Round Island News

A newly refurbished ferry has been delivered to provide additional capacity for operator CalMac Ferries on the west coast of Scotland.Purchased out of Norway in 2021 and renamed Loch Frisa, the vessel departed Dales Marine Services in Leith on May 29 for repositioning to Oban where it is undertaking familiarization and entry-in-to service activities.Starting in mid-June, the double-ended RoPax ferry will be phased into the Oban-Craignure timetable, in tandem with Coruisk. Once Loch Frisa takes over the full Coruisk timetable…

On the evening of Saturday July 25, the MV (Merchant Vessel) Wakashio grounded on coral reefs in the south-east of the Indian Ocean tropical island of Mauritius. The ship, a Japanese-owned but Panama-registered bulk carrier designed to transport unpackaged goods such as coal or grain, was empty of cargo but had an estimated 200 tons of diesel and 3,800 tons of heavy fuel oil onboard. The ship sat for over a week before cracks emerged in its hull.Fuel oil began to leak into the expansive turquoise blue lagoon outside the coastal village of Mahébourg.

In October the world’s ferry operators gathered in Split Croatia for the Forty Second Annual Interferry Conference. The 470 or so delegates represented 210 operators and support companies from 27 countries. A trade show included firms from around the world including shipbuilders, naval architects, equipment suppliers, training and others of the diverse group that make up the ferry industry. In a panel on Mediterranean Ferries, Philippe Holthof, of the Belgian-based Shipax explained the huge size and complexity of the fleet.

The American Spirit, a 1004-foot freighter that had been hard aground in the Straits of Mackinac since Thursday afternoon, was refloated early Friday morning. The vessel is making way to St. Ignace, Michigan, where it will anchor. Coast Guard marine inspectors and American Bureau Shipping surveyors will inspect the vessel prior to the vessel getting underway again. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, a search-and-rescue controller at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie received a report from the crew aboard the motor vessel American Spirit, a 1004-foot U.S. flagged freighter, stating that they ran hard aground on muddy/sandy bottom at Round Island Passage, located between Mackinac Island and Round Island. The motor vessel was transiting to Gary, Indiana, with 64,800 tons of iron ore.

At 6:30 p.m., Thursday, a search-and-rescue controller at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie received a report from the crew aboard the motor vessel American Spirit, a 1004-foot U.S. flagged freighter, stating that they ran hard aground on muddy/sandy bottom at Round Island Passage, located between Mackinac Island and Round Island. The motor vessel was transiting to Gary, Indiana, with 64,800 tons of iron ore. The crew reported being pushed against the south side of the channel by strong winds. The Coast Guard has issued a special marine information broadcast advising mariners to use caution when transiting the area. Currently, the vessel has reported no injuries, pollution, flooding or damage. The vessel is currently not blocking the channel or impeding traffic.

The Panama-flag bulker Captain George Tsangaris was still aground on Round Island near Trincomalee in Sri Lanka on May 15, Reuters reported. It was believed that its cargo would have to be transhipped before it could be refloated. The 61,349 dwt bulker had been due to berth at the Prima Jetty to discharge its cargo of 52,653 tons of wheat when it ran aground. Some water had entered the vessel but there was no report of any damage to the cargo.

A tug was used on Wednesday to refloat the Panama-flag bulker Captain George Tsangaris that ran aground on Round Island near Trincomalee in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, port officials said. The port authorities had planned to load the cargo of wheat on to another vessel before trying to pull the ship free, but the officials said this had been unnecessary. The 61,349-dwt bulker had been due to berth at the Prima Jetty to discharge its cargo of 52,653 tons of wheat when it ran aground. Some water had entered the vessel but there was no report of any damage to the cargo.