Maritime Casualties--January 28, 2010
Ships Conducting Illegal Oil Transfer Seized and Tug Runs Aground in South Florida
• Ships Detained After Illegal Oil Transfer
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency detained two ships conducting an illegal transfer of oil. Reportedly, a helicopter patrolling the area saw the two ships Monday afternoon, 2.5 nautical miles off the coast of Tanjung Kapal in Penggerang.
When the helicopter approached the MT Eastern Star and MT Marida Marguerite, the crews rushed to unplug the connected oil hoses. The unit in the helicopter contacted the agency's southern region operations to investigate.
Initial investigation on the MT Eastern Star suggested that it was not harboring any legal documentation to conduct oil transfers. The MT Marida Marguerite's captain refused to cooperate with officials and was hesitant to present any documentation. When enforcement officers warned the captain that legal action would be taken against him for obstructing investigations, the captain agreed to cooperate. The case is being classified under Section 491B(1)(1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinant 1952.
Upon obtaining documents, they revealed the MT Eastern Star is registered in Tarawa, Kiribati and MT Marida Marguerite in Majuro, Marshall Islands. Documents from the 33 crew members of both vessels were collected for further investigation. If found guilty, the crewmen could face fines or jail time.
• Tug Collides with Barge off South Florida Coast
Coast Guard and local agencies quickly responded to an early morning collision between the tug RL Enterkin and an adrift barge off the coast of Delray Beach in Florida on Monday.
The vessels collided as the tugboat was attempting to get the adrift barge in tow, after it broke loose from its mooring. According to an official release from the USCG, the RL Enterkin, owned by Great Lakes Dredge in Oak Brook, Ill., after sustaining a 3-inch by 2-foot hold in the forward section of its hulls causing flooding in its bow, the master intentionally beached the vessel.
All vessels are stable, no reports of pollution or injuries. The tugboat owner plans to conduct salvage operations to ensure the safe transit to port where repairs will begin.