Classification
- Incident Type: Collision
- Severity: High
- Evidence: Contemporary EFE reporting of a Baleària statement, supported by maritime reporting.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Napoles |
| Vessel Type | Ferry |
| Flag State | Cyprus [CY] |
| IMO Number | 9243423 |
| Gross Tonnage | 23975 |
| LOA (m) | 186.25 |
| Breadth (m) | 25.60 |
| Bollard Pull (t) | |
| Power (kW) | |
| Owner/Operator | Balearia Eurolineas Maritimas, Spain |
| TEU | |
| Year Built | 2002 |
| Crew Size | 50 |
| Passenger Complement | 185 |
| Other Vessel | Laust Maersk, container ship, Hong Kong flag, IMO 9190743 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2022-03-12 |
| Location | Alboran Sea on the Malaga-Melilla route |
| Coordinates | 36.5377, -4.6419 |
| Region | Mediterranean Sea |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | |
| Cargo Loss | Container loss was reported; the quantity was not established in the reviewed sources. |
| Direct Damage | Above-waterline damage to Napoles's port bow and port bridge-wing area; container remains were reported entangled with the ferry. |
| Economic Damage | |
| Insured Loss | |
| Salvage/Cleanup Cost |
Key facts
- The collision occurred at approximately 03:00 local time while Napoles was operating on the Malaga-Melilla route.
- Napoles carried 185 passengers and 50 crew according to maritime reporting.
- EFE reported that damage was above the waterline at the port bow and that Napoles continued to Melilla, where passengers and cargo disembarked normally at about 06:30.
- Maritime Rescue services searched for containers reported to have fallen from Laust Maersk. A container or its remains were also reported entangled with Napoles's port bridge-wing area.
- Dirección General de la Marina Mercante was reported as investigating the collision. No final public investigation report was identified in the sources reviewed.
Narrative
Napoles, a Baleària ferry on the Malaga-Melilla route, collided with the container ship Laust Maersk in the Alboran Sea during the early hours of 12 March 2022. Contemporary EFE reporting of a Baleària press statement said that nobody aboard either vessel suffered personal harm. The ferry activated its safety protocol and coordinated with Salvamento Marítimo in Almería.
The collision caused material damage above the waterline at Napoles's port bow. Maritime reporting also described damage around the port bridge wing and container remains entangled with the ferry. Spanish maritime rescue services sent a vessel and aircraft to search for containers reported overboard from Laust Maersk. The available reports do not establish the number of containers lost.
Napoles continued its voyage and arrived at Melilla at approximately 06:30, where passengers and cargo disembarked normally. Baleària announced that the sister ferry Sicilia would temporarily replace Napoles while its condition was assessed. Laust Maersk proceeded to port for inspection. The Dirección General de la Marina Mercante was reported as investigating the circumstances, but no final public findings were located in the web sources reviewed. The reviewed sources do not establish a cause or apportion responsibility.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022-03-12, approximately 03:00 | Napoles and Laust Maersk collided in the Alboran Sea. |
| 2022-03-12, after the collision | Napoles activated its safety protocol and Salvamento Marítimo de Almería coordinated a response. |
| 2022-03-12, approximately 06:30 | Napoles arrived at Melilla and passengers and cargo disembarked normally. |
| 2022-03-12 onward | Napoles was taken for assessment; Sicilia was announced as a temporary replacement. |
Investigation
Contemporary reporting said that Baleària opened an investigation and that the Dirección General de la Marina Mercante would investigate the collision. The web sources reviewed do not provide a final investigation report or a confirmed causal finding.
References
- EFE report via 20minutos - Baleària statement, damage description, arrival, and reported absence of personal injuries.
- The Maritime Executive report - vessel complement, collision time, damage, rescue search, and investigation authority.
- Puente de Mando report - flag and IMO details for the two vessels, damage photographs, and response details.