It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Sunday, February 01, 2026
Italian Coast Guard Coordinates Rescues of Two Ships in Two Days
Merchant ship being towed after engine failure (Guardia Cositeria)
The Italian Coast Guard oversaw the rescue operations for two merchant ships in the course of two days from the same region of the Mediterranean. Although the report said there was a “night of apprehension,” the operations were both successful in getting the ships safely into port.
The towing operation of the livestock carrier Blue Ocean A got underway on January 29, after the Coast Guard and tugs had struggled to keep the vessel off the rocks on the coast of Sardinia. The ship had lost propulsion late on January 28 in a winter storm that was pushing it toward the shoreline. The Coast Guard reported the Italian Navy was unable to airlift the crew from the vessel due to the strong winds.
The operation was successful in positioning the ship into the weather and keeping it off the rocks. Yesterday, January 29, a towing operation got underway. The ship has a crew of 33 aboard, made up of individuals from Syria, Sudan, Egypt, and India. It appears there was no livestock aboard.
The Blue Ocean A arrived at the Porto Canale of Cagliari escorted by the Coast Guard. The livestock carrier has not been berthed, and according to the reports, navigation and safety checks are underway.
While the towing operation for the livestock carrier was getting underway, on the afternoon of January 29, another foreign-flag cargo ship also called for assistance. According to the report, the ship was suffering from engine failure approximately seven nautical miles south of the port of Pozzallo on the southern coast of Sicily.
The Coast Guard reports its operations center was closely monitoring the movement of the ship into the night to ensure that it was not at risk of drifting toward the coast or spilling into the sea. They watched the weather and sea conditions.
Working with the Maritime Directorate in Catania, emergency procedures were activated. A Coast Guard boat was sent to the unnamed vessel, which was only described as being 120 meters (394 feet) in length. It was bound for Portugal with a non-hazardous cargo.
It was determined that the vessel would require the assistance of a tugboat. The two got underway on January 30, and the Coast Guard accompanied the ship. It was also safely brought to port.
Urgent Alert After Chinese Bulker Issues Distress Signal
Philippine Coast Guard requested vessels to keep a lookout after a Chinese cargo ship issued a distress call (PCG file photo)
The Philippine Coast Guard issued an urgent alert to all vessels on Friday, January 30, after it received a distress call from a Chinese-owned bulker. Few details were issued, but it appears contact has been lost with the ship in the waters near Eastern Samar.
The alert requested all vessels transiting the area to “keep a sharp lookout” for the distressed ship. They were instructed to report all findings to the nearest Coast Guard office or radio station.
The distress call was issued by the Xing Guang 11, a dry bulk carrier registered in Panama. The ship was built in 2008 and is owned by a Chinese company. It is 18,000 dwt and 150 meters (492 feet) in length. In the ship's last Port State inspection in November in Vietnam, it was cited with deficiencies related to the operational readiness of its lifesaving appliances. The ship, however, was not detained.
The last known position was approximately 54 nautical miles east-northeast of the vicinity of Siluan Island. It is in the Eastern Samar region of the Philippines.
The report did not indicate how many crew were aboard the vessel or the nature of the distress and details received from the ship. The AIS signal indicates the ship had departed Nakhodka, Russia, on January 21 and was bound for Bahudopi in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The area is known as a hub for nickel mining and processing.
Today’s alert comes just a week after another bulker, Devon Bay, sank after loading a cargo of nickel ore. Yesterday, January 29, insurer Guard issued a warning about the dangers of transporting nickel ore. It wrote that “Gard once again alerts members and clients to the significant risks involved in the carriage of nickel ore, particularly loaded from the Philippines.”
It is unclear if the missing vessel was making runs with nickel ore and heading back to take another load. The Philippine Coast Guard has not issued follow-up statements at this point regarding the search.
Italian Coast Guard Rescues Disabled Livestock Carrier Being Drive Ashore
The Italian Coast Guard prevented the disabled livestock carrier from being driven on the rocky shore (Guardia Cositeria)
In what is being termed a particularly complex rescue operation, the Italian Coast Guard, aided by the Air Force and private tugs, was able to prevent a disabled livestock carrier from being driven ashore in a fierce winter storm. The Coast Guard reports it was battling high winds and waves, and as the stern of the vessel neared the rocks, the captain had requested an emergency evacuation.
The livestock carrier Blue Ocean A (4,780 dwt) reported a loss of its engine as it was sailing south of the island of Sardinia and near the small fishing and resort town of Carloforte on Isola di San Pietro. Typical of ships in this business, the Blue Ocean A was built in 1992 as a containership. The 34-year-old vessel, which is registered in St. Kitts & Nevis, was converted in 2013 to become a livestock carrier. It is 117 meters (384 feet) in length and owned by a company in Turkey.
It was sailing from the Middle East and, having transited the Suez Canal, was bound for Cartagena, Spain. The ship had a crew of 33 aboard, but it is unclear if it had livestock aboard.
