The 'Pioneer', which was recently sanctioned by the US over the Ukraine war, is crossing the Suez Canal for the first time and likely on its way to Asia, Kjell Eikland, director of the Oslo-based intelligence and consulting firm Eikland Energ, said on Sep 25. The loaded vessel started crossing the canal on the morning, likely heading towards Asia across Yemeni waters, in what would also be a first for a full cargo since the Houthi group starting disrupting traffic.Crossing the canal would indicate that either a buyer had been found in Asia or that it was moving closer to the region to facilitate closing of a deal. There was no indication it has been sold, and probably won’t be until it reaches some destination. # The vessel is one of nine ships sanctioned by the US that is believed to be part of the so-called Russian dark fleet, at the also sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 facility. As such, the 'Pioneer' is carrying the first cargo loaded early in August from the plant’s first production unit, or train, with a 6.6m tonnes per year (9bcm/year) capacity. The ship was unlikely to deliver to terminals in Egypt and Jordan due to the US sanctions. It was still three days away from the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the tip of the Red Sea near Yemen, where Houthi rebels have been attacking ships. The 'Pioneer' was involved in a “fake” ship-to-ship transfer in the Mediterranean with another sanctioned vessel, but had yet to unload its cargo, according to its reported draft data. It was insured by a New Zeland company. Russia may have to shut down its Arctic LNG 2 plant soon if sanctions continue to impede it from selling cargoes.
News
MSC ANTONIA
Work to identify a vessel responsible for pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore along the South African east coast from Gqeberha through to nearby north eastern towns on the Indian Ocean coastline, was actively being investigated by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). For identification, analysis and safe disposal of the pharmaceutical products SAMSA said it was working through an Incident Management Systems (IMS) committee involving among others, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, South African Police Service (SAPS), Eastern Cape Disaster Management and the South African Health Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). At South Africa’s Sunshine Coast medicinal products were collected enmasse over the past week, after several cargo vessels traversing this part of the Indian Ocean, lost collectively close on 200 containers within about eight weeks since July 2024 from the 'CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin', 'CMA CGM Belem', 'Maersk Stepnica', 'Rio Grande Express' and 'MSC Antonia'. Iin addition to tracking down the specific vessel on which the consignment of pharmaceutical produces might have fallen from, the SAMSA was also closely monitoring the coastline in collaboration with local authorities to track any further containers or goods that might wash ashore. The SAMSA was aware of the container that washed ashore on the East Coast near Port St Johns and has been informed of pharmaceutical bottles containing pills that have been washing ashore in the Port Alfred, Kenton, Cannon Rocks, and Boknes areas since Sep 9. Efforts were underway to monitor and address any hazards that may arise. SAMSA was currently working to identify the vessel responsible for the pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore. The owners of the vessels were fully cooperating with SAMSA and other relevant authorities and have committed to undertaking clean-up operations along the coastline should any contamination or further cargo loss occur. Report with photos: https://blog.samsa.org.za/2024/09/12/mop-up-underway-of-containers-and-pharmaceutical-bottles-found-on-the-south-african-eastern-coastline-samsa/
Kiel
The Port of Kiel expects another good season in 2023, resulting in 218 cruise calls, said its MD Dirk Claus in the morning of Jan 17, 2023, as part of a presentation reflecting on last year's results. It follows 2022's record-breaking 244 calls, which saw the port handle over 2.24m passengers, 836,000 of those from cruise vessels. The number of calls in 2019 was 37% less by comparison, numbering 178, and passenger volumes 4.1% lower. 2020 had been forecast to become a record season for Kiel, with 200 calls and 880,000 passengers, but aspirations were dashed owing to the pandemic. This year, a number of larger vessels are scheduled to arrive at Kiel on multiple occasions making the gross tonnage of arriving ships similar to 2022. For 2023, the choice of routes and destinations approached from Kiel will be slightly broader. Moving into the future, Claus expects Kiel to settle on between 200 and 250 cruise calls annually. According to the port, last year’s promising results were the result of ‘intense planning’ with international cruise operators. While 11 calls were cancelled owing to the conflict in Ukraine and the resulting loss of St Petersburg from itineraries, nine were newly added as a result of rerouting by operators. Looking ahead, there will be a strong focus on greener shipping with Claus hoping that between 60 and 100 calls can be supplied with green shore power this year. He stated that Kiel will continue to look at strengthening shore power in line with its corporate sustainability strategy to lower carbon emissions. Work on the new Ostuferhafen shore power plant is expected to conclude towards the end of this year, resulting in Kiel being able to offer shoreside connectivity at all its ferry and cruise terminals from 2024. Along with this €17m investment, a further €2m will be invested to install solar arrays. The systems, which will be fitted on roofs at Kiel Port, are intended to cover up to 30% of the port's electricity requirements in the long term. Kiel’s first call is expected to arrive April 7 with the river vessel 'Frederic Chopin'. The first cruise ship of the season, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 'Balmoral', will arrive a week later. The largest ships to call will be 'MSC Euribia' and 'AIDAnova'. At the other end of the scale, the 'Ocean Majesty' will visit Kiel on six occasions while chartered to Hansa Touristik. The vessel, which celebrates its 57th anniversary this year, is popular with the German source market. One of its calls is scheduled to occur on June 18 during the Kieler Woche sailing festival which will run from June 17-25. Traditionally, this marks the peak of the cruise season with this year no exception: 22 calls are expected by Kiel at the same time as the event takes place. While the highest number of calls is expected between mid-April and the end of September as usual, some ships will continue to call later in the year. 