Visitors to Shieldhall can go into the engine room.

In early April it was announced that The Solent Steam Packet Limited (TSSP) has received a £1.4 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to pay for work on the historic Southampton-based steamer Shieldhall. A three-year project Saving Shieldhall – Learning through Conservation in Action will fund essential hull works, improved passenger facilities and state-of-the art interpretations so that the volunteers can preserve the steamship for future generations.

The ship’s 2013 programme for the has also been announced. She will be participating in a number of special events, including the Southampton Maritime Festival on the Bank Holiday Weekend, 5-6 May, the ‘5 Cruise Ships’ gathering on 8 June and Cowes Week Fireworks on 9 August. New for 2013 will be the opportunity for passengers to enjoy two-hour taster cruises of the Solent for just £12 per person.

(Maritime Photographic)

Two former Ministry of Defence tugs disappeared without trace after being smuggled out of a Cornish port during the early hours of 3 March. The 151-tonne Dog class pair, Juliette Pride I (ex-Sheepdog, pictured) and Juliette Pride II (ex-Husky), had been detained at Newlyn after major defects were found by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). They had 22 deficiencies relating to safety equipment. It is thought that the Tanzanian-flagged vessels, which are now owned by a Nigerian oil trader, made for Lagos. However, neither vessel is considered seaworthy enough to make the hazardous voyage, and their location remains unknown. GD

Japan’s MOL plans to trim 70 ships from its fleet, but speciality ships, such as the long-hatch heavylifter Poseidon Triumph, are expected to survive. MOL

In a major cost-cutting move, Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has indicated it will sell, scrap or return ships and cancel charter contracts on at least 70 vessels in order to reduce its free tonnage from 250 to 180 ships. The company, which lost $2 billion last year, has targeted at least 50 dry bulk carriers and 20 tankers for removal from its fleet by March next year. Most of these ships are currently on spot or short-term fixtures and, to date, no container ships are involved.

MOL also plans to transfer sales activities, chartering and ship operations for about 130 of its bulk carriers from Tokyo to Singapore, where a number of its tankers are already being handled. MOL will still boast a substantial fleet even after the cuts, including 400 dry cargo vessels, 200 tankers and 69 LNG carriers. JS

The ro-ro cargo vessel Ciudad de Cadiz aground off Mostyn. Andrew Cudbertson

In late January, with high winds gusting to 55 knots, the ro-ro ferry Ciudad de Cadiz (2009/15,643gt) broke free of her moorings at Mostyn, North Wales and became grounded on Salisbury Bank just outside the port. She had been waiting to load a pair of A380 Airbus wings, which are built in Broughton and delivered by river barge to Mostyn, before onward delivery by sea to Pauillac in France.

Efforts to refloat her during the following days failed due to lower tides. There was no danger to Ciudad de Cadiz or to other vessels arriving in the port, such as Seatruck Pace (2009/14,759gt) delivering windfarm turbines from Denmark, and Ville de Bordeaux (2004/21,528gt), which collected the wings which Ciudad de Cadiz was to have delivered.