Saturday, May 24, 2025

ICYMI

Baltic Feeder Ship Runs Aground Feet from Norwegian’s Bedroom

containership aground — Containership ended up just feet from a home on the Norwegian fjord (Trondheim Rescue Company)

A Baltic feeder containership maneuvering in the fjord near Trondheim, Norway grounded on Thursday morning, May 21, ending up just feet from a resident’s home. The authorities are reporting no one on the ship (or shore) was injured and so far, there have been no oil spills reported but resident Johan Helberg has a ship on his coastline.

The NCL Salten (11,135 dwt) owned by Baltnautic, and chartered by North Sea Container Line, was sailing for the port of Orkanger at 0500 local time when the vessel appeared to miss a turn in the waterway and continued toward shore and grounded. A neighbor witnessed the grounding reporting that it was “a soft landing.” He ran to his neighbor’s home and awakened the sleeping resident Johan Helberg. He later told Norwegian TV that if the vessel was 15 feet to the right it would have ended up in his bedroom. Helberg said he was sleeping about seven meters (23 feet) from where the bow came to rest.

After one attempt to refloat the 439-foot (134-meter) containership, the Norwegian authorities reported the vessel’s operator had retained a tug to aid with the effort. They were conducting a ground survey which delayed a planned attempt to refloat the ship at high tide Thursday night. The NCL Salten remains grounded in Byneset, Norway west of Trondheim with the Norwegian Coastal Administration saying the survey and analysis to determine if "special considerations need to be taken when the ship is to be pulled off," is expected to take "some time."

The police told the news outlet VG that they had conducted a breath test for the crewmember on the bridge and there was no suspicion of intoxication. The police have collected the vessel’s documents and log but said a more detailed investigation would wait till the ship is refloated.

Reports indicate that the weather was good and at this time of the year, 0500 is already daylight in Norway. The Norwegian Coastal Administration is monitoring the situation and reports the oil spill response vessel OV Hekkingen is standing by and the Coast Guard vessel KV Njord is en route to the scene.

“This is a serious incident, and we are grateful that nobody was injured in the grounding,” said NCL’s Managing Director Bente Hetland. “We are currently assessing the damage to the ship and have initiated an internal investigation into the root causes of the incident.”

(Trondheim Rescue Company)

Built in 2002, the vessel is registered in Cyprus and operates a Norwegian coastal route with connections to Bremerhaven and Rotterdam. It has a capacity of 886 TEU. The crew numbers 16 and is reported to consist of Norwegians, Russians, and Ukrainians.

VG is reporting the ship has been involved in four incidents in less than three years. The newspaper is saying the ship ran aground in Tømmervika in October 2023 but was able to free itself. In April 2024, it made contact with a pier while maneuvering in Alesund and had a six-meter (16-foot) gash in its hull. In January 2023 the ship was stranded at sea for five hours while the crew replaced a fuel pipe.

NTSB: Mississippi Towboat Grounded When Pilot Took a Bathroom Break

A Mississippi River towboat went aground and sustained hull damage because the pilot left the helm for five minutes, according to the NTSB. It adds to a long line of human-error casualties on the Mississippi, where there is little room for error given the close quarters, strong currents and hidden shoals.

On July 29, 2023, towboat City of Louisville was under way on the Mississippi near Thebes, Illinois pushing a tow of 11 empty hopper barges. The overall length of the tow was nearly 740 feet long. The pilot - a 24-year veteran of the towing industry - took over the watch at 1100 hours, and the tow proceeded upriver at a leisurely speed of about four knots. River conditions were low, with the nearest river gage registering 7.4 feet.

At about 1442, the pilot got up and walked over to the port side of the wheelhouse, where he "relieved himself into a bag" while looking out the port side window. Once done, he threw the bag overboard and returned to the helm, arriving back at his position at about 1447, he told investigators.

During the five minutes he was away from the controls, City of Louisville missed a turn and began passing west of her intended trackline. By 1447, the towboat was 95 yards too far to the west and headed about 10 degrees to port of the intended course.

