 hours, since some more ripples are

expected. Port Trust authorities survey damage to installations. Some Hyundai cars meant for export damaged -- area heavily silted --



Chennai Port: M/V ABG Keshav, M/V Canadian Express & M/V Gem of Tuticorin -- ships broke their moorings after 2 tidal waves &emdash; one at 9.00 a.m. &

another at 11.00 a.m. -- ships collided with one another & also hit West Quay berth at Ambedkar docks & damaged a quay crane.



Chennai Port: Damage to Hyundai cars for exports was minimal -- had started process of loading over 1,000 cars when port hit by tidal wave -- ship had to de-berth.

Though 10-12 cars' fenders were damaged when they bumped against each other --rest only got soaked. Hyundai officials were double-checking them to make sure there was

no damage.



Chennai Port: Passenger M/V Akbar, damaged at Port Blair -- no passengers on board.



Chennai Port: Tuticorin Port> Russian unmanned cargo space ship Progress M-51> M/V Selendang Ayu -- UPDATE>>Bow section sunk today --176,473 gallons of oil inside thought to have already spilled into Bering Sea. Focus upon a

possible ecolological disaster. See Original Story Below. (Thurs. Dec. 23 2004)



Nigerian warship MK 9 Corvette NNS Enyimiri, undergoing local maintenance at the NNS Beecroft jetty in Apapa, Lagos -- exploded -- flames sending officers & crew

scampering for safety. Naval officer working in engine spaces missing -- casualties expected. (Wed. Dec. 22 2004)



Malian ferry M/V, with unkonwn cargo & passenger number -- sank on remote Lake Debo>Far-Eastern Marine Shipping Company's icebreaker M/V Krasin leaves Vladivostok Dec. 21 for Antarctic to rescue the

U.S. polar McMurdo Station>fisherman remains "deeply unconscious" as F/V Oceanic Viking currently 800nm from Fremantle -- now expected to arrive late on Christmas Eve. God's Speed.

(Tues. Dec. 21 2004)



Italian ferry M/V Florio, Palermo for Naples with 500 passengers, suffered fire that cut engines -- several people hurt when jumping into corridors while trying to reach

upper deck -- 2nd ferry near M/V Florio & 2 tugs heading for crippled vessel, but rescue operations hampered by bad weather & rough seas. (Sat. Dec. 18 2004)



New Zealand ferry M/V Tiger III, with 59 passengers -- aground & sranded on rocks near Cape Brett Lighthouse> Vessel declared total loss. Fullers Bay of Islands now looking for replacement. Decision on removal of wreck to be made. From our correspondant Geoff

Davies. (Wed. Dec. 22 2004)



PIRATE ATTACK>>Eastern Navigation Group tug M/V ENA Sovereign, Singapore for Indian port of Mumbai towing barge with 12 crew -- attacked by 20 Indonesian

pirates with machine guns on 2 fishing boats in Malacca Strait. Pirates fired at vessel, damaging its communication equipment & ordered her to stop. Pirates boarded tug,

seized documents & valuables before abducting Capt. & Chief Engineer. Pirates' modus operandi usually to kidnap senior crew & take ship's documents -- after few days,

contact ship's owners to demand a ransom. (Sat. Dec. 18 2004)

544-foot chemical M/T Ievoli Splendor mooring up at Vopak Terminal in Deer Park, Texas -- in collision -- with moored Kirby Marine barge -- causing spill of heavy

grade fuel oil C5. Captain of the Port Houston/Galveston closed Ship Channel at 11 p.m. from San Jacinto Port Dock 4 to Light 133 due to oil spilled from collision. (Fri. Dec.

17 2004) UPDATE>>Estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel were spilled.-- channel reopened. (Fri. Dec. 17 2004pm)



German tug M/V Julius, Elbe Harbor to Kiel Canal locks with 3 crew & barge in tow -- capsized & sank off Brunsbuettel Dec. 16 -- 2 rescued, but Capt. missing. Rescue

M/V Hermann Helms, wreck search M/V Wega, multi purpose ship M/V Neuwerk & 2 SAR-helicopters searched until dawn. Wreck of M/V Julius located 11mt depth in

Kiel Canal approach.Tow broke & Julius thrown on side by the current. (Fri. Dec. 17 2004)



28,426dwt bulker M/V Clipper Lancelot (built 19997), with maize & soya from New Orleans, grounded in Magdalena River, Columbia Dec. 9 -- 3 vessels unable to depart.

Efforts to pull vessel from sandbank by 3 harbor tugs have so far been unsuccessful, with river current hampering operation. (Thurs. Dec. 16 2004)



125-ton jet-foil M/V Kobee 3, Hakata in Fukuoka for Pusan with 89 passengers -- off Tsushima Island hit whale -- discontinued voyage & entered Port of Hitakatsu on

Tsushima Island where passengers changed to another vessel to travel to Pusan -- jetfoil sustained damage as result of accident -- whale disappeared shortly after the accident.

(Thurs Dec. 16 2004)



Irish general cargo M/V Arklow Freedom, for quarry at Llanddulas> Remnant of largest iceberg ever recorded> Remains of Marshall Mars> We were invaded by a virus which made it appear that we were posting your daily news each day -- when we were not. Thanks to our

correspondant Onno Miedema the problem has been corrected. Please read postings to Dec. 7 wth care. The problem is now repaired, with all your reports saved. There

have been many important events during this period. Geeez, it's never easy. McD



F/V Jann Denise II -- went missing last month -- wreck raised from seabed off coast of Tynemouth, UK on Dec. 12. Bodies not recovered. From our correspondant A.L.

Griffiths (Mon. Dec. 13 2004)



Trawler F/V Star Mist II -- sank in rough seas late Dec. 10 off Brisbane, Queensland -- David Richardson, 36, straddled bamboo pole for 36 hours, drifting 55 NM before

he was spotted Dec. 12 by another fisherman. Richardson was in Queensland hospital on Dec. 13 suffering dehydration, exposure & sunburn -- his 68-year-old father, George

lost. From our correspondant A.L. Griffiths (Mon. Dec. 13 2004)



CSL bulker M/V Spruceglen aground Dec. 11 night in lower St. Marys River near Johnson's Point - bow grounded, with stern swinging partially across narrow channel.

Heavy snow squalls, which sent some vessels to anchor, may have be factor in grounding. (Sun. Dec. 12 2004) UPDATE>> CSL's bulk carrier Spruceglen, which grounded

in lower St. Marys River at Johnsons Point Dec. 12, got underway Dec. 14 for Thunder Bay, where she will enter drydock for inspection & repairs. (Tues. Dec. 14 2004)



UPDATE>> M/V Selendang Ayu - the sad result has not changed -- although a U.S. Coast Guard search continunes. Our 6 mates are lost. We mourn, but now focus

must be upon a major ecolological disaster. See Original Story Below. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004) UPDATE>>Search for 6 missing crew now canceled - they are lost. (Sat. Dec. 11

2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



04 Dec. 2004 at 1235 LT in posn: 06:02.9S - 106:53.3E, Tg. Priok anchorage, Indonesia -- 4 pirates armed with long knives boarded container ship & threatened C/O &

bosun. Entered E/R, stole engine spares & escaped in speedboat. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004)



04 Dec. 2004 Malacca Strait. Several pirates armed with guns boarded tug towing barge in the Malacca Strait. Following a pattern repeated several times this year -

kidnapped Master & mate, stole tug's documents & left. incident 1 of 5 that occurred in or close to Indonesian waters in week to Mon. Dec. 7. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004)



02 Dec. 2004 at 0130 LT at Lagos Roads, Nigeria -- 12 pirates armed with guns, knives & axes in speedboats approached tanker. 2/O directed searchlight but pirates

boarded & rushed to bridge -- ordered 2/O not to raise alarm & threatened master with guns & a knife at his throat & demanded money. Also threatened C/O & demanded

more money. Pirates stole all of ship's cash & then went through crews' cabins & stole cash & valuables - fled at 0145 LT. Master received knife wounds on throat & some

crew assaulted. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004)

01 Dec.2004 at 1410 UTC at Kochi (Cochin) oil terminal, India. Pirates armed with knives boarded tanker at berth & stole ship's stores. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004)



01 Dec. 2004 at 1330 UTC in posn: 03:16N - 105:04E, Indonesia. Pirates in 2 speedboats attempted to board container ship underway. Crew mustered & activated fire

hoses -- ship took evasive maneuvers. Pirates aborted attempt & fled. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004)



01 Dec. 2004 at 0130 LT at Dumai anchorage, Indonesia. Six pirates armed with guns & long knives attempted to board tanker from stern. Crew raised alarm & boarding

averted. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004)



30 Nov. 2004 in posn 05:06N - 098:36E, Malacca straits. Several pirates armed with guns boarded tug towing barge. Kidnapped master & C/O, stole tug's documents & left.

(Fri. Dec. 10 2004)



28 Nov. 2004 at 1915 UTC in position 03:12.01S - 116:21.27E, North Pulau Laut anchorage, Indonesia --10 pirates in 6 unlit speedboats boarded bulk carrier via hawse

pipe - stole large quantity of ship's stores & escaped. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004)



Back To Year 2004 Reports



M/V Listerlandet, with maltgrain, grounded N. of entrance to Kalmar Harbor>

Panamanian-registered container M/V Hyundai Advance - fled after collision with German-registered M/T MSC Ilona. M/V Hyundai Advance intercepted by Chinese

Navy Dec. 10 -- 2 hours after leaving site of collision in SW province of Guangdong without authorization. (Fri. Dec. 10 2004)



DISASTER From U.S. Coast Guard -- 9:45pm>> U.S. Coast Guard conducting rescue effort right now near Unalaska Island, Alaska -- 10 people aboard U.S. Coast

Guard HH-60J Jayhawk helicopter>Continues Below



"On going on Shipboard. LORD, whom winds and seas obey,



Guide us through the watery way;



In the hollow of thy hand



Hide, and bring us safe to land."



Classics Ethereal Library server, at Wheaton College.



To the valiant U.S. Coast Guard crew who take what is given to them -- always giving back much more. McD

UPDATE>> There is no further news service or U.S. Coast Guard word at 1am Pacific Time. (Thurs.. Dec. 9 2004- 1am) UPDATE>>Master & rescue swimmer rescued.

(Dec. 9 2004) UPDATE>> No further rescues.Our Mates are lost. But M/V Selendang Ayu appears to be losing much of nearly 500,000 gallons (2.3 million litres) of

heavy bunker fuel oil she was carrying. Dissaster #2 (Fri. Dec. 10 2004) UPDATE>>Search for 6 missing crew now canceled - they are lost. (Sat. Ded. 13 2004)



U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Alex Haley>Placement due to M/V Selendang Ayu reporting.



55ft. F/V Lasqueti Isle -- sinking & onboard pump failed near Ocean Shores, Wash. Dec. 1 -- engine room & fish hold filled with 2,500 gallons of water. U.S. Coast

Guard Station Grays Harbor, Wash., launched a 23-foot utility boat & diverted 47-foot motor lifeboat & 52-foot special purpose craft, M/V Invincible, to help vessel. U.S

Coast Guard Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., also launched a HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to assist. F/V Lasqueti Isle able to control flooding in engine room, but required

further assistance when pump failed. Crew of motor lifeboat transferred pump & 2 Coast Guard crew aboard F/V Lasqueti Isle to assist in dewatering vessel. Motor lifeboat

escorted F/V Lasqueti Isle through 6-foot seas & winds of 10 mph., to marina in Westport Wash., where vessel moored safely. During dockside inspection source of flooding

determined leak in shaft packing. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Dec. 8 2004)



Japan 5gt ferry M/V Kano Maru No. 2, Kuchinoshima for Nakanoshima Island with 5 passengers -- capsized at sea in Kagoshima Prefecture -- 53-year-old skipper drifted

from accident site to Kuchinoshima by holding on to vessel's screw --2 swept away without life jackets. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Dec. 8

2004)



4,900dwt Chinese-controlled, St Vincent registered multi-purpose M/V Jin Man He, Kitakyushu for Fukuoka with 14 crew -- aground on Shika island at 0350 LT Dec. 7 --

oil spill described as ' massive.' -- hit reef 700m from Shika Island -- no injuries. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Dec. 8 2004)



Russian F/V Malakhit -- in distress in Barents Sea -- rescue services hoped water could be pumped ship for tow to Murmansk -- vessel capsized & sank 11pm LT Dec. 1 --

crew abandoned in life rafts --12 crew taken aboard M/V Kiev -- rescue operation complete Dec. 7 morning with all 18 crew rescued to Bear Island>Master concerned that M/V Selendang Ayu may drift to Bogoslof Island if crew unable to restart engine within next 15 to 16 hours. USCGC Alex Haley

expected on scene & will stand by to assist crew until vesssel's engine repaired. (Wed. Dec. 7 2004pm)

On The Job>>Famous salvage tug M/V Smit Amandla>M/V

Fazl e Kadri, Mundra port in Kutch for Karachi with 210 tons of salt & 10 crew -- capsized in Arabian sea, 30 NM off Jhakau port on Dec. 4 -- 6 crew rescued by fishermen

-- 4 missing. (Wed. Dec. 7 2004)



M/V Fuyo Maru No. 3 -- out of control & drifted aground -- evacuated by helicopters in spite of bad weather conditions in Aomori Prefecture. From our correspondant

Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Dec. 7 2004)



Cargo M/V Al-Faizal Kadri, from Mundra for Abu Dhabi with salt & 6 crew -- trapped in high velocity wind -- capsized near Jakhau on Dec.4. -- crew swimming for 4

hours -- kept afloat hanging on wooden planks & boxes -- adrift crew spotted & rescued by F/V Shiv Hari -- reached Okha port on Dec. 5. (Mon. Dec. 6 2004)



45gt towboat 55ft. M/V Miss Vicky Lynn, with 4 crew pushing barges with scrap metal to Paducah-- sank in Tennessee River in 70 feet of water S. of the Gov. Ned

McWherter Bridge near Paris Landing at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 6 -- U.S. Coast Guard closed river to traffic until towboat located -- initial reports indicated pipe broke, flooding

vessel -- all 4 crew rescued. (Mon. Dec. 6 2004)



Carnival Corp.'s M/V Carnival Pride, 30 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico -- 37-year-old woman whose name not released -- believed overboard into Pacific Ocean. (Sun.

Dec. 5 2004) UPDATE>> Rescue operation ended. (Sun. Dec. 6 2004pm)



Coastal M/V Fallon, with 5 crew -- between Karkar Island & Madang> A very rusted & derelict M/V Calypso> We're Back From Chicago -- See Nov. 17th, Below>(Wed.. Dec. 2

2004)



630ft M/V Chios Pride> M/V Chios Pride> Freed on Dec. 2 morning. (Wed.. Dec.2 2004)



Taiwanese F/V Shin Jyi Wanq, with 8 crew -- exploded 92km off Costa Rican Pacific coast -- Capt. missing, along with his 7 Chinese crew. Costa Rican patrol boat

Pancha Carrasco found floating, burned-out hulk of vessel -- fire had consumed entire ship. No trace of crew. (Sat. Nov. 27 2004)



Car ferry M/V Sardinia Vera, from UK with 200 passengers -- stranded off France for 9 hours overnight because another ferry M/V Dieppe had broken down & could

not free berth in northern port of Dieppe. M/V Dieppe towed away for repair for electrical fault which immobilized her. (Sat. Nov. 27 2004)



Swedish M/T Brevik, for Skoghall in Lake Vänern with 2000 tons fuel oil -- grounded just outside port of Trollhättan early Nov. 25. Trollhätte Channel is link between Lake

Vänern -- Skagerak & North Sea. From our correspondant Per-Åke Kvick. (Sat. Nov. 27 2004)



Marathon Oil operated Brae Alpha platform, with 181 crew in North Sea -- currently being evacuated due to gas release. Production shut down. Coastguard Rescue

helicopter from Sumburgh currently carrying out operation of airlifting platform personnel to nearby platforms. An RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth & a privately

chartered civilian helicopter from Aberdeen on route -- will assist once on scene. (Sat. Nov. 27 2004)



Greek-owned, Cyprus-flagged M/T Athos I, bound for Citgo refinery in Paulsboro, spilled 30,000 gallons of crude oil into Delaware River at Paulsboro, N.J., spreading

plume of sludge that extended 20 miles from Tinicum Island to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. (Sat. Nov. 27 2004) UPDATE>> Divers found 6 foot gash on tanker hull --

holes in below waterline cargo tank aft & in an outside ballast tank. (Sun. Nov. 28)



Catamaran S/V Broad Blue, for Lowestoft with 2 crew, issued Mayday on VHF channel 16 -- drifting for 11 hours with engine failure. Isle of Man registered LPG M/T

Laura Kosan responded & standing by catamaran until arrival of Skegness RNLI Lifeboat. (Fri.. Nov. 26 2004)



Japan F/V Ryoanmaru No. 75, with 20 crew, seized by Russia's border security authority off Kamchatka Peninsula on suspicion that it caught more walleye pollack than

the amount applied for. (Fri.. Nov. 26 2004)



Indian Registered M/T Jag Pratap -- reporting missing cadet, presumed overboard off Dover. Units searching include Coastguard tug Anglian Monarch, a French

Customs vessel, the Coastguard surveillance aircraft, a French Navy Helicopter & a fixed wing aircraft from Fotoflight. Last seen at 10pm last night & found missing this

morning. (Fri.. Nov. 26 2004)



50 Hour Miracle>> Joseph Dennis set out Nov. 24 morning to retrieve commercial fishing nets -- expected to return by noon, but engine failed -- boat drifted for 2

days. Canadian Coast Guard C-130 located Dennis just after 10 a.m. today. U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit transported him to EMS in Sarnia, Ontario -- treated for mild

hypothermia. (Fri.. Nov. 26 2004)

600-foot Panamanian bulk M/V Tai Harvest, issued radio distress call 30 NM off Northern California coast -- 2 crew sustained serious injuries, including broken neck,

back & leg, after falling 50 feet into a cargo hold. U.S. Coast Guard Humboldt Bay launched an HH-56A helicopter & 47-foot motor life boat to conduct a medical

evacuation by helicopter. (Thurs. Nov. 25 2004)



Happy American Thanksgiving! 81-foot tall ship, modeled after a 16th-century galleon S/V Raw Faith, Rockland, Maine for New Jersey, disabled by rudder damage in

rough seas -- distress call was made but radio failed. U.S. Coast Guard Falcon jet from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod flew out & dropped radio by parachute. U.S.

Coast Guard cutter USCGC Dependable (WEMC-626)>Fire started at Chief Enginier`s cabin

around 01:40 hrs lt on Nov. 22nd, 2004 & spreaded though bridge deck corridor, destroyng 100% of bridge together with radio station & other cabins around. From our

correspondant J. Diego. (Sun. Dec. 5 2004)



100% of bridge together with radio station & other cabins around.



S/V Goose, with 3 crew -- 2 of the 3 crew hypothermic & 3rd unconscious -- battling 10-foot seas & 30-knot winds -- U.S. Coast Guard Station Panama City received

distress call at 3:15 this morning -- crew of U.S. Coast Guard HH-60 helicopter arrived on scene at 7:00 a.m. -- Coast Guard rescue swimmer lowered from helicopter into

10-foot seas, swam over to S/V Goose & climbed on board to stabilize the 3 men -- crew brought to Panama City Hospital & transferred to ambulance in stable condition.

(Wed.. Nov. 24 2004)



Swedish passenger M/V Casino Express, with 39 passengers & 27 crew -- heavy aground during storm in Gulf of Botnia outside Umeå in Sweden, Nov 24th. Evacuation is

planned. From our correspondant Staffan Gullsby. (Wed.. Nov. 24 2004)

Norwegian registered tug M/V Nestor -- aground outside Katthammarsvik> Divers found man dead inside toilet of capsized & sunk wreck of M/V Nestor. From our

correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Nov. 25 2004)



40,160-dwt chemical M/T Montana Sun (built 1994), Houston for Zarzis & subsequent Turkish ports with refined corn oil & tallow-- aground in Zarzis, Tunisia on Nov. 22.

