The insurer of the 'Villa de Pitanxo', along with the shipowner Pesquerías Nores Marín and the captain Juan Padín Costas, have proposed a total financial compensation of €6.2 million to the families of 20 sailors who died in the shipwreck. This offer was for those who have properly demonstrated their right to claim compensation following the accident. The proposal also included a specific payment of over €123,500 for Samuel Koufie, the sole survivor of the shipwreck. The compensation amounts varied, depending on the degree of kinship and the damages proven by each claimant, demonstrating an individualised assessment of the personal circumstances of each affected family. Sources from the law firm Amya Abogados, which represents the three parties involved, have indicated that the shipping company has intended to "resolve the families' claims from the outset, regardless of the existence of civil and criminal liability." However, the final resolution has been delayed because some affected parties have not submitted the required documentation or have done so incorrectly. The company was also facing obstacles stemming from the "excessive demands of many claimants." For their part, the families of the deceased have stated that they "continued to seek justice" and that they wanted "those responsible to be held accountable," emphasising the emotional and legal dimensions of the case. The complexity in processing the claims has stemmed from the requirement that each family member provide rigorous documentary evidence to justify their right to payment. Despite the efforts made by the shipowner and the insurer, not all those entitled to compensation have satisfactorily met this requirement. Furthermore, the existence of several claims with amounts and conditions that some sources describe as excessive has further complicated the negotiations, hindering the completion of the process. Meanwhile, the legal representation has maintained its objective of resolving the situation without waiting for the conclusion of any potential investigations or legal proceedings regarding criminal or civil liability.
News
ORACLE
The 'Oracle', with five crew members on board, ran aground near False Pass, Alaska, on Oct 29, 2026. At 4:48 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic received a report that the vessel was stuck on the south end of the False Pass. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, deployed to Forward Operating Site Cold Bay. The aircrew arrived on scene at 6:16 a.m., hoisted all five fishermen from the vessel and transported them to Anna Livingston Memorial Clinic in Cold Bay. Minor injuries were reported. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4637384/coast-guard-rescues-5-people-near-false-pass-alaska/
STANGVIKFJORD
On Oct 23, 2026, the 'Stangvikfjord', serving between Kvanne and Rykkjem across the Stangvikfjord in Nordmøre, ran aground while heading from Kvanne towards Rykkjem, a few minutes after its departure. The ferry then slowly headed back towards Kvanne to let people and cars off. Three attempts were made to dock at Kvanne, without success. All passengers on board were told to leave the car deck. The police arrived at the scene, and the ferry finally made it to the dock. The passengers were then told that they could drive off the ferry at 2:45 p.m. The 'Stangvikfjord' was breached in the grounding and started spilling oil. The connection was suspended until further notice. The ferry 'Edøyfjord' (IMO: 9612743) was called to replace the 'Stangvikfjord'. After lying at Halsa for a few days, the 'Stangvikfjord' has been towed to Tomrefjord by a tug for repairs on Oct 27. The total costs of the grounding could amount to 10 million NOK. The 'Edøyfjord' was expected to be operating on the Kvanne-Rykkjem route for quite some time. Report with photos: https://www.smp.no/nyheter/n/PgJ7G0/ferje-har-gaatt-paa-grunn https://www.driva.no/nyheter/n/77aEz9/del-av-ferja-ligger-paa-bunnen-av-fjorden
SIGMA PEARL
The ' Sigma Pearl', enroute from Visakhapatnam, lost engine power and ran aground in the strong gusts of the Cyclone Arnab off Machilipatnam in the Bay of Bengal at the Indian East Coast, in pos. 16-21.3 N 081-49.8 E on Oct 28, 2026. The strong winds, high surf and the loss of propulsion left the ship unable to manoeuvre, while navigating through the Ravva oilfield in KG Basin. lt had unloaded sulphur at the port of Visakhapatnam and departed for Singapore on Oct 27 at around 12.17 a.m., around the time when the Cyclone Arnab was approaching Yanam before making landfall in the early hours of Oct 28. The crew was reported to be safe, and the authorities were working to bring them ashore. The Indian Coast Guard deployed a helicopter the patrol vessel 'Sujay' to evacuate the crew. The Coast Guard personnel were using the helipad at Mogalthur village in West Godavari district for the rescue efforts. All 20 people have been safely transferred to the 'Sujay'. The ship was still stuck off Pallipalem as of Oct 29. Reports with photos and video: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/coast-guard-rescues-13-crew-members-from-merchant-ship-off-andhra-pradeshs-antarvedi/article71639852.ece https://www.mangalorean.com/coast-guard-rescues-20-crew-members-from-stranded-ship-off-andhra-coast/?amp=1 https://x.com/IndiaCoastGuard/status/2115813696887005444
PRINSESSE ISABELLA
The 'Prinsesse Isabella', enroute from Hou, allided with the ramp facility in the port of Sælvig upon Samsø on the evening of Oct 29, 2026. The ferry had entered the harbour at too steep an angle and hit the land ramp. The allision pushed the ramp out of position and damaged the mechanisms that make it move. Shortly afterwards, the ferry also hit a rubber barrier on the opposite side of the harbour, where another part of the ferry's equipment was damaged. However, the crew managed to get the ramp back in place so that passengers could drive their cars from the ferry. The scheduled departures from Sælvig for the rest of the evening were cancelled. Instead, the fast ferry 'Lilleøre' offered departures from Sælvig at 7:30 p.m. and Aarhus at 8:35 p.m. Departures on Oct 30 were also cancelled up to and including 9:30 a.m. Technicians worked most of the night to repair the damage to the hydraulic pistons. The classification society has examined the vessel and reported it to the Danish Maritime Authority, which has given the Samsø Rederi the green light for the ferry to be put back into service on Oct 30. The crew has been taken care of in terms of debriefing, offers of crisis assistance and free shifts. A new crew was sent to Samsø on the morning of Oct 30, so that it could take over the work on the 'Prinsesse Isabella'. Report with photos: https://www.tv2ostjylland.dk/samsoe/ansatte-tilbudt-krisehjaelp-efter-uheld-med-faerge-ace0c

