Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Bulker-Bee-30

On April 27, 2025, at 9:20 PM, the tanker 'Isla De Bioko' (IMO: 9767235) was navigating the Mississippi River near St. Rose, Louisiana, carrying a load of urea, when it was involved in a significant collision with barges that were being towed by the tug 'Ginny Rose'. This unfortunate incident resulted in one barge sinking, while six others drifted away downstream amid challenging river conditions. In response to the accident, the Coast Guard swiftly deployed local tugs to assist, successfully retrieving four of the drifting barges. However, two barges became entangled in the anchor chains of the 'Red Fin' (IMO: 9607306), which had been anchored in position 29° 56' N 090° 09' W since April 22 while en route from Vistino, and the 'Bulker Bee 30', which departed from New Orleans on May 9, heading to Veracruz and arriving on May 11. Following the collision, the Coast Guard established a temporary closure of the river section from mile markers 108 to 111 above Head of Passes to ensure safety during assessments of the submerged barge. On April 28, at 3 PM, after it was confirmed that the depth of the sunken barge was safe for navigation, the channel was reopened, though some restrictions remained in place. A survey by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined that the sunken barge was situated approximately 75 feet below the water surface. An investigation into the incident has commenced, and salvage operations are being planned for the sunken barge. Ongoing elevated river levels are posing challenges for both marine traffic and recovery efforts. Meanwhile, 'Isla de Bioko' resumed its journey on April 28, heading to Baton Rouge, where it arrived on May 1, before continuing on to Rotterdam, with an estimated arrival date of May 23.

On May 31, 2014, at 9:38 a.m., the Port Alfred station of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) was called into action following a distress signal from the vessel "Marcarolina." The ship, which was on a journey from Buenos Aires towards Durban, reported that a crew member was showing symptoms consistent with hepatitis. In response, the South African Department of Health and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) were alerted, and authorization was granted for the medical evacuation of the affected sailor. The lifeboat "Lotto Challenger" was promptly launched to assist in the operation. It rendezvoused with the Marcarolina approximately three nautical miles offshore, where weather conditions were notably calm, albeit with a three-meter swell. Upon arrival, the NSRI medical team boarded the vessel to provide urgent care to the semi-conscious patient, a 55-year-old Filipino national. After administering medical treatment, the patient was secured on a trauma board and safely transferred to the rescue boat. The evacuee was then transported back to shore, where a Gardmed ambulance awaited to take him to the hospital for further medical intervention. For more details and visuals from the incident, visit the official NSRI report: http://www.nsri.org.za/2014/05/port-alfred-patient-casualty-evacuated-off-ship/