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A Chinese freighter ran aground on a giant coral reef off Japan on January 24, with the crew requesting assistance from the Japan Coast Guard.

As sources report, the freighter Xin Hai Zhou 2 lost power between Ishigaki and Kohama Island. High winds were causing the ship to drift, and it grounded on a reef.

The ship’s crew then requested assistance, and the Japan Coast Guard deployed a helicopter to rescue them. At the time of the incident, 19 seafarers were onboarding the ship.

The area where the ship is grounded is the largest coral reef in Japan. The area is known for its reefs, diving destinations, and seaside resorts, and while no pollution has been reported, any potential fuel spill from the vessel could have a significant impact.

 

The Hong Kong-flagged “Jin Tian” sank between South Korea and Japan on January 25, and there are fears that up to 8 crew might have died in the incident.

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A Tanzanian cargo ship sank on January 24, in a jetty in the southern Iranian port of Assaluyeh, as state media reported.

 

More specifically, the official IRNA news agency said that the vessel called “Anil” capsized as the containers onboard were configured incorrectly at the port’s dock No. 9.

After the incident, rescue teams transferred the ship’s crew to safety.

Photos that circulated after the incident, show the vessel sank on its side, with containers floating around it.

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Two incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia, one CAT 31 and one CAT 42 were reported from 17-24 January 2023.

 

One incident occurred on board a bulk carrier while underway in the Singapore Strait; and another incident on board a chemical tanker while anchored at Kandla Anchorage, India.

Nothing was stolen from the bulk carrier, while brass valves, stainless bolt, and nuts were reported stolen from the chemical tanker. The crew members were not injured in both incidents.

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A bomb hit a Turkish-owned ship off the coast of Odessa according to the Turkish General Directorate of Maritime Affairs. The vessel is now heading to Romania.

According to local media, no injuries were reported, but television footage showed broken windows on the ship. However, the Maritime Affairs authority did not reveal who was behind the shelling.

 

Before the incident, Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine, which Turkey described as a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty.

What is more, Turkey is also considering a request from Ukraine to bar Russian warships from entering the Black Sea through two straits that Turkey controls.