The pilot put the rudders hard over 30 degrees to starboard, and the head of the tow began to swing. At the same time, the stern swung to port, further towards the west. The towboat - which was drawing about six feet more water than the empty barges - grounded on a rocky shoal at a position about 150 yards to the west of the intended trackline.

The hull of the towboat was breached in the grounding, and the engine room began to flood. The tow remained intact, but the towboat settled further in the water, and the crew could not move it off the rocks.

Damage to City of Louisville's bottom plating (NTSB)

At about 1800 hours, an incoming thunderstorm prompted the crew to abandon ship, with assistance from first responders. Heavy rainfall caused the river stage to gradually rise, flooding the towboat's rudder compartment and the mess area.

City of Louisville was refloated and towed off for repairs in August, and inspections found that large sections of the bottom plating were badly damaged. The total cost of repairs came to more than $2 million. The vessel was later resold, then scrapped.

According to NTSB, City of Louisville had a pilothouse alerter system that was designed to set off an alarm if the pilot did not move the rudder controls for a set period of time, adjustable between about 1.5 minutes and 10 minutes. NTSB only learned of the casualty seven weeks after the fact, and when agency inspectors finally arrived, they found that the power adapter for the alerter system was missing.

The last recorded check of the alerter occurred in January 2023, and the pilot told investigators that he was not aware that it existed; he had never heard it go off. NTSB could not determine whether the system was working at the time of the casualty, nor what time interval it may have been set for.

"A pilothouse alerter, when used as intended, is an effective tool that can help ensure a towing vessel operator remains awake and vigilant while on duty," NTSB advised. "Established procedures for the operation and use of the system should be outlined in the company safety management system and should include the time interval for reset of the alerter system."

Groundbreaking Electric Tour Vessel Evacuates All Passengers Over Smoke

Future of the Fjords (Saertex / CC BY SA 4.0)

The world's first all-electric, zero-emissions passenger vessel conducted an emergency evacuation of hundreds of passengers on Tuesday after smoke was spotted coming from a battery compartment. No one was injured, and the operator believes that it has identified the fault.

On Tuesday afternoon, the all-electric tour boat Future of the Fjords was under way on the Aurlandsfjord, near Onstad, Norway. At about 1533 hours, the crew notified the regional emergency response center that there was smoke coming from a battery room. As a precautionary measure, the crew returned to the pier and began evacuating all 300 passengers on board. The vessel was emptied out by 1600, according to NRK, with no injuries reported.

The local fire department responded to the scene and treated it as a high-priority incident, given the risk of serious escalation if a lithium-ion battery bank were to catch on fire. Battery fires produce noxious smoke and high heat, and they are difficult to extinguish. A firefighting team entered the compartment and determined that the situation was under control, and they ventilated the space to clear out smoke.

“The potential in such incidents is dramatic,” fire team leader Tor Mikkel Tokvam told state radio outlet NRK. “When something like this happens, we take it very seriously.”

On Wednesday, the vessel's operator told local outlet Firda that the problem had been identified: a capacitor in an electrical panel had shorted out and overheated, producing smoke without starting a substantial fire.

Future of the Fjords is a 2018-built, carbon fiber-hulled tour vessel with a capacity of 400 passengers. It was the first all-electric passenger vessel ever delivered. On a full charge, it is capable of speeds of up to 16 knots for up to 2.5 hours. It recharges with shore power in as little as 20 minutes (with a specialized docking system).

Top image: Future of the Fjords (Saertex / CC BY SA 4.0)

ECOCIDE

Fire on Offshore Oil Platform at Vietnam’s First Decommissioning Project

oil platform fire — Fire during the decommission of a platform off Vietnam (YouTube)

Vietnamese officials confirmed that there was a devastating fire at the Song Doc offshore oil platform on Wednesday. The platform is the country’s first decommissioning project.

An unconfirmed report in the Viet Nam News and appearing in the other local outlets says that one person was killed in the fire. Seven others were being reported as injured, although the official reports did not include mention of a death or injuries. Officials emphasized the fire was brought under control in 30 minutes.

