The Ports of Jersey and a freight company have been told to improve safety measures after a 49-year-old deckhand of the 'Normandy Trader' slipped from a quayside ladder and fell seven metres deep between the ship and the quayside, breaking his leg, on Nov 21, 2024. The Jersey Maritime Administration's report found multiple safety failings contributed to the accident at St. Helier Harbour: The deckhand was not wearing a lifejacket and was carrying a rucksack while climbing the slippery vertical ladder with no fall prevention system. The company Normandy Trader Freight Services was told to review its risk assessments and Jersey Ports was asked to carry out a review of inspection processes of quayside ladders. It was likely he fractured his left tibia when he struck one of the ladder's securing lugs as he fell. He was still undergoing physiotherapy. Recommendations for the freight company included ensuring crew members do not climb or descend ladders while wearing rucksacks or carrying any items. Areview should take place into the possible use of a fall prevention device. The ladder was safe to use at the time of the accident but Jersey Ports should improve its safety through repairs and modifications. The accident had similarities to an incident in 2023 where a man died after falling between two ships on the same quay. Ports of Jersey should consider issuing a safety bulletin comprising of lessons learned from both accidents. Full report: https://www.gov.je/md/MDAttachments/Sustainable%20Economic%20Development/Decisions%20in%202025/MD-SED-2025-126%20FINAL-%20%20Jersey%20Administration%20Incident%20Report%20%20-%20MV%20Normandy%20Trader%20%20crew%20injury%20during%20egress%20to%20quay%2021Nov2024%20(4Feb2025).pdf
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COBRA
The Chilean government decided on April 14 to intervene in an alleged maritime accident and filed a complaint for "failure to provide assistance" against the 'Cobra', that allegedly ran over the artisanal fishing vessel, whose seven crew members are still missing, 15 days after the shipwreck. On April 4, Juan Sanhueza, one of the lookouts on the 'Cobra', considered the key witness, disappeared from his home after consulting with the company psychologist and before having to testify that same morning before the Public Prosecutor's Office. Sanhueza was found hanged days later in the neighbouring region of Biobio, after the last known image of him was made public, captured while boarding a bus. Gerardo Balbontin, manager of Blumar, the ship's owner, admitted that the crew heard an audio recording, but not a collision, which, according to his account, was attributed to an internal conflict, after several crew members on his own vessel acknowledged that they hit something. After concluding the search for the missing crew on April 13 without finding any trace of the fishermen, Security Minister Luis Cordero announced that the government had decided to file a complaint. Claudia Urrutia, leader of the cod fishermen in the central Maule region and spokesperson for the families, called for the investigation to continue and for the vessel to be returned to dry dock for examination. Alejandro Espinoza, the lawyer for the 'Cobra' crew, stated on April 14 that the ship's radars did not detect the presence of another vessel nor did they receive any warnings of an anchored boat. The company is available to have the ship inspected for as long as necessary and that each and every maneuver aimed at establishing whether the Cobra participated in the collision and whether this collision occurred while the 'Bruma' was already damaged or submerged be carried out absolutely and thoroughly. The investigation "must establish whether all electronic and navigation systems on the vessels involved, the Cobra, Bruma, or others, were operating in accordance with regulations; and whether the crews fulfilled the obligations established by the maritime authority." The inspection preliminarily revealed that the two radars, one calibrated for short range and the other for long range, detected absolutely nothing. There was also the hypothesis that the collision occurred with the semi-submerged vessel, and that was the reason why neither the 'Cobra' nor any of the vessels that sailed close to the 'Bruma's last position detected this vessel. There wasno indication that the 'Bruma' has disclosed its anchorage position. Report with photo: https://new.diariolaprensa.cl/index.php/2025/04/14/con-ayuda-de-buque-cientifico-cabo-de-hornos-se-registran-hallazgos-que-corresponderian-a-la-bruma/
Los Angeles - Long Beach_mini
The U.S.-China tariff Opens a New Window. spat has led to a reduction of ships coming in from China and a spike in other Asia countries, according to Mario Cordero, the executive director of the Port of Long Beach. “At least in the first six months of this year, there has been a change of 22% reduction from the China origin of the cargo,” he told FOX Business Cheryl Casone on “The Claman Countdown.” Officials at the port announced earlier this month that cargo volumes in July were down compared to the year before, seeing a 9.7% drop.
Istanbul
Istanbul’s Galataport, a megaproject expected to boost the city’s tourism with cruise ports and increase tourism revenues, is and slated to open in May 2020. Galataport is jointly being built by Turkey’s Doğuş Group and Bilgili Holding with an investment of $1.7 billion. It is dubbed one of the world’s largest coastal projects, aiming to become one of the top cruise destinations. In a press conference held yesterday in Istanbul, Doğuş Group Chairman Ferit Şahenk confirmed that the port has a capacity to welcome 25 million visitors per year, including 7 million foreigners. The estimated revenues from the increasing number of tourists will be around $1 billion. “The port also has two museums and a recreation area of 14,000 square meters to host culture and art events,” Şahenk added. The Doğuş Group chairman remarked that a “1.2-kilometer-long coast line, which has been closed to the public for 200 years, is now preparing to welcome its visitors.
