Significant Maritime Incidents

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Date: 28/04/2025

Monday 28th April 2025 – 11:05am – Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre receives a phone call from shoreside management of Maersk Shipping, advising the 93,511grt Singapore Registered Container Ship M/V MAERSK SANA on passage from Newark USA to Singapore had experienced an engine room explosion and was disabled approximately 350 nautical miles East from Bermuda. Three crew members had sustained injuries, one with serious burns caused by the explosion. Bermuda Radio liaised with the US Coast Guard at RCC Norfolk, due to the location of the incident, RCC Norfolk investigated options for the transfer of the injured crew to Helicopter Assets but due to the distance and logistics from land, this was not practical. A sister company vessel, the 50,657grt Hong Kong Registered Container Ship M/V MAERSK NOMAZWE on passage from Algeciras, Spain, bound for Newark USA, rendezvoused with the MAERSK SANA on Wednesday 30th April, and successfully transferred two injured crew. The third injured crew member was deemed fit enough and no longer needed medical assistance ashore. The MAERSK NOMAZWE then continued at best speed to arrive at the Deep Draft Position East of Bermuda early the next morning. Upon arrival, the two injured crewmembers were transferred ashore by the Rescue/Pilot Boat St David, to an awaiting ambulance on Ordnance Island, and both brought safely to KEMH for medical attention. The MAERSK SANA remained as of Monday 5th May disabled to the East of Bermuda. Although the vessel does have full electrical power and services onboard, an ocean-going tug has been tasked to assist the stricken vessel with mechanical spares and technicians as well as being capable of towing the vessel to a Port for subsequent repairs.


Date: 23/04/2025

Wednesday 23rd April, 12:05 pm – Bermuda Radio were concerned for the inbound French, Ketch EVASION as it was approaching close to the reef line a navigating in an unusual way, radio communications could not be established, and AIS was the only means of identification. The Coast Guard were dispatched to establish the reason for the unusual approach and lack of communication. Coast Guard found the yacht was disabled with a fouled propeller and had 3 French nationals onboard who spoke little English. The yacht, whose last port of call was Cuba was trying to cross the reef by way of Western Blue Cut, Coast Guard stood by the vessel while they eventually cleared the propeller and were able to make an arrival into St Georges Harbour.


Date: 22/04/2025

Tuesday 22nd April, 3:10 am - Bermuda Radio were called by an inbound visiting Polish Registered Sailing Vessel DESPERADO, the single-handed yacht had originally sailed from Bermuda bound for the Azores on the 19th of April and was returning due to taking on water. The water ingress was manageable, and the skipper had arranged assistance from Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.


Date: 22/04/2025

Tuesday 22nd April, 3:10 am - Bermuda Radio were called by an inbound visiting Polish Registered, sailing vessel DESPERADO, the single-handed yacht had originally sailed from Bermuda bound for the Azores on the 19th of April and was returning due to taking on water. The water ingress was manageable, and the skipper had arranged assistance from Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.


Date: 21/04/2025

Monday 21st April, 4:30 am – RCC Bermuda receive a distress alert from a U.S.A registered Personnel Locator Beacon (PLB) the distress position is approximately 200 miles south of Bermuda. RCC Bermuda contacts RCC Norfolk for assistance however the PLB has not been registered with the owner’s detail, emergency contact or what activity the PLB is used for so could not be easily followed up. The alerts persisted and RCC Norfolk diverted a merchant vessel to the distress location and dispatched a C-130 aircraft. Later in the morning the C-130 spoke to S/V CAROLINE in the region of the distress area, they confirmed activating the PLB due to water ingress, the situation had now been resolved, and the yacht was continuing passage to Martinique.


Date: 19/04/2025

Saturday 19th April, 1:45 pm – Bermuda shipping agent, Meyer Agencies, acting on behalf of the Croation registered Tanker, FRANKOPAN, contacted RCC Bermuda to advise that the ship was diverting to Bermuda to disembark an injured crew member. The vessel was on passage from Algeria to the U.S. Gulf to await further orders and the ETA to Bermuda was given as the morning of Monday 21st April. RCC Bermuda coordinated with the ship’s agent, King Edward Memorial Hospital, and Bermuda Pilots. On Monday morning the patient was transferred to the Pilot / Rescue boat St David and then to an ambulance at Ordnance Island to be transferred to hospital.