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Beached at Alang 08.10.26 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10163560874805036&set=gm.10167558136848943&idorvanity=6884293942

Indonesian police have detained four suspects, including three shipping company officials, over the sinking of the 'Virgo Transport'. The suspects comprised the ferry’s captain, who was detained on Sep 25, and three officials of PT Virgo Karya Shipping, the ferry’s operator, who were taken into custody on Oct 4. The three company officials comprised an agent, an operations manager and the general manager of its Surabaya branch. The police were investigating the suspects under provisions of Indonesiass Shipping Law and Criminal Code relating to alleged negligence, participation and assistance in the accident. All four suspects were being held at the South Kalimantan Police detention facility, with the captain’s detention period running until Oct 14 and those of the three company officials until Oct 23. The investigation was not only directed at those who directly operated the vessel, but was also examining the involvement of company officials where evidence indicated possible participation or assistance in the accident. Investigators invoked provisions under the Shipping Law and the Criminal Code, including articles governing participation in and aiding a criminal offense. As of Oct 6, 108 people had survived, 82 had been confirmed dead and 53 remained missing.

The USS 'Abraham Lincoln' returned to its home port in San Diego on Oct 8 docked at Naval Air Station North Island at noon, following a lengthy deployment during which questions were raised over the mental health of the ship’s crew and supply problems. The Nimitz-class carrier deployed in November 2025, but it was rerouted to the Middle East in February after the war with Iran began. The ship was at sea without a port call for 286 days, the second-longest deployment by an aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. As the carrier’s long deployment wore on, controversy arose with reports of supply issues on board. Additionally, there were numerous reports of mental health challenges among the crew, including eight confirmed suicide attempts. On Aug 21, the ship began its journey back to its homeport after being relieved by the USS 'George Washington'. The aircraft carrier called at ports in Thailand and Guam before sailing back to California. Reports with photo and video: https://www.wkbw.com/us-news/military/uss-abraham-lincoln-returns-to-san-diego-after-troubled-10-month-deployment-amid-iran-war https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/uss-abraham-lincoln-returns-to-san-diego/

The 'Danstar' plans to set sail from Punta Arenas for the Falkland Islands in mid-November. The ship, actually anchored in Valparíso in pos. 33° 02' N 071° 37' W, was intending to cross the Strait of Magellan and enter directly into Argentina's 12-mile territorial waters. The Drake Passage, where the Humboldt Current from the Pacific meets the South Atlantic, is a complex voyage for ships and not profitable, so choosing the Strait meant passing through the jurisdiction of the Argentine Navy was mandatory, which could unleash the fury of the government. The objective is to supply the Falkland Islands and recapture a multi-million dollar market instead of Uruguay as the archipelago's main supplier, and sell the islanders everything from milk, eggs, and butter to backhoes and construction materials. The Chilean Armed Forces have categorised the departure as a potentially high-risk "critical event" along the border. Regular voyages were suspended in 2012, after Cristina Kirchner and Sebastián Piñera agreed to halt them following a series of Argentine fines and interceptions. At that time, the ships transiting flew the flags of the Falkland Islands or British shipping companies. To prevent the matter from escalating into a military incident, intelligence analysts have set the terms for their own Foreign Ministry. The official position being prepared in Santiago was to defend the right to free trade and international navigation, attempting to confine the issue to the private sphere and distance the State from it.

The 'Batavia' was moved about 250 meters from a pontoon, over the Markermeer dike, to its permanent location at the Museum Batavialand on Oct 2. The operation required 56 axle lines with self-propelled modular transporters. The large axle capacity was not primarily due to the weight of the ship, but to the need to protect the more than 30-year-old wooden hull from stress during transport. Before the move, the ship was prepared at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam and placed on a specially built 101-ton support frame. After arriving in Lelystad, the ship was driven over the dike via a specially built ramp and lowered onto a concrete foundation. Here, the 'Batavia' will be the center of the Museum Batavialand, which is scheduled to reopen at the end of 2028. The 'Batavia' was built between 1985 and 1995 as a full-scale reconstruction of the original Dutch East India Company ship from 1628. Report with photos: https://www.vaarmarkt.nl/vaarnieuws/persberichten/batavia-succesvol-op-land-geplaatst-in-lelystad/

