These underwater photos released today show damage to the starboard side of the Costa Concordia, below the water line.  As you can see there is quite a bit of damage to the vessel as it sits on the reef.

The photos were taken by divers working for Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, or Financial Police, which operates under the authority of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.  The agency maintains a fleet of over 600 boats and ships and 100 aircraft in order to patrol the countries territorial waters.  A full gallery can be viewed here.

Via ilGiornale.it

1. Sailboat Dismasted by Tanker

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During the Extreme Racing series at Cowes Week, a sailboat made a nearly tragically bad call by trying to cross in front of a tanker.  “Umm, you didn’t see that bright orange tanker?”. Read: Idiot of the Month: Sailboat Dismasted by 120,000 ton tanker off Cowes

2. Barge Hoist Fail

The crew of a Russian cargo ship failed miserably when trying to hoist this barge on deck.  Read: Incident Video of The Week – Barge Hoist Fail

3. Luxury Boat Sinks in China

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On September 29th, a highly anticipated luxury leisure boat in China nearly sank immediately after the vessel was launched.  The vessel was meant to bring joy to the villagers. Instead, it brought shame:( Read: Luxury Boat Launches, Sinks Immediately [VIDEO]

4. TK Bremen Grounded in France

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The Maltese-flagged TK Bremen, a cargo ship traveling along Northwest coast of France, ran aground in southern Brittany (that’s in France) in high winds and heavy seas.  The vessel reportedly leaked over 200 of fuel oil, threatening local beaches and wildlife.  The owners decided that breaking her apart is the best course of action. Read: Incident Video of The Week – TK Bremen Grounded in France

5. F/V Sparta Stuck in Antarctica

Photo: Maritime New Zealand

The Russian fishing vessel Sparta with 32 crew were stranded (and sinking) in Antarctic ice approximately 2,000 nautical miles SE of New Zealand, pretty much the most remote place on earth. After 10 days stranded, an icebreaker dispatched by Sparta’s owner reached the vessel and is assisting in repairs and escorting them out of the ice. Read: Sparta Incident Coverage

6. M/V Rena

Image credit: Svitzer

A salvor is lowered onto the deck of the M/V Rena, stuck on the Astrolabe Reef off New Zealand since October 5th. Read: Rena Incident Coverage

7. Pemex’s Flotel JUPITER

Mexico’s Pemex evacuated 638 workers from the semi-submersible dormitory platform Jupiter 1 after it began to list when water entered a pontoon on April 12, 2011. Read: Incident Photos – Pemex’s Flotel Jupiter platform partially sinks in Gulf of Mexico

8. Barge Upended

Photo: USCG

A sinking barge was upended 20 miles off Miami Beach, Florida on Nov. 9, 2011. The 270-foot barge began taking on water shortly after the 94-foot tug that was towing it became disabled and adrift. Read: Incident Photo of the Week: Barge Upended Near Miami

9. When Navies Fire Back

Photo: EUNAVFOR

On October 7, 2011, EU NAVFOR warship FGS KOELN successfully disrupted a suspect Pirate Action Group’s (PAG) supply boat, a whaler, operating in the Somali Basin about 200 nautical miles East of Tanzania.  There’s more where that came from if you continue reading. Read: When Navies Fire Back – Top Photos of Pirate Skiff Destruction

10. Tug ARIES sinks in Bering Sea

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On June 26, 2011, the Tug Aries sank in the Bering Sea, about 109 miles East of St. Paul Island. After the crew managed to get from the sinking tug to the barge they were towing, Captain Doug Pine pulled out his iPhone and began taking footage of the rescue. All four members of the crew were safely rescued by the USCG. Read: Incident Video of The Week – Tug ‘Aries’ sinks in Bering Sea

Photo: USCG

We’ve already seen some close calls today, but hey, they were still close calls.

This weeks actual incident photo comes to us via the USCG and shows a sinking barge being upended 20 miles off Miami Beach, Florida on Nov. 9, 2011. The 270-foot barge began taking on water shortly after the 94-foot tug that was towing it became disabled and adrift.

Fly-over shots of stranded cargo vessel Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef. This photo was taken at 7.45am on October 5, hours after the vessel grounded.  Photo: Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Here’s a close up of the M/V Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef located off the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. This photo was also taken on October 5 with the extent of damage to the vessel and environment yet to be realized.  Photo: Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Another closeup from mid-afternoon October 5.  Notice the containers still stacked.  Photo: Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Here’s another fly-over shot taken mid-day 8 October.  This time you there is a noticeable oil sheen on the water. Photo: Dudley Clemens

The tanker Awanuia operating near the stricken cargo vessel on October 9.  Photo: Maritime New Zealand

Again, the tanker Awanuia can be seen operating near the stricken cargo vessel Rena on October 10.  This time, you can notice the weather starting to pick up. Photo: Maritime New Zealand

With heavy weather really moving in, Rena starts to list heavily, losing cargo tipping on Rena‘s.  This photo was taken from HMNZS Endeavour on October 12.  Photo: New Zealand Defence Force

