A Maltese-flagged cargo ship caught fire yesterday while stuck in heavy ice in the Azov Sea.  The vessel, the M/V Captain Ivan Vikulov, sent a distress signal to maritime authorities in the Ukraine Sunday morning requesting assistance.

The icebreaker, Kapitan Moshkin, along with a helicopter were dispatched to the scene to rescue 14 Russian crew members on board. 10 crew members were evacuated by helicopter as 4 remained onboard to fight the fire. The four were later forced to retreat to the icebreaker as the fire engulfed the vessel.

The news agency Interfax has reported that the fire has been extinguished and that the vessel is currently at anchor some 50 km off the coast near the village of Strilkove. Interfax also reported that the Captain Ivan Vikulov was heading from Algeria to Rostov-on-Don but has been blocked by ice since January 28.

Two people have been confirmed dead after an engine room fire broke out on the Norwegian cruise ship, MS Nordlys, while travelling offshore Norway.

All 207 passengers have been evacuated after the vessel was forced to stop in the city of Alesund, Norway.  Those killed are believed to be two of the 55 crew members onboard.  Nine others were injured according to a CNN report.

The MS Nordly is owned by Hurtigruten, which has a released brief statement confirming the safety of its passengers and set up a relatives hotline.  That info can be found HERE.

The fire reportedly erupted around lunch time when the vessel, travelling from the city of Tubigon in rough weather, was just 4.5 miles Southeast of Cebu City with 75 passenger on board.  According to reports, the vessel sank just two hours after the fire broke out.  The Philippine Coast Guard together with the commercial vessel M/V SEAJET and a number of good samaritans assisted in the rescue of the surviving passengers.

Sunday, Philippines Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas ordered all vessels operated by the ferry’s owner, Island Express Shipping, be grounded as authorities inspect the seaworthiness of the company’s fleet.  Island Express Shipping has a total of eight vessels, including one fastcraft and five RoRo vessels.

“At this point, public safety is our primordial concern. I will not allow shipping companies to take chances with the lives of the passengers. DOTC will ensure that whenever a passenger steps on a ship, he can be certain that ship will have passed all the stringent requirements for safety,” Roxas said.

The DOTC also instructed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Board of Marine Inquiry to conduct a thorough investigation in order determine whether the shipping company or its crew are at fault. Initial reports said that allegedly, electrical wirings from the engine room may have caused the fire.

The victims included two passengers and the Chief Mate, Abelardo C. Torrevillas Sr.

Via DOTC Photo credit: PhilStar.com

Photo: Liao Shu-ling, Taipei Times

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)–The freight market for vessels carrying clean petroleum products may weaken in the coming days, reversing gains since mid-July, as Taiwan’s Formosa Petrochemical Corp. (6505.TW) has halted exports after another fire.

The company, one of Asia’s largest exporters of gasoil and gasoline, was forced to shut its 540,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Mailiao indefinitely after a fire–the seventh in a year–broke out Saturday.

As Formosa usually ships out at least 600,000 metric tons of clean products a month, demand from charterers may slow down in the coming weeks, shipbroker Simpson, Spence & Young said in a note.

The freight rate for a 75,000-ton LR-2 cargo from the Middle East to Japan was last assessed Monday at Worldscale 127.29, down from W128.21 a week ago, Baltic Exchange data showed. The rate for a 55,000-ton LR-1 cargo for the same route was up 0.69 point at W129.19.

Also, the rate for a 30,000-ton tanker from Singapore to Japan rose to a three-week high of W153.93 from W147.73.

The rate for a 260,000-ton Very Large Crude Carrier from the Middle East to Japan dropped to a six-month low of W47.74 Monday, from W49.71 a week ago. The cash cost was assessed at minus $1,037 a day, around its record low.

Persistently weak chartering demand continues to plague sentiment, as manufacturing activity is slowing in China, Europe and the U.S.

Data from Meiwa International showed only 61 cargoes are fixed to be lifted this month so far, down from 102 lots a year ago, although booking ends only two weeks later.

The rate for a VLCC from West Africa to China fell to its yearly low of W44.87 from W47.50, and the 80,000-ton Aframax rate from Southeast Asia to the east coast of Australia eased to W97.06 from W97.17.

-By Max Lin, Dow Jones Newswires

Emma Maersk

The Emma Maersk is a true modern marvel. She is the world’s largest container ship, the longest container ship currently in service, and is propelled by the largest diesel engine ever manufactured.  During the final phase of construction and amid welding work however, a fire broke within Emma Maersk’s multi-million dollar bridge.  Flames quickly spread from the bridge down through the accommodations.  The inferno could be seen for miles.