The Song Doc oil platform was an important offshore development for the country discovered in 2006 and brought into production in 2008 by the national company PVEP POC, a subsidiary of Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation along with two investment partners. It was a relatively small site producing at its maximum around 28,000 barrels per day.

For the last decade of the operations, PVEP POC was the sole owner after the two investors left the project in 2013. They cited high costs which were said to make the well uneconomical. PVEP POC was assigned to continue the operations and deplete the well, which it reported happened in 2023.

The site officially ceased production in February 2024 with the company reporting it was capped. They submitted a plan for decommissioning and removal of the platform, which was approved by the regulators.

Work was underway on the decommissioning with the reports saying a subcontractor was conducting a cleaning process at the site when the fire began on Wednesday afternoon. It is unclear how many workers were on the platform. The videos show a fireboat working to control the fire.

The company is reporting there was no pollution and the fire did not affect normal operations and production at the other oil and gas projects in the area. They said there would be an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Song Doc is located approximately 125 miles south of Ca Mau Cape at the southernmost tip of Vietnam. It is in the Gulf of Thailand.

Philippines Completes Deal for 40 Fast Patrol Boats from France’s OCEA

Philippine Coast Guard's new patrol boat — France's OCEA will build 40 fast patrol boats for the Philippine Coast Guard (OCEA)

The Philippine Coast Guard reports that the Department of Transportation has completed a deal to dramatically expand its capabilities with 40 new French-designed fast patrol boats. It is part of a broad effort designed to modernize and expand the capabilities of the Philippines Coast Guard.

President Ferdinand Marco Jr. issued a directive to expand the operations of the Philippine Coast Guard in response to the emerging “complex maritime challenges.” The President cited the growth in maritime traffic, the rise of incidents of illegal activity at sea, and the tensions with China. With international support for the Philippines to increase its security, both France and Japan committed to the expansion of the Coast Guard. France and the Philippines reached an agreement in November 2024 which called for the new patrol boats.

The Coast Guard currently has 13 ocean-going patrol boats. Government officials have said with over 7,600 islands the Coast Guard is currently stretched thin. With international support, they seek to correct this and expand the effectiveness of the Coast Guard.

The contract was signed in Manila on May 22, calling for the construction of 40 fast patrol boats designed by OCEA Group based on the company’s successful FPB 110 MKII design. The vessels will be built of aluminum, 35 meters (115 feet) in length, and approximately 110 tons. The company reports the class operates at maximum speeds between 28 and 35 knots and at a cruising speed of 12 knots, has a 700 nautical mile radius. They are designed to operate with a crew of 17.

OCEA reports the deal is valued at more than €400 million ($454 million). Under the agreement, the company will build the first 20 boats in France while it will also create a joint shipbuilding operation for 20 additional boats to be built in the Philippines. The contract is supported through a government-to-government agreement between France and the Philippines.

The Philippines and OCEA have an established working relationship. The company built four smaller 24-meter (79-foot) patrol boats on its FPB 72 design which started delivery to the Philippines in 2017. They are currently deployed for coastal operations. OCEA established a maintenance office in the Philippines and recently signed a 5-year renewal of the maintenance contract with the Coast Guard.

OCEA also built the 84-meter (275-foot) BRP Gabriela Silang, which when it was delivered in 2019 was the largest and most capable vessel in the Philippine Coast Guard. The company also has a contract with the Philippines for integrated logistic support and maintenance services for the patrol boat.

The Philippine Coast Guard says the new vessels are expected to enhance its maritime presence and rapid response capabilities. They expect the vessels will be used to respond to maritime threats, such as illegal fishing, smuggling, piracy, and maritime terrorism, as well as emergency response and relief during natural disasters and maritime incidents. The new boats will also enhance interoperability with the Philippines’ military, the Bureau of Fisheries, and international partners.

Japan has also committed to expand its support for the Philippine Coast Guard. Previously Japan had provided 12 patrol vessels. It also supported the construction of the current largest vessel in the fleet the BRP Teresa Magbanua (97 meters / 318 feet) which entered service in 2022. Japan will provide five additional vessels to the Philippines between 2027 and 2028.

