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Accidents

Cala Gullo (2025)

On 30 June 2025, Cala Gullo sank while assisting the 330 m, Malta-flagged containership Cape Sounio during departure from Hutchison Ports BEST in Barcelona. Baird Maritime described contact with the containership’s bow, followed by a severe list and stern-first sinking. Other accounts place the tug beneath the containership’s stern. The contact point and precise mechanism remain unresolved.

Classification

  • Incident Type: Collision / Sinking
  • Severity: High

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameCala Gullo
Vessel TypeTug
IMO Number9791509
LOA (m)31.50
Other vesselCape Sounio, a Malta-flagged 330 m containership

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2025-06-30
LocationHutchison Ports Best terminal, Port of Barcelona, Spain
Coordinates
RegionSpain
Fatalities0
Injuries0
Missing0
Cargo Loss
Direct Damage
Economic Damage
Insured Loss
Salvage/Cleanup Cost

Key facts

  • Cala Gullo sank on 30 June 2025 while assisting Cape Sounio’s departure.
  • All three tug crew were rescued by a pilot boat and reported uninjured.
  • Contemporary reports stated that no hydrocarbon spill had been detected.
  • Refloating was reported complete on 31 July 2025.
  • The builder identifies Cala Gullo as a 2016 azimuth tug, 31.50 m long.

Narrative

On 30 June 2025, Cala Gullo sank while assisting the 330 m, Malta-flagged containership Cape Sounio during departure from Hutchison Ports BEST in Barcelona. Baird Maritime described contact with the containership’s bow, followed by a severe list and stern-first sinking. Other accounts place the tug beneath the containership’s stern. The contact point and precise mechanism remain unresolved.

A pilot boat rescued all three tug crew, who were reported uninjured. The port activated its maritime emergency plan in alert phase; contemporary reports stated that no hydrocarbon spill had been detected. Diario del Puerto relayed an unconfirmed suggestion that a towline had fouled the containership’s propeller. This is not a verified causal finding.

Puente de Mando reported successful refloating on 31 July 2025, updating initial accounts of ongoing salvage. The report does not establish repair completion or return to service. No published official accident findings have been identified.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2025-06-30 approximately 11:00 local, reportedCala Gullo sank during Cape Sounio’s departure manoeuvre.
2025-06-30A pilot boat rescued three crew; the port activated its maritime emergency plan.
2025-07-31, reportedPuente de Mando reported successful refloating.

Investigation

Baird Maritime reported an inquiry by the Port Authority of Barcelona. No published official accident findings have been identified; the status of any technical investigation remains unknown. Bow-contact and stern-location accounts conflict; towline fouling remains an unconfirmed suggestion.

References

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