WIGHT LIGHT
Isle of Wight ferry passengers face significant delays and cancellations on the evening of April 14, 2025, following a technical issue affecting the car ferry service’s boarding ramp, causing disruiptions to the service of the 'Wight Light',sailing between Yarmouth and Lymington, which cause delays of up to 90 minutes. Affected customers were advised to check in as usual, with foot passengers required to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled departure.
AMALIE SOFIE
On the evening of April 12, 2025, the crew of the "Amalie Sofie" rescued the fishermen of a cutter, which had suffered an engine room fire, which was soon beyong control, outside Nordvågen, southeast of Honningsvåg, in the Nordkapp municipality. Captain Johansen received the mayday call of the other ship and was on scene about five minutes later. The fishing boat was about to be engulfed in flames. The two crew members were standing on the deck in survival suits. The stern of the boat was burning,and the blaze was spreading fast. The fishermen jumped into the sea to escape the flames. One of them drifted behind the boat, where the flames were the worst. The 'Amalie Sofie' had to circle around the burning boat, but managed to throw a rope towards him. After a short time, both castaways were rescued unscathed. Report with photos: https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/xmv2jl/fiskebaat-i-full-fyr-maatte-hoppe-i-sjoeen
Klaipeda
In July 2019 Konecranes received an order from Klaipeda Container Terminal (KCT) in Lithuania for two Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, which will be delivered in Q1 2021. The order follows an earlier agreement for a Konecranes Gottwald Model 5 Mobile Harbor Crane, which was delivered in June 2019.
Tallinn
Active construction is currently underway in the D-terminal of the Port of Tallinn being built by Nordecon, in order to open the first phase of construction of the renovated D-terminal to passengers within two months, the port says in a press release. A digital twin of the new D-Terminal building and the remodeled part which aims to make the building's life cycle more efficient was created in the BIM implementation model. The completion of the extension and reconstruction work of the port is scheduled for summer 2020.
SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS
On April 14, 2025, a young child fall between the 'Symphony of the Seas' and the concrete pier of Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. The 'Symphony of the Seas' had departed Miami on April 13, and the visit to CocoCay was the first port of call on the 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary. The ship was docked from approximately 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The child’s mother was nearby, and the child was rescued in a matter of a few minutes. The mother and child got back onboard the 'Symphony of the Seas', which departed CocoCay on schedule, and there appeared to be no delay to her itinerary. The ship spent April 15 at sea, and will call at St. Thomas and St. Maarten on April 16 and April 17, and return for debarkation on April 20. Report with photos: https://www.cruisehive.com/child-falls-between-pier-and-royal-caribbean-ship-at-cococay/169716
SOLONG
The Russian captain of the 'Soling', Vladimir Motin, appeared before at London's Central Criminal Court, from prison via a video link on April 14. He is charged with gross negligence manslaughter over the death of a crew member. Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, a Filipino crew member on the 'Solong', is missing presumed dead. Mr Motin, from Primorsky, St Petersburg, spoke only to confirm his name during the brief hearing. In the absence of a Russian interpreter to assist the defendant, Judge Mark Lucraft KC adjourned his plea hearing until May 30. Report with picture: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2lz79q2y1vo
Puerto Cortes
Customers and port stakeholders of Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), the Honduran subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) operating Puerto Cortes, Central America 4’s (CA-4) largest port, can expect faster cargo movement in and around the terminal with OPC beefing up its partnership with Honduran authorities for improved and more efficient port services. OPC is working with the Honduran government and Puerto Cortés authorities to enhance the port’s competitiveness and better serve its customers in the four-nation CA-4, comprising Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Enhancements include simplified and faster port transactions, and the construction of critical road infrastructure the will improve cargo movement in the region. As part of efforts to expedite intra-regional trade, the Honduran Customs Agency (Dirección Adjunta de Rentas Aduaneras – DARA) has streamlined its systems for early clearance and dispatch of cargo, matching OPC’s already-efficient operations. Operating hours of customs authorities were likewise extended until 7 p.m., thus giving agents and brokers more time to process shipment.
Rotterdam
The Port of Rotterdam Authority has reached an agreement with Sif Holding n.v. regarding the lease of 20 ha of port site and a 200-m stretch of deep-sea quay at Maasvlakte. Sif’s new lot lies adjacent to its existing port site, where the company already works on the assembly of foundations for offshore wind turbines, the company said in its release. Sif will be using the newly allocated site on behalf of clients active in the offshore wind power sector. The first project to be undertaken at the new site will be the logistics handling of all 94 monopiles (wind turbine foundations) destined for the offshore wind farm Borssele 1 + 2, commissioned by Deme Offshore.