Mariners in the Gulf of Mexico region reported to us yesterday of a continual alert being received over distress frequencies off Cuba, one that we have been able to track back to the Hansa Berlin, a 19 year-old Liberian-flagged containership owned by Leonhardt & Blumberg.
The US Coast Guard confirmed that the Liberian-flagged vessel has run aground and that Cuban authorities are currently in charge of the situation.
*UPDATE*
Shipmanagers Leonhardt & Blumberg confirmed for us this morning that the Hansa Berlin did in fact run aground on Sunday, approximately 20 miles west of Havana after suffering an engine failure. All 19 crew were evacuated via helicopter and are now safely ashore in Cuba.
Weather conditions are currently hampering efforts to ascertain the exact status of the ship and cargo.
Hansa Berlin is a 1993 built container vessel with a capacity of 1.016 TEU. She is flying the Liberian flag. Hansa Berlin was on her way from Santiago de Cuba to Havana.
Please contact us directly at [email protected] if you have details or photos of this incident.
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