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Clean-up operations were continuing after the recent oil spill that has now been confirmed as originating from the wreck of the 'Ultra Galaxy'. 180 people in 12 teams were cleaning beaches along a 40 kilometres section of coastline. The Shanghai Salvage Co, also known as China Ocean Engineering Solutions Limited, was appointed in 2024 to undertake the wreck removal operation. The SAMSA had immediately activated its pollution response plan in response to the spill. This had included a full survey of the affected areas to assess the extent of the pollution. Preliminary assessments indicated that the spill had several areas: •Tormin mineral sands mine: ramps 3, 4 and 7, • small parts of the Transhex mining area, • Robbe Eiland [Seal Island], • Papendorp, 700m south of the mouth of the Olifants River, • Strandfontein North: patchy coverage, and • Strandfontein South: Kommetjie and Die Hel. Doringbaai had been surveyed and remained clear. Easterly winds had pushed the oil slick offshore and a red tide had arrived. Cape Nature confirmed that no oiled birds had been found on the affected beaches or at the 45,000-strong Cape Gannet colony at Bird Island in nearby Lambert’s Bay. Also, the biologically critical Olifants River estuary had not been impacted. Since the wreck removal operation began in December, just over 4,200 tons of material had been successfully removed by tug and barge for safe disposal in Saldanha Bay. The salvaged steel was processed in Cape Town. Other hazardous materials were being handled at the Vissershok hazardous waste disposal site.

An audio of the radio broadcast of the 'Kildin' on Jan 23 has now been obtained. The audio gathered by the NATO ship is a 75-second radio exchange between the 'Kildin' and the Togo-flagged cargo m/v 'Milla Moon'. A second tape of conversations between crew members aboard the NATO ship identified the exchange they just monitored between the 'Kildin' and the 'Milla Moon', which lifted anchor off Tartus and began sailing toward the end of the Syrian coast on Jan. 23. The 'Kildin' first identified itself as another ship, the 'Bóveda Celeste', and then asked to change channels to continue the conversation. After the switch, the man is heard in accented English identifying his vessel as a warship. “I am adrift. I am not under command,” the operator said. The 'Milla Moon' responded that it will plot a course away before signing off with, “You are welcome. Good watch. Goodbye.” The Russian intelligence vessel, drifted out of control off the Syrian coast, with flames and black fumes rising from the smokestack. The broadcast, as well as video and photos showing the blaze. were gathered by a ship from a NATO nation operating nearby. The audio provides a rare glimpse inside Russia's fleet of spy ships that NATO nations are watching closely due to concerns that Moscow could sabotage underwater cables and pipelines amid tensions over the war in Ukraine. Even though the 'Kildin' was in trouble, the secret ship did not respond to a request for help from the NATO ship. The 55-year-old Kildin gathers intelligence on NATO activities in the Mediterranean and had been operating near naval exercises by alliance member Turkey before the fire, which burned for at least four hours. The 'Kildin's crew removed the covers from the rafts, though they were not deployed. The 'Kildin' raised two black balls from its masts, a maritime signal that the ship can no longer steer. The crew eventually regained control, and the 'Kildin' is still stationed and collecting intelligence from the Syrian port of Tartus, accompanied by a frigate and a supply ship. It was not clear what caused the fire. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of a fire aboard the 'Kildin' and would not say what the ship was doing at the time. He dismissed suggestions that it reflected poorly on Russian naval readiness. The retired Vice Admiral Michel Olhagaray, the former head of France’s Higher Military Studies Centre, said that even though the 'Kildin' regained command, the fire highlights Russia’s logistical difficulties in supporting naval forces in the Mediterranean, beyond its bases in the Arctic and Baltic Seas. Moscow cannot even use its fleet for Mediterranean patrols because during the Ukraine dispute Turkey does not allow the naval vessels to pass through the Bosphorus. The maintenance of this Russian fleet, particularly in the Mediterranean, was regarded as extraordinarily cumbersome. Report with photos and audio: https://apnews.com/article/russia-nato-spy-ship-audio-mediterranean-syria-2e6c4d6fa184d7333a3001344f2ea58c