New Zealand’s Troubled Interisland Ferry Aratere to Retire Early

Aratere New Zealand ferry — The 26-year old Aratere will be retired without a replacement at New Zealand prepares for new ferries (ZiwiRail)

After a troubled career spanning a quarter of a century, New Zealand’s workhorse RoRo ferry Aratere is set to retire in August. Operator KiwiRail is reporting that after being a familiar part of the Cook Strait crossing for 25 years, the ferry will be removed from service at the end of August, a decision necessitated by plans to carry out extensive infrastructure redevelopment in Picton. However, it will reduce the company’s capacity for possibly four years until new ferries can be introduced.

Having entered service in 1999, Aratere has been Interislander’s only rail-enabled ferry making 24 crossings on the Cook Strait route per week. The 184-meter (604-foot) ferry has a capacity of?600 passengers, 30 trucks or 230 cars, and 28 rail cars.

Originally, the ferry was built at a 150-meter (492-foot) length but underwent a NZ$52 million refit at the Sembawang shipyard in Singapore in 2011. The refit, which involved cutting the vessel in half to insert a new 30-meter (98-foot) midsection resulted in her capacity being increased from 360 to 600 passengers. Her gross tonnage increased from 12,595 tonnes to 17,816 tonnes.

Despite being synonymous with Cook Strait crossing for years, Aratere has had a troubled career characterized by several technical problems, engine failures, and a grounding in June last year. Over the years, the ferry has experienced at least eight major incidents, including a breakdown due to engine failure during its delivery run from its Spanish shipbuilder to New Zealand. Due to her troubled history, speculations have been rife that the ferry is jinxed, resulting in the nickname “El Lemon.”

The most frightening incident occurred on June 21 last year when Aratere grounded while departing Picton ostensibly because the crew did not know how to turn off the vessel’s autopilot when they realized she was heading towards the shore. The previous month, the vessel had received a new steering control system to work with the autopilot and integrated bridge navigation system. Investigators termed the grounding as a serious incident, but none of the 47 passengers and crew aboard were injured.

KiwiRail has now confirmed that Aratere will retire no later than August 30 to make way for infrastructure redevelopments in Picton in readiness for two new ferries that are expected to arrive in 2029. Apart from its troubled history, one of the other key factors in the ferry’s retirement is that she requires specific loading and unloading infrastructure, meaning she cannot use the other wharf in Picton. Building a temporary berth for her has been deemed too expensive and risks delaying the necessary infrastructure works. The government has previously stated that it would cost NZ$120 million to keep Aratere in service.

Demolition of Aratere’s wharf is expected to begin as soon as October this year, and no later than March next year to facilitate the construction of new infrastructure for the two new rail-enabled ferries planned by the New Zealand government. The replacement project however has been fraught with problems and cancelations causing controversy in New Zealand. The decision to acquire the new, identical ships was made after KiwiRail did an international search and failed to identify suitable second-hand ships to buy or lease. The company said it could not find vessels that would meet modern safety and environmental standards and the demands of the run.

The retirement of Aratere means that until the new ferries arrive in 2029, KiwiRail will be operating only two ferries on the Cook Strait route, Kaitaki and Kaiarahi. In late June, Kaiarahi is set to go to dry dock in Singapore for major works before returning to New Zealand in mid to late August. Although Aratere is currently Interislander’s only rail-enabled ferry, the operator will be able to carry rail freight on the other two ferries using a road bridging process.

KiwiRail has warned that the retirement of Aratere is bound to lead to job losses but is yet to determine the exact numbers. “Interislander’s transition from a three to two-ship fleet has a number of implications for the company and for our customers. The first impact is on our dedicated team and a formal consultation will begin with them,” said Duncan Roy, Interislander Executive General Manager.

