2001

國際海事案例 2001





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 2001





SPECIAL NOTE: The reference to ">



Unidentified timber-laden M/V sank on Dec. 28. Tanker M/T Damansara relayed distress call to maritime center in Port Klang when they spotted 3 survivors who had been

adrift in Straits of Malacca for about 16 hours. Center then relayed message to marine police which sent its PC 16 patrol craft to scene. (Sat. Dec. 29 2001)



2,700-ton Panamanian cargo M/V Sophia II, being loaded with sunmeal (animal feed for Turkey), caught fire in Black Sea port of Constanta Dec. 29, leaving one Albanian

crew with severe burns -- 11 rescued. Fire put out after 3 hours -- seriously damaged deck. (Sat. Dec. 29 2001)



Antiguan-registered cargo M/V Sloman Traveller, Felixstowe for Bremen, suffered cargo hold fire in North Sea off N. island of Vlieland -- Dutch coastguard ships &

helicopters battled severe winds & waves of 7 meters to rescue crew. By 1846 GMT, all 16 crew taken off ship, said carrying dangerous chemical cargo. Coastguards said

fire nearly under control -- looking at ways to tow vessel to port. (Fri. Dec. 28 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



24. Dec. 2001 at 0100 LT at Vung Tau anchorage, Vietnam. Pirates armed with big knives boarded tanker with a hook attached to a rope, stole ship's stores & escaped. (Fri.

Dec. 28 2001)

22 Dec. 2001 at 2310 LT at Banjarmasin anchorage, South Borneo, Indonesia. Seven pirates in boat armed with knives attempted to board bulk carrier via anchor chain.

Duty A/B noticed them & raised alarm. Crew mustered & pirates fled. Local police informed. (Fri. Dec. 28 2001)



22 Dec. 2001 at 1945 LT at position 21:52N - 088:04E, Rangatala crossing anchorage, Hugli river, India. Three pirates in motorboat attempted to board container ship. Alert

anti-piracy crew saw them & raised alarm. Pirates fled. (Fri. Dec. 28 2001)



22 Dec 2001 at 1200 LT at position 004:41N - 118:54E, Alice channel, Indonesia. Green colored speedboat approached very closely to bulk carrier & ordered the master to

stop his ship. Master did not comply & raised alarm. After 30 minutes speedboat fled. (Fri. Dec. 28 2001)



20 Dec. 2001 at 0345 LT at Lagos Roads, Nigeria. Six pirates in boat attempted to board container ship. Duty A/B noticed & raised alarm & activated fire hoses. Pirates

fled. (Fri. Dec. 28 2001)



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Australian Antarctic supply ship M/V Polar Bird> Antarctica Online > 240 miles off Japanese island of Amami Oshima -- after trading machine gun fire with Japanese coast guard vessels & 2 Japanese Navy destroyers in

6-hour chase -- crew reportedly fired submachine guns & RPG rockets at Japanese vessels, hitting 2 sailors. Japanese vessels shot back, & vessel sank within minutes

-- likely scuttled. Coast guard & defense officials said unidentified fishing boat might have been spying for North Korea, & some officials suggested the boat's 15 crew

members may have killed themselves to avoid capture. Boat said "closely resembled" vessels believed by Japanese authorities to have conducted surveillance activities for

North Korea in past. Independent military analyst Kensuke Ebata told NHK television vessel appeared to be equipped with satellite dish & surveillance gear. North Korean

marking found on liferafts. Two bodies found. (Sat. Dec. 22 2001) UPDATE: High-quality North Korean cigarettes & confectionery package with Korean letters reading

''Korea'' and ''Pyongyang'' have been recovered from area where "unidentified" ship sank -- this is only one point of evidence thus far recovered to esablish vessel identity as

North Korean. Are we now all OK that the vessel was North Korean? (Wed. Jan. 9 2002)



Waste carrier that collects spent nuclear fuel M/V Imandra in collision with mothballed Russian Northern Fleet submarine in Arctic Kola Bay. Rssia would not say what

type of submarine or when the accident happened -- Russian T.V. says Dec. 13. Radiation experts rushed to scene, but inspection showed neither vessel leaked radiation.

Russia has more than 180 decommissioned nuclear subs -- most of them afloat with nuclear fuel onboard, raising risk of nuclear accident. Some have languished dockside for

10-15 years, hulls rusting through. Officials said they lacked funds to build dismantling & storage facilities. (Fri. Dec. 21 2001)



Russia launched construction of its 1st newly designed warship --330 ft. corvette Stereguschyii (means "On Guard") can displace 2,200 tons and uses stealth technology --

since the Soviet collapse a decade ago, Russian Navy has struggled to find funds to maintain its ships & had to scale back plans to modernize the fleet. Estimated 70% of fleet

needs overhauling, & the Navy cannot afford to send ships on long voyages. Decline underlined by Aug. 2000 explosion & sinking of nuclear submarine

Kursk> St Vincent registered M/V Nisha, Mauritius for London with 26,000 tons of raw sugar, seizured by British anti-terrorist police off S. coast of England Dec. 21

in major security alert -- involving customs officers & Royal Navy, following intelligence that the ship could pose a serious threat. According to Scotland Yard, there is no

specific evidence to suggest ship carrying anthrax, but is thought carrying terrorist material. Vessel had stopped in Durban for fuel -- due to arrive on Dec. 22 at British

sugar company Tate & Lyle Plc's Newham refinery in east London, next to Thames Flood Barrier. Seizure sparked media speculation that London could be target of a

Christmas attack. Officers said they could not take risk of the ship sailing up Thames river to heart of the British capital. Ship taken to mooring near Isle of Wight for

thorough search. Boarded in Int'l waters by Special Boat Service (SBS) commandos in biological warfare gear from inflatable dinghies from Royal Navy frigate HMS

Sutherland. Customs officers & anti-terrorist police also took part. (Fri. Dec. 21 2001) UPDATE >> Vessel cleared & released. (Mon. Dec. 24 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



17 Dec. 2001 at 0300 LT in position: 05:48.5N - 118:06.0E, Sandakan working anchorage, Malaysia. Pirate boarded a general cargo ship & broke open paint store. Ship's

anti-piracy watch spotted & raised alarm. Pirate jumped overboard & escaped by boat. (Fri. Dec. 21 2001)



15 dec. 2001 at 2340 LT at position 19:47.5N - 92:00.0E, off Myanmar. Speedboat followed bulk carrier very closely. Painted grey, with number 421 at bow & resembled a

naval gunboat. Master ordered on VHF to stop ship under threat of gunfire. Master did not comply. Speedboat banged ship's side & fired shot. Duty officer raised alarm,

blew ship's whistle, switched on deck lights, activated fire hoses & took evasive manoeuvres. Speedboat retreated. (Fri. Dec. 21 2001)



15 Dec. 2001 at 0300 LT at Abidjan anchorage, Ivory Coast. Three pirates armed with knives boarded bulk carrier. Threatened watch keeper with knives, cut his overalls &

gagged him. Tied him to flag post & started to remove stores. Another watch keeper saw pirates & raised alarm. Pirates jumped overboard & escaped with ship's stores &

radio. (Fri. Dec. 21 2001)



15 Dec. 2001 at 0235 LT at position Racon Delta 01:03.0N - 103:39.1E, Philip channel, Indonesia. Fourteen pirates armed with rifles & long knives attempted to board

container ship from dark yellow colored boat. Duty officer saw pirates & directed an aldis lamp at them -- pirates fled. (Fri. Dec. 21 2001)

14 Dec. 2001 at 0300 LT at Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Six pirates in unlit boat attempted to board general cargo ship. Anti-piracy crew raised alarm & foiled the attempt. (Fri.

Dec. 21 2001)



14 Dec. 2001 at 0315 LT at Chittagong, Bangladesh. Pirates armed with long knives boarded chemical tanker from 2 boats. Cut 3 mooring ropes & lowered them to boat.

Anti piracy watch raised alarm & shore security personnel fired warning shots. Pirates fled. (Fri. Dec. 21 2001)



11 Dec. 2001 at 2310 LT at Laem Chabang anchorage, Thailand. Pirates attempted to board container ship. Alert anti piracy watch raised alarm & activated fire hoses.

Pirates abandoned attempted boarding. (Fri. Dec. 21 2001)



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M/V Viking Isabella, with 632 souls & cargo, Stockholm for Turku, on Finland's SW coast, 100 miles W of Helsinki, ran aground in Baltic Sea during stormy weather 1:30

a.m. Dec. 20. Nearby ships unable to pull alongside Viking Isabella because of high winds & rough seas. Helicopters dispatched from Finland & Sweden. Ferry will be taken

to nearest harbor in Aland Islands as soon as possible. (Wed. Dec. 19 2001)



"Australian" al-Qaeda fighter David Hicks, 26, now held on USS Peleliu> Mexican flagged M/V Ikan Mazatlan loaded at Archer Daniels Midland port few miles up Mississippi River & brought to New Orleans on Dec. 13,

sailing for 2 day voyage to Havana -- 1st commercial export of U.S. food to communist island nation since 1963. Anti-Castro group said shipment would be used as wedge

to end embargo. Minutes later, Illinois Gov. George Ryan & other officials said they hoped shipment would lead to increased U.S.-Cuba trade. Under law passed last year by

Congress, humanitarian shipments can be made to Cuba. Cuban government says the 24,000 metric tons of corn will be used to replenish reserves lost when Hurricane

Michelle> Space shuttle U.S.S. Endeavour (OV-105)> Increasing number of attacks reported in the Malacca straits between coordinates 01 to 02N - 101 to 103E. Most risk prone area within 25 nm radius

surrounding 02N - 102E, where same armed gang of pirates have repeatedly attacked ships. Ships advised to avoid anchoring along Indonesian coast of Malacca straits

unless required for urgent operational reasons. Coast near Acheh particularly risky. Pirates recently boarded two vessels & kidnapped the crew for ransom. Ships advised

to be extra cautious when transiting waters off Acheh. Ships calling at Indonesian ports of Belawan, Dumai, Merak, Samarinda & Tanjong Priok report numerous attacks

whilst at berth & at anchor. Recently a number of ships have been hijacked in Indonesian waters. (Fri. Dec.14 2001)



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M/V Wanabakti sank Dec. 12 shortly after departure from Ampana port in Central Sulawesi, off Indonesia's Sulawesi island -- for remote Wakai & Malange islands,1,000

miles NE of Jakarta. Ferry overloaded with those heading home to celebrate end of Ramadan capsized. At least 14 drowned -- unknown number still missing. Search teams &

fisherman rescued 135 passengers. (Thurs. Dec. 13 2001)



Three family members drowned while trapped in an elevator flooded by torrential storm -- after elevator lost power & got stuck in basement of apartment building in

upscale northern suburb of Quito, Ecuador. Rainy season in Ecuador's Andes mountains runs from Nov. to April. This week brought heaviest rains of season so far in Quito,

the capital. AP (Thurs. Dec. 13 2001)



U.S. Navy Sea Shadow> Increasing number of attacks reported in Malacca straits between coordinates 01 to 02N - 101 to 103E. Most risk prone area within 25 nm

radius surrounding 02N - 102E, where same armed gang of pirates seems to have repeatedly attacked ships. Ships advised to avoid anchoring along Indonesian coast of

Malacca straits unless required for urgent operational reasons. Coast near Acheh particularly risky. Pirates recently boarded two vessels & kidnapped the crew for ransom.

Ships advised to be extra cautious when transiting waters off Acheh. Ships calling at Indonesian ports of Belawan, Dumai, Merak, Samarinda & Tanjong Priok have reported

numerous attacks at berth & at anchor. Recently a number of ships have been hijacked in Indonesian waters. Attacks reported at Chittagong, Mongla & Chennai while at

anchor. Ships at ports in Bangladesh have been subjected to theft of zinc anodes welded to ship's sides & stern. Somalian waters continue a risk prone area for hijackings.

Ships should keep at least 50 miles & if possible 100 miles from Somali coast. Use of radio communications including VHF in these waters should be kept to minimum.



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Russian Il-76 transporter down near city of Okhotsk in Khabarovsk region, shortly after Capt. told air traffic control making emergency landing due to on board fire. Plane

disappeared from radar shortly afterward -- 18 people feared dead in Russia's Siberia region. Wreckage spotted. (Sat. Dec. 1 2001)





Vessel Loss Dispatches For November 2001





> Increasing number of attacks reported in the Malacca straits. Ships advised to avoid anchoring along Indonesian coast of Malacca straits unless

required for urgent operational reasons. Coast near ache particularly risky. Pirates recently boarded 2 vessels & kidnapped crew for ransom. Ships advised be extra cautious

when transiting waters off ache. Ships calling at Indonesian ports of Belawan, Dumai, Merak, Samarinda & Tanjong Priok have reported numerous attacks at berth & at

anchor. Recently number of ships have been hijacked in Indonesian waters. (Fri. Nov. 30 2001)



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Canada naval task group escorting American carrier battle groups conducting air war over Afghanistan consists of frigates, HMCS Halifax> Ships should keep at least 50 miles & if possible 100 miles from Somali coast. Use of radio communications including the VHF in these waters should

be kept to a minimum. Extra caution advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung

Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports &

Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. Ships advised to maintain anti-piracy watches & report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to the IMB Piracy

Reporting Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



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Racing S/V Amer Sports One, currently in 6th position in round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race> U.S. Navy searching Nov. 18 for 2 U.S. sailors missing in the Persian Gulf after boarding rickety United Arab Emirates-flagged M/T Samra,

deemed to be smuggling Iraqi oil, with 1700 MT of Iraqi oil, in the N. Gulf. Tanker sank at 4:45 a.m with U.S. personel aboard. Six U.S. sailors & 10 Iraqi crew rescued --

1 Iraqi crew dead & 3 missing. U.S. sailors boarded tanker from destroyer USS Peterson, home port Norfolk, Va. Search conducted with help of helicopters from Peterson as

well as USS Ingram, USS Leyte Gulf, & Australian frigate, HMAS Sydney > Extra caution advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung

Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports and

Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. Ships advised to maintain anti-piracy watches & report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to the IMB Piracy

Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



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503-foot gambling M/V Copa Casino halted & ship evacuated for an hour Nov.13 after kitchen fire sent smoke through portions of cruise ship. No injuries among gamblers

& crew aboard vessel, docked in Gulfport, Miss. Authorities responding to 5 a.m. alarm arrived to find one side ship filled with smoke. (Thus. Nov. 15 2001)

Ocean ferry M/V Coho> Sailor assigned to the just returned Norfolk-based USS Enterprise among 260 people who died aboard American Airlines Flight 587 that crashed

in New York City, Nov. 12 -- on his way to Dominican Republic to pick up his wife & 4 children when plane crashed. After 7 months at sea, 2 of which deployed on station

in the war against terrorism -- the safety of home was elusive. (Tues. Nov. 13 2001)



Antigua & Barbuda registered 9,650 ton container M/V Melbridge Bilbao, Bilbao on N. Spanish coast for Rotterdam, aground on rocks off N.W. coast of France -- around

island of Molene off Brittany coast. Nov. 12. Distress message at 0624 GMT as it ran on rocks. (Mon. Nov. 12 2001)



F/V Rainbow Warrior sank one minute after collision with mystery merchant ship off New South Wales N. coast, Australia at about 12.30am Nov. 11 -- 3 crew spent 5

hours in life raft in heavy rain before rescued. Weather in area described as very bad, with heavy rain & poor visibility. (Mon. Nov. 12 2001) UPDATE>> Federal police

checking unidentified Singaporean-based bulk coal carrier off central Queensland coast in connection with sinking of F/V Rainbow Warrior. (Mon. Nov. 12 2001)



Organizing The Fight >> Indonesia & the Philippines Nov. 12 agreed to boost energy trade between their two countries & to establish joint naval patrols in

pirate-infested waters that divide them. Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met her Indonesian counterpart Megawati Sukarnoputri soon after arriving in

Jakarta for official visit. (Mon. Nov. 12 2001)



Kenyan registered M/V Bihari & 30 sailors held captive by Somali gunmen for 3 months -- freed & docked in the Kenyan port of Mombasa. Vessel seized in N. Somali

province of Puntland in July by militia group, a.k.a. pirates who accused them of "fishing illegally" in Somali waters & demanded a US$700,000 "fine". Italian owners

insisted they had licence to fish. Not clear how (or how much) managed to secure the sailors' release. "Every minute we were cautioned that we risked being killed unless we

complied with orders," Kenya's Sunday Nation quoted one of sailors. Further Details> Extra caution is advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel,

Vung Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, S. Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports & Rio

Haina in the Dominican Republic. Ships advised to maintain anti-piracy watches & report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to IMB Piracy

Reporting Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia



Back To Year 2001 Reports

Former Ukranian aircraft carrier Varyag once again attached to its 3 tugs on way to China -- at 3 miles per hour towards Suez Canal -- 4 of 7 crew lifted to safety during

rescue operations on Nov. 4 now back on vessel. While crossing Aegean sea, towed by 3 tugs, vessel violently released from its rigging tackles due to very rough weather

conditions prevailing in open sea area near island of Skyros. Varyag currently in tow of tug Sandy Cape & salvage tug Solano. Tug Nikolay Chiker will soon take over &

will be leading tug. So far, quite an amazing journey after months of "steaming around" -- let's hope Varyag will behave. SEE Nov. 4. Update from our correspondent John

Szalay (Fri. Nov. 9 2001)



Antiguan flagged 81-meter M/V Heinrich Behrmann owned by Heinrich Behrman of Germany, from Britain with chemicals, aground on a Belgian beach near the town of

Blankenbergen after losing control of steering during storm approach -- on to Belgian port of Zeebrugge. Will attempt to tow off later today. (Fri. Nov. 9 2001) EXCLUSIVE

PHOTOS >> A THE CARGO LETTER FEATURE ! > 3 Japanese warships ordered to raise anchor for Int'l high seas deployment Nov. 9 in support of Int'l war on terrorism &emdash;

5,200-ton destroyer Kurama, 4,550-ton Kirisame> 13-meter tug Nanaimo Flyer spotted early Nov. 5 morning near Drury Inlet, 30 km N. of Port McNeill> Light gray 20-footer with "US COAST GUARD" on side & light bar atop cabin. Charleston area chemical plants warned to take extra

precautions after boat masquerading as U.S. Coast Guard vessel spotted on Kanawha River. "They should do whatever necessary to protect facility if boat approaches at high

speed," said Lt. Renee Kern, chief of port operations for Coast Guard's Huntington office. "We left the decision entirely up to them whether to move vessels in the way,

or to shoot, or to use a crane, or whatever," Kern said. Coast Guard warned area's 5 largest chemical & energy plants on Oct. 5 that rogue spotted near Charleston. Of more

than 30 chemicals with potential for mass destruction when in large containers, 28 manufactured in West Virginia. Phony Coast Guard boat spotted at least 4 times on

Kanawha River from Oct. 5 to Oct. 20, moving at high speeds or "lurking around power plants & chemical facilities." State trooper saw the boat on trailer on Oct. 18 -- did

not know then it was suspicious (dah!). Vessel matching description seen in late Sept. on Ohio River near Cincinnati. (Sat. Nov. 3 2001)



National Guardsmen with M-16s & Humvees patrol the Golden Gate & other California bridges -- traffic across spans lighter than usual as warning of terrorist attacks shifted

U.S. anxiety from East Coast to the West. 4 bridges named: the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the Vincent Thomas Bridge at Port of Los

Angeles & San Diego's Coronado Bridge. (Sat. Nov. 3 2001)

WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



29 Oct. 2001 at 0403 UTC 5.5 NM from S. mole signal station, Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Six pirates in small boats boarded general cargo ship. Anti piracy watch spotted &

alerted crew. Pirates jumped overboard & escaped with ship's stores & safety equipment. (Fri. Nov. 2 2001)



28 Oct. 2001 at 1040 LT in position: 02:20N - 046:23E, Somalia. Two boats with pirates spotted about 3-4 miles from chemical tanker underway. When boats got closer,

they saw alert crew on deck, turned around & fired 4 shots, which did not hit vessel. Vessel changed course & sailed further away from Somali coast. (Fri. Nov. 2 2001)



25 Oct. 2001 at 0500 LT in position: 06:04N - 126:12.4E, Philippines. Whilst navigating in busy fishing ground, duty officer on bulk carrier noticed movements at forecastle.

