Collisions and Groundings

A near disaster unfolded early this morning when the Celestyal Crystal, a cruise ship operated by Celestyal Cruises, collided with the STI Pimlico fuel tanker, according to the Turkish publication, SeaNews.

Celestyal CrystalThe tanker was filled with a cargo of extremely volatile naphtha (flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture). The cruise ship’s bow struck the midsection of

A friend just notified me that the Port Bermuda cam operated by PTZtv shows that the NCL Norwegian Dawn has just hit a reef near the port. 

The cruise ship reportedly launched lifeboats, although there is no indication that anyone was injured. The weather looks nice.  The boats may have been checking the damage to

Swiss Diamond River CruiseA newspaper in Slovakia reports today that a Swiss river cruise ship struck a pillar of the "Old Bridge" in Bratislava.

This newspaper reports that seven passengers were injured aboard the Swiss Diamond river cruise ship. (Another newspaper says that 9 people were injured).

The bridge in question is being disassembled and replaced. Several pillars to the

MSC Magnifica PiraeusA number of news sources in Greece are reporting that a MSC cruise ship ran aground (note correction below) today at the southeast Greek port of Piraeus. Greek port authorities released the information. 

There were no injuries or major damage arising from the accident with the Panama-flagged ship Magnifica, the port authorities said. Bad weather

Giglio Costa ConcordiaA court in Italy is proceeding with preliminary hearings to consider evidence whether Captain Francesco Schettino will face trial for criminal charges for his involvement in the Costa Concordia disaster. 

Schettino, labelled "Captain Calamity" in the press, appeared at the proceedings yesterday, faces a trial on charges of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship.