More seafarers taken hostage as Gulf of Guinea continues to see spate of piracy incidents.
Casualties
Underwriters face over $50m in Grande America claims after Grimaldi ship sinks
Sinking likely caused by accumulation of fire extinguishing water on the deck
US Navy rescues 26 migrants off Florida
On March 8, the crew of the US Navy destroyer USS James E. Williams helped rescue 26 people from a vessel in distress 48 miles southeast of Long Key attempting to illegally enter the United States. The US Coast Guard received a notification from a good Samaritan boat reporting for a 30-foot disabled wooden sail vessel with passengers waiving for help.
Specifically, a US Navy vessel that was conducting maritime operations in the area, helped the passengers.
The crew of the Arleigh Burke-class...
https://safety4sea.com/us-navy-rescues-26-migrants-off-florida/
Japanese fast ferry said to collide with whale, 80 injured
A Japanese fast ferry is said to have been collided with a whale on March 9, off the coast of Sado Island, Japan, resulting to passengers’ injury. Japan Coast Guard and operator Sado Steam Ship believe that the object was a ‘marine animal,’ possibly a whale.
Specifically, the Niigata-Ryotso ferry is an ultra-fast vessel capable of making more than 40 knots, and its hull emerges fully from the water at operating speed.
While sailing to Sado Island, it experienced an sudden slowdown. Approximately,...
https://safety4sea.com/japanese-fast-ferry-said-to-collide-with-whale-80-injured/
NYK aims to take guess work and risk out of vessel berthing
Following successful trials, liner giant will gradually introduce system to managed ships.
Saudi tanker hits Taiwanese navy frigate in Keelung port
The Taiwanese navy will seek compensation after a Saudi Arabian-flagged oil/chemical tanker ‘NCC Sama’ hit one of its frigates, in the harbor of Keelung in the morning hours of Saturday, local media reported.
According to data provided by Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA), the NCC Sama was entering port at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, when it hit the ‘Ning Yang’ frigate FF-938 in the middle of its port side.
There were no injuries reported as a result from the incident, but the country’s Ministry of...
https://safety4sea.com/saudi-tanker-hits-taiwanese-navy-frigate-in-keelung-port/
Watch: Con/ro catches fire off Finistère
The Italian con/ro ‘Grande America’ caught fire, approximately 140 nm off Finistère, forcing all 27 members of her crew to abandon ship, on March 10. After being informed by the captain that the vessel was on fire, the Royal Navy diverted to the scene to provide assistance. Although no one from the crew was injured, some required hospital treatment.
Specifically, the French Maritime Agency Premar Atlantique received a distress call from the America at 2000 hours on the night of March 10.
The...
https://safety4sea.com/watch-con-ro-catches-fire-off-finistere/
Fire-stricken Grimaldi ro-ro sinks in the Bay of Biscay after Royal Navy rescues entire crew
Fire spread aboard 56,642-gt Grande America (built 1997) from Sunday night to Monday morning, forcing crew to abandon ship in the Bay of Biscay.