Select a newsletter from menu below
July 2024
| Date | 19 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Fully Cellular Containership |
| Casualty | Fire |
| Claim |
image source:Indian Coast Guard via X
MAERSK FRANKFURT
The 2024-built fully cellular containership MAERSK FRANKFURT suffered a significant fire in her cargo hold on the 19th July 2024. At the time of the fire, the MAERSK FRANKFURT was sailing approximately 100 nautical miles off the coast of India.
Several Indian coastguard vessels and firefighting assets provided immediate firefighting assistance. However, notwithstanding the intervention of the Indian coastguard, the Owners contracted Smit Salvage to render salvage assistance under the provisions of Lloyd’s Open Form.
As of today, firefighting efforts remain ongoing and have been complicated by local monsoon weather conditions and the presence of hazardous cargo onboard.
As a result of the fire, the Owners of the MAERSK FRANKFURT have declared General Average.
| Date | 30 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | LPG Carrier |
| Casualty | Engine Fire |
| Claim |
image source: VesselFinder.com
LIMRA
The 1997-built LPG carrier LIMRA suffered a significant fire whilst sailing close to the Lakshadweep Islands, India on 28 July 2024.
It appears that this fire broke out near the main engine lube oil filter area, following a suspected oil spray leak. The fire was extinguished later that day, and crews engaged in boundary cooling efforts.
At the time of the incident, the LIMRA was proceeding in ballast between Colombo, Sri Lanka and Khor al Fakkan, UAE.
| Date | 19 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Fully Cellular Containership |
| Casualty | Engine Fire |
| Claim |
image source: VesselFinder.com
MSC SUEZ
The 1993 built fully cellular containership MSC SUEZ suffered an engine failure whilst approximately 66 nautical miles northwest of A Coruna, Spain on 19 July 2024 which rendered the vessel immobilised.
As a result of the engine failure, she was taken under tow by tugs to Vigo for inspection and repairs.
Part of the cargo laden on board the vessel at the time of the incident was discharged in Vigo, Spain for on-shipment, however the majority of the cargo remained onboard the vessel.
Following repairs, the vessel departed from Vigo, Spain and continued on her original intended voyage.
In Other News…
There have been four significant containership casualty cases of note already this year on which we have been instructed, involving declarations of General Average and salvage services being rendered under the provisions of Loyd’s Open Form (LOF) salvage contact.
First, in March the DALI allided with the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore which saw the Owners of the DALI declare General Average. Then, on the 16th May the fully cellular containership LODUR suffered a serious grounding off Freetown, Sierra Leone requiring salvage services to be rendered under LOF salvage contract. In addition, the Owners of the LODUR declared General Average.
Just ten days later the fully cellular containership NORTHERN JUVENILE suffered a fire in her cargo hold whilst navigating waters off the coast of Indonesia. As a result of the fire, the Owners engaged Smit Salvage to render salvage assistance under an LOF salvage contract. The Owners of the NORTHERN JUVENILE also declared General Average.
Then, on the 19th July the fully cellular containership MAERSK FRANKFURT, as detailed above, suffered a fire in her cargo hold. Again, the Owners had to engage professional salvors to render salvage assistance under an LOF salvage contract and, again, the Owners of the MAERSK FRANKFURT have declared General Average.
This volume of major containership casualties in such a short space of time is certainly very unusual. That said, it is most interesting to note the continued relevance and importance of the Lloyd’s Open Form salvage contract in the maritime industry. This is of particular importance bearing in mind the last couple of years have been reasonably quiet on the Lloyd’s Open Form front, particularly in relation to major containership casualties.
May 2024
| Date | 30 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Bulk Carrier |
| Casualty | Fire |
| Claim |
image source: VesselFinder.com
CAPE TOWN EAGLE
A significant fire broke out in the cargo hold of 2015-built bulk carrier CAPE TOWN EAGLE in the port of Ulsan, South Korea on 30 May 2023. The shipowner has confirmed that the fire started as the vessel loaded a cargo of 5,700 tonnes of Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA).
The fire was subsequently extinguished by crew and local firefighters, and there were no reported injuries caused by the incident. Work is currently underway to ascertain the extent of damage to the vessel.
| Date | 25 May 2023 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Bulk Carrier |
| Casualty | Machinery Failure |
| Claim |
image source: vesselfinder.com
XIN HAI TONG 23
The 2010 built bulker XIN HAI TONG 23 suffered an engine failure while navigating the southern mouth of the Suez Canal on the 25th May 2023, reportedly blocking the shipping channel. It is reported that a convoy of four vessels were stuck behind the XIN HAI TONG 23 due to the grounding. At the time of the incident, the XIN HAI TONG 23 was proceeding fully laden from Dhuba, Saudi Arabia to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
As a result of the incident, at least three tugboats were deployed by the Egyptian authorities which subsequently towed the vessel to Dumyat port in Egypt, where the vessel remains awaiting repair work.
| Date | 12 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Fully Cellular Containership |
| Casualty | Machinery Failure |
| Claim |
image source: VesselFinder.com
SHILING
The SHILING departed Wellington on the 12th May 2023. Whilst she was navigating the Cook Strait, in rough seas, she suffered a main engine breakdown which could not be repaired by the crew. It is reported that, as a result, the vessel was immobilised in rough weather and as a result the Owners were forced to engage salvage assistance. The Owners of the SHILING agreed for salvage services to be rendered under Lloyd’s Open Form salvage agreement by DDW Offshore.
