Read Authentic Ratings for the Tango-Rio

Recent reports from the Swiss Accident Investigation Board (SUST) have raised serious concerns regarding safety protocols aboard the cargo vessel 'Sabina', currently operating under the name 'Tango Rio'. While the findings were finalized at the end of 2023, their release has only recently been authorized, shedding light on historical issues in maritime safety oversight. The first incident on June 26, 2015, involved a crew member who sustained severe injuries after falling three meters through a malfunctioning hatch in Constanta, an event that went unreported to the SUST until they commenced an investigation into a subsequent accident. Just four months later, on a voyage from Denmark to Finland, the 'Sabina' ran aground off the coast of Bornholm shortly before midnight. Investigators from the SUST found alarming deficiencies in bridge watchkeeping; notably, none of the 12 crew members, including Ukrainian and Russian personnel, were present. The second officer, who was the only individual on duty, reportedly fell asleep, a fact confirmed by snoring detected on the voice recorder. His attempt to retrieve painkillers resulted in him fainting, further exacerbated by the absence of a functioning safety system that should have triggered an alarm for inactivity. A nearby ship’s pilot raised the alarm when he noticed the 'Sabina' veering off course towards the island instead of proceeding northeast as intended. Attempts to contact the vessel via radio and phone were unsuccessful, prompting the Danish authorities to dispatch a lifeboat. Volunteers aboard the lifeboat used an axe and bolt cutters to gain access to the ship, eventually waking the crew. Although the captain managed to avert a complete grounding at Rønne, the ship suffered substantial damage to its hull, rudder, and propeller. The SUST’s detailed report attributes the incident to critical errors onboard, including insufficient bridge personnel, excessive crew fatigue, and neglect of mandatory rest periods, highlighting a culture of noncompliance aboard the 'Sabina'. Furthermore, the investigation heavily criticized the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office (SMNO), which had performed a rare inspection just days prior to the grounding. According to the SUST, this office succumbed to external pressures, refraining from imposing necessary sanctions on the vessel for its violations of safety protocols. Additionally, the SUST found that the Swiss Shipping Authority (SSA) was significantly under-resourced, with only one inspector responsible for the oversight of all Swiss maritime operations. This inspector, who had served since 2006, effectively worked without compensation, prioritizing advisory roles to shipping companies over enforcing safety regulations. Despite repeated requests for staffing support, assistance from higher authorities was not forthcoming. The SSA's strategy of outsourcing monitoring functions to private classification societies was met with criticism due to a lack of effective oversight on whether these organizations fulfilled their responsibilities adequately. The SUST's review presents a dire picture of the Swiss maritime regulatory environment, describing a complacent supervisory body more focused on fostering good relations with shipping companies than on ensuring robust safety practices. In light of these findings, the SUST has issued a landmark series of recommendations aimed at reforming the SSA's operations to prevent future occurrences. The comprehensive report emphasizes the need for a fundamental shift in oversight approaches to prioritize safety and compliance in Swiss maritime operations, ensuring that incidents like those involving the 'Sabina' do not recur.

On June 19, at 12:20 a.m., the cargo vessel 'Sabina' experienced a significant engine room fire while navigating off Mulnik, departing from Swinoujscie en route to Szczecin with a load of phosphate. Emergency responders, including the fire rescue unit Strażak-26, were notified; however, the dedicated crew managed to extinguish the flames independently. Despite their prompt actions, the incident rendered the vessel temporarily inoperable. During an emergency anchoring maneuver, the 'Sabina' collided with the embankment. Fortunately, two tugs successfully assisted in towing the ship back to port, where it was secured at the Chemików Quay. The vessel finally docked at the Przedsiębiorstwo Przemysłu Cukierniczego GRYF S.A. in Szczecin on June 24 at 7:30 p.m. For more visuals and detailed updates, you may access Polish news reports with associated photos and video: [i-swinoujscie.pl](http://www.i-swinoujscie.pl/artykuly/43326/?page=0&sort=ASC&showall=0), [radioszczecin.pl](http://radioszczecin.pl/1,339190,pozar-na-statku-w-swinoujsciu), and [swinoujskie.info](http://www.swinoujskie.info/2016/06/19/pozar-na-statku-ugaszony/).

On October 16, the cargo vessel 'Sabina' sustained ballast tank damage when it unexpectedly sailed into shallow waters off the coast of Nørrekås. Following unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the ship's bridge, the Danish Defence Operations Centre in Aarhus sprang into action, dispatching lifeboats 'Mads Jakobsen' and 'Havørnen' to establish contact with the distressed vessel. Fortunately, they were able to reach the 'Sabina' when it was approximately 100 meters from shore, ultimately bringing it safely farther from danger, only 20-30 meters from the coastline. After the incident, the ship chose to anchor southwest of Bornholm and continued its voyage to its scheduled destination in Kotka. Upon arrival on October 18, 'Sabina' underwent inspections by Finnish maritime authorities, surveyors from the ship classification society, and representatives from Enzian Ship Management. The vessel then proceeded to Tallinn, docking at 7 a.m. on October 19 to begin necessary repairs for the damage incurred.