Its Rough in the Pacific and the Gulf of Aden

 Last week, I visited a ship with AOS USA member Alvin Adams at the Port of Port Arthur. The ship had sailed from Thailand, through the Panama Canal, and arrived in Port Arthur with a project cargo destined for the nine billion dollar Motiva-Port Arthur expansion project.

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Officials believe up to fifty people have drowned after a ship carrying asylum seekers crashed into the cliffs at Christmas Island.

The wooden ship, believed to be carrying seventy asylum seekers from Iran and Iraq emerged in the early dawn of morning close to shore. The ships arrival came as a shock to Australian officials who patrol the island for suspected illegal entry vessels. Officials believe the vessel attempted to make it to Flying Fish Cove overnight making it more difficult for navy and customs officials to spot the boat on their regular patrols.

The rough waters smashed the ship against the rocks causing it to break into pieces. Locals heard the screams and came running to help but there was little they could do in the rough waters. Some gathered life jackets and tied them to ropes to toss to survivors.

The Australian Navy and customs agency launched rigid inflatable boats to assist in the rescue operation. Rough seas of up to 16-feet made it difficult for rescue teams to reach the scene, taking 30 to 40 minutes just to reach the boat. By the time rescue arrived the boat had been smashed to pieces. Despite the conditions the Navy and Customs officers pulled 41 survivors from the water and 27 bodies. One survivor was able to swim ashore and was helped by the locals nearby.

Some residents of Christmas Island have been critical of what they believe to be insufficient rescue plans in place by the Navy and Customs officials.

Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has announced that three investigations into the tragedy will be conducted. The Australian coroner will conduct the main investigation, while a criminal investigation on the people-smugglers, will be conducted by the Australian Federal Police and an operational review of procedural issues will be conducted by Customs and Border Protection.

The Prime Minister said yesterday that the boat went undetected because of extreme weather conditions that limited radar and other surveillance systems.

VIDEO: Dozens Feared Dead After Ship Smashes Into Christmas Island

Ship Sinks in S. China Sea, 27 Missing

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Rescuers are searching for 27 people in the South China Sea after a cargo ship sank in rough seas.

Vietnamese registered, PHU TAN, was reportedly carrying a crew of 25 and two additional visitors onboard. The ship, owned by Vinalines Shipping, based in Hanoi City, Vietnam reported engine problems before sinking.

The ship reportedly sank 110 nautical miles west of Sanya city. Rescuers report seas of up to 20-feet, making for a difficult rescue operation.
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There have been some conflicting reports as to what type of vessel sank, some agencies are reporting it was a fishing trawler however Vietnam's National Search and Rescue Committee has reportedly identified the PHU TAN as a cargo ship. There is a PHU TAN cargo ship registered with the IMO that is Vietnamese Flagged and owned by Vinalines Shipping 

Search for 17 Missing Fishermen Suspended

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

A South Korean fishing vessel, the INSUNG NO. 1 sank suddenly in waters off Antarctica early Monday morning leaving five crewmmbers dead and seventeen missing.

The search was suspended Monday afternoon as it was very unlikely those missing would have survived the freezing waters.

Twenty of the forty-two onboard survived when the 190-foot bottom longline ship suddenly went down 1,250 miles south of New Zealand. The SUNG NO. 1 sank in just thirty minutes leaving crew little time to prepare life saving equipment; many were unable to get to lifejackets and immersion suits in time.

The twenty survivors and five bodies were recovered by No. 707 Hongjin, a nearby fishing vessel.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand cancelled planned flyovers of the scene, citing that the lack of lifejackets or immersion suits made the survival time in the 36-degree water very short. In waters at that temperature hypothermia begins to set in immediately, leaving victims unconscious in ten to thirty minutes, with survival time at thirty to ninety minutes.

The cause of the sinking is unknown as weather and sea conditions were moderate at the time.

The deepwater fishing vessel, owned by Seoul based Insung Corporation, had three Filipinos, eight Chinese, eleven Indonesians, eleven Vietnamese, eight Koreans and a single Russian onboard.

The nationalities of those recovered have not yet been released.

