The 'Ocean Viking' has rescued a total of 101 people during two operations on the night of Oct 6. The first mission was initiated after a tip off by the organisation Alarm Phone, as well as an alert from an unmanned aircraft operated by Frontex, the EU's external border agency. During that mission, 60 migrants were rescued from an unseaworthy rubber dinghy, which at the time was located in the Libyan SAR zone. Among the group, there were 21 women, five of whom were pregnant, as well as 12 children. Four of the children were unaccompanied minors, while six of them were under the age of 14. A few hours later, the crew of the 'Ocean Viking' rescued another 41 migrants from a partially deflated rubber dinghy in the Maltese SAR region. SOS Mediterranée had also been informed about this second development by Alarm Phone. Among this group were 16 unaccompanied minors, some of them also as young as 14. The people on both boats had spent several days without food or water; some had also suffered burns from the corrosive chemical reaction that occurs when sea water mixes with fuel used for the engine of the migrants' boats.
News
ROYAD MAMMADOV
The 'Royad Mammadov', enroute from Ismajil to Ravenna with 13 crew members and a cargo of cereals on board, was struck by two Russian drones on Oct 5, 2026, in the Black Sea, outside Romanian territorial waters, near the Pescarus Platform in the Pescăruș oil field, 30 nautical miles south of the town of Sfantu Gheorghe. The ship caught fire after the strike, with a blackened wheelhouse and parts of the superstructure, developed a list to port side and started sinking by the stern. The AIS transmission ended at 9.20 a.m. The ship's captain Rustam Ismayil Oghlu Hasanov, an Azerbaijani born in 1974, was killed. Another Azerbaijani citizen, Mahammad Hamza Oghlu Suleymanzade, born in 2002, was missing. The Romanian Maritime Authority was alerted at around 11:00 a.m. via the Constanța Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). The MRCC Constanța requested the deployment of the Romanian Maritime Rescue Agency and the mobilisation of several rescue vessels. The SAR vessel 'Apollo' departed from Sulina, while the 'SAR Artemis' was mobilised from berth 72. The deployment of the SAR vessel 'Ares' was also requested. Three injured seafarers were taken ashore by a Black Hawk helicopter of the General Inspectorate of Aviation. The eight uninjured crew members were picked up by rescue vessels. All 11 surviving crew members - among them three Indian nationals - received medical care at the Constanța County Hospital. The Indian Embassy in Bucharest said it was extending all possible support for the welfare and well-being of the Indian crew members and was in close touch with the hospital authorities. The Indian Ambassador to Romania Manoj Mohapatra spoke to the Indian nationals receiving treatment and assured them of all possible assistance and support. India has reacted, saying the Russian aggression was "completely unacceptable." The SAR operation was coordinated through the MRCC Constanța, and authorities were investigating the exact circumstances of the fire. A Coast Guard ship has been designated as the OSC and continued the search alongside the General Aviation Inspectorate helicopter. Border police and air crews were working closely to ensure that no one was left behind. The ship officially belonged to the MG Shipping 5 Co .Ltd. Its commercial manager was Spring Marine Denizcilik, and the company was linked to Palmali Gemicilik ve Acentelik, a company owned by Mubariz Mansimov, an Azerbaijani businessman, who received Turkish citizenship in 2007, and whose name has long been associated with maritime transport and the ownership of the yacht port in Yalikavak. Reports with photos and video: https://www.monitoruldegalati.ro/regional/misiune-dramatica-in-marea-neagra-o-nava-comerciala-s-a-scufundat-in-urma-unui-incendiu-elicoptere-si-nave-ale-mai-intervin-de-urgenta.html https://maritime-executive.com/article/romania-rescues-11-seafarers-and-2-deceased-from-turkish-vessel https://splash247.com/grain-carrier-sinks-off-romania-after-suspected-russian-drone-strike/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlzdrieYQHk https://www.marinelink.com/news/two-dead-rescued-black-sea-cargo-ship-543480
HINNOY
The 'Hinnøy', serving on the route Bognes–Lødingen, had to be taken out of service on May 4, 2026. While the ferry was sailing at Vestfjorden, a technical fault occurred and caused it to stop. On the morning of May 5, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration had to cancel the B route on the connection between Bognes and Lødingen. The departures affected were at 09:30 a.m. sailing from Lødingen and at 10:45 sailing from Bognes. At 11:28 a.m. the operator Torghatten announced that the B route was back in operation starting with the departure from Lødingen at 12:00 p.m. with the ship then returning to its normal schedule.
