Working Conditions Aboard the Seapeak-Magellan

On the morning of May 1, 2020, the 'Magellan Spirit,' an AMVER-designated vessel, played a crucial role in rescuing two British sailors stranded 598 miles off Bermuda. The ordeal began when the British Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) alerted the Fifth Coast Guard District at 7:43 a.m. on April 29, reporting that a 39-foot sailboat had lost its steering due to a malfunction, leaving the two crew members in dire need of assistance. In response, the Fifth District's watchstanders activated the AMVER System, reaching out to vessels in the vicinity for help. The m/v 'Torm Laura' responded and headed towards the sailboat; however, rough seas hampered rescue efforts, forcing the tanker to turn back on May 30. The situation improved the following morning when the 'Magellan Spirit' and the m/v 'Ethane Sapphire' arrived at the scene. The 'Ethane Sapphire' provided vital shelter from the harsh winds, allowing the crew of the 'Magellan Spirit' to successfully deploy a small boat. They bravely navigated the challenging waters and safely retrieved the two mariners, transferring them onto the tanker. After the rescue, the disabled sailboat was left adrift with its navigation lights activated and AIS online to facilitate tracking for any potential future recovery operations. For more details on this remarkable rescue operation, visit the full report with photos here: https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-coordinates-rescue-of-two-british-mariners-598-miles-off-bermuda/2020/05/01/

The LNG tanker 'Magellan Spirit' has been successfully refloated after an extensive 18-day period stranded in the mud near Bonny Island. This critical operation followed the successful completion of a ship-to-ship cargo transfer with the vessel 'Excellence,' aided by a favorable tide that played a pivotal role in the refloating process. Currently, the LNG carrier is anchored and set to undergo a thorough inspection to ensure its seaworthiness. Preliminary assessments indicate no damage has been sustained, clearing the way for the vessel to backload its cargo and resume its voyage. The 'Magellan Spirit' is currently under a three-year charter agreement with Vitol, highlighting its importance in the LNG transport sector.

The 'Magellan Spirit' remains grounded in soft mud adjacent to the Nigeria LNG Terminal in Bonny, and no attempts for refloating will occur while a ship-to-ship (STS) cargo transfer is in progress. Excelerate Energy's 'Excellence' is currently conducting the lightering operations, aimed at offloading cargo with plans for a subsequent reload. A coordinated effort involving four tugs is expected to assist with the refloating operation, tentatively scheduled for January 23. This marks the second refloating attempt for the LNG carrier, following an initial effort on January 12. Upon successful completion of the lightering and refloating operations, the 'Magellan Spirit' will be relocated to a secure anchorage for a comprehensive inspection.