Extinguishing a fire of this magnitude was only made capable by a group of local firefighters and crew trained to fight shipboard fires.

After escaping near total destruction, made possible only by those brave individuals involved, the Emma Maersk reached total recovery in record time.

The loss of a vessel this size would nearly be on par with losing an entire neighborhood of homes to flames.  When such a vessel is engulfed by flames only to be saved, repaired, and finally commissioned, progress and dedication again lead the way to success.

After a matter of weeks, of which the ship was also delayed, reconstruction was completed and Emma Maersk set sail on her maiden voyage.  The commonly heard story of her successful journey from China to the United Kingdom bearing a cargo of Christmas items later that year, is a simple and appropriate metaphor.  The Emma Maersk is herself a gift, her recovery a hopeful and inspiring tale of recovery and success.

According to A.P. Moller, the parent company of Maersk Line, a single 20-foot vessel container on average can hold about 48,000 bananas. In theory then, Emma Maersk is capable of holding nearly 528 million bananas in a single voyage – enough to give every person in Europe or North America a banana for breakfast. Imagine now, this statistic in terms of Christmas presents. Without the amazing turn-around of Emma, the UK would have seen a lot of unhappy families that Christmas in 2006.

In losing Emma Maersk, we too, would have lost one of the most environmentally friendly container vessels ever built, as seen in her waste heat recovery system, which saves up to ten percent of the ship’s power.  Of even greater environmental importance is her economy of scale.  Being three times that of the largest container ship to ever transit the Panama canal, her carbon footprint (and thus fuel consumption) as a proportion of her cargo-carrying capacity is far smaller than that of the smaller ships that might replace her.

A year after the pivotal story of the Emma Maersk fire she was awarded “Ship of the Year” by Lloyd’s List, the world’s longest running periodical.  Emma was given this award not because of her story, but because she set new standards in innovation, environmental issues and safety for the Maersk Line. Only a vessel that goes from the brilliant and ground-breaking design and construction, to a threat of extinction, to a final feat of success, deserves such an award,

Hailed openly as a true marvel of the sea, Emma Maersk’s journey from flames to reconstruction is a profound tale but certainly not the last testament of maritime achievement.  In 2011, South Korean shipbuilder DSME won a 1.3B Euro contract to construct a vessel nearly double the size of the Emma Maersk… the Pieter Schelte.  This vessel will essentially be a catamaran made up of two hulls, each nearly the size of the Emma Maersk.  It will be an incredible vessel by every measure once completed.

The following are photos and video taken by the local fire brigade that fought the mighty Emma Maersk fire:

Video Of The Emma Maersk Fire:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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By October 2006, the Emma Maersk had been fully repaired and set sail for her maiden voyage to Singapore:

The cancellations for cruises departing on January 16, 23, 30 and February 6 and 13 have been added, and the vessel is now scheduled to re-enter service on February 20.  The cancellations were added to the previously announced nine cruises cancelled through mid-January.

In a statement posted on the website, Carnival’s CEO Gerry Hill says “we made our best effort back in November to estimate the necessary repair time with a strong goal of not having to modify it at a later point in time.  Unfortunately, as the repairs have progressed and we have discovered additional issues, it is now clear that we need more time.”

The ship is currently in San Diego and will continue to San Francisco in mid-January where repairs will be completed at dry dock.

Not surprisingly, Carnival has been rather tight-lipped about the whole incident.  Does anyone know any details about the fire and damage?

[Image Source: USCG]

How many vessels does it take to assist a Carnival cruise ship with 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew adrift about 200 miles south of San Diego after an engine room fire cutting power to the vessel?

Eight!

Two tugboats, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, three USCG cutters, a USCG HC-130 Hercules aircraft, and a 965-foot container ship participating in the Amver program!

An engine room fire broke out yesterday aboard the Carnival Splendor while the cruise was on its first leg of a Mexico-bound voyage.  Thankfully, crews were able to extinguish the fire in about 3 hours and without injury, but not before knocking out power to the vessel leaving passengers without air conditioning, hot food service, hot water or telephones.  Toilets and cold running water were restored Monday night.

The tugs, which are set to arrive midday today, will tow the vessel to Ensenada for unloading and the USS Ronald Reagan has been diverted from training maneuvers and loaded with 35 pallets of supplies to drop off by helicopter.

Not to worry… Passengers are getting full refunds, travel reimbursements and credits for a future cruise with Carnival.

