Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Semsa

On March 17, 2025, the cargo vessel 'Semsa' faced detention in Kocaeli, Turkey, due to an alarming total of 23 deficiencies, four of which were categorized as severe enough to warrant immediate action. These critical issues included: 1) Inoperative INMARSAT ship earth station for radio communications, 2) Non-compliance with MARPOL Annex I regarding pollution prevention, 3) Emergency fire pump and associated piping not meeting required standards, and 4) Fire safety violations related to fire doors and openings in fire-resistant divisions. After rectifying these issues, the Semsa was released on March 21 and set sail towards Split, with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) on March 28. Notably, this vessel was previously detained on August 16, 2024, in Porto Nogaro for a concerning total of 30 deficiencies, where it remained for 28 days, highlighting ongoing safety and compliance challenges for the Semsa.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a comprehensive report detailing the collision involving the fishing vessel 'Achieve' and the cargo ship 'Talis' which occurred on November 8, 2020, leading to the sinking of the 'Achieve'. Key findings reveal that neither vessel maintained an effective watch in dense fog, and critically, the wheelhouse of 'Achieve' was unoccupied during the incident. At 5:30 a.m., the trawler 'Achieve' set sail from North Shields, aiming for the fishing grounds off Tynemouth, with the skipper planning a daytime operation followed by a return by afternoon. Weather conditions were predominantly foggy and overcast. Meanwhile, at 2:30 p.m., the 'Talis' departed from Blyth, carrying a cargo of red stone bound for the Netherlands, under the watch of its chief officer who kept an eight-knot southeasterly course towards Tynemouth. As the incidents unfolded, the captain of 'Achieve' made the decision to head back to port and activated the autopilot, cruising southwest at approximately five knots. After briefly testing a new radar system installed just two days prior, he left the wheelhouse unattended to check on his deckhand. At 3:38 p.m., the chief officer aboard the 'Talis' detected the 'Achieve' on radar, noting it was about one nautical mile off the port bow, yet did not see an AIS signal. His efforts to visually locate the fishing vessel through binoculars were initially fruitless until she emerged from the fog moments later. The officer promptly initiated communication by sounding a long whistle and maneuvered the vessel hard to starboard, while unfortunately, 'Achieve' did not alter its course significantly. The collision occurred at roughly 3:41 p.m., impacting 'Talis' on its port side. Following the impact, alarms rang on the 'Achieve' as water began flooding in. The deckhand ventured below deck, discovering water rushing through several damaged planks at the bow but refrained from activating the bilge pump due to the risk of being trapped. A distress signal was sent to the Humber Coastguard, prompting the deployment of the Tynemouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat (ALB). By approximately 4:05 p.m., the lifeboat arrived on the scene, ready with a towline and a salvage pump. Despite their efforts, the 'Achieve' continued to take on water, and the crew ultimately decided to abandon ship and transfer to the lifeboat. The fishing vessel sank around 6:10 p.m. into 60 feet of water. Meanwhile, the 'Talis' sustained minimal damage with a minor dent but continued on its voyage to the Netherlands after being released by UK Coastguard. The MAIB's investigation concluded that effective watchkeeping could have averted this disaster, emphasizing that the 'Achieve's wheelhouse being unmanned and the hesitant actions taken by the chief officer of the 'Talis' significantly contributed to the collision. More details and findings can be found in the full report, accessible through the Maritime Executive's platform.

On November 8, 2020, at 3:40 PM, the British fishing vessel 'Achieve,' measuring 9.9 meters and hailing from North Shields, experienced a catastrophic incident when it collided with the general cargo ship 'Talis' approximately one mile off the Tyne Piers in Tynemouth. The 'Talis,' which had departed from Blyth Port at 2:50 PM and was on its way to Terneuzen, encountered severe conditions, leading to the unfortunate collision. Following the crash, the fishing boat's engine room began flooding as it took on water. The Coastguard's Humber Operations Centre quickly responded by activating the Tynemouth RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution), dispatching its all-weather lifeboat within minutes. A range of nearby vessels rallied to provide assistance, including the offshore support ship 'Ocean Marlin,' which launched a boat prepared for any potential evacuation of the fishermen on board 'Achieve.' Upon arrival approximately five minutes later, the RNLI crew assessed the dire situation and deployed a salvage pump onto 'Achieve' to start removing water from the vessel. As the water levels slightly receded, the RNLI coxswain made the decision to tow the fishing boat back to the Royal Quays marina in North Shields for rapid recovery. However, as the tow commenced at a slow pace, it became increasingly evident that the extensive damage had worsened the situation, allowing even more water to enter the boat. In a last-ditch effort to avert disaster, Tynemouth RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched to deliver additional pumping equipment. Unfortunately, 'Achieve' soon began to lose stability, prompting an urgent evacuation of the fishermen and RNLI crew aboard. They were safely transported back to North Shields, while the inshore lifeboat remained on standby. Tragically, despite the efforts made, the fishing vessel sank shortly thereafter, marking a somber culmination to the rescue operation. For further details and visuals, visit: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-54870204.