PHOTO: INSUNG 1, courtesy of Insung Corporation

Two Sailors Killed After Wave Hits Tanker in Atlantic

By Paul Tugwell and Natalie Weeks - Dec 30, 2010 11:23 AM CT

The 47-year old captain of a Greek- owned tanker and a 33-year old chief mechanic were killed today after a wave hit the Aegean Angel as it was sailing in the mid- Atlantic toward the U.S. Gulf with a cargo of fuel oil.

The 34-year old Cypriot deputy captain was "seriously" injured in the incident after the three men were hit on the deck of the ship as they were checking for damage amid strong winds, a spokesman of Athens-based Arcadia Shipmanagement Co Ltd. said by telephone today.

"The ship didn't suffer any damage and is now sailing to the closest port which is in Bermuda to get treatment for the injured officer who is receiving medical attention on board while the company is in contact with the U.S. coastguard," said the Arcadia Shipmanagment spokesman, who declined to be identified citing company policy.

The vessel, which was carrying its cargo from Tallinn in Estonia to Houston in Texas, sailed into bad weather with winds of beaufort force 8 and more around 800 miles from Bermuda, he said.

The six-year old Greek-flagged ship has a carrying capacity of 159,092 tons and was chartered by Clearlake Shipping Ltd, a unit of Gunvor International BV, which handles about one third of Russia's seaborne oil exports, according to Bloomberg data.

Coast Guard Medivac Helicopter with Injured Chief Officer off M/V Aegean Angel Jan 2, 2011, See YouTube Video

Madagascar - fishing vessel apparently hijacked

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the fishing vessel Shiuh Fu No. 1 has apparently been hijacked by pirates while operating in the Indian Ocean approximately 120 nautical miles northeast of Madagascar. On the morning of December 25, the vessel reported that it was under attack by pirates. There have been no subsequent communications with the vessel or its 26 crewmembers. (12/30/10).

Mozambique Channel - fishing vessel hijacked

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the fishing vessel Vega 5 was hijacked by pirates in the Mozambique Channel. The status of its crew of 14 is unknown. (1/1/11).

Indian Ocean - pirates hijack bulk carrier

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that pirates have hijacked the bulk carrier Blida, with 27 crewmembers and a cargo of clinkers, in the Indian Ocean approximately 150 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, Oman. Pirates are now holding 28 vessels and 654 hostages off the coast of Somalia. (1/1/11).

Malaysia - tug boarded, crew robbed

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an incident alert stating that the tug Samho T8 was boarded by six robbers from a speed boat while approximately 3.5 nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Ramunia, Malaysia. The robbers took away cash and crew personal belongings. The crew was not injured. (12/30/10).

Indian Ocean - pirates use mothership to hijack freighter

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the general cargo ship Ems River, with a crew of eight and a cargo of petroleum coke, was hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean approximately 175 nautical miles northeast of Salalah, Oman. The previously-hijacked vessel Motivator was in the vicinity throughout the pirate attack, which is consistent with recent mothership methods utilized by Somali pirates. (12/28/10).

Somalia - pirates release tanker

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the chemical/oil products tanker Marida Marguerite has been released by pirates. It had been held off the coast of Somalia after being hijacked on 8 May 2010 in the Indian Ocean approximately 120 nautical miles south of Salalah, Oman. There are now 25 vessels and 587 hostages being held by Somali pirates. (12/28/10).

Indian Ocean - pirates hijack ship on Christmas - Bah Humbug!

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that in the early hours of December 25, the general cargo ship Thor Nexus was hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean approximately 450 nautical miles northeast of the island of Socotra. There are 27 crew members on board. (12/25/10).

Malaysia - robbers board tug boat

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Alert stating that eight robbers armed with pistol and parang boarded a tug boat from a speed boat approximately 5.6 nm southeast of Tanjung Piai, Malaysia. The tug boat was towing a barge laden with coal. The robbers escaped with the crew's belongings, including cash, a laptop, and mobile phones. One crew member sustained minor injuries. (12/23/10).

Thanks to Dennis Bryant and his Dennis Bryant Blog for the piracy information.