'AIDAnova'’s last departure is scheduled for November 4 whilst December 20 will see Phoenix Reisen's 'Amera' arrive at Kiel as part of a pre-Christmas itinerary. The season will draw to a close a few days later with the 'Spirit of Discovery' on December 29. Costa-, AIDA-, MSC- and TUI Cruises will again be the port's largest cruise customers. The majority of calls account for turnarounds serving the German-speaking source markets, but a number of transit calls will also take place, P&O Cruises’ Britannia, Swiss Ruby, Holland America Line’s 'Nieuw Statendam' and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 'Seven Seas Splendor' among them. As in previous years, the Ostuferhafen outside the city centre will be heavily utilised by MSC Cruises and most other cruise ships will arrive at the Ostseekai.
Kerch
The Crimean Bridge across Kerch Strait suffered an explosion and fire in the morning of Oct 8, 2022. Two spans of the motorway bridge collapsed and fell into the water, the railway bridge above the motorway witha cargo train including railway car tanks with fuel, was on fire. All bridge traffic was suspended. The Crimean Bridge was more than a Bridge, both for Russia and Ukraine. For Russia it was a symbol of the Russian “victory” and historical justice. For the Ukraine, it was a symbol of the Russian aggression and Crimea occupation. The navigation span of the Bridge is yet undamaged, and therefore, the Kerch Strait Channel remained navigable. The Kerch Strait Transit is from now on, however, a risky undertaking, so all ship owners are advised to calculate risks and probably, change their ships voyages, avoiding Azov sea calls.
MSC SEASHORE
Guests on the seven-night cruise of the 'MSC Seashore' from Miami, Florida to The Bahamas were informed on Sep 21, 2024, that some of the ports that were on the itinerary were no longer going to be possible because of Hurricane Helene. Initially, guests on the 'MSC Seashore' were supposed to visit Mexico, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. However, deeming those areas unsafe, the captain decided early on to avoid the ports and traded them out for ports in Nassau, Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk instead. It was later confirmed that it would also be impossible for the ship to return on Sep 26 to Port Canaveral, Florida as a result of winds expected to be blowing at "50 miles per hour. The passengers instead had a bonus day at sea and will reach the port only when conditions were safe to do so.
RIO GRANDE EXPRESS
Work to identify a vessel responsible for pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore along the South African east coast from Gqeberha through to nearby north eastern towns on the Indian Ocean coastline, was actively being investigated by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). For identification, analysis and safe disposal of the pharmaceutical products SAMSA said it was working through an Incident Management Systems (IMS) committee involving among others, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, South African Police Service (SAPS), Eastern Cape Disaster Management and the South African Health Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). At South Africa’s Sunshine Coast medicinal products were collected enmasse over the past week, after several cargo vessels traversing this part of the Indian Ocean, lost collectively close on 200 containers within about eight weeks since July 2024 from the 'CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin', 'CMA CGM Belem', 'Maersk Stepnica', 'Rio Grande Express' and 'MSC Antonia'. Iin addition to tracking down the specific vessel on which the consignment of pharmaceutical produces might have fallen from, the SAMSA was also closely monitoring the coastline in collaboration with local authorities to track any further containers or goods that might wash ashore. The SAMSA was aware of the container that washed ashore on the East Coast near Port St Johns and has been informed of pharmaceutical bottles containing pills that have been washing ashore in the Port Alfred, Kenton, Cannon Rocks, and Boknes areas since Sep 9. Efforts were underway to monitor and address any hazards that may arise. SAMSA was currently working to identify the vessel responsible for the pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore. The owners of the vessels were fully cooperating with SAMSA and other relevant authorities and have committed to undertaking clean-up operations along the coastline should any contamination or further cargo loss occur. Report with photos: https://blog.samsa.org.za/2024/09/12/mop-up-underway-of-containers-and-pharmaceutical-bottles-found-on-the-south-african-eastern-coastline-samsa/
Singapore
On Dec 1, 2022, at about 3 p.m. the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was informed that 15 empty containers at Keppel Terminal had fallen from the wharf into the water as a result of strong winds during a squall. There were no reported injuries and no immediate impact to port operations. The MPA deployed two patrol crafts to monitor and cordon off the affected area to facilitate recovery work by PSA Corporation Ltd. MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre has restricted all vessel movements in the vicinity of Keppel Terminal until the containers were recovered.
