
Rescue underway after French trawler sinks off Plymouth with two sailors missing
A French fishing trawler sank near Plymouth, leaving two sailors missing as search-and-rescue operations get underway.
All articles tagged with #maritime incident

A French fishing trawler sank near Plymouth, leaving two sailors missing as search-and-rescue operations get underway.

The Indian Coast Guard launched a search and rescue operation after the Panama-flagged cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner sank southeast of Paradip in the Bay of Bengal. Two of the 24 crew were rescued from life rafts, with three Coast Guard ships deployed to search for the rest. The crew comprises 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi; the cause is unknown. Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the vessel was carrying iron ore from Paradip to China, and the two survivors are receiving medical care as rescue efforts continue.

A Russian cargo ship named Ursa Major sank about 60 miles off eastern Spain after a series of explosions on December 23, 2024. Investigators say the vessel was carrying components for two submarine nuclear reactors allegedly bound for North Korea, with the cargo later described by the captain as “components for two nuclear reactors” rather than manhole covers. Two crew members were killed and 14 survived; the ship had departed St. Petersburg on December 11 and was escorted by Russian military vessels. Spanish authorities and CNN cite the cargo, and investigators are exploring whether the damage could have been caused by a high-speed torpedo or explosive device. The wreck site drew attention from Western intelligence, including a Yantar reconnaissance ship visiting the area and US WC-135R flights monitoring for nuclear material.

Russia’s Kremlin warned that Cuba’s situation is escalating after Cuban border guards killed four exiles and wounded six aboard a Florida-registered speedboat that entered Cuban waters amid heightened tensions with Washington; Havana says the vessel was armed and that four Cuban exiles were killed, with U.S. officials weighing a response after an independent investigation, as Cuba grapples with a fuel shortage and international aid arrives from allies like Mexico.

An explosion in the engine room of the MSC Giada III near St. Petersburg in Neva Bay sparked a fire that spread to the deck, but the hull remained undamaged and there were no injuries among the 22 crew; emergency assets extinguished the blaze and the vessel was towed to port for inspection after departing Belgium for Russia.

Passengers on the Coral Adventurer cruise ship, which ran aground on a reef in Papua New Guinea, will be flown back to Australia after efforts to refloat the vessel failed. The ship, with 80 passengers and 44 crew, was deemed unseaworthy and is currently detained until further clearance, with no injuries or environmental damage reported.

A Russian arms ship, Ursa Major, sank off Cartagena after carrying suspected nuclear submarine reactor components, possibly destined for North Korea, with investigations suggesting suspicious circumstances and potential covert military cargo.

Two Chinese vessels collided in the South China Sea while chasing a Philippine ship, resulting in significant damage to both Chinese vessels. The incident occurred near Scarborough Shoal and has heightened tensions between China and the Philippines, with the Philippine Coast Guard condemning China's reckless behavior and offering aid to injured crew members.

A large container ship, MSC Michigan 7, lost control of its engines in Charleston Harbor, prompting the temporary closure of the Ravenel Bridge and evacuation of nearby areas. The vessel was eventually brought under control and anchored outside the harbor. The incident is under investigation, with no major damage reported.

Four U.S. military vessels broke free from their moorings and ran ashore near Gaza and Israel due to rough maritime conditions. Recovery efforts are underway with assistance from the Israeli Navy. No injuries were reported from this incident, but the U.S.-built aid pier in Gaza has faced challenges, including hijacked aid and injuries to service members.

Four U.S. Army vessels supporting humanitarian aid in Gaza broke free from their moorings due to heavy seas, with two beached near Gaza and two near Ashkelon, Israel. No injuries were reported, and recovery efforts are underway with Israeli assistance. The mission, using Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS), has delivered 1.2 million pounds of aid to Gaza despite previous disruptions and injuries.

At least 94 people, including children, have died and 26 are missing after an unlicensed ferry boat, overloaded with 130 passengers fleeing a cholera outbreak, capsized off the northern coast of Mozambique. The vessel was not licensed to transport people and was hit by a tidal wave while ferrying passengers from Lunga in Nampula province to Mozambique Island. Videos on social media showed bodies on the beach, and the country has been battling cholera outbreaks since last year.

Taiwan defended its coast guard's actions after a fatal incident involving a Chinese speedboat near a frontline Taiwanese island. China's Taiwan Affairs Office accused Taiwan of treating Chinese fishermen roughly, but Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council stated that the coast guard acted in accordance with the law. Taiwan has long complained about Chinese vessels operating in its waters, and the incident occurred near Kinmen's Beiding islet. The council urged China to restrain such behavior and highlighted China's alleged illegal activities in Taiwanese waters.
A Greek ferry captain and three crew members are facing criminal charges, including homicide, after a crew member pushed a tardy passenger into the sea as he tried to board the departing vessel in Greece's main port of Piraeus. The incident, captured on video and shared on social media, sparked outrage across the country. The crew appeared to do nothing to help the passenger, who was later pronounced dead. The Greek minister for merchant marine expressed shock and sorrow over the incident, while the prime minister condemned the crew members' actions. The ferry company has pledged to cooperate with authorities and conduct an investigation.

The fire on board the car carrier Fremantle Highway has been extinguished, and the ship remains stable at its temporary anchorage in the North Sea. Salvors have inspected the vessel and found no indications of a fire. Efforts are underway to develop a plan for towing the ship to a final destination. Most of the personnel who were hospitalized have been released, except for the captain and a pilot. The ship's charterer, "K" Line, reported that there were 20 new vehicles on board, including 498 electric vehicles. The incident is under investigation by the Panama Maritime Authority and the Dutch Safety Board.