MEIN SCHIFF FLOW
On Oct 7, some water entered the stairwell of the 'Mein Schiff Flow' during heavy rain at sea enroute from Tarragona to Civitavecchia. The water found its way into interior areas. The exact cause was unknown; it may have been due to the heavy rainfall in a short period or a door to the outer deck not closing properly. The stairwell A, leading to the Harbour Market buffet restaurant, was affected. When the water ingress was noticed, attempts were made to stop it. The crew then initiated drying measures. Dehumidifiers were put in place on the affected stairwell. The 'Mein Schiff Flow' continued its voyage without interruption and arrived as scheduled in Civitavecchia on Oct 8.
DSM AMBITION
The 'DSM Ambition' was detained in Shanghai on Oct 6 with four detainable defiencies. 07114 - FIRE SAFETY - Remote Means of control (opening,pumps,ventilation,etc.) Machinery spaces (no responsibility of RO) 11124 - LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES - Embarkation arrangement survival craft (no responsibility of RO) 07109 - FIRE SAFETY - Fixed fire extinguishing installation (no responsibility of RO) 14499 - POLLUTION PREVENTION - MARPOL ANNEX IV - Other (MARPOL Annex IV) (no responsibility of RO). The ship was released again on Oct 7. The last detention was also in Shanghai on Aug 16 with five detainable defiencies for three days.
MV WESTERLAND
On Oct 6, 2026, the 'Westerland' (IMO: 7041091), which had occupied part of Mosquito Island’s shoreline for years, has been removed from the Lami Bay, as efforts continued to improve maritime safety and clean up Suva Harbour. The ferry was towed out of Suva by the tug 'Didi' (IMO: 9349332) and scuttled an approved offshore location, making it the 3rd abandoned vessel to be removed under the Suva Harbour Cleanup Programme, following the removal of fishing vessels 'Zhong Da 2' and 'Sunshine 86' in August. The programme was funded through the Captain Johnathan Smith Fund, which was launched with US$1 million in support from the Waitt Foundation and Waitt Institute. Before the vessel was sunk, fuel, oil and other waste were cleared from it, while structural and environmental assessments were also carried out. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji checked that maritime safety requirements were met, while environmental assessments were completed before approval was given for the vessel to be sunk at the approved offshore location. The Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd. was s leading the Suva Harbour Cleanup Programme, with several Government agencies involved in its oversight. 14 more abandoned vessels identified as environmental and navigation risks in Suva Harbour were expected to be scuttled in future phases of the programme. The ferry was built in 1971 at the Husum shipyard and operated for decades under the name 'Westerland' for the Rømø-Sylt Line in the Wadden Sea. In 2006, the ferry was sold to Fiji. There, it retained its traditional name, and from 2007 onwards, it operated as a ferry between the main Fijian islands with home port Suva. After being decommissioned in 2021, the ship was abandoned off Mosquito Island. Reports with photos and video: https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/shipping-times-2-2m-backs-wreck-removal/ https://www.fijivillage.com/u/abandoned-mv-westerland-removed-from-mosquito-island-shoreline-01c1c3/ https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/harbour-cleared-of-another-derelict-vessel/#google_vignette https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2183593168868623
SANITA S
Frédéric Sylvain Diatta, a dockworker in his thirties, who had been missing since Sep 29, 2026, was found dead in the cargo hold of the 'Sanita S'. A member of the Senegalese Transport Workers' Union, the man was unloading a shipment of rice when he suddenly disappeared. His absence quickly alerted his colleagues, who launched a search of the port area. A colleague found Frédéric Sylvain Diatta's cell phone in the cargo hold. This discovery led the search to the interior of the vessel. The dockworker's body was eventually found at the bottom of the hold, in an advanced state of decomposition. The deceased was identified as the nephew of Xavier Diatta, director of Casa Industries in Ziguinchor. The exact circumstances of his death remained unknown at this time. Law enforcement has boarded the vessel, and a judicial inquiry has been opened to determine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Frédéric Sylvain Diatta and the causes of his death, in order to establish how he ended up in the ship's hold and determine any potential liability.
LYNGEN
On the morning of Oct 8, 2026, the 'Lyngen', operating between Stornes and Bjørnerå, suffered technical issues, and the service had to be suspended until further notice. It was unknown when the ferry will be back on schedule. Troubleshooting and test runs of the ferry in the port of Stornes were commenced. A new update was to be provided at noon by the operator Torghatten.
