Working Conditions Aboard the Star-Bonaire

On February 24, 2025, a notable oil spill took place during a ship-to-ship oil transfer involving the bunker tanker 'Long Beach' (MMSI: 269057015) and the vessel 'Star Bonaire', which had recently arrived from Purfleet, in the Waalhaven area of Rotterdam. In response to the incident, Hebo Maritiemservice was dispatched to manage the cleanup efforts. The Port Authority swiftly deployed two vessels to assist in the operation. Initial assessments indicated that approximately 1,000 to 1,500 liters of lubricating oil were released into the water, resulting in a significant oil slick. To mitigate the situation, oil-retaining screens and absorbent booms were strategically placed in the area to contain the spill. Following this, the 'Hebo-Cat 6' utilized its skimmer equipment to remove the oil, with the 'Hebo-Cat 9' also playing a vital role in the remediation efforts. Hebo's salvors expressed optimism, indicating that the environmental impact would likely be minimal.

In the early hours of December 10, 2012, the port of Hamburg witnessed an unfortunate incident when the tanker 'Star Bonaire' collided with the pilot boat 'Lotse 1'. The accident occurred near Rüschpark shortly after midnight. The 'Lotse 1' was in the process of returning to its station after successfully transferring the port pilot to the 'Star Bonaire'. As the tanker prepared to depart, the two vessels made contact, resulting in minor damage to the bow of the tanker, which sustained dents and scratches. After the incident, the 'Star Bonaire' managed to berth in Basin 3 of the Harburg seaport at around 1:30 a.m., and was scheduled to depart for Rotterdam later that day at approximately 6:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the 'Lotse 1' was taken out of service for inspection at a nearby yard. The assessment revealed that the rudder had suffered a dent, the propeller was damaged, and the vessel had a significant gash along the waterline. In response to the collision, the local police initiated an investigation, securing radar data from the Nautical Center to gather more information about the incident.