Poland Checks Baltic for Explosives as Tensions Continue Over Shadow Fleet

Polish survey ship — Polish Navy's survey ship ORP Heweliusz is surveying the area around the electric cable looking for explosives said the Polish Prime Minister (Minister of Defense)

The governments of Poland and Estonia continue to highlight the dangers in the Baltic coming from the shadow fleet and asserting their rights to inspect vessels. This comes as Russian officials have stepped up their verbal attacks on the EU’s efforts to reign in the activity of the so-called shadow fleet of tankers supporting Russia’s oil and gas trade.

After revealing that it had used its military to chase away a tanker acting suspiciously in the Baltic, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters on Thursday, May 22, “Not everyone realizes how often critical infrastructure facilities lying on the bottom of the Baltic Sea are the target of sabotage or even terrorist activities.” He was speaking during a follow-up meeting to Tuesday’s incident taking place at the Maritime Operations Center in Gdynia.

Tusk said that the shadow tanker acting suspiciously near the power cable connecting Poland and Sweden was “not the first such situation that we have encountered.” He said he was very satisfied that in a very effective, discreet manner, it was possible to discourage the ship from any actions that could have caused damage to the power cable.

However, he also told reporters, “We are still investigating whether any explosives were planted.” Poland reported that the Navy’s survey vessel ORP Heweliusz had been sent to the area after the incident. Tusk said there were currently no alarming signals but the process was proceeding. He also reported that during the meeting they decided to purchase surveillance drones for the Polish Navy.

At the same time, Estonia’s Prime Minister was questioned by the country’s parliament (Riigikogu) about the incident last week when Estonia attempted to inspect another shadow tanker that it suspected was operating without a valid registration. Prime Minister Kristen Michal cited the mandate given to the Estonian Defense Forces, the Police, and the Border Guard, asserting that “Estonia had legal grounds to inspect the vessel.”

He said the Navy and the other sections of the government would take steps to protect Estonia’s maritime space, including critical infrastructure. ERR news reports he told parliament that “the inspections will continue.”

The Prime Minister said Estonia was ready to board the tanker if it had entered Estonian waters. Instead, the decision had been made to escort the vessel away from Estonian waters. A Russian fighter jet had briefly entered Estonia’s airspace and NATO planes were also observing. Russia however contended at a UN meeting of the Security Council that Estonia was trying to seize the tanker, attempted to board the ship, and tried to ram the tanker when it failed to gain control of the tanker.

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council, “This habit of using NATO naval forces and assets for such illegal actions will do nothing but pave the way to military escalation and creation of serious challenges to maritime security.” He called the efforts “pirates of the Baltic Sea.” He also asserted that NATO and West was blocking the investigation to find the terrorists that damaged the Nord 2 pipeline.

Speaking to the media in Moscow on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said according to Interfax that Russia would use all means available within the framework of international law to defend its ships in the Baltic Sea.

"As the latest events related to the attempted pirate attack on one of the tankers have shown, Russia has shown that it is capable of responding quite harshly," Interfax reports Peskov said.

Fueling the tensions are moves by the European Union and the UK expanding the sanctions against shadow fleet tankers. The EU highlighted that it more than doubled the number of sanctioned vessels this week after previously authorizing inspections of documentation and insurance for all ships passing through EU waters even if they were not making a port stop in the EU.

Panama Registry Cracks Down on STS Actions to Stop Shadow Fleet

tankers in STS transfer — STS is a common technique in an attempt to hide the originals of oil coming from Iran and elsewhere (Bakamla)

The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) is taking further actions to crack down on suspicious tankers by establishing new rules for ship-to-ship oil transfers for vessels in its registry. It is the latest in a series of steps responding to international pressure to stop the notorious technique used by vessels trying to hide transactions of Russian and Iranian oil.

“This new regulation reinforces Panama’s role as a flag state committed to maritime safety, operational transparency, and the prevention of fraudulent use of its registry, in full alignment with IMO regulations and the MARPOL Convention,” explained DGMM Acting Director, Engineer Rina Berrocal. “This is not just about safeguarding the reputation of the Panamanian registry,” she warned, “but about ensuring that our vessels are not used as platforms for illicit activities that undermine global trade and harm the environment.”

