What Crew Members Say About Moby-Orli

In a significant ruling, two Italian officers have been subjected to daily fines following a major oil spill incident in 2019. The spill originated from the cruise ferry 'Princess Anastasia,' now known as 'Moby Orli,' which was navigating the waters off Utö. The Helsinki Court of Appeal reviewed the case and affirmed the earlier decision made by the district court, holding the officers accountable for releasing heavy fuel oil into the sea. Estimates suggest the spill involved between nine and 39 cubic meters of oil, which spread over a vast stretch of 40 kilometers, reaching the vicinity of Utö. This unfortunate incident occurred as the vessel was traveling from Stockholm to Helsinki, specifically near the Finland Lion lighthouse. Consequently, both officers received sentences of 100 daily fines each, marking a notable enforcement of maritime regulations.

In a notable maritime operation, the ferry 'Moby Orli' successfully facilitated the transfer of 69 Bolivian passengers, including 14 minors, who faced disembarkation issues in Barcelona aboard the 'MSC Armonia'. This crucial maneuver occurred on April 4, 2024, as the 'Moby Orli' temporarily deviated from its usual Livorno to Bastia route to assist. The Spanish authorities arranged for these Bolivian nationals to be transported back to a non-EU port, ensuring their safe passage. Without the swift intervention of the 'Moby Orli', the 'MSC Armonia' would have experienced further delays at the Barcelona dock. Following this critical mission, the ferry will resume its regular service between Tuscany and Corsica, with the 'Moby Kiss' stepping in to cover its routes during the interim. Earlier, port authorities in Tenerife had permitted the Bolivian citizens to disembark, but documentation complications arose only upon their arrival in Spain, leading to this urgent transfer solution.

The accommodation vessel 'Princess Anastasia,' designed to house up to 2,500 occupants, departed from Murmansk on May 31, 2022, and set course for Messina, with an expected arrival date of June 12. This departure comes in the wake of escalating difficulties faced by Novatek, particularly concerning its Arctic LNG initiatives. Due to newly imposed international sanctions, the company is unable to import critical technology essential for furthering its projects. Following the European Union's fifth sanctions package, Russian firms are now prohibited from sourcing crucial equipment, such as heat-exchanging units. This has led to significant setbacks for Novatek, which heavily relies on technology from European suppliers. The last delivery of contracted plant components reached Belokamenka on May 25, just two days ahead of a deadline set by the European Council. Reports suggest that the 'Princess Anastasia' primarily housed foreign experts in the region, whose presence may no longer be justified given the lack of access to Western technology. The LNG Construction Center in Belokamenka is currently responsible for the fabrication of gravity-based structures (GBS) and topside modules for the Arctic LNG 2 project, but Novatek now faces the prospect of completing only one of the planned three structures. Construction on project train number 3 was halted in late April, while work on train number 2 is scheduled to stop by the end of May.