In this photo, you can see Rena losing containers as heavy swells wash her deck on the starboard side taken on October 12.  You can really see the oil sheen in this photo. Photo: Blair Harkness

Here’s Rena from another angle as she loses containers into the heavy seas.  Photo: Blair Harkness

On October 12, a large crack appeared on the port side of the stricken vessel Rena. Photo: Maritime New Zealand

Here is a shot of fractured steel structures onboard Rena. Photo: Svitzer

A salvor is winched on to Rena on October 15.  Salvors are racing to get as much cargo and fuel oil off the vessel as possible.  Image credit: Svitzer

The tanker ship Awanuia receives and helps pump oil off the ship on October 17. The line of orange buoys supports the oil pipeline between the two vessels.  The vessel Awanuia has since ceased operations due to heavy weather. Image credit: Maritime New Zealand

Operations around Rena visible from a morning observation flight on November 15th. Image credit: Maritime New Zealand

Before and after comparison of Rena as of November 23. Almost all containers have been removed from the stern.  Two days later it was revealed that an additional 21 containers containing dangerous goods are on board. The shippers failed to report the containers on the ships manifest.  Image credit: Maritime New Zealand

An overflight on December 18.  Salvors have been successful in getting containers off the vessel but many still remain. Image credit: LOC

The Smit Borneo and the Sea Tow 60 side by side on December 22.  Further progress on container removal remains. Maritime New Zealand

Delaying the Inevitable: During the early morning hours of January 8th, the M/V Rena broke in half as heavy seas with swells up to 6m battered the vessel. With 830 containers still on the vessel it’s estimated that 200-300 were lost overboard when it broke in half. Image credit: Maritime New Zealand

So without further ado, here are the top Pirate Skiff Destruction Photos:

1. HNLMS Tromp

On March 14, 2010, EUNAVFOR warship HNLMS TROMP intercepted a suspected PAG after the group attempted to hijack MV E.R. LUBECK. After finding pirate paraphernalia on board the suspected vessel, the mother ship was destroyed.

Photo courtesy EUNAVFOR

2. USS Farragut

On March 31, 2010, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS FARRAGUT (DDG 99) destroyed a pirate mother ship after respoding to reports of an unsuccessful attack on the tanker, M/V EVITA, northwest of the Seychelles.

(U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cassandra Thompson/RELEASED).

3.  USS Ashland

On April 10, 2010, the amphibious dock landing ship USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) destroyed a pirate skiff after being fired upon by suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 330 nautical miles off the coast of Djibouti.

(U.S. Navy photo, by Chief Fire Controlman Harry J. Storms/RELEASED)

For good fun, here’s another look at the skiff burning.  The stupidity of these pirates actually firing upon a U.S. Navy destroyer is beyond comprehension.

(U.S. Navy photo, by Chief Fire Controlman Harry J. Storms/RELEASED)

4. USS Lake Champlain

On the evening of March 14, 2011, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) warship USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57), assigned to CMF’s counter-piracy mission Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, successfully disrupted a PAG by destroying the groups two skiffs.

Captain Mark Johnson, commanding officer of Lake Champlain said of the operation: “This disruption to suspected pirate activity is a small but significant step in sending the message that we are here as a credible and capable force, and that we have the resolve to deal with this issue.”

5. HMAS Stuart

About a week later on March 22, 2011, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) warship HMAS STUART (FFH 153) also assigned to CMF’s counter-piracy mission Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, badly damaged a skiff, successfully disrupting the activities of a group suspected of being involved in acts of attempted piracy.  Way to go Australian Navy!

(Australian Navy photo/Released)

6. ESPS Canarias

On March 28, 2011 the EUNAVFOR Spanish warship ESPS CANARIAS disrupted a suspected Pirate Action Group (PAG) 260 Nautical Miles North-West of the Seychelles.  The pirates in this group were captured and have been sent to Seychelles for prosecution.

Photo courtesy EUNAVFOR

7. FGS Koeln

The video below shows a German helicopter dispatched from the FGS KOELN shooting up a skiff off Somalia in September.  No persons were on board at the time, however it was visibly laden with piracy-related equipment which prompted it’s destruction at the eager hands of the German Navy.

The KOELN, a European Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR) warship, was operating about 100 miles south of Mogadishu.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s a look at the aftermath.

Photo courtesy EUNAVFOR

8. FGS Koeln (Again!)

Again on October 7, 2011, EU NAVFOR warship FGS KOELN successfully disrupted a suspect Pirate Action Group’s (PAG) supply boat, a whaler, operating in the Somali Basin about 200 nautical miles East of Tanzania.

The whaler had been located previously by a Norwegian Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) under control of NATO Task Force 508, Operation Ocean Shield, which is also engaged in counter piracy operations.

Photo courtesy EUNAVFOR

We wish we had more to show you!  Keep it coming Navies of the world!

