During a voyage of M/V Gorgonilla from Gibraltar via the Kiel Canal to Kalundborg, after passing the locks in Brunsbüttel there was a blackout and a shutdown of the main engine. The vessel went alongside in Brunsbüttel 08.02.2010. The ships crew announced the very poor technical condition of the ship and asked for help and support. On the same day an overriding PSC inspection has been carried out.
Amongst numerous other technical deficiencies the biggest problem for the totally exhausted crew has been the broken heating system. Outside temperature at that time was –9°C. The temperature inside the accommodation dropped below 0°C! The sanitary water system was already partly frozen. The ship has been declared as uninhabitable and the crew had to leave the vessel in order to ensure their safety.
The inspection revealed a total of 40 deficiencies of which 9 were considered as grounds for detention, some of the deficiencies are highlighted below:
- Emergency fire pump without pressure.
- Lifeboat motors did not start.
- Portside life boat holed.
- Some fire dampers inoperative.
- Accommodation not heated, temperature inside below 0°C.
- ISM related deficiencies.
- Oil on tank top, oil leakages at purifiers and FO booster pumps.
- Aux. engine dismantled, class condition already overdue.
- Aux. engine synchronisation system inoperative.
- Tanks for bilge water and sludge, as well as bilges full.
- Emergency towing wire wasted.
- CPP control from bridge not working.
- Main engine monitoring and alarm system out of order.
- Engine room are in bad condition.
- Excessive steam leakages.
- No water supply to sanitary facilities.
- Sewage system out of order.
- Bridge VHF station malfunction.
- Echo sounder inoperative.
- Speed indicator defective.
- ARPA radar malfunction.
- NTM’s not supplied.
- Sea charts not corrected.
- Lifejackets reflective stripes faded.
- Embarkation ladder for forward raft worn out.
- Cleanliness of food store, galley and pantries insufficient.
- Excessive amount of garbage collected.
- Forecastle bell missing; etc.
All crew members have been examined by a doctor of the port health authority and subsequently found unfit for further work. After some negotiations involving the port health authority and ITF the entire crew was repatriated. On 15.02.2010 the ship was towed to a lay-by berth in Bremerhaven, where the managing owner as well as the Flag State were changed. The new owners applied for permission for a single voyage as a “dead ship” in tow to a shipyard in Kaliningrad.
Source: Paris MoU
Officer of the Watch 
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