Discover the Voras: Ratings & Maritime News

On August 24, 2022, the crew transfer vessel 'Wiratama 2001' encountered a significant challenge in the Singapore Strait as it ran out of fuel while conducting a crew change for the 'Voras'. At the time, the boat was ferrying 16 sailors from the tanker to Batam. After drifting for two days, all crew members were successfully rescued on August 26 and brought ashore in Malaysia. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) located the stranded boat approximately five nautical miles off Pemanggil Island. The group comprised seven Indonesians, six Sri Lankans, and three Indians, including the tanker’s captain.

In a significant development this week, the Cook Islands is set to officially remove two tankers, 'Ermis' and 'Laka', from its national ship registry. This decision follows serious allegations that the vessels were involved in the covert transportation of Iranian crude oil, directly violating US sanctions. According to the American advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which comprises former politicians and intelligence experts focused on curbing Iran's nuclear aspirations, these ships have been identified as part of illicit oil shipping activities. UANI has documented the vessels' movements through satellite imagery, which was shared with Maritime Cook Islands (MCI) back in October 2020. However, attempts to investigate these claims were hindered by the Covid-19 pandemic, which blocked inspectors from boarding the vessels or accessing critical logbooks and location tracking devices. Even without a formal investigation, the Cook Islands justified their decision to delist the tankers, noting that they had switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) at various times and had no affiliation with a recognized classification society. This move marks a significant step in enforcing maritime compliance and accountability in the region.

In a significant maritime transaction, a vessel has been sold for an impressive $25 million. The deal was made with undisclosed buyers, who plan to convert the ship for future use. The specifics regarding the type of conversion intended have not yet been released, but the sale emphasizes ongoing activity in the maritime industry despite current global challenges. As the demand for specialized vessels continues to grow, such transactions highlight the evolving needs within the sector.