Vessel with 9.5 meter draft, but 2 pilots onboard, port authority & the ship agent all declared draft to be 13 meters. Guess who was incorrect. Guess who will be shot. From

our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed.. Nov. 24 2004)



21,630 gt bulk carrier M/V Polo M (built 1980), for Port Everglades with 26,000 tons of cement & 28 crew -- grounded on island of Gotland, Sweden. A number of double

bottom tanks breached. Wijsmuller Salvage B.V.>fire successfully fought by ship staff -- reported fully extinguished at 1400 UTC -- vessel

currently underway. (Tues. Nov. 23 2004pm)



F/V Taruna Jaya with 91 people for wedding party, in waters between Ubur island & Dullah Laut island in Maluku island chain - 2,500km (1,600 miles) SE of Indonesian

capital Jakarta -- capsized -- rated for only 30 passengers -- 84 rescued by passing fishing boats -- 20 other passengers taken to hospital on Tual & authorities arrested

Capt. & crew over accident. (Mon. Nov. 22 2004)



Syrian-flagged cargo M/V Aradosh -- damaged to 2 holiday homes as she ran way aground on Asian side of Bosphorus in Istanbul damaging gardens & swimming

pools of villas in Uskudar district -- high, gusting winds blowing over Turkish metropolis on Nov. 20. Pictures Please. (Sun. Nov. 21 2004)



2,900-ton Russian F/V Almaz, with 73 crew, suffered fire 35 miles (56 kilometers) N.W. of eastern island of Ullung, South Korea. South Korean Navy rescued 70 crew from

burning ship before maritime police later salvaged one more -- search under way for 2 missing crew in heavy seas nearby. (Sun. Nov. 21 2004)



Bangladesh> Vicinity of Banjarmasin, off Pulau Laut, Balikpapan & Bontang in the Makasar Straits, Indonesia -- 13 attacks have been reported in past 6 weeks in

these locations. Most attacks occurred while ships were at anchor. (Fri. Nov.19 2004)



12 Nov. 2004 at 0730 LT in position 03:45.5N - 008:59.5E, Cameroon -- 6 pirates in a 6m white speedboat attempted to board supply ship underway. Master increased speed

& boat abandoned chase. (Fri. Nov.19 2004)



11 Nov. 2004 at 2230 LT at Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh --- 6 pirates armed with knives boarded bulk carrier & stole ship's stores. Alert crew raised alarm &

robbers jumped overboard. Master informed coast guard which despatched patrol boat. (Fri. Nov.19 2004)



09 Nov. 2004 at 0400 LT at Balikpapan coal terminal, Indonesia -- 3 pirates boarded bulk carrier. Alert crew raised alarm & robbers jumped overboard & escaped in

speedboat. (Fri. Nov.19 2004)





Piracy Prone Areas & Current Warnings





S E Asia & Indian Sub Continent

Somalian Waters:

Bangladesh: Chittagong at berth & anchorage.

Eastern & northeastern coasts have been high-risk areas for hijackings. While there have been no

India: Chennai recent incidents, ships not making scheduled calls to ports in these areas should stay away from the

Indonesia: Anambas/Natuna Island, Balikpapan, Belawan, Dumai, coast.

Gaspar/Bar/Leplia Str, Jakarta (Tg.Priok), Vicinity of Bintan Island

West Africa:

Malacca straits: avoid anchoring along the Indonesian coast of the

straits. Coast near Aceh is particularly risky for hijackings. Abidjan, Conakry, Dakar, Douala, Lagos, Luanda, Onne, Tema, Warri



Malaysia: Sandakan South & Central America & Caribbean Waters



Singapore Straits Brazil - Belem



Africa & Red Sea Colombia - Mamonal



Gulf of Aden Haiti - Port Au Prince



Venezuela - Guanta





Back To Year 2004 Reports



1,378 gt M/V Northern Seeker (built 1975), Yumiden for "the German Sector", with oil rig equipment, suffered fire aboard, in lat 55 47.5N, long 03 59.50E -- Mayday

relay sent by German oil rig platform. Fishery Protection Vestkysten departed Thyboron & headed for incident location -- fire extinguished by M/V Northern Seeker -- no

injuries. Standby safety vessel M/V Esvagt Omega escorted M/V Northern Seeker to Esbjerg, due to maneuvering problems aboard Northern Seeker. Extent of damage

unknown. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs.. Nov. 18 2004)



HONORS>> Destroyer HMAS Sydney> Humber

Coastguard detected a smell of diesel & possible sonar "object" on the sea bed 4.5. miles from mouth of the Tyne & well within the search area. Absent of any sign of vessel

or crew during search, Humber Coastguard have requested side sonar looking equipment from Humberside Police to determine if the object is the Jann Denise II now

believed lost with all hands. (Thurs.. Nov. 18 2004)



NOTE>> We're Back From Port of Chicago. New Postings From Nov. 17 - Are Above -- We'll Catch Up From Nov. 14th - Below.



Our Visiting Editor Libby Thompson Has Monitored Vessel Losses For Posting The Complete Updates, Below. McD



Here Are All Reports from 14,15 & 16 Nov. --



Passenger ferry M/V Liaohai, with 273 passengers & 78 vehicles, suffered fire Nov. 16, Yantai City in eastern China's Shandong Province for Dalian -- 2 crew dead. (Tues.

Nov. 16 2004)



Tempest At Algiers>> Algerian cargo M/V Bechar sank in high seas & Turkish M/V Wanda ran aground on Nov. 13 -- 100 km (65 mile) an hour winds & meter high

waves, making it very difficult for helicopters to rescue anyone -- Algerian rescue services were searching for 17 sailors missing from the vessels on Nov. 14. Algerian

transport M/V Batna also ran aground near port, but did not report crew missing or injured. Several other vessels at the port were damaged. From our correspondant Tim

Schwabedissen. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)



UPDATE>>Operation in search of sailors from sunk M/V Arosa & M/V West dry cargo ships is to end in the Sea of Japan. The 2 crews included 42 Russian sailors.

Follow the sory>As no less than 5 ships involved in collisions on Nov. 12 in dense fog. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)

80mt M/V Carmen leaking after collidision with M/T Stesa, laden with oil from Dutch port of Terapel, & in collision with 99mt M/T Patric coming from Rotterdam

between Leverkusen & Duesseldorf. 2 of 4 crew of M/V Carmen thrown over board, but rescued. M/V Carmen in danger of sinking, but could be salvaged after unloading

hundreds of tons of grain. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)



M/V Monika, Duesseldorf for Kaiserswerth -- in collision -- with tanker -- Capt. of tanker thrown against bulkhead of wheelhouse & injured -- vessel then ran aground.

From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)



Mystery submarine detected in Israeli territorial waters Nov. 10 -- foreign vessel on spying mission, 5km inside northernmost limit of Israel's territorial waters, & 18km (11

miles) from Mediterranean coast -- submarine spotted as it entered Israeli waters but not made public. Only Arab neighbor to have fleet submarines is Egypt, which signed

peace agreement with Jewish state in 1979. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)



Russian transport M/V Obayatelny of the Arctic, with fish, Island Shikotan of Kurile Islands for Vladivostok -- main engine failed 20 miles off coast of Primorye

Territory -- despite rough seas, rescue ship M/V Grif managed to take in tow. M/V Grif prenstly leading tow to Vladivostok. Transport ships M/V West & M/V Arosa

sank in similar conditions on Nov. 2 2004. From 42 crew of both transport ships -- 9 saved, 20 killed & fate of 13 sailors remains unclear. Ships along coast of the

Primorye territory are continuing search of those lost in wreckage area of M/V West & M/V Arosa. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)



Carnival Cruise Lines M/V Holiday lost engine power -- in collision -- with pilings along Mobile River -- coming up Mobile River before dawn Nov. 13 morning -- in

middle of turn to head back to its berth at new cruise terminal, ship's starboard engine & bow thruster died -- despite being aided by tug -- cruise ship collided bow-on with

pilings. Divers inspected below waterline --nothing wrong eccept buffet disruption.. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)



Chilean flagged M/T Vicuna, loading at Brazil's main grains port of Paranagua in S. state of Parana -- exploded -- while loading methanol next to state oil company

Petrobras' terminal where there are many fuel tanks. "Flames could be seen from a long way off," said port spokesman (Mon. Nov. 15 2004) UPDATE>> 6 dead. (Mon. Nov.

15 2004pm)



U.S. F/V Melissa Jayne -- issued Mayday by satellite phone at 3:15 a.m. to report crew member had compound fracture to ankle. U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flew to

vessel's location 128 miles E. of Chatham -- airlifted Mr. Alfredo Rivas to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis. Scene of rescue were 40 knots, with seas of 18 feet. (Sun. Nov. 14

2004)



Algerian registered cargo M/V Bechar, with 20 crew -- sank in 100 km (65 mile) winds in E. Algerian waters -- 2 bodies recovered -- 18 mising. (Sun. Nov. 14 2004)



P&O cruise M/V Pacific Sky -- from Brisbane more than 15 hours late after being delayed by swarm of jellyfish -- ship's engine clogged with jellyfish, trapping vessel at

Pinkenba port. (Sun. Nov. 14 2004)



Florida's Sanibel Island drawbridge shut down for 3 hours Nov. 13 morning, because Capt. of barge lost control of vessel & hit causeway -- 60-foot barge with crane

& several construction pilings couldn't get under bridge. No injuries. (Sun. Nov. 14 2004)



READERS NOTE>> All Postings Above Are Reconstructed frm Nov. 14 To Nov. 16, By Our Visiting Editor Libby Thompson of The Cargo Letter During Our Nov.

Chicago trip. Thanks Libby!



Dutch oil M/T Arctica -- S.E. of Landsort in Stockholm archipelago -- Master lost over board -- helicopter & rescue boats searching, it is 6 degrees C in water &

theoretical survival is up to 3 hours -- search ceased. From our correspondant Per-Åke Kvick. (Sat. Nov. 13 2004)

South Korean cargo M/V Marine Osaka, with 16 crew -- crashed into breakwater near Port Hokkaido, 850km N. of Tokyo - almost split in two after crash -- 6 crew

dead & 1 missing. (Fri. Nov. 12 2004)



Korean 129gt F/V -- struck by crane 40 nautical miles off Hong Island, South Jeolla Province, Japan -- 3 crew who had fallen into comas died while being treated in

hospital. (Fri. Nov. 12 2004)



U.S. tug M/V Spence & container barge Guantanamo Bay Express suffered casualty as line (tow bridle) parted Nov. 11 morning -- tow outbound on St. Johns River near

Jacksonville Florida. Barge Guantanamo Bay Express then drifted & grounded along Jetties breakwall. No pollution. Titan Marine Salvage> M/V Edmund Ftzgerald Building Gallery (Thurs. Nov. 11 2004)



German yacht S/V Moonstrike, sailing single-handed from Chichester, UK (where he purchased her) to Dover via Newhaven -- rowed to shore -- exhausted knocked on

door of couple at Greatstone at 1.00 am today --asked for help saying vessel had sunk. Dover Coastguard located vessel aground -- refloated & towed to Dover. Capt. shocked

& hypothermic with broken rib. (Wed. Nov. 10 2004)



Submarine intruded Japanese territorial waters near S.W. Okinawa Prefecture on Nov. 10 morning is highly likely to be a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine, Japan

Defense Agency said. (Wed. Nov. 10 2004) UPDATE>> Beijing said her submarine on a training mission, & for "technical reasons," ventured into Japanese waters. (Mon.

Nov. 15 2004)



11-meter Irish F/V Emerald Dawn, with 2 crew departed Kilkeel harbor this morning -- no further word. Vessel missing, despite search. (Wed. Nov. 10 2004) UPDATE>>

Following extensive search over 1400 square miles of sea, 1 survivor from the missing F/V Emerald Dawn found alive in life raft -- 2nd crew missing & search continues.

(Thurs. Nov. 11 2004)



ALERT>>Suez Canal reopened to shipping Nov. 9 after tugs moved grounded 154,000dwt oil Liberian-flag M/T Tropic Brilliance that had caused the longest stoppage in

almost 30 years in the strategic waterway. (See Nov. 7 For Full Story.) (Wed. Nov. 10 2004)



Norwegian M/V Menominee, with lumber for Toledo & Green Bay -- hit wall at Beauharnois Nov. 9, Montreal, causing a 30 foot by 3 foot gash on port side above

waterline. Cause not determined M/V Menominee escorted back to Montreal sec 44 by the Groupe Ocean tug M/V Laprairie. Repairs are underway by Mount Royal Walsh

Marine & should be complete in 5 days. Photo of Damage. (Wed. Nov. 10 2004)



13 m Austrian veteran tug M/V Grein (just rebuilt as nostalgic pleasure boat in 2004), with 6 crew, -- in collision -- with German M/V Meister 2, on late Nov. 4. M/V Grein

broke in 2 & sank immediately on Nov. 4 to bottom of river Donau> M/V Grein raised from bottom of the river Donau. Despite expectations none of 4 missing passengers found inside wreck

-- towed for further inspection on deck of barge to Kuchelau harbor. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Nov. 10 2004)



North Korean passenger M/V Sontong-5, with 24 North Korean citizens -- aground in Bay of Kitovy, N.W. of Iturup Island in Sea of Okhotsk. -- stranded on sand 80m off

coast -- stands right on keel with no holes in hull -- crew apparently waiting for good weather to take leave of vessel. Radio communication with M/V Sontong 5 crew is

impossible, as none speak English or French & nobody on Iturup Island speaks Korean. Strong winds (up to 15m a second) still blowing & high waves of 1.5-2 meters rise at

accident site N.. of Iturup Island -- prevents tow ships or small boats from approaching rescue vessels. From our correspondant Fred McCague. (Tues. Nov. 9 2004)



UDATE>>18 More bodies located from tragic losses of M/V Arosa & M/V West. Follow the sory> Searchers gave up hope of finding 2 crew whose tug M/V

Manson sank off coast of Texada Island -- focus shifted to trying to retrieve bodies & salvage M/V Manson. From our correspondant Fred McCague. (Tues. Nov. 9

2004)



612-ton cargo M/V Myoetsu Maru No. 18 -- in collision with -- 19-ton F/V Suehiro Maru No. 55 in Sea of Japan off Tomamae town 150km N of Sapporo in NW

Hokkaido -- F/V Suehiro Maru No. 55 capsized -- 4 of 8 crew missing. (Sat. Nov. 6 2004)



Antigua & Barbuda registered 10,917gt M/V Milena, Singapore for Bombay with 574 containers Nov. 4 -- ran aground 18KM S. of Singapore. (Sat. Nov. 6 2004)



Mercy Ships>Rescuers spotted bodies of 13 more seamen from M/V Arosa &M/V West that sank off Russian Maritime region on Nov. 2 --bodies now being recovered

from sea. Earlier on Nov. 9, 5 more bodies found & retrieved from the Sea of Japan. Not yet clear to which of 2 ships the seamen belonged. (Tues. Nov. 9 2004) These

Losses Posted Just Below --



Cambodian flagged Russian M/V Arosa, with 15 crew & 4,000 tons coal, sank 46 km off Russian Pacific coast, Nov. 2 -- Capt. & 6 crew suffered injuries -- rescued by

Russian military helicoper -- brought to hospital in Wladiwostok -- 1 dead, 7 missing -- search continues. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Nov. 3

2004 -UPDATED) UPDATE>>Operation in search of sailors from sunk M/V Arosa & M/V West dry cargo ships is to end in the Sea of Japan. The 2 crews included 42

Russian sailors. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)



Mongolia flagged M/V West (built 1970), Primorje for Japan with 27 crew & wood, sank 40 miles off Primorye Krai territory coast> 4 life rafts cast from vessel -- 1 found unopened &

another turned upside down & empty --search for 4th raft continues. on Nov. 4 , at a distance of 20 miles from where life rafts were found, tug M/V Grif lifted aboard M/V

West's mechanic Safar Dzhanmerzoyev & 2 dead sailors but failed to lift them on board. (Fri. Nov. 5 2004) UPDATE>>Operation in search of sailors from sunk M/V

Arosa & M/V West dry cargo ships is to end in the Sea of Japan. The 2 crews included 42 Russian sailors. (Mon. Nov. 15 2004)



44-foot F/V Canadian Mist from South Thomaston, Maine, sent distress call -- boat taking on water off Nantucket - communications lost -- vessel sank -- U.S. Coast

Guard helicopter & Falcon jet sent to scene & located the 4 crew at 11:30 a.m. in life raft 32 miles SE of Nantucket -- all 4 crew airlifted to U.S. Coast Guard Air Station

Cape Cod, where treated for mild hypothermia & in good condition. Water temperature 53 degrees, with 12-15 foot seas. (Wed. Nov. 3 2004)



American-flagged 281-foot M/T Kristin Poling, New York, for Oceanside, Long Island, N.Y., grounded in Newak Bay during low tide -- freed itself 3 hours later as tide

rose -- escorted by U.S. Coast Guard vessel to dry dock in Staten Island, N.Y., where divers will assess repairs. (Mon. Nov. 1 2004)



Vessel containing hydrogen sulfide>> WE'RE BACK FROM AFRICA! See Our Sept. 30 Arrival! > Lightering vessel Al-Samit-3, with 13 crew at outer anchorage of the Chittagong port -- stormed by 20 pirates at 7:00pm & looted ropes, tents, gas cylinders,

mobile phones & cash from crew at gunpoint -- all 13 crew injured as they tried to resist -- taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Vessel went

to outer anchorage in afternoon for lightering cement clinker from mother vessel. (Sun. Oct. 31 2004)



Darwin-based Australian frigate HMAS Geraldton> M/V BBC China, went aground at Port Grosvenor> Rodney Post, 36, spotted floating 25 miles SW of Clearwater Pass by crew of a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater C-130 airplane at 8:52 a.m.,

Oct. 24 -- HH-60 "Jayhawk" helicopter arrived on-scene 10 minutes later, hoisted Post for transport to Tampa General Hospital. Fellow fisherman, Jay French, last seen

earlier this morning wearing orange lifejacket. (Sun. Oct. 24 2004) UPDATE>> crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Pea Island (WPB 1347)>



Russian ferry M/V Antonina Nezhdanova, with 87 cars 44 passengers & 62 crew -- smashed against quay in Fushiki, 250 miles W. of Tokyo, Oct. 20. -- took list of 50

degrees -- waiting for tugs to leave harbor to Wlasiwostok, but these did not arrive in time - sank. All safe (except if you were a car). (Fri. Oct. 20 2004)



4,883gt Bahamas-flagged container M/V OOCL Seti, with 16 crew, aground Oct. 20. Crew rescued. Ship freed itself same afternoon -- resumd voyage to Hongkong. (Fri.

Oct. 20 2004)



M/V Shuri ran aground Oct. 20 off Uma Island in Seto Inland Sea close to Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. All 12 crew safe. (Fri. Oct. 20 2004)



2,556gt sail training S/V Kaio Maru, with167 crew, 102 of them pupils. -- in Yokohama the 110 m long 4-masted barque, smashed against breakwater & sank. All rescued,

with 3 injuries. (Fri. Oct. 20 2004)



From our feature correspondant Tim Schwabedissen.



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



16 Oct. 2004 at 1000 UTC in posn 03:52.4N - 077:05.4W, Buenaventura anchorage, Colombia -- 10 pirates boarded a general cargo ship using long pole with hooks -- broke

open forecastle locker & stole ship's stores. Alarm raised & crew used flares to deter boarders. Pirates jumped into water & escaped. Master reported this was 3rd attack on

his vessel in this port in past 2 months. (Fri. Oct. 20 2004)



Back To Year 2004 Reports



Port Canaveral> 50ft M/Y Enterprise, crewed by skipper & sailor, aground on reef off coast of Jura> Gert Potgieter of Subtech

Diving said: "Vessel aground & flooded. The engine room, bulks, tanks -- everything is full of water so there's no chance of being able to move her. What we have to do

now is remove all hazardous materials like bunker fuels -- so that it doesn't go to sea." Neither ship's owners nor their agents are willing to talk. From our correspondant

Teague. (Mon. Oct. 18 2004pm) UPDATE>>Salvors working since first light on Oct. 19 to set pumping of oil from M/V BBC China into M/V Pentow Service -- should

begin early Oct. 20 morning. (Tues. Oct. 19 2004pm) UPDATE>> Salvage teams waiting for break in weather to transfer of 120 tons of fuel-oil from stranded vessel. Swells

of up to 4m made it impossible for other vessels to get close to stranded ship. Capt. Bill Dernier from the South African Maritime Safety Authority says deteriorating weather

conditions have brought operation to temporary halt. (Thurs. Oct. 21 2004) UPDATE>> 2 men washed off the deck o M/V BBC China as salvors tried to attach hoses to

pump out 120 tons of oil aboard. (Mon Oc. 25 2004) UPDATE>>Lost>> M/V BBC China, which went aground at Port Grosvenor on the Wild Coast 2 weeks ago, will not

be refloated. SmitPentow Marine, the company responsible for salvage work on the vessel, says the ship has been declared a wreck because of extensive damage suffered.