17 crew members of the cargo m/v 'Khatulistiwa 8' (MMSI: 525024116), captained by Syamsul Kamal, were rescued on Oct 7, 2026, at 9.37 p.m. WIB., while Mayan Petter Saba, 29, the chief officer, remained missing after the ship, enroute from from Tuban to Sampit in Central Kalimantan with a cargo of 1,850 tons of cement in polysling packaging, was in collision with a sand loaden barge, towed by the 'Berkat Bahari 1', in pos. 06°33′ 460″ S 112° 59′ 291″ E. It had suffered a breach in the foreship, enocuntered a blackout and sank approximately nine nautical miles from the PT Semen Indonesia (SIG) Tuban Special Terminal. The 'Khatulistiwa 8' had departed from the PT SIG Tuban Special Terminal at 5:30 p.m. Two tugs of the PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental (PTK), the 'Amazon Harbour (MMSI: 525700850) and the 'Multi Progress' (IMO: 9898450), which were on standby in nearby waters, were deployed after receiving a distress signal from the vessel and immediately coordinated with the relevant authorities. The rescued crew members were brought to the Semen Indonesia jetty in Tuban by the 'Amazon Harbour' at 11.07 p.m. and handed over to port authorities and company personnel for further assistance. The 15 men and two women were accomodated in the Fortuna Hotel in Sugihwaras Village, Jenu District. The search operations for the missing chief officer were continued by the relevant authorities. The Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation through the Class III Tanjung Pakis Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) continued to coordinate with Basarnas Brondong, Surabaya Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) a.o. As of Oct 8, no trace of the missing had been found. The patrol boat 'KNP 485' of the Class III Tanjung Pakis KSOP was also deployed to search the waters around the accident site. The weather at the time of the incident was relatively calm with waves ranging from 0.5 to 1 meter high. The exact cause of the collision were investigated by the authorities. Reports with photos and video: https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/10/09/one-missing-17-rescued-after-cargo-ship-sinks-off-indonesia039s-east-java#goog_rewarded https://kepri.pikiran-rakyat.com/nasional/pr-26810001530/mv-khatulistiwa-8-tenggelam-di-perairan-tuban-17-abk-selamat https://radartuban.jawapos.com/daerah/2610090002/satu-abk-mv-khatulistiwa-8-masih-dicari-hari-pertama-operasi-sar-nihil-hasil https://jatim.tribunnews.com/jatim/562457/kapal-khatulistiwa-8-tenggelam-usai-tabrak-tongkang-di-tuban-17-abk-selamat-1-hilang# https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVQcWA5d5AE https://headlinews.id/nasional/dua-tugboat-pertamina-trans-kontinental-bergerak-cepat-evakuasi-17-kru-mv-khatulistiwa-8-di-perairan-tuban/

The investigation into the fatal accident on the 'Arvia', in which a 35-year-old Filipino electrical engineer died on Oct 6, 2025, has been concluded. According to the British Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), it was not established that the elevator was no longer able to move before the man entered the elevator shaft. The government agencymade several recommendations to improve the safety. Technicians had been working on a passenger elevator on October 26, 2025, while the ship was en route from Southampton to Tenerife. After tests, the elevator was returned to normal operating mode. An electrical engineer entered the elevator shaft via the deck. Shortly thereafter, the elevator was called and rose. The man became trapped between the elevator car and the shaft wall and died. The investigative board stated that the crew did not have a clear joint plan for the inspection. Furthermore, following problems with an elevator door, it was not re-established how the work was to be performed safely. he elevator doors had locks designed to prevent the elevator from moving. According to the investigators, there were insufficient safety barriers. As soon as the doors closed, the elevator could be activated normally again. The MAIB advised the owner Carnival UK to reassess the security of elevator doors. The company has since tightened procedures, communication, and training for elevator maintenance.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the charterer and operator of the 'MSC Elsa 3', which sank off the Kerala coast on May 25, 2025, has informed the Kerala High Court that it agreed to bear the cost of a multibeam survey of the wreck and the wrecksite. The company’s counsel made the submission in response to PILs filed by former MP T.N. Prathapan and others, seeking adequate compensation for the fishing community and other stakeholders following the sinking of the vessel. The directorate general of maritime administration (DGMA) had previously informed the High Court that two Indian agencies, namely the C-Track Surveys and the Fugro Survey India Pvt. Ltd., had been identified to conduct an independent multibeam and side-scan survey. Extending its full support to the move, the company agreed to the appointment of C-Track Surveys to conduct the survey. The company has also sought a direction to the director general of shipping to appoint C-Track Surveys to conduct the survey. It further suggested that the scope of work be jointly formulated by the company and the DGMA and provided to C-Track Surveys, and that the data gathered during the survey be made available to both for further analysis.