When floodlights switched on, 2 pirates jumped in small boat & fled at high speed -- stole life raft. (Fri. Nov. 2 2001)



21 Oct. 2001 at 0430 LT at Belem, Brazil. Three pirates armed with knives boarded general cargo ship from small boat -- broke into storeroom & stole ship's stores. Duty

watchmen challenged & they jumped overboard and escaped. (Fri. Nov. 2 2001)



Advice To All Ships >> Extra caution advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung

Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports and

Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. Ships advised to maintain anti-piracy watches & report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to the IMB Piracy

Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Ukranian 1,020-foot Varyag, bound for South China Sea on voyage of 2 months -- tugs hauled half-built aircraft carrier through Istanbul's narrow Bosporus strait Nov. 1,

forcing Turkey to temporarily shut down world's busiest waterway. Traffic through Bosporus - sole passage between Black Sea & Mediterranean - resumed by

mid-afternoon after Varyag completed 6 hour passage. Normal oil tanker would make trip in 1.5 hours. After clearing strait, Varyag headed across Marmara Sea toward

Dardanelles strait, then to Aegean Sea. Total of 11 ships in convoy, including hospital ships, firefighters & rescue vessels. The 21-mile strait is world's most dangerous

waterway, where some 200 accidents have occurred. Oil spills sometimes closed it for days. Russian-flagged tug at back of Varyag, acting as brake. 6 tugs towed engineless,

rudderless Varyag through strait. "They'll never see anything like this again," said teacher as 100 primary school students watched excitedly from Kandilli harbor, strait's

narrowest point. Varyag & skeleton crew had circled for 16 months in Black Sea waiting clearance from Turkey. Ukraine inherited flat top when Soviet Union fell in 1991,

but couldn't afford to complete. Company in Macau, China, bought ship & plans to convert into floating leisure center. The Mysterious Sale of An Aircraft

Carrier> We think it highly unlikely that these true events should be of concern,

consdering the number of accidental fly overs by agriculture each year. - The Cargo Letter. (Reported by Associated Press Wire, Salon & others) (Tues. Oct. 23 2001)

45-foot tug J.W. Westcott II> Extra caution Advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung

Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports &

Rio Haina in Dominican Republic. Ships advised to maintain anti-piracy watches & report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to IMB Piracy Reporting

Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Russian passenger M/V Anichka -- laid up in Sligo> 16,916gwt Singapore registered 147 meter Pacific Carriers Ltd.> New trend emerged among pirates along Malacca Strait to hijack ships & demand ransom, Int'l Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported Oct. 16. ''Fight against

piracy threatened by new trend that has seen pirates demanding ransom for release of kidnapped crew members,'' the IMB said. According to IMB's Kuala Lumpur-based

Piracy Reporting Center, within 60 days 2 similar cases reported near Aceh Province off N. Sumatra Island in Indonesia. Between June & August, Indonesian tanker M/T

Tirta Niaga 4> U.S. terrorist attacks & retaliation prompted American & European shipping lines calling at Malaysian ports to take extra security measures, including port

police to patrol ships while handling cargo. Major lines, Maersk-Sealand & APL hired guards to inspect berthed vessels & be on alert against unauthorized persons coming

near ships. Anyone wanting to board vessels, including ship agents, now required to give personal details to guard before allowed on board. Other persons boarding subjected

to metal detector checks. (Mon. Oct. 15 2001)



Hulk of F/V Ehime Maru traversed 75% of 16 mile journey from 2,000 ft. deep waters today. Ehime Maru being moved to shallow site mile offshore so divers can search for

bodies of 9 Japanese crew who went down with the fisheries training ship on Feb. 9. U.S. Navy & contract engineers, using heavy-duty ship M/V Rockwater 2, raised

wreckage off sea floor early Oct. 12 to begin move. Wreckage, attached to giant lifting frame suspended beneath the oil-rigger, towed at speeds of less than 1 knot about 90

feet above ocean floor. SEE Oct. 12 (Sat. Oct. 13 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



07 Oct. 2001 at 0420 LT at Redeco jetty 1, Merak, Indonesia. While berthed, 4 pirates in a smal attempted to board a LPG carrier. They threw grappling hook on railing,

which was attached to ladder. Duty A/B spotted boat, raised alarm & directed searchlight. Boat moved away. (Fri. Oct. 12 2001)



06 Oct. 2001 at 0200 UTC at Abidjan Roads, Ivory Coast. Boat with 4 pirates came alongside tanker at anchor. Two pirates with long knives boarded via anchor chain. Anti

piracy watch spotted & raised alarm. Pirates stole ship's stores & escaped. (Fri. Oct. 12 2001)



05 Oct. 2001 at 0200 LT in position 24:31.5n - 119:08, Taiwan Strait. While underway, pirates in unlit speedboat tried to board container ship. Anti piracy watch raised alarm

& attempt aborted. Four hours earlier -- another aborted attempt to board ship. (Fri. Oct. 12 2001)



04.10.2001 at 2300 LT at Douala, Cameroon. Pirates broke into storeroom near funnel while general cargo ship unloading cargo. Stole large quantity of safety equipment.

Port authorities sent security personnel to investigate. (Fri. Oct. 12 2001)



Advice To All Ships >> Extra caution advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung

Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports and

Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. Ships advised to maintain anti-piracy watches & report all piratical attacks & suspicious movements of craft to the IMB Piracy

Reporting Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



Back To Year 2001 Reports



One year ago today, 17 United States Navy sailors were killed when terrorist attacked the USS Cole. Please review our coverage of the terrorist attack. Never again. USS

Cole official site & memorial dedicated today. (Fri. Oct. 12 2001)



U.S. Navy lifted 190-foot Japanese fishing vessel F/V Ehime Maru -- sunk by nuclear submarine USS Greeneville (SSN-772)> Preparations for docking began as scheduled Oct. 11 when Dutch & Russian experts started attaching 2 huge pontoons needed to hoist

SSGN Kursk> Princess Cruises cancelled 71-day world tour which would have touched ports of Cochin, Mumbai, Oman & Egypt before reaching Athens -- sailing was

scheduled for February 2002 -- 650 passengers reported to have booked. World's 3rd largest cruise company, P&O Princess Cruises re-routed its M/V Oriana to go from

Africa straight to Mauritius, Singapore & further on, avoiding Indian Ocean. Royal Caribbean Int'l also changed itinerary for M/V Royal Journey which would have started

from Athens, via the Suez Canal, touched Dubai, Mumbai, Cochin, & Singapore before reaching Australia. Royal Caribbean Int'l said, "we are advised not to take passenger

ships through Indian Ocean & the E. of Mediterranean Sea, as this is a turbulent zone." (Tues. Oct. 9 2001)



Group of 200 mainly Iraqi refugees threw some of their children into the sea Oct. 7, having been refused entry to Australia -- still adrift 30 miles from Christmas Island off

Australia's NW coast. Sabotaged their own vessel in fresh bid to force rescue by Australian Navy. HMAS Adelaide returned those in water to ship & escorted vessel into Int'l

waters. (Tues. Oct. 9 2001)



HISTORIC RAISING >> Russian Nuclear Submarine SSGN Kursk> Harbor

Master's office at Banjarmasin, Indonesia has recovered hijacked Malaysian-registered tug Mayang Sari in dockyard -- scheduled to be sold. Pirates escaped. Tug was

boarded by armed pirates off Pulau Subi Besar, S. of Natuna Island in South China Sea, Kota Kinabalu for Batam towing a barge on Sept 18. Indonesian crew of 10 held

hostage until Sept 25 on pirate's vessel -- subsequently released in mangrove forest on Batam Island. Singapore-flagged barge Daiho 88 still missing. (Sun. Sept. 30 2001)



Advice To All Ships >> Extra caution is advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel,

Vung Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian

ports & Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. Ships are advised to maintain anti-piracy watches and report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to the IMB

Piracy Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. .



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Notice To Mariners >> "In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, ships have been directed by U.S. Coast Guard order to provide (more) advance notice, plus detailed

information about crews, passengers & cargoes," -- U.S. Coast Guard. Most ships entering U.S. harbors will have to provide considerably longer prior notice -- 96 hours

notice -- under new nationwide regulations. Requirement is extension of 24-hour notification rule long in place for ships entering U.S. ports. Arrival reports continue handled

by Coast Guard at port in question. But starting Oct. 15, notifications will be made to new facility called National Vessel Movement Center. (Fri. Oct. 5 2001)

Kenyan-registered M/V Bihari & 17 Kenyan crew hijacked off the NE coast of Somalia in late July -- still being held in the coastal town of Eyl, 150 km SE of Garowe,

capital of self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, NE Somalia. Captors are reportedly demanding US$700,000, while Somali representatives of owners offering

US$500,000. Pirates also insisting on keeping cargo of lobsters, fish & shark fins -- said worth more than the ransom. (Fri. Oct. 5 2001)



Chinese tanker M/T Yunhong in collision with Greek-flagged container M/V Edinburgh & sank with 8,668 tons of oil off Xiamen in E. China Sept. 20. All 22 crew

Chinese crew of Yunhong rescued. China succeeded in preventing ocean from severe pollution -- use of 14 pollution-preventing vessels & large amount of oil-absorbing

materials. (Thurs Oct. 4 2001)



U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort has set sail after more than 2 weeks in New York Harbor housing firefighters & rescue workers -- a floating hotel for rescue

personnel working at the World Trade Center site. Comfort served 17,000 meals & washed 4,400 pounds of laundry for 2,250 guests -- but sadly the waves of injured she had

hoped to receive, remain at the scene of the atrocity. Comfort is the Navy's largest hospital ship, with 12 operating rooms, radiological equipment, & 1,000 beds. (Wed. Oct. 3

2001)



German-owned, Antiguan registered chemical M/V AB Bilbao, Sweden for Spain with 3,300 tons ferrocilicone -- blast blew off hatch cover, off coast of Kent. Salvage

experts attempting to make safe the potentially dangerous chemicals. Inspectors from Maritime & Coastguard Agency boarded vessel 2 miles off Margate, Kent, to assess if

ship could be moved. Chemical gives off noxious fumes when in contact with water. Hull intact & crew not taken vessel. Explosion caused by water coming into contact with

chemical. Gases including hydrogen, phosphine & arsine -- derivative of arsenic -- have started venting from cargo hold. Crew ordered to wear gas masks until ship towed

to port -- may take several days. Fire-fighting tug half mile away. (Tues. Oct. 2 2001) UPDATE: Explosion ripped through the hold Oct. 3, but vessel still afloat & its 7 crew

safe. (Wed. Oct. 3 2001)



Dr. Nenad Bilic, 62, of Chicago, retired cardiologist, set off in 21-foot boat from Cape Cod, Mass., on May 11, heading for Bantry Bay on SW coast of Irish Republic. Late

Sept. 30 night, Bilic's emergency beacon activated, indication -- 230 miles W. of Ireland. Royal Air Force rescue helicopter & 2 Royal Air Force Nimrod search planes

scrambled for the rower, but only found beacon. Effort called off at 4 p.m. after more than 1,000 square miles searched. (Tues. Oct. 2 2001)



Bulker M/V Szare Szergi, sailing W., S. of Kangaroo Island, Australia, moved toward Portland Oct. 2 -- 57-year-old Polish crew airlifted after sustaining serious injuries in

accident. Maritime Rescue Coordination Center said something "large & heavy" fell & crushed him at about 6.30 Oct. 1. Rescued by air ambulance 17 NM off Portland.

Severity of injuries unknown. (Mon. Oct. 1 2001)



Crew of 137-ton U.S. owned M/V Poseidon's Mistress, charter vessel specializing in scuba diving from Pacific, Mexican port of San Carlos, abandoned Sept. 30. Lifeboats

in water with all 16 aboard before vessel went under. Twelve people drifted 60 NM for 21 hours before landing at Punta Hueso de Ballena, on the Sonora coast Oct. 1. Other

4, drifting -- located later by navy helicopter. Likely trouble when Hurricane Juliette hit Gulf of California. (Mon. Oct. 1 2001)





Vessel Loss Dispatches For September 2001





Harbor Master's office at Banjarmasin, Indonesia has recovered hijacked Malaysian-registered tug Mayang Sari in dockyard -- scheduled to be sold. Pirates escaped. Tug was

boarded by armed pirates off Pulau Subi Besar, S. of Natuna Island in South China Sea, Kota Kinabalu for Batam towing a barge on Sept 18. Indonesian crew of 10 held

hostage until Sept 25 on pirate's vessel -- subsequently released in mangrove forest on Batam Island. Singapore-flagged barge Daiho 88 still missing. (Sun. Sept. 30 2001)

Port of Miami >> Additional U.S. Coast Guard officers called to patrol & inspection of dock areas. All cruise ships escorted to sea by U.S. Coast Guard -- no other vessels

allowed within 100 yards of cruise vessels. Boats coming to port face rigorous inspections, especially those carrying hazardous materials. (Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



24 Sept. 2001 at 1430 UTC in position 14:15N - 042:41E, Southern Red Sea. Five pirates with guns boarded container ship. Master sent radio messages for help which were

monitored by ship in vicinity & relayed to IMB Piracy Reporting Center. IMB in turn passed messages to nearby authorities. Further details awaited. (Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



24 Sept. 2001 at 0150 LT at Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Speedboat came alongside container ship waiting to berth & 3 pirates with guns & knives boarded ship. Duty

watchman raised alarm & alerted crew. One pirate threatened watchman with gun. Pirates stole mooring ropes & escaped in their speedboat. (Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



19 Sept. 2001 at 0530 LT in position 20:32N - 071:21E, Gulf of Cambay, India. While underway, 8 fishing boats approached general cargo ship under tow. Fifteen pirates

boarded & stole ship's stores. No injuries to crew. (Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



18 Sept. 2001 in position 09:11N - 014:32W, Conakry, Guinea. While underway, 2 fishing boats with 12 pirates in each attempted to board log carrier. Alert crew foiled the

attempt. (Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



18 Sept. 2001 at 1140 LT at Bontang anchorage, Indonesia. While at anchor, 3 pirates attempted to board bulk carrier from forecastle. Alert crew spotted & foiled attempt.

(Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



Advice to all Vessels: Extra caution is advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung

Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports &

Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. Ships are advised to maintain anti-piracy watches & report all piratical attacks & suspicious movements of craft to IMB Piracy

Reporting Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Port authorities in Tahitian capital Papeete seized 2 cruise ships operated by American cruise company Renaissance. Ships - Renaissance Three & Four - held in lieu of

unpaid fuel bills amounting to US$1M. See Sept. 27 bankruptcy for Renaissance, below. (Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



Braziian Air Force C-130 Hercules with 9 crew crashed into mountains near Rio de Janeiro -- returning to Afonsos Air Force Base during rainy, foggy weather

--slammed into Tiririca Mountains near town of Nitero -- 25 miles E. of Rio. Plane appeared to have struck large rock, sometimes called "False Sugarloaf" for its similarity to

the famous Rio tourist attraction. (Fri. Sept. 28 2001)



Ukrainian-flagged M/V Galak (could be RO/RO "barge" reported below today ) caught fire & sank near entrance to Suez Canal -- 3 dead & 9 missing among 83 aboard

while loading provisions at S. entrance to Port of Suez. Rescue services able to save 71 people -- most Sri Lankans trying to immigrate illegally to Europe. (Thurs. Sept. 27

2001)



Chinese freighter (could be M/T Yuantong No. 1 -- see Sept. 25) sank in rough seas -- ship's captain missing in Taiwan Strait near outlying island of Kinmen as Typhoon

Lekima slowly zigzagged toward Taiwan Sept. 25. Heeding sea warnings, hundreds of fishermen tying down boats in Taiwanese harbors. (Thurs. Sept. 27 2001)

Renaissance Cruises has gone bust amidst mounting market rumors that other shipping firms will follow suit shortly. Renaissance Cruises has ceased all cruise operations.

(Thurs. Sept. 27 2001)



Papua New Guinea police have issued warning to Port Moresby vessels following mass jail break on city's outskirts. Sixty-two prisoners escaped from Bomana Jail & none

recaptured. Prisoners made escape in broad daylight using bolt cutters through perimeter fence. Bomana jail located just outside Port Moresby -- police warned escapees are

dangerous criminals. (Thurs. Sept. 27 2001)



Ukrainian-registered Ro/Ro barge, in ballast, caught fire, exploded & sank while refueling from supply vessel outside Port Suez, Suez Canal. Was due to travel N. through

canal from Red Sea to Mediterranean with 83 Sri Lankan crew. Six crew critically injured. (Wed. Sept. 26 2001)



Delta Queen Coastal Voyages' M/V Cape May Light arrived New York Harbor Sept. 25 morning. According to company -- 1st vessel to make a port call since Sept 11 --

docking at Chelsea Piers on Hudson River. God Bless America. (Tues. Sept. 25 2001)



Cambodian-registered M/T Yuantong No. 1, with 60 tons of oil, sank off China's NE port of Dalian in Yellow Sea, after collision with ferry M/V Guorun, with 241

passengers, 48 crew & 30 cars. Seven of freighter's 8 crew rescued. Guorun arrived safely in port. (Tues. Sept. 25 2001)



M/V New Amity in collision with barge closed Houston ship channel Sept. 23 at Barbour's Cut in La Porte (Houston), Texas -- servicing nation's 2nd largest port. Waterway

reopened to traffic Sept. 24 -- 860 barrels of fuel oil leaked into the channel. About 18,000 feet of boom set up to contain oil & skimmers removing it. Containment & cleanup

operations involved more than 70 people. (Mon. Sept. 24 2001)



Four Tamil Tiger rebel boats destroyed on Sept. 23 in fierce battle with a naval patrol off Sri Lanka's NE coast. Two unidentified merchant vessels in area when

confrontation began 36 miles off rebel-held town of Mullaitivu, but not harmed. Rebel flotilla had 8 boats, half destroyed... naval patrol returned to base with no serious

damage. Not known whether destroyed boats packed with explosives -- a trademark of the Sea Tigers, naval wing of rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Guerrillas gave warning of more attacks on shipping. (Sun. Spet. 23 2001)



With war becoming imminent, the ship-breaking business worldwide has come to standstill. London-based principal broking houses & their sub brokers in the Gulf & Asia

Pacific region have not received any orders for ships going for demolition & "deliverable'' within the next 3 weeks. Most buyers have stayed away from the market. (Sat. Sept.

22 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



16 Sept. 2001 at 1825 UTC in position 07:53.4S - 091:00.3E, Indian Ocean. While underway, pirates in fishing boat attempted to board yacht S/V Saint Jude. Yacht

established contact with Darwin radio -- fishing boat aborted attempt & moved away. (Fri. Sept. 21 2001)



14 Sept. 2001 at 2200 LT in position 09:11.3N - 014:31.3W, Conakry, Guinea. Pirates in 2 fast speedboats attempted to board bulk carrier from stern. Duty officer raised

alarm, sounded whistle & ship's crew fired rocket flares at boat. Attempted boarding aborted. (Fri. Sept. 21 2001)



11 Sept. 2001 at 0115 LT at pilot station, Douala, Cameroon. While at anchor, duty a/b on general cargo ship noticed 3 pirates armed with long knives lowering mooring

ropes into water. He challenged & pirates threatened him. Duty officer raised alarm. Pirates jumped overboard & escaped with the ropes. (Fri. Sept. 21 2001)



Advice To All Ships >> Extra caution advised at all ports in Indonesia, Gelasa Str, Bangka Str, Berhala Str, Sunda Str, Malacca Straits, Singapore Str, Phillip Channel, Vung

Tau, Chittagong Roads, Mongla Anchorage, Chennai anchorage, Cochin anchorage, Kandla, Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Somali coast, Conakry, Nigerian ports &

Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. Ships are advised to maintain anti-piracy watches & report all piratical attacks and suspicious movements of craft to the IMB Piracy

Reporting Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Chinese M/T with 8,600 tons of diesel oil partially sank after collision with Greek container M/V off China's S. coastal city of Xiamen. Collision did not damage its oil tanks.

Greek cargo carrier had safely anchored. Awaiting vessel identifications. (Thurs. Sept. 20 2001)



Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Sept. 18 Japanese government to deploy Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels (1 of 4 Aegis Class destroyers & escorts) in Indian

Ocean to gather intelligence concerning terrorist organizations in aid of U.S. forces launching military strikes in response to Sept. 11 terror attacks on U.S. soil. Welcome.

Also today USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71> Structural repairs now complete at Mississippi drydock, where USS Cole is being rebuilt at an estimated cost of US$247M >> Russian

divers have cut away bow of the Kursk in preparation for raising. >> 830-ton F/V Ehime Maru had been lifted 24 feet off ocean floor before steel strap split late Aug. Sept.

4, for 3rd time in 2 weeks. See our previous postings for details of these now well known stories. (Thurs. Sept. 6 2001)



F/V First Adventure caught fire & sank out of Galveston. U.S. Coast Guard helicopter on training flight rescued crew -- in stable condition at the University of Texas

Medical Branch in Galveston with severe burns and smoke inhalation. (Thurs. Sept. 6 2001)



16,916gwt Singapore registered 147 meter Pacific Carriers Ltd.> Australian warships & helicopters, will patrol corridor from Christmas Island> see Sun. Sept. 2 just below.



Maltese freighter M/V Jovanna, Norfolk for Recife with 30,000 tons of fertilizer, ran aground late Aug. 30 as approached NE port of Recife, Brazil. Crew pumping water &

had isolated fertilizer -- made with ammonium sulphate -- to stop spilling. (Sun. Sept. 2 2001)

Plight of M/V Tampa -- crisis "solved". Australian navy troop carrier HMAS Manoora LPA-52> CLICK HERE.



Trouble For M/V Tampa In Her Earlier Life>> Heavy weather as Pearl Harbor-based fast-attack submarine approached port at Saipan Aug. 28. New commander, Cmdr. David

Bogdan, decided unsafe to enter port, but as vessel attempted to back out, hull scraped bottom. Greeneville proceeded Guam after accident -- divers spotted damage rudder,

acoustic tiles along keel & to outboard motor fairing, piece of navigation equipment. U.S. Navy launched investigation because believed no reason for accident happening in

1st regular W. Pacific deployment since repairs following collision with 499gwt Japanese F/V Ehime Maru 9 miles off Oahu, Hawaii, on Feb. 9 -- 9 men & boys aboard

killed. (correspondent Fred McCague) FOLLOW OUR REPORTS: MOST RECENT ON AUG. 3 >> UPDATE: Norwegian ship owners Wilh Wilhelmsen, said Aug. 28 giant container vessel Tampa did not have enough provisions, medical

supplies or life rafts to make it to Indonesia. Tampa Capt. Arne Rinnan said tension rising among 434 asylum seekers aboard ship anchored in Int'l waters 30 miles off

Australia's Christmas Island> "It (Tampa) does not have permission to enter

Australian territorial waters & it will not be given permission to land in Australia," Australian Prime Minister John Howard told Aug. 27 news conference. Tough stance

received bipartisan support from Australia's opposition Labor party. Australia battling growing numbers of Middle East asylum seekers who reach its vast & remote NW coast

in rickety boats after paying smugglers in Indonesia. (Sun. Aug. 26 2001) UPDATE: Indonesia, nearest port of call, & Norway also refuse vessel. (Mon. Aug. 27 2001)



Trouble For M/V Tampa In Her Earlier Life>> A court ruled Aug. 22 that Japan central government must pay US$375,000 to 15 Koreans who survived explosion aboard Japanese M/V Ukishima

Maru that killed hundreds of Korean forced laborers shortly after World War II. First court ruling involving disaster aboard Imperial Japanese Navy transport vessel, carrying

4,000 Koreans home when blast occurred on Aug. 24, 1945, in Maizuru port in Kyoto, killing at least 524 Koreans & 25 Japanese crew members. In awarding compensation,

Presiding Judge at Kyoto District Court, said Japanese government neglected duties to safely transport Korean passengers aboard M/V Ukishima Maru, which sank

following explosion. Ruling came in case filed 1992 by 80 Korean survivors, seeking US$25M in compensation & official apology from Japanese government. Court said

could only confirm that 15 of Korean plaintiffs were aboard ship at time of disaster -- also turned down demand for apology, saying unclear what caused disaster. Plaintiffs

have long accused Japanese crew of setting explosion to avoid riots by Koreans aboard vessel. Japan denied -- saying ship hit mine placed by U.S. forces. What Happened To

Those Korean Workers?>> New Zealand Navy Women's Rugby Team accused of turning up with big hangovers to play Waikato women's team -- lost 104 to

ZERO & now face disciplinary inquires. Ngaruawahia liquor store owner Tom Hennessy said behaviour was bad enough for him to dial 111 (911) when they stopped by on

Aug. 17 night. Hotel said drinking vodka w/ slices of orange before game next day -- set off smoke alarm & siren. Hotel Mgr. Missy Biddle said that while team had stayed

out partying until 4 am they had not drunk liquor within grounds & were a "lovely bunch of girls & a joy to host". Team member said: "We were a woman's rugby team on a

weekend away, for God's sake. We went down there to have fun, not to give grievous verbal abuse ...." Opposing side said, "We had expected them to be competitive, or at

the very least disciplined, being that they were playing for the Navy. In hindsight, we might have actually been better off not playing them at all." Once again, did we

mention the score was 104 to ZERO -- truly a vessel casualty! (Mon. Aug. 21 2001)



BAJA CALIFORNIA PIRATES >> S/V TLC drifted & finally crashed on rocks of uninhabited island early Aug. 12 morning after vicious pirate attack off Baja

Peninsula> Newfoundland judge on Aug. 15 set bail of US$10,600 each for Capt. Vladimir Ivanov, & crew Dmitriy Bogdanov and Mikhail

Gerasimenko of 541-foot Cypriot-flagged Russian M/T Virgo -- prime suspect in run down sinking Aug. 5 of 83-foot trawler F/V Starbound of Rockland, Maine --only

survivor among 4 crew was vessel's skipper, Joseph Marcantonio of Gloucester, Mass. Arrests were requested by U.S. authorities, who filed criminal complaint. U.S. Coast

Guard said each man charged with 1 count of involuntary manslaughter & misconduct. FOLLOW OUR REPORTS FROM LAST ON Aug. 6. (Wed. Aug. 15 2001)



 TO REPEAT OUR ORIGINAL POSTING OF AUG. 12 >>> Sault Ste. Marie registered M/V Windoc, with grain, struck Allanburg Bridge & caught fire near

Thorold, along Welland Canal Aug. 11. Windoc continued to drift north along canal before coming to stop 1km N. of accident scene. Allanburg Bridge is large artery

into Niagara Falls -- will be be shut down for a few days-- canal traffic will be stopped or disrupted.. (Sun. Aug. 12 2001) THIS HAS BECOME A MAJOR

STORY>> DETAILS AT M/V Windoc>There were major delays, but canal is now open to traffic. (Tues. Aug. 14 2001)



Monument to 17 crew killed in terrorist bombing of USS Cole (DDG-67) will be dedicated at Norfolk Naval Station Oct. 12, exactly one year after attack -- featuring a

10-foot-tall monolith encircled by 17 granite slabs overlooking Willoughby Bay. Estimated US$130,000 to US$150,000 cost of memorial is paid by private donations from

thousands of people & businesses nationwide who are dedicated to this cause. Cole being repaired in Pascagoula, Miss. & expected to return to Norfolk next spring. (Tues.