Accordingly, a salvage tug was dispatched to the SHILING and she was taken in tow to Tasman Bay, off Nelson in order to shelter the rough seas. Thereafter, once the weather had calmed, the SHILING was towed to Wellington where she arrived earlier this week. The Owners of the SHILING contracted with DDW Offshore for salvage services to be rendered under Lloyd’s Open Form salvage agreement
Prior to the release of cargo, salvage security and GA security will have to be provided to the satisfaction of the salvors and the Owners of the SHILING, respectively
| Date | 28 April 2023 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | General Cargo |
| Casualty | Grounding |
| Claim |
image source: Fleetmon.com
ATLANTA
The 2009-built general cargo vessel ATLANTA ran aground while navigating to the west of Rhodes Island in Greek waters on the 28th April 2023. The vessel was unable to re-float under its own power, and we understand that the tugboat Christos XXV was subsequently deployed to assist. Salvage services were rendered under the provisions of Lloyd’s Open Form salvage contract.
At the time of the incident, the ATLANTA was proceeding on a fully laden voyage from Nea Karvali, Greece to Iskenderun, Turkey carrying a cargo of fertilizer in bulk.
In Other News…
Record low ship losses last year
Last year saw the lowest number of shipping losses in at least 12 years, according to a leading market insurer’s report.
Over the course of the year, 38 total vessel losses were reported globally; a 65% decline on 2021. However, the report also highlighted several risks that could see this trend reversed including economic pressures, a growth in mis-declared cargoes, and increasing cargo fire risks.
Of the 38 total losses reported in 2022, around a quarter were cargo vessels. Sunk/submerged vessels was the main cause of total loss, with fire the second highest risk accounting for 8 vessels lost and over 200 incidents reported globally.
March 2024
| Date | 26 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Fully Cellular Containership |
| Casualty | Allision |
| Claim |
image source: BBC
DALI
The 9,962 TEU fully cellular containership DALI was involved in a significant allision with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, USA during the early hours of 26 March 2024. The allision caused the bridge to collapse into the waterway below. Sadly, a number of casualties have arisen as a result of this incident.
We understand that the DALI may have suffered intermittent power failures immediately before the allision. It is currently unclear how extensive the damage to the vessel and her cargo is going to be.
It is reported that Resolve Marine has been retained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to oversee the initial salvage effort. To this end, several floating cranes, including the CHESAPEAKE 1000, have been deployed to support recovery operations, including the removal of bridge debris from the DALI.
At the time of the incident, the DALI was on a laden voyage from Baltimore, USA to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The collapse of the bridge has further blocked the navigable channel into and out of Baltimore port.
As at today, the Owners of the DALI have not declared General Average but we are monitoring developments closely in this respect.
| Date | 10 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Bulk Carrier |
| Casualty | Main Engine Breakdown |
| Claim |
image source: VesselFinder.com
XIN HAI TONG 9
The 2015-built bulk carrier XIN HAI TONG 9 suffered a main engine failure on 10 March 2024 off the coast of Algeria. The condition of the engine subsequently deteriorated rendering the vessel immobilised, and she began to drift towards the Algerian coast.
The Owners of the XIN HAI TONG 9 entered into a towage contract and as such a tug was dispatched, which deployed a line and towed the vessel to the port of Oran, Algeria for repairs. General Average was declared as a result of the incident.
At the time of the incident, the XIN HAI TONG 9 was proceeding on a fully laden voyage carrying steel cargo between loading ports in South Korea and discharge ports of Sagunto, Spain and Liverpool, UK.
| Date | 16 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Fully Cellular Containership |
| Casualty | Allision |
| Claim |
image source: VesselFinder.com
YM WITNESS
The 2015 built fully cellular containership YM WITNESS suffered an allision with a pier and container terminal cranes at Evyap, Turkey as she was berthing on 16 March 2024.
The allision caused significant damage to the onshore cranes, three of which appear to have collapsed as a result of the incident. The incident further caused damage to several of the containers onboard the vessel.
In Other News…
More than one new containership is scheduled to be delivered globally every single day this year. Some container lines are particularly aggressive in their expansion plans, like Japanese line Ocean Network Express (ONE) which this month announced its medium-term business plan to grow its operated fleet to 3 million TEU by 2030.
If ONE achieves this goal, it will join COSCO, CMA CGM, Maersk, and MSC – the leading lines by operated tonnage and currently the world’s only carriers with fleets exceeding 3 million TEU. However, it will still have some way to go to make top spot – with MSC on track to soon surpass the 6 million mark.
Aggressive newbuilding is broadly positive for vessel safety, with newer tonnage set to dominate the market. However, new vessels can lead to their own issues – and can pose their own unique casualty risks. In addition, as the fleet is expected to rapidly expand, we are likely to see more casualties as a whole, and may see older vessels moved to regional routes.