During the afternoon of January 28, the captain reported the engine failure and said they were attempting to anchor. Weather conditions were winds of over 50 mph and waves running at 5 meters (over 16 feet).
The Coast Guard from Carloforte and Cagliari reached the vessel along with a harbor tug. Attempts to attach a tow line were unsuccessful, with four reportedly breaking due to the weather.
Crew huddled on the deck but, due to the weather, could not be airlifted off the disabled ship
As the stern of the vessel was nearing the rocky coastline, the captain ordered an evacuation. Pictures show the crew assembled on the top deck, and an Italian Air Force helicopter attempted to remove the crew. However, due to high winds, the evacuation could not proceed.
A second, larger tugboat reached the livestock carrier and was able to position the ship into the weather and stop it from drifting. With the anchors, they were able to hold the vessel overnight in position.
At daylight, the rescue mission resumed, and the vessel is now positioned in the Golfo di Palmas on the southwest coast of Sardinia.
Italy’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edward Rixi, congratulated the Italian forces in coordination with the Port Authority for their efforts. He highlighted how a breakdown on the open sea can turn into an emergency in a matter of minutes.
Russians Rescue Iranian Cargo Ship After Distress Call in the Caspian Sea
Iranian-flagged cargo ship was brought into port by the Russian tugboats (Port of Makhachkala)
Officials in the Caspian Sea port of Makhachkala are reporting that the crew of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship has been saved after the vessel issued a distress call. It was the second incident this month involving an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.
The Caspian Shiva (3,344 dwt) was built in 1986 and, since July 2024, has been sailing under the Iranian flag. It started its life in the Soviet era as a Russian-flagged ship and later sailed under flags including Togo, Mongolia, Moldova, and Belize. The ship is 116 meters (380 feet) in length. Its last recorded inspection was in Georgia in 2023, and that inspection found 10 deficiencies.
Media reports are saying the vessel sustained an unknown hull breach after sailing from Amirabad, Iran. It was reported to be taking on water in the engine room and the hold. Further, the media is saying the ship later ran aground. Conditions in the Caspian were reported with waves at two meters (6.5 feet).
Officials at the port of Makhachkala on the western shore of the Caspian Sea reported that two tugs from Rosmorport had been dispatched to aid the vessel. They escorted the ship into port.
The vessel was brought into Makhachkala with the reports saying the 10 crewmembers aboard were uninjured. The port says the ship is now safely at a berth.
Ukrainian outlets reported the incident while noting that its forces have become more active in targeting assets in the Caspian. However, Ukraine has not taken credit for this incident or the prior one, which took place two weeks ago.
The Iranian freighter Rona (3,262 dwt) was pictured sinking in the Caspian on January 14. Turkmen responders reached the ship and rescued the 14 crewmembers. The ship is thought to have sunk.
Both vessels were operating on a regular route between Iran and Russia. The Ukrainian online media outlet Crimean Wind calls the Caspian Sea “the main route for maritime supplies of weapons and sanctioned goods from Iran to Russia.”
Tugs Rush to Aid Cargo Ship That Touched Bottom and Lost Rudder
Port officials blamed a failed dredging for putting sand in the ship channel and causing the problems (Royal Wagenborg file photo)
A drama is playing out along the central Portuguese coast as a cargo ship reportedly lost its rudder as it departed and is now awaiting assistance off the coast. Portuguese officials ordered the port closed and warned of the dangers while also citing a failed dredging effort in the entrance channel to the Figueira da Foz port.
According to the briefing, the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Eikborg (3,592 dwt) operated by Royal Wagenborg touched bottom as it was departing the port on January 26. The ship got only a few miles off the coast before reporting it had lost the function of its rudder. The general cargo ship is 89 meters (292 feet) in length and was carrying a cargo of pulp to Germany.
Paulo Mariano of the port authority told reporters, “It is trying to maintain some course by sailing backwards,” writes the Lusa news agency. He said it was “counterproductive,” but the only solution as the captain tries to control the ship and position against rough seas.
Adding to the concern is bad weather off the coast. The reports Monday afternoon placed the ship about four nautical miles offshore and southwest of the entrance to the port.
The captain is holding position waiting for a tug which has been dispatched from Leixoes. They expect the Eikborg will be towed to either Lisbon or Setubal.
Port officials, however, are emphasizing that they believe the incident was caused by a failed dredging job at the port’s entrance instead of the heavy weather. They said that €28 million was spent to transfer three million cubic meters of sand, and since the work was completed, there have been problems with the sandbar.
The port was ordered closed to all large vessel traffic as of 2:00 p.m. local time on January 26 while they investigate the incident. The pilots are reported to be refusing traffic in and out of the port due to the problem with the sand. Port officials said it was the second incident this month and that some ships had already begun to divert to other ports.
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