What Crew Members Say About Shetland-Trader

On November 4, 2025, at approximately 7 p.m. UTC, the cargo vessel 'Shetland Trader' suffered a critical engine failure while navigating the River Medina, Isle of Wight, on its journey from Terneuzen to Cowes. This mechanical malfunction resulted in the ship crashing into several moored yachts. The Cowes pilot swiftly initiated emergency measures, calling for the ship's anchor to be deployed in a bid to mitigate the vessel's uncontrolled drift. Despite these efforts, the 'Shetland Trader' continued its forward motion for a brief period, colliding with the anchorage used by private recreational vessels. The situation escalated as the cargo ship began sounding its horn, scraping against a pontoon and inadvertently dragging a nearby sailing yacht with it, causing its moorings to loosen. The unfortunate incident left the sailboat entangled with the cargo ship, breaking and bending its mast. In a show of community spirit, local boat owners rallied to assist in releasing the yacht from the grasp of the 'Shetland Trader' and helped secure it safely to a pontoon. Additionally, the ship grazed a motorboat during this chaotic sequence, though it was fortunate that no one was aboard either vessel at the time. Following the accident, the crew managed to restore power aboard the 'Shetland Trader', raised the anchor, and received escort to the commercial pier in Cowes. The cargo ship successfully berthed at the Medina Wharf at 8 p.m. No injuries were reported, and the HM Coastguard was timely notified of the incident. The responsibility for vessel safety and management within the harbour's jurisdiction remained with the local authority. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has since begun preliminary enquiries into this incident. For further details, you can check the reports and multimedia coverage on [County Press](https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/25599050.isle-wight-cargo-tanker-crash-sparks-investigation/), [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c986pv241qpo), and [County Press](https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/25597123.isle-wight-cargo-vessel-collides-wth-yachts-river-medina/).

The captain of the cargo vessel 'Shetland Trader' was urgently evacuated on April 16, 2022, at Ramsgate, following a severe decline in health. Displaying alarming cold and flu-like symptoms that had been persistent, his condition took a turn for the worse, leading to confusion, lethargy, and an inability to consume food for the past three days. The vessel was stationed at coordinates 51°20'20" N and 001°28'53" E, approximately 2.5 nautical miles off Ramsgate. After initial testing for Covid-19 returned negative results, he was promptly transported to Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital located in Margate, Kent, for further medical assessment. The 'Shetland Trader' had departed from Drogheda on April 12, with its destination set for Howdendyke, aiming to arrive by April 16.

On January 4, 2018, at 8:00 AM, the vessel 'Shetland Trader' encountered an unexpected incident while navigating in ballast with a crew of seven individuals, including a pilot. The allision occurred with a training wall that separates the Trent and Ouse rivers, specifically located at latitude 53°42.02'N and longitude 00°41.46'W. Following the impact, both the pilot and the ship's master conducted a thorough inspection, confirming only minor damage to the vessel, although concerns about potential propeller issues were raised. To address these concerns, the 'Shetland Trader' anchored at Holme Hook Anchorage in the River Humber, awaiting further assessment and information regarding dry dock facilities. The ship then proceeded to berth in Kingston upon Hull on January 5. After completing necessary evaluations, the vessel was back on its route towards Terneuzen, arriving there on January 9 and departing again on January 11, with Ayr as its next destination.