The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has signed a 5-year agreement with the marine salvage company Ardent for emergency towage services off the north and north-western coasts of Scotland using the tug Ievoli Black. The 2,283 gross tonnes Ievoli Black, owned by Italian shipping company Marnavi, measures 70 meters and has a towing capacity of 139 bollard pull. It is … [Read more...]
Port Operator Fined in UK Over Fatal 2007 ‘Flying Phantom’ Capsizing
A port operator in UK has pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches and has been sentenced to pay £650,000 (just over $1 million USD) relating to the fatal 2007 capsizing of the tug Flying Phantom on the River Clyde, which resulted in the deaths of three crewmembers. Clydeport Operations Ltd was sentenced to the fines Monday in the High Court in Edinburgh, the UK Maritime … [Read more...]
MCA Releases Biggest Loser List – M/T HEIDE is the Winner
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) released their list of 9 ships which were detained by Port State Control last month. The biggest loser within the list appears to be the M/T HEIDE, a 672 GT, Germany-flagged tanker owned by Glusing Transport GmBH. Although it didn't have the most deficiencies on the list, eleven of its twenty-one deficiencies were grounds for … [Read more...]
Satellite Imagery Busts Maersk Tanker in UK Pollution Case
At a hearing today at Truro Magistrates Court in the UK, Maersk Tankers Singapore was ordered to pay a total of £22,500 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to a breach of UK maritime pollution legislation. For the first time ever, satellite imagery was used as primary evidence in a maritime pollution case brought about by the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency … [Read more...]
Univan Ship Management CEO Responds to “7 Ships of Shame” Article, Provides Update
In response to our article this week calling out 7 ships that were detained by the MCA, Captain Bjorn Hojgaard, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong-based Univan Ship Management Ltd, contacted us today to give us a status update regarding his ship, the bulk carrier Sam Phoenix. The 2011 built Bulk Carrier ‘SAM Phoenix’ was constructed in Zhejiang Jingang … [Read more...]
7 Ships Detained in UK Ports Due to Shameful Discrepancies
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that seven foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during August 2012 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection. Here is the list of those ships, and the outrageous discrepancies found by Port State inspectors... Vessel name: - Sam Phoenix (Bulk Carrier) Imo No: - 9588407 Flag: - Hong … [Read more...]