Pounding waves & rocky shoreline have taken toll & decision taken to write her off. Next move to decide on possible removal of larger structures aboard -- 29 tons of heavy

fuel has so far been pumped out. Some of paint cargo & 40 sealed lead batteries taken ashore by helicopter -- 7 meter swells broke over ship & 2 containers washed overboard

earlier this week -- small dinghy from ship ripped apart & vital salvage equipment lost. (Fri. Oct. 29 2004)



Unidentified UAL Cargo M/V suffered fire at Manchester Terminal of the Port of Houston early Oct. 18 morning. (Mon. Oct. 18 2004)



48ft. U.S. F/V Susan Ann, declared uncontrolled engine room flooding 9:02pm Oct. 17 in Chatham Strait>U.S. S/V Tournesol, with an array of navigational aids including GPS & 10-power video magnifier for reading charts, as vessel departs San

Francisco to circumnavigate the world - an intrepid enough challenge for any sailor but especially daunting for 2 crew who are legally blind. Mr. Duncan & Ms. Habek

estimated trip will take 2 years - 1st down U.S. west coast towards Panama, then across Pacific & Indian oceans. Their biggest fear is that some huge tanker would be bearing

down & they would not be able to see it. God's Speed for this brave crew. Pray they don't show up in this list again. Are they nuts? (Thurs. Oct. 14 2004)



Chinese M/T Yuming Oil 1, with 800 tons gasoline, in shipyard on Gang River in Xinhua Province on Oct. 6th -- exploded Oct. 13 -- whole ship engulfed in flames for

hours & sank to bottom of river -- 1 crew dead. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Oct. 14 2004)

Dutch S/V Waddenzee, with 28 children & 2 adults -- in collision with buoy between Terschelling & Vlieland off Dutch coast -- evacuated by lifeboat M/V Graaf van

Bylandt from Vlieland & brought to Terschelling. With aid of additional pumps - situation brought under control & S/V Waddenzee towed to Terschelling by tug M/V

Typhoon. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Thurs. Oct. 14 2004)



480-foot Cyprus M/V Tatiana L, Port Everglades for Brazil, suffered "man overboard" -- U.S Coast Guard & local law enforcement launched search -- found Gurjit Singh

conscious & floating 6 miles off Florida coast Injury: exhausted & in want of better deck shoes. From our correspondant Andrew D. Kehagiaras, Esq. (Wed. Oct. 13

2004)



Unidentified South Korean "Special Training Vessel" from the ROK Fleet Command>

Reports have just been received that this vessel collided & sank whilst entering wharf at Fuzhou, China. Apparently, vessel had head on collision with a local sand carrier &

sank with the loss of 73 containers. (Wed. Oct. 13 2004)



South Korean Navy vessel sank off E coast Oct. 12 -- while returning to base after conducting a nighttime exercise -- 4 South Korean sailors missing of 5 man crew.

South Korea restricts naval vessel information due to threats from North Korea. (Tues. Oct. 12 2004)



Yacht S/V Raya on passage from Netherlands to Bay of Islands -- Maritime Radio requested assistance of New Zealand Navy after Raya suffered rigging & engine

difficulties late Oct. 11. RNZAF P3 Orion tasked to look for yacht. HMNZS Kahu> 14,953-ton Panama-registered container M/V MSC Lucia, for Singapore with over 700 containers -- in collision with 86,192-ton M/V Heng Shan, for China

with 160,000mt of iron ore -- 5.5km off Changi coast, SE of Singapore -- vessels communicating with each other just minutes before accident -- small fire extingushed.

Radio broadcast at 4.21am alerted all ships that M/V Heng Shan departing Singapore --alerted again 20 minutes later when vessels were about 4km apart -- both vessels

acknowledged warnings & said they started communicating with each other --but 6 minutes later -- collision! Well, hard to get reliable help these days! (Wed. Oct. 6

2004)



20mt F/V Serenity, with 5 crew, issued SOS to Aberdeen Coastguard at 4.00 am this morning on satellite phone -- report broken down with 2 nets partly shot. Supply vessel

M/V Troms Falken connected tow to vessel & nets --acting as drogue (sea anchor) were cut. F/V Serenity expected in Aberdeen at midnight tonight -- all safe. (Wed. Oct. 6

2004)



19 meter Swedish yacht S/V Merengue -- 81 miles N. from Aberdeen -- issued SOS -- received by Falmouth Coastguard -- passed alert to colleagues in Aberdeen. Rescue

helicopter scrambled with pump & Peterhead lifeboat launched. Once RAF helicopter arrived -- agreed that 9 of Swedish nationals would be lifted off & taken to Aberdeen

airport. All safe. Vessel escorted back to Peterhead by RNLI lifeboat. (Wed. Oct. 6 2004)



50-foot F/V Delma Ann, suffered engine trouble 60-miles off coast of Yachats, Oregon -- U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River, Ore., launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat

to assist -- took vessel in tow -- transferred to 2nd 47-foot motor lifeboat from Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay, Ore. -- will continue tow into Yaquina Bay. No injuries.

(Wed. Oct. 6 2004)



Cessna 182> British rescue HMS Montrose> Canadian submarine HMCS Chicoutimi (former

British submarine sold to Canada) stranded in North Atlantic for 3 days was Oct. 7 night under tow towards W. coast of Scotland by atug M/V Anglian Prince, towards either

Royal Navy base at Faslane or shipyards at Barrow-in-Furness where its original refit carried out. (Fri. Oct. 8 2004)



Indian F/V Al-Sanani -- gone missing -- 5 crew of 9 reached Mandvi port> Wijsmuller Salvage B.V., part of SvitzerWijsmuller,

succeeded in refloating crude oil M/T Fotini Lady. Fully loaded with gasoil. Wijsmuller arranged lighterage tanker arrived on site at 1300 hrs, Oct. 3 & moored alongside at

1500 hrs, using SvitzerWijsmuller tugs M/V Frigga & M/V Fenja. Pumping started after completion of formalities at 1715, Oct 3, & completed at 0700 hrs, this morning,

having transferred 10,800 tons. Lighterage tanker then was moved off using SvitzerWijsmuller tugs again. Controlled refloating attempt then executed using 4 powerful tugs.

Vessel safely refloated & moved at 1015 hrs. vessel safely refloated at 1015 hrs. Vessel towed to Kalundborg Fjord for further inspections . BRAVO ZULU! From our

correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Tues. Oct. 5 200pm)



Komoren-registered bulker M/V Nina, with coal, suffered fire in one of its hatches Sept. 27 -- brought under control with aid of tug. From our correspondant Tim

Schwabedissen. (Tues. Oct. 5 2004)



Scottish F/V Sunrise, with 5 crew, in collision Oct. 2 with F/V Ocean Dawn that was trawling with the casualty 142 miles ENE of Fraserburgh in Norwegian waters is

standing by. F/V Sunrise taking water, additional pumps will shortly be airlifted to the vessel by Norwegian Rescue helicopter -- Sunrise crew will then be able to assess

situation further as to whether to abandon vessel. From our correspondant Tim Schwabedissen. (Tues. Oct. 5 2004)



Antigua-flagged, German M/V Marie O, with sawn timber, hard aground early Oct. 2 after leaving harbor at Mönsterås paper mill. Swedish Coast Guard>> WE'RE BACK!



Vessel Casualties was DARK from Sept.15 while our staff, including your editor Michael S. Mc Daniel attended the World FIATA Congress at Johannesburg, South

Africa & then pressed on to Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe. During this period, your Visiting Editor Libby Thompson of The Cargo Letter has maintained your daily

news events & welcomed special news contributions from our volunteers of The Cargo Letter correspondents.



READERS NOTE>> Below Visiting Editor Libby Thompson has preserved your news from Sept. 16 to Sept. 24 2004. There are far more incredible stories waiting to

fill the gap between Sept. 24 & Oct. 1. These stories from Sept. 24 to Oct.1 are now posted for you below! McD



Dover-Calais services of P&O, M/V SeaFrance, M/V Hoverspeed & 5 other ferries stranded after protesting French fishermen blockaded Port of Calais -- hundreds of

travelers stranded -- 7 fishing boats strung across entrance to harbor in protest about rising fuel prices. (Fri. Oct. 1 2004)



Up to 5 tons of cocaine washed up along Atlantic beaches of France between Arcachon and Biarritz & Spain as far west as Bilbao, apparently a single shipment

dumped overboard by Mexican smugglers. "Street price has fallen by over a 33%, there's been a big rash of related hospitalizations, & large number of people who had never

even tried cocaine are now hooked," said Jean-Michel Delile of the Bordeaux drug research centre. The 1-kg bricks are shrink-wrapped & bear crown logo &words Calidad

Total (Total Quality). Could have been dumped in panic at approach of patrol vessel, or lost while transfer from freighter in heavy seas. (Fri. Oct. 1 2004)



23 foot UK yacht S/V Seacow broadcast distress signal Oct 1, mid-Atlantic -- container M/V Canmar Spirit diverted -- sighted red distress flare & proceeded towards

position -- Australian male, in thirties recovered. During night small yacht knocked down 3 or 4 times in rough seas -- now abandoned. (Fri. Oct. 1 2004)



280-foot cement M/T Contrader capsized at Clifton Pier, Nassau> Chris Stecker, 25, & Pablo Nuanez, 53, both of Tarpon Springs, Fla., located inside liferaft 2.5

miles off Anclote Key -- hoisted up to helicopter &flown to Air Station Clearwater for examination by medical personnel & released. (Fri. Oct. 1 2004)



Half-laden Liberian-flagged container,150m M/V Merkur Bridge trying to overtake Singapore Navy 141m RSS Persistence along narrow stretch of Singapore Straits --

scrapped side of navy ship, causing M/V Merkur Bridge to slam into the 183m-long, 30,000-ton Liberian-flagged tanker in ballast, for Ho Chi Minh City with 20 crew,

tearing small hole just above waterline. From our correspondant David Boey.(Mon. Sept. 27 2004)



118 mt. M/V KM Nusa Damai, with 41 trucks & 2 cars -- began to list dangerously while being loaded -- developed leak & sank at Ippi Port in town of Ende on Flores

island>20 dead, 6 missing & 57 rescued. (Mon.

Sept. 27 2004)

UPDATE FROM THE SCENE>> "I happened to be in China at the time -- The ferry was owned by a farmer who supplied the service to help his fellow residents of this

area get to work on picking cotton. Sadly, farmer was apparently one of the missing. Vessel was apparently overloaded & sank when waves came over the bow. There had

been flooding in the area prior to this event."



Larry Skerker, Executive Vice President, Robinson Knife Co. of Buffalo,NY,> Thunder Cape loaded onto deck of icebreaker CCGS Samuel

Risley>> Radar equipment on doomed Galway F/V St Oliver, not working when it was torn apart by rocks in storm last. Crew member Mickey Mullen, 18, texted his

girlfriend as vessel pulled out of Connemara Harbor of Glinsk Sept. 15 night, telling her conditions were very rough & navigational equipment on board broken. (Sun. Sept.

26 2004)

Matson Line time chartered vessel M/V Great Land recently suffered blown boiler tubes at Richmond Ca layberth. Great idea except for some 400 new Kia automobiles

at adjacent auto dock. New paintjobs for everyone. Not sure exact date, but alleged not the 1st time so Matson currently said banned from using the Richmond facilities for

vessel layups. From anonymous correspondant. (Thus. Sept. 23 2004) Seeking Confirmation



49-foot trawler F/V Srimuang-3, with shrimp & 35 crew, hit broadside by unidentified cargo ship early Sept. 22 -- sank -- 64km off coast of Prachuab Khiri Khan

province in Gulf of Thailand, 230km S. of Bangkok. -- bodies of 3 crew trapped inside vessel retrieved & another 5 believed to remain inside. Cargo vessel steamed

away. (Thurs. Sept. 23 2004)



Wellington F/V Extreme Limit left Mana Marina in Porirua 10 days ago & expected back in port on Sept. 19. No word from vessel fishing waters W. of New Zealand -- Air

Force Orion aircraft leaving Whenuapai to begin a search. (Wed. Sept. 22 2004)



Kaohsiung-registered deep sea F/V Cheng Huei No. 1 -- fired upon in Russian territorial waters near Kuril Islands -- chased by Russian vessel after she refused to stop --

crew reported safe -- 200 tons of illegally caught fish found aboard. Russian national television Sept. 21 aired footage of incident incident taken by a Russian military aircraft

-- showed damage after F/V Cheng Huei No. 1 hit by shells. (Wed. Sept. 22 2004)



600-foot gasoline M/T Torm Gerd, with 197,000 gallons of fuel, aground Sept. 21 in the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal just east of the St. Georges Bridge -- double-hulled

ship hit bottom 3 p.m. while giving way to another vessel. Aided by tugs & tide, vessel eventually made for deeper water. (Wed. Sept. 22 2004)



65-foot shrimp dragger F/V Ryan's Commander, going home to St. Brendan's with 5 crew -- sent brief distress call at 6:30 p.m -- taking water in 4 meter seas as well as

driving rain & poor visibility, close to 50 knot winds -- crew then took refuge in life-raft -- sank Sept. 19 near Cape Bonavista, Newfoundland -- 1 crew dead & another

missing & presumed dead -- life-raft impacted on shore & all 5 thrown out -- 4th man dead & 5th man missing. Wave capsized the 20-meter longliner 10km off shore --

not enough time to get into survival suits. (Tues. Sept. 21 2004)



Presipe Bay in Pembrokeshire, UK> Over 50 heavily

armed mobile policemen Sept. 21 stormed premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos, as hearing resumed in 8 count charge of illegal oil bunkering, preferred against 13

Russians, who were arrested last year Oct., allegedly within Nigerian water, aboard the now missing M/V African Pride. The Federal government at hearing of the matter,

asked court to grant an amendment it (government) sought to the charge preferred against the 13 Russians. Russians, however, asked the court to refuse amendment,

contending that Russians confused & prejudiced by government application, adding that amendment sought by government is frivolous, an abuse of court process & attempt

to delay the course of justice by putting unnecessary delay in wheel of justice. The accused urged court to reject new charge. Chaos ensued. (Wed. Sept. 22 2004)



Indonesian M/V Balino Jaya, Kendari for Papua with 50 tons of ice blocks & 8 crew, ran aground in bad weather & sank S. of Buru island waters. All rescued. On Sept.18

Indonesian Navy warship Layang-805 found position where M/V Balino Jaya sank. (Sat. Sept. 18 2004)



Decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Forrestal CVA-59> just after 9.00 p.m. Sept.

18 evening whilst under tow, burnt out stand by vessel M/V Viking Victor sank in 86 meters of water, 10.5 miles from Scottish shoreline off Findochty near Buckie. No

injuries. Site in in open waters -- no pipelines nearby. (Sat. Sept. 18 2004)



Italian-registered 640-foot M/V Grand America entered Port of Hamburg Sept. 16 at high tide -- had increased speed & overtaken other vessel -- creating wake which

smashed into posh rerstaurant -- 50 guests found themselves up to their waists in water that reached as far as restaurant's kitchen. No injuries. (Thus. Sept. 16 2004)



Transocean deepwater offshore oil & natural gas rig Deepwater Nautilus> Salvage postponed as current weather conditions worsen, crew remaining aboard. (Fri. Sept. 17 2004) UPDATE>> Plans now in place in further effort to refloat

grounded M/V Mannav Star on Mon. 27th Sept. Tug M/V Alphonse Letzer will be on scene. Heavy earth moving equipment will be mustered at site. (Thurs. Sept. 23

2004)

183 meter Liberian-registered 28,300gt M/T High Endurance (built 2004) Singapore for Surabaya in ballast with 24 crew, in collision outside Singapore Strait with 150

meter Liberian-registered 9,597gt container M/V Merkur Brtidge (built 1993) Port Klang for Ho Chi Minh City with 20 crew -- M/T High Endurance suffered engine

room fire & also small hole at port quarter, above waterline -- required assistance of tug & Singapore rescue authorties. Both currently anchored in NE of Horsburgh

Lighthouse within Singapore waters in stable condition. >>> While overtaking 141 meter Singapore navy vessel RSS Persistence> All Postings Above Are Reconstructed To Oct. 1, By Our Visiting Editor Libby Thompson of The Cargo Letter During The 2004 Africa Trip For

FIATA. Thanks Libby!



Liberian-registered container M/V Merkur Bridge off Singapore suddenly altered course to avoid oncoming Liberian-registered M/T High Endurance -- in collision with

Singapore navy vessel RSS Persistence -- then in collision with M/T High Endurance -- caused fire in the engine spaces of oil tanker. (Thus. Sept. 16 2004)



273gt steel-hulled M/V Milagrosa J3, with 331 passengers & 29 crew, for W. Palawan when suddenly stopped in calm waters late Sept. 14 -- crew later discovered that

ship's propeller missing & radioed for help -- fishing boats towed M/V Milagrosa J3 to island where Coast Guard rescue vessels took 360 people to mainland Palawan.

Coast Guard is investigating incident to determine if ship owner could be charged for negligence. (Wed. Sept. 15 2004)



18mt. F/V Inis Mil-- ran into difficulties -- began taking on water ex-Kenmare Bay in SW Ireland for N. France. Eventually crew forced into life raft. For almost 7 days,

crew drifted off Cornish coast in tiny inflatable raft -- at the mercy of rough seas, battered by huge waves & high winds -- rescued by UK Royal Navy helicopter Sept. 14

morning, their 8 litres of water had run out -- had been storing their own urine to drink as last resort & food supplies had run out a day earlier -- dehydrated & suffering

from hypothermia & seasickness -- rescued after getting weak signal on mobile phone at 9.18am yesterday & calling 999. (Wed. Sept. 15 2004)



Romanian-flagged M/V Susie, with 15 crew, rammed into Greek hillside as Capt. speaking on his cell phone -- no injuries -- as vessel well aground near town of Stylida,

250km N. of Athens. Romanian Capt. had placed ship on automatic pilot & was not paying attention," Yiannis Ftoulis, head of Stylida's port authority, said. "He said he was

speaking on cell phone at the time of the incident." Capt. may wish to rethink his celluar plan. (Wed. Sept. 15 2004) Pictures Please!



28ft commercial tug M/V Vanguard, with 8 crew -- working for British Aerospace, on contract to Royal Navy -- run aground in Hebrides late S ept. 7 -- ingress of water &

to attempt to beach vessel -- half mile N. of Rona, near Skye. UK Coastguard helicopter 'Mike Uniform' from Stornoway scrambled & Portree RNLI lifeboat requested to

launch by UK Coastguard. UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RMS Fort George responded. Vessel now beached on Island of Rona. All crew safe. (Wed. Sept. 15 2004)



Cruise M/V Empress of the Seas> All injured survive. (Thus. Sept. 16 2004)



Iranian M/V Iran Ardebil -- with over 2,000 containers at total value of US$55M -- stranded at shore of Yemeni island of Mion following crashing into coral reefs on

Aug. 15 -- cargo unloaded & transferred to Yemeni Aden Container Terminal so that vessel can be towed & repaired before resuming her journey to Europe. Loss amount

unkown. (Tues. Sept. 14 2004)



US$42M high-speed ferry M/V Spirit of Ontario -- less than 3 months after making maiden passenger voyage across Lake Ontario, now sits idle in Genesee River alongside

the US$16M ferry terminal built with taxpayer money. CATS shut down service without warning citing a US$1.7M debt. (Tues. Sept. 14 2004)

U.S. 22-foot wooden lobster F/V Captain Tony with inboard engine -- exploded/sank at 1:30 p.m. off Quick's Hole in S. section of Buzzards Bay, Boston -- 1 dead -- U.S.