The 'Patria' has been anchored off Douala since Oct 2 and berthed in the port on Oct 8. The ship has been sanctioned by the USA, Canada and Ukraine and was linked to Russian military deliveries in West Africa. After 68 days at anchor off Apapa from July 21, the ship left on Sep 27 and reached Owendo around Sep 30. About 25 hours later, it headed to Douala. At least fife such rotations have taken place since April. Neither its operator nor port authorities have disclosed which cargo the ship was carrying. In the past, the ‘Patria’, along with the sanctioned ‘Baltic Leader’, had delivered armored vehicles, tanks, artillery, combat aircraft and electronic warfare equipment in Conakry to support Russia’s military operations in Mali.

Two crew members were removed from the 'Azamara Journey' and deported while the ship was operating a 12-night voyage from Montreal to New York City. The circumstances surrounding their removal, including the reasons for the deportations, remain unclear and have not been independently confirmed. The 'Azamara Journey'’s published itinerary included a call at Portland, Maine, on Oct 4, followed by Boston on Oct 5 and Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard on Oct 6. The ship was scheduled to transit the Cape Cod Canal late on Oct 6, before continuing to New York City, where it was due to arrive on Oct 7. The itinerary did not indicate where the reported removals took place. OIn another incident involving the 'Majestic Princess', eight crew members, comprising seven Filipinos and one Indian national, were deported on Oct 5, 2026, amid increased concern among some cruise ship workers regarding U.S. port calls. The NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line has held town hall meetings to address questions and concerns from its crew.

On Oct 6, 2026, short before 3 a.m., the 'Alfa Watan' (IMO: 7510884), enroute from Istanbul to Sulina with a cargo of wheat, and the 'Able' were attacked by drones at the exit of the Sulina Canal, east of Cape St. Atanas, about 80 miles off the town of Byala, Varna district, within the Bulgarian Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea. The incident was the first reported drone attack on vessels within Bulgaria's EEZ. The EPIRB of the 'Alfa Watan' was activated at 2:54 a.m. An SAR operation has been launched by Bulgaira’s Varna Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. In the following hours, the rescue teams discovered an overturned lifeboat, three life rafts, parts of the vessel’s equipment and several life jackets at the scene of the incident; however, no members of the crew have been found so far. Bulgarian aircraft, helicopters, and rescue teams participated in the search for the missing sailors, with reconnaissance and search operations carried out in the area. The names of the missing seafarers: - Captain Mohammad Naddaf - Chief Engineer Mohammad Ahmad Tahouf - Second Officer Ali Bilal - Sailor Tarek Melhem - Sailor Abdullah Suleiman - Sailor Sinan Sobh - Messman Raed Merhi - Oiler Ghazwan Ahmad - Azzam Ayyash The SAR operation was stopped at 5 p.m. without finding any survivors. The crew of the Bulgarian ferry 'Dioscuria' (IMO: 7931997), which had diverted on its route from Constanta to Varna and came to the ship’s assistance following the drone attack, had reported that the vessel had sunk within seconds after an extremely powerful explosion. Given the speed with which it went down, hopes of finding survivors were extremely slim. The wreckage would not be inspected underwater by Bulgarian authorities, as this did not fall within Bulgaria’s responsibilities. The 18 crew members of the 'Able' - among them 11 Turkish and seven Indian nationals , which had to be abandoned after a fire engulfed it as a result of the drone attacks, were rescued by the 'Dioscuria' and transferred to a Bulgarian Border Police vessels. Two of the rescued crew members sustained injuries and received initial first aid directly on board the ferry. The Bulgarian crew and on-duty rescue units were coordinating their further emergency medical evacuation to shore-based hospitals at the earliest opportunity. Also the Saint Kitts-Nevis-flagged cargo m/v 'Mercy' (IMO: 1033822) was taking part in the rescue operations, as well as Romanian Coast Guard vessels and a helicopter operated by the General Inspectorate of Aviation. 16 sailors arrived in Varna on the boat of the Border Police. Ten of them were Turkish nationals and six were Indian citizens. They were in generally good condition, but very exhausted, tired and stressed. One of the two injured seafarers was an Indian mechanic, who had suffered 45 % burns to his body. He was in shock and treated in the intensive care unit of the Naval Hospital. The Turkish captain had suffered injuries to his head, chest and left leg, but after receiving medical attention, he was released from the hospital. The condition of the vessel remained critical. It sustained severe damage to its stern, and the engine room was almost completely flooded. There was a very high likelihood that the vessel would also sink. Checks for possible oil spills and pollution were continued, using two helicopters from Krumovo air base and an Su-25 jet. Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened a meeting with representatives of state institutions over the attack, which included representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Office of the President and the security services. Systematic Russian strikes on civilian vessels in the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of NATO member states show that Russian aggression in the Black Sea has gone far beyond the Ukrainian context and poses a direct threat to all international trade and global shipping. Reports with photos and video: https://operativmm.az/en/post/sailors-missing-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-in-black-sea-bulgaria-says/81184 https://www.arabnews.com/world/bulgaria-ends-search-for-missing-crew-from-drone-hit-ship-rescuers-3005013 https://tv.vg.no/nyheter/rommer-fra-brennende-skip?id=413277 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C3n5veD8U/ https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CEbH1QAZE/

