What Crew Members Say About Portsmouth

In a tragic case stemming from a 2014 diving accident, David Ng Wei Li, 37, an assistant diving supervisor, has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison as of August 11, 2020. The incident, which resulted in the death of his colleague, Kwok Khee Khoon, occurred while both were conducting underwater work on the vessel 'Frisia Kiel', known at the time as 'HSL Portsmouth'. Underwater Contractors, Ng's employer, has been penalized with a fine of S$300,000 in connection with the case, and both Ng and the company are planning to appeal their convictions and sentences. Ng was convicted in February for negligence endangering the safety of others under the Workplace Safety and Health Act. Underwater Contractors was also found guilty of not taking necessary steps to protect employee safety and health. The tragic accident took place on June 4, 2014, during an underwater survey operation at Singapore's Eastern Anchorage. While overseeing a team of five divers, Ng assigned Mr. Kwok, 36, to open and clean the grates of the sea chests — openings designed for seawater intake to cool the ship's engines. Following a safety briefing, the divers began their tasks, with Ng working inside the starboard sea chest box. That evening, however, everything changed when Ng felt a sudden force: Mr. Kwok was being drawn into a pipe orifice due to powerful suction. Despite Ng's attempts to pull him free, the suction proved too strong, prompting Ng to exit the sea chest box to seek assistance and shut down the pump. Although the port-side sea chest pump had been expected to be shut off, the starboard pump continued to operate at reduced flow. After the pump was eventually shut down, Mr. Kwok was rescued, but unfortunately, he was pronounced dead later that night due to traumatic asphyxia. Prosecutors from the Ministry of Manpower argued that the deadly incident could have been avoided had the pump in the sea chest been shut off prior to the operation, stating that if shutting down wasn’t feasible, the supervisor should have halted work altogether. Underwater Contractors' failure to implement adequate safety measures and risk controls identified in their risk assessment was highlighted as a critical factor. Defense attorneys contended that external influences may have played a role in the accident, suggesting that someone may have increased the suction force on the starboard sea chest pumps, a claim the prosecution refuted. Under Singapore law, the company faced a potential fine of up to S$500,000, while Ng was subject to a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, a fine of S$30,000, or both.

In a significant move within the maritime industry, Hartmann has successfully sold an entire fleet of vessels, including the 'Frisia Wismar', 'Frisia Rostock' (IMO 9311842), 'Frisia Rotterdam' (IMO 9299032), 'Frisia Lissabon' (IMO 9299020), 'Frisia Lübeck' (IMO 9302449), and 'Frisia Helsinki' (IMO 9299044), for a total of $50 million to the U.K.-based investment firm, Tufton Oceanic. This strategic sale marks a notable transition in the management of these vessels, reflecting ongoing trends in maritime operations and investments.

Maersk has announced the acquisition of a new charter spanning between 2 to 4 months, focusing on trade routes connecting Asia and West Africa. This strategic move aims to enhance shipping capabilities and meet growing demand in these key markets. With established routes and extensive experience, Maersk continues to solidify its position in the global shipping industry.