Under a resolution published this month, the PMA introduced rules it says are designed to create stricter controls and mandatory traceability for offshore STS transfers of hydrocarbons. Effective immediately, all Panama-flagged vessels with a gross tonnage of 150 or more must notify the flag state at least 48 hours in advance of any planned STS operation, providing detailed technical, logistical, and operational information.

“This initiative addresses the growing use of opaque vessels to circumvent international sanctions, transport undeclared crude, or evade environmental safety regulations—practices commonly associated with what is known as the shadow or dark fleet,” said Berrocal.

Ships are required to provide details on the other ship involved in the transfer including its IMO number and flag. They must also declare where and how the transfer will be performed and confirm that it has a plan in accordance with the MARPOL convention.

Last year, the PMA took steps to clean its registry and make the process of removing violators simpler. As the largest registry by the number of ships, Panama also had the greatest number of ships identified by watchdog groups as involved in the oil trade for Iran and Russia. Registry officials said they were making an effort to purge their ranks of suspect vessels and also have worked with other leading registries to identify vessels attempting to flag hop to avoid detection

Western Sanctions Take Big Bite Out of Sovcomflot’s Results

Sovcomflot tanker — Sovcomflot reported a financial loss and took an impairment charge due to the pressure from Western sanctions (SCF file photo)

Russia’s tanker operator PAO Sovcomflot is citing the impact of the Western sanctions on the company’s results. It reported a significant drop in revenues and a loss for the first quarter of 2025 along with recording a non-cash impairment related to the fleet.

The U.S., UK, and EU have all stepped up their efforts targeting the shadow tanker fleet and Russia’s income from the oil and gas sectors. In announcing its financial results the company cited the impact and warned investors that the board of directors would be taking into account “significant changes in the external business conditions that have a direct impact on the current financial performance of the company” as it considers dividends. They said future decisions would be guided by the principle of capital adequacy.

Sovcomflot has previously acknowledged the sanctions, which it calls illegal, and early on after the start of the sanctions regime took steps selling ships and moving management to Dubai and elsewhere. It was also moving ships to registries such as Gabon but later flag hopping. Some returned to the Russian registry.

In today’s financial announcement, the company acknowledged that some vessels are now idled by the sanction. During the first quarter, it took a non-cash impairment charge of $322 million against the value of the fleet.

“During the reporting period, unprecedented sanctions were imposed on the company and its vessels, which created additional commercial and operational difficulties in the operation of the fleet,” the company writes in its results announcement. “The company continues to work systematically to minimize the negative impact of sanctions restrictions on its activities, consistently adhering to high standards of maritime safety and the quality of maritime operations.”

Despite the efforts, the company reported first quarter revenues were down by nearly a third (30 percent) to $278 million versus the previous quarter, or nearly by half versus the first quarter of 2024. Earnings were down 45 percent (EBITDA) versus last quarter driving the company’s bottom line to a loss of $104 million in the first quarter of 2025.

“Despite these events, the company's business model demonstrates high stability due to the portfolio of existing long-term contracts and a diversified fleet structure,” Sovcomflot states in its report. It says the company has sufficient cash liquidity and a balanced capital structure that also allows it to maintain a stable financial position.

Both the UK and EU vowed this month to further increase the pressure on the Russian oil sector in an effort to reduce revenues and support to the Russian economy. The EU noted it doubled the number of tankers it had sanctioned to over 300 vessels while the UK added another 100 to its listing. The UK also said it was in discussion with Western allies about lowering the price cap the G7 imposed on the sale of Russian oil. The EU has pledged to make an effort to end its imports of Russian gas giving countries the tools to break long-standing contracts and dramatically reduce imports by 2027. The EU has pledged to break free of its Russian imports.

LNG Tanker Briefly Grounds Sparking New Criticism of Germany’s LNG Imports

LNG carrier — Deutsche ReGas operates the LNG terminal in Murkan to receive LNG imports (Deutsche ReGas file photo)

A Norwegian LNG tanker, Iberica Knutsen, briefly grounded on Thursday morning May 22, outside the German port of Murkan, but while the vessel quickly recovered environmentalists and other activists have locked on to the event to criticize Germany’s LNG import terminals. Germany moved quickly after Russia attacked Ukraine to establish FSRU terminals so that it could begin gas imports from the United States and elsewhere.

