Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Rdj-Waalstroom

**Title: 'RDJ Waalstroom' Faces Detention in Cherbourg Following Engine Room Fire** The 'RDJ Waalstroom' has been detained in Cherbourg after a routine Port State Control inspection conducted on April 15 uncovered multiple deficiencies. The vessel was found to have a total of four issues, one of which was classified as serious, warranting the detention under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) guidelines. This inspection comes in the wake of a fire that ignited in the ship's engine room, prompting heightened scrutiny from maritime authorities. To ensure compliance and secure the release of the vessel, the ship's operators will need to implement corrective actions to rectify the identified deficiencies. Further updates will follow as the situation develops.

**Title: Engine Room Blaze Incidents in the English Channel: Major Rescue Operation Underway** On the evening of April 8, 2026, at 9:50 PM, the cargo vessel 'RDJ Waalstroom', which was navigating from Dunkirk to Bilbao with six crew members onboard, experienced a serious incident after a fire broke out in its engine room. In response, the crew immediately evacuated the compromised area and activated the ship’s fire suppression system while transiting the busy waters of the English Channel. While the crew successfully managed to control the flames, one member sustained injuries, necessitating a medevac. The vessel was positioned approximately 40 nautical miles south of Salcombe, Devon, placing it within the British Search and Rescue Region (SRR). The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Falmouth orchestrated the evacuation efforts. An all-weather lifeboat from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Salcombe was promptly deployed at around 10:00 PM to provide assistance. The situation escalated as a Dutch warship also arrived on scene, offering additional support. A Coastguard rescue helicopter was dispatched, delivering a paramedic who rendered immediate care to the injured crew member, who was subsequently hoisted aboard the helicopter for transport to a hospital in Portsmouth. Following the successful medevac, the RNLI lifeboat was stood down, returning to port by 3:30 AM on April 9. Meanwhile, the 'RDJ Waalstroom', having become incapacitated due to the fire, continued to drift and eventually crossed into the French SRR around 1:00 AM. Once the vessel entered the French jurisdiction, the operation was taken over by the Maritime Prefect for the English Channel and North Sea. The CROSS Jobourg coordinated efforts, deploying the French Navy's H160 Belligou helicopter, which included an assessment team from Brest, alongside the emergency tug 'Abeille Liberté' (IMO: 9308699), based in Cherbourg, complete with a firefighting team from the Cherbourg Naval Fire and Rescue Service (SISM). After ensuring that the situation aboard the 'RDJ Waalstroom' was stable, the 'Abeille Liberté' commenced towing the disabled vessel towards Cherbourg, where it remains docked as of April 15. For more detailed reports, including photos and video coverage of the incident, you can explore the following links: - [Premar Manche Press Release](https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/assistance-a-navire-en-difficulte-dans-la-manche) - [Marine Insight Coverage](https://www.marineinsight.com/watch-rnli-and-coastguard-airlift-injured-seafarer-after-cargo-ship-fire-in-english-channel/) - [Tendance Ouest Article](https://www.tendanceouest.com/actualite-438079-mer-un-incendie-se-produit-a-bord-d-un-navire-des-secours-mobilises-au-royaume-uni-a-cherbourg-et-en-bretagne)

The Dutch maritime police was investigating an incident with the 'Leiria' in the night of Nov 24, 2019, on the North Sea which sailed an unusual route, did not respond to calls from the Coastguard nor to light and signal signals from passing ships. The KNRM team from IJmuiden and the lifeboat 'Donator' received a GMDSS alert as well as an SAR helicopter. Upon arrival of the the helicopter, after a while there wasa movement on board and contact could finally be made with the ship, after which both lifeboats could be stood down at 4.30 a.m. Without intervention from the Coast Guard this could have turned out very different. The Coast Guard is investigating what happened and why it was so difficult to get in touch with the ship which was coming from Riga and berthed in Kingston-upon-Hull on Nov 27 at 6.15 a.m. Dutch report with photos: https://nieuwsbladijmuiden.nl/lokaal/overig/onderzoek-naar-spookschip-op-noordzee-663324