St-Maria Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

A detailed inquiry by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch has shed light on the January 10, 2014 collision involving Rickmers' cargo vessel, Rickmers Dubai, and the unmanned crane barge, Walcon Wizard, in the busy Dover Strait. The investigation concluded that the watch officer on the Liberian-flagged Rickmers Dubai heavily depended on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data presented on the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), neglecting essential duties such as maintaining a proper lookout and monitoring radar systems prior to the incident. This oversight occurred while Rickmers Dubai was maneuvering to overtake the tow, which was being guided by the tug Kingston in the southwest traffic lane of the Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme. Following the impact, the towline attached to Walcon Wizard became ensnared on Rickmers Dubai, leading to Kingston being dragged backward through the water until the line released from its winch. The collision inflicted significant damage on Walcon Wizard while causing a puncture above the waterline on Rickmers Dubai. Additionally, the hydraulic system of the tow winch aboard Kingston sustained damage during the incident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and there was no environmental pollution resulting from the collision.

In the early hours of January 11, 2014, at approximately 3:00 AM, the vessel 'Rickmers Dubai', which was traveling from Hamburg to Genoa, encountered a significant maritime incident. The large container ship collided with the tug 'Kingston', a 113-gross ton vessel (IMO: 5344437), which was in the process of towing the cargo barge 'Walcon Wizard' from Southampton, approximately nine miles off the coast of Dungeness in the English Channel. The incident occurred when 'Rickmers Dubai' unexpectedly crossed the path between 'Kingston' and the barge it was towing. As a result of the collision, the barge sustained some damage and subsequently dropped anchor while the tug remained on standby. In response to the situation, the Trinity House buoy tender 'Galatea' was dispatched to assess the barge and cut its anchor cable to allow it to resume its journey. Simultaneously, the RNLI lifeboat, under the leadership of Coxswain Stuart Adams, launched around 3 AM to offer assistance. Upon arrival at the scene, it was confirmed that no injuries had occurred, prompting the lifeboat crew to remain on standby. As the day progressed, the Dover RNLI lifeboat was deployed, alongside the 'Galatea', to take over the operations from the Dungeness lifeboat. After ensuring the situation was stable, the Dungeness lifeboat returned to its station following the arrival of the Dover lifeboat. The RNLI's Severn class lifeboat, named 'City of London II', along with the 'Galatea', departed from Dover shortly before noon and reached the involved vessels just prior to 2 PM. The crew on the tug reported feeling fatigued, leading to the decision for RNLI lifeboats to take over the tow of the damaged barge. After a long day of operations, the crews successfully returned to Dover just before 11 PM. The 'Rickmers Dubai' anchored off Newhaven in East Sussex later that evening. The barge was subsequently towed into Dover on the night of January 12 and securely moored at the Admiralty Pier. For detailed reports and photos, visit RNLI’s official page [here](http://rnli.org/Pages/Photograph-Detail.aspx?MainImageUrl=%2fPhotoLibrary%2fTug+and+Barge+-+Daylight+January+2014.jpg), BBC News [here](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25703163), or Dover Forum's Sea News [here](http://www.doverforum.com/sea-news/).

In a groundbreaking milestone for Bangladesh's shipbuilding sector, Rickmers-Linie has successfully transported the first ferry ever constructed by a Bangladeshi shipyard for a European client. This significant delivery took place aboard the Baltic Winter, a multipurpose heavy lift vessel that operates under long-term charter. The ferry, designated for Hundested-Rørvig Færgefart AS, will serve across the picturesque Isefjord, after which it is named. Measuring an impressive 49.80 meters in length and 11.20 meters in width, this state-of-the-art ferry boasts a capacity for carrying 28 cars and accommodating 147 passengers. Powered by twin main engines delivering 500 horsepower each, it can cruise at speeds of approximately 11 knots. The vessel's total weight stands at 470 tonnes, showcasing the engineering prowess of her builders, Western Marine Shipyard Ltd., located in Chittagong, Bangladesh. After its completion and delivery to the owners in February, the ferry was carefully loaded onto the Baltic Winter in early March using the vessel's formidable 400-tonne cranes. The transit to Denmark took around six weeks, culminating in the ferry's official delivery on Sunday, April 14, at Hundested roads, where it was directly discharged into the inviting waters of the Kattegat. This event marks a significant achievement for both Rickmers-Linie and the Bangladeshi maritime industry.