arrived Bhavnagar Anchorage 09.10.26

17 crew members of the 'Khatulistiwa 8', captained by Syamsul Kamal, were rescued on Oct 7, 2026, at 9.37 p.m. WIB., while Mayan Petter Saba, 29, the chief officer, remained missing after the ship, enroute from from Tuban to Sampit in Central Kalimantan with a cargo of 1,850 tons of cement in polysling packaging, was in collision with a sand loaden barge, towed by the tug 'Berkat Bahari 1' (MMSI: 525301447), in pos. 06°33′ 460″ S 112° 59′ 291″ E. It had suffered a breach in the foreship, enocuntered a blackout and sank approximately nine nautical miles from the PT Semen Indonesia (SIG) Tuban Special Terminal. The 'Khatulistiwa 8' had departed from the PT SIG Tuban Special Terminal at 5:30 p.m. Two tugs of the PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental (PTK), the 'Amazon Harbour (MMSI: 525700850) and the 'Multi Progress' (IMO: 9898450), which were on standby in nearby waters, were deployed after receiving a distress signal from the vessel and immediately coordinated with the relevant authorities. The rescued crew members were brought to the Semen Indonesia jetty in Tuban by the 'Amazon Harbour' at 11.07 p.m. and handed over to port authorities and company personnel for further assistance. The 15 men and two women were accomodated in the Fortuna Hotel in Sugihwaras Village, Jenu District. The search operations for the missing chief officer were continued by the relevant authorities. The Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation through the Class III Tanjung Pakis Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) continued to coordinate with Basarnas Brondong, Surabaya Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) a.o. As of Oct 8, no trace of the missing had been found. The patrol boat 'KNP 485' of the Class III Tanjung Pakis KSOP was also deployed to search the waters around the accident site. The weather at the time of the incident was relatively calm with waves ranging from 0.5 to 1 meter high. The exact cause of the collision were investigated by the authorities. Reports with photos and video: https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/10/09/one-missing-17-rescued-after-cargo-ship-sinks-off-indonesia039s-east-java#goog_rewarded https://kepri.pikiran-rakyat.com/nasional/pr-26810001530/mv-khatulistiwa-8-tenggelam-di-perairan-tuban-17-abk-selamat https://radartuban.jawapos.com/daerah/2610090002/satu-abk-mv-khatulistiwa-8-masih-dicari-hari-pertama-operasi-sar-nihil-hasil https://jatim.tribunnews.com/jatim/562457/kapal-khatulistiwa-8-tenggelam-usai-tabrak-tongkang-di-tuban-17-abk-selamat-1-hilang# https://headlinews.id/nasional/dua-tugboat-pertamina-trans-kontinental-bergerak-cepat-evakuasi-17-kru-mv-khatulistiwa-8-di-perairan-tuban/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVQcWA5d5AE