More on this story can be found at Yahoo! News.

Tools For Your Vessel

As Professional Mariners we know the importance of fire safety on board our vessels. Having the right tool for the job when the sh*t hits the fan can make the difference between a successful outcome and a really bad day. A Halligan Bar, also known as a Halligan tool, is standard equipment for fire departments worldwide. Invented by Deputy Chief Hugh Halligan of the FDNY, it is the multipurpose tool that is used for tasks ranging from forced entry to overhaul. The tool was so effective that New York City Firefighters bought them with their own money until the department ultimately decided to purchase the tool for each fire house.

Halligan Tool or Halligan Bar

Another look at the Halligan Tool

Video of the Halligan Tool in use

LA Times – The growing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico was designated a spill of national significance and three top Cabinet officials will tour the site, the federal government said Thursday as it stepped up its efforts to deal with the environmental disaster.  »

NEW ORLEANS — President Obama increased his administration’s role in the cleanup of the vast oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, by positioning the Department of Defense to assist the giant oil company BP in dealing with the spill and by sending three top officials to Louisiana.

• more »
• BUSINESS WEEK – BP Will Pay Spill Costs as U.S. Agencies Mobilize »
• The Guardian – Deepwater Horizon oil slick to hit US coast within hours »
• Market Watch – Oil spill threatens Gulf Coast fisheries and tourism »
• HOUSTON CHRONICLE – Lawmakers set probes of oil spill as federal attention intensifies »

"While BP is ultimately responsible for funding the cost of response and cleanup operations, my administration will continue to use every single available resource at our disposal," President Barack Obama said in remarks at the White House.

photo USA Today

Response to the Sunken Deepwater Horizon is Immense  by Ryan Erickson; Unofficial Coast Guard Blog

I found this picture rather interesting as it puts into perspective the response that’s being undertaken with regard to the Deepwater Horizon fire/sinking/oil drain. It’s hard to call it a spill when it’s actually draining isn’t it?

Anyway, in the event you’re not aware of what I’m talking about check this out.  »

Bigger Gulf Oil Spill Prompts BP to Welcome Military Help  Associated Press/New Orleans Metro News

"We’ll take help from anyone," BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said.

But time may be running out. Not only was a third leak discovered — which government officials said is spewing five times as much oil into the water than originally estimated — but it might be closer to shore than previously known, and could have oil washing up on shore by Friday.

At the same time, there appeared to be a rift developing between BP and the Coast Guard, which is overseeing the increasingly desperate operation to contain the spill and clean it up.

• more »

• Gulf Oil Leak Worse than Thought as Burning Continues:

Planet Data: “The rig lacked a type of shut-off technology, which although not required by U.S. regulators, could have been used to close the well.”

• Smithsonian’s Surprising Science: The World’s Worst Oil Spills »

• BBC News: BP shares plunge on fears over oil slick »

• Christian Science Monitor: Oil spill – What is the Threat to Gulf of Mexico Seafood?

• Washington Post Video: Oil Spill to be Set Ablaze »

__________________________________________________________________

*keep current: subscribe to the gCaptain Forum  Thread: Transocean Deepwater Horizon is on fire »

CNN has the story:

Officials say it could take a week to extinguish a massive fire that burned Friday afternoon at a fuel storage complex in Puerto Rico, sending a thick black cloud of smoke over large parts of metro San Juan.
“I didn’t expect to see a mushroom cloud from my house,” said Justin Gehrke, who lives 4 miles from the refinery.

Eleven fuel tanks at the Caribbean Petroleum Corp. facility in the city of Bayamon, near San Juan, were ablaze, Gov. Luis Fortuno said. Firefighters were trying to cool the remaining 29 to keep them from igniting, he said.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a fire like this in Puerto Rico,” Fire Lt. Jose Atorre told CNN affiliate WLII-TV.

Fortuno said he declared a state of emergency for the area so Puerto Rico can get aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The storage and refinery complex sits on San Juan’s bay, and Fortuno said officials are working to protect it from being affected.

“We have serious worries that the bay or other bodies of water could be contaminated,” he said.

The company’s Web site says the complex has storage facilities for gasoline and gasoline-related products.

Newspaper and TV reports said a 4-inch pipe from a lagoon on the property was broken, preventing firefighters from using 2 million gallons of water from the lake to battle the blaze. About 150 area firefighters and 215 National Guard personnel were battling to keep the blaze from spreading.

Click HERE for the latest on this incident.

Thanks to forum member Luck.Runs.Out for pointing us to this in the forum.