Italian Coast Guard Detains Livestock Carrier After Finding 54 Safety Deficiencies

The Italian Coast Guard has detained the livestock carrier Blue Ocean A at the port of Cagliari after an inspection found 54 safety deficiencies, including 30 violations serious enough to justify the vessel’s detention.

The Guardia Costiera and the Port Authority of Cagliari reported that the ship will remain in port until all the issues are corrected.

While the full inspection report has not yet been released, authorities indicated that the findings raised major concerns about the vessel’s safety condition.

According to officials, the deficiencies included problems with the ship’s firefighting systems, life-saving equipment, and bridge equipment.

Inspectors also reviewed the crew’s living conditions and their training on board the 34-year-old vessel.

The inspection followed a serious incident on 28 January, when the ship’s captain reported engine trouble while sailing south of Sardinia, near Carloforte on Isola di San Pietro.

The vessel, which had 33 crew members on board, attempted to anchor offshore.

Authorities said the situation worsened due to severe weather, with winds of more than 50 mph and waves reaching about five metres. The anchor failed to hold, and the ship began drifting towards the coast.

The crew requested an emergency evacuation, but helicopter rescue was not possible because of the strong winds.

Towing operations were also challenging. The first tug to arrive reportedly lost four towlines.

The Coast Guard, working with a larger privately operated tug, eventually secured the vessel and held it offshore overnight. After weather conditions improved, the ship was safely towed to Cagliari.

The Italian Coast Guard later described the rescue as a particularly complex operation and confirmed that Rimochiatori Sardi, the tug company involved, will receive a letter of commendation for its role.

The Blue Ocean A is a 4,780-dwt ship measuring 117 metres in length. It was built in 1992 as a containership and converted into a livestock carrier in 2013.

The vessel is registered in St Kitts and Nevis and is owned by a Turkish company.

At the time of the incident, the ship was returning from the Middle East and was bound for Cartagena, Spain. Based on its route, authorities believe the vessel was not carrying livestock during the voyage.

Previous inspections in 2025 had identified a small number of issues, including hull corrosion and steering gear problems, but these were limited and did not result in detention.

Reference: Crew Mirror

Source: Maritime Shipping News