On Oct 6, 2026, the trawler 'IJsselmeer - VD-104', 18 gt (ID: NLD194800657; built 1948), from Volendam was in collision with the 'Yska' and its tow, the 9-m-concrete houseboat 'Heinz', on the Markermeer, en route to Amsterdam. The houseboat sustained a crack and started leaking. The trawler first grazed the port side of the tug and then sailed head-on into the much wider houseboat. The tug crew immediately sprang into action to seal the leak as much as possible with foam, sheets, and other material. Pumps were then used to keep the ark afloat and tow it to Uitdam. The trawler suffered a dent. The 'Yska' was sailing outside the navigation channel towards Amsterdam at a speed of about four knots. The 'VL-104' was coming from port and was sailing a crossing course at a speed of approximately 6,5 knots. The skipper of the 'Yska', owned by towing and salvage company Amstel & Y, only saw the 'VD-104' only when it was about 50 meters away from him. The oncoming vessel was apparently noticed late on the trawler as well. The collision set a major rescue operation in motion. The tug first called the traffic control center and then tried to communicate with the stern boat. The rescue operation had already started before he could switch to another VHF channel for assistance. A lifeboat of the KNRM Lelystad and a helicopter arrived at the scene. Police, Rijkswaterstaat, and ILT also attended. A nurse from the Coast Guard's SAR helicopter treated what turned out to be a small scratch on the skipper's head. The lifeboat from Lelystad brought firefighters to the houseboat who managed to finally seal the hole. The tug with its tow then proceeded to Uitdam for emergency repairs. They were not allowed to sail until both the insurance company and the ILT deemed it safe. Reports with photos: https://www.omroepflevoland.nl/nieuws/526562/meerdere-lichtgewonden-bij-aanvaring-viskotter-en-woonark-op-markermeer https://www.destentor.nl/lelystad/botsing-tussen-viskotter-en-woonark-op-markermeer-als-staal-tegen-staal-botst~aa69d96b/

One of the two bodies recovered on Oct 7 from the seas surrounding the wreckage the 'Filo Jet' off the coast of Kyrenia was identified as 12-year-old Miray Bicer on Oct 8. Bicer, who hailed from the town of Reyhanli, which is located in Turkey’s Hatay province, between the Turkish Mediterranean coastal city of Iskenderun and Syria’s second city, Aleppo, had been on board the ferry alongside her five-year-old brother Asaf, her mother Ayten, and her father Hayri. After Asaf Bicer’s body was recovered from the wreckage last week, the funeral was held in Reyhanli on Oct 1. Ayten Bicer and Hayri Bicer both survived the accident. When a suitcase fell on top of the mother, her daughter was forced from her grasp. She had grabbed her daughter’s foot, but her shoes, coated in engine oil from the overturned boat, slipped through her hands. After the wreck was located at a depth of 554 metres, to reach the bodies believed to be inside, the underwater engineering company Derinsu had used an underwater cutting tool to open sections of the wreck around its corridor. During the first week, efforts focused entirely on the wreck itself. After clearing objects from the debris, the team recovered the first body- Once they were confident that no further bodies remained inside the wreck, the team began scanning the seabed across the surrounding area, extending to a point approximately 2.3 kilometres north of the location where the vessel was last seen. Of the 14 people on the list provided to the team, 13 bodies could be recovered and handed over to the authorities. Conducting the search operations at such depths required advanced technology, while highlighting the experience of the engineers and remotely operated vehicle pilots involved. The most recently recovered body was found at a depth of approximately 650 metres. These were the deepest bodies ever recovered in Turkish maritime history. The team had also recovered the vessel’s Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) and handed it over to the authorities. Two days were left in the search operation, and it was hoped to locate and recover the final body during this time. The operation had involved scanning approximately 5.5 billion cubic metres of seawater using water-column data, 10 million square metres of seabed and 1.6 million square metres of visual area. The operation was continued around the clock using both the robot’s camera footage and sonar images. A total of 28 people died in the disaster.

The Bulgarian Navy has sent the frigate 'Verni' to the area of the Black Sea where the 'Able' and 'Alfa Watan' were attacked. On Oct 8, the 'Verdi' established the location and condition of the 'Able' and planned to inspect it, including for dangerous debris. However, an exact timetable for further actions has not been announced, while the ship was drifting 55 nautical miles northeast of Cape Emine. On Oct 7, Bulgaria had called off the search for the crew of the 'Alfa Watan', among them nine Syrians and one Egyptian, prompting Syria to send a diplomatic note to Bulgaria requesting an independent investigation into the incident and an explanation as to why the search for survivors was called off less than 24 hours after the attack. Only three life rafts and a lifeboat were found, but no trace of the sailors. A minimal pollution was found in the area of ​​the incident. Kosta Andreev, the chairman of the volunteer association BULSAR and former deputy commander of the Navy, stated on Oct 9 that the crew’s chances of survival were extremely small after the first hours. The duration of the search was determined according to the specific area, weather conditions and the probability of finding living people. The water in the area of the incident was estimated to be around 18-20 degrees. The 'Alfa Watan' sank at a water depth of about 2000 metres, so that that specialised equipment, including remotely operated devices, would be needed for the investigation. Before the start of the operation, preliminary studies must be carried out, the location of the sinking must be specified, and a suitable vessel and equipment must be provided. There was no pollution of the sea water with oil products near the Bulgarian coast after the incidents. A special inspection was carried out by order of the Environment Minister Rositsa Karamfilova. Sea water samples were taken in the areas of Cape Kaliakra, Byala and Sozopol. The purpose of the inspection was to establish the current state of the sea waters in these areas and the presence of any possible pollution related to the incident. Ukraine’s Defence Forces conducted no operations in that area of the sea, and the attack was regarded as another part of Russia’s effort to make the western Black Sea completely unfit for navigation. The Ukrainian Navy contacted its counterparts in Bulgaria, and it has been established that the attack was a combined Russian attack using maritime and aerial drones.

