Working Conditions Aboard the Lucky-Dragon

A heartbreaking incident occurred at Paradip Port when a Chinese crew member went missing after falling overboard from the vessel 'Lucky Dragon' on the morning of September 5, 2025. His body was tragically recovered on September 7. The sailor plunged into the sea while attempting to untie the rope ladder at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal (PICT) berth. An immediate and extensive search operation was launched, but initial efforts to locate him were unsuccessful. In a bid to help find the missing sailor, the captain of the 'Lucky Dragon' had offered a reward of USD 1,000. The Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team successfully located the body, which was subsequently handed over to the Paradip Marine police. Currently, the remains are held in the mortuary of the Paradip Port hospital. Authorities have arranged for the presence of representatives from the ship’s company and a crew member on September 8 to facilitate proper identification of the deceased. After identification, the body will undergo a postmortem examination. Additionally, a team from West is expected to arrive to preserve and embalm the remains prior to their transport to Peace Heaven mortuary in Kolkata. The intervention of the Chinese consulate has been sought to aid in repatriating the body of the sailor, known as Tai, to his home in China. In related developments, the Immigration department has announced that the 'Lucky Dragon' will remain at Paradip Port and will not be allowed to set sail without a no-objection certificate. This holds until the sailor’s identity is verified, his passport is canceled, and all legal formalities are completed. At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying 25,000 tonnes of pig iron and was anchored safely at the port. The Paradip Marine police station has officially registered a case of unnatural death related to this unfortunate event.

A charter deal has been successfully secured for a vessel scheduled for delivery in Gdynia between April 14 and April 16. The ship will embark on a journey through the Baltic Sea before arriving in India. This charter agreement, under the auspices of Oldendorff, is valued at $20,000 per day, showcasing the ongoing robust demand in maritime operations.

On the afternoon of January 11, 2017, a swift response was initiated by the rescue team from SNSM station Saint-Gilles-Les-Bains. They were dispatched to the vessel 'Corviglia' to carry out a crucial medical evacuation for a Ukrainian crew member experiencing health complications. The affected sailor was successfully transported to the Port of Rivière des Galets for further medical assistance.

The cargo vessel Corviglia, which had a barge and a small boat in tow, was anchored near Kalama on the morning of April 1, following an unfortunate grounding incident near Rainier the previous day. The vessel, which was en route to China, ran aground on March 31, 2013, just before 5 p.m. after receiving a shipment of soybeans at the Port of Longview. While waiting for a river pilot to assist with its departure to the open sea, the ship found itself stranded as the tide receded beneath it. Fortunately, with the return of the tide around 10 p.m., the Corviglia was able to refloat without the need for assistance from Coast Guard vessels. Although there was no immediate response required from the Coast Guard, they did inform the state's emergency management department of the situation. The Coast Guard then advised the ship to relocate to a safer anchorage and prepared for a mandatory inspection of the hull to ensure no damage occurred during the grounding episode. The Corviglia remained moored overnight near Kalama, and by the afternoon of April 1, Coast Guard officials were still awaiting the results of the hull inspection before granting permission for departure. Ultimately, the vessel sailed out of Longview on April 2 at noon, concluding the incident without major complications.