Odessa
For the fourth day in a row, Iranian-made drones attacked Odesa on Sep 26 in the morning, this time against military targets and without civilian casualties. On Sep 23, two civilians were killed during Russian drone attacks on the port city. On Sep 25, Odesa was attacked by three drones, one of which was reportedly shot down by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine has not officially identified the drones, but from the video footage below it appears, according to experts, that they are Iranian-produced Shakhed 136 drones.
CARNIVAL SUNRISE
Joshua Darrell Lowe was indicted for an alleged bomb hoax on the 'Carnival Sunrise'. He was charged with making a false bomb threat, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan said on Sep 25, 2024. The cruise line received an email from Lowe in January stating that “someone might have a bomb” on the 'Carnival Sunrise', as it was on its way to Jamaica from Miami, Florida, The crew searched more than 1,000 cabins and notified the U.S. Coast Guard and authorities in Jamaica, receiving a Marine Police escort to port. Lowe, who is from Bailey, Michigan, faces up to five years in prison if convicted. The 19-year-old will also have to pay restitution for costs resulting from the hoax. Court documents did not list an attorney for Lowe. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating.
MAERSK STEPNICA
Work to identify a vessel responsible for pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore along the South African east coast from Gqeberha through to nearby north eastern towns on the Indian Ocean coastline, was actively being investigated by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). For identification, analysis and safe disposal of the pharmaceutical products SAMSA said it was working through an Incident Management Systems (IMS) committee involving among others, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, South African Police Service (SAPS), Eastern Cape Disaster Management and the South African Health Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). At South Africa’s Sunshine Coast medicinal products were collected enmasse over the past week, after several cargo vessels traversing this part of the Indian Ocean, lost collectively close on 200 containers within about eight weeks since July 2024 from the 'CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin', 'CMA CGM Belem', 'Maersk Stepnica', 'Rio Grande Express' and 'MSC Antonia'. Iin addition to tracking down the specific vessel on which the consignment of pharmaceutical produces might have fallen from, the SAMSA was also closely monitoring the coastline in collaboration with local authorities to track any further containers or goods that might wash ashore. The SAMSA was aware of the container that washed ashore on the East Coast near Port St Johns and has been informed of pharmaceutical bottles containing pills that have been washing ashore in the Port Alfred, Kenton, Cannon Rocks, and Boknes areas since Sep 9. Efforts were underway to monitor and address any hazards that may arise. SAMSA was currently working to identify the vessel responsible for the pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore. The owners of the vessels were fully cooperating with SAMSA and other relevant authorities and have committed to undertaking clean-up operations along the coastline should any contamination or further cargo loss occur. Report with photos: https://blog.samsa.org.za/2024/09/12/mop-up-underway-of-containers-and-pharmaceutical-bottles-found-on-the-south-african-eastern-coastline-samsa/
Kerch
Russia's Ministry of Transport has set up a ferry service across the Kerch Strait to take over vehicle traffic, offsetting some of the impact of the damage to the Kerch Strait Bridge after a truck was blown up on the westbound road deck of the Kerch Strait Bridge on Oct 7 at about 6 a.m. Two spans of the westbound deck collapsed into the water, but the adjacent eastbound deck remained in place. The blast's timing coincided with the passage of a fuel train on the adjacent rail deck, and it ignited seven fuel tank cars, which burned for hours after the explosion. A Russian salvage diving team has arrived on the site and is completing an underwater survey of the damage, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said Sunday. An above-water inspection process is already under way. Traffic had partially resumed on the bridge by late Saturday, though restricted by the extent of the damage. Russia's Ministry of Transport said that it also resumed suburban commuter rail service over the rail track, though not heavy freight trains. Two ferries are already in operation to provide a bypass route, and eight separate parking lots have been set up for temporary storage for cars and trucks waiting to make the crossing. Two more ferries will join the effort on Monday, the Yeysh and Mriya.
Yaizu
Yaizu Port is one of the leading fishing ports in Japan. In August 2022, the VesselTracker AIS receiving station opened at Yaizu Port.