VESSEL DESTINATION – EUROPE

“KARMATE” –  IMO:8135461 – Flag: Turkey – Type: General Cargo Ship
On May 4, the “Karmate” was in collision with the gunboat “Armatolis” of the Greek Navy in the Mytilini Strait between Lesvos island and the Turkish mainland about four miles off the Lesvos coast. The “Karmate” reportedly was warned to change her course prior to the collision but, ignored the warnings. The vessel was en route from Izmir to Tekirdag and was crossing the strait in northern direction at the time of the collision. After the accident she sailed into Turkish waters and stopped. At 06.10 a.m. the vessel started moving towards Dikili port, nearest to her Turkish port in Mytilini Strait. She moored on Dikili anchorage at 8.50 a.m.

“NS UNION” –  IMO:8502133 – Flag: Panama – Type: General Cargo Ship
On May 6, the “NS Union”, being en route from Iskenderun to Kherson in ballast, suffered an engine failure during the strait passage and drifted dangerously close to shore at Kandilli point. A coastal safety tug and technical teams immediately attended the ship in order to provide further assistance and ensure the strait traffic safety. Subsequently, the vessel was secured and towed to Büyükdere anchorage where it dropped anchor at 8 a.m. The strait passage permission has been cancelled by the Strait authority until the completion of permanent repairs. A fine was imposed due to the breach of the strait safety regulation. The vessel has to pay the tug assistance expenses to the Coastal Safety account prior to its departure.

“FROLAND” – IMO:9505584 – Flag: Antigua and Barbuda – Type: General Cargo Ship
On May 6, the Antigua-Barbuda-flagged container m/v “Froland”, allided with the side wall of the Northern lock of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel while exiting towards the Elbe. The ship caused damage in a covering of the lock. After investigations the ship was allowed to resume the voyage from Loviisa to Mostaganem at 3 a.m., ETA May 13. The cause of the accident was a steering mistake.

Vessel Destination: SOUTH AMERICA

“SANTOS EXPRESS” – IMO:9777632 – Flag: Germany – Type: Container Ship
On May 6, the “Santos Express”, while entering Santos port diverted out of the fairway and allided with three local ferries at the Guartuja terminal, passing dangerously close to the terminal piers. The ferries “FB-18” and “FB-19” were in a lay-up, while the “FB-28” had just completed her scheduled trip and offloaded cars. The ferry suffered serious damages. The “Santos Express” proceeded further to her destination, the DP World Santos Terminal where it berthed around 9 p.m. The ship was assisted by tugs, and it was not clear what caused her straying off fairway and dangerous movements.