What Crew Members Say About Blue-Ocean-A

Following a mechanical failure, the 'Blue Ocean A' found itself detained in Cagliari after safety inspections uncovered multiple deficiencies. Initially scheduled to embark on the morning of February 25, 2023, with the support of the Italian tug 'Eduardo Moraze' (IMO: 9136008), the departure had to be delayed. Now, the vessel is set to leave the Port of Cagliari on February 26. The unmooring process will involve the Port of Cagliari Pilots along with two tugs from Rimorchiatori Sardi, ensuring a safe exit from the harbor. For additional details and photos on this event, visit: https://www.unionesarda.it/de/sardinien/von-der-schiffbruchgefahr-in-carloforte-bis-zur-hafenblockade-die-blue-ocean-a-ist-befreit-ndugjks7.

On February 4, the cargo ship 'Blue Ocean A' was detained in Cagliari following inspections triggered by a near grounding incident. Authorities discovered a staggering 54 deficiencies, with 30 of these classified as severe enough to warrant detention. Major concerns included inadequacies in the fire extinguishing systems, deficiencies in rescue equipment, malfunctions within bridge equipment, inadequacies in the crew's emergency management training, and unsatisfactory living and working conditions aboard. The vessel will remain docked until it meets the essential safety standards, followed by a thorough inspection to ensure compliance. In its last inspection in 2025, the ship had reported minor issues such as hull corrosion and steering gear problems, but it had not faced detention at that time. For more details, see the report with photo here: https://www.unionesarda.it/de/sardinien/schwere-unregelmasigkeiten-an-bord-die-blue-ocean-a-liegt-im-hafen-von-cagliari-fest-oh4w5nh3.

On the night of January 28, 2026, the livestock carrier 'Blue Ocean A', manned by a crew of 33, encountered a critical engine failure while navigating off the coast of San Pietro Island, near Carloforte, Sardinia. As strong westerly winds gusting up to 40 knots pushed the vessel toward perilous cliffs at Punta Spalmatore di Fuori, immediate actions were taken to avert a maritime disaster. With wave heights reaching approximately five meters, the unladen ship, which was making its way from Aqaba to Cartagena, began to drift dangerously close to the rocky shoreline. The Carloforte Port Authority promptly initiated rescue operations, soon escalating to the Cagliari Coast Guard, which mobilized patrol boats 'CP 869' from Carloforte and 'CP 812' from Sant'Antioco, along with the tug 'Portesvine' (IMO: 8718304) dispatched from Portovesme. However, adverse weather conditions complicated the initial rescue attempts, resulting in the breakage of four cables during towing operations. This necessitated the involvement of a larger tug from Sarroch to stabilize the drifting carrier. At one point, with the vessel anchored perilously within 100 meters of the cliffs at coordinates 39°36'28.02'' N 008°14'39.26'' E, the captain signaled for a potential crew evacuation due to the vessel's severe rolling and pitching. In response, an AW139 helicopter from the Coast Guard's 4th Helicopter Section and another from the Italian Air Force were deployed from Decimomannu, but their plans were thwarted by the vessel's unstable position. While the crew was instructed to gather on the upper deck by 10:30 PM, additional efforts continued to shift the 'Blue Ocean A' to safer waters in the Gulf of Palmas. Later, the tug 'Vincenzino O.' (IMO: 9855719), arriving from Cagliari, helped stabilize the situation. By dawn on January 29, the 'Portesvine' successfully secured the vessel, which was then towed to a waiting position off Cagliari at coordinates 38°59' N 008°3' E, accompanied by the 'Vincenzino O.' Despite the challenging sea conditions, the crew remained unharmed, and both the vessel and its crew were eventually safe as they awaited further instructions. For additional details, check out reports with photos and videos from various news outlets.