The vessel which was built in 2006 and operated by Knutsen Group was inbound from the U.S.’s Sabine Pass loaded with natural gas. It has a capacity of 138,000 cubic meters and is a standard-size vessel at 909 feet (277 meters) and an operating draft of 37 feet (11.4 meters).

A local resident told a German reporter he was making his morning coffee shortly after 6:00 am on Thursday and looking out the window he noticed “that the tanker was in a place where it shouldn’t be and that it was moving strangely,” reports Berliner Zeitung. “I immediately suspected it was stuck.”

The resident said he watched over the next hour as three tugs worked to free the LNG tanker. The German water police (Wasserschutzpolizei) were also on the scene. After about an hour, the tugs escorted the vessel into the nearby anchorage. The water police report the vessel has been ordered to remain there while they investigate. It cannot move until a survey is completed of the hull.

While, overall, it was a minor incident it sparked new calls for Germany to end its imports of LNG. Critics argue the terminals were rushed in response to the efforts to stop Russian imports. In the case of the terminal at Murkan, it is near the popular German resort area of Rügen Island. It was the only privately developed terminal set up by Deutsche ReGas.

“Today's incident demonstrates that there is an urgent need to catch up on Rügen. We have long been pointing out the safety risks associated with LNG delivery and the operation of the terminal,” said Sascha Müller-Kraenner, Federal Managing Director of DUH (German Environmental Aid). “We demand an immediate halt to further deliveries and an independent review of the safety concepts at this site."

Critics argue the terminal is underutilized and not necessary, especially because of its location. They point to data that said it was operating at just five percent of capacity. Deutsche ReGas has said part of the problem was unfair competition from the state-sponsored terminals. The company cut back on the operations ending the charter of an FSRU terminal.

Germany however needs the import capabilities to replace gas imports from Russia, which previously came in via pipelines. The country was able to stockpile gas, especially imported from the U.S. to meet its strong demands during the winter heating season. It has promised to end Russian imports but that makes the FSRU terminals an even more important part of the energy supply.

Little Ships Re-Enact Dunkirk Rescue Mission on 85th Anniversary

Dunkirk re-enactment — Royal Navy took the lead brining 66 historic ships across the English Channel along with many pleasure craft to celebrate the 1940 rescue mission (UK Royal Navy)

The United Kingdom is reliving the memories of World War II’s bravest evacuation mission with a flotilla of 66 “little ships” that sailed to Dunkirk in France for the commemoration of the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. The Royal Navy escorted the original ships that took part in the daring 1940 rescue mission along with other pleasure crafts that celebrated the anniversary event.

The flotilla of the Little Ships of Dunkirk which included a diverse fleet of historic vessels departed Ramsgate Royal harbor crossing the English Channel to Dunkirk where they will re-enact the heroic Operation Dynamo voyage that occurred between May 26 to June 4, 1940, days described by historians as Britain’s show of heroism at her darkest hour.

Over the 10-day period in 1940, about 850 private boats of all shapes and sizes sailed from United Kingdom shores through heavy enemy fire on a rescue mission to save Allied troops stranded on the beaches and harbor at Dunkirk as the Nazis swept through France. While the hope was that the ships would help rescue at least 40,000 soldiers, they achieved an incredible feat rescuing more than 338,000 soldiers. The operation saw more than 250 ships lost at Dunkirk.

Historical accounts by the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships highlights that for every seven soldiers who escaped through Dunkirk, one man was left behind as a prisoner of war. The majority of the prisoners were sent on forced marches into Germany and Poland where they were brutally treated including beatings, starvation, and murder. The rescue operation by the “little ships” is credited for turning a military disaster into a story of heroism, which served to raise the morale of the British soldiers during WWII.