Coast Guard investigating. (Mon. Sept. 13 2004)



Indian registered cargo 2,099 ton M/V MAANAV Star, dragged anchor & grounded on UK Camber Sands Beach between Dungeness & Rye. At time of grounding,

conditions were SW onshore winds force 6-7. Efforts continue to refloat vessel at future high waters. (Mon. Sept. 13 2004)



U.S. S/V Amazing Grace, 40-miles South of Port Allen made SOS -- U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Washington, left Sand Island morning of Sept. 12, 2004 to rescue 3 people

aboard stalled vessel -- towing sailboat to Oahu instead of Kauai because weather conditions are safer for journey. (Sun. Sept. 12 2004)



Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) boat -- in collision with cabin cruiser off Punggol jetty, NE of the island --1 missing. (Sun. Sept. 12 2004) UPDATE>> body of Mr

Abdul Rahim Junid found by Johor port police patrol craft. (Mon. Sept. 13 2004)



3,249 grt cargo M/V Blue Ocean (built 1983) Japan for Korea with 12 crew, sank Sept. 7 in Typhoon Songda -- all crew missing. (Sun. Sept. 12 2004)



51,807gt M/T Lucky Lady (Built: 1981), Singapore for Cilacap with crude -- aground Sept. 10 approaching berth at Cilacap & damaged her hull, leaking 1000 M/T of crude

oil. Vessel now at berth & undergoing further inspections. (Sun. Sept. 12 2004)



Cruise M/V Sun Princess> Most powerful hurricane to hit Grenada in a decade -- now Category 4 -- killed at least 12 people, damaged 90% of island homes & destroyed a prison,

leaving criminals on the loose -- now crusies north. We hold our breath. Next stop -- Florida? (Wed.. Sept. 8 2004)



14mt S/V Madame Pele -- sank 1.500 Meter off Borkum in North Sea -- underway from island of Norderney to port of Emden & had left on Aug. 26. As it did not reach

Emden as scheduled on Aug, 29 -- search started with helicopter which traced one mast of ship close to the N. shore of Borkum. Soon after Capt. found dead on a nearby

sand. His wife still missing though intense search started by several coastguard ships. Divers found the wreck empty. M/V Madame Pele is Ex-Colin Archer from 1918

which lay in Baltic Sound Schlei for past 20 years. It should have started new career in the museum harbor of Emden -- now ended on bottom of sea. Wreck will probably not

be raised. From our local correspondant - Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Sept. 7 2004)



Honduranas-flagged carg M/V Moby Dick, Mukran for Barth. -- aground Sept. 1 off East-German harbor of Barth in the Baltic -- early refloating attempts failed. From our

local correspondant - Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Sept. 7 2004)



Vietnamese M/V Ulla, arrested since 2000 & lay at anchor off Iskenderum -- sank off S. Coast of Turkey. Ship arrested since 2000 & lay at anchor off Iskenderum -- with

coal ash -- a threat to environment -- before going down, ship developed list -- then slipping beneath surface of Mediterranean. Some time ago ship sprung a leak, but time

passed by without taking chance to unload cargo. From our local correspondant - Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Sept. 7 2004)



Container M/V Nordbeach, drifted down & collided with M/V MSC Lauren of Mediterranean Shipping Company which was at anchor nearby. The collision -- caused

some considerable damage to M/V MSC Lauren bow. By 14.30 both vessels remained entangled with "Nordbeach"'s anchor chains snared with those of M/V MSC Lauren.

Durban Port Control has issued a warning of 40ft container from M/V Nordbeach which has gone overboard and is floating in sea. Collision has caused some considerable

damage to M/V MSC Lauren bow. From our local correspondant - Tim Schwabedissen. (Mon. Sept. 7 2004)



Myanmarese F/V Chum Pol Naval-30, with 33 crew, S. of Ambon island in eastern Indonesia early Sept. 5 --boarded by Thai Navy -- found 7 crew missing, including

Capt. -- 26 Myanmarese crew questioned & told they had thrown 7 Thai sailors, including Capt., overboard during mutiny -- mutineers spared the 1 Thai, the chief

engineer - he said whereabouts of missing 7 unknown. Thai Navy boarded ship after it attempted to flee when hailed -- ship & Myanmarese crew taken to navy base in

Ambon>>> SIngles Only



U.S. 33-foot P/C Team Stressless, with 3 crew -- issued radio distress call 12 miles W. of Bimini, Bahamas on Sept. 2 -- result of adverse weather conditions resulting from

Hurricane Frances -- searches conducted Sept. 2 night & Sept. 4 by HH-65 Dolphin helicopter & HU-25 Falcon jet from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami, as well C-130

airplanes from Air Station Clearwater. Negative results. (Sat. Sept. 4 2004)



U.S. 45-foot unidentified sailing vessel, with skipper Bob Mann & cat, in Biscayne Bay with intent of riding out Hurricane Frances -- contacted U.S. Coast Guard this

morning expressing concern for his safety -- Coast Guard unable to provide requested non-distress assistance & recommended either cut the anchor or contact commercial

salvage. Commercial salvage offers were refused (obviously) -- U.S. Coast Guard helicopter launched & completed hoist while experiencing sustained winds of 35

miles-per-hour with 3 to 5 ft. seas. (Sat. Sept. 4 2004)



U.S. 37-foot quahog dragger F/V Nancy Christine floundered in breaking swells fueled by advance of Hurricane Frances & sank off Martha's Vineyard within minutes

Sept. 3 -- local vessel F/V Tunacious, making 20 knots onreturn trip to Falmouth noticed stream of white smoke rising from W, where F/V Nancy Christine should have

been -- raised U.S. Coast Guard on radio & swung F/V Tunacious toward the plume -- struggled to find sinking dragger, about 400 yards away -- observed F/V Nancy

Christine wheelhouse stayed above water for 30 seconds. As F/V Tunacious pulled within 100 feet -- F/V Nancy Christine had slipped under the waves & rolled over -

U.S. Coast Guard helicopter spotted hull & nearby life raft but no crew. Number of crew aboard, not known, but at least 2 missing. F/V Nancy Christine II, sister fishing

vessel, sank Dec. 2002 off Nantucket. (Sat. Sept. 4 2004)



U.S. 22ft. unidentified P/C, with 5 crew, began taking water over stern near Rugged Island, Alaska -- engine inoperative -- radioed a distress call on channel 72, a

frequency the U.S. Coast Guard is unable to monitor. Vessel swamped, & they reportedly decided to swim for shore about 1230 hrs -- 90-ft. Kenai Fjord tour boat M/V

Coastal Explorer spotted 5 people in water - pulled 3 of them out immediately. Due to draft constraints M/V Coastal Explorer couldn't reach remaining 2, face down &

unresponsive. U.S. charter vessel M/V Alaskan Summer, a nearby Good Samaritan vessel, pulled remaining 2 from the water. Another Good Samaritan crew from M/V

Kenai Star> Florida East Coast. Hurricane Frances roared toward Bahamas & SE U.S. today after churning past Puerto Rico, bringing heavy surf & blustery

winds to the U.S. territory. Frances strengthened to dangerous Category 4 hurricane Aug. 31, with sustained winds up to 140-mph. Still, Puerto Rico saw only moderate

rain &winds -- lighting knocked out electricity to 17,000 people. No injuries reported. If Frances hits the U.S. -- likely at Category 5 -- look out! Again we suggest you

tune to Hurricane City --the #1 site for real time information -- currently predicting hit around Daytona. (Tues. Agu. 31 2004) NOTE>> Perhaps it is because we are not

meteorologists, but why is there not more alarm over this? We are shifting focus from ship loss to this issue.



The Weather Channel >> "Frances is expected to sweep just north of Hispaniola today & punch into the Turks & Caicos Islands. After that, all residents of the Bahamas

should prepare for a strike from a major hurricane by late Sept. 2 or early Sept. 3. Hurricane warnings are in effect for the southern Bahamas & a Hurricane Watch is up for

the central Bahamas. Storm is likely to make landfall along the U.S. Southeast Coast, perhaps by late Sept. 4 or early Sept. 5." (Tues. Aug. 31 2004)



Vietnamese flag 705dwt M/V Vihan 05 (built 1990), with 20 Vietnamese crew -- anchoring in shelter -- 1.1km off Oita Port> To what has The Dave Matthews Band been up to on America's waterways? Casualty or Piracy? More from our local correspondant - Libby

Thompson on the Aug. 10 Loss (of control) upon the First Lady. (Wed. Aug. 25 2004)



Panamanian-flagged Far East Silo, approaching Astoria, Oregon, gateway to Columbia River & Port of Portland suffered loss of crew -- radioed mayday call 10 a.m. on 23

Aug. reporting man overboard 10 miles W. of Astoria -- at Columbia Bar -- West Coast major graveyard of lost ships due to confluence with Columbia River. (Wed. Aug. 25

2004)

M/V ACX Hisbiscus, Singapore for Philippine capital of Manila, attacked by 9 pirates armed with guns & daggers who robbed cargo vessel on Aug. 20 -- suffered arrest

of 7 pirate crew by Indonesian Navy. As previously noted here, piracy in area significantly fallen since Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia began coordinated naval patrols in

July 2004 in nearby Malacca Straits, a key oil & trade route. Bravo Zulu! (Wed. Aug. 25 2004)



Pirate Alert>> Int'l Maritime Bureau has raised piracy alert for shipping in South-east Asian waters, after armed raiders stormed 2 vessels off Indonesian coast last week --

7 radical Muslim pirates armed with guns, long knives & steel bars boarded container ship under way -- took duty crew on bridge as hostages & ordered ship's speed to

be reduced -- 1 crew injured as raiders stole cash & crew's personal effects before fleeing to a waiting vessel. In almost identical strike day earlier, 7 pirates boarded another

vessel close to Midai, tying up crew members before ransacking cabins for cash & equipment. Indonesian Navy reported Aug. 24 it had arrested 7 pirates believed to be

responsible for Aug. 20 attack (see story, above). Meanwhile, Indonesia's intelligence chief said detained Muslim militants told investigators they contemplated attacks

on shipping in strategically important Malacca Strait. Sadly, expect more. (Wed. Aug. 25 2004)



137-foot catamaran passenger used for glacier & wildlife tours in Prince William Sound> 120mt M/V Herzog

Tassilo will likely remain blocking Danube river, one of Europe's most important waterways until at least Aug. 19 eve -- if attempt to free fails -- they will have to remove

cargo & try again. (Thurs. Aug. 19 2004)



Liberian-flagged M/VB Ken Explorer, Chile for Indian port of Pipavav with 43,000 tons of copper concentrate -- foundered Aug. 16 after running aground in heavy rains

off India's western coast -- being set afloat. No injuries. (Thurs. Aug. 19 2004)



Iranian 25mt cargo dhow, Dubai for Iranian port of Bushehr, with rice, computer parts, electrical goods, blank compact disks, textiles & hundreds of boxes shaving blades

as well as sundry other goods -- suffered fire at origin dock -- fire appeared started while someone aboard preparing food -fire burnt vessel's superstructure from lower

aft to Capt's deck as well as lifeboat. The danger of Pop Tarts. (Thurs. Aug. 19 2004)



Petroleum Helicopters Inc.> 20mt cargo ship, with 9 crew, sank in Sai Kung waters, near Hong Kong -- 1 dead -- but earlier in day, vessel was among 8 vessels involved in

collisions as Hong Kong's increasingly noxious haze once again blanketed approaches to Victoria Harbor & surrounding waters. By 7am, visibility in both Ma Wan, between

Tsing Yi & Lantau Island, and in Western Anchorage at the S. of Tsing Yi was a mere 550mts -- 3 minor collisions involving barges & goods vessels reported between

3.45am & 4.15am in different places, including Tang Lung Chau at S. of Ma Wan -- the most serious occurred at 4.30am, when a 993-ton mainland-registered river trade

vessel in collision with Panamanian-registered M/V off River Trade Terminal at Tuen Mun. On Aug. 18, high-speed catamaran ferry with 123 passengers collided with oil

barge off Stonecutters Island. Ed. Note>> From my own observations over the years, navigation in Victoria Harbor often requires a bit of courage. Generaly quite clear,

visibility can degenerate to dense haze -- a course followed daily by literally hundreds of "Mid-Stream" very small container vessels -- similar to lighters, but of longer range

-- each angling for roughly the same delivery areas. Accidents are to be expected. McD (Thurs. Aug. 19 2004)



M/V Kinsman Enterprise -- being scrapped at IMS Salvage Yard in Port Colborne, Great Lakes -- suffered 21-year-old employee injury -- pinned underneath steel debris

that fell on him. Buffalo New York Fire Dept.'s Heavy Rescue Team called -- after 4 hours of cutting, man air lifted by helicopter to local hospital where he is recovering.

(Thurs. Aug. 19 2004)



Cyprus-registered M/V suffered murder of chief cook at Sandheads anchorage> Ship watchers who regularly check The Port Huron Times Herald for list of vessel passages it has printed for years will now find it missing, the

latest casualty of stepped up security. Citing national security concerns, the Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications & Traffic Service in Sarnia (Sarnia Traffic)

no longer will provide newspaper with a list of which ships have passed the Black River buoy in the St. Clair River. The Canadian Coast Guard is agency that monitors

commercial vessel traffic on river, which is border between the United States & Canada. The Times Herald has printed the vessel passage reports daily, allowing recreational

freighter fans to read what ships passed the city throughout the day. Sadly, another little part of our lives has been lost to the terrorists. Let's all determine get these guys.

Indeed, they want to get us. (Wed. Aug. 18 2004)



UK F/V Phoenix FR 941, with 5 crew -- reported in distress at 3.40 a.m. this morning -- taking water & required urgent assistance with pumps -- Shetland Coastguard

alerted -- Coastguard Rescue Helicopter `Lima Charlie' scrambled from Sumburgh -- just before 5.00 a.m. UK Coastguard pump lowered to vessel -- water blocked off &

making for Lerwick with UK F/V Falcon acting as escort. (Tues. Aug. 17 2004)



Germany's Theatre Titanick suffered freak accident at an outdoor theatre performance in Leeds, UK about the RMS Titanic -- show cancelled in mid-performance after Mr.

Holger Teupel's clothes caught fire in front of 700 people at specially-built amphitheatre in Millennium Square. Mr Teupel was stoking a prop representing ship's boiler

when flames shot out, setting fire to material covering his right arm, shoulder & around his neck. Fellow actors rushed over to smother him with jackets and roll him over --

flames extinguished quickly & first aid given -- taken to Leeds General Infirmary & to Pinderfields Hospital. (Mon. Aug. 16 2004)



M/V Federal Maas swiped bascule bridge at Iroquois Lock, U.S. Great Lakes, Aug. 15 -- bridge not completely raised -- suffered damage to her bridge wing, has since

departed for overseas destination. (Mon. Aug. 16 2004)



HMNZS Endeavour> During the last 2 decades, more than 200 supertankers&emdash;ships over 200mt (656 feet) long&emdash;have sunk. Rogue waves

are thought to be the cause for many of these disasters, perhaps by flooding the main hold of these giant container ships. In a single week in winter 2001, 2 cruise vessels hit

by rogue waves in South Atlantic -- M/V Bremen & M/V Caledonian Star had bridge windows smashed by the errant wall of water reaching 30mt (98 feet) high. "For

tourist ships, they like to have these large windows so that people can look out," said Susanne Lehner, a mathematician at the University of Miami in Florida who studies

wave dynamics. For M/V Bremen, water pouring in smashed windows damaged the ship's instruments & power, setting it adrift for 2 hours while crew worked to restart

engines. "The same phenomenon could have sunk many less lucky vessels: 2 large ships sink every week on average," said the Cologne-based German Aerospace

Center> I body found. Investigators believe sailboat skipper may have been asleep or incapacitated prior to

collision. (Thurs. Aug. 12 2004PM) CORRECTION>> It is not U.S. Coast Guard but CANADIAN COAST GUARD who retrieved 2 survivors from wreckages -- 1 body

found same evening from wreck by divers from Police Sureté du Québec -- 2nd body found adrift today, August 16th 2004, few miles E. of accident location. Investigation

will be done in order to determine if man was asleep, was subject to heart attack or fell overboard before collision. From our local correspondant - Hubert Desgagnés, OIC,

MRSC Québec, Canadian Coast Guard. (Mon. Aug. 16 2004)



Typhoon Rananim>> The worst typhoon to hit China since 1997 killed 63 people & injured more than 1,800 when it battered southeastern Zhejiang province Aug. 13.

Typhoon left 15 people missing, causing widespread damage in rice-growing province & knocking down more than 18,300 buildings -- death toll likely to rise as typhoon

swept inland into eastern Jiangxi province. Officials evacuated 415,000 people from coastal areas of Zhejiang province to escape storm. (Thurs. Aug. 12 2004)



New Bedford-based fishing boat F/V Intrepid radioed Aug11 night taking on water 40 miles offshore & disabled because of flooding through engine shafts. U.S. Coast

Guard launched rescue boats & helicopter. One of the rescue boats provided pumps to crew but the pumps unable to keep her sinking. (Thurs. Aug. 12 2004)



Negros Navigation owned passenger M/V Saint Joseph the Worker -- in collision on Manila Bay with M/V Sea Celebrity after communications between vessels failed to

avert collision -- M/V Saint Joseph slowed down until it went to full stop to avoid collision -- but M/V Sea Celebrity continued moving toward port until it hit passenger

vessel head on. No injuries. Passengers transferred to M/B San Paulo. (Thurs. Aug. 12 2004)



Chicago's sightseeing M/V First Lady, with over 110 tourists -- on Chicago River -- a premier city attraction -- doused with raw sewage Aug. 8 afternoon as vessel hovered

under Kinzie Street bridge -- sewage dropped from 2 tour buses passing overhead. Raw sewage went onto people, into eyes & mouths -- tourists forced to discard clothing --

some still awaiting tests to make sure they did not contract disease. Passengers all refunded their US$26 ticket cost. Lunch was not served. From our local correspondant -

Libby Thompson. (Tues. Aug. 10 2004) UPDATE>> State of Illinois sued The Dave Matthews Band>

Navy Capt. Stephen Squires relieved of command, with investigation pending. (Thurs. Aug. 25 2004)



Philippine freighter M/V Seattle Trader -- wanted for questioning by French authorities in connection with sinking of Loctudy trawler F/V Bugaled Breizh, which went

down after collision off the Lizard> Now completed discharge of enough

of vessel's cargo & bunkers -- removed vessel to Danish port of Kalundborg where it has been inspected & reloaded. (Wed. July 21 2004) UPDATE>> Netherlands based

Multraship Salvage has completed salvage. (Sat. July 24 2004)



U.S. shrip F/V Lady Agnes III -- escorted by U.S. Coast Guard to Galveston July 20 after receiving a call that crewman aboard stabbed vessel's captain in face & eye

with knife. Coast Guard helicopter summoned to scene in Gulf of Mexico July 20 morning 6 miles E. of Crystal Beach evacuated injured captain & flew him to the University

of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston -- captain described as in stable condition. (Tues. July 20 2004)



700-ton M/V K.M. Amami, from East Java capital of Surabaya for Gorom Island in S. Maluku, with rice, sugar & other goods &14 crew & 2 passengers -- capsized in huge

waves & sank July 16 in Banda Sea between Banda & Buru islands in Maluku province -- 2400km E. of Jakarta -- 2 crew arrived in Ambon after being rescued by passing

vessel -- 14 missing -- 3rd accident in waters off E. Indonesia this month. (Mon. July 19 2004)



M/T Daqing No 254 suffered fire July 19 at Shanghai -- berthed at Lixin Shipyard of Shanghai, 4 burn victims, including two who were in critical condition, are receiving

anti-shock treatment. (Mon. July 19 2004)



Dutch fishing boat rammed into side of classic Norwegian sailing ship carrying teenaged sea scouts in English Channel during night. All scouts & leaders rescued, but

their vessel, the 100-year-old S/V Mohawk II, sank to bottom. All rescued. (Mon. July 19 2004) CORRECTION>> Incident actually happened in Flushing Roads (Holland),

not In English Channel. From our local correspondant - Onno Miedema. (Wed. July 21 2004)



170-meter Marshal Island registered M/V Tireless, with 21,000 tons of edible oil -- drifted into mainstream of Karnaphuli river from jetty of Chittagong port -- its anchor

rope torn by heavy current. Tireless floated away towards mainstream -- tugs of port sent to Karnaphuli for towing. (Mon. July 19 2004)



Spanish F/V Mareton, ex-Chivenor in north Devon -- taking water 160 miles west of Isles of Scilly -- helicopter first lowered a pump -- 2nd helicopter from Royal Navy

standing by at the scene -- 6 crew stayed on board - July 16. (Sun. July 18 2004)



12.5 meter F/V Seeker -- called Mayday from position near Shiant Islands, -- taking water & sinking July 16 with 1 person on board. Stornoway Coastguard scrambled

Coastguard Rescue helicopter "Mike Uniform" -- requested launch of Stornoway RNLI lifeboat -- Coastguard Tug M/V Anglian Sovereign also sent to scene. MCA Counter

Pollution aircraft, Atlantic 405 located person in water at 6.21 a.m. & Coastguard helicopter airlifted & casualty at 7.00 a.m. -- proceeded to Western Isles Hospital, whilst

carrying out CPR on casualty -- extremely hypothermic. (Sun. July 18 2004)



102-foot -- 2 mast schooner S/V Martha, N. Danish port of Frederikshavn for Svendborg in central Denmark with young Danes ages of 17 & 23, put on life vests & survival

gear --radioed it was leaking --104-year-old schooner sank rapidly in strong winds off Danish coast July 16 -- 15 of 17 aboard rescued. All ship's passengers members of

Danish association that had been maintaining & modernizing vessel. (Sat.. July 17 2004)



Indian oil tanker collision in Shahjahanpur district> Capt. & Chief Engineer now charged with murder. They were denied bail on grounds they do not have fixed residence in Malta.

