Sunny Faith Runs Aground Near Kaliningrad During Severe Storm
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The general cargo vessel Sunny Faith, Bahamian-flagged and Chinese-owned and managed, ran aground on Friday, October 9, near Kaliningrad, Russia, during a severe storm that hit the Baltic region. The vessel, which was sailing from Skikda, Algeria, became firmly stranded near the resort town of Yantarny, according to local authorities cited in the report.
Vessel and Crew Details
According to Maritime Executive, the Sunny Faith has a deadweight tonnage of 17,221 DWT and a length overall of 130 meters (426 feet), while marinetraffic_maritimenews reported that the vessel was built in 2007 and measures 129.9 meters in length overall by 23.03 meters in beam. There were 19 crew members on board, all of whom were reported safe following the incident.
Storm Conditions
Authorities indicated that the crew had reportedly underestimated the strength and direction of the hurricane-force winds during the storm. Maritime Executive reported gusts of up to 60 miles per hour in the region, while marinetraffic_maritimenews noted that winds reached 27 meters per second, which pushed the vessel toward the shore.
No Damage or Pollution
The Sunny Faith did not issue a distress call. The Maritime Rescue Service made contact with the vessel, and the master reported that conditions were stable and that evacuation was not required, according to Maritime Executive. Both sources agree that the vessel, which was sailing in ballast with no cargo on board, suffered no structural damage or hull breaches, and no pollution was reported.
Investigation and Next Steps
The crew will remain on board until weather conditions improve and tugboats can attempt to refloat the vessel. The Northwestern Transport Prosecutor's Office of Russia announced the opening of a preliminary investigation into the grounding, according to Maritime Executive, while marinetraffic_maritimenews indicated that authorities launched inquiries into maritime safety and environmental compliance. In addition, Maritime Executive reported that during the same storm a jack-up rig broke loose and was left adrift in the swell.