The Waikato Times of New Zealand reports that the 236-meter Liberian flagged container ship, M/V Rena aground on Astrolabe Reef yesterday about 6 nautical miles from the nearest harbour. The vessel is currently leaking oil, taking on water and contains hazardous and explosive cargo. Rumors of alcohol being involved in the collision have alarmed local reporters, and local authorities have not been able to board the vessel to administer alcohol and drug tests to the crew.

Local fishermen remarked that the reef was “well marked on charts and the first or chief officer would have had to have created a track around the reef and had it confirmed before setting off”.

AIS data confirms that Rena was doing a steady 17 knots (31 kmh) when it ran aground at around 2.30am yesterday.

The local Coast Guard authority, Maritime New Zealand (MZN), believes the vessel is carrying 2017 containers and some have been identified as carrying dangerous goods. The agency continues to monitor the stability of the vessel via overflights of the scene and reports that the bow is damaged and taking on water but the vessel’s pumps appear to be keeping up with the inflow of seawater. MZN also reports that a “light sheen” of oil was observed surrounding the vessel.

Maritime Executive reports that a controller for the incident, Renny van der Velde, said that although it does not pose an imminent threat, oil spill response teams are on standby just in case something is to go wrong during the salvage efforts.
Two cargo holds on the Rena have been flooded, and currently pumps are being used to eradicate the water aboard, as well as fuel on port side being transferred to starboard.

25 crew members, reported to be Filipinos, sustained no injuries but have yet to be evacuated.

Overflight Video

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The private tourist helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff October 4th at around 3:30 pm.  The helicopter had 5 people on board, including the pilot, when it went down for unknown reasons.  Four were plucked from the water by rescuers that rushed to the scene.  The fifth passenger, a woman, was found about 90 minutes later and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was called in to assist with response and recovery efforts.  DCV Hayward, one of New York District’s three drift collection vessels, and SV Dobrin, a survey vessel, were on the scene to provide assistance.  DCV Hayward lifted the helicopter out of the water and eventually placed on the nearby pier.  Meanwhile, SV Dobrin performed hydropgraphic surveys to ensure the area was safe and deep enough for DCV Hayward to operate.

Today, US lawmakers called for a complete ban of tourist helicopters in Manhattan’s waterways.

With the Empire State Building as a backdrop, the crew of DCV Hayward gets ready to lift a downed helicopter out of the East River. (photo by Chris Gardner, New York District public affairs)

DCV Hayward lifts the downed helicopter out of the water. (photo by Chris Gardner, New York District public affairs)

DCV Hayward heads toward land to offload the helicopter. (photo by Chris Gardner, New York District public affairs)

Personnel from the New York City Police Department and the New York City Fire Department board DCV Hayward get a first look at a helicopter recovered from the bottom of the East River. (photo by Chris Gardner, New York District public affairs)

Photos via New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Flickr photostream

M/V Pacific Express ablaze off the coast of Kenya. Photo courtesy NATO

Pirates set a cargo ship ablaze yesterday after an unsuccessful hijacking attempt.

The International Maritime Bureau reports that pirates aboard two skiffs armed with guns and RPG’s boarded the general cargo ship M/V Pacific Express while underway approximately 300nm east of Mombasa, Kenya.  The crewmembers were able to retreat to the vessels citadel and requested for assistance.

The pirates, unable to take control of the vessel, set the ship ablaze in attempt to force the crew out of the citadel.

NATO’s counter piracy flagship, the ITS Andrea Doria, responded, sending a boarding team to evacuate the crew of 26 unharmed.

The M/V Pacific Express is owned by Athens-baded Estelle Shipping Company Ltd and managed by Cyprus Maritime Company Ltd, also of Athens, Greece.

Copyright 2011: Dow Jones | Photo by Svein Ove Ekornesvag/Scanpix

Two crew members where killed and over a dozen people injured by a fire aboard the cruise ship Nordlysand. The fire is believed to have ignited in the engine room after an explosion. All 262 crew members and crew where evacuated from the vessel.

The ship was sailing along the western of Norway, 230 miles north-west of Oslo, when the fire broke Thursday morning. Police received eyewitness testimony that there was an explosion but do not know the source of the blast.

Television stations across Europe showed clouds of thick black smoke rising from the ship after it was taken to Aalesund and, eventually, docked. Borghild Eldoeen, a spokesman for the rescue services in Norway said.”The fire is under control now but we have a problem with the ship taking on water so right now they are working on stabilising the vessel.” The ship continues to list.

The Nordlys, which belongs to the Hurtigruten company, was sailing northwards from Bergen to the Arctic circle when it caught fire. The nationalities of the passengers is not known, but most of the tourists are believed to be Norwegian.

Some of the 55 crew members remain on board to help firefighters battle the blaze.

The Nordlys was built in 1944 by Volkswerft in Stralsund, Germany and is one of several vessels that ply the Norwegian coast on a popular 1,500-mile cruise between above the Arctic Circle. The line carries primarily tourists but also serves as a ferry for locals between small coastal cities.

Incident Video

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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