Flying-Spur Vessel Reviews and Specifications

The vessel formerly known as the 'Flying Spur' underwent a name change to 'Trio Tahir' on September 13, 2024, while docked in Tuzla, retaining its St. Kitts & Nevis flag. However, on September 22, the ship faced significant issues during an inspection in Gemlik, resulting in its detention due to ten deficiencies. Among the serious concerns were a malfunctioning Ballast Water Management System and inadequate training for emergency fire drills. After a day of detention, the 'Trio Tahir' was released on September 23 and subsequently set sail for Constanta, arriving there on October 1. This detention marks the vessel's third incident in less than a year. Its earlier detentions included a ten-day hold in Kalymnos on January 13, 2024, for ten deficiencies, and a subsequent detention for four days in Novorossiysk on September 14, 2024, due to 14 deficiencies.

On January 13, 2025, the cargo vessel 'Flying Spur' faced detention while in the port of Kalymnos due to an alarming tally of ten deficiencies. Among these, six were classified as serious enough to warrant its detention, raising significant safety and regulatory concerns for maritime operations. The deficiencies included critical issues such as: 1. Inadequate documentation related to the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment certificate, including exemptions that were not properly filled. 2. A lack of records pertaining to labor conditions and crew wages. 3. Absence of crucial nautical charts for safe navigation. 4. Missing essential nautical publications necessary for operational safety. 5. Inoperable remote means of control within the machinery spaces, compromising fire safety measures. 6. An ISM certificate that did not meet regulatory requirements. After addressing these deficiencies, the 'Flying Spur' was released on January 22, 2025, and subsequently set sail for Canakkale. This recent incident follows a previous detention of the vessel on September 14, 2024, at the port of Novorossiysk, where it registered 14 deficiencies, highlighting ongoing compliance challenges. These repeated detentions underline the crucial importance of adhering to maritime safety regulations and maintaining operational standards in order to ensure the safety of both crew and cargo at sea.

Late on the night of August 11, 2020, a maritime emergency unfolded off the coast of Cuxhaven when the Polish yacht 'Sharki' (MMSI: 261011690), manned by a crew of seven, collided with a navigation buoy. The incident occurred approximately five nautical miles west of Cuxhaven, leading to water pouring into the vessel and a rapid descent towards sinking. The situation escalated as a mayday call reached Bremen Rescue Radio, prompting swift action. The crew aboard the 'Sharki' reported that their vessel was sinking fast, triggering immediate responses from local rescue teams. The lifeboat 'Anneliese Kramer' from the DGzRS-station in Cuxhaven, along with the water police vessel ‘Bürgermeister Brauer’ from Hamburg, raced to the scene. As assistance arrived, Bremen Rescue Radio issued an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB). The freighter 'Fast Sam', en route from Antwerp to Naestved, located the stricken yacht and positioned itself on standby. Just moments later, at around 11:30 p.m., the 'Sharki' capsized, forcing its crew to abandon ship and take refuge in a liferaft. The 'Mathias', a rescue craft from the 'Anneliese Kramer', swiftly retrieved the castaways, comprising four men and three women, providing them with comforting hot tea and dry clothes before escorting them back to Cuxhaven. Thankfully, only one crew member sustained a minor injury during the ordeal. As the rescue operation continued, the 'Bürgermeister Brauer' employed their daughter boat to tow the liferaft to safety. At the time of the incident, the 'Sharki' was en route to the Kiel Canal. This yacht holds a storied history, as it was previously known as the 'Rubin', which was helmed by Hans Otto Schumann, a prominent figure who led the Deutsche Segler-Verbandes and clinched victory in the prestigious Admiral’s Cup in 1973.

On June 20, 2019, the coaster 'Fast Sam' departed from Antwerp at 6:45 PM, en route to Næstved. However, it encountered trouble and ran aground at the E12 buoy on the Wester Scheldt. In response to the incident, the tugboats 'Multratug 1', 'Bravo', and 'Patrol' swiftly arrived to assist. At 9:30 PM, 'Multratug 1' successfully connected with the stranded vessel, followed by 'Bravo' at 10:20 PM. Unfortunately, due to a significant drop in tide, the decision to refloat the ship was postponed until the next flooding at 11:30 PM. Finally, on June 21 at 5:45 AM, the 'Fast Sam' was safely berthed at the roro pontoon in Flushing for further investigation. For more details, visit the Dutch report with photographs: https://www.tugspotters.com/app/content/2019/06/coaster-vastgelopen-op-de-westerschelde/