Aframax tanker hit by fishing vessel, holed, New York

Mikhail VoytenkoNews
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Fishing vessel POLARIS struck Aframax tanker TOFTEVIKEN portside in midship area in the evening May 12 some 30 miles southeast of Bridgehampton, New York. Tanker in load was en route to New York, while POLARIS was sailing back to homeport in Massachusetts after fishing. TOFTEVIKEN suffered some 9-meter gash, no leak reported. She was brought to anchor on New York Anchorage and as of 0530 UTC May 15, was still at anchor. POLARIS suffered damages to her bow and outrigger, but managed to return to port under own power, all 7 crew safe.
POLARIS seems to be the main suspect and culprit, just by the fact of her sailing near big cargo ships, restricted in their maneuverability, on heavily trafficked lanes.
Photos USCG.
Crude oil tanker TOFTEVIKEN, IMO 9285847, dwt 115340, built 2005, flag Bahamas, manager VIKEN Shipping AS, Norway.
Fishing vessel POLARIS, MMSI 367186690, length 28 meters, GT 165, flag USA.

Author

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My name is Mikhail Voytenko, I’m Russian, professional merchant marine navigator, by education and former experience. I own and run Maritime Bulletin website for more than 10 years. I've been involved in solving a number of piracy hijack cases, including the hijack of ro-ro FAINA, loaded with tanks. It was me who made public, and unravel, freighter ARCTIC SEA mystery. I've been also closely involved in a number of maritime disaster, one of them being MSC FLAMINIA major fire.