Aug. 14 2001) OUR TRIBUTE TO THE USS Cole DISASTER > Federal Aviation Administration plans to take rare step of grounding Emery Worldwide Airlines because of numerous maintenance

irregularities, Washington Post reports. FAA told cargo carrier to voluntarily ground its aircraft fleet by noon on Aug. 13 or it would withdraw certificate to operate planes.

FAA officials quoted saying that agency found numerous maintenance discrepancies during 4 major inspections over last 18 months. Discrepancies included improper repairs,

installation of unapproved parts & flying unairworthy aircraft, according to Post. Emery came under scrutiny after 2 crashes last year. New round of complaints about

maintenance irregularities came from Emery's own pilots. Emery, a subsidiary of Palo Alto-based CNF Inc., is one of nation's major air freight carriers, but customers unlikely

affected by shutdown -- company making arrangements with other carriers to keep cargo moving. CNF said considering offers for sale of Emery Worldwide Airlines.

Under plan, buyer would assume existing lease obligations on DC-10s, Dc-8s & B-727s as alternative to recently announced plan to downsize aircraft fleet to 38 freighters

from 54 a year ago. (Sun. Aug. 12 2001)



One Chinese crew drowned & 19 missing after 5 F/Vs sank in tropical storm Tiantu off S. province of Hainan. Rescuers pulled 53 people from sea & retrieved 1 body since

the F/Vs capsized during severe tropical storm Tiantu on Aug. 10. Hainan's military deployed 2 helicopters & cargo aircraft in search, together with some 50 ships. Tropical

storm Tiantu made landfall in Vietnam Aug. 11. (Sun. Aug. 12 2001)



Sault Ste. Marie registered M/V Windoc, with grain, struck Allanburg Bridge & caught fire near Thorold, along Welland Canal Aug. 11. Windoc continued to drift north

along canal before coming to stop 1km N. of accident scene. Allanburg Bridge is large artery into Niagara Falls -- will be be shut down for a few days-- canal traffic will be

stopped or disrupted.. (Sun. Aug. 12 2001)



American Airlines Flight 131, Heathrow for Kennedy Int'l Airport lost undeclared & tragic cargo as unidentified stowaway on Aug. 6 landed in parking lot outside

Jordan Lobsters Farms>Background from our correspondent Fred McCague. (Fri. Aug. 10

2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



03 Aug. 2001 at 0050 LT at Belawan port, Indonesia. While at anchor, 6 pirates boarded tanker, assaulted watchman & threatened with knife. Pirates tied him up, stole

valuables & ship's stores from the forecastle locker. Alarm was raised -- pirates jumped overboard & picked up by their boat. All attempts to contact port control & coast

guard failed. (Fri. Aug. 10 2001)



02 Aug. 2001 at 1200-1500 LT in position: 14:55N - 119:45E, Philippines. While underway, between hours 7-9am speed boats circled general cargo ship & ordered her to

stop. Pirates threatened the crew with bombs. Master raised alarm, mustered crew on deck & primed high-pressure fire hoses. Result -- boats aborted their attempt & retreated.

(Fri. Aug. 10 2001)



01 Aug. 2001 at 0030 LT in position: 22:12.4N - 091:41.3E at Chittagong, Bangladesh. While at anchor, 6 pirates in motorboat came alongside container ship from stern &

attempted to board. Crew spotted -- directed searchlights & chased away. No boarding took place. (Fri. Aug. 10 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Expedition discovered final resting place of S/V Mary Celeste> U.S. Coast Guard investigators arrived in Newfoundland to determine whether detained 590-foot Cypriot-flagged Russian-owned M/T Virgo --

was responsible for deadly run down of 83-foot F/V Starbound of Rockland, Maine -- only skipper survived. SEE OUR AUG. 6 REPORT. Virgo, owned by

Russian-based Primorsk Shipping Corp.> Atlantic-Mariner Inc., owner of F/V Starbound, filed US$1.5M suit Aug. 10 against the Primorsk Shipping Corp. (Fri. Aug. 10 2001)



Two large Maersk vessels adrift in Australian waters Aug. 8, with the larger being buffeted by treacherous conditions in Bass Strait --



44,000gwt container M/V Maersk Tacoma, with general container cargo, lost power in heavy seas -- drifting in Bass Strait in atrocious weather -- 30 km (19 miles) S.E.

of Wilson's Promontory in Victoria state & drifting towards Kent group of islands in 55 knot winds and 3 to 4 meter sea -- tow vessel to reach ship later Aug. 9 (Tues. Aug. 8

2001)



3,560gwt bulk carrier M/V ANL Purpose, broke down on Aug 6, drifting 466 km N.E. of Queensland coastal city of Mackay. Tug expected rendezvous with ship at 6 p.m.

(0800 GMT). (Tues. Aug. 8 2001)



Seattle-based F/V Windy Bay, with 35,000 gallons of diesel fuel, struck rock & sank Aug. 4 in N. Prince William Sound> Two African teenage boys picked wrong ship when they stowed away aboard South African Navy's replenishment vessel SAS

Outeniqua> Many cargo flights out of Hong Kong on Aug.1 cancelled & marine terminals shut down as Typhoon Yutu brushed the territory. With Number Eight

Storm Signal in effect & winds of up to 73 miles an hour (one level below threat of direct hit) port operations shut down in the morning. Typhoon eventually reached land

at Guandong province, W. of Hong Kong. Expect vessel losses. Port of Hong Kong Live Cameras> Passenger ship M/V Sun (ex- M/V Regent Sun>Historical background from our correspondent Fred McCague. (Sat. July 28 2001)



Coast Guard radio operators at U.S. Coast Guard Station Ketchikan overheard radio distress call from 32-foot vessel Dry Heat at 8:46 a.m. reporting that fire engulfed

vessel near Streets Island, 10 miles W. of Ketchikan. Station Ketchikan rescue boat crew responded to the scene at 8:49 a.m. with firefighting equipment, but Good

Samaritans aboard two vessels, the Show Girl & the Sheltered Seas from Sportsman's Cove Lodge arrived on scene 1st & rescued 9 uninjured boaters. >> From our

correspondent Fred McCague. (Sat. July 28 2001)









Last Moments of the Dry Heat

At least twenty workers at Hudong Shipyard in Shanghai killed when a gantry crane collapsed on top of them July 23. Emergency services are trying to bring up to eleven

further workers out of the wreckage, although their chances of survival are reported to be slim. No indication which berth is affected at the busy yard. (Sat. July 28 2001)



When tugboat Capt. Keith Elliot, 70, of Brusco Tug & Barge Co. at Longview, Washington, took a bathroom break about 4 a.m. on June 25 -- the gravel barge his tug was

pushing drifted out of the shipping channel & into collision with pleasure boat moored at public pier on Government Island. A family of 5 was aboard the boat. The father,

Michael Randolf of Battle Ground, was awake & checking on his children before the barge struck. He hustled his wife & 3 children onto the dock, & no one was injured.

Vessel damaged but didn't take water. Elliot cited for failure to maintain a lookout & leaving the scene of a marine accident. A deckhand also aboard, but wasn't cited. U.S.

Coast Guard investigating. (Sat. July 28 2001)



1970-built, 1,479 gt Philippine cargo M/V Dingalan Bay sank after collision with 11,007 dwt Singapore-flag container M/V Pacific Eagle. Dingalan Bay leaking fuel &

Philippine Coast Guard had deployed a boom to contain the oil. Some 16 tons of bunkers though aboard. (Sat. July 28 2001)



129 ton Fairmile, a small wooden patrol & rescue motor launch about same size/vintage as World War II torpedo boat or motor gun boat -- 4 mates set out on a voyage down

Australia's east coast, jumping into icy ocean as their ship sunk in rough seas. Water police frantically raced to stricken ex-navy Fairmile in 4-meter swells off Sydney

overnight July 27. Crew scheduled a stop in Eden on the NSW south coast but ran into trouble when ship hit an unknown object near Maroubra shortly before midnight. She

sank within minutes after striking what may have been a container or other debris. (Fri. July 27 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



24 July 2001 at 0115 LT at Tg. Priok, Djakarta, Indonesia. While at anchor, pirates armed with knives boarded bulk carrier, entered engine room & tied up duty watchman.

Stole large amount of engine spares before escaping. (Fri. July 27 2001)



21 July 2001 at 2300 LT at outer anchorage, Vang Tau, Vietnam. Pirates in unlit boat boarded container ship & stole ship's stores. (Fri. July 27 20010



21 July 2001 at 1815 LT at Abidjan anchorage, Ivory Coast. Pirates armed with a long knife boarded chemical tanker from boat & threatened the watchman. Later 5 more

pirates boarded, stole safety equipment & escaped. (Fri. July 27 2001)



19 July 2001 at 1930 UTC at Panjang port, Indonesia. Two pirates boarded bulk carrier from small boat. Entered engine room, threatened motorman on watch with knife,

manhandled him & tied his hands. Deck watch noticed boat & raised alarm. Result -- pirates fled taking ship's stores.



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Commander, U.S. Coast Guard communications station on remote St. Paul Island in Bering Sea -- shot to death in 1st slaying on Coast Guard property in history.

Chief Warrant Officer Timothy A. Harris, 33, found dead July 24 outside office. Carl W. Merculief Jr., 25, arrested & charged with murder. Motive for slaying not

established. Merculief & 2nd man drove to base about 4 a.m. -- Merculief then went to home of estranged wife & threatened to kill her & 2nd man if they reported shooting.

Hours later, they slipped away & notified police. -- "As a small, humanitarian service in the lifesaving business, we're grieving the tragic, violent loss of one of our team

members," said Capt. Richard Houck, chief of staff of 17th Coast Guard District> 23,000-ton cruise ship M/V Sea, built 1957 [ex-GRIPSHOLM (Swedish American on transatlantic service) & ex-REGENT

SEA>Historical background from our correspondent Fred McCague. (Fri. July 13 2001)



M/V Sea, ex-GRIPSHOLM (Swedish American transatlantic service) and ex-REGENT SEA (Regency Cruises Alaska and Caribbean service) The ship was built in 1957. She

had been laid up in the Bahamas & Florida since the collapse of Regency Cruises about 5 years ago.



Minesweepers, other military vessels & thousands of troops, including specialists in chemical, nuclear & biological warfare, will be part of the security used to protect

world leaders at next week's Group of Eight summit in Genoa. A missile defense system was installed earlier this week. 2,700 army, navy & air force troops to be on duty

during the summit, but none will be deployed against demonstrators, according to the Defense Ministry -- instead used for air & sea patrols, and surveillance work. (Fri. July

13 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



09 July 2001 at 0224 LT in position 06:18.5N - 003:19E, Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Six pirates boarded container ship, tied up the duty A/B & stole ship's stores. (Fri. July

13 2001)



08 July 2001 at 0345 LT at Chennai anchorage, India. Anti piracy watch on container ship spotted pirates on main deck & raised alarm. Pirates jumped overboard & escaped.

(Fri. July 13 2001)

06 July 2001 at 0345 LT at Lagos Roads, Nigeria. While anchored 4 miles from fairway buoy, pirates armed with long knives boarded bulk carrier from starboard quarter.

When duty A/B challenged -- he was threatened with a knife, hit in the waist & his walkie-talkie and watch were stolen. Upon hearing alarm, pirates escaped in boat. Port

control informed at 0600 LT but did not respond. (Fri. July 13 2001)



05 July 2001 at 0730 LT at Tg. Priok anchorage, Indonesia. Four pirates boarded bulk carrier but spotted by anti piracy watch. Alarm raised & pirates escaped. (Fri. July 13

2001)



03 July 2001 at 1940 LT in position 10:38.4N - 03:05W, Guinea Bissau. While underway, ten armed pirates boarded general cargo ship. Duty officer raised alarm & crew

mustered on deck. Pirates escaped in their boat but kept trailing behind vessel for an hour. (Fri. July 13 2001)



03 July 2001 at 2000 UTC at Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh. Pirates armed with long knives boarded container ship & stole ship's stores. (Fri. July 13 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Hong Kong-flagged Japanese Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. iron ore carrier M/V Dyna Gemini refloated July 11, 16 days after grounding on river sand bank W. of Rio de

Janeiro. Dyna Gemini grounded June 25 shortly after it left the inland port Sepetiba, 100 km W. of Rio de Janeiro, with 151,000 tons of iron ore for France. Inquiry aims to

explain why vessel strayed from 15-meter deep channel. Dyna Gemini will sail to France after cargo reloaded. (Wed. July 11 2001)



266-foot M/V Ocean Hercules of San Francisco will arrive Hawaii July 13 for recovery of 190-foot, 830gt Japanese F/V Ehime Maru sunk by U.S. submarine USS

Greeneville 5 months ago. Bodies of 9 Japanese crew believed in fishing vessel, submerged at 2,000 ft., 9 miles S. of Waikiki. Ocean Hercules will prepare sunken vessel for

M/V Rockwater 2, construction support ship that will attempt to move Ehime Maru to shallower water. Salvage experts esimate US$40M recovery operation will require

cooperative sea conditions. U.S. Navy has never salvaged ship of this size. Rockwater 2 is in Philippines -- will arrive Hawaii early August. (Wed. July 11 2001)



Sumatra M/V Sungai Halimun, with 171 passengers & crew, hit ferry belonging to state-owned Pertamina oil company. Passenger ships collided on river in Indonesia's S.

Sumatra province July 10, killing at least 13 -- 7 missing after accident on Musi River> Sandals & shoes are washing ashore on Kodiak Island -- off 'S-Class' 6,600 TEU super container vessel 91,560gt M/V

Sovereign Maersk (1997) > SUB DOWN! --And Our Daily Updates Thereafter. Prepare for the next chapter of one of the great sea stories. Will the Kursk be raised?

(Thurs. July 5 2001)



Our Tribute Pages To Crew of SSGN Kursk



SSGN Kursk -- the full story of her loss



Tribute To The Crew Of SSGN Kursk



Crew of The Kursk



Sinking of The SSGN Kursk



Kursk.com



Kursk Relatives USA Relief Fund



Russian View: Loss of The Kursk



Russian Sub Disaster -- news stories

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Unbelievable But True Maritime Story >> Two Papua New Guinea fishermen bled to death after having their penises bitten off by pirahna-like river fish. Fish, zero in

on urine streams in water -- struck obvious terror among villagers along the Sepik River, in NW Papua New Guinea. Authorities believe killer fish introduced member of

South American pacu family & relative of piranha. In both fatalities, fish demonstrated trait of piranha by following trail of urine in water, swimming to source & then biting

it off with razor-sharp teeth. Some believe killer may be food-source fish introduced from Brazil in 1994 by UN Food & Agricultural Organization & PNG National Fisheries

Authority. Director of PNG Office of Environment & Conservation, Dr Wari Iamo, July 4 expressed "grave concern & dissatisfaction" at the way some government agencies

& donor organisations had gone about importing exotic plant & animal species. Reported at Port Moresby, July 6, by The Age, an Australian publication. (from our

contributor Fred McCague) (Thurs. July 5 2001)



18,500-ton M/V Mirande grounded on sandbank near Rye about 9.30pm June 28. No fuel spilt & no injuries. Master was said "drunk in his bunk" -- in no position to

command when vessel ran aground in Port Phillip Bay, an Australian court was told July 4. When police later tried to interview Capt. Yvon Jean Robert Flambeaux -- the

French national had blood alcohol concentration of 0.29%. Flambeaux, with 40 years' experience, pleaded guilty to charges including being master of a ship while under

influence of an incapacitating amount of alcohol -- fined total A$4,000. Prosecutors told court that at midday of incident - while waiting to set sail from Geelong - witnesses

saw intoxicated Flambeaux drinking whisky. with a colleague. When warned by Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Flambeaux had said: "I understand my

obligations & I will stop drinking." But after vessel hit sandbank, Flambeaux - asleep in his cabin - was found in "a total state of intoxication" -- unable to stand, slurred

speech & reeked of liquor. Yes, we know, had the vesel caught fire -- it would have been Mirande Flambeaux. (from our contributor Fred McCague) (Thurs. July 5 2001)



ALERT: Typhoon Utor >> 449 ships, including many from China, operating nearby sought safety in Taiwan harbors. Utor moving W NW at average speed of 33 km/hour

expected to make landfall on China's SE coast by July 5 afternoon. (Thurs. July 5 2001 - LAX)



Italian Navy July 4 pulled some 600 would-be illegal immigrants from freighter M/V Ammoil adrift off Italy's S. coast. Eight passengers with dehydration. Italian navy

frigate carrying rescued - most believed Iraqi & Turkish Kurds - bound for Crotone. Coast guard helicopters spotted ship, which ran out of fuel off Calabrian coast. Officials

trying to determine nationality of Ammoil. (Wed. July 4 2001)



The Navy Is Home! >> Pieces of disassembled U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II > For some years now, Capt P. Mukundan of the Int'l Maritime Bureau (IMB) has been begging (begging) our indusrty to adopt proper

Anti-piracy procedures & practices. Few carriers have taken note. Now, however, a pirate hijacked ship was taken -- watched electronically by the Int'l Maritime

Bureau -- and then Re-taken within 48 hours! >> This date in history -- June 27 2001 must be remembered as the day of the "Pearl Harbor For Pirates." Yes, a surprise

attack for the Good Guys which may now pave the way for safe Int'l seas -- Thank You So Very Much Capt. Mukundan! (Wed. June 27 2001)



Read About Modern ANTI-PIRACY EFFORTS > Shiploc > Indonesia Navy rescued all crew of hijacked Malaysian tanker M/T Selayang on E. coast of Kalimantan

June 27, while Indonesian vessel M/T Tirta Niaga IV, attacked by pirates in the Straits of Malacca, found its way to Butterworth. Int'l Chamber of Commerce's Int'l

Maritime Bureau (IMB) director Capt P. Mukundan said June 28 that M/T Selayang, which was hijacked 5 days ago, was intercepted by Indonesian Navy, following

high-sea chase ended at 3.20pm (Malaysian time). Indonesian Navy vessels given aerial assistance by Indonesian Air Force following information provided by IMB's

Piracy Reporting Center at Kuala Lumpur. Indonesian Navy also arrested undisclosed number of pirates who seized tanker, while M/T Selayang's Indonesian crew were

reported unharmed. This result is all due to the work of Capt P. Mukundan & his belief in Shiploc > Indonesian Naval forces stormed Singaporean tanker M/T Selayang to arrest pirate gang that hijacked vessel last week. High seas chase ended at

15:20 LT on June 26 when Indonesian naval & air units closed on vessel -- reports London-based Int'l Maritime Bureau (IMB), which had been tracking ship from its Kuala

Lumpur control center. Navy boarded tanker from sea, but unsure of status of 14 Indonesian crew. Other sources in operation said Indonesian Navy put out message saying:

"crew safe," but still unclear whether this referred to original crew or a replacement crew that might have been put aboard by pirates. Tanker, now carrying false identification,

being towed to Kalimantan port of Balik Papan. IMB's satellite tracking system, Shiploc > Two tankers, one a Malaysian-registered vessel, bound from Malaysia recently hijacked by pirates in Int'l waters off the Indonesian coasts. While

Malaysian-registered M/T Selayang was hijacked off E. coast of Borneo island on June 19, latest attack by pirates took place June 26 when Indonesian-registered M/T Tirta

Niaga IV hijacked off N. Sumatran coast. Int'l Maritime Bureau learned of attack on M/T Selayang, which departed Port Dickson with 17 crew & a cargo of gas-oil for diesel

engines, last week (SEE OUR JUNE 23 REPORT). Tirta Niaga, for India with palm oil & 20 crew, hijacked after it set sail from Butterworth. Capt. & crew held for

ransom somewhere off north Sumatra. Shipping sources said ransom demand close to one billion Indonesian rupiah (US$87,750). 2nd officer released to report ransom

demand. (Tues. June 26 2001)



Prime Minister of the UAE & Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum June 25 issued a Cabinet decision banning ships carrying flags of 10

countries from entering UAE ports or approaching the country's territorial waters as part of efforts to prevent maritime pollution -- these include Albania, Belize, Honduras,

Georgia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Mauritius, Cambodia, Maldives, Comoro Islands & Bolivia. (Tues. June 26 2001)



Belize-registered freighter M/V Kuangyuan, with ore & 23 Chinese crew, sent Mayday June 23 that vessel listing & taking water in heavy rains 7 winds of 75 mph of

Tropical Storm Chebi off coast of Tainan, southern Taiwan, before contact lost. On June 24, patrol boats recovered 3 bodies off Tainan -- 2 survivors also picked up. Vessel

presumed lost. (Sun. June 24 2001)



Indian Navy missile boat, INS Nirghat, shot & sunk bow of VLCC M/T Heng Sen, drifting 60 NM (90 km) off Goa coast, at 10.30 a.m. on June 22. The 241,168 dwt Very

Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), broke into 2 pieces on June 12 after it was rocked by 2 explosions. >> SEE Our Sun. June 17 & 21 Reports For Full Story. (Sun. June 24

2001)



Gang of armed pirates intercepted & took Labuan-bound tanker M/T Selayang, chartered by Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd, in Straits of Malacca after it left the oil

company's refinery in Port Dickson on June 19 night. Crew hostage for ransom. Malaysian navy is seeking co-operation of Indonesian counterpart to apprehend. Vessel had

been sailing further from Malaysian & Singaporean territorial waters into Indonesian waters. (Sat. June 23 2001)



5 crew rescued June 22 night after F/V Ocean Challenge began to take on water in the North Sea, 35 miles east of Peterhead, UK. Rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth

and an RNLI lifeboat responded -- lowered 2 coastguard pumps. (Sat. June 23 2001)



ALERT >> Imminent threat from terrorists has all American forces in Persian Gulf on highest state of alert -- "Threat Condition Delta" . In response to threat, Marine

Corps training exercise in Jordan cut short & U.S. Navy vessels ordered out of port in Bahrain, June 22. Contingent of 2,200 Camp Pendleton Marines cut short training in

Jordan -- Marines of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit > [We show you Inshore Boat Unit

15 web page as an example of operations for this unit >

SEE Our Sun. June 17 Report For Full Story. (Thurs. June 21 2001)



Navy & Coast Guard responded to assistance call by Chinese merchant M/V OSG Argosy, 550 km SE Visakhapatnam late June 19 evening. Incident of burn injuries to 3

crew reported to Maritime Operations Centre of Indian Navy. One serious with about 60% burns. Coast Guard contacted by Maritime Operation Centre for medical assistance.

