Reviews & Ratings for the Spinnaker-Sw

On April 17, 2026, the vessel 'Spinnkar SW' faced detention at Yingkou Port after a thorough inspection conducted by Port State Control under the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The inspection revealed five deficiencies, two of which were classified as serious enough to warrant the ship's detention. As of April 20, the 'Spinnkar SW' continued to remain stationary at the port, pending resolution of the cited issues.

Yongyu Li, the captain of the bulk carrier 'Spinnaker SW', admitted guilt in May to a charge of unsafe navigation that could have posed severe risks. According to Maritime NZ, Li altered the vessel's course without conducting a proper assessment, steering the ship alarmingly close to Portland Island while on its journey to Tauranga for cargo loading. This incident took place during the national emergency declared due to Cyclone Gabrielle's impact. Before departing on February 14, 'Spinnaker SW' had previously anchored off the Mahia Peninsula as a precaution against the cyclone's adverse effects. As the ship set sail to Tauranga amidst challenging conditions, Li opted to change the planned route, bringing the large vessel dangerously near the island. Maritime NZ criticized this move, emphasizing the significant risks involved. Navigating close to Portland Island increased the chances of the ship entering shallow waters, potentially leading to catastrophic outcomes in case of a power failure or other emergencies. The initial route had been designed to keep a safe distance from Portland Island, taking into account the predicted heavy swells and weather challenges faced by the vessel. After leaving the shelter of the Mahia anchor, 'Spinnaker SW' was met with swells reaching six to seven meters high. In response to the tumultuous seas, Captain Li made the critical decision to steer the ship closer to the Mahia Peninsula and Portland Island, bringing it perilously close to shallow areas with depths of just 9.4 and 10 meters. Such shallow passages are exceedingly risky for a sizable bulk carrier, leaving minimal clearance and heightening the danger of grounding. Li's deviation from the designated safe passage plan, combined with the adverse weather conditions, was deemed reckless, endangering not only the crew aboard but also the vessel and the surrounding marine environment.

Yongyu Li, the captain of the bulk carrier 'Spinnaker SW,' has acknowledged that he jeopardized both the vessel and its crew during the tumultuous conditions brought by Cyclone Gabrielle. On May 1, 2023, Li appeared in the Tauranga District Court through an audio-visual link from China, where he entered a guilty plea for the charge of operating a ship in a hazardous manner on February 14, 2023, under Section 65 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 12 months in prison or a fine of $10,000. With two years of experience as a captain, and a decade prior as a first mate, Li had navigated the waters from Mahia to the Port of Tauranga amid particularly adverse weather conditions due to the cyclone. Defined by his company's safety protocols, severe weather includes instances of wind speeds measuring Beaufort force seven or higher, alongside wave heights reaching four meters or more. The 'Spinnaker SW' has a maximum draft of 8.8 meters, necessitating a minimum under-keel clearance as prescribed by his employer's policy. This means that in confined waters and during port approaches, an under-keel clearance of at least 10% of the vessel's maximum draft was required, while in open waters this cleared height increased to 20%. On the day of the incident, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., as the vessel approached Portland Island, Li encountered wind at level seven and substantial swells, measuring 6-7 meters, that caused the vessel to roll. In an attempt to mitigate this rolling motion, Li altered the ship’s course toward shore without completing a formal risk assessment regarding this deviation from the original voyage plan. The vessel subsequently entered water just 11.3 meters deep, only 2.28 kilometers from Portland Island where depths of 9 and 10 meters were present on the port side. Just 2.03 kilometers from the island and close to shallow waters, Li executed a 120-degree turn that placed the 'Spinnaker SW' dangerously close to underwater hazards—approximately 748 meters from 10-meter shallows and 2.38 kilometers from the island. Maritime New Zealand noted that this maneuver risked the hull colliding with the seabed, exposing it to significant sea and swell motions while lacking adequate draft and under-keel clearance, further bringing the vessel within 800 meters of the shoal. Li later revealed that his decision to maneuver toward the shallows was driven by the strong winds, intending to minimize the ship's rolling. Notably, he conceded to the Maritime New Zealand investigator that he failed to assess the risks involved, relying solely on his prior experience and observation. His plea was translated by a Chinese interpreter in court, and both his lawyer, Tom Lynskey, and representatives from Maritime New Zealand, Frances Rhodes and Suzanne Trounson, consented for sentencing to occur at the Wellington District Court on July 19, allowing for their personal attendance. Judge Melinda Mason subsequently convicted Li, with a remand set for his sentencing via audio-visual link on the designated date.

In a significant maritime safety case, Jianxi Chen, the captain of the bulk carrier 'Spinnaker SW,' was formally charged on March 29, 2019, by Maritime NZ for allowing hazardous activities related to ship operations. The charges fall under section 65(2) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, which addresses dangerous activities involving maritime vessels. Captain Chen's oversight allowed the crew to load logs onto the ship without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) or safety measures to prevent falls, thereby exposing crew members to severe risks. After admitting guilt, Captain Chen was sentenced by Judge Roberts at the District Court in Timaru, receiving a fine of $6,000. Prior to these charges, on March 25, 2019, Maritime NZ had detained the 'Spinnaker SW' in Bluff due to alarming safety practices observed during loading operations. Inspection revealed that crew members were working at height with inadequate fall protection. A Maritime Officer identified these safety concerns while monitoring the log loading process, prompting an examination of the vessel's Safety Management System (SMS) and PPE condition, both of which failed to meet safety standards. Despite explicit instructions requiring the use of PPE for personnel working above ground level, the crew continued to operate without proper safety lines or harnesses on March 26. Following this breach, the Maritime Officer escalated enforcement actions, resulting in the detention of the vessel for further scrutiny. On March 27, a Port State Control Officer conducted a thorough inspection and confirmed operational deficiencies justifying the vessel's detention under section 55 of the Maritime Transport Act. The investigation also included interviews with Captain Chen and other witnesses concerning ongoing safety violations. Subsequently, a comprehensive Port State Control inspection was executed on the 'Spinnaker SW.' On March 30, after successfully passing an independent International Safety Management (ISM) audit, the vessel was released. With the legal proceedings now complete, the 'Spinnaker SW' departed Bluff at 11:30 a.m. on March 30, en route to Timaru and ultimately to Kunsan, with an estimated arrival date of April 25. The incident has been reported to maritime authorities across the Asia-Pacific region as part of the collaborative Port State Control (PSC) initiatives under the Tokyo MOU agreement.