Working Conditions Aboard the Gnv-Sealand

**Title: Swift Action by Crew Contain Fire on GNV Sealand During Mallorca to Barcelona Voyage** On March 5, 2026, the GNV Sealand encountered a significant incident during its voyage from Mallorca to Barcelona when a fire erupted in the car deck. The journey was already behind schedule, having set sail an hour late around 12:00 p.m. At approximately 5 p.m., the ship's public address system delivered an urgent emergency announcement, prompting the crew to initiate the evacuation process. Passengers were instructed to leave their cabins and gather in a designated area, with around 200 individuals being moved to the bar area of the vessel. As the situation unfolded, smoke began filtering through the gaps in the ship, raising alarming concerns among the passengers. Reports indicate the fire originated on deck number 3, igniting from an electric vehicle and subsequently spreading to a nearby cargo truck. During this crisis, the GNV Sealand remained stationary for nearly an hour and a half, with its engines turned off, as the dedicated crew worked diligently to control the flames. Once the fire was brought under control, the ship continued its journey and docked around 9:00 p.m. However, passengers faced a delay in disembarkation, remaining in the common area until approximately 11:00 p.m. This was necessary to allow emergency services, including firefighters and the Civil Guard, to conduct their assessments and file their reports before granting permission to leave the vessel. During this time, the crew ensured the passengers were provided with dinner to ease their distress while they waited. The incident highlights the importance of crew preparedness and swift action in effectively managing emergencies at sea, ensuring passenger safety throughout the ordeal.

**Title: Crew Contained Blaze on GNV Sealand Amidst Emergency on Dual Ferry Journey** **Content:** On March 5, 2026, the 'GNV Sealand' was navigating its route from Mallorca to Barcelona when a fire erupted in its car deck. The journey, which had already fallen behind schedule by an hour and set sail around 12:00 p.m., faced a significant emergency around 5 p.m. as the ship's public address system issued a grave announcement, prompting the crew to begin evacuating passengers from their cabins. Approximately 200 passengers were escorted to a designated gathering area in the bar section of the vessel as smoke infiltrated various compartments, heightening concerns. The crew identified that the fire originated on deck number 3, starting in an electric vehicle before subsequently affecting a cargo truck parked nearby. During this tense episode, the ship was rendered stationary for nearly an hour and a half mid-crossing to ensure the safety of everyone on board, with engines shut down. Once the fire was successfully contained, the 'GNV Sealand' resumed its voyage, finally docking in Barcelona around 9:00 p.m. However, disembarkation was delayed as passengers waited in the previously designated area until approximately 11:00 p.m. Emergency services, including firefighters and the Civil Guard, conducted a thorough assessment of the ship before allowing passengers to leave. Regrettably, the 'GNV Sealand' was deemed unfit for further travel, prompting a transfer of all passengers to the replacement ferry, the 'Golden Bridge'. Unfortunately, the new vessel faced its own crisis just a day later on March 6 when a fire broke out in a refrigerated truck on board. This series of events underlines the vital importance of maritime safety protocols and the quick action of crew members in emergency situations.

On March 31, 2025, the 'GNV SEALAND', en route from Palma to Valencia, requested the medical evacuation of a passenger 45 nautical miles west of Mallorca. The CCS Palma of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 222, which hoisted the patient and transferred him to the helipad of the Son Espases Hospital.

The 2nd Officer of the "Scottish Viking" was sentenced for his role in the death of a fisherman and has been sent to prison. Pasquale Miccio pleaded guilty to a breach of section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 as amended, on March 24, 2016 in the High Court of Justiciary, Glasgow. Ge admitted his actions or omissions were responsible for the death of Daniel McNeil who was a crew member of the fishing vessel "Homeland" on Aug 5, 2010. Miccio was serving as second officer aboard the "Scottish Viking" which was on a regular service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge. He was the navigating officer when the Ferry sailed from Rosyth at 4:30 p.m. At 6:10 p.m., the lookout reported seeing fishing vessels ahead and to starboard and the second officer made a small alteration of course. The lookout continued to point out the proximity of the fishing vessels and at 6:35 p.m., a further slight alteration of course was made. Despite these warnings the second officer made no further alterations of course or speed. The "Homeland" sailed from Eyemouth along with other vessels of the local fishing fleet at around 6 p.m. Joseph McNeil was working on the deck mending a net when, about 30 minutes later, he heard a warning blast from a nearby boat, the Achieve and heard the skipper calling to him on the VHF. He went forward and looked out of his wheelhouse to see the "Scottish Viking" just seconds before it struck. He and his brother managed to clamber onto the wheelhouse roof but the boat went down very quickly. The "Serene y Don" - another local boat - threw Joseph a life ring and pulled him to safety but Daniel could not be found. In the High Court in Edinburgh the judge, his Lordship Lord Bannatyne, on Apr 25, 2016 said that the day had been a dreadful tragedy in that Daniel McNeil had lost his life and his family their son and brother. Miccio as the officer in charge was responsible for the failures and omissions and had failed to take actions that would have prevented the death of the young man. Sentencing him to 12 months in prison, reduced to eight months, the judge said he had taken into account mitigation that there were other contributory factors to the incident and that Miccio had no previous accidents. Captain Bill Bennett, surveyor in charge, for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency said that the case highlighted the need to maintain a proper lookout. He added it also reinforced the need for every vessel to use all available means to determine if a risk of collision exists and to take early positive action to avoid that collision.

The officer in charge of the "Scottish Viking" was twice warned to change course before a collision with the f/v "Homeland" killing one crew member in August 2010 five miles off St Abbs, near Eyemouth in Berwickshire. A Marine Accident Investigation Branch report has revealed the officer at the helm of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry was twice warned by his lookout about the "Homeland". Readings from the bridge of the ferry showed the officer had more than two minutes to try to avert the accident. But he did not steer the ship away until seconds before the collision. The vessel with more than 300 people on board was travelling at 26 mph. The report said the officer knew the Scottish Viking should have given way in accordance with marine regulations. He initially considered altering the vessel's course to starboard, but dismissed the option because the manoeuvre would have resulted in "potential discomfort and injury to the passengers and crew". A police investigation into the accident is still ongoing.