Coast Guard responded dispatching CGS Rama Devi with search & rescue medical. CGS Rama Devi provided assistance - vessel resumed voyage to Singapore after

disembarking patients at Visakhapatnam. (Thurs. June 21 2001)



68-foot F/V Miss Shirley Faye declared total fire loss. U.S. Coast Guard plans to sink vessel. Coast Guard & Jacksonville Fire Rescue battled fire aboard runaway shrimp

boat 5 miles from shore June 20. Once fire out, rescuers surprised vessel didn't burn to waterline. Generator in engine room apparently caught fire about 9 a.m. as vessel

heading to Mayport. Traveling at 6 knots, throttle cable apparently melted & crew couldn't knock transmission out of gear. With a fire aboard & vessel unable to stop --

mayday call made. (Thurs. June 21 2001)



47 foot F/V Our Sarah Jayne (1973) capsized & sank after collision with 9,500 ton Greek cargo M/V Thelisis (1977), Valencia for Tilbury Dock with general cargo, 5.5

miles NW of Margate, UK. Crew from trawler managed to jump overboard at time of collision, just after 0130 hrs. LT --- as vessel was struck with such force that it was

pushed under the water. Incident decribed as "extraordinary escape, & it was by good fortune that pilot vessel was nearby." Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon

(EPIRB) had become detached & floated free from trawler following accident. (Thurs. June 21 2001)



Explosion ripped empty Monrovia registered 300 gt M/T New Renown undergoing repairs at Malaysian Shipyard Engineering, Kuala Lumpur early June 20, killing 9

workers on board -- believed suffocated when the explosion occured at Quay 3 at 10.30am. Workers were about to finish laying new pipes & changing plates with some

welding work being done in storage compartment measuring 12 by 12 meters -- scheduled to have been completed by today for vessel departure tomorrow. Some bodies

burned beyond recognition. (Wed. June 20 2001)



M/V Konga (with 2,700 metric tons of steel scrap) in collision with M/V St Christophe (with 3,600 metric tons of scrap)both in Dover Strait, at 8.30 a.m. in SW shipping

lane 10 miles S. of Hastings. Both with light damage. No casualties. Konga' proceeding to her original destination at Bayonne, France. St Christophe' making way for Seville,

Spain. Weather on scene is SW winds force 2 with slight sea & no swell.(Wed. June 20 2001)



Unidentified Philippine "Tempel" in collision with another vessel before she capsized & sank June 19, off Tanjung Labian, 110 km from Sandakan. At least 4 drowned &

62 others rescued when the vessel with illegal immigrants from southern Philippines capsized. Bodies & rescued passengers taken to Lahad Datu at 3.30 pm. (Tues. June 19

2001)



Unidentified tugboat up in flames June 18 night at Port of Houston -- more than 30 fire units called to scene & 100 firefighters battled blaze. Someone using torch when

sparks flew & caught wood on fire. Fire came up from 2nd deck to main deck. Tug with 30,000 gal. of diesel fuel, but explosion averted. Problems with too much water

streamed aboard, but workers able to pump. (Tues. June 19 2001)



>>> SPECIAL PROGRAMING NOTICE: Due To Travel Schedule - Our Casualty Reports Were Stored From Tue. June 12 Until Sun. June 17. We Are Now

Again LIVE! >>> CLICK HERE > Armed Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) vessels are to be sent to Singapore in July to take part in joint training exercises & anit-pirate patrols with

SE Asian countries. JCG armed vessels capable of carrying up to 2 helicopters & will be sent to region 4 times a year. (Fri. June 8 2001)



DRAMATIC RESCUE >> One of Hollywood's most recognizable stars, "Wilson," the volleyball & co-star of "Cast Away," was rescued off the Los Angeles coastline --

wet, but safe June 7. Fans of the #1 film of the year, "Cast Away," remember "Wilson" as sidekick of Tom Hanks' character, Chuck Noland. While Hanks earned an Oscar

nomination for his work, it was the previously unknown volleyball, "Wilson," who stole filmgoers' hearts & received an award of his own -- "Best Performance by an

Inanimate Object in a Motion Picture" -- from Broadcast Film Critics Assn. "Wilson," -- last seen floating away during a pivotal scene in "Cast Away," was spotted several

miles from L.A. coast by observant U.S. Coast Guard personnel June 7. U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Bill Callard dropped 35-feet from helicopter & swam out to

retrieve the dazed volleyball. Though Wilson is recovering before returning to his acting career, his award-winning performance can be seen in Fox Home Entertainment's

June 12 video & DVD debut of "Cast Away." Photo of daring rescue.> Six Bangladesh Navy gunships in search operation in Sandwip Channel June 1 for 100 passengers missing in the Bay after trawler M/V Mahfuz bound

for Sandwip from Sitakunda capsized in Sandwip channel near Fenirdwar. Two high speed naval craft & 4 additional diving teams also joined search operation. Overloaded

trawler sank caught in whirlwind. (Sat. June 2 2001)



UPDATE >> Wreckage from Pete Goss's multi-million pound catamaran discovered off coast of Ireland. Last year Goss, from Torpoint & crew had to abandon S/V Team

Philips in Atlantic after she developed problems during storm. The 120ft vessel had been on sea trials for round-the-world event called "The Race" which started at beginning

of 2001. Despite extensive searches the £4.5 million catamaran could not be found. But, 6 months on, Irish coastguards said part of yacht now found NW of Mayo (not held)

by a ship carrying out seismic surveys. SEE Our Dec. 10 200 Report (Fri. June 1 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



29 May 2001 at 0600 LT in position 06:01S - 106:53E, Tg. Priok anchorage, Indonesia. Anti piracy watch on general cargo ship spotted 3 pirates. General alarm was raised.

The intruders jumped overboard and escaped. (Fri. June 1 2001)



27 May 2001 at 1705 LT at Vung Tau anchorage, Vietnam. Anti piracy watch on a tanker spotted pirates lowering mooring ropes into speedboat. Alarm raised & pirates

escaped in boat. (Fri. June 1 2001)



26 May 2001 at 1625 LT in position 29:50N - 032:34E outer anchorage, Suez, Egypt. Anti piracy watch on container ship reported unauthorised person at the forward stores.

2nd pirate attempting to climb aboard from launch. Alarm raised & 2 more pirates found in accommodation, they threatened crew & escaped. (Fri. June 1 2001)



26.05.2001 at 0530 LT in position 06:02.8S-106:53.4E, Tg. Priok anchorage, Jakarta. Indonesia. Five pirates boarded RO RO vessel from stern. When challenged, one hit

crewmember on head causing him to bleed. (Fri. June 1 2001)



23 May 2001 at 2030 LT in position 10:15.2N - 107:03.1E, Vung Tau, Vietnam. While at anchor, 4 pirates boarded general cargo ship at bow Using hooks & ropes. roke

open forecastle store & stole ship stores. Chief mate who raised alarm & pirates jumped overboard& escaped in unlit motorboat. (Fri. June 1 2001)



23 May 2001 at 0345 LT at Belawan anchorage, Indonesia. While at anchor, 5 pirates boarded chemical tanker at forecastle. Duty A.B spotted them & alarm raised. Pirates

jumped overboard & escaped taking with them breathing apparatus. (Fri. June 1 2001)



22 May 2001 at 0130 LT in position 06:15.54N - 03:17E, Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. 4 armed pirates boarded bulk carrier from stern & tried to break in to rope store.

Anti-piracy watch on rounds spotted & alarm raised. Pirates jumped overboard into waiting boat & escaped. No injuries to crew. (Fri. June 1 2001)



22 May 2001 in position 01:28S - 116:48E at Lawi - Lawi anchorage, Balikpapan, Indonesia. Pirates boarded bulk carrier & stole & life raft & 3 mooring ropes. Port

authorities informed. (Fri. June 1 2001)



22 May 2001 at Bandar Imam Khomeyni inner anchorage, Iran. Pirates boarded chemical tanker via hawse pipe -- stole ship's equipment & stores. (Fri. June 1 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Double C Shipping Co.'s 560 ft. M/V Leon (1979) in Houston Ship Channel in collision with 135-foot-tall Sidney Sherman Bridge 3:45 p.m. May 31, causing the Texas Dept.

of Transportation to close down several lanes during rush hour. Vessels cargo booms struck bridge near same spot where another ship hit the bridge in Dec. US$500,000 in

bridge damage. (Fri. June 1 2001)

Vessel Loss Dispatches For May 2001





M/V Modern Drive - Incredible Story! Incredible Photos! May 2001



Pakistan Coast Guard Annie Besant out of Mangalore Port May 26 rescued 8 crew from F/V Nagercoil -- had drifted for 8 days after vessel engine failure. Annie Besant

found vessel drifting 10 NM off Kundapur coast & towed to Mangalore Port. Crew without food for more than 4 days. (Wed. May 30 2001)



UPDATE >> After nearly grounding, M/V Modern Drive was towed by tug Pentow Salvor to Algoa Bay for evaluation & then berthed at berth 100 in Port Elizabeth harbor.

Cause of mishap appears to be improper lashing of vessel's own forklift & part of cargo. Fuel tanks of some cars were ruptured & the fuel subsequently ignited, sending

clouds of smoke into engine room. Crew, thinking they had an engine room fire, evacuated the ER & triggered fire extinguishers, causing main engine to stop. Without power,

she turned beam on to heavy seas, causing further cargo to break loose & shift. When taken in tow, she had a list of about 10 degrees. During tow, main engine was restarted

& proceeded under her own power. Damge appears several holes in port side, caused by the forklift, about 20 - 30 cars with fire damage, & about 120 - 150 vehicles with

impact/collision damage. It is expected that the cargo willall be discharged to quayside, damaged and scrap vehicles officially scrapped, &the remainder of cargo restowed

after repairs to the vessel. Initial news reports had vessel with an engine room fire, but this subsequently disproved. SEE May 28 (Wed. May 30 2001)





M/V Modern Driver - Incredible Story! Incredible Photos!



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



29 May 2001 at 0600 LT in position 06:01S - 106:53E, Tg. Priok anchorage, Indonesia. Anti piracy watch on a general cargo ship spotted 3 pirates onboard. General alarm

was raised. The Intruders jumped overboard & escaped. (Tues. May 29 2001)



27 May 2001 at 1705 LT at Vung Tau anchorage, Vietnam. Anti piracy watch on tanker spotted two pirates lowering mooring ropes into a speedboat. Alarm was raised &

pirates escaped in boat. (Tues. May 29 2001)



26 May 2001 at 1625 LT in position 29:50N - 032:34E outer anchorage, Suez, Egypt. Anti piracy watch on container ship reported an unauthorised person at the forward

stores. A 2nd person was attempting to climb aboard from a launch. Alarm was raised & 2 more persons were found in the accommodation, they threatened the crew &

escaped. (Tues. May 29 2001)



26 May 2001 at 0530 LT in position 06:02.8S-106:53.4E, Tg. Priok anchorage, Jakarta. Indonesia. Five pirates boarded a RO RO vessel from stern. When they were

challenged, one of them hit crewmember on the head causing him to bleed. (Tues. May 29 2001)



23 May 2001 at 2030 LT in position 10:15.2N - 107:03.1E, Vung Tau, Vietnam. While at anchor, 4 pirates boarded a general cargo ship at the bow Using hooks on ropes.

They broke open the forecastle store & stole ship stores. Chief mate raised the alarm & pirates jumped overboard and escaped in an unlit motorboat. (Tues. May 29 2001)



23 May 2001 at 0345 LT at Belawan anchorage, Indonesia. While at anchor, 5 pirates boarded chemical tanker at forecastle. Duty A.B spotted them and alarm was raised.

Pirates jumped overboard & escaped taking with them a breathing apparatus. (Tues. May 29 2001)

22 May 2001 at 0130 LT in position 06:15.54N - 03:17E, Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Four armed pirates boarded a bulk carrier from stern & tried to break in to the rope

store. Anti-piracy watch on rounds spotted them & alarm was raised. Pirates jumped overboard into a waiting boat & escaped. No injuries to crew. (Tues. May 29 2001)



22 May 2001 in position 01:28S - 116:48E at Lawi - Lawi anchorage, Balikpapan, Indonesia. Pirates boarded a bulk carrier & stole life raft & 3mooring ropes. (Tues. May 29

2001)



22 May 2001 at Bandar Imam Khomeyni inner anchorage, Iran. Pirates boarded a chemical tanker via hawse pipe & stole ship's equipment & stores. (Tues. May 29 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



United Airlines flight to Chicago from Germany diverted to Iceland May 28 after flight crew concerned over bomb message written in lipstick on bathrrom mirror. UAL

Flight 945 from Frankfurt landed in Iceland 9:30 a.m. CDT so crew & local authorities could search B-747's cabin & cargo area. Hourlong search turned up nothing. No one

arrested. More than 200 passengers spent night in Iceland & will return to Chicago May 29. (Mon. May 28 2001)



HELPFUL TOURIST >> Disaster averted May 27 when U.S. Coast Guard vessel USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) > On May 24, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told news conference that Beijing had accepted a U.S. proposal to dismantle U.S. Navy EP-3

intelligence plane & ship it home. He stressed, yet again, that there was no way China would allow spy plane to fly out. Read Full Story Details > 853 foot Norwegian Cruise Lines M/V Norwegian Sky > M/V Ville De Orion has suffered 96 containers crashed at Port of Los Angeles. This event posted by The Cargo Letter to our Gallery of Transport

Loss page, but not here by mistake. We apologize. Click Here > Indian Coast Guard CGS Sangram (43), for Tokyo to participate in Japanese Coast Guard Review, May 13 rescued 2 Filipino crew adrift at sea for 5

days after 11-meter F/V Waden 1480 capsized in tropical storm Cimaron, 42 NM off Philippines. Waden 1480 also salvaged & taken aboard. The CGS Sangram (43) ......

(1997 & 2nd of the Samar Class > 2,498gt Panamanian freighter M/V My Queen 71,877gt South Korean chemical M/T Samho Freedom in collision -- causing Korean ship to collide again

with 499gt Japanese M/T Hosei Maru late May 11 in Kammon Strait, western Japan. No injuries. All vessels continued their routes. (Sat. May 12 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



05 May 2001 at 2315 LT in position: 16:02N - 113:42.7E, South China Sea. While underway, 5 speedboats surrounded bulk carrier & persons inside attempted to board her.

Ship activated fire hoses, raised alarm & crew mustered. As a result boats aborted attempt. (Fri. May 11 2001)



27 April 2001 between 0200 - 0400 LT at Hongai Anchorage, Vietnam. While at anchor, several pirates boarded tanker using rope with hooks. Stole ship's stores & escaped.

(Fri. May 11 2001)



27 April 2001 at 2115 LT in position 14:52N - 112:58E, South China Sea. While underway, pirates in speedboat tried to board bulk carrier but alert crew foiled attempt. (Fri.

May 11 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Unidentified Italian freighter in collision with Danish tanker while turning around toward sea May 11, spilling 2 tons of heavy oil & another 6 tons of coconut oil into the

Weser River. Tanker, with 100 tons of coconut oil, ripped open along the starboard side, spilling cargo into the river near Brake, 40 miles north of Bremen, Germany. (Fri.

May 11 2001)



One crew missing/presumed dead after Shell Timur chartered M/T Miri Energy, refinery in Miri for Port Kuching with light fuel oil, in collision with fishing trawler off a

river mouth near Borneo island. Eleven crew from fishing vessel rescued. Shell blamed collision on poor visibility due to bad weather. (Thurs. May 10 2001)



UPDATE >> Norwegian registered freighter M/V Lysfoss aground off W. of Scotland has increased list to 12-15 degrees, says Lloyds Shipping Intelligence Service. Salvage

experts from Smit/Klyne at scene. Overnight assessment found extensive underwater bottom damage occurred during grounding -- suspected up to 9 tanks breached, 2

containing heavy fuel oil & a 3rd containing diesel. Cargo held in containers on deck & in hold said secure & intact. SEE Mon. May 7 2001. (Wed. May 9 2001)

Five crew thrown overboard but rescued after 498 gt freighter M/V Hotoku Maru collided with 749 gt chemical M/T Seto Maru & capsized early May 9 off Choshi,

Chiba Prefecture, Japan -- 9 km off Cape Inubo at about 5:55 a.m. LT. Tanker rescued the 5 crew of Hotoku Maru --capsized freighter still afloat -- leaking oil. (Wed. May 9

2001)



Container M/V SAFMARINE COTONOU (21,054 gt, built 1986) had contact damage during berthing maneuvers at Abidjan port berth No.25 at about 1915, LT, May 8. A

tear approximately 4 meters long in port side shell plating in way of No.2 & No.3 water ballast side tanks. Repairs required prior to sailing from Abidjan. Estimated duration

of repairs is five days. (Wed. May 9 2001)



At least 14 crew saved from sinking F/V Martinho by 2 South African Navy vessels answering mayday 2 miles off Cape Point lighthouse May 8 night, National Sea Rescue

Institute (NSRI) in Simon's Town said. Capt. of Martinho, apparently registered in Hermanus, reported trawler taking water &sinking around 19.20pm LT. (Tues. May 8

2001)



950 foot U.S.-registered M/V Sealand Performance rescued 6 sailors from 44-foot U.S.-registered S/V Solitude, Bermuda for Stamford, CT, May 7 after her mast broke in

high seas off Bermuda. Amid 25 kt. winds & 20 foot (7 meter) waves, crew planned to abandon catamaran. Sealand Performance picked up crew 160 miles NW of Bermuda

& will dock this week in N. Carolina. (Mon. May 7 2001)



3,728gwt Swedish cargo M/V Lysfoss , Sweden for Belfast with 140 cubic tons of heavy diesel, 30 cubic tons of diesel & HAZ MAT, grounded on rocks at N. peninsula of

Mull in Scotland just after 5.30am LT. Clyde coastguard rescued all 8 crew unhurt, have been transferred by lifeboat to the Scottish island. Hull badly damaged -- holed near

engine room -- looks near collapse & diesel leaking. (Mon. May 7 2001)



Bulgarian 75,000 gwt oil M/T Mesta (1974), at anchor in ballast, exploded just outside Black Sea port of Constanta, May 7 after explosion, killing 2 of 34 crew. Six crew,

including Capt. remain trapped on Mesta -- billowing smoke as blaze spread. Danger of another explosion great. Witnesses said column of dense brown smoke rising from

tanker, bow pointing up out of water as 4 tugs with fire-fighting gear alongside. Mesta had been waiting to dock in Constanta for repairs. (Mon. May 7 2001)



Syrian registered M/V Wael 2, Cyprus for Libya with cement, began listing & sank late on May 6, 53 miles (85 km) off S.E. coast of Crete --issued distress call. Syrian crew

of 8 -- abandoned ship -- rescued by Greek-registered M/V West Med. (Sun. May 6 2001)



Hijacking Was Not As It Appeared >> The Saudi daily al-Watan in its May 4 issue revealed new information about the question of hijacking the Syrian 750 gwt M/V

Jaafar (Netherlands 1991) -- for example that it happened 5 months ago Dec. 23, 2000! Pirates made contacts with relatives of crew & asked, in beginning for a ransom of

US$ 300,000 -- then retreated to US$ 10,000 -- but vessel owner Mahmoud Ali Ibrahim abandoned crew & ship and disappeared. Security authorities in Syria continue

investigations for owner -- as he left the ship & its crew "facing hunger & even death." Ship now anchored a port near Somali coast. Fate of crew still unknown. Ship

now found registered officially August 18, 1991, under name of M/V al-Asaad, &it mostly sails between Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti & Yemen. SEE Much

Diferent Story From Fri. May 4 201 - Below (Sat. May 5 2001)



Japanese F/V Jitprathana 4 in collision with M/T Caspian Sea between Chang & Lin islands off Chon Buri, Thailand. Trawler cut in half & sank -- 2 missing. Tanker

was Malaysia for a refinery in Laem Chabang -- accident caused a massive spill of part of the cargo of 540,000 gal. of crude oil -- blamed collision on poor visibility due to

bad weather. (Sat. May 5 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___

27 April 2001 between 0200 - 0400 LT at Hongai anchorage, Vietnam. While at anchor, pirates boarded tanker using rope with hooks. Stole ship's stores & escaped. (Fri.

May 4 2001)



27 April 2001 at 2115 LT in position 14:52N - 112:58E, South China Sea. While underway, pirates in speedboat tried to board bulk carrier but alert crew foiled attempt. (Fri.

May 4 2001)



24 April 2001 at 0145 LT outer roads, Tema port, Ghana. While at anchor, 2nd officer & crewmember on general cargo ship were assaulted by pirates whilst checking the

anchor chain. Pirates held them hostage & 3 others stole large amount of ship's stores & crew's valuables. No injuries to crew. (Fri. May 4 2001)



22 April 2001 at 0405 LT at Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. While at anchor 8 pirates armed with long knives boarded chemical tanker using ropes with hooks. Stole ship's

stores & escaped. (Fri. May 4 2001)



20 April 2001 at 2200 LT at Rio Haina, Dominican Republic. While berthed, 4 pirates armed with long knives boarded tanker & tried to dismantle and remove the engine

from a lifeboat. Incident spotted by anti piracy watch who raised alarm & mustered all crew. Pirates jumped overboard & swam toward jetty stealing safety equipment.

