Two Bulk Carriers Ground in Øresund Within a Week: Investigation Underway

Swedish Authorities Examine Causes of Incidents

Swedish maritime authorities are investigating the grounding of two bulk carriers in the Øresund region within a span of just one week. The most recent incident occurred on Saturday, May 31, approximately 40 miles north of where another bulker grounded on Sunday, May 25. Preliminary assessments indicate that the two incidents have notably different circumstances.

The second vessel, a Panamanian-flagged bulker named Meshka, was traveling southbound in the shipping lane, departing from Tarragona, Spain, and heading to Vysotsk, Russia, located near the Finnish border. On Saturday morning, around 10:00 AM, the Swedish Maritime Administration's traffic center (VTS) observed that the Meshka had veered outside the designated shipping lane. Although they issued a warning to the crew, it appears that they either did not respond or had insufficient time to correct their course.

The Meshka, with a deadweight tonnage of 35,829, was only carrying fuel and ballast but had a draft of seven meters, which was problematic given that it grounded in an area with only three meters of water depth. Rescue personnel, including the Coast Guard, dispatched two vessels to the scene to assess the situation. Fortunately, none of the 24 crew members aboard were reported injured, and there were no visible signs of hull damage or oil leaks.

Ongoing Investigations and Safety Checks

The Coast Guard confirmed that they conducted sobriety checks on the crew, who exhibited no signs of intoxication. The crew is currently being interviewed as part of the investigation to determine the factors leading to the grounding. A preliminary investigation into potential negligence in seamanship has already begun, and the case has been handed over to the Swedish Prosecution Authority for further inquiry.

The Meshka is grounded near Landhrona, to the north of Malmö, where the first bulker, Ali Aykin, remains aground. This earlier incident has confirmed hull damage, with reports of the vessel taking on water. Authorities are preparing a salvage plan for Ali Aykin as they work to mitigate any potential environmental threats.

Diving teams inspecting the Meshka reported no visual damage to its 180-meter hull, but most of the vessel is currently resting on the sandy bottom. The Coast Guard also noted that the ship has approximately 938,000 liters of oil and lubricants in its tanks. As long as the vessel remains stable, managing the situation will primarily fall to the shipowner, a Dubai-based company, who must formulate and submit a salvage plan for approval.

Previous Safety Concerns Raised

Interestingly, both of the grounded vessels have records of deficiencies noted during prior port state inspections. The Meshka had 23 reported deficiencies during a September 2024 inspection at Immingham, UK, where it was detained for 18 days due to structural issues, fire safety concerns, and crew training gaps. However, it had received a clean inspection in May while docked in Spain.

The investigation continues as maritime authorities look to prevent any similar occurrences in the future, emphasizing the importance of adherence to navigational protocols and safety regulations in shipping operations.