Working Conditions Aboard the Waterway

On May 13, the 'Waterway' was found to have sustained damage during an inspection, which divers promptly repaired while the ship remained docked at the Port of Bilbao. However, the vessel was subsequently detained by maritime authorities due to deficiencies identified in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) inspection conducted on board. After addressing the issues highlighted by the maritime authorities, the 'Waterway' departed from Bilbao on May 16, setting sail toward Rotterdam with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) on May 21.

On May 7, 2019, the cargo vessel 'Waterway' found itself in a precarious situation while idling off the coast of Bilbao, within the Bay of Biscay. Just before midnight, the ship ran aground in the waters near Zumaia, east of Bilbao. Fortunately, the quick action of emergency crews facilitated a timely rescue. At 3:15 a.m. on May 8, the helicopter Helimer 217 of Salvamento Marítimo successfully airlifted four crew members, transporting them safely to Santander. Meanwhile, the ship's captain stayed on board and managed to refloat the vessel, navigating it back to deeper waters. In response, several support vessels were dispatched, including the tug 'Facal 18', the 'María de Maeztu', and the search and rescue ship 'Salvamar Orion' from Salvamento Marítimo. The 'Waterway' proceeded under the escort of the 'María de Maeztu' and successfully docked at the Vizcaya Dock in Bilbao around 1:10 p.m. This incident highlights the importance of rapid maritime rescue operations and teamwork in ensuring the safety of seafarers. For more visuals and reports, please check the links from Spanish news sources: https://www.eldiariomontanes.es/cantabria/carguero-metros-base-20190508165458-nt.html?fbclid=IwAR0RAgAFHOTlAjsKBeWR1x4LGvolFpNEFkBcex5VL5KmuzT4KOFAT_zm-Ag, https://www.elmundo.es/pais-vasco/2019/05/08/5cd2e9befdddff94b88b456e.html, https://www.elcorreo.com/sociedad/sucesos/carguero-metros-encalla-20190508163338-nt.html, https://www.eitb.eus/es/noticias/sociedad/videos/detalle/6392498/video-llega-al-puerto-bilbao-carguero-80-metros-encallado-zumaia/, https://twitter.com/i/status/1126524168411996160.