Marine police on jetty arrested 1 pirate. (Fri. May 4 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Pirate Alert >> Syrian M/V Jaafar hijacked in Red Sea in Int'l waters adjoining Saudi Arabia & taken to Somalia. Contacts made between Syrian, Somali & Saudi officials

to ensure return back of ship to the Saudi Port of Jazan during next 48 hrs. Directorate of the Syrian ports said to have received cable April 8 saying that "Jaafar" was

"exposed to a hijacking" in Red Sea & was taken to S. Somalia by means of force & that the pirates asked Capt. for a ransom of US$300,000. Reports said ship was working

between Saudi Arabia & Somalia, with all Syrian crew of 7. NOTE: A poor translation by the Syrian news bureau has made this story hard to follow. (Fri. May 4 2001)



Leander-class frigate HMNZS Canterbury entered New Zealand's Devonport Naval Base, May 4 around 10am LT & collided with moored Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Kaha.

No damage. (Fri. May 4 2001)



Rwandan ferry M/V Musaka moored near Goma on Lake Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo capsized & sank when passengers rushed aboard, killing 4 people &

leaving as many as 50 others trapped & feared dead. Musaka bound from former resort town of Goma, ruined by 2..5 years of civil war, S.W. for Bukavu. UPDATE >>

May 4, Divers recovered 12 bodies -- but 100 now feared dead. (Thurs. May 2 2001)



Military helicopters flew mercy mission May 3 for injured South African sailor Johan van Zyl, 37, from Arabian registered M/T Mira Star, in Gulf of Madagascar 300

nautical miles N.E. of Durban, suffered severe spinal & facial injuries after fall more than 6m into hold while carrying out maintenance work. (Thurs. May 2 2001)



Bodies of crew of missing F/V Margaret J found May 2 on uninhabited Prime Seal Island in Furneaux group in eastern Bass Strait, Australia, still attached to life raft they

launched over 3 weeks ago, April 9. Bodies of Ron Hill, 64, Kim Giles, 41, & Robert Kirkpatrick, 48 -- raise question of why search concentratated on vessel, not drifting life

raft. Crew appears to have died in most horrendous circumstances at sea after Tasmanian officials called off search after 4 days -- as men were probably still alive in their

life raft well to east of search area, drifting with wind, currents & tides towards other end of Bass Strait. Margaret J sank off Robbins Island, within hours of leaving

Tasmanian port of Stanley, April 9. (Thurs. May 2 2001)

PIRACY UPDATE >> Pirate attacks on commercial vessels hit a 10-year high during 1st quarter 2001, with 68 attacks reported worldwide, according to the Kuala

Lumpur piracy monitory center -IMB. Bangladesh had 8 incidents, India 5, Malaysia 4, and Nigeria & the Red Sea 3 each. However, Indonesia accounted for 23 incidents, &

9 more took place in the Strait of Malacca. The Cargo Letter (Wed. May 2 2001)



Capt. Tarquino Arevalo, 58 of M/T Jessica that ran aground & leaked 240,000 gallons of diesel fuel off Galapagos Islands -- sentenced May 2 to 90 days in jail & stripped of

maritime license. Arevalo will serve sentence in naval prison at San Cristobal Island, where tanker Jessica sits 1,500 feet offshore. Vessel ran aground in Jan. & listed for 3

days before rough surf forced nearly all oil to leak into surrounding waters. Favorable winds & currents helped push most of slick into open sea, narrowly averting

environmental catastrophe in ecologically fragile Galapagos Islands -- famous for unique animal species that helped inspire Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. SEE Jan.

19 >>webfeature. (Wed. May 2 2001)



U.S. civilian technicians spent 4 hours aboard U.S. Navy surveillance plane on China's Hainan island May 2 to begin assessing extent of damage. Technical experts from

Lockheed Martin Corp., maker of EP-3E Aries II aircraft, allowed to board plane at about 2 p.m. LT. SEE NavyE3 >>webfeature. (Wed. May 2 2001)



Indonesia formally requested Philippines to extradite 7 pirates detained following hijacking of M/V Inabukwa, for prosecution in Indonesia. Philippines had intented to

prosecute the all Indonesian crew & have been held by Philippine authorities since vessel recovered 25 March. Philippine Coast Guard officers still considering charges -- but

group likely to be extradited. Report carried in Malaysian Shipping Times claims Indonesian government has instructed a top naval officer to step down over original

hijacking of Inabukwa on 25 March. Shipping Tines also reports Indonesian Navy has intensified patrols in hot spots to avoid another incident. READ Our March 30 Report

>> Recent respose of U.S. Chinese Internet hackers to the U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II >> The 55,446-ton CMA CGM container M/V Normandie, with general cargo, refloated after hitting reef in Singapore Straits

awaiting clearance to dock in Singapore. Vessel moved to safer waters to survey damage & assess seaworthiness after bunker fuel pumped out by salvors. Report by Lloyds

Casualty Reporting Service on April 24 that 1,150 of 1,950 containers removed by salvage company using floating cranes & barges before they were sent to Port of

Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia. Lloyds confirms Normandie hit reef with some considerable force, leaving front 3rd of vessel up on reef & out of the water, with 5 holds

damaged. SEE Mon. April April 23 for details. (Wed. April 25 2001)



Police in east China' Wenzhou city detained cargo M/V Tongning 3 suspected of hit-and-run maritime accident, which caused M/V Sitong 888, with full load of 900 tons

of ceramic tiles, to sink off Dapeng Gulf near Shenzhen 1:23 a.m. LT on April 18 -- 5 of 7 crew missing. Sitong 888 sank immediately, while Tongning 3 fled. Border police

at Bacao port of Cangnan county spotted Tongning 3 anchored April 21 morning. Crew of Tongning 3 fled after vessel entered port -- also found obvious evidence of

collision on bow. Log book shows departure ex Daganwei port of Dongguan city, Guangdong Province -- for Longgang port in Wenzhou city on April 16 -- passing area of

Shenzhen on April 18. Tongning 3 ignored distress calls from Sitong 888 -- & headed north. Indeed, these guys are rightfully in a spot of trouble. (Tues. April 24 2001)



Dutch F/V Atlantic Princess fined £8,000 after steering vessel wrong way through world's busiest shipping lane. Channel Magistrates in Folkestone, Kent, heard how

vessel narrowly missed a cross-channel ferry, a chemical tanker, a bulk carrier & general cargo vessel on journey. Vessel pleaded guilty to breaking collision regulations

while steering in Dover Straits on Oct. 20 last year. (Mon. April 23 2001)



Container Peril >>> CMA CGM French container M/V Normandie aground & refloated after hitting reef in Int'l waters in Singapore Straits. Stricken vessel moved to

safer waters to survey damage & assess seaworthiness but no risk of pollution as bunker fuel pumped out. A total of 1,150 containers of 1,950 removed by salvors using

floating cranes & barges. Remains unclear what cargo ship was carrying. A 1st batch of containers sent to Port Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, but ship may sail to CMA CGM

regional hub Port Klang to unload remaining containers. Vessel hit reef with considerable force, leaving the front 3rd of vessel up on reef & out of the water. Five holds

damaged on grounding. French owners discounted that vessel will be declared total constructive loss. Industry sources said unlikely the 1991-built vessel would be written

off. (Mon. April 23 2001)



About 110 tons of oil have spilled in English Channel after F/V St Jacques II in collision with 32,000-ton Maltese tanker M/T Gudermes at the South Foreland, 1 mile north

of Dover, in Kent. A 20ft by 6ft hole was ripped in the side of Gudermes, Dover for Africa, with 26,000 tons of oil & 26 crew. (Mon. April 23 2001)



Crew of Greek-registered freighter M/V Makedonia I, for Limassol, Cyprus with timber, were rescued by M/T Matilda in the eastern Aegean, 102 NM southeast island of

Rhodes on April 23 after they were forced to abandon ship when it began listing in high winds. Makedonia I made distress call early April 23. (Mon. April 23 2001)



50,000-ton Indian-registered container M/V Devprayag >> A rescue team in 2 eight-seat Twin Otter planes took off at 1st light April 21 from Punta Arenas, Chile's southernmost

city 2,240 miles S. of the capital of Santiago, en route to a British base on Antarctica. The team has landed at Rothera base on Adelaide Island in Antarctica & plans to head to

the South Pole April 22 in the face of high winds & near-total darkness on risky effort to evacuate ailing American doctor working at the end of the world. Ronald S.

Shemenski, 59, is the only physician among 50 researchers working at the Amundsen Scott-South Pole station in Antarctica. He recently suffered a gall bladder attack & is

diagnosed with the potentially life-threatening condition known as pancreatitis. On April 22, after changing landing gear to skis, one of the Twin Otter will begin a daring

10-hour flight to the ice-covered & wind-swept South Pole. The planes are outfitted with skis -- said only planes capable of reaching the Pole this time of year, when approach

of winter heralds continual darkness & freezing temperatures of -103 degrees Fahrenheit. Larger cargo planes used to fly in heavier payloads risk developing problems with

their hydraulic control systems in the deep subfreezing conditions. SEE April 13. (Sat. April 21 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



13 April 2001 at 1455 UTC in position 22:13.13N - 091:42.7E, Chittagong anchorage B, Bangladesh. Three pirates from an unlit wooden boat boarded a bulk carrier from

stern & tried to steal ship's stores. Roving anti piracy watch raised the alarm. The pirates jumped overboard & escaped. (Fri. April 20 2001)



12 April 2001 at 0440 LT at Chennai anchorage, India. Six pirates in an unlit motorboat approached the bow of a container ship & tried throwing a hooked rope onto railing.

Anti-piracy watch spotted the attempt & raised alarm and directed the searchlights at the boat. The boat retreated. (Fri. April 20 2001)



10 April 2001 at 1220 UTC in position 00:08.8S - 044:06.2E, 90 NM east of Kismayu, Somalia. While underway, armed pirates in 3 fishing boats opened fire & shot 4

times at a container ship -tried to board her. Boarding was averted. No injuries to crew. (Fri. April 20 2001)



07 April 2001 at 1400 LT in position 13:58N - 049:25E, off Yemen, Gulf of Aden. While underway, duty officer on container ship observed 14 pirate motorboats right

ahead at a distance of 3 miles. The ship altered course to stbd to give way for the boats. When the boats were about 1.5 miles, duty officer observed the men in the boats with

ropes & hooks ready to board the ship. Raised the alarm. Seeing the alert crew the boats retreated. An hour later, four boats came within 50 meters & made a second attempt

to board. This was foiled by alert crew. (Fri. April 20 2001)



02 April 2001 to 05.04.2001, Gulf of Aden. While underway, pirates in a small boat followed a French yacht for 4 days & made 4 attempts to board between the coordinates

lat 12:35 to 13:55N, long 47:47 to 52:12E. Boarding was averted with the help of a tanker & a cargo ship who were in the vicinity. (Fri. April 20 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



A Russian plane opened fire April 19 on a South Korean trawler that tried to escape after it was caught fishing off Russia's Pacific coast. Russian coastguard discovered a

total of 6 South Korean trawlers fishing in the Okhotsk sea, near the Kurile islands, & 3 of them sought to make a getaway instead of submitting to an inspection of their cargo.

Coastguard vessels intercepted 2 of the trawlers without incident but a Russian plane was "forced" to open fire on the 3rd before it surrendered to inspection. (Fri. April 20

2001)



Container Snarl >>> Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) seized 317 containers with defective seals suspecting they contain contraband instead of legally imported goods.

Containers will be rechecked after a high-level meeting on April 22 of all parties involved in export-import & container handling. CPA has invited Chittagong Chamber,

BGMEA, shipping agents, feeder operators, C&F agents and master stevedores to the meeting to decide the fate of the containers. More than 10,000 TEUs of containers

currently lying in the container yard. Port authority last week decided not to accept containers without survey following allegations that some quarters are replacing imported

goods with contraband before the containers reach the port. (Fri. April 20 2001)



Sea Battle >>> Sri Lankan navy vessels & Tamil Tiger rebel craft clashed today in their 2nd sea battle this week. Fighting took place off the N.E. coast when a navy patrol

came across a convoy of rebel boats just before dawn. Three rebel vessels destroyed & 3 others escaped. (Fri. April 20 2001)



Eleven crew members missing after Nanjing-registered M/V Sitong 888, Foshan for Jiangsu with ceramics, sank after colliding with an unidendified vessel off southeastern

Shenzhen. Only 2 of 13 crew of Sitong 888 crew were rescued after collision in Daping Bay. Cause of the collision not known. Search for the missing crew continuing. (Thurs.

April 19 2001)

Mayday message in UK received from F/V Walpaul shortly after 2230 BST on April 17, after colliding with F/V Azure Sea which it had been towing. Crew of each vessel

remained aboard as towed to safety by lifeboats from Newcastle, Portaferry & Donaghadee. (Wed. April 18 2001)



One Russian & 2 Greek sailors killed in fire April 16 aboard South African-registered M/V Safmarine Galana berthed in eastern city of Durban. Fire appeared to have

started in cabins on the lower deck, then spread to 2nd deck, where sailors died from smoke inhalation. (Tues. April 17 2001)



Sea Battle >>> Three Sri Lankan navy gunships damaged April 15 in battle with Tamil Tiger rebels, off the northern coast, in the middle of the night just 24 hours before

government ceasefire was due to expire -- 3 rebels killed & 7 soldiers injured. One of damaged vessels towed to northern port of Kankesanthurai. Fighting erupted off the

coast of Chalai when navy detected Tamil Tigers vessel flotilla. (Monday April 16 2001)



***NEW NAVY MUSEUM: The Battleship Wisconsin (BB-64), which saw action in World War II, Korea & the Persian Gulf, opened to the public April 16 2001 as a

floating museum at Norfolk. Norfolk, home of the world's largest Navy base, was the Wisconsin's home port during much of the ship's service. The ship will remain in

Norfolk for 5 years. The Navy then will either donate or sell the ship, probably to the city. April 16 was also the 57th Anniversary of the ship's commissioning for World War

II service. The 887-foot Wisconsin was launched in 1943, 2 years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor -- one of 4 in the Iowa-class, the largest and last built by the Navy.

Wisconsin supported landings at Iwo Jima in 1945 & also served in Korea & the Persian Gulf War -- firing Tomahawk missiles into Iraq. She was decommissioned in 1991.

Wisconsin has classic teakwood decks & mounts nine 16-inch guns -- the most powerful ever mounted on a U.S. battleship -- accurate up to 23 miles. Wisconsin's interior,

with its sensitive electronic systems installed during the 1980' refit, is off-limits & is being preserved with dehumidifiers in the event that the Wisconsin is recalled to active

duty. She's ready! (The Cargo Letter April 16 2001)



>>webfeatures: BB-64 USS Wisconsin | USS Wisconsin Association | Dictionary of U.S. Fighting Ships For USS Wisconsin



Sea Fact >>> Sea piracy jumped 57% worldwide last year with Indonesian waters recording the highest number of attacks. (Source:IMB)



The 3,500-ton Iraqi M/T Zainab that sank off the coast of Jebel Ali, north of Dubai, on April 14 was smuggling Iraqi oil. Zainab was intercepted several days ago by the

Multinational Interception Force that enforces sanctions against Iraq, an official at the Bahrain-based U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said. The ship ran into trouble on its way to a

holding area in Int'l waters for ships that smuggle Iraqi oil in violation of U.N. sanctions imposed on Baghdad after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. UAE officials said they

would attempt salvage. Crew rescued. The ship was carrying around 1,300 tons of fuel oil & leaking. Officials had held emergency meeting on April 14 to discuss ways to

soak up the oil slick. Iraq has increased the amount of oil it smuggles out of the country in recent years. In Feb., British official said Iraq had sold US$600M worth of

smuggled oil in 2000. (Sun. April 15 2001)



U.S. Coast Guard seized Greek freighter M/V Agios Minas stranded off the Georgia coast since late Feb. 2001 with 9 crew, but U.S. Marshal Service took control of the

ship on arrival at port. On April 10 the Coast Guard took control after the owners failed to make arrangements to move & refuel the vessel. New York shipyard, Eastern

Technical Enterprises, agreed to take the ship to settle debts owed by former owners. It wired money for fuel 7 food and agreed to pay the crew when they got to New York.

But soon after pilots guided Agios Minas back to port April 14 afternoon, U.S. Marshals boarded the, an action prompted by Gulf Marine of New Orleans, another creditor

that wants the ship to settle debts with former owners. SEE APRIL 11 (Sat. April 14 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



05 April 2001 at 0130 LT in position: 01:36N - 102:49E, Malacca straits. While underway, 3 unlit boats were sighted ahead of a general cargo ship. One boat approached the

ship & pirates attempted to board. This was prevented by crew. (Fri. April 13 2001)

04 April 2001 at 2045 LT at container terminal, Cochin port, India. Six pirates in a small wooden boat boarded a container ship. They opened one container & stole cargo.

They jumped overboard & escaped when spotted by the crew. (Fri. April 13 2001)



02 April 2001 at 123O UTC in position: 06:52N - 050:01E, 40 nm off Somalia. About 14 pirates in two motorboats fired gunshots at a general cargo vessel & demanded her

to stop. The vessel altered course 7 steered away from the coast. Pirates continued shooting for 10 minutes before aborting the attempt to board. (Fri. April 13 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



NAVY ANTARTIC RESCUE >>> Dr. Ronald S. Shemenski, 59, only physician at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, recently passed gallstone & has

the potentially life-threatening condition known as pancreatitis. U.S. Navy preparing April 13 for daring mission to land ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules >> Australian SAS seizes Togo-flagged F/V South Tommy off South Africa, steaming back to Western Australia, after 2 week sea chase. South Tommy had

more than 100 tons -- A$1 million worth -- of prized endangered Patagonian toothfish >> They're free ! Crew, called the "detainees," are returned via Guam to Hawaii today aboard U.S. Air Force C-17 Golbemaster III

>> Was the U.S. searching for some new type of Chinese military threat? Read the Asia Times story.



UPDATE >>> 60 hours after incident, U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii reports there has still been no contact from U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II >> BUT-- as U.S. diplomats waited to see the

24 crew members April 3, China said for the 1st time that it has the right to inspect the plane -- despite the U.S. claim that it is protected American territory. "Based on

Chinese law, and In'tl practice, we have the right to conduct an investigation," said Zhu Bangzao, spokesman of China's Foreign Ministry. Appearing to mock the American

claim that the plane is protected by Int'l law from outside observance without its permission -- Zhu smiled & told the reporters: "If this plane is sovereign American

territory, how did it land in China?" These actions of a nation which seeks entry to the World Trade Organization are disappointing, but we remain dedicated to the brave

men & women of the United States Navy. Int'l laws make very clear what is to happen under these circumstances --the People's Republic of China must allow this aircraft &

crew the right of departure. (LAX - 9 a.m. LT - Tues. April 3 2001)



ALERT >>> At 9:15 a.m. Chinese time (0115 GMT) a U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II >> The Philippine coastguard has detained a ship suspected of being hijacked by pirates in Indonesian waters & repainted to make it look like another vessel.

The ship was believed to be the 1,170-ton Indonesian M/V Inabukwa which Indonesian authorities reported to have been taken by armed pirates on March 15. The pirates

later left MV Inabukwa's 22-man all-Indonesian crew on a deserted island off Indonesia called Pulau Sayap. On Mar. 25, the coastguard intercepted a ship marked "M/V

Chugsin" off the northern Philippine province of Ilocos Sur and "discovered" that the marking 'M/V Chugsin' was marely painted over the welded name 'M/V Inabukwa', the

latter painted black to match the color of the hull. Seven people aboard the ship failed to present "pertinent vessel documents" and have been detained. Inabukwa was bound

for Singapore with tin ingots slag when it was hijacked in Indonesia,.The coastguard said it was seeking authority from the Indonesian embassy in Manila to open the vessel's

cargo hold. SEE OUR REPORT OF Tues. Mar. 20 2001. (Mon. Mar. 26 2001)



VICTORY >>> The crew of Japanese cargo M/V Kitano battled fatigue & the elements for more than 18 hours before extinguishing a stubborn deck & container fire this

afternoon. The lengthy battle left the 22 Filipino & Japanese sailors on the 288-meter Kitano near exhaustion. A harbor pilot boarded the vessel mid-afternoon & declared it

safe to enter the harbor. >>> SEE our other updates, below. (Sat. Mar. 24 2001)



A flotilla of rescue boats rushed to the mouth of Halifax Harbor Mar. 23 night to assist Japanese container M/V Kitano, New York for Halifax, with 22 people on board

fighting a dangerous chemical fire. Kitano was 27 km south of the city Mar. 22, when crew members spotted smoke coming from one of the containers lashed to its deck.

The fire, involving highly combustible camphene wax, spread to 3 other containers as the dripping wax melted then re-ignited as it spread. Coast guard ships, military aircraft

& 2 warships with firefighters aboard were dispatched. By 9 p.m., the ship was within sight of Chebucto Head but 5 meter seas, strong winds & freezing rain made the

firefighting effort extremely difficult. Options such as dropping the burning containers off the ship were deemed too hazardous. A decision will be made today on how

to get the firefighters aboard the vessel. >>> SEE Thus. Mar. 22 2001 (Sat. Mar. 24 2001)



The BP Amoco M/T British Valour, with 300,000 tons of crude oil, Norway for Freeport, Texas remains stranded off Bermuda after an engine room explosion Mar. 18.

>>> SEE Mar. 19, below. UPDATE: Rescue tug delayed by weather -- expected on station late evening today. (Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___

18 Mar. 2001 at 0300 LT in position: 04:49S - 011:39E (1.2 nm from Pointe-Noires), Congo. Two pirates, one armed with a knife, boarded a general cargo ship & lowered

mooring ropes into the boat. When they were spotted by anti piracy watch, pirates jumped overboard & dropped the ropes into water. Port control was informed. A police boat

arrived & retrieved the floating mooring ropes. (Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



17 Mar. 2001 at 0345 LT at Bontang anchorage, Indonesia. While at anchor, three pirates armed with long knives boarded a LPG carrier & stole mooring ropes along with

other ship's stores. Master believes that pirates were monitoring local VHF channels & heard instructions given that the ship was to berth at 0700 that day. They would

thus have been aware that moorings would be prepared prior to this. (Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



15 Mar. 2001 at 2200 LT at wharf 305, Tg. Priok, Indonesia. While berthed, pirates armed with knives & guns boarded a RO RO ship & stole cash and crew belongings.

(Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



15.03.2001 at 1955 LT in position: 00:37.0S - 05:25.04E off Riau island, Indonesia. While underway, armed pirates boarded a general cargo ship & hijacked her. Soon

after, pirates tied up & blindfolded the 22 crewmembers -- dropping them on Pulau Sayap, an uninhabited island in Riau waters. Local fishermen picked up the crew

on 17.03.2001 and took them to Riau Island landing them at 0400 on 18.03.2001. The unidentified ship along with her cargo of tin plates plus concentrates & pepper

worth US$2.1M are missing. (Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



15 Mar. 2001 at 0230 UTC at Semangka port, Indonesia. While at anchor, two pirates armed with long knives boarded a tanker. The alarm was raised and the pirates

jumped overboard and fled. No loss of property or injuries to crew. (Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



14 Mar. 2001 at 0350 LT at Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Three pirates armed with jungle bolos boarded a bulk carrier. The crew locked themselves in the accommodation,

raised the alarm & informed port control. The pirates left after 15 minutes taking with them 3 mooring ropes. (Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



14 Mar. 2001 at 0001 LT in position: 00:58.5N - 105:11.6E, east of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia. Eight pirates armed with long knives & guns boarded a container ship from a

speedboat. They robbed the ship's cash & left in their speedboat. No injuries to crew. (Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



Deorbit of Russian Space Station Mir In South Pacific: It is reported that as many as 40 vessels were in the general splash area of several thousand square Sout Pacific

miles. As of 2000 Los Angeles LT there have been no reports of either incident or damage. All but four of multiple tuna fishing vessels in the area had reported in as this

morning & there are no reports of damage. (Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



The 22-member crew of 288-meter Japanese container M/V Kitano's crew, ex-New York, battled fire early Mar. 22 morning off Canada's east coast as rough sea conditions

delayed assistance. Kitano notified Canadian Coast Guard one container was afire Mar. 22 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Halifax time (2030 GMT). Helicopter on scene shortly

but harsh weather forced return. Fire reached 3 additional containers containing machinery but crew managed to extinguish 2 of them. 5-meter swells & 45-knot wind

conditions eliminated chance of fire crews boarding vessel. Ship is anchored off Chebucto Head, 20 km (12.4 miles) south of Halifax, while 2 coastguard vessels stand by.

Some of the containers on the vessel are believed to be holding camphene wax, a highly combustible substance which emits toxic odor when burned. No reports of injuries.

(Thus. Mar. 22 2001)



Eight sailors rescued Mar. 21 morning after Cambodian cargo M/V Amber, with over 1, 700 tons of steel bars, sank at 25 degrees north latitude, 119 degrees &11 seconds

east longitude near east China's Fujian Province. (Thus. Mar. 22 2001)

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have sunk an Israeli-built Sri Lankan Navy gunboat, killing at least 11 sailors in the bloodiest sea battle during their 3 month-long unilateral

truce. Three navy gun boats were involved (the others damaged) in a pre-dawn exchange of fire off the coast of Mullaitivu where the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil

Eelam rebels are known to have their strongest base. Three rebel craft were destroyed by the navy. The navy swung into action after detecting a flotilla of 8 rebel boats. Navy

patrol craft were moving from the naval base at Trincomalee. (Wed. Mar. 21 2001)



March 20 BRAZIL OIL RIG UPDATE: The Petrobras, world's largest oil platform, sank in heavy seas today. SEE OR REPORT OF SUNDAY MARCH 18, below.

(Tues. March 20 2001)



5,795 ton Maltese-registered tanker M/V Balu, Denmark for Spanish port of Huelva, with 8,000 tons of sulphuric acid, sank in 4,800 meters, in the Bay of Biscay on Mar. 20.

The vessel went down at 10:26 a.m. (0926 GMT) on the edge of Int'l waters, some 120 NM (200 km) north of the Spanish coast 7 270 NM (480 km) off France. The 23 crew

were picked up from life-rafts & all safe. Weather conditions said "severe" -- wind at 60 kph (40 mph) with waves four meters (13 ft) high. Third sizeable tanker to sink off

the French coast in 15 months. (Tues. Mar. 20 2001)



PIRATE ATTACK>>> The Indonesian cargo M/V KM Inabukwa, with tin & pepper has gone missing after being hijacked on a voyage to Singapore. The Indonesian state

shipping line PT Pelni says the vessel was hijacked Mar. 15 while sailing from Pangkalan Balam, on the island of Bangka. Crew of 23 is was overpowered by more than a

dozen armed pirates who boarded the ship while at sea. Abandoned on a small uninhabited island, the crew were later discovered by local fisherman. Whereabouts of

hijacked vessel & cargo is unknown. (Tues. Mar. 20 2001)



BP Amoco M/T British Valour, with 300,000 tons of crude oil, Norway for Freeport, Texas is stranded off Bermuda after an engine room explosion Mar. 18, but poses

little threat to the environment or shipping. British Valour drifting slowly eastward away from land & major shipping lanes & little risk of landfall or collision. Explosion in

the ship's crank case occurred 1900 LT (6:00 p.m. EST/2300 GMT) roughly 80 miles S.E. of the island & caused no injuries or pollution. Ship requested assistance from

Delaware-based tugboat, expected to reach by Mar. 21 afternoon. (Mon. Mar. 19 2001) UPDATE: Rescue tug delayed by weather -- expected on station late evening today.

(Fri. Mar. 23 2001)



***Coming Home ........ as the famous World War II aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVB- 41 ) will "home port" in downtown San Diego's bayfront in a major transformation

of the so-called North Embarcadero area. The great Midway may arrive home as early as Oct. 2001 from Moth Ball Fleet anchorage at Bremmerton, WA. Official Midway

Memorial page. USS Midway History page. USS Midway (The Cargo Letter, Mar. 19 2001)



Three crew plucked by an RAF helicopter team from liferafts after abandoning F/V Christine Neilson, 120 miles N.E. of the mouth of the River Tyne, in the North Sea.

Rescuers were alerted after HM Coastguards in Falmouth, Cornwall, picked up distress signal from the sinking ship at 0440GMT on Mar. 18 (force 5 with a moderate sea

state). The helicopter team was sent because no ship was close enough to assist the stricken vessel. (Sun. Mar. 18 2001)



World's largest offshore oil rig has reportedly stopped sinking 4 days after massive blasts rocked the structure that killed 10 people on Mar. 15. Brazilian owners of

the US$700M rig, Petrobras, say the steeply listing 40-story platform is stable despite sinking more than 4 meters after the explosions threatened to send the rig to the ocean

floor. Petrobras stepped up efforts this weekend to save the rig, flying in American and Dutch experts and 50-tons of European equipment to keep the deep-sea platform afloat

and prevent an oil spill. See our March 15 report, below. (Sun. Mar. 18 2001) March 20 UPDATE: The Petrobras sank in heavy seas today. (Tues. March 20 2001)



Four dead & 8 missing after cargo M/V He Xinguo capsized & sank near Zhenhai of Ningbo Port City, east China's Zhejiang Province, early Thursday morning. He

Xinguo violated regulations by carrying passengers & took risk by sailing ship against fresh gale winds from Jintang to Zhenhai around 6:30 Mar. 15 morning. When the ship

reached the estuary of Yongjiang river, Ningbo, around 7:00 am, powerful waves caused ship to capsize & sink 5 minutes later. All 17 aboard thrown into the sea. (Sat. Mar.

17 2001)

WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



12 Mar. 2001 at 0520 UTC at Jakarta anchorage, Indonesia. Three pirates armed with long knives boarded a vessel from a long blue color boat with canvas hood. Crew

spotted intruders in the engine room and raised alarm. Pirates escaped with engine spares. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



10 Mar. 2001 at 1130 LT at Chittagong, Bangladesh. Pirates boarded a LPG carrier moored at ammonia berth and stole ship's stores. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



08 Mar. 2001 at 0445 LT in position: 01:05N - 105:13E, 35 n.m. east of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia. While underway, 8 pirates armed with long knives & guns boarded a LPG

carrier. They broke open the door on captain's deck. They went to the bridge and took chief officer & duty A/B as hostage and brought them down to the captain's cabin and

told the chief officer to call the captain. When the captain opened the door, they blindfolded all three & tied their hands & feet. They stole ship's cash & crew valuables.

They then ransacked crews' cabins & stole cash & valuables. They jumped overboard & escaped in their speedboat at 0717 LT. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



7 Mar. 2001 at 0512 LT in position: 14:41N - 120:05E, Manila port, Philippines. While underway, pirates in a speedboat tried to board a container ship. The ship raised the

alarm & contacted the coast guard. The speedboat retreated. At 0550 LT the same boat tried to attack again but alert crew repelled the boarding. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



6 Mar. 2001 Chittagong anchorage "C", Bangladesh. Following 3 attempts were made to board a container ship at outer anchorage. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



6 Mar. 2001 at 0300 LT. Eight pirates in a boat came alongside and tried to board. Alert crew repelled the attempted boarding. Duty officer called Chittagong port control,

who responded three hours later at 0600 hours. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



5 Mar. 2001 at 0030 LT three pirates in the same boat had attempted to board the same ship. One of the pirates raised a revolver but did not fire a shot. Seeing the alert crew,

the pirates left. The duty officer called Chittagong port control, who responded 4 hours later at 0500 hours. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



4 March 2001 at 2300 LT three pirates in the same boat had approached the same ship & tried to board her. Shore watchmen & crew repelled the attempted boarding. (Fri.

Mar. 16 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



The Syrian-registered 2,218 gt cargo M/V Qula Queen, Russia for Syria with timber, sank 60 miles off the port of Sinop on Turkey's northern Black Sea coast at 0400 GMT

on Mar. 16 & 3 crew members are missing. Eight of 11 crew members were rescued & coastguards were searching for missing. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



Authorities at Europe's 2nd-largest seaport launched emergency procedures Mar. 16 after a container filled with flammable chemicals crashed onto another one in the

hold of the Barbados-registered, Israeli container M/V City of Haifa at Antwerp. Both containers sprung leaks in the accident that occurred during the nigh in elaborate

salvage operation began in the afternoon. Officials declared a 125-meter no-go zone around the ship as a floating crane was placed to lift the 2 containers from the hold. Tug

boats with water canon lay nearby, ready to erect a curtain of water around the container ship to prevent a spreading of noxious fumes or flames. One of the containers carried

ethylamine, a highly flammable chemical that can give of toxic vapors when burned. Authorities were concerned it could react with other chemicals on the ship, causing an

explosion. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)



U.S., French & Dutch rescue crews searched the northeastern Caribbean Mar. 16 after the Netherlands Antilles flagged, 40-foot motorized vessel Esperanza sank about 2

miles (3 km) west of St. Martin, the French half of the island shared with Dutch Sint Maarten. Survivors said as many as 40 other people had been aboard. At least 20 bodies

were recovered, some from the submerged vessel & others after they washed ashore. Authorities in Santo Domingo said most of the passengers were from the Dominican

Republic, but that Chinese and Haitian passengers were also aboard. (Fri. Mar. 16 2001)

Four people died & 8 are missing after an unidentified cargo ship capsized in a river in China's eastern province of Zhejiang. The ship was carrying passengers in breach

of regulations & capsized in gale force winds. It sank within 5 minutes. (Thurs. Mar. 15 2001)



A Devon HM Coastguard who was bitten by a mystery spider hopes the Natural History museum might identify it. Andrew Burton was on duty at the East Prawle lookout

station when he felt a tingling pain shooting up his arm. Mr Burton killed the spider before he was taken to hospital where nurses had to ring Guy's Hospital in London to ask

for treatment advice. He described the offending creature as fat, about half an inch long & having a translucent, ruddy brown colour. One theory is that the spider may have

been blown to Devon from its more exotic homeland on strong winds. Prawle Point is one of the most southerly parts of Britain & rare birds often turn up in the vicinity after

gale conditions. (Thurs. Mar. 15 2001)



Two explosions rocked Brazil's largest mega offshore oil platform Petrobras, Mar. 15, starting a fire that killed at least 10 workers & forced the evacuation of about 150

others. Several after the blasts. The explosions & fire practically ruined the rig in the huge Roncador oil field in the Campos Basin, which accounts for more than 75& of the

roughly 1.3 million barrels Brazil produces daily. The rig is about 75 miles off Brazil's coast. (Thurs. Mar. 15 2001)



The 2,550-ton Danish-registered M/T Sofie Theresa, with non-hazardous "slack wax", is anchored off the south coast after crew put out a fire which had torn through its

engine room. The 13-man crew tackled the blaze 18 miles off Beachy Head at Eastbourne, East Sussex. "Slack wax", used in candles & cosmetics, was not affected by the

fire. A commercial tug is responding for tow back to Rotterdam. Sister vessel M/Y EllenTheresa, was close by when the fire started & on station in case of evacuation. (Wed.

Mar. 14 2001)



More than 400 people were taken off the cruise M/V Andaman Princess yesterday after the vessel began to list near Koh Phi Phi. Ship. Had begun to take water; seeping

into the hull too fast for the ship's pumps to handle. Passengers were told to put on lifejackets as crew was preparing for evacuation. Rescue services were contacted as the

ship set course for Phuket, but the vessels were too small. Liner limped into Phuket at 5.30 pm LT, more than 3 hours after it began to list. The 300 passengers & 100 crew

transferred to M/V Bortine, a medium-sized vessel. (Wed. Mar. 14 2001)



1,999-ton cargo M/V Rokko 3, Port of Bizen - Okayama Prefecture for China in ballast, ran aground Mar. 13 midnight on rocky shoal off Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. No

reports of injuries or oil spill. The 14 crew, all Philippine, rescued by Coast Guard 5 hours later. Ship aground on shoal situated about 100 meters from shore of an islet. At the

time, the waters were calm & visibility good, but there was tidal current. (Wed. Mar. 14 2001)



MAJOR CONTAINER CARGO LOSS >>> Panamanian 787-foot (236-meter) container M/V Choyang Park ex-France for New York lost 81 containers at sea, the U.S.

Coast Guard reports. Unclear where/when containers lost. Two of the ship's cargo bays collapsed during voyage, crushing contents inside bays. U.S. Coast Guard

inspectors found blue jeans, light bulbs & car tires on deck after Choyang Park docked New York, Mar. 12. U.S. Coast Guard monitoring ship's cleanup effort w/ further

inspections to determine seaworthiness. Additional information & photos are requested. (Wed. Mar. 14 2001)



Passenger ferries M/V Thassos 5 & M/V Papagiorgiou 5 collided in northern Aegean Sea, Mar. 13, injuring at least 3. One vessel heading from Kavala, 700 KM (435

miles) N.E. of Athens, to nearby island of Thassos when it struck an oncoming ship. Three Greek passengers were hospitalized, 2 w/ head injuries & the 3rd with an injured

leg. Neither vessel suffered serious damage. Reason for collision not clear, but fog reported in area. Greek coastal shipping came under intense scrutiny when M/V Express

Samina ferry sank near island of Paros on Sept. 26 after striking rocks. Eighty people died. (Wed. Mar. 14 2001)



One Stop Auto Parts >>> Thailand will step up security around its ports after pirates robbed an unidentified Mitsui container ship waiting to dock at the country's

biggest port. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines complained to Thailand's port authority after pirates stole seats & radios from cars on one of its Europe-bound vessels. Mitsui estimated the

damage, which happened while the ship waited to dock at Laem Chabang port in eastern Thailand, at close to US$229,300. Marine police say they have caught some members

of the gang, but blame tight budgets & lack of cooperation between various government agencies for the authorities' failure to stop the thefts. It is the practice of lines not to

identify specific vessels. We will inquire. (Tues. Mar. 13 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



5 Mar. 2001 at 0030 LT at Chittagong outer anchorage, Bangladesh. Three pirates in a boat attempted to board a container vessel. One of the pirates raised a revolver but did

not fire a shot. Seeing the alert crew, the pirates left. The duty officer immediately called Chittagong port control who responded at 0500 hours. Earlier on 4.03.2001 at 2300

LT the same boat had approached the ship. However, the shore watchmen & ship's crew had repelled the attempted boarding. (Mon. Mar. 12 2001)



2 Mar. 2001 at 0245 LT at Lagos anchorage, 7nm off breakwater, Nigeria. Six pirates in a boat came alongside a LPG vessel. Three pirates armed with knives and machete

boarded the ship. The duty watchman spotted the pirates & raised the alarm. The pirates managed to cut a mooring rope and lowered it into the boat. One of the pirates hit a

crewmember. The pirates disembarked and escaped. (Mon. Mar. 12 2001)



27 Feb. 2001 at 2345 LT in position: 05:17.5N - 097:58.4E, off Ujung Peureulak, Indonesia. Pirates chased a tanker underway & attempted to board her. Duty officer raised

alarm. The crew mustered & the ship altered course to prevent boarding. The boat aborted the chase after 20 Minutes. (Mon. Mar. 12 2001)



27 Feb. 2001 at 0130 LT in 03:20.0S - 105:34.0E, Indonesia. While underway, six pirates armed with long knives boarded a container ship. Alert crew raised alarm &

pirates escaped in a small boat. (Mon. Mar. 12 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



***Call To Halt "Sea Slaves" ........... as tens of thousands of sailors work in virtual slavery on merchant ships in the Asia-Pacific region and Japan should lead a drive to

wipe out the abuses, the Int'l Commission on Shipping said on mar. 7. ICONS, an independent group set up to study shipping conditions, released a study claiming sailors

work in slave-like conditions in up to 15% of the world's ships. The "Ships, Slaves & Competition" study says many ship workers endure minimal safety, long hours for

little or no pay, are fed poorly and may be subject to rape & beatings. The report said crews told stories of sailors disappearing after complaining to officers and of being

blacklisted if they sought union help to collect unpaid wages. ICONS chairman Peter Morris said during a year long investigation the commission received 125 written

submissions and held public & private meetings with industry operators and governments. The commission said substandard working conditions flourished on some vessels

because of secrecy on ownership that made regulation difficult. The slave practices were supported by cargo owners seeking lower freight rates at the expense of the majority

of ship operators, who follow proper labor practices, Morris said. (The Cargo Letter, Mar. 12 2001)



The 300-ton Singapore-registered M/T Pristine, with 150 tons of carbon black fuel oil, sank after being ablaze for 9 hours in the busy shipping lane off Tanjung Piai in

Pontian Mar. 8, 3 NM off Tanjung Piai, at 7am. Capt. & crew abandoned ship. Salvage company--Singapore-registered Semco-- will handle the wreckage. (Fri. Mar. 9 2001)



The M/V Pamela Dream, with lumber, sank about 28 miles east of Wuchiu Island, which is held by Taiwan, although it is just a few miles from the coast of Fujian province

in China. on March 8, with 3 Russian crew dead & 4 missing. Government-owned Radio Hong Kong & Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency says 3 died when the vessel sank.

ITAR-Tass said 4 other sailors had gone missing but some were rescued. A Hong Kong government spokeswoman confirmed that trouble was reported by Pamela Dream

during the afternoon & another vessel bound for Hong Kong, M/V Prosperity No. 8, had rescued one seaman. Government-run Radio Hong Kong says a cruise ship bound

for Hong Kong (M/V Aurora ?) was among the vessels rescuing the sailors. (Thurs. Mar. 8 2001) >>> SEE FOLLOWING POST (Fri. Mar 9 2001 -- Confirmed that vessel

was M/V Pamela Dream)

At least 10 seamen were have been rescued after an unidentified Cambodian log carrier sank in the Taiwan Straits on March 8. Survivors are being transferred to Hong

Kong in a number of vessels that took part in the rescue. Three were recued by passenger M/V Aurora, currently on her maiden voyage around the world. >>> Indeed, a

rudder problem for M/V Aurora appears to have been caused by striking submerged debris from the sunken vessel -- which in turn slowed the cruise ship to the

point where it was in a position to notice the floating survivors. Otherwise, M/V Aurora would have just steamed forward to Hong Kong without notice of the

problem. Both God & the sea work in strange ways. It's unclear why the Cambodian vessel sank although some reports say a cargo of huge logs shifted & caused the ship

to founder. It is currently unclear if this loss is the M/V Pamela Dream -- reported above. (Thurs. Mar. 8 2001) >>> SEE PREVIOUS POST



Rescuers recovered the bodies of 5 crew Mar. 6 in the icy waters off Britain's Western Isles after German-registered trawler F/V Hansa sank in high seas. One crew

member remained unaccounted for. TRUE MIRACLE >>> One man was pulled alive from the sea around midday after 12 hours in the freezing water. Overnight, 9

other crew in a life raft suffering from hypothermia were airlifted to safety after a distress signal was detected late Mar. 5, HM Coastguard officials said. Aircraft from Britain,

Ireland & Canada participated about 240 miles W. of the Scottish coast. Four ships -- 1 British & 3 Norwegian -- remain on station, searching the area for survivors. Hansa

has sailed from the Spanish port of La Coruna. (Tues. Mar. 6 2001)



Japan's coast guard monitoring movements of 6,182-ton, Chinese-registered container M/V Chao Bai He, with 26 crew & unknown cargo in containers, currently in danger

of running aground on island S.W. of Tokyo & were considering evacuating crew. Chao Bai He anchored near island of Niijima about 180 km (111 miles) S.W. of Tokyo

after earlier reported as drifting with engine trouble. There is possibility it could run aground. (Mon. Mar. 5 2001)



United States M/V Nepenthe & Switzerland M/V Antares Royal, collided Mar. 2 while transiting the Panama Canal, damaging the ships but causing no injuries. The

vessels were entering one of the chambers of the locks when turbulent waters caused the ships to crash into each other. The ships continued passing through the canal before

stopping for repairs. The accident did not interrupt the canal's operations. (Mon. Mar. 5 2001)



Java Crisis >>> In Central Kalimantan province on island of Borneo, Indonesian navy ships Teluk Ende & Bukit Raya now evacuated about 7,000 refugees from recent

ethnic slaughter. Vessels departed port town of Sampit on Indonesian half of Borneo island, where at least 20,000 people have been sheltering in camps after being driven

from their homes by indigenous Dayak mobs. Most of the refugees are settlers or descendants of settlers from the island of Madura, just off the coast of Java. See our

origninal story on this chaos where "headless bodies floated by" from Mar. 1.(Fri. Mar. 2 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



23 Feb. 2001 at 0347 UTC in position 13:47N - 048:12E, Gulf of Aden. A ship in the above area transmitted a May Day message that a boat were chasing her. Another ship

intercepted this message and relayed to the IMB piracy-reporting center who in turn alerted the authorities in Djibouti. (Fri. Mar. 2 2001)



22 Feb. 2001 at 2320 LT in position 00:56.6N - 103:39.121E, southern end of Malacca straits. While underway, pirates boarded a tug & robbed the crew. No serious injuries

to crew. (Fri. Mar. 2 2001)



22 Feb. 2001 at 1120 LT in position 13:29.8N - 043:01E, Gulf of Aden. While underway two high speedboats chased a bulk carrier & tried to board. The ship raised alarm

& took evasive action. The boats aborted the attempt & headed towards another ship nearby. (Fri. Mar. 2 2001)



21 Feb. 2001 at 2130 LT in approximate position 00:58N - 103:41E, southern end of Malacca Straits. While underway, pirates boarded a tug & robbed the crew. No serious

injuries to crew. (Fri. Mar. 2 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports

In a daring mid-sea rescue, pilots of an Indian Air Force MI-8 helicopter lifted to safety 4 crew of an unidentified sinking Indonesian M/V from the Andaman sea on Mar.