(Wed. July 14 2004)



Port of Shanghai -- gantry crane blown down in violent thunderstorm, killing 1 person & damaging 50 homes -- sand-laden barge collided with another barge & sank

in Huangpu River just across from the scenic Bund which runs through the heart of Shanghai-- Some 4,200 companies suspended operations to help reduce soaring demand

for power. In other parts of city -- 200 homes dmaged & unidenfied cargo M/V sank. (Tues. July 13 2004 pm)



German relief vessel M/V Cap Anamur> U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin has

located & winched 1 survivor aboard. (Mon. July 12 2004 pm)



72-foot shrimper F/V Red Cloud, taking on water July 9, 6 miles NE of Dry Tortugas, Fla. -- U.S. Coast Guard C-130 crew from Air Station Clearwater, Fla. dropped 2

dewatering pumps to the 2 crew -- flooding under control & F/V Red Cloud anchored -- making repairs for its return to Key West. (Mon. July 12 2004)

650-foot M/V car carrier -- struck base of a tower of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge across San Francisco Bay -- late July 11 -- auto traffic not interrupted & no major

structural damage to either bridge or ship, which went on to moor for inspection at Benicia. (Sun. July 11 2004)



McKeil tug M/V Evans McKeil, with barge Ocean Hauler, aground near Light 37 in St. Clair River at about 4:05 July 10 morning. Light 37 located near Robert's Landing,

Mich., north of Algonac State Park & S. of Marine City, Mich. & across from Port Lambton, Ont. Still aground July 11 afternoon. (Sun. July 11 2004)



NOAA M/V Thomas Jeffereson (ex-USNS Little Hales)> Bolivian flagged freighter M/V Dahomey Express turned back from Pot of Miami. U.S. Coast Guard unable to release information about the

other 4 ships ordered to leave port. Of estimated 260 vessels scheduled to arrive, Coast Guard teams already inspected about 100 of them during pre-enforcement phase in past

few months. Coast Guard expected to board remaining 160 ships to see if vessels were in compliance. (Thurs. July 1 2004)



Philippines M/V SuperFerry 19 has suffered another loss -- with recovery of body of anchor captain who fell into Manila Bay while trying to board while vessel battered

by strong winds from "Typhoon Lgme" June 30 -- giant waves slammed ship, causing him to fall into water. (Thurs. July 1 2004)





Vessel Loss Dispatches For June 2004





"Sea (to) Land Express" - May 2004



"Singles Only" - single photos of disaster -- always new.



"Enjoy Your Flight!"



USS Constitution> Chemical M/T Ena 2, with 960mt of sulfuric acid -- in collision & capsized late June 28 at Port of Hamburg -- after contact with out bound contaner M/V

Pudong Senator near Port of Hamburg's petroleum port -- M/T Ena 2 reached dock & evacuted crew before sinking -- double-hull tanks remained intact -- acidic fumes

escaped through ships ventilation, injuring 9 harbor workers & 2 police. From our correspondant Stephan Edel of Berlin.(Tues. June 29 2004) UPDATE>> Master of

M/T Ena 2 suspected drunk. M/V Pudong Senator allowed to proceed to Elbe estuary undamaged.. From our correspondants Steffen & Tim Schwabedissen (Tues.

June 29 2004) UPDATE>> M/V ENA 2, not yet recovered & has lost about half of of 960mt of sulfuric acid into River Elbe, ,. Salvage operations difficult & under time

pressure, because sulfuric acid in contact with water is extremly corrosive -- may be danger of explosion. Now confirmed that Master seriously drunk at time of accident

-- with blood alcohol level of 2.1 ppt. (Enbalmbed). From our correspondant - Stephan Edel at Berlin (Thurs. July 1 2004)



Society Expeditions> All crew rescued, but

owner refuses to leave. (Wed. June 30 2004)



Freeze! Drop That Fish! Hobart-based Australia Antarctic research M/V Aurora Australis> Today there were 200 demonstrators at Newark & 30 strikers at New Orleans. Scattered protest elsewhere. Fizzle? (Mon.

June 28 2004) STRIKE UPDATE>> Fizzle. (Tues. June 29 2004)



Taiwanese-flagged M/V Hsin Chin Chanz, with 13 crew, suffered fire in Pacific, June 22, 900 miles NE of Guam. U.S. Military Sealift Command oiler USNS

Guadalupe> Iran said June 22 it could soon free 8 British sailors seized June 21 along border if

interrogations show they had "no bad intention," official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. (Tues. June 22 2004) UPDATE>> All sailors turned over to British

diplomats on June 24 -- taken to the British Embassy in Tehran under tight security. (Fri. June 25 2004)



Danish F/V Halsnaes, with 3 crew -- taking water in position 140 miles East South East of Berwick on Tweed, June 19 -- Rescue Helicopter 131 from RAF Boulmer went

on scene for rescue. (Tues. June 22 2004)



Scottish paddle S/S Waverley, with 350 passengers -- stranded June 21 after vessel ran aground. Lifeboat crews scrambled as vessel hit trouble off Campbeltown -- world's

last ocean-going paddle steamer made it into port on her own -- but barred from leaving until divers carried out full safety check. (Tues. June 22 2004)



Unidentified cargo M/V owned by Asian Shipping Corp., with 11 crew -- sank off Calapan City in Mindoro Oriental province, Philippines due to strong waves -- WG&A

M/V Superferry 17, in area rescued all crew. (Mon. June 21 2004)



U.S. barge W.J. Carbon of Puget Sound Freight Lines -- towed by tug M/V Lumberman in Chilkat Inlet -- suffered fire -- closed cruise ship traffic near Haines, Alaska for

90 minutes early June 20 evening as firefighters battled smoky blaze. (Mon. June 21 2004)

U.S. SpaceShipOne -- launched from jet "White Knight" at altitude of 15km (48,000 feet). Its engine ignited & it went above 100km (62 miles) into space before returning

to Earth - 1st privately financed rocket ship to enter space returned to Earth in California. (Mon. June 21 2004)



Viewers Guide To Launch of "Space Ship 1" -- World's 1st private spacecraft 6:30am LT Monday, June 21 2004 from Mojave, CA. Complete Coverage. (Sun. June 20

2004)



Oil M/T Pematang, for Berhala island in ballast with 20 crew for repairs in early June -- commandeered by 6 separatist pirates in Malacca Straits -- 3 separatist rebels

killed in firefight with Indonesian Navy -- -- 2 other pirates believed dead after falling into sea. (Rear Adm. Purbojo, Indonesian Navy) (Sun. June 20 2004)



Vietnamese F/V QNA-1431, fishing 350 miles (560km) off Vietnam coast with 20 crew -- disappeared following typhoon June 18 -- sank dozens of fishing boats &

destroyed hundreds of houses. (Sun. June 20 2004)



United Arab Emirates Coastguards received SOS from unidendified cargo M/V which sank in bad weather off emirate of Sharjah on June 18 night -- rescue operation lasted

until 8:30 June 19 morning (0430 GMT) after all 9 crew recovered.United Arab Emirates Coastguards received SOS from unidendified cargo M/V which sank in bad weather

off emirate of Sharjah on June 18 night -- rescue operation lasted until 8:30 June 19 morning (0430 GMT) after all 9 crew recovered. (Sun. June 20 2004)



85ft casino M/V Lady Luck, ex-Fort Pierce, Florida, with 49 passengers, including 17 crew -- on night fun cruise became trapped in strong current -- crashed into north

side of bridge -- maiden voyage was to be tomorrow 19 June -- panic ensued when ship hit bridge -- injured passenger taken to hospital -- received 20 stitches for cut on

head. (Fri. June 18 2004)



U.S. 53ft. S/V Adventure, reproduction 17th century trading vessel (built 1970), sank at dock June 14 at Charles Towne Landing -- Davidson Diving Inc. & Halsey Cannon

Boat Yard raised ship June 17. (Fri. June 18 2004)



U.S. tug M/V Ab York, pushing empty gasoline barge -- in collision with 30-foot F/V Miss Calaon New Orleans' Industrial Canal, less than mile from Mississippi River

early June 18. Injuries. (Fri. June 18 2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



12 June 2004 at 0530 LT at Merak anchorage, posn 05:58.3S - 105:58.6E, Indonesia -- 7 pirates armed with long knives attempted to board chemical tanker. Alert crew

mustered & raised alarm. Pirates aborted attempted boarding & fled. Port authorities & agent informed. (Fri. June 18 2004)



11 June 2004 at 0310 LT in posn: 04:03.18N - 099:21.34E, Malacca straits. Pirates in speedboat opened fire on general cargo ship underway injuring 2 crew. Crew raised

alarm & attempted boarding aborted. (Fri. June 18 2004)



08 June 2004 at 0800 LT at Berhala Island, Malacca straits. More than 20 pirates believed to be Aceh rebels boarded bulk carrier underway -- 12 crew jumped

overboard -- saved by fishing vessels in vicinity. Master & c/e kidnapped by pirates. Ship abandoned & owners arranging for tug to tow her back to port. According to

owners, kidnappers demanding ransom for safe release of Master & C/E. (Fri. June 18 2004)



07 June 2004 at 1940 UTC in posn 12:30N - 048:38E, southern end of Red Sea -- unlit boat chased bulk carrier underway & came very close. Alarm raised & crew mustered.

Pirates in boat aborted attempted boarding & fled. (Fri. June 18 2004)



03 June 2004 at daylight at Mombassa inner anchorage, Kenya -- 9 Pirates boarded fishing trawler, stole ship's property & escaped (Fri. June 18 2004)

01.06.2004 at 2325 LT in posn 01:12N - 104:50E, east of Bintan Island, Indonesia -- 7 pirates in black rubber boat approached livestock carrier ship underway & came very

close near stern. Alert A/B raised alarm, crew mustered, switched on deck lights & directed searchlights. Boat aborted attempt & fled. (Fri. June 18 2004)



Back To Year 2004 Reports



Danish yacht S/V Tico Tico, rescued by Australian navy helicopter after drifting in Fijian waters for 3 days in life raft -- not known if crew injured or what happened to

yacht -- 3 transfered to frigate HMAS Newcastle> UPDATE>> 1 crew dead -- other in critical condition --

vessel now now at anchorage outside Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. (Sat. June 5 2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



31 May 2004 at 0225 LT in position 01:32N - 104:38E, South China Sea -- pirates boarded a product tanker underway & entered engine room stores. Duty engineer raised

alarm & pirates jumped overboard -- escaped. (Fri. June 4 2004)



29. May 2004 at 2120 LT in posn 05:05.1N - 100:10.2E, Malacca straits -- 3 very fast grey colored speedboats approached LPG tanker underway. One boat lay ahead &

other 2 followed close on port & starboard quarter. Crew sounded whistle & directed search lights at boats. Boats followed for 40 minutes & fled. (Fri. June 4 2004)



27 May 2004 during night, Chennai anchorage, India. Armed pirates attempted to board general cargo ship. Alert crew contacted coast guard who deployed a patrol vessel.

Robbers tried to flee in speedboat but chased & apprehended with their knives & swords. Coast guard handed robbers to local police. Bravo Zulu! (Fri. June 4 2004)



26 May 2004 during night, Chennai roads, India. Four armed pirates in boat boarded container ship using grapnel hooks attached to rope. While another 4 accomplices

waited in boat. Alert crew raised alarm. Pirates stabbed 1 crew & escaped empty handed. (Fri. June 4 2004)



26 May 2004 at 0415 LT in posn 01:42N - 104:40E, South China Sea. Seven pirates armed with long knives boarded container ship underway. C/O was taken hostage &

taken to master's cabin where pirates stole ship's cash. -- went to C/O & C/E cabins & stole cash/personal belongings. Pirates took master to poop deck -- disembarked

into waiting boat & escaped. (Fri. June 4 2004)



26 May 2004 at 0230 LT in posn 01:37N - 104:37E, South China Sea. Seven pirates armed with knives & pistols boarded bulk carrier underway -- took hostage 4 crew &

threatened them with knives -- went to master's cabin & stole ship's cash, property & personal belongings. (Fri. June 4 2004)



25 May 2004 at 1700 LT in posn 03:33.49N - 099:41.8E, off Sumatra coast, Malacca straits. Armed pirates in speedboat opened fire on general cargo ship forcing her to stop

-- 4 pirates with machine guns & grenades went to bridge & damaged all communication equipment -- kidnapped Master & C/E -- seized all ship's trading documents &

warned crew not to proceed to Belawan, which was next port -- ship then proceeded to Pulau Angsa, west Malaysia awaiting instruction from managers. Whereabouts of

master and C/E are not known. (Fri. June 4 2004)



25 May 2004 at 0350 LT at Chennai anchorage, India. Four pirates in green boat with white line came alongside general cargo ship & pirate boardede ship. Alarm raised,

crew mustered robbers escaped empty handed. Port authorities coast guard informed. (Fri. June 4 2004)

23 May 2004 at 2015 LT at Lamma Island, Hong Kong, China -- pirates boarded general cargo ship & forced 7 crew to jump overboard. Remaining crew onboard sent

distress signal, which was responded by police who sent a helicopter & boats to carry out search & rescue operations. The 7 crew rescued. Nothing stolen as cargo consisted

of 4,000 chicken feet. (Fri. June 4 2004)



Back To Year 2004 Reports



Sibu-registered tug M/V Malingo Jaya, with RM2.8mil consignment of scrap metal & 7 crew -- with junk (barge) T/B Akili 2373, northern Sarawak for Port Klang --

missing from May 28 -- management of shipping company M.S. Gear Sdn Bhd believed vessel in Indonesia -- no ransom so far. (Fri. June 4 2004)



Product tanker M/T Sea Splendor, with 29,000 tons of diesel oil, dragged anchor & drifted aground off South Hampton. (Fri. June 4 2004)



115m chemical M/T Attilio Evoli, Fawley, Southampton to Barcelona with 16 crew, ran aground off South Hampton - currently at anchorin River Schledt. Safely re-floated

at 7pm without assistance on following flood tide & escorted to safe anchorage. (Fri. June 4 2004)



60-foot U.S. F/V Squid Row, suffered fuel problems & disabled 47 miles E. of Charleston, S.C., late May 31 on Memorial Day weekend -- U.S. Coast Guard Cutter -

USCGC Yellowfin arrived scene 1:28 pm & began to preparations to tow F/V Squid Row back to Charleston -- but F/V Squid Row rapidly taking water -- sank within

matter of seconds. (Thurs. June 3 2004)



Matter of Interest>> MOSCOW. June 3 (Interfax) - Moscow Tverskoi Court sentenced Communist Party activist Armen Beniaminov to one year in prison June 3 for

desecrating Russian Federation's state flag. He placed old USSR flag on Duma> Sad news tonight that our respected colleague & usual opponent Michael W. Lodwick, Esq., a U.S. Proctor In Admiralty & senior

member of the Los Angeles Maritime Bar passed away after a long, yet not generally known illness on May 21. Michael's health is reported to have taken an unexpected turn

on May 20. His very distinguished practice continued with hard fought contests & settlements, even with our own firm throughout this month with the focus & charge of a

dynamo. Michael was a rare academic, turned litigator who represented the very best of our profession in ethics, intellect & tenacity. With many industry changing court

decisions to his lasting credit, Michael will be missed, but not replaced. Countryman & McDaniel. (Tues. May 25 2004) UPDATE>> Services were today for our colleague

at Irvine, CA. The Dixieland music Michael so loved, said goodbye. (Thurs. May 27 2004)



Port of Karachi>> Parcel bomb has exploded at container terminal in port of S. Pakistani city of Karachi, killing 1 & wounding 4. The War On Terror continues. (Tues.

May 25 2004)



UK angling F/V The Boy Conail, with 5 crew, about to deploy iliferaft as it broadcast a request for assistance to UK Belfast Coastguard at 6.00 pm May 23 -- began to

sink W.of Rathlin Island, UK -- Ballycastle Coastguard Team pumping water from the vessel. (Tues. May 25 2004)

Unidentified Guyanese-registered freighter sank off Dominican Republic, early May 25 -- result of massive storm which left 160 dead in the Caribbean nation. Details &

crew fate unknown. Hurrican Season 2004 -- expected worse this years! (Tues. May 25 2004) UPDATE>> Death toll now 500 in Dominican Republic. (Wed. May 26 2004)



S. Korean F/V -- fired upon by Japanese patrol vessel - in midst of tug of war between neighboring countries over sovereignty regarding small island _ "Tok-do"

> Vessel incident site was off

Canary Islands ;-) (Tues. May 25 2004) NOTE: We strive to be accurate.



Connecticut-based 45-foot F/V Ava Claire, with 3 crew based in Niantic, Conn., run down 11 a.m. May 23 by a large, unidentified dark-colored merchant vessel -- other

vessel appeared traveling westbound in Ambrose-Nantucket shipping lane. F/V Ava Claire sank almost immediately -- life raft deployed automatically, as designed to do.

U.S. Coast Guard command center at Boston received emergency radio signal 1 p.m. -- flight crew dispatched from Cape Cod found 3 men in the life raft an hour --rescued 30

miles SE of Montauk, N.Y. May 23. (Sun. May 23 2004)



Double-decker ferry M/V Lightning Sun, southern Madaripur area of Bangladesh for Dhaka May 23 on Meghna river> Chandpur District

Administrative Chief Abdur Rab Howlader said survivors told him they begged captain to stop ferry but -- requests ignored -- "(The boat) was overloaded ... but the staff

did not pay heed to the passengers' request," he said "All the staff (crew) have survived and fled the scene. They should all be charged with mass murder," he added. Death

toll now 82. (Wed. May 26 2004)



ALERT>> car carrier M/V Hyundai 105, for Europe, moving west bound in Singapore Strait with 4,190 Hyundai & Kia automobiles (capacity 4641) & 20 crew, in

collision with Panama-registered M/T Kaminesan, moving east bound with 279,950 tons of crude oil & 26 crew -- 4 miles SE of resort island of Sentosa> Cargo was

3,000 new Hyundai & Kia vehicles & 1,000 2nd-hand Japanese cars -- estimated value at approximately US$57M, including US$40M for vehicles & US$17M to M/V

Hyundai 105, according to Eukor Car Carriers> M/V Cape Africa -- see below.



Cruise M/V Diamond Princess> French corvette, from Togo came to aid of M/V Dona Elvire -- marooned off west Africa for 48 hours -- French

military helicopters airlifted food & drinking water to the ship, where most passengers are women & children. (Thurs. May 20 2004) UPDATE>> 2 French army Cougar

helicopters flew in food & water supplies to the refugees. French medical teams also sent to M/V Dona Elvire &emdash; one aboard French military ship, other by helicopter

&emdash; caring for at least five people who fell seriously ill. (Fri. May 21 2004)

Tall Ship S/V Denis Sullivan> M/V Cape Africa -- transfer of bunker oil from stricken Taiwanese bulk carrier to salvage tug could be over today -- more than half of 1800 tons of bunker oil

had been transferred. As precautionary measure vessel ordered to remain at least 222km off Cape Town until all bunker oil transferred Follow The Story. (Fri. May 14 2004)

UPDATE>> bulk carrier Cape Africa to be towed 17 or 18 May into False Bay, where she will stay for 3 weeks while 20-meter hole in hull repaired. (Sun. May 16 2004)

UPDATE>> M/V Cape Africa docked in False Bay> Greek police have evacuated a passenger ferry with 1,619 passengers before she left Port of Piraeus near Athens for Greek islands after receiving bomb threat. (Fri.

May 14 2004 LAX 0053 Hrs.)



