Over 700 comments posted to the gCaptain forum by maritime professionals, explaining what caused the Costa Concordia to sink early this year… but the single best lesson learned was don’t sail large ships *especially ones carrying thousands of passengers* close to hard objects.

Seems like simple advice, right? Well it’s a message that some cruise ship captains have yet to learn. Cruise Junkie, a blog written by Ross Klein, a Professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland, brings us photos of the MSC cruise ship Lirica conducting a flyby of the MSC containership Lauren in the waters just south of Sicily. According to Klien the Lirica was traveling at a speed of 17 knots on a voyage from Kuwait to Hamburg when she came within ¹⁄₁₀ of a nautical mile of the other ship!

We are unsure what is documented in the Lirica Captain’s standing orders in regard to minimum CPA, or the company’s operating procedures on collision avoidance but, I believe most maritime experts will agree, this is not a safe maneuver in open water.

Master of the Bowditch explains the grisly scene upon their arrival:

Patrice was still smoldering, abandoned and adrift when we got there. It took two hours of cooling/reflash suppression before we could safely connect the tow. She didn’t tow well due to jammed rudders, a heavy fuel load and 6 rudders (!) plus Kort nozzles, but we still managed to drag her at almost 6 knots.

and adding:

It was bad, totally burned out, adrift and abandoned on Lake Ontario. The heat was intense, and made connecting up the tow tough. Rudder was jammed about 10 degrees to port, so she didn’t tow very well.

The Bowditch is owned and operated by Abaco Marine Towing, LLC of Clayton, NY, where the Patrice McAllister is now berthed to undergo a series of investigations by both U.S. and Canadia authorities.

As we reported earlier, one crewmember of the Patrice McAllister, the chief engineer, perished as a result of his injuries.  5 other crewmembers were rescued.

Join the discussion on this incident in the gCaptain forum, HERE.

Photo: USCG

A drydock housing the 140-foot Crowley tug Invader sank over the weekend at the Vigor Marine Shipyard in Everett, Wash., bringing the tug and an estimated 50k-60k gallons of diesel with it.

The Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology, along with salvage crews, responded to the potential environmental hazard, saying that a light sheen of oil could be seen around the sunken dry dock and vessel and adding that boom has been deployed around the wreck.

According to the Coast Guard statement, the 200-foot section of dry dock began slowly sinking Saturday night and stopped only after making contact with the sea floor at appromixately 12 p.m. Sunday.

At this time both the dry dock and Invader are partially submerged, with the tug resting on its starboard side.  The USCG has confirmed with Crowley that an estimated 50,000-60,000 gallons of diesel is contained in the Invader’s fuel tanks.  Meanwhile, salvage company was on scene yesterday conducting assessment dives and the plugging the tugs vents.

The Invader is part of Crowley’s Invader-class, a series of powerful, sleek and highly-praised tugs built between 1974 and 1977.

One of Crowley's Invader-class tugs. Photo: Crowley

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

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