1. The rescue mission was launched on a distress SOS call from an American woman yachter who observed the vessel being in danger. The chopper successfully located the

unidentified Indonesian vessel 100 kms south of the Car Nicobar Island, virtually sinking into the deep green waters, & in a swift action winched up 4 crew to safety in a

dehydrated condition. (Wed. Mar. 1 2001)



Java Crisis >>> Headless bodies floated down river past Indonesian naval landing craft Teluk Ende at the port of Sampit as thousands of refugees fled a savage Dayak

killing spree in Borneo on Mar. 1. About 3,000 refugees boarded Teluk Ende, many of whose houses lay empty & torched from 11 days of violence. At least 469 people

have died, mostly Madurese immigrant settlers, at the hands of indigenous Dayak tribesmen since the violence began with a clash between Madurese & Dayaks. Special

Indonesian naval marine troops & police at the evacuation point are taking no chances, conducting spot weapons checks on young males boarding Teluk Ende, amid

unconfirmed rumors that that Madurese had killed more Dayaks overnight. Estimates of the number of refugees in Sampit range from 17,000 to 40,000, with more filtering

out of the jungles hourly for transport to Surabaya & other ports in Java, from where they will return to their ancestral home, the arid island of Madura off the Java coast. As

Teluk Ende prepared to sail, a 2nd ship, the Bukit Raya, with a capacity of 6,000, landed to evacuate the next shipload. Health workers said at least 6 refugees had died since

the crisis began, & diarrhea was spreading, especially among children. (Wed. Mar. 1 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports





Vessel Loss Dispatches For February 2001





Maltese freighter M/V Kristal, India for Rotterdam with molasses & a crew of 35, broke in two and sank Feb. 27 off northwest Spain, leaving 3 sailors dead & 8 missing.

Other crew were rescued by teams working from helicopters & ships, although 3 were hospitalized in serious condition in the city of La Coruna with hypothermia. Two crew

were found dead in the water. (Wed. Feb. 28 2001)



>>>The Pakistan navy is planning to equip its submarines with nuclear missiles for "defense purposes", as reported Feb. 22, quoting a senior navy officer.



Russian coast guards on Feb. 22 fired on & sank the Russian trawler F/V Albatros-101 while trying to flee from them for 23 hours off Russia's southern Kuril Islands. All 28

sailors were safely rescued. Two patrol ships & a plane chased the vessel, which refused the to answer the coast guards by radio. On Feb. 21, a plane pursuing fired 3 shots

across the bow of another trawler, but the ship proceeded into Japanese territorial waters, where it surrendered to Japanese authorities. (Thurs. Feb. 22 2001)



An Israeli Air Force helicopter Feb. 21 night rescued entire crew of Ukrainian cargo M/V Vladimir Vinto, in ballast for Ashdod to load fruit, drifting in rough seas off Israeli

Mediterranean port of Ashdod. All 12 crew winched into Sikorski CH-53 helicopter. Vladimir Vinto was later blown ashore on a beach, south of Ashdod. The rescue was

carried out by an Isralaeli air force commando unit which specializes in rescuing AF pilots. (Thurs. Feb. 22 2001)



A crewman was killed & one went missing when a thus far unidentified cargo M/V exploded at sea near Shanghai, 0:45 LT, Feb. 20 morning. The blast occurred in the

engine room of the 500-ton vessel, belonging to a shipping company in Fujian Province. There were 9 aboard at that time. The cause of the explosion is still being

investigated. (Wed. Feb. 21 2001)



The Sri Lanka navy sank 2 Tamil rebel ships in pre-dawn skirmish on Feb. 21 in waters off country's northern Jaffna peninsula after running into a cargo convoy of the

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) near Jaffna's Point Pedro harbor. Two vessels blew up & sank when navy opened fire, an indication that they may have been

transporting explosives. Two other rebel craft also badly damaged & may have sunk. The navy patrol returned to port without casualties or damage. (Wed. Feb. 21 2001)

The cruise ship M/V Mistral, with 530 crew & 1,130 passengers, operated by Greek line Festival Cruises, grounded on a sand bank at 3 a.m Feb. 20, 900 feet off the

Caribbean island of Nevis. Passengers are spending Feb. 20 night on board, with hope rescue crews can free Mistral on Feb. 21. No injuries. (Tues. Feb. 20 2001)



Winds up to 55 km per hour the 475-ton ferry M/V Cherry Rose,with 180 passengers & crew, ran aground Feb. 17 while docking on the island of Leyte, some 600 km

southeast of Manila. A 70-year-old woman fell overboard & drowned & 27 people were injured. (Tues. Feb. 20 2001)



One sailor missing following an explosion Feb. 16 morning aboard M/T Xiangchang Oil Tanker No. 007 docked on the Xiangjiang River near Changsha capital of central

China's Hunan province. An electrical short circuit was the cause of the blast. Loaded with 495 tons of gasoline, the vessel was ready to raise anchor from an oil dock when

the ship exploded. (Mon Feb. 19 2001)



***Evil Spirits ......... as 5 North Korean sailors died of alcohol poisoning Feb. 8, on board the North Korean cargo M/V Kangsong 3, sailing home from Singapore, but a

Vietnam hospital said it had managed to save 3 of their colleagues. The ship made an emergency stop in southern Vietnam last week to seek treatment for the sick sailors. The

sailors died after drinking an alcoholic spirit on board the ship. A doctor at Le Loi Hospital in Vietnam's southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau said three male sailors were

brought in with headaches, stomach aches and digestive troubles. The North Korean vessel resumed its voyage at the weekend. (The Cargo Letter, Feb. 19 2001)



The 2,925 dwt West African archipelago of Sao Tome & Principe-flagged cargo M/V Robel, with scrap iron, sank after colliding with the 42,427 dwt Malaysia-flagged

cargo M/V Bunga Melor Satu, with sugar, near the Sea of Marmara entrance to Turkey's Bosphoru straits on Feb. 18. Rescuers saved the 12 crew of the 375-foot Robel, and

no injuries were reported. It was not immediately clear what caused the collision. More than 50,000 vessels pass through Istanbul every year. Sinkings, collisions & oil spills

are frequent in the Bosphorus, a narrow, winding passage cutting through Turkey's largest city of some 12 million people. (Sun. Feb. 18 2001)



Sri Lanka has detained Italian-registered M/V Lloyd Tristino Creed, Jeddah for Singapore with 4000 containers, after it struck a container berth while berthing at the

port's main Jaye container terminal at its main Colombo port & seriously damaged a gantry crane. The crane is beyond repair with total damage estimated at US$10M. (Sun.

Feb. 18 2001)



The aging Syrian-owned, Cambodian-registered 90-foot freighter M/V East Sea ran aground early Feb. 17 in a sandbank about 20 yards from Boulouris Beach between

Nice & the town of Saint-Raphael, near France's ritzy Riviera with more than 900 people, most of them Iraqi Kurds, in a scheme to smuggle immigrants into Western Europe.

Vessel deliberately beached before dawn - the work of people smugglers. The captain fled, pointing the vessel toward land, screws turning, so that the ship could not drift

away. The vessel filled up with sea water & sank off the craggy Boulouris beach after tugboats dragged it off the rocks. Authorities took 908 passengers ashore,

including 3 infants born during the weeklong voyage. Many looked weak & gaunt, and 9 were hospitalized. Unclear how many passengers swam ashore. Passengers were

forced to remain standing in the dark, crowded hold; as many as 1,500 people were on board & about 300 were children. So. France, particularly the posh Riviera, is not

usually a stop-off point for Int'l smugglers. However, immigrants fleeing impoverished or troubled countries increasingly are paying for illegal passage aboard ships bound for

Western Europe. (Sat. Feb. 17 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



6 Feb. 2001 at 2000 UTC in position 00:07.8N - 117:34.4E, Lhotuan pilot station, Indonesia. One pirate boarded a tanker while at anchor. His accomplice remained in a

boat below. The pirate broke in to the store room but escaped empty handed when alert crew chased him. Bontang coast guard was informed via VHF but did not respond. (Fri.

Feb. 16 2001)

6 Feb. 2001 at 0010 LT in position 05:05.8N - 097:53.0E, Ujung Peureulak, Malacca Straits. Ten armed pirates in a high speed boat attempted to board a bulk carrier while

underway. The duty A/B noticed them & raised the alarm thus preventing boarding. The duty officer transmitted a safety message by VHF to ships in the vicinity. (Fri. Feb.

16 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



The 2,000-ton Singapore fuel tanker M/T Kilgas Centurion, with 1,026 tons of liquid propane gas, 155 tons of diesel fuel & 46 tons of gas & oil. has run aground on a

sandy beach just north of Yarmouth, off the coast of Norfolk in the UK. The 12-man crew of the 81-meter tanker remain aboard the ship, which ran into trouble on route from

Teesport to the Thames. Presently grounded on a bank some 40 meters off the beach tide mark, and the next high water is expected at 14.42 with low water at about 08.30 hrs.

(Fri. Feb. 16 2001)



The tanker M/T Steadfast partially sank in shallow waters Feb. 11 when battered by massive waves & winds off Tegal, some 250 km east of Jakarta. Emergency crews are

trying to clean up an oil spill from a half-sunken tanker off the north coast of storm-battered Java. The ship is an old vessel which has been moored in Tegal for months & was

going to be scrapped. It was operated by a Jakarta-based company identified as Madrui & registered under a flag of convienience. Roughly 40% of an estimated 800 tons of

sump oil has leaked from the ship & reached the shore. However, emergency crews have managed to plug the leak & a clean-up operation is underway. (Fri. Feb. 16 2001)



Nine French fishermen have been airlifted to safety after fishing F/V Jacques Abry ran aground in the Western Isles. The ship was damaged when it struck the east coast of

North Uist at 0330GMT on Feb. 13. A coastguard helicopter was scrambled & airlifted 5 of the crew to Benbecula as the vessel began taking in water. Efforts now being

made to prevent diesel fuel spilling into the sea. Falmouth coastguard was alerted by the French Rescue Center ETEL of the 268-ton vessel's plight. Engineers working to

remove 83,000 liters of red diesel fuel from the hold to prevent it spilling into the water. (Wed. Feb. 14 2001)



Singapore-registered oil tanker M/T Faith 4 , with 43,000 tons of fuel & diesel oil has run aground in the entrance to the French Channel port of Dunkirk. Faith 4 got stuck

on a sandbar in the port's East entrance after it experienced rudder problems. The tanker had not issued an emergency call for help, and no pollution had yet escaped. The 27

crew members remain aboard the ship. Four port tugboats & one deep-sea tugboat are on scene. (Mon. Feb. 12 2001)



Indonesian Navy ship Teluk Ende, went to the rescue of the sinking passenger M/V Sentai-3 off Sulawesi island, with 123 souls, in the Indonesian archipelago. The Sentai-3

was en route from the Maluku islands bound for South Sulawesi when it encountered difficulties & sent out a distress signal. The Teluk Ende, with marines from Maluku to

Java island, responded to the call and located the stricken passenger ship during the night. All passengers & crew were safely taken onboard the naval vessel. Sentai-3 was

taken under tow. (Mon. Feb. 12 2001)



The 360 foot Los Angeles-class submarine USS Greenville> Read our recent presentation on Modern High Seas Piracy.



Vessel Loss Dispatches For January 2001



French trawler F/V St Pierre is limping to the port of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides Jan. 30 after colliding with Liberian-registered tanker M/T Laura, in ballast, 80 miles

(130 km) west of Scotland during the night. The St Pierre, damaged its bow in the collision & its 16 crew were expected to get medical exams. Two of the crew of St. Pierre,

including the skipper, were slightly injured. The Laura damaged her side but was proceeding to its destination, believed to be Edinburgh. (Tues. Jan. 30 2001)



A helicopter rolled over onto its side after landing aboard USCGC Campbell, a 270-foot cutter from New Bedford, Mass., injuring 8 people. Campbell was conducting flight

operations off Honduras with an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter when the accident occurred Jan. 30 evening. The helicopter was from the Coast Guard Air Station Houston. A

large wave hit the ship just after the helicopter landed, causing the helicopter to tip & strike the flight deck with its rotor blades. (Tues. Jan. 30 2001)



Two foundering fishing vessels were rescued off opposite ends of Mass. Jan. 28 by U.S. Coast Guard. The most imperiled were 5 crew aboard New Bedford's F/V Lucky 80

NM south of Martha's Vineyard, which shortly after midnight began taking on water in its engine room & stalled near a major traffic lane for large ships. Coast Guard

launched an HU-25 Falcon jet to assist the 210-foot cutter USCGC Reliance, which was patrolling near the Lucky. The fishing crew located the hole in their boat about 6:50

a.m. & patched the damage. But as they were limping home to New Bedford, the boat re-sprung its leak. The crew pushed on toward port aided by a pump the Coast Guard

provided. At 1:45 a.m. Jan. 28, the 270-foot cutter USCGC Spencer took the 45-foot F/V Lady Shannon in tow after that F/V's screw broke down 80 NM southeast of

Gloucester. (Tues. Jan. 30 2001)



The 88-meter (290-feet) Barbados-registered M/V Holly Trader, Tunisia for London with fertilizer, sank off the Portuguese coast Jan. 29 after taking on water in its engine

room in heavy seas. Holly Trader's crew of 5 Ukrainians & one Russian was rescued by a merchant ship late Jan. 28 about 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Lisbon. Waves were

up to 7 meters (23 feet) high at the time. (Tues. Jan. 30 2001)



Coastguards recovered 22 corpses off Ukraine on Jan. 28 after M/V Pamyat Mercuria (1,200 gwt), Istanbul for Yevpatoria port in Ukraine's Crimea sank on Jan. 27

evening. A life raft from Pamyat Mercuria had been found off Ukraine's coast in the Black Sea. Six people survived, including the captain. The ship had been ferrying 51

people, including crew. The ship was formerly used for surveying but had been converted into a ferry for traders shuttling between Istanbul & Crimea. The bodies werefound

off the southernmost tip of Crimea. (Sun. Jan. 28 2001)

The Panamanian 663 ft. freighter M/V Friendly Ocean with 50,000 tons of potash, Ventspils, Latvia for China, ran aground in a narrow shipping area between the coast of

Germany & Denmark Jan. 27, but has not posed an environmental danger. (Sat. Jan. 27 2001)



The Georgian registered cargo M/V Al Hufoof 1, UAE on Sept. 2 for Massawa, Eritrea, with a cargo 3,241 tons of wheat flour & sugar apparently stolen by its own crew

after leaving Sharjah in Sept. -- has been recovered in Vietnam. The M/V Hong Heing, purported to be registered in Honduras, was boarded by the port authorities in Ho

Chi Minh City last month following an alert from the Int'l Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Center in Kuala Lumpur. Confirmed that the vessel is the missing Al

Hufoof 1. It has also been confirmed that the crew that brought the ship into Ho Chi Minh was the same as those onboard when it left Sharjah in Sept. The IMB warns all

owners that they should conduct detailed background checks into the certification & history of crew members, particularly senior officers, before employing them.

(Fri. Jan. 26 2001)



Study Guide >> Read our recent presentation on Modern High Seas Piracy.



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



20 Jan. 2001 at 0030 LT at Panjang anchorage, Indonesia. Three armed pirates seized the second officer & hit him on the head. The officer managed to contact the duty

crew on his walkie-talkie. The alarm was raised and the pirates jumped overboard & escaped with ship's stores. (Fri. Jan. 26 2001)



18 Jan. 2001 at 2037 LT at Mongla river anchorage, Bangladesh. Two pirates armed with long knives boarded a LPG carrier. They attacked 4 shore watchmen & 2 seamen.

The duty officer sounded the alarm & mustered the crew. The pirates jumped overboard & escaped in 2 boats. (Fri. Jan. 26 2001)



18 Jan. 2001 at 0300 LT at Balik Papan anchorage (inside river), Indonesia. Several pirates armed with crowbars tried to board a tanker from a small boat. Duty officer

noticed them, raised the alarm & flashed search lights at the pirates. The pirates fled & escaped. (Fri. Jan. 26 2001)



17 Jan. 2001 at 0855 LT at Kakinada inner anchorage, India. Several fishing boats with armed pirates inside surrounded a tanker. One boat came close and a man boarded

the ship. He stole ship's stores & jumped into the water. The incident was reported to the local authorities. (Fri. Jan. 26 2001)



17 Jan. 2001 during loading operations at Douala port, Cameroon. Three armed pirates boarded a bulk carrier from a boat. They threatened the duty officer with a long knife

& stole ship's stores. Local police & the harbor master's office were informed but did not respond. (Fri. Jan. 26 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



A sailor on British cargo M/V Amanda C, for Britain, died Jan. 25 morning after he fell overboard in the cold North Sea waters off Denmark's northwestern coast, the

Danish navy said. The navy's rescue center responded to a 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) alert but the ship's crew had retrieved the man's body before the rescue helicopter arrived. The

unidentified sailor died after spending up to 45 minutes in water that was 3 to 4 degrees Celsius (37 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit).. (Fri. Jan. 26 2001)



Greek, Panamax tanker M/T Neapolis spilled 5,000 gallons of oil into the Panama Canal, temporarily closing one of the locks & delaying traffic through the waterway. The

leak was caused by previous damage; the ship never came in contact with the canal's walls. (Thurs. Jan. 25 2001)



Police were searching on Jan. 23 for 15 armed pirates who tried to hijack the Australian, Shell PNG charter tanker M/T Petro Navigator at Manus, 800 km (500 miles)

north of Port Moresby. The pirates escaped in the tanker's tender after a struggle with the crew & police, who could not shoot for fear of igniting an explosion. The attempted

hijack occurred while Petro Navigator was berthing at Lorengau, Manus Island Province. No one was seriously injured. Shell PNG and the ship's Sydney-based owner say

they are reviewing security in PNG, where piracy is punishable by death. (Wed. Jan. 24 2001)

Study Guide >> Read our recent presentation on Modern High Seas Piracy.



The 100 ft. French tanker M/T ILES DU PONANT (227 gt, 1976 built), a small coaster, Saint-Nazaire for the Atlantic coastal island of Belle-Ile, capsized in high winds &

came to rest about 500 yards from Le Croisic on a sandbar. Following the sound of a survivor banging on the wall, rescuers drilled a hole into the hull & freed one trapped

crew member today. A captain, three sailors and a mechanic were still trapped inside. There is little hope of finding the 4 others. With the tide rising, the search was

suspended for the night some 12 hours after it began. Massive damage prevented a full search. (Wed. Jan. 24 2001)



French M tanker ILES DU PONANT (227 gt, 1976 built), a small coaster operating between St.Nazaire and Belle Ile, five crew on board, capsized on Jan 24, near La

Turballe in lat 47 20.20N long 02 30.46W.



A fleet of ships abandoned over the past 15 years in Rio's famous Guanabara Bay has turned the site into a floating cemetery that could begin leaking fuel. The 25 ships, all

privately owned vessels once used to transport cargo, show signs of corrosion. Each of the ships is loaded with diesel & water to keep them from capsizing. No significant

leaks have been detected but the risk of spills is high. (Wed. Jan. 24 2001)



Syrian M/V HAJ ABDOULLAH, YKGK (499 gt, built 1962), Beirut for Varna with 1,000 tons of soya, had engine blackout & grounded on the island of Mytilene, in lat

39 01N, long 26 09.5E, in the early hours of Jan 23. Vessel has sustained damage & remains aground at present. No injuries or pollution. (Tues Jan. 23 2001)



Turkish-flagged cargo ship M/V Kaptan Cavit (1,175 dwt) for Bulgaria with 1,100 tons of wheat, sank on Jan. 21 after colliding head-on in the Bosphorus straits with

Turkish-flagged cargo M/V Nadya (914 dwt), with 480 tons of slag to the Turkish town of Izmit. The stricken Kaptan Cavit's seven member crew was rescued at the Black

Sea end of the straits. Nadya has serious damage to its prow but did not appear to be in immediate danger of sinking. Collisions and shipwrecks are far too common in the

Bosphorus, a narrow passage winding through Istanbul and on which commercial vessels are guaranteed free passage during peacetime under the 1936 Montreux Treaty. (Sun.

Jan. 21 2001)



Thai Maritime Police have arrested 20 alleged pirates suspected of robbing & blowing up a Thai fishing boat. The suspects were apprehended Jan. 18 in the Andaman

Sea off the Thai province of Ranong, 292 miles south of Bangkok, where they were hiding between two small islands close to Myanmar waters, said Maj. Suwat Sriklaw, a

chief marine police investigator. Four of the arrested men were Thais, & the others were from Myanmar. The pirates, heavily armed, allegedly attacked the Thai fishing boat

on Jan. 11 as it was returning with a full catch of fish from waters off Mergui in Myanmar, also known as Burma. They brought the boat back to Myanmar waters, transferred

all its catch to their vessel & then blew it up by shooting its gas tank. (Sat. Jan. 20 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



13 Jan 2001 at 0245 LT at Jakarta anchorage, Indonesia. A pirate boarded a bulk carrier while at anchor & lowered a rope for his accomplices to climb aboard. Alert crew

saw the pirate & raised the alarm. The pirate jumped overboard and escaped in a boat with 10 accomplices. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



12 Jan. 2001 at 2355 LT, 4.5 miles NW of fairway buoy, Cochin Roads, India. A pirate tried to board a tanker while at anchor via the anchor chain. Duty crew noticed him

and raised the alarm. As a result the pirate fled in a boat, which had 10 accomplices. Sound familiar? (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



10 Jan. 2001 at 0115 LT at Tema anchorage, Ghana. Two pirates boarded a bulk carrier via hawse pipe. Duty watchman spotted them & raised alarm. The pirates jumped

overboard and escaped in a small canoe. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)

09 Jan. 2001 at 1905 LT at Cochin anchorage, India. One pirate boarded a container vessel whilst at anchor. Crew on anti piracy watch confronted him. The pirate jumped

overboard and escaped in an unlit boat waiting with nine accomplices. Where was the other guy, "Mr. 10"? (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



09 Jan. 2001 at 0400 LT at Balik Papan port, Indonesia. A small boat approached the forecastle area of a berthed tanker. Alert crew spotted the boat and directed lights at her.