RO/RO barge, with 180 vehicles, pushed by bulgarian tug, on river Donau in Johanistal locks - in collision with swiss passenger vessel -- swiss vessel damaged on port side,

side scrapped, almost all windows gone, bulkheads broken etc. Damage exeeds several million euros -- 2 of 89 passengers slightly injured -- no vehicle damage. Both

vessels proceeded to Ranning/Austria for investigations>>From Our Correspondent Steffen Von Arnstedtd. (Thurs. May 13 2004)



89gt cruise M/V Wilderness Adventurer (built 1983), with 19 passengers -- struck ice & taking water in Tracy Arm> M/V Adirondac is a new, 115 foot-long ship making its way to Lake George, just in time for summer season. Companies like Niagara Mohawk, Time

Warner Cable & Verizon helping in project. Guys, please get your permits & hire a master with a current chart! (Thurs. May 13 2004) UPDATE>> Having now obtained a

map -- the 115-foot-long cruise ship is being hauled on a truck through village of Ticonderoga to boat launch on northern end of Lake George. Geez, please join the Auto

Club! McD. (Thurs. May 13 2004 - PM)



2,900gt Turkish-flagged Ro-Ro M/V Dolpin II, with trucks, at Turkey's southern port of Mersin, sank 15 NM off Karpas cape, northern Cypru early today -- 24 of 26 crew

rescued. >>From Our Correspondent Tim. (Tues. May 11 2004)



3,516gt Panamanian registered LPG M/T Global Express No.2 (built 1996) -- aground in Philippines. (Tues. May 11 2004)



South Korean M/V Sung Kyung 201, exploded at Montevideo, Uruguay -- tank containing ammonia gas being used for refrigeration leaked -- exploded -- port was

closed while officials investigated the blast, which happened at 0200 hrs.-- 80 people being treated for gas poisoning. (Mon. May 10 2004)



31-year old, 235-foot Alaska Ro/Ro M/V LeConte> Washington State ferry M/V LeConte broke free on its own from reef in Peril Strait where

it has been grounded for week -- tug began towing M/V LeConte to Ketchikan, where it will be repaired, after salvage crews inspected damaged hull. (Tues. May 18 2004)



Danish trawler fishing in Skagerrak waters between Norway & Denmark, 20 NM off Danish port of Hirtshals scooped up German submarine in its nets, forcing vessel to

surface. German sub taking part in NATO maneuvers in the region, "Blue Game 2004" featuring 70 vessels from 16 countries. Being a small sub, Danish trawler threw her

back! (Mon. May 10 2004) UPDATE>>F/V Marie Helene & her catch is a type U-29>From Our

Correspondent Steffen Von Arnstedtd. (Thurs. May 13 2004)



168-foot 49-passenger cruise M/V American Glory>From Our Correspondent Wes Boyd. (Mon. May 10 2004)



18,500gt M/V passenger ro/ro M/V Hamanasu, suffered serious fire at Nagasaki dock May 9. (Sun. May 9 2004)

UPDATE>> Adverse sea conditions prevented planned fuel transfer from stricken M/V Cape Africa from going ahead at the weekend. Heavy swells hampered efforts to

pump fuel from Taiwanese bulk carrier on May 7 & bad weather continued on May 8, Smit Salvage> As many of you have pointed out -- M/V Safari Spirit grounding -- sank vessel on May 8, 2003. -- not May 8 2004 -- OOOPS! (Wed. May 5 2004)



M/V Cape Africa may be lost. Follow Our Feature. (Fri. April 30 2004) UPDATE>> Vessel in danger of sinking -- crew airlifted to safety. (Sun. May 2 2004)

UPDATE>> Salvors are scrambling -- ship may be lost. Russian salvage tug M/V Nikolay Chiker heading to stricken bulk carrier M/V Cape Africa, currently 200km W. of

Hout Bay with huge tear in hull. Planning to use Antarctic supply vessel M/V SA Agulhas to remove 1900 tons of heavy fuel oil from carrier -- in imminent danger of

sinking. Experts with fingers crossed that carrier would remain afloat long enough to pump out heavy fuel oil. "If bulkheads collapse, she'll go down quickly; should she

go down, she'll break up dramatically, & oil will come up," Smit Salvage head Dave Main said. (Wed. May 5 2004)



138 gt F/V Fundy Leader (built 2001) -- sank while hauling its catch in UK. (Wed. May 5 2004)



Ro/ro M/V Trinacria in regular ferry service between Catania & Naples, in collsion with unnamed vessel. (Wed. May 5 2004)



41ft. tug M/V Osceola, with 3 crew, began taking water 9 p.m. near Rappahannock Shoal Channel in Chesapeake Bay -- called U.S. Coast Guard for assistance. Coast Guard

HH-60 rescue helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., lowered dewatering pump to crew to help keep up with flooding & 41-foot small boat crew from Station

Milford Haven, Va. stabilized tugs empty fuel barge which also had 2 aboard. Cause of flooding unknown. All safe. (Tues. May 4 2004)

Unidentified Norwegian seal-hunting ship with 13 crew, taking water in stormy weather in Icelandic waters halfway between Greenland & small Island of Jan

Mayen> Vessel in danger of sinking -- crew airlifted to safety. (Sun. May 2 2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



25 April 2004 at 1612 UTC at Laemchabang anchorage, Thailand. Five pirates boarded container vessel at forecastle -- stole ship's stores & escaped. (Fri. April 30 2004)



25 April 2004 at 0335 LT in position: 03N - 105:17.4E, east of Bintan island, Indonesia -- 8 pirates armed with guns & knives boarded chemical tanker underway --

assaulted d/o, tied him up & took him as hostage to Master's cabin & crew's cabins -- stole crew & ship's cash & crew personal belongings -- escaped at 0355 LT. (Fri.

April 30 2004)



25 April 2004 at midnight at Pulau Kendi off Pulau Pangkor, Malaysia -- 7 pirates armed with M16s boarded fishing boat via speedboat - took 2 crew hostages & fled.

Subsequently released 1 crew after stealing his property. (Fri. April 30 2004)



24 April 2004 at 1530 UTC in position: 02:51.8S - 105:59.7E, Indonesia -- 5 pirates armed with guns & long knives boarded general cargo ship underway -- threatened all

crew, stole cash & escaped at 1550 UTC. (Fri. April 30 2004)

24 April 2004 at 0700 LT at Tg. Priok anchorage, Indonesia -- pirates boarded container ship & broke open seal of container. Alert crew raised alarm & pirates jumped

overboard empty handed & escaped. (Fri. April 30 2004)



23 April 2004 at 0310 LT at Rocky Point inner anchorage, Jamaica -- pirates boarded tanker at forecastle -- they stole ship's stores & escaped. (Fri. April 30 2004)



23 Aril 2004 at Benin River, Warri, Niger delta, Nigeria. Pirates armed with guns ambushed a naval patrol boat escorting oil company workers to an oil well. In an

exchange of gunfire, five workers died, two are missing and one was injured.



22 April 2004 at 1510 - 1615 UTC in position 03:06S - 106:58E, Gelasa strait, Indonesia -- pirates armed with guns, pistols & daggers boarded container ship underway --

held master, c/o & 6 crew at gun point & escaped with cash & crew's personal belongings. No injuries. (Fri. April 30 2004)



22 April 2004 at 0030 - 0500 LT in position 01:19.7S - 107:49.8E, Indonesia. Bulk carrier underway detected a stationary craft on radar at a distance of 4.5 nm. Craft came

close to 6 cables, switched off its lights & started chasing ship. Ship raised alarm; crew mustered, switched on floodlights, activated fire hoses & directed searchlights.

Craft moved away. (Fri. April 30 2004)



22 April 2004 at 0236 LT in position 01:42.61N - 101:27.83E, Dumai anchorage, Indonesia -- pirates armed with long knives boarded tanker. Threatened duty A/B with

knives. A/b managed to inform d/o who raised alarm & crew mustered. Pirates escaped empty handed in waiting boat. (Fri. April 30 2004)



20 April 2004 at 2020 UTC at container terminal, Abidjan port, Ivory Coast -- pirate boarded container ship . Alert duty A/B raised alarm. Pirate jumped into water &

escaped empty handed in boat. (Fri. April 30 2004)



20 April 2004 at 1720 UTC in position 02:06.0N - 101:57.5E, Malacca straits -- 10 pirates wearing black masks in boat approached general cargo ship underway. Alert D/O

raised alarm & pirates aborted attempt & fled. (Fri. April 30 2004)



Back To Year 2004 Reports



Unidentified Vietnam F/V with 200 school children between 12 & 15 and teachers capsized near Hon Khoai island April 30, 17 km (10.6 miles) off Ca Mau

Cape> Tall ship S/V Argus, San Diego for Island of Catalina with crew of Sea Scouts of Troop 681 -- had changed course because of heavy fog -- crew

trainee Zack Mayberry, 15, saw something in the water & grabbed his binoculars -- spotted recreational diver Dan Carlock, 45 -- forgotten at sea by dive boat crew

drifting 5 hours & praying for his life -- 7 miles at sea. But for the Scouts, Dan would be quite dead. San Diego Boy Scout troop had drilled rescue procedure previous

day. Small motorboat was sent to pluck Carlock from sea and he was brought aboard. Dive organizer Ocean Adventures Dive Co.> M/V Micronesian Heritage, manifested for 74 containers en route to Samoa & other pacific ports -- was to embark 1 x 20' container of cargo

manifested as "Household Goods" -- set on load plan to rest just below HAZ MAT container -- exploded at Port of L.A. - Trans Pacific Container Service Corp. terminal

around 1:30 p.m. while on chassis & under motor yard tug to crane -- driver uninjured -- walls of steel container bowed outward, rear doors blown off & contents --

mostly red soda cans & other food products -- strewn about like candy from a pinata. Port of Los Angeles is nation's busiest, handling millions of containers annually. Word

that undeclared propane tanks were source of explosion. Port closed during event. DO YOU HAVE PHOTOS? (Wed. April 28 2004)



Panamanian 25,955gt bulker M/V Amber K (built 2000), with salt -- grounded in vicinity of Hudson River Light 96 near Saugerties> Damaged bulk carrier M/V Cape Africa may have started breaking up -- ship is lying deeper in water at

bow, a sign of further flooding & crew talking about abandoning ship, said Captain Bill Dernier of SA Maritime Safety Authority. She had also developed a list. M/V Cape

Africa --150 miles off Cape Town at noon today, being towed by the salvage tug M/V Smit Amandla when her seriously damaged hull began showing further signs of

breaking up -- 8 crew taken off. Cold front which might worsen seagoing conditions expected to pass early May 1 morning. (Wed. April 28 2004) UPDATE>> South African

salvage Tug Smit Amandla> M/V D.S. Marine -- taken hostage in postion, Latitude 28 46'S, Longitude 016 13'E. MAYDAY -- Requesting all vessels in vicinity to render assistance --

from Walvis Bay Radio >> From our correspondant Bruce Salt, Senior Telecommunications Operator, Senior Telecommunications Operator, Cable & Wireless, St.

Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean. (Fri. April 23 2004) UPDATE>> I spoke to Walvis Bay & Luderitz Radio - V5W on channel 16/26 VHF marine, during one of the

phenomenal propagation openings between the West African coast of Walvis Bay & St. Helena Island (St. Helena Radio - ZHH) -- distance of 1,383 nautical miles, when in

theory FM VHF should carry no more than distance one can see from the horizon -- 60mtr Stern Trawler F/V Otto Bank - V5OT was worked on channel 26, a duplex

channel, 1,400nm ESE of Island with booming signal both ways - info yesterday accurate except that it was excerise coordinated by Walvis Bay & Luderitz Radio. (Sat. April

24 2004) >> From our correspondant Bruce Salt, Senior Telecommunications Operator, Senior Telecommunications Operator, Cable & Wireless, St. Helena Island,

South Atlantic Ocean.



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___

19 April 2004 at 0520 LT at Buenaventura River, Colombia -- 12 pirates in small high speed craft attempted to board container ship underway using grapnel hook from

stern. Alert crew raised alarm, switched on lights & directed searchlights. Boat aborted attempt & fled. (Fri. April 23 2004)



18 April 2004 at 1750 LT in posn 15:35.9N - 055:41.3E, Arabian Sea. Piratres in 3 unmarked fishing boats attempted to board general cargo ship underway. Ship took

evasive maneuvers, switched on flood lights & made urgency call on VHF ch.16 requesting assistance from coalition war ships. Boats aborted attempt & fled. (Fri. April

23 2004)



17 April 2004 at 1745 UTC in posn: 06:38.2S - 119:18.3E, Flores Sea, Indonesia. Pirates in speedboat using grapnel hook attached to rope attempted to board bulk carrier

underway from poop deck. Alert crew mustered & switched on deck lights -- pirates aborted attempt & fled. (Fri. April 23 2004)



16 April 2004 at 1740 UTC at coal berth - Balikpapan, Indonesia. Pirates boarded bulk carrier -- stole ship's property & escaped. (Fri. April 23 2004)



16 April 2004 at 1630 UTC in posn: 00:50N-105:18E, east of Bintan island, Indonesia -- 10 pirates armed with guns & knives in an orange color high speedboat boarded

container ship underway -- stole cash, crew personal belongings & ship's property. Master, C/E & D/O taken hostage & received minor injuries. After 30 mins pirates left

firing their guns in air to deter crew from taking any action. (Fri. April 23 2004)



15 April 2004 at 0645 UTC in posn 20:15.5N - 071:27.1E, west coast of India -- pirates in 3 boats boarded chemical tanker under tow & stole ship's property. IMB - Piracy

Reporting Center relayed message to Indian coast guard who despatched aircraft -- aircraft spotted pirate boats & directed coast guard ship, which detained the boat & 9 crew

handed them to Mumbai police. Stolen property recovered. (Fri. April 23 2004)



14 April 2004 at 1530 UTC in posn 21:28.10n - 108:20.10e, Fang Cheng Roads, china. Pirates boarded bulk carrier -- stole ship's stores & escaped. (Fri. April 23 2004)



05 April 2004 at 1500 LT in posn: 03:20n-084: 44W, Pacific Ocean -- 5 masked pirates armed with pistols & knives boarded sailing vessel underway -- tied up skipper

& another crew & stripped vessel of all electronic equipment, documents, charts & crew possessions. Pirates came in unmarked fishing wooden vessel, 15 to 20 meters

long, red bottom paint, black topsides & white cabin. They had rammed the sailing vessel at port quarter casing damage to radar post. (Fri. April 23 2004)



Back To Year 2004 Reports



18,700gt bulk M/V Algoville (built 1967) berthed & discharging at Sorel, reported ingress of water. (Fri. April 23 2004)



Cypriote M/V Pontomenbon, with 25,419 tons iron ore, Zheijiang Province for Jiangsu Province in collision with Cambodian M/V Seabreath, for Japan in ballast, at 10:30

p.m. April 21 -- near Yangtze River estuary near Shanghai -- 1,500 meters north of estuary's N. borderline -- M/V Seabreath sank immediately -- all 20 Russian crew of

Pontomenbon safe. Cypriote ship now anchored at Yangtze River estuary at Shanghai. (Thurs. April 22 2004)



19,819gt container M/V Kairo (built 1994), suffered hulll damage while entering Port Beirut with a pilot a.board. (Thurs. April 22 2004)



M/V Malveria --reported missing -- not listed in registry records -- reportedly sounded distress call April 19 -- after brief "May Day, May Day," distress call -- Philippine

Coast Guard units stationed in Bongao & Mapun in Tawi-Tawi, Jolo in Sulu, Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur & in Cotabato -- activated. No results. (Thurs. April 22

2004)



UPDATE OF THE DAMNED>> On 11 April 2004 we reported South Korean F/V Dong Woo, with 4 crew, ran into breakwater at fishing port in Oda, Shimane

Prefecture, Japan, on April 11 afternoon, killing 3 of 4 crew aboard -- READ STORY OF CRASH -- THEN TODAY -- 3 of 4 (obviously new) crew found dead April 18

aboard F/V Dong Woo in Oda, Shimane Prefecture, dead from lack of oxygen due to gas caused after guts of squid in hold rotted -- Japan Coast Guard said April 20.

Surviving Capt. Kim Jung Back said F/V Dong Woo was used to transport internal organs of squid to be processed into salted guts -- hold of ship was divided into 19 sections

-- authorities found rotten squid guts in 2 sections of hold where 3 dead crew & Capt. Kim found. Police strongly suspect 2 sections had become filled with poisonous gas

generated by rotten internal organs. Geeez, these new guys had no problem boarding the "death ship" which already drove into the breakwater -- then jumping into the

killer "squid gas?" Geeez, let's read "Help Wanted" with more care! From our correspondant Fred McCague. (Wed. April 21 2004)



Hainan Province M/V Rui'an 8, with 10 crew, sank in collision with Panamanian container M/V Resolution in Qiongzhou Straits in south China. M/V Rui'an 8 sank 10

minutes after crew abandoned. (Wed. April 21 2004)



Polish general cargo M/V Transbode 6, aground in the Oosterschelde. (Wed. April 21 2004)



Turkish-flagged container M/V (authorities declined to identify vessel) -- Romanian port of Constanta for New York -- officials found 2 of ship's containers held 7,500

combat-grade AK-47 Kalashnikov rifles worth US$6M hidden under conventional firearms that included SKA rifles & Mauser rifles -- seized by Italian Customs at Port

of Gioia Tauro> Confederate States of America> 3 crew in life jackets rescued after 27 hours by Indian coast guard ship, Varaha -- 15 of 17 crew now said resuced. (Wed. April 14 2004)



3,936gt general cargo M/V Nova Spirit (built 1991) taken in tow after listing in storm off Italy. (Tues. April 13 2004)



Japanese trawler suffered explosion at a lay-by berth on Quay 702, Cape Town -- believed crew carrying out welding work aboard when accident happened -- 1 dead, 2

injured. (Mon. April 12 2004)



Australian Customs vessel ACV Arnhem Bay> Abu Sayyaf group, tagged by Manila & Washington as a terrorist organization, has carried out several abductions in the area. (Mon. April 12 2004)



OOPS ! >> 16,000-ton British 577ft amphibious landing Royal Fleet Auxiliary HMS Mounts Bay> 15gt U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracted 32ft. tug M/V Iron Ox (built 1994) tending dredge between channel markers 43 & 44, near

Magnolia, Texas -- sank in storm April 5 night -- blocking Matagorda Ship Channel> Crew of F/V Mantafeng 12 presumed

lost. (Tues. March 30 2004)



Ro/ro M/V Menggala (built 1987), 4,330 gt ferry connecting Merak in Banten & Bakauheni in Lampung aground & partially sunk on March 28 off Java, near Merak Kecil

island, 1km away from the Merak port. (Mon March 29 2004)



New Zealand trawler F/V Bronny G., with 3 crew & 2000 litres of diesel, stranded & breaking up on rugged Banks Peninsula cliff face south of Le Bons Bay since March

26 -- no decision would be made on fate until inspection carried out. Crew airlifted after scrambling on to rocks. New storm approaches. (Mon March 29 2004)



ALERT>> as whirling storm battered coast of S. Brazil on March 28, killing 2 people, injuring at least 39 others & destroying hundreds of homes. American

meteorologists said winds exceeded 120 km per hour, making storm the 1st hurricane on record in the South Atlantic. Brazilian scientists originally disagreed, but on

March 28 acknowledged winds could have been as high as 150 km/h - well above hurricane strength. Brazil has never seen a hurricane & residents terrified when storm roared

ashore 840 km SW of Rio de Janeiro, pounding homes with heavy rains & wind. Wow! (Sun. March 28 2004)



69gt F/V Anna M. (built 1940) sank in Prince Rupert Sound, Canada. (Sat. March 27 2004)



U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214)> On

arrival Port Huron march 26, Hollyhock's upper bow damaged & bow staff missing -- US$29M, 225-foot-long ship has state-of-the-art navigation technologies -- USCGC

Hollyhock placed in service last Oct. -- this was her 1st icebreaking assignment -- at collision M/V Stewart J. Cort was stopped in ice. Sadly, this may be a last command

for the skipper. (Mon March 29 2004)



Indonesian tug M/V Sing Sing Mariner & barge, Kapuas 68, with 3,000 metric tons crude palm oil, valued at US$1.6M, seized by Myanmar pirates off Indonesian coast

Feb. 9 -- now recovered by Royal Thai Navy just as pirates were changing vessels' names to "Tyson" & "Tyson V." Pirates had left the 4 crew of tug & barge on deserted

island, where they were rescued by passing fishing boat. Int'l Maritime Bureau (IMB) supplied supplied information to Royal Thai Navy that enabled recovery last week. (Sat.

