Discover the Pictor: Ratings & Maritime News

Following an unfortunate engine failure, the cable-laying vessel 'Antonio Meucci' (IMO: 8506062) has arrived in Istanbul on the morning of February 3 to assist with the serious damage caused by the cable layer 'Peria' on January 21. The 'Peria' lost power and had to drop anchor in Kecilik Bay, Turkey to avoid grounding, inadvertently getting tangled in an underwater fiber-optic communication cable line. A technical team from the 'Antonio Meucci' will assess the situation at the incident site, contingent on weather conditions and Strait traffic. They are tasked with conducting a thorough damage survey and determining the appropriate repair methods. As it stands, the vessel 'Peria' has not yet received permission to depart from the harbour, pending the completion of technical assessments and findings from the cable layer team. Furthermore, salvage expenses and potential fines against the Coastal Safety account must be settled before the tanker can leave. As of February 5, the 'Peria' remains anchored at Ambarli, awaiting the next steps.

On January 21, 2024, during its journey from Primorsk to Izmir, the tanker 'Peria' inadvertently dropped anchor in Keçilik Bay, situated off Rumelikavağı, as it navigated through the Bosphorus Strait. The anchor fell on vital fiber optic cables lying on the seabed, prompting a temporary closure of the waterway to other vessels. Efforts to dislodge the anchor spanned over seven hours but ultimately ended in failure, leading to the captain's decision to cut the anchor loose. During this period, the tugboat 'Kurtarma 17' (IMO: 9598608) maneuvered to secure the 'Peria' at coordinates 41° 11.31' N, 029° 05.48' E, with support from the lifeboat 'Kiyi Eminyeti 18'. Additional assistance arrived from tugs 'Kurtarma 8' (IMO: 9598610) and 'Kurtarma 7' (IMO: 9598608) to aid the stricken tanker. By 4:40 p.m., the vessel regained its maneuverability and proceeded to an anchorage near Küçükçekmece, where it dropped anchor at position 40° 56.97' N, 028° 45.16' E. It is noteworthy that the 'Peria' is currently on the US black list of sanctioned tankers due to its ties with the ongoing conflict involving Russia and Ukraine. For visual updates, you can find photos related to the incident here: https://twitter.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1749009226775646282.

On the night of July 30, 2014, the vessel Stena Antarctica, noted for its humanitarian efforts, successfully saved 85 migrants from perilous conditions outside Libya. The operation began when the Italian Coast Guard alerted the crew about a distressed inflatable raft situated between Malta and the Libyan coast. The Stena Antarctica promptly adjusted its course to reach the location and discovered the raft, which was severely overloaded and damaged. As hours passed, the situation on board became critical, with sections of the raft starting to lose air, making it increasingly challenging for the migrants to fend off flooding. The group, comprising undocumented individuals from various African nations, was safely transported to Palermo, arriving in the early morning of July 31. This rescue effort highlights the continuing maritime challenges in the Mediterranean and the urgent need for humanitarian intervention.