New Zealand maritime investigators are probing a serious incident aboard the bulk carrier M.V. Olivia, where an engine room explosion injured three crew members while docked at South Port, Bluff. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the May 24 explosion, which occurred during boiler maintenance. Emergency services responded swiftly.
Dutch responders managed to extinguish a vessel fire caused by an explosion on a boxship off Hoek van Holland. The crew of the container feeder ship Victoria L contained the fire with no reported injuries. The fire reignited later, prompting a response from a fire crew, a helicopter, and multiple boats.
A tragic explosion of a shuttle tanker at the Eastern Refinery in Chittagong, Bangladesh, resulted in the deaths of three crewmembers. The Coast Guard, Navy, and local resources responded to the fire, moving nearby vessels to safety. An inquiry team is investigating the incident, highlighting concerns about safety regulations enforcement in the maritime industry.
Icon Offshore Berhad has belatedly acknowledged a tragic accident on its offshore vessel, the Icon Amara, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and serious injuries to another. The incident, involving an explosion in the engine room near Sapar Alpha platform, has prompted criticism of the company’s delayed response. Investigations are ongoing.
The Liberia-flagged tanker Delta Blue, weighing 158,000 tons, survived a rare multi-day attack by the Houthis using speed boats, RPGs, missiles, and drones. Despite no damage reported, analysts speculate on the motive behind the assault due to the vessel’s lack of connections to primary Houthi targets. Armed guards successfully defended the ship, emphasizing the importance of security measures at sea.
Indonesian authorities are currently investigating a tragic incident involving an interisland tanker, the Elisabet Satu, which caught fire and exploded off the coast of Tepekong near Bali. The incident resulted in the loss of five crewmembers, with three severely burned and 12 others sustaining lesser injuries out of the total 21 crewmembers on board.
The UKMTO reported an explosion near a vessel in the Red Sea, with no damage or injuries. Houthi rebels have been targeting ships in the region, causing concerns for maritime trade. The conflict between Israel and Hamas adds to the instability. The ongoing attacks raise fears of further disruptions to shipping routes and the global economy.
France has proposed a plan for the reconstruction and re-organization of the Port of Beirut, damaged by the 2020 explosion. The proposal includes repairing infrastructure, optimizing traffic flow, and transitioning to solar power. With costs estimated at $60-80 million, France and Germany are leading efforts to support Lebanon in rebuilding and modernizing the port.
An engineer was killed in an engine room explosion aboard the Turkish-managed product tanker, MT Torc, in the Mediterranean. The vessel’s shipping company, Besiktas Shipping, promises an investigation into the incident. The tanker, with 13,200 dwt, was sailing to Italy when the explosion occurred, resulting in the tragic death of the second engineer.