March 27 2004)



17,356gt Greek-flagged bulk 527-foot M/V Eastwind (built 1981), with 244 tons of fuel & ore, inbound to Ft. Lauderdale -- aground -- beached herself 600 yards off East

Las Olas Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale -- due to high winds. (Fri. March 26 2004) UPDATE>> Salvage efforts continue. (Sat. March 27 2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



22 March 2004 at 1730 UTC in position: 04:02S - 106:38E, Gelasa Straits, Indonesia. Six pirates armed with guns & knives boarded general cargo drifting for engine

repairs -- attacked duty A/B & forced him to take them to Master's cabin. Master opened door, pirates ransacked cabin & stole cash, personal belongings & property - escaped

in fast motorboat. (Fri. March 26 2004)



17 March 2004 at 0240 LT in position 06:01.2S - 106:54.1E, Tg. Priok anchorage, Jakarta, Indonesia -- pirate boarded tanker using rope attached to hook. Alert crew raised

alarm & pirate jumped overboard & escaped. Upon inspection -- found securing strap for life raft cut. Nothing stolen. (Fri. March 26 2004)



16 March 2004 at 2340 LT in position 01:14.13N - 103:34.7E, west OPL anchorage, Singapore Straits. Armed pirates boarded tug & seized five crew at knifepoint. Took

them to master's cabin & ordered him to open door -- threatened Master with long knives & ransacked his cabin. Pirates escaped at 0040 taking ship's property, valuables &

cash from crew -- 3 crew received injuries during attack. (Fri. March 26 2004)



Back To Year 2004 Reports



69gt F/V Anna M. (built 1940) sank in Prince Rupert Sound, Canada. (Fri. March 26 2004)



5,153gt chem M/T Babur Kaptan (built 1974) while underway to moor in Port Said -- in collision with unidentified cargo M/V -- details pending. (Thurs. March 25 2004)



U.S. Great Lakes Open>> Soo Locks shipping started at 12:01 a.m. March 24 morning, but vessel traffic brought to standstill shortly thereafter by thick fog. (Thurs. March

25 2004)



344gt F/V Chih Ching No.2 (built 1980) aground on Vunivau Reef at Suva Harbor> vessel portrayed ill-fated F/V Andrea Gail in 2000 film based on Sebastian Junger's chronicle of Oct. 1991 "The Perfect Storm" & death of 6

crew when that swordfishing vessel sank > From

Commander, Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs>> "At

7:30 a.m. LT, M/T Everton made a bridge-to-bridge distress call indicating collision with F/V Chun Ying, resulting in fire amidships & possibly rupturing Everton's oil

tanks, fueling fire. Several commercial vessels nearby Everton aided in recovering 24 of 25 crewmen, who abandoned Everton. Pascagoula, Miss.-based Aegis guided-missile

crusier USS Yorktown (CG 48)> Heroic vessel rescue results in "emergency crew" making vessle ready -- tug will

help tow the M/T Everton to Salalah. (Fri. April 2 2004)



8,992gt passenger ro/ro M/V Patmos (built 1972) suffered engine damage at Kos> Maldive ro/ro M/V Enamaa, for Thinadhoo island> Bodiy recoveries -- now 20 dead. (Thurs. March 18 2004pm)



ALERT>> Unidentified Indonesia ferry with over 300 wedding revellers -- capsized March 18 -- in remote location -- off Island of Kabaruang> During client confernece today I noticed a phalanx of "Crash Trucks" from our LAX Fire Dept Station 80> NEW Underwater Sonar Images> Comoran ferry M/V Sam-son, Comoran island of Anjouan> Comoran> Two survivors of124 souls. Good God! When will this Mahajanga Harbor Master be deposed? (Thurs.

March 11 2004)



UK F/V Golden West , with 2 crew took water & sank 2 miles W. of Fethaland -- Coastguard helicopter Oscar Charlie from Shetland scrambled & winched fishermen off

liferaft, Mar. 9. (Wed. March 10 2004)



12 meter F/V Golden West reporting taking water. UK Shetland Coastguard lost communication with vessel -- vessel sank -- Coastguard helicopter Oscar Charlie from

Shetland scrambled & winched all 2 crew off liferaft. Flown to Tingwall airport before being taken to hospital suffering slight shock & mild hypothermia. From our

correspondant Tim Schwabedissen at Kiel. (Tues. March 9 2004)



5,000gwt petroleum tanker -- vessel name witheld-- exploded under Kirikiri bridge in Lagos, Nigeria, March 7 while discharging Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) also known as

black oil -- "poor quality, poorly fitted hoses" caused incident. Our The Cargo Letter infornation on this loss is POOR. (Tues. March 9 2004)



35,438 gt passenger ro/ro M/V Prinsesse Ragnhild (built 1981) suffered fire.. (Tues. March 9 2004)



Honduras-registered cargo M/V Wah Yu Ni No.1 (built 1964) suffered fire off Indonisea. (Mon. March 8 2004)



36-foot water taxi operated by Baltimore-based nonprofit Living Classrooms Foundation, with 23 tourists & 2 crew, capsized during a "microburst" thunderstorm on

Baltimore's scenic Inner Harbor -- 2 dead, 3 missing -- U.S. Navy sailors saw boat capsize from dockside U.S. Naval Reserve Center & immediately launched rescue boat --

2 reservists jumped into water to rescue people -- unable to scramble onto upturned boat. (Sat. March 6 2004) UPDATE>> Three reman missing -- they are casualties. A

sad end to this week. (Sun. March 7 2004)



U.S. 58-foot yacht S/V Destiny suffered fire in Tampa Bay, Mar. 4 -- Terry Ryder, 39, of Nashville, Tenn. jumped overboard & rescued by U.S. Coast Guard at 3:20 p.m.

SW side of Sunshine Skyway. (Sat. March 6 2004)



Honduras-registered, 40-year-old cargo Honduras-registered M/V Wah Yu Ni No 1, ex-Indonesia's Batam Island Thurs, March 4 with 12 crew suffered fire at 5am -- crew

tried to put out fire but thick smoke kept them back -- passing fishing boat picked them up before Southern Region Marine Police arrived & sent crew to Kukup jetty at noon.

None of 11 Indonesian & 1 Bangladeshi crew injured. (Fri. Mar. 5 2004)

18 meter Whitby, UK F/V Ocean Rose, with 4 crew in collision early Mar. 6 with 2,238gt Lisbon registered M/T Reno, 4 miles NE of Staithes, UK. Staithes inshore lifeboat

^ Whitby lifeboat were requested to launch & Rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer scrambled to scene -- weather conditions on scene light north winds & poor visibility.

Ocean Rose took substantial damage, taking water with list -- pumps transfered. (Fri. Mar. 5 2004)



P&O line M/V Adonia, with 2,000 mainly British tourists, docked at Fremantle, Western Australia -- on maiden voyage to Australia -- is 1st "Adults Only" cruise -- paying

from US$26,000 per person for a 100-day round-the-world cruise. What goes on here? What are we missing? Can we still sign up? (Fri. Mar. 5 2004)



Container M/V Tavastland suffered explosion in main engine space early Mar 3 in northern Baltic Sea. (Fri. Mar. 5 2004)



28 meter, Ullapool , UK registered F/V Elegance, with 3 crew, suffered engine space fire March 5, 4 miles E. of North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Coastguard emergency towing

M/V Anglian Sovereign> 570-foot Singapore 39,879gwt chemical tanker owned by Greek company, Ceres Hellenic Shipping Enterprises Ltd.> U.S. Coast Guard has cancelled search for the 18 missing crew. (Mon. March 1 2004) UPDATE>>

M/T Bow Mariner> U.S. Coast Guard said on Feb. 26 the waiting cargo ships were expected to pass through the reopened channel by Feb. 27. Since Feb. 26 night, only 16 ships

had cleared the Southwest Pass channel of the Mississippi River, which was blocked until Feb. 28 by a capsized supply vessel. Only one lane of traffic was open in the

channel -- traffic alternating between upriver & downriver ships -- 16 ships were waiting to enter the river & 13 were waiting to exit the Mississippi River. A total of 70 ships

have entered the Mississippi & 69 ships have exited through the Southwest Pass since the supply vessel M/V Lee III was dragged from channel by a salvage ship on Feb. 25.

The Southwest Pass is only deep-draft channel between Mississippi & the Gulf of Mexico. For 5 days, ships were waiting in the Gulf or on the river while efforts were

underway to find M/V Lee III's 5 member crew & remove the vessel from river. The 178-foot M/V Lee III sank after colliding with 534-foot container M/V Zim Mexico

III in fog. Follow The Story. (Sat. Feb. 28 2004 LAX time) UPDATE>> M/V Lee III hoisted onto barge by crane on Feb. 29 and was being taken to a boat yard where

investigators will continue looking into the Feb. 21 collision. Three bodies were found earlier and body of 4th crew member was found Feb. 28 at a pilot station on the

Southwest Pass. A backlog of 155 ships delayed by the accident cleared by Feb. 27 night. (Mon. March 1 2004)

Vessel Loss Dispatches For February 2004







"Rocknes Monster" - Feb. 2004



"General Motors Ocean Lines"



"On A Wing & A Prayer"



"Singles Only" - single photos of disaster -- always new.



"Enjoy Your Flight!" - Oct. 2003 - wait to load.



Bulk 123,020 gt M/V Ocean Universe (built 1988), Kwangyang for Brazil, in ballast & F/V Taesung in collision off Yosu. (Sat. Feb. 28 2004)



M/V Lady Kay M, Point Lisas for St Lucia with 5 passengers, took in water & sank 1 mile from Scorpion Ledge, off Gaspar Grande Island, Trinidad, Feb. 24. (Sat. Feb. 28

2004)



37-foot F/V Sara B -- U.S. Coast Guard recovered a life raft Feb. 28 in the Gulf of Mexico but found no sign of 2 crew who departed from Florida Panhandle & have been

missing for days -- 18-foot seas set off vessel's emergency-locator beacon -- vessel due back at home port of Perdido Key on Feb. 27 - missing. (Sat. Feb. 28 2004)



UPDATE>> U.S. Coast Guard had said on Feb. 26 the waiting cargo ships were expected to pass through reopened channel by Feb. 27. Since Feb. 26 night, only 16 ships

have cleared Southwest Pass channel of Mississippi River -- blocked until Feb. 25 by capsized supply vessel M/V Lee III. Only one lane of traffic is open in channel. Traffic

alternating between upriver & downriver ships. Ship movement being hampered by weather along lower Mississippi. Sixteen ships waiting to enter river & 13 waiting to exit

Mississippi River -- total of 70 ships have entered Mississippi & 69 ships have exited through Southwest Pass since supply vessel M/V Lee III dragged from channel by a

salvage ship on Feb. 25. The Southwest Pass is the only deep-draft channel between the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. For 5 days, ships were waiting in the Gulf or on

the river while efforts were underway to find M/V Lee III's 5 member crew & drag the vessel from the river. The 178-foot M/V Lee III sank after colliding with 534-foot

container M/V Zim Mexico III in fog. Follow original story. (Sat. Feb. 28 2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



19 Feb. 2004 at 2005 LT at northern part of Kolanta, off PV Island, Thailand -- pirates armed with big knives in a 10 meter boat boarded yacht at anchor. Skipper informed

IMB piracy reporting centre who in turn alerted local authorities. Marine police arrived at the scene within 45 minutes. By then pirates had escaped with cash & crew's

personal belongings. (Fri. Feb. 27 2004)



19 Feb. 2004 at 0220 UTC at Guanta port, Venezuela -- armed pirates boarded general cargo ship discharging cargop -- threatened bosun with knives. Alarm was raised &

pirates escaped empty handed. Master informed local authorities. (Fri. Feb. 27 2004)



15 Feb. 2004 at 0425 LT at Dumai outer anchorage, Indonesia -- several pirates in boat attempted to board tanker. Duty officer raised alarm; crew mustered, directed

search lights& activated fire hoses. Seeing crew alertness, boarding aborted. (Fri. Feb. 27 2004)

Back To Year 2004 Reports



8,975gt general cargo M/V Safmarine Congo (built 1983) involved in collision at Port of Capetown Feb. 25 -- sustained bow damage. (Thurs. Feb. 26 2004)



M/V Sinar Andalas, with 5,000 tons of cement, attacked by separatist rebels in Indonesia's Aceh province in Malacca Strait -- windows & panels suffered bullet holes,

but no casulaties. (Thurs. Feb. 26 2004)



10,192gt luxury Philippine M/V Super Ferry 14, with 877 passengers -- caught fire in engine room -- passengers leapt into sea in middle of night or huddled in bow -- 1

dead & 139 missing. Billed as a "Festival" ship, vessel entered service in Oct. 2000 & featured beauty parlor, business center, dining salons & karaoke room. M/V Fortune

Express, rescued 200 people near Corregidor Island. Another 75 people rescued by Philippine navy vessel & 28 by fishing boat. U.S. Marines, in Philippines for annual war

games racing to scene in speedboats from naval base in nearby Cavite province. (Thurs. Feb. 26 2004) UPDATE>> 186 still unaccounted for. (Sun. Feb. 29 2004)



ALERT>> Kimberlee Countryman (daughter of The Cargo Letter's Byron E. Countryman of Countryman & McDaniel), has been on the deep down trend -- to point of

being housed at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville. FL> Byron Countryman. Your support is well beyond just "appreciated", your support is heaven sent for our litle

girl -- please take a moment to send your regards & wishes. Indeed, this has been a very hard month for all of us. We pray. (Mon. Feb. 23 2004)



UPDATE>> Your messages of hope are pouring in for "our girl" (keep them coming)-- and so very much appreciated by the family & our firm. Today Kimberlee was

transferred out of intensive care to a private room where she progresses toward the hope of a normal life -- at long last. What you need to know is that 4 years ago the

prestigious Los Angeles hospitals of USC, UCLA & Cedars Sinai -- all turned down "our girl" for treatment due to bad prognosis for liver cancer for this 17-year old.

Only the love & historic tenacity of the "Best Dad In The World" Byron Countryman in taking Kimberlee across the U.S. in search of help -- has given "our girl" life --

now the prospect of a normal one. My greatest professional accomplishment is to be associated with Byron Countryman -- truly a treasure of the Int'l transport industry.

(Tues. Feb. 24 2004)



UPDATE>> Kimberlee is released to her hospital grounds apartment for the next month -- "our girl" does well! A new life for her! (Sun. Feb. 29 2004)



Russian oil M/T Cuban, in ballast, drifting in southerly direction west of Stad peninsula also known as the West Cape, SW of Aalesund. Russian tanker traffic from

Murmansk south along Norway's coastline has long caused concern among government officials & environmentalists. From our correspondant Per-Åke Kvick (Tues. Feb.

24 2004)



Unidetfied cargo M/V, Shanghai for Kaiping Cit ,Guangdong with 900 tons of plastics, hit by strong winds -- displaced cargo -- vessel capsized & sank -- 1 rescued & 9

missing -- chief mate picked up by ship after 10 hours adrift. (Tues. Feb. 24 2004)

Sternwheeler S/S Tahoe -- is now national historic site. Launched in 1896, S/S Tahoe steamed thousands of circles around Lake Tahoe, carrying freight, mail & sightseers.

The 169-foot "Queen of the Lake" carried up to 100 passengers -- tied to dock after losing its mail contract in 1934, & in 1940 was deliberately scuttled off Glenbrook

shoreline -- sunken vessel gained attention when reached by a Reno-based team of scuba divers -- particularly difficult & dangerous venture due to depth & Tahoe's altitude -

more than 6,200 feet above sea level. National Historic Landmarks Program> South Korean M/V Asian Noble --19

sailors rescued at shore of Maritime Territory (the Russian region on W. coast of the Sea of Japan). - SOS signal from South Korean ship received by tanker M/T

Partizansk of Maritime Steamship Line. crew of Partizansk rescued 18 foreign sailors from lifeboat & took them aboard. One more sailor, chief mate, found on one of 4 rafts

scattered around sunken ship. However, search for boatswain of South Korean ship not successful. (Tues. Feb. 24 2004)



U.S. Coast Guard personnel investigating cargo aboard 400-foot Antigua Barbudan flagged cargo M/V BBC China that requested to moor in Honolulu -- reportedly behind

schedule for delivery to Portland, Ore. -- requested to enter port without required 96-hour advance notice. Vessel plans to ship cargo by air -- granted permission to enter port

by CG Captain of the Port, but standard procedures for failing to give advance notice required M/V BBC China to be boarded & escorted. Investigation determined not a

threat to Port of Honolulu or State of Hawaii. (Mon. Feb. 23 2004)



McNally Construction Co. tug M/V R.C.L. 11 sank at Pier 52, Toronto on Feb. 21 night. Divers & cranes working Feb. 22. As well, large wooden yacht sank at Pier 4

overnight -- attempt being made to raise it. (Mon. Feb. 23 2004)



General cargo M/V Jal Jyoti, with 10 crew, sank off Jakhau Feb. 20 -- all crew rescued by Okha Coast Guard. (Mon. Feb. 23 2004)



NOTE: This Feature Now Back At Los Angeles Int'l Airport.



178-foot offshore supply M/V Lee III, with 5 crew, in collision with 534-foot Antigua & Barbud registered container M/V Zim Mexico III near mouth of Mississippi River

at Southwest Pass -- M/V Lee III sank & entire crew missing -- Mississippi River closed to deep-draft shipping River traffic as New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebrations

were building up to peak. (Sun. Feb. 22 2004, Los Angeles) UPDATE>> Three bodies found in hull of M/V Lee III (Mon. Feb. 23 2004)



NOTE: This Feature Now At Hong Kong.



Chinese F/V Zhexiangyu #70031, with 7 crew, in collision with unidenfied vessel & sank early Feb. 18, off Yangshan Harbor, in east China's Zhejiang Province, 50 km S.

of Shanghai, at 7:00 a.m. -- all crew missing. TWO HOURSE LATER -- 890-ton freighter M/V Zhedai #66210 in collision with 1,000 ton freighter M/V Sutianhang #2 --

latter sank in 10 minutes, but all 6 crew rescused. Foggy weather blamed for collisions. (Sat. Feb. 21 2004, Hong Kong)



10,2262 dwt, 600ft. M/T Genmar Alexandra, (built 1992, double hull) -- while berthed at terminal in St. Charles, La. -- struck in collision with 36,000grt bulk, 739ft. M/V

Bright State, (built 1989) at 8:30 p.m. LT on Feb. 19th. -- one of the Genmar Alexandra's auxiliary fuel tanks holed releasing 22,000 gallons of fuel oil into Mississippi River

-- no injuries & no cargo lost. Traffic closed to all but ferries on 17 mile stretch until 1800hrs Feb. 20. (Sat. Feb. 21 2004, Hong Kong)

WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



12 Feb. 2004 at 0744 UTC in position 05:09N - 004:21E, off Lagos, Nigeria. Five pirates armed with guns in tugboat approached bulk carrier drifting off Lagos. Master

raised alarm & picked up speed. Seeing crew alertness, pirates moved away &headed towards Escavos River. (Sat. Feb. 21 2004, Hong Kong)



11 Feb. 2004 at 0930 LT at Chanomi-Creek, Rugged point, Nigeria. Four pirates armed with automatic weapons in speedboat approached barge carrier during passage to

Warri -- demanded cash for safe passage. After receiving money pirates claimed amount not enough -- then fired 20 - 30 shots -- hit the ships hull & superstructure. No

injuries. Master reported to local authorities who boarded to investigate. (Sat. Feb. 21 2004, Hong Kong)



10 Feb. 2004, off Tg. Balai Asahan, near Belawan, Malacca straits. Pirates armed with AK 47 & AK 56 rifles hijacked fishing boat with her 11 crew. Indonesian navy

acting on intelligence, spotted vessel & ordered her to stop. In an ensuing exchange of gunfire, the 11 crew jumped overboard & were rescued by navy -- 3 pirates remained in

boat defying navy orders. Naval ship fired at boat causing her to sink -- pirates, reportedly GAM rebels, jumped overboard & detained by navy. (Sat. Feb. 21 2004, Hong

Kong)



09 Feb. 2004 at midnight between Lingga & Bintan islands, Indonesia. Tug M/V Singsing Mariner & barge Kapuas 68 under tow departed from Satui, Kalimantan,

Indonesia on 29 Jan. 2004 bound for Butterworth, Malaysia with 3,000 mt of palm oil. Pirates boarded barge & kidnapped all 5 crew of barge & landed them at Mesanak

Island. Local police arrested pirates. M/V Singsing Mariner unaware of kidnap of barge crew, continued sailing. Tug last contacted the owners on 12 Feb. 2004 at 1500 hrs.