The boat slowly moved away. However while this was taking place, pirates in a 2nd boat boarded the stern of the tanker and stole ship's stores & safety equipment. (Fri. Jan.

19 2001)



09 Jan. 2001 at 0200 LT in position:04:09N - 006:59.5E, Nigeria. Whilst at anchor pirates boarded a tanker via hawse pipe. Alert crew sounded the alarm & the pirate

escaped. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



08 Jan. 2001 at 0400 LT at Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. Pirates boarded a tanker while at anchor and stole ship's stores. On 09.1.2001 at 0100 while at berth 3 pirates

boarded the same tanker and tried to steal ship's stores. Duty crew noticed them & raised the alarm. The pirates jumped overboard and escaped. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



An electrical fire in the Gulf of Alaska about 100 miles south of Cordova cut power to Coast Guard cutter USCG Sedge, en route to Valdez, causing the crew to lose control

of the ship in 25-foot seas. One guardsman suffered back and neck injuries from a fall in the ship's hold. The wind was blowing nearly 60 mph at the time of the mishap. Two

Coast Guard vessels assisted in restoring power to the ship. The fire was confined to a switchboard. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



M/T Jessica, with 243,000 gallons of fuel, ran aground Jan. 16, on the easternmost island in the Galapagos group. Ecuador is asking U.S. help in cleaning up a diesel fuel

spill in the ecologically fragile Galapagos Islands. The tanker began leaking diesel oil Jan. 19 into a bay on San Cristobal island teeming with unique marine species. The

Galapagos archipelago, 600 miles west of the Ecuadorean mainland, is Ecuador's main tourist attraction famous for giant tortoises and uniquely evolved birds & plants. Its

plants and animals, found nowhere else in the world, have characteristics that helped Charles Darwin develop his theory of evolution. Workers have removed 20,000 gallons

of fuel from the ship. Authorities blamed navigational error. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



German container vessel M/V OOCL NEVA (6,326 gt, built 1995) sailed Mantyluoto 1345, Jan 17, for Hamburg with full cargo of containers, had serious engine failure in

lat 61 10N, long 20 26E, at 1600 hrs. Tug PORIN KARHU proceeded from Mantyluoto to assist. Tug towed vessel to port of Rauma for repairs. Repairs expected to take 3 -

4 days. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



An undersea explorer team has discovered what is believed to be the wrecks of 2 pirate ships, including Capt. Kidd's S/V Adventure Galley, near an island off the coast of

Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The 2nd ship is believed to be Capt. Billy One-Hand's S/V Fiery Dragon. The ships were found in shallow water within 50 feet of each

other in a sandy graveyard at Ile Ste. Marie, known in the 17th and 18th centuries as a haven for pirates. The team of explorers was from the Discovery Channel were led to

the island by old English & French Admiralty charts, and have made 3 expeditions to the site. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



Dutch M/V MISSISSIPPIBORG (6,540 gt, built 2000), bound Brevik, was reported adrift in lat 57 47N, long 08 39E, Jan 18 following a fire in her engine room. Vessel

awaiting arrival of a tug. (Fri. Jan. 19 2001)



The South Korean Navy rescued all 77 people aboard 396gt South Korean ferry M/V Democracy 2 that caught fire & sank off the northwestern coast. A fire started in the

engine room early in the morning while it was carrying passengers between two islands off the western coast. Sixty-nine passengers & 8 crew were rescued by two patrol

boats. (Thurs. Jan. 18 2001)

The Malaysian 593-foot M/V Alam Selaras, Vancouver for Japan with grain, pounded by strong winds & high seas, with 23 people aboard drifted in the North Pacific on

Jan. 17 toward the Aleutian Islands. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Alex Haley on scene, attempting to set up a tow line. No power: no steering, no engine. The freighter's

captain contacted Coast Guard on Jan. 13, saying his main engine had failed. Winds were blowing at 30 to 40 mph & seas were running 20 to 28 feet. The cutter will attempt

tow. The two vessels are roughly 80 miles from the Aleutian Islands. (Wed. Jan. 17 2001)



Michael Hepner, 19, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a teen-ager who was arguing with his girlfriend climbed over the railing of cruise ship M/V Sensation, lost his grip & drowned.

He was found floating unconscious 2 miles offshore early Jan. 14 by a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter. He was pronounced dead at a Tampa hospital. Carnival Cruise

Line's Sensation was returning to port after a 7 day western Caribbean cruise. Hepner plunged from the ship's 4th-highest level. (Mon. Jan. 15 2001)



The tanker M/V P Harmony (9,800 DWT) exploded & sank off South Korea's southeastern port of Pusan, near Koje Island, on Jan. 15, killing 3 crew, injuring 7 & 6

missing. The ship was en route to the southwestern port of Yosu from Ulsan where it unloaded a 9,000-ton cargo of unleaded gasoline, Hwang said. There were no oil product

cargoes at the time of the explosion. Only bunker-C and marine diesel used to fuel the tanker. (Mon. Jan. 15 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___



08 Jan 2001 at 0500 LT in position: 00:51.7N - 105:06.94E, Indonesia. Fifteen pirates armed with pistols, long knives & other weapons boarded a chemical tanker. Pirates

took control of the ship, hit crew & officers. Pirates stole ship's stores & valuables from the crew and left after 40 minutes. (Sat. Jan. 13 2001)



06 Jan 2001 at 0400 LT at Balik Papan, Indonesia. Pirates boarded a tanker. They jumped overboard seeing the alert crew on anti-piracy watch. More accomplices were

seen in a boat close to the tanker. No injuries to the crew. (Sat. Jan. 13 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



A 60-year-old British yachtsman was rescued today by the Cypriot bulker M/V Baynes about 200 miles north west of the Cape Verde Islands, off the West African coast.

The yachtsman spent 3 day drifting on his 24 ft Trident Chinese rigged S/V Ozama after rudder problems. A battery-operated personal locator beacon ran out of power and

the man was relying on a ship to pass within 50 miles of him to pick up Mayday signals being transmitted hourly from his radio or to see distress flares. He left Madeira on

Christmas Day bound for St Lucia and planned to sail on to the US via the Virgin Islands before returning to the UK. The yacht is still adrift. (Sat. Jan. 13 2001)



Netherlands cement carrier M/V FRIMA STAR (1,094 gt, built 1978) had fire break out in her engine room, outside Lindesnes in the south of Norway. The crew

extinguished the fire before it caused serious damage. FRIMA STAR sailed for repairs at Frederikstad Mek. (Sat. Jan. 13 2001)



Crippled Iranian bulk carrier M/V Iran Ghafari (25,000 gt) with coal was towed into Cape Town harbor on Jan. 11 morning after it broke down off the South African coast.

The ship from Richard's Bay on the east coast for South America, broke down 500 NM northwest of Cape Town. Bolts on her prop-shaft sheered off & the engines had to

be shut down. (Fri. Jan 12 2001)



Greek bulk carrier/container vessel M/V DORA (19,968 gt, built 1978), Venezuala for Russia fully laden with 25,200 tons of alumina grounded at Km 36.5, River Orinoco.

The local salvage master arrived on scene with 2 tugs. Attempts to refloat were made at high water. According to the owners, no damage was sustained. The vessel was

refloated. (Thurs. Jan. 11 2001)



Rescuers have reached F/V Golden Gain with 5 men on board which is taking on water off the east coast of Scotland. Coastguards say a winchman from an RAF helicopter

has been lowered onto the affected vessel carrying a pump. M/V Resplendent is on it way to the scene to take the vessel under tow though a destination had not yet been

decided on. Aberdeen Coastguard says the alarm was raised shortly before 7am after the vessel, from Fraserburgh, developed a leak while around 55 miles off the

Aberdeenshire coast. (Wed. Jan. 11 2001)



Marine rescue workers airlifted 27 crew members to safety Jan. 9 after the Ukrainian timber carrier M/V Novocherkasska, Finland for Cyprus, ran into trouble 60 miles off

Spain's northwestern coast with reported winds of 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour and waves of up to 4 meters (13 feet). Novocherkasska appealed for help from Vigo port

shortly after midnight when its wood cargo shifted & caused the ship to list badly. Rescue units, using 2 helicopters & 3 support vessels, had to wait till daylight and for the

storm to ease before they were able to evacuate the crew. (Wed. Jan. 10 2001)



Azores M/V ARIEACORES (300 gt, built 1965) ran aground on rocks off Ponta Delgada. Vessel still aground at the bottom of a cliff. Two crew dead, two rescued & 1

missing. (Tues. Jan. 9 2001)



Inco Ltd says an unidentified vessel carrying 2,200 tons of nickel in matte from Indonesian unit PT Inco, worth an estimated US$13M, sank off Japan Jan. 6 or 7.Inco, the

western world's biggest nickel producer, said 80% of the nickel was bound for Inco TNC Ltd.'s refinery in Japan, & 205 destined for Sumitomo Metal Mining .It said the loss

represents about 3.3% of PT Inco's annual production. UPDATE Jan 10,1900 PST: It is now confirmed that the vessel is Panamanian-registered freighter M/V White

Koowa -- see Sun. Jan. 7. (Tues. Jan. 9 2001)



Indian M/V Jag Rekh, with grain, through the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal accidentally tore its hull, began to flood & ran aground Jan. 7. No injuries were

reported, and the accident did not interrupt the canal's traffic. Jag Rekh entered the canal on the Pacific side. Between Jan. & Sept. of last year, the canal registered 16

accidents. (Tues. Jan. 9 2001)



Five bodies have been recovered & at least 20 more people are feared drowned after armed robbers attacked a ferry (Kigoma, the main port on Lake Tanganyika, for

nearby Ngambowas) carrying 50 passengers in Lake Tanganyika. Two passengers, including a 3-year-old girl, died instantly after being shot when six armed men attacked the

ferry Jan 3.. The remaining victims are believed to have drowned after the attackers ordered male passengers to undress and jump into the lake, Africa's deepest fresh water

body. The assailants raided the ferry using local fishing boats, & fled after robbing the passengers, leaving women & children adrift on the ferry. "The incident occurred in

deep waters with heavy waves and we have lost hope of finding those missing alive," officials said from Kigoma region, about 660 miles northwest of Dar es Salaam. ``We

are not sure of the exact number of the people missing.'' The incident is unprecedented in the lake, which also borders Burundi & Congo. (Mon. Jan. 8 2001)



At least 8 crew drowned in the (German) Panamanian-registered freighter M/V White Koowa (3,561 GT), with 2 Japanese & 12 Filipino crew, with 3,000 tons of nickel ore,

after the vessel sank in the Pacific off Kochi, 625 km (390 miles) southwest of Tokyo on Jan. 7. The coastguard dispatched several patrol boats & aircraft to the scene on Jan.

8 & rescued 5 of the Filipino crew. Two other Filipino crew, the captain & chief engineer, both Japanese, were found unconscious. The ship left Indonesia on Dec. 26 & had

been due to arrive at a southwestern Japanese port on Jan. 8. (Sun. Jan. 7 2001)



Four refugees fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo war have been rescued, 8 miles southwest of Cape Point, by the South African yacht S/V Zuza after being

abandoned at sea without food or water on Jan. 4 by the crew of a cargo vessel, Durban for Europe, on which they had stowed away 8 days ago while it was moored in the

Congolese port of Matadi. The ship was destined for Europe via Durban. The cargo vessel's crew had threatened to kill them when they were discovered on Thursday. They

were then given an inflatable life raft & set adrift. (Sun. Jan. 7 2001)



Swedish M/V TELLA (684 gt, built 1955) had engine breakdown, was disabled & drifiting in lat 28 41N, long 41 20W, on Jan 6. -- was taken in tow by barge carrier M/V

Condock III for Ponta Delgada same day. (Sun. Jan. 7 2001)



WEEEKLY IMB PIRATE REPORTS ___

30 Dec.2000 at 0050 LT in position 01:19N - 103:18E, Malacca straits. While underway 4 pirates armed with knives boarded a tanker, entered the bridge and robbed cash

from the 3rd officer. When the alarm was raised the pirates jumped overboard & escaped. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



29 Dec. 2000 at 2235 LT in position: 01:17.6N - 103:22.2E, Malacca straits. While underway persons in a boat attempted to board a container ship from the stbd quarter.

Ship's anti piracy watch spotted them & prevented boarding. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



29 Dec. 2000 at 2235 & 2353 LT in position: 01:18.6N - 104:16.3E, Singapore straits. Two attempts were made to board a bulk carrier while underway. Upon seeing alert

crew, pirates aborted the attempts. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



25 Dec. 2000 at 0345 LT at Balikbapan anchorage, Indonesia. Several pirates in two small boats attempted to board a tanker. The duty officer spotted them and raised alarm.

The pirates did not succeed in boarding. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



24 Dec. 2000 at 0210 LT at Kipevu oil terminal, Kenya. Two canoes with 6 pirates in each boarded a general cargo ship and stole ship's stores. Anti piracy crew spotted them

and chased them away. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



24 Dec. 2000 at 0130 LT at Chennai anchorage, India. Pirates boarded a bulk carrier but left when the duty officer spotted them & chased them away.



24 Dec. 2000 at 0130 LT in position: 01:18.2N - 103:21.4E, Indonesia. The duty officer on a container ship noticed eight pirates armed with long knives on board. He raised

alarm and mustered all crew. The pirates jumped overboard & escaped. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



24 Dec. 2000 at 0210 LT at Cigading, Indonesia. Seven pirates armed with long knives boarded a general cargo ship and tied the duty oiler in the engine room. Ship's stores

were stolen. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



24 Dec. 2000 at 0215 LT in position: 01:15.3N - 103:20.4E, Indonesia. Several pirates in attempted to board a general cargo ship. Alert crew illuminated the ship and raised

alarm. The pirates aborted the attempted boarding. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



22 Dec. 2000 at 0230 LT in position: 06:02.1S - 105:55.8E, Indonesia. Three pirates armed with long knives boarded a gas carrier from stern. Duty crew and shore guards

spotted them. The pirates did not resist as the guards were armed with guns. The pirates were handed over to the local police for investigation. Two accomplices waiting in a

boat below escaped. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



Back To Year 2001 Reports



The coastguard is searching for the abandoned English-registered fishing trawler F/V Pembroke amid fears it could drift ashore and cause an obstruction to shipping lanes &

pose a pollution threat. Pembroke's crew was airlifted to safety off the Cork coast earlier this week after the boat started taking in water. Last month an unmanned fishing boat

arrived at Castletownbere, Co Cork. The British-registered Spanish F/V Zorro Zaurre drifted 140 miles to the south-west Irish coast before foundering on rocks yards from

where its sister ship, Nuestra Señora de Gardotza, sank 10 years ago at Roancarrig lighthouse in Bantry Bay. (Fri. Jan. 5 2001)



The captain of the damaged Greek tanker M/T Castor, with 29,000 tons of gasoline, says his vessel is in danger of exploding, He has told the Spanish authorities he & crew

would abandon ship if it was not allowed refuge immediately. Tanker experts are agreed that the rubbing of deck plates alongside a crack in the ship's deck could lead to a

spark that would ignite the ship's cargo. "A statement was issued today from the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Madrid officially requesting the vessel to abandon

its current position and remain at least 30 miles off the Spanish coast," said Athenian Sea Carriers. The Gibralter authorities on also officially denied the vessel entry into

Gibraltar or its approaches. The ship was refused refuge on Thursday by the Moroccan port of Nador. The crack developed in heavy seas between Dec. 26 & 31 on a voyage

from Constanza in Romania to Lagos. See Jan. 3, below. (Fri. Jan. 5 2001) UPDATE: Madrid, Spain - The 28 crew members of the stricken Cypriot tanker have been

moved to safety on board several nearby ships. (Sun. Jan 7 2001)



The M/V Nautika 64 with 150 tons of marble sank off the Italian coast about 64 km (40 miles) from the Adriatic port of Ancona when its cargo shifted. on Jan. 5, killing 3

crew & leaving another missing. Port authorities received a "May Day" call for help at 7:45 a.m. (0645 GMT) & sent boats and a helicopter to the ship, which was sailing

under the Croatian flag. The May Day was sent by one of the crew who, after finding he couldn't send it from the ship, swam to an oil platform nearby. (Fri. Jan. 5 2001)



The Brazilian navy's crippled the Oberon-class Tonelero submarine, which sank at its mooring in Rio de Janeiro's scenic Guanabara Bay on Christmas Eve, was moved to a

repair dock on Jan. 4 after being partially refloated. The British-built diesel-powered 2,410-ton S-21 Tonelero is Brazil's biggest & oldest sub, with 30 years in service. It had

been undergoing repairs at the Arsenal base when it sank, apparently due to a valve malfunction. The navy lifted the sub by pumping water out through one of its hatches. The

submarine's nose & part of its bridge emerged from the water on Jan. 3 after the vessel had spent 10 days at a depth of 30 feet (9 meters) below the surface. Bought in 1972,

Tonelero can carry 22 torpedoes & a crew of 70. It has a life expectancy of between 30 & 40 years. (Thurs. Jan. 4 2001)



Fuel oil spilled into the sea off Muroto, Kochi Prefecture, from Panamanian-registered 2,611-ton M/T Southern Noble when crewmen failed to properly transfer oil from one

tank to another inside ship, Japan Coast Guard said. While it is not yet known exactly how much oil from Southern Noble spilled into the sea some 13 km E NE of Cape

Muroto, an oil slick of some 50 meters wide & 7 km long had formed. At present, three patrol boats are keeping an eye on the oil slick, but there is little likelihood of it

reaching any coastal area, according to the officials.The tanker, with 14 crew, is Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture for Tianjin with about 3,200 tons of lubricants on board. (Thurs.

Jan. 4 2001)



The damaged tanker M/T Castor, with 29,000 tons of gasoline is being held outside Moroccan waters, 40 miles offshore by the Coastguard.I The vessel had been instructed

to head for the Moroccan port of Nador to seek refuge on New Year's Day. Damage developed during heavy weather between Dec. 26 and December 31 on a voyage from

Constanza in Romania to Lagos. The company said a surveyor at the site had reported that the crack occurred along a transverse butt-weld next to number four hold. Lloyds

agents quoted the Moroccan navy as saying that crack was 20 meters long, but that the tanker was not leaking cargo. All 26 Polish officers & crew remain on board. (Turs. Jan

3 2001)



Panamanian M/V STAR MARIA (1,537 gt, built 1974), Grimsby bound Turkey, was in contact with M/V UNDEN (2,577 gt, built 1984), Sweden bound Rochford, at 0034

UTC today. (Tues. Jan. 2 2001)



The Georgian-flagged cargo M/V Pati with general cargo & illegal immigrants broke apart in a storm just off Turkey's southern coast Jan. 1, with 8 people dead. & dozens

more missing - locked in a cargo area that plunged to the sea bed. At least 83 people - 10 crew members & 73 passengers - were on board the Pati when it foundered early

Jan. 1. After it broke in two, one half sank about 100 yards off the Mediterranean resort of Kemer, while the other half drifted toward the rocky shore. Thirty-two people were

saved. Rescue operations were called off Jan. 1 afternoon due to strong winds & high seas. Divers & helicopters were due to join the search Dec. 2. Many of the illegal

immigrants had been locked in the cargo area located in the sunken half of the ship. Horrible! (Tues. Jan. 2 2001)



UPDATE Wed. Jan 3 2001: 10 Indians, mostly hailing from Punjab, were among 33 survivors of the 2 day ship wreck tragedy off the Turkish coast as rescue guards

virtually gave up hopes of finding any more survivors, sources. This means that there are about 50 dead. Pray.



>>> Second Taiwan Vessel Arrives: The Taiwan flagged M/V Tai Wu & an escort from outlying Taiwanese islands docked in ports in China on Jan. 2, making the 1st legal

& direct crossing between the mainland & Taiwan territory in more than 50 years. Around 200 Chinese spectators, as well as police officers & local officials, were on

hand to greet Tai Wu as it arrived just before noon in the port of Xiamen. Some passengers waved from the vessel, which carried 190 Taiwanese officials & community

leaders from the island Kinmen. The arrival of the ships marks the opening of a direct route that many hope will lead to wider connections between Taiwan & China, which

separated in a bloody civil war that ended in 1949. The M/V Tai Wu is named after the tallest mountain in Xiamen, PRC. (Tues. Jan. 2 2001)



>>> First Taiwan Vessel Fails: M/V Straits Peace, the 1st Taiwan vessel permitted to sail directly to rival China in more than 50 years was forced to turn back on New

Years Day (Dec. 31 Los Angeles time), beset by heavy seas & mainland red tape. The vessel ferrying more than 50 tourism industry businesspeople from the Taiwan-held

frontier island of Quemoy to the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen turned back after sailing for about 15 minutes, passengers said. "The waves are too big, we are on our

way back. The boat is rocking stronger and stronger," said one of the passengers on the 20-ton vessel. Some of the passengers are reporters & the mainland will not agree to

let them land," the passenger added. Some people on the vessel have been in contact with mainland officials via mobile phones. The vessel would have been the 1st to take

advantage of the Taiwan cabinet's decision last month to permit direct travel between the heavily fortified frontier islands of Quemoy & Matsu. (Dec. 31 2000) (Jan. 1 2001 -

Local Time)



IMB PIRATE Alert ___



The Int'l Maritime Bureau announced that ships plying the Straits of Malacca have been alerted to be vigilant following an upsurge in piracy. IMB's Piracy Reporting Center

in Kuala Lumpur said pirate attacks have been recorded in the Malacca Straits between the co-ordinates 01 to 02N-101 to 103E. The most risky area is within 25nm radius

surrounding 02N-102E, where pirates are active. The center said ships calling at Davao in the Philippines have also reported men firing rocket-propelled grenades at ships

from banca (small canoe with outriggers). In the past 4 weeks, four ships have been attacked this way. Attacks against ships have been reported at Chittagong, Mongla and

Chennai while they were at anchor. Ships calling at the Indonesian ports of Belawan, Dumai, Jakarta, Merak, Samarinda and Tanjong Priok have reported numerous pirate

attacks whilst at berth & at anchor. The center said persons in small fast boats have been trying to board several ships off Bab Al Mandeb in the southern tip of the Red Sea,

around 13N-43E. Masters said small boats wait at the northern end of traffic lane where ships slow down to make a turn. Somalian waters also continue to be a risk-prone area

for hijackings. Ships should keep at least 50 miles and if possible 100 miles from the Somali coast. The center has advised that the use of radio communications including

VHF transmissions in these waters should be kept to a minimum. (Jan 1 2000)



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