Two crew members were removed from the 'Azamara Journey' and deported while the ship was operating a 12-night voyage from Montreal to New York City. The circumstances surrounding their removal, including the reasons for the deportations, remain unclear and have not been independently confirmed. The 'Azamara Journey'’s published itinerary included a call at Portland, Maine, on Oct 4, 2026, followed by Boston on Oct 5 and Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard on Oct 6. The ship was scheduled to transit the Cape Cod Canal late on Oct 6, before continuing to New York City, where it was due to arrive on Oct 7. The itinerary did not indicate where the reported removals took place. OIn another incident involving the 'Majestic Princess', eight crew members, comprising seven Filipinos and one Indian national, were deported on Oct 5, amid increased concern among some cruise ship workers regarding U.S. port calls. The NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line has held town hall meetings to address questions and concerns from its crew.

On the afternoon, the 'Tomma', serving on the route Nesna – Nesnaøyene, suddenly lost control enroute from Tomma to the mainland due to technical problems with a generator. The fully loaded ship drove in a circle before the crew was able to stop the ship by an emergency anchoring manoevre. It then proceeded to its dock with slow speed. The ferry 'Lafjord' sailed at 6.35 p.m. from Kvellandstrand to be inserted as a replacement ship. The ferry operator Torghatten Nord has taken the 'Tomma' out of service for the time being was working to identify the fault. Video: https://www.avisenagder.no/full-hidra-ferje-fikk-problemer/v/80-99-13861

Beached at Alang 08.10.26

The 'Festijn' ran aground on a sandbank on the Wester Scheldt near Breskens in pos. 51° 23' N 003° 38' E on Oct 6, 2026, shortly after 1:00 p.m., while sailing along the channel near the Hoofdplaat to spot seals and other sights on the Western Scheldt. The skipper contacted the Dutch Coast Guard to request assistance due to the receding tide. Given that there were 72 passengers of various ages on board, in addition to the Breskens lifeboat 'Zeemanshoop', the lifeboats 'Winifred' (Cadzand) and 'Uly' (Westkapelle) were also deployed, along with a Coast Guard helicopter, a Medical Duty Officer, and a municipal official. Ultimately, the helicopter was not utilised. Thanks to their shallow draft, the lifeboats were able to pull alongside the tour boat and take all the passengers on board. Once everyone had been transferred from the ' Festijn', the lifeboats headed for the port of Breskens, where all passengers were brought safely ashore. Many of the passengers were elderly and were looked after at the KNRM lifeboat station. Since the tour boat had also departed from Breskens, the passengers' cars were parked at the harbor. This allowed them to quickly continue on their way. The rescue operation was concluded after an hour, at which point Rijkswaterstaat took over the incident. Three crew members remained on board to wait for the next high tide. At around 9 p.m. the water level was high enough to refloat, and at 9.30 p.m. the ship was back in Breskens, where it remained stationary as of Oct 8. The cause of the vessel running aground was not yet known, and whether the dense fog had played a role in it. According to Ube van der Zee, involved in organising the tours, the grounding of the ship was a ‘confluence of circumstances, which could also have had to do with a shifted sandbank or the receding tide. Already in July 2025, 63 passengers had to be evacuated from the 'Festijn' by the KNRM after smoke had emerged in the engine room while the ship was underway. Reports with photos: https://www.knrm.nl/nieuws/knrm-reddingstation-westkapelle/zeehondentocht-loopt-vast-op-zandbank https://www.bndestem.nl/sluis/rondvaartschip-gestrand-op-zandbank-in-de-westerschelde-72-opvarenden-van-boord-gehaald~a6b2beb3/?slug_rd=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fbinnenvaartlog.nl%2F&fbclid=IwT01FWAUx4hBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHriZdG5Lpl7lSjWQ0e4E4X16IQBP0jm4kg-keC79MEFAhF4vawiwBnCe7quW_aem_4ln4Iys9yhfn0asFU8Ofow