Working Conditions Aboard the Sea-Lady

In a remarkable turn of events, the cargo ship 'Sea Lady' was successfully refloated on February 16, 2023, and has since been docked at the port of Skikda. The vessel, carrying a hefty cargo of 42,000 tons of corn, had grounded due to excessive speed, causing it to veer towards the starboard side. Instead of making its way directly to berth number 13, the ship had to divert to low-draft docks. The initial towing operation, attempted on the night of February 15, met with failure due to low tide conditions. However, a second attempt was made on the morning of February 17, involving a coordinated effort from six powerful tugs, rated at 2500 and 6500 horsepower. This mission required the Sea Lady to tilt at a four-degree list to break free from the shallow point and safely reach the wharf. For more details, you can check this French report with photos here: http://www.elwatan.com/regions/est/skikda/nos-marins-ont-accompli-une-prouesse-18-02-2017-339459_128.php.

On February 14, 2017, the bulk carrier 'Sea Lady', which had journeyed from Las Palmas carrying a hefty cargo of 43,700 tonnes of maize, encountered trouble upon its arrival at the port of Skikda. At approximately 10 p.m., the vessel ran aground, striking the bottom of the port's second basin and failing to secure its berth for unloading. This incident caused notable disruptions in port operations, obstructing traffic and blocking access to the eastern section of the port. The situation was exacerbated by a draft discrepancy; the second basin has a depth of 9.80 meters, while 'Sea Lady' registered a draft of 10.90 meters. Human error has been identified as the root cause of the accident. Early efforts to dislodge the vessel were initiated overnight but were temporarily halted pending further assessments. On the morning of February 15, divers conducted a survey of the seabed. By 4 p.m., the Skikda port authority deployed five tugboats to commence operation to free the stranded ship. Notably, 'Sea Lady' had faced prior challenges on February 13 when it struggled to dock at the Château-Vert quay and subsequently returned to anchorage before attempting to enter Skikda's port again, leading to the current predicament.

On October 3, 2011, FreeSeas, a prominent player in the dry bulk cargo transportation sector, announced the successful execution of an agreement to sell its Handymax dry bulk carrier, the M/V Free Lady. This vessel, constructed in 2003 and boasting a deadweight tonnage (dwt) of 50,246, was sold for an approximate price of $21.9 million. The transaction is set to see the M/V Free Lady transferred to its new owners later in November 2011. Utilizing the proceeds from this sale, FreeSeas has reached an agreement with its principal lender, Credit Suisse, to significantly decrease its upcoming loan repayment obligations, reducing five scheduled installments from a total of $10.0 million to just $2.8 million starting in the third quarter of 2011. This strategic move underscores FreeSeas' commitment to optimizing its financial standing as it continues to navigate the challenges of the maritime industry.