Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Primus

On February 17, 2025, the cargo ship 'Primus', while navigating from Gresik to Fuzhou, found itself aground near the entrance of Luoyuan Bay on China’s southwestern coast. The vessel, carrying a crew of 23, issued a distress signal, prompting an immediate response from local maritime authorities. The Fujian Maritime Safety Administration quickly dispatched a patrol vessel to oversee traffic around the grounding site. In a concerted rescue effort, two tugboats arrived on the scene and worked diligently for 12 hours to refloat the Primus, successfully releasing it in the early morning hours of February 18. As a preventive measure against potential environmental hazards, two oil spill response vessels were also deployed. Following the successful salvage operation, the Primus dropped anchor at coordinates 26° 26' N 119° 55' E, where it remained under the watchful eye of rescue vessels. Meanwhile, maritime authorities initiated underwater inspections and launched an investigation to determine the causes behind this grounding incident.

On August 29 at 11 a.m. UTC, the cargo ship 'Primus' successfully reached the shores of Istanbul, transporting a valuable load of steel products destined for the Antwerp-based trader SteelForce and others. This significant arrival marks a remarkable achievement for the maritime community, as the 'Primus' is part of a group of approximately 60 vessels that have lain dormant in the ports of Odesa for the past 1.5 years. The vessel set sail on August 26, accompanied by a convoy of heavily armed escort ships, and it follows the earlier journey of the 'Joseph Schulte,' which was the first to breach the Russian maritime blockade on August 14. Experts suggest that this success can be attributed to an enhanced defensive posture from Ukraine, which has strengthened its air and naval capabilities over the past year. In a significant move, Ukraine's Ministry of Reconstruction has issued decree '548,' assuring full responsibility for both the ship and its cargo. For the Flemish traders, SteelForce and EMS, who oversee roughly one-third of the 7,000 tons of steel, concerns remain about the potential effects of the prolonged storage on the cargo’s usability for its intended applications. Customers have resorted to acquiring replacement goods from alternative sources across various countries, but the implications of this situation will require thorough discussions with insurance providers as they navigate the complexities of this unprecedented scenario.

On August 26, 2023, at approximately 5:50 a.m. UTC, the cargo vessel 'Primus' made headlines as it departed from the port of Odessa. This journey marked the second attempt to bypass the Russian blockade that has besieged Ukrainian ports, with Varna as its destination. Just 1.5 hours into its voyage, the 'Primus', which had been anchored since February 2022, turned around and anchored back at Odessa by 11 a.m. The following day, on August 27, at 7:30 a.m., the vessel weighed anchor once again, resuming its journey across the Black Sea at a speed of 11 knots. For more details and images, visit the report at Le Parisien.