What Crew Members Say About Locar-Lh-Xxiv

On August 21, 2025, the tugboat ‘Locar LH XXIV’ encountered a challenging situation after departing from Porto do Açu, en route to Campos Basin. The vessel ran aground near the iconic São Thomé Lighthouse, situated between Campos and São João da Barra, leading to significant damage at its stern. A specialized task force was quickly assembled on August 23 to initiate efforts for refloating the tugboat. This operation utilized a combination of equipment, including a tractor and support from a vessel based out of Paulinho Melé port. Approximately three kilometers of cables were delivered to assist with the operation. The initial effort to free the tug took place on August 24 at 3:30 PM, but encountered difficulties when one of the towlines snapped, interrupting the operation, which was being diligently overseen by the Brazilian Navy. Fortunately, weather conditions improved early on August 25 around 3 AM, with the tide rising to 1.60 meters. Seizing this opportunity, the tug was successfully pulled free from the sandy beach. Post-refloating, it was escorted into deeper waters and anchored at position S 22° 22' S 041° 45' W, off the coast of Macaé. Remarkably, there were no injuries reported, nor any environmental damage resulting from the incident. The tug remained anchored near Macaé until August 30 before being towed to Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, accompanied by the ‘Locar XII’, and successfully arriving on August 31. For further details and visual updates on this maritime event, please check the following links: [Shipspotting Image Gallery](https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3880848?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest), [Praia Farol de São Thomé Blog](https://www.praiafaroldesaothome.com.br/2025/08/finalmente-rebocador-e-desencalhado-e.html), [J3 News Coverage](https://j3news.com/2025/08/25/embarcacao-encalha-na-praia-do-farol-de-sao-thome/), [São Francisco 24 Hours](https://saofrancisco24hs.com/2025/08/27/farol-de-sao-tome-rebocador-desengalhou-veja-imagens/), [YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7Heh5ANpws), [Folha 1 Article](https://www.folha1.com.br/geral/2025/08/1310365-rebocador-encalha-na-altura-da-praia-do-acu.html).