CONDOR
On Oct 6, 2026, at 5.58 p.m. the KNRM and the Coast Guard responded to a report of an explosion and fire in the engine room of the 'Condor' with a total of ten people on board, seven passengers and three crew members. Both the KNRM stations in Scheveningen and Ter Heijde were alerted. The Coast Guard Center in Den Helder and the Haaglanden control room were also notified. The crew managed to quickly extinguish the fire at sea themselves using two fire extinguishers. By keeping the engine room hatch closed immediately after extinguishing the fire, the situation was stabilised. The ship was then able to continue sailing on one engine. The crewboat was located just off the Westland coast. The lifeboat 'George Dijkstra' tookthe seven passengers on board and transferred them to Scheveningen. They remained unharmed and were briefly accommodated in the KNRM boathouse. The KNRM transported a few of its own rescuers onto the ship. The 'Condor' was escorted to the port of Scheveningen by the lifeboat 'Kitty Rosmale'. The fire department was standing ready there to assess the situation. After carefully opening the engine compartment, it turned out that the fire had been completely extinguished thanks to the decisive action of the crew. Reports with photos: https://regio15.nl/nieuws/branden/40042/motorruimte-van-schip-in-brand-ter-heijde/ https://www.strandweer.nu/zuid-holland/explosie-op-schip-voor-de-westlandse-kust/ https://www.rodi.nl/denhaag/112-nieuws/121747/brand-in-motorruimte-bemanningsvaartuig-condor-voor-kust-ter-heijde
DSM AMBITION
The 'DSM Ambition' was detained in Shanghai on Aug 16, 2026, with five detainable defiencies: 04113 - EMERGENCY SYSTEMS - Water level indicator (no responsibility of RO) 06107 - CARGO OPERATIONS INCLUDING EQUIPMENT - Cargo operation (no responsibility of RO) 11104 - LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES - Rescue boats (no responsibility of RO) 07117 - FIRE SAFETY - Jacketed high pressure lines and oil leakage alarm (no responsibility of RO) 07101 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire prevention structural integrity (no responsibility of RO). The ship was released again on Aug 18 and left the port enroute to Laem Chabang.
ROYAD MAMMADOV
Three Indian nationals, who were rescued from the 'Royad Mammadov' in the Black Sea, were recovering in Constanța, with the Indian Embassy providing assistance for their eventual return home. An embassy representative met the three crew members on Oct 6 and assured them of all necessary assistance and support for their safe and early departure from Romania. Essential items, including mobile phones, were provided through the shipping company’s local agent, while Indian food was arranged through a local restaurant. Two were presently accommodated at a hotel, while the third person was still undergoing treatment at the County Hospital in Constanța. All three were in stable condition. The embassy representative also met local police officials, the shipping company’s agent and doctors treating the injured crew member to coordinate further assistance. The embassy remained in close contact with the Romanian authorities. India’s Ambassador to Romania, Manoj Mohapatra, also spoke with the three nationals at Constanța County Hospital and confirmed that they were in good health. Report with photo: https://indianewengland.com/three-indian-crew-members-recovering-in-romania-after-black-sea-vessel-attack/
HINNOY
On the afternoon of Oct 7, the B route on the Lødingen connection, served by the 'Hinnøy', was cancelled until further notice due to technical problems. Affected was the departure at 5:15 p.m. After Torghatten announced that the service was resumed, the crossings at 6:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. took place as timetabled.
MONTE ARBALLU
The 'Monte Arballu' was raised on Oct 7, eight days after it sank on Sep 29 in the port of Arrecife (Lanzarote) due to an unrepaired leak. Firefighters from the Lanzarote emergency services participated in the salvage operation, using several pumps to remove water. Two mobile cranes were deployed to bring the longliner back to the surface. The vessel was then defueled and towed to a shipyard. The Las Palmas port authority laid out an oil barrier as a precaution to prevent a water pollution, but this proved unnecessary. Built in 1965, the 'Monte Arballu' was one of six tuna fishing vessels that once belonged to Lanzarote's traditional purse seiner fleet, which at one time comprised around 30 ships, alongside the 'Santuario Barquereño', 'Zeruko Eregiña', 'Izar Aklde', 'Cima de Oro' and the 'Ave Maria II'. Report with photo: https://www.canarias7.es/canarias/lanzarote/reflotado-atunero-hundio-pasada-semana-naos-20261007124845-nt.html
ETERNAL STAR
The 'Qi Yuan 17' was detained in Incheon on Oct 6, 2026, with eight detainable defiencies: 02112 - STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS - Hull - corrosion (no responsibility of RO) 07109 - FIRE SAFETY - Fixed fire extinguishing installation (no responsibility of RO) 04114 - EMERGENCY SYSTEMS - Emergency source of power - Emergency generator (no responsibility of RO) 18399 - LABOUR CONDITIONS-ACCOMMODATION, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, FOOD AND CATERING - Other (Accommodation, recreational facilities) (no responsibility of RO) 07101 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire prevention structural integrity (no responsibility of RO) 03107 - WATER/WEATHERTIGHT CONDITIONS - Doors (no responsibility of RO) 07126 - FIRE SAFETY - Oil accumulation in engine room (no responsibility of RO) 15150 - ISM - ISM (no responsibility of RO).