Thereafter, no communication from tug & barge -- feared they may have been hijacked by another gang of pirates. The fate of tug's crew unknown. (Sat. Feb. 21 2004,

Hong Kong)



02 Feb. 2004 at 1100 LT at Pulau Jerajak, Malacca straits -- 12 pirates approached trawlers fishing under pretext of buying fish -- once closer, 5 pirates with M16 rifles

boarded 3 trawlers -- took hostage the skippers & 9 fishermen. Leader forced a skipper to contact owner & asked for a ransom of RM 500,000 (US$132,000). Pirates stole

ship's equipment, documents & catch of fish -- then took hostages to Aceh & beat them up. On 05 Feb. 2004 crew were released after owners reportedly paid a ransom of

RM180, 000. Earlier in another incident 4 crew of an oil product tanker were shot dead by pirates in the Malacca strait off Indonesia's war-torn Aceh province after vessel's

owner failed to pay earlier agreed upon ransom. (Sat. Feb. 21 2004, Hong Kong)



Back To Year 2004 Reports



Makhachkala registered feuler M/T Akusha, with 12 crew, sank several days ago in Capsian Sea -- 2 crew rescued by M/T Radeks-2 from life raft - search continues for

others -- 3 seen in another raft. (Fri. Feb. 20 2004, Hong Kong)a



Iranian dry cargo M/V Iran Basitr - sinking in Caspian Sea, 20 miles N. of Port of Aktau (western Kazakhstan) -- engine & navigation broken down -- requesting tug, but

waters too shallow. (Wed. Feb. 18 2004, Hong Kong)



8,903-dwt 116m M/V Sprinta (built 1976) aground off Madagascar & has broken her back -- scheduled to load coal at Bluff Mechanical Appliance in Durban --

Durban-based tug M/V Toto, owned & operated by Tall Ships responded to SOS but salvage aborted after news received that Sprinta breaking up. (Sun. March 14 2004,

LAX)



NOTE: This Feature Will Not Be Updated Pending Hong Kong Transit.

137m frry M/V Stena Nautica, Grenaa in Denmark for Swedish port of Varberg, 475km SW of Stockholmwith 91 passengers & 37 crew, in collision with Jamaica-flagged

cargo M/V Joanna. M/V Stena Nautica evacuated & probably will be run aground to prevent her from sinking -- weather calm, some fog. (Mon. Feb. 16 2004)



Outbound 577-foot Turkish freighter, with scrap metal for China & inbound 804-foot German container M/V Yellow Sea, with1,000 general cargo containers for New York

-- in collision at 3am Feb. 15 in Kill Van Kull> RCMP divers found wreckage Feb. 11 of F/V Lo-Da-Kash & 2 bodies of crew missing 2 weeks ago off S. coast of New Brunswick -- 1 crew remains missing --

vessel last seen Jan. 23. Follow origianl story. (Tues. Feb. 10 2004)

East Timor 1,700gwt M/V Belaza de Timor, Surabaya in East Java for Dilli, capital of East Timor with staple supplies & 12 crew - departed several weeks ago -

encountered heavy weather Feb. 3 & sank off Flores Island, 11 miles N. of Maumere & -- only survivor was Capt. Kristianus Lela Sura, found by local residents 4 days

after the incident on Feb. 7, a few kms N. of Maumere, biggest city on Flores Island -- 11 dead. (Mon. 9 Feb. 2004)



North Korean general cargo M/V Tor III, with 1,800 tons limestone in bulk -- aground at Mersin,> Cayman Islands-registered 29,031gt bulk M/V Pilion (built 1994) -- pirates atrempted boarding in Singapore Srait -- thwarted by 19 crew.

Marshall Islands-registered bulk carrier M/V Cape Haralambos & Turkey-registered container M/V Border M were main targets of pirate attack. No one injured, but

US$3,000 cash & others valuables taken from M/V Cape Haralambos & a watch from M/V Border M 's shipmaster. (Thurs. Feb. 5 2004)



Editor Note: OK, enough. Where are the navies? Where are the TV. journalists? Where is the public interest for this carnage?



9,261gt bulk M/V Menominee (built 1967) adrift off St. Michaels> Search ends. (Thurs. Jan. 29pm

2004) UPDAtE>> RCMP divers found the wreckage Feb. 11 of F/V Lo-Da-Kash & 2 bodies of crew missing 2 weeks ago off S. coast of New Brunswick -- 1 crew reamins

missing -- vessel last seen Jan. 23. Follow origianl story. (Tues. Feb. 11 2004)



55-foot trawler F/V Nabby attempting to pass through an ice-clogged Cape Cod Canal - eastward behind 2 other vessels -- became stuck in ice off Hog Island at 11 a.m. --

taking water -- Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter> Violent piracy on high seas has soared & more ships are being hijacked to kidnap crew for ransom. Int'l Maritime Bureau (IMB) said number of

reported ship attacks jumped to 445 in 2003, 20% higher than previous year & 2nd highest level since it began compiling statistics in 1991. Number of seafarers killed

also climbed to 21, with another 71 crew or passengers listed as missing, while 88 injured. This compared to 10 killed & 38 injured the previous year. The number of

hostages taken nearly doubled to 359 in 2003. Indonesian waters continue most dangerous with 121 reported attacks in 2003. Malacca Straits, between Indonesia &

Malaysia and one of the world's most strategically important shipping lanes, saw a rise to 28 attacks in 2003 -- 30% of world's trade & 80% of Japan's crude oil is transported

through narrow waterway. Bangladesh ranked as having the 2nd highest number of attacks in 2003 with 58 & Nigeria came 3rd with 39. Attacks off Nigeria almost tripled

compared to the previous year & IMB regards it as most dangerous area in Africa for piracy & armed robbery. (Tues. Jan. 27 2004)



M/V Caribe Merchant suffered explosion near or on the vessel at Grand Bahama Shipyard -- 08:55 on Jan. 26 -- 1 killed & others miraculously escaped -- barge along

side had been ruled safe for commencement of welding -- then 2nd & more powerful explosion occurred, resulting in M/V Caribe Merchant stern igniting & vessel sank.

Wendell Maxxam, 33, killed in explosion, while working at welding underside of loading bay. Correspondent: Richard Bruce (Mon. Jan. 26 2004)



Ferry M/V Ehrensvaerd & passenger ro/ro M/V Gabriella in collision off Helsinki, 0900, Jan. 24. (Mon. Jan. 26 2004)



Gibraltar flag cargo M/V Björn (built 1994), with wood chips, suffered accident at Halla port in Kotka on Jan. 24 -- 2 seamen asphyxiated in hold -- none wearing oxygen

masks -- 3rd man managed to get out -- taken to hospital owing to oxygen deprivation. German company Valero Shipping owns -- chartered by Danish shippers DanShip.

(Mon. Jan. 26 2004)



General cargo M/V Fritind, aground off Langenuen>

U.S. cargo M/V Merlin found 2 crew in life boat -- searching for missing crew along with Ukrainian cargo M/V Yuryi Savinoy -- did not know condition of rescued crew.

Correspondent: Dan Massoni (Mon. Jan. 26 2004)



General cargo M/V Sea Riss, Dunkirk for Northfleet in Kent with 1,770mt of steel products & 6 crew -- suffered engine room fire -- 14 miles off Ramsgate. UK.

Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel M/V Anglian Monarch sent to scene with fire fighting capacity. Master of M/V Sea Riss released the CO2 into engine room

compartment & all crew were mustered on deck. At 8:50 p.m. 9 fire crew winched aboard by helicopter to investigate whether fire contained. Ship has no power -- drifting but

not currently a danger to other vessels in Channel. (Fri. Jan. 23 2004)



Cruie M/V European Vision, with 1,300 tourists -- stranded a Barbados -- as negotiations with creditors contnure. Festival Cruises, Genoa, Italy-based line that runs M/V

European Vision, said in talks to settle dispute with creditors. (Fri. Jan. 23 2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



17 jan. 2004 at 2100 LT at alpha anchorage, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Four armed pirates boarded bulk carrier at anchor from stern. Anti-piracy watch forced pirates to

retreat empty handed. Pirates escaped in a motorboat. (Fri. Jan. 23 2004)



17 Jan. 2004 at 0330 LT at Tema anchorage, Ghana. Pirates in 2 boats attempted to board LPG tanker. Alert crew raised alarm & pirates fled. Port control informed. (Fri. Jan.

23 2004)

Back To Year 2004 Reports



1,000ft. M/V Edgar B Speer has not moved after 2 days of battling ice in lower river at Rock Cut, which in turn has stopped all traffic on st. Marys River. U.S. Coast Guard

cutters USCGC Mackinaw & USGC Katmai Bay have been working, trying to get M/V Edgar B Speer moving. Special tow rope attached to Mackinaw, but ice held its

winter grip. The two icebreakers have stopped & will resume in the morning. (Tues. Jan. 20 2004) UPDATE>> After 3 days of Herculean effort, M/V Edgar B. Speer

finally freed from ice at Rock Cut Jan. 21 afternoon, thanks to help of tugs M/V Reliance, M/V Joyce L. VanEnkevort, M/V Missouri & M/V Joseph H. Thompson Jr.

(Wed. Jan. 21 2004)



75ft. Boston F/V Canyon Explorer, issued distress call at 2 p.m. -- vessel flooded while pounded by 15-foot seas in 35-knot winds -- 3 crew plucked from life raft Jan. 19 by

U.S. Coast Guard -- sinking 48 miles E. of Nauset Light Beach in Eastham. Correspondent: U.S. Coast Guard (Tues. Jan. 20 2004)



Ice Locked>> St. Marys River down right. Downbound traffic at a standstill Jan. 19. M/V Edgar B Speer has not moved after 2 days of battling ice in lower river at the

Rock Cut, which in turn has stopped all traffic. U.S. Coast Guard cutters USCGC Mackinaw & USCGC Katmai Bay have been working, trying to get the 1,000-footer

moving. A special tow rope was attached to M/V Mackinaw, but ice held its winter grip. The2 icebreakers will resume in morning. Behind M/V Speer are 10 downbounders

hove to & anchored in lower & upper river. Downbound traffic consists of M/V Edgar B. Speer, M/V Arthur M. Anderson, M/V Stewart J. Cort, M/V CSL Laurentien,

M/V Presque Isle, M/V Philip R. Clarke, M/V Joseph H Thompson Jr., M/V Canadian Transfer, M/V Canadian Progress, M/V Roger Blough & M/V James R

Barker. Details. (Tues. Jan. 20 2004)



ALERT>> 26,000 dwt Antigua & Barbuda-flagged 544ft. cargo M/V Rocknes [built 2001], Bunkret, Norway for Emden Germany with stones & pebbles, used in oil

industry & 29 crew, plus Norwegian Pilot -- had just bunkered at Skålevik near Bergen -- sent out distress call before overturned 200 yards off western island of Bjoroey

4:30 p.m.-- capsized south of Bergen, off coast of Norway. Rescuers can hear trapped people banging on hull -- ship remains afloat, with keel to sky -- 15 to 20 ships

surrounded vessel & rescuers trying to enlarge hole cut in hull -- progress slowed by need to ensure no one inside hurt -- towing to shallower waters before attempting to

rescue. On deck crane catching on ocean floor, hindering efforts to move ship to shallows -- water temperature 41F -- 2 dead -- 12 people pulled safety -- 16

trapped/missing. Correspondents Dan Massoni & Per-Ake Kvick. (Mon. Jan. 19 2004) "Rocknes Monster" - Dramatic Photo feature!



UPDATE>> Death toll from capsize of specialist bulk carrier M/V Rocknes looked certain to rise to 18 on Jan. 19 after emergency teams abandoned search for

missing crew in freezing fjord near Bergen. Bergen-based operator Jebsen Management, which bareboat chartered the 2001 built ship from German KG financier Hartmann,

had last year converted her into world's largest flexible fall pipe vessel. Rescue teams worked around clock to find survivors among 15 crew unaccounted for -- included

57-year-old Norwegian Master Jan A Juvik -- described as "highly experienced" officer. Casualty worst major accident for shipping group since single deck cargo vessel, S/S

Garnes, sunk by German mine & crew drowned after cessation of 2nd World War in 1945. Now seen 18 dead -- our prayers. (Tues. Jan. 20 2004)



6,262 gt chemical/oil M/V Diamond Star (built 1992) -- strikes pier on arrival at Quebec City on Jan 18. (Tues. Jan. 20 2004)



3,984gt general cargo M/V Qing Chuan 2 (built 1982) & 4,061gt general cargo M/V Zhe Hai 108 -- in collision off Shimonoseki>Webfeatuere -- crew, Stand At Ease? -- as reviewing documents covering 36 years, amid a lack of consensus, U.S. State Dept. concluded Jan. 12,

that Israel's attack on U.S. intelligence ship Liberty during 1967 "Six Day War" was act of Israeli negligence. U.S. also negligent, the U.S. State Dept. hearing officer

maintained, for failing to notify Israel that electronic intelligence-gathering ship was cruising Int'l waters off Egyptian coast & for failing to withdraw Liberty from war zone.

Day-long conference studied fresh documents as well as established record failed to produce consensus for 3 views voiced most often: Israel intentionally attacked what it

knew to be U.S. Navy ship, or attack was accidental, or attack resulted from faulty judgment -- 34 American salors killed on June 8, 1967, & more than 170 wounded.

Israel long maintained that attack was case of mistaken identity, an explanation the Lyndon Johnson Administration did not challenge. Israel said forces thought Liberty

was Egyptian horse carrier -- Israel apologized to U.S. & paid almost US$13M in compensation to victims. >> Read The Whole Story. (Mon. Jan. 12 2004) UPDATE>>

There has been a backlash of U.S. veterans over the Jan. 12 hearing. Included, Ward Boston, a U.S. Navy Capt. who acted as senior legal counsel for the Navy's court of

inquiry in 1967, signed an affidavit declaring that late Admiral Isaac Kidd, president of the 1967 court, told him that President Lyndon Johnson & Robert McNamara, defense

secretary, had ordered a cover-up. (Financial Times) Conspiracy theories abound. (Tues. Jan. 13 2004)



Former U.S. Navy Cmdr. Lloyd "Pete" Bucher, who commanded USS Pueblo when it was captured by North Korea in 1968 & helped his crew survive months of brutal

captivity, only to nearly face a court-martial back home, has died. He was 76. (Thurs. Feb. 5 2004)



2,200gt container M/V Sea Fox, for Riga, Latvia -- engine room fire -- disabled & drifting in Lands End Traffic Separation Zone. Vessel now under tow from M/V Anglian

Princess -- due in Falmouth at 6:00pm today. (Sun. Jan. 11 2004)



Cargo M/V Trustar transferred contaners to feeder off Westport, Port Klang, Maylasia -- estimated 50 general cargo containers with textiles & fruits toppled into sea

from feeder at 4.20am when feeder preparing to dock -- about half of 40ft & 20ft containers recovered using crane ship this afternoon. Scores of oranges, from the containers,

drifting. (Sat. Jan. 10 2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



04 Jan. 2004 at 2230 UTC in position 01:21S - 116:58E, Balikpapan anchorage, Indonesia. Five pirates boarded bulk carrier via hawse pipe -- entered bosun's store & stole

ship's stores & safety equipment. (Fri. Jan. 9 2004)



Hijacked Tug - 25 Nov. 2003, 191gt tug M/V Profit No. 8 departed Jambi, Indonesia with barge Sumber Jaya 8 bound for Singapore -- 15 armed pirates hijacked tug &

barge 15 nm off Muara Sabak. All 14 crew ordered to jump overboard -- managed to swim safely to Tg. Jabung. Barge located on 26 Nov. 2003 -- tug is still missing.

Description: Ex. Name: Samlimsan 10, Registry: Singapore, IMO no: 9178264, Call sign: 9v5565, Built: malaysia/1997, grt: 191, loa : 26.00m. Colors- superstructure:

white, hull: black, below load line: red, funnel: white -- old tires fitted around the hull. Tug could have changed name, color & flag.



All ships are requested to keep a lookout for M/V Profit No. 8 & if sighted inform us immediately. Information will be treated in strict confidence. (Fri. Jan. 9 2004)



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6,913gt general cargo M/V Lergenberg (built 1975) arrived Phu My Port, Vung Tau, Vietnam with flooded hold. (Fri. Jan. 9 2004)



74,000gt aircraft carrier USS Midway > The Cargo Letter is a proud financial contributor to this great project. (Thurs. Jan. 8 20044)



1,169gt general cargo M/V Wilson Maas (built 1997), ex-Trondheim, struck & damaged quay & herself at Mo I Rana, Jan, 8. (Wed. Jan. 7 2004)



Chinese feeder M/V Anhua 6 (V-2401E) for Shanghai -- in collision & sank with containers. Identity of other vessel & further details pending. (Wed. Jan. 7 2004)



UPDATE For USS Liberty>> U.S. State Dept. will call hearings next week on 1967 Israeli attack on the U.S. naval vessel USS Liberty -- 34 American servicemen were

killed. Might this - at last be concluded? Over 30 years -- Where Is The Truth?>>Webfeatuere. (Tues. Jan. 6 2004)

Hong Kong-registered bulk M/V Dias in Int'l waters, suffered accident 550km NE of Cairns, NSW -- 2 crew, including Chief Officer,entered a confined space & suffered

serious problems as result of fumes -- contacted emergency services in Australia & guided by radio through CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) by doctor with Royal

Flying Doctor Service - both dead - CPR unsuccessful, bodies brought by helicopter to Cairns. (Mon. Jan. 5 2004)



1,836gt Tonga registered M/V Load Star (built 1982), Marmara for Almeria with steel & 12 crew -- made distress signal at 1600 GMT, Jan. 3 -- sank in Mediterranean Sea

80 miles N. of east Algerian port of Bejaia -- 6 evacuated by Spanish rescue team & all others rescued by Algerian coastguards Jan. 4. From our Correspondent Dan Massoni.

(Sun. Jan. 4 2004)



UPDATE>> Body of last missing crew member of 289-foot M/V Stellamare that capsized in port -- Victor Alexeev, 46, of Russia, found pinned inside ship's hold Jan. 4 as

vessel being drained -- Dutch cargo ship overturned Dec. 9 in Port of Albany. Follow The Story. (Sun. Jan. 4 2004)



Egyptian charter B-737 with 127 passengers & 8 crew -- mostly French tourists -- crashed into Red Sea shortly after takeoff early Jan. 3 from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh

for Cairo. No survivors were immediately found. (Fri. Jan. 2 2004) UPDATE>> Loss is now 148 aboard -- no survivors. (Sat. Jan. 3 2004)



4061gt, chemical/oil carrier M/T Jeong Yang (built 1984), Yosu for Pyongtaek, with 6,700 kl of bunker oil, in collision at Yosu, Dec. 31. (Fri. Jan. 2 2004)



Bahamas-flagged oil M/V Panam Serena, with 15 crew -- suffered explosion & fire while unloading in Sardinian port-town of Porto Torres, Jan. 1 -- 2 crew missing. See

the Singles Only feature! Happy New Year? (Thurs. Jan. 1 2004)



RMS Queen Mary 2 -- off south Devon coast -- adding to her early reputation as "Bloody Mary?" -- 2 elderly women were "comfortable" in hospital after being

evacuated with broken legs on New Years Day (one fell on dance floor during New Year celebrations & the other fell on embarkation, but said she was "ok.") -- women

among about 1,500 passengers &endash; mainly friends & family of Cunard company staff &endash; aboard 2,620 berth vessel -- incidents happened just hours into 1st of 3

"shake down" trips before she begins to take paying passengers. In Nov, 15 people were killed & more injured when gangway to vessel collapsed in dry dock. (Thurs. Jan. 1

2004)



Oil tanker in collision with container ship near Lingding Island in south China's Pearl River mouth on Dec. 29 at 6:30 a.m. -- tanker with 1,989 tons of fuel oil struck

container ship with 15,000 tons cargo -- 2 compartments of tanker severely damaged, causing oil to spill into sea -- salvage crew made the decision to tow tanker aground

with powerful tugboat to prevent sinking. (Thurs. Jan. 1 2004)



WEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



24 Dec. 2003 at 1400 UTC in position 20:55N - 119:43E, South China Sea. Piratess in craft attempted to board a vehicle carrier underway. Crew mustered & switched on

lights. Attempt aborted. (Thurs. Jan. 1 2004)



24 Dec. 2003 at 0357 LT at 3.5 miles south of fairway buoy, Cotonou anchorage, Benin. Five pirates armed with guns & knives boarded bulk carrier & took watchman &

c/e as hostage. Raided master's cabin & stole ship's cash, master's cash & personal belongings & 2 passports. When crew mustered pirates fired warning shots & escaped in

waiting boat. 2/o & bosun sustained gun shots in their legs & sent to hospital. Master reported that almost everyday pirates attempted to board. (Thurs. Jan. 1 2004)



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