While the official name of the evacuation mission was Operation Dynamo, the historic event is today better known as the “Miracle of Dunkirk,” a name coined by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill. On the 85th anniversary of the mission, the UK is witnessing the largest gathering of the small ships, fishing vessels, yachts, and pleasure cruisers accompanying the original 66 “little ships” to Dunkirk to commemorate the historic event. This marks the first time the “little ships” are recreating the historic journey since 2015.

The iconic ships were escorted across the English Channel by seven Royal Navy P2000 patrol boats. The Archer class vessels are attached to the Coastal Forces Squadron and are primarily designed for training and inshore patrol tasks. Organizers called this year's event the largest gathering of small ships, fishing vessels, yachts, and private pleasure crafts since Operation Dynamo in May-June 1940.

Commemoration of the 1940 events was, however, darkened by the death of the last surviving and known naval Dunkirk veteran. Duncan McInnes, who was a telegraphist and served on Admiralty S-class destroyer HMS Saladin, died at the age of 105 last week in Australia.

“This will be the first time when we’ve gone over when there are no veterans,” said Ian Gilbert, Honorary Vice Admiral, Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. “The little ships are the veterans because the living link has now gone and we have to keep these boats alive to keep the memory alive.”

The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, which was established in 1966, is determined to preserve the memory and identity of the brave vessels by honoring their legacy. It does this by maintaining a present-day fleet and upholding the "Spirit of Dunkirk." Every five years, the association commemorates the events of May 1940 by retracing the original route taken by many of the heroic little ships.

Police Arrest Second Officer Reporting He Was Asleep When Ship Grounded

grounded containership — NCL Salten remains aground while the officer navigating admitted he was asleep (Trondheim Rescue Company)

The local police in Norway, the Trøndelag Police District, report that they have arrested the second officer of the feeder ship that grounded on Thursday morning nearly hitting a house along the fjord. The police said that the second officer who was alone on the bridge of the NCL Salten admitted during questioning that he had fallen asleep while navigating the vessel.

The individual is being identified as a Ukrainian citizen in his 30s who was on watch at the time of the incident. He has been charged under Norwegian law with “negligent navigation,” with the police stating that the law requires a ship to be navigated in such a way that there is no danger to life and health, the environment, or material assets.

AIS signals tracking the vessel show that it entered Trondheim fjord normally with unconfirmed information that it was traveling at 16 knots. However, at the appointed spot where the vessel should have made a turn to starboard to enter Orkanger, it proceeded forward grounding after 0500 Thursday morning.

The police report the investigation is proceeding looking at additional issues including whether the vessel was adhering to the work and rest requirements for the crew. The captain of the vessel as part of the standard procedure in the investigation has also been listed as a suspect in the case.

"On Friday, parts of the crew on board were interviewed. The focus of the investigation is to establish the sequence of events and determine how this incident could occur, as well as to assess whether the bridge was manned in accordance with applicable regulations," said Kjetil Bruland Sørensen, the prosecutor in Trøndelag Police District.

The police reported yesterday that they had taken control of documents from the vessel and its log for review. The Norwegian Coastal Administration is also being kept apprised of the investigation while it is also responsible for monitoring the vessel and the salvage efforts.

Efforts to refloat the 443-foot containership were unsuccessful on Thursday with the Norwegian Coastal Authority reporting that geotechnical investigations had been ordered after media reports that there was a landslide along the coastline possibly linked to the grounding. One home was reportedly also ordered evacuated near the area where the ground collapsed to the left of the vessel.

Media reports are quoting the Norwegian Coastal Administration on Friday saying that a survey has also found damage to the vessel’s forecastle and some ballast tanks. They are saying the damage is not too severe that it will make the rescue more difficult but all the factors need to be accounted for in the plan. Also, the damaged tanks are only filled with seawater so there is no immediate threat of pollution but the Administration has a pollution control vessel standing by near the site of the grounding.

The shipping company is responsible for arranging the salvage but the Administration will review the plan. It is noting that it can ask the shipping company for additional measures as necessary to ensure preparedness to prevent pollution or damage.

The Administration expects the planning to require some time and it would then review the information. No timeline has been offered for when the vessel will be refloated.

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