Working Conditions Aboard the Orita

On December 8, 2025, at approximately 6 p.m. UTC, the container ship 'Orita' encountered an engine failure while transiting the Dardanelles, just off the coast of Gelibolu. The vessel, which was en route from Aliağa to Kocaeli carrying a cargo of containers, required immediate assistance. The tugboat 'Kurtarma 20' (IMO: 9995117) came to the rescue, supported by the escort tug 'Kurtarma 18' (IMO: 9974890) along with a strait pilot facilitating the operation. Together, they successfully towed the 'Orita' to the Şevketiye Anchorage, thanks to the meticulous coordination of the Çanakkale Ship Traffic Services Center. The vessel was safely moored at position 40° 25' N 026° 50' E by approximately 9 p.m. The 'Orita' remained at the anchorage until December 10, when repairs were completed. The ship then resumed its journey and anchored off Kocaeli at position 40° 44' N 029° 53' E on December 12. For more details, refer to the video footage available [here](https://x.com/i/status/1998223202141802606).

On March 7, 2025, a maritime incident unfolded in the Sea of Marmara when the shadow tanker 'Mia' collided with the container ship 'Orita' approximately five nautical miles off Gürpınar, within the Beylikdüzü district. At the time of the incident, the 'Orita' was securely moored at anchorage 3 after having departed from Gemlik, heading towards Sulina. The 'Mia', an unloaded tanker, drifted uncontrollably and struck the 'Orita' on the port side near its amidships, resulting in a rupture of a ballast tank and a subsequent leak of contaminated water into the surrounding sea. The first response to this environmental concern came from the tug 'Efes 10' (IMO: 1031692), which arrived swiftly to secure the area while maritime authorities worked to assess the unfolding situation. Additionally, the response efforts were reinforced by the deployment of the tug 'Kurtarma 2' (IMO: 8959764) from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety. As the situation unfolded, the crew aboard the 'Mia' worked diligently to apply an emergency patch aimed at stopping the leakage from the damaged ballast tank. Concurrently, the Turkish Coast Guard initiated an investigation into the 'Orita' to evaluate the extent of the damage, which included visible dents from the collision. By March 10, the 'Mia' was anchored at coordinates 40° 57' N 028° 35' E, with the 'Orita' documented at the same position. Details regarding the ownership and operational history of the 'Mia' remain unclear, although it is noted to be registered with a Seychelles-based company, lacking a listed management and having not undergone any inspections since 2014. Previously sanctioned by the USA in 2024 for alleged false registration under Guyana's flag, the Guyanese authorities have denied any affiliations, asserting that their registry is closed and does not encompass the vessel. US officials have raised suspicions regarding the 'Mia's' potential use of various aliases in the past, with previous names including 'Magus' and 'Freedom'. Since 2013, the tanker has reportedly operated under seven different names. The identity of its current insurer remains unknown. For additional reports and visuals, refer to links here: [7 Deniz](https://www.7deniz.net/beylikduzunde-petrol-tankeri-konteyner-gemisine-catti) and [Full Ava](https://fullavantenews.com/sanctioned-tanker-struck-by-containership-off-turkey-leaks-polluted-water/).

On December 2, 2014, at approximately 6:50 a.m., an allision occurred in Hamburg's Waltershof Port involving the vessel 'Rita' and the German container ship 'Cap San Augustin'. The 'Rita', under pilot guidance, was maneuvering from the Container Terminal Altenwerder towards Burchard Quay. While executing a turn, the 'Rita' accidentally collided with the docked 'Cap San Augustin'. As a result of the incident, the starboard side wheelhouse of the 'Rita' sustained noticeable damage, while the 'Cap San Augustin' exhibited minor scratches. Following the initial investigations, the Water Police lifted the sailing ban. By 1 p.m., the 'Rita' departed the port, setting its course for Tananger, shortly followed by the 'Cap San Augustin' at 2 p.m., which was en route to Antwerp. This occurrence highlights the importance of navigational safety in busy port areas.

On October 14, 2013, the cargo vessel MV Rita, while en route from Hamburg to Malov, made an unexpected diversion at 13:10 hours towards the sea bath bridge located in Cuxhaven. The ship was escorted by the local lifeboat, Vormann Jantzen, as it navigated the waters to reach safety. Upon arrival, emergency medical services and firefighting personnel were already in position, prepared to assist. A crew member was efficiently evacuated using a ladder provided by the rescue team. For a detailed German report along with photographs of this event, visit: http://forum-schiff.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=72#p96305.