Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Bow-Lind

On July 22, 2017, the NSRI station in Durban received an urgent call from the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) at approximately 10 a.m. The 'Bow Lind', a vessel en route to Rotterdam from Durban, reported a critical situation involving its 35-man life-raft, which had become detached overboard but remained tethered to the ship by cables, approximately 50 nautical miles off the Transkei Coast. Initially, it was considered to deploy a sea rescue craft for the recovery; however, given the favorable sea conditions, the 'Bow Lind' was advised to navigate closer to Port St Johns. By 11:30 a.m., the NSRI team stationed in Port St Johns launched the Offshore Africa charter vessel, Offshore 1, to assess the situation. They successfully met the tanker 12 nautical miles offshore of Port St Johns. Following instructions from the ship's captain, NSRI personnel boarded the partially damaged life-raft, which fortunately did not sustain serious harm. A crew member was transferred to the Offshore 1, assisting in securing the life-raft, which was then cut free and towed back to the 'Bow Lind.' Additional crew members on board Offshore 1 facilitated the lowering of cables and ropes from the tanker, allowing for a harness to be constructed that would secure the life-raft without causing further damage. Once everything was secured, the NSRI’s involvement was concluded. The captain communicated plans to either proceed to Durban or East London for extensive repairs and a thorough recovery of the life-raft.

In a significant ruling that underscores the importance of environmental regulations in the maritime industry, Singapore-based Odfjell Asia has admitted guilt to federal pollution charges and has agreed to a hefty $1.2 million fine. This decision comes in light of a notorious ‘magic pipe’ incident involving one of their vessels. The U.S. Justice Department confirmed on Monday that Odfjell and a senior crewmember appeared in federal court in Hartford, Connecticut, where they acknowledged their violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The implicated crewmember could face a prison sentence of up to 6 years along with a potential fine of $250,000. Court filings reveal that Odfjell operated the M/T Bow Lind, a 577-foot petroleum and chemical tanker with a gross tonnage of 26,327. In November 2012, U.S. Coast Guard inspectors discovered that the vessel had unlawfully discharged oily bilge water directly into the ocean using an illegal ‘magic pipe’ system.