On Feb 5 the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Port Authority have authorised an on-board inspection of the 'Guang Rong', which is necessary before emptying the tanks and preventing a possible environmental disaster, given that the ship is carrying around 102 tonnes of diesel fuel. The iInspections have begun to identify the access areas and allow the removal of fuel on board. The attention is focused on the port side of the vessel, both the emerged and submerged parts, to check the condition of the hull and speed up the transfer of fuel. The main tank has been reached and the diesel could be sucked out through the manhole. The pipes have already been prepared on the pier and the vehicles are ready to intervene. The urgency is also dictated by the worsening weather conditions forecast for the weekend. According to the Coast Guard, there were currently no fuel spills, thanks to the timely installation of floating ´absorbent booms. After the first inspection, a plan for pumping the fuel will be presented. The fate of the ship will then be decided: it could be recovered by the owner or, more likely, declared a wreck to be disposed of. The operations are constantly monitored by the Coast Guard, with the support of divers and law enforcement, under the coordination of Prefect Guido Aprea. Regarding the stability of the pier, the checks were underway. Inspections were carried out both above and below the structure. Astructural engineer was acquiring the necessary documentation. Load tests on the pier would be essential for the fuel extraction operations. Despite the situation actually being regarded as under control, the risk of spills remained high, especially in the event of worsening weather conditions. The Coast Guard has requested satellite images to monitor the environment and prevent ecological damage.. The intervention plan includes, once the fuel has been drained, the evaluation of the stability of the hull and the possibility of towing the ship to a safe area. If the shipowner decides not to recover the 'Guang Rong', and it would be disposed of in accordance with current regulations. Report with video: https://www.noitv.it/2025/02/proseguono-le-operazioni-per-la-gestione-della-guang-rong-incagliata-nel-porto-di-marina-di-massa-643948/

The 'Isfjord' suffered an engine failure en route from Svolvær (Lat. 68.1192 Lng. 14.9302) on Feb 5, 2025, atr around 5 p.m. and went adrift, The Russian captain of the unloaded tanker sent out a mayday call, and both the NSSR-lifeboats from Svolvær and Ballstad were called out by the Main Rescue Centre to assist in securing the ship, which is referred to as "a floating gas station". It is operated by LNS Spitsbergen's subsidiary LNS Ocean, There was an onshore wind from the southwest and it was of interest to gain control of the situation. The lifeboat "Sundt Flyer" (MMSI: 259192000) was first on site, followed by the "Hans Hermann Horn" (MMSI: 257035360), which was the larger boat and took the tanker in tow. On Feb 6 at 03:00 a.m. the patrol vessel 'Heimdal' (IMO: 9353345) of the Norwegian Coastguard took over the tow from the "Hans Hermann Horn" after seven hours. The tug 'Polar Frigg' (IMO: 8714279) left Harstad on the late evening of Feb 5 and reached the scene the next morning at 05:45 a.m. It took over the tow from the lifeboats. On the morning of Feb 6, the tanker was anchored near Lødingen in pos. 68° 26' N 016° 02' E, where it remained stationary as of Feb 7. Reports with photos and video: https://www.lofotposten.no/104-meter-lang-tanker-med-motorhavari/s/5-29-1148933?fbclid=IwY2xjawIQymdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRJ7Myw8hca4Kz9_Os-hiqEIyRE5YOQ87ULHGow1OGLyZNDZub7KzdrD3Q_aem_gOY2kvA_yQjNIJFrtRMSAw https://x.com/i/status/1887247263187279885 https://www.ht.no/nyheter/i/nylJ8B/maatte-redde-104-meter-lang-tanker

The mystery surrounding the 'White Eagle', docked in the port of Beni-Enzar continued. The ship, is carrying a cargo of 6,000 tons that it picked up in Sierra Leone and was to be delivered to Lebanon. Although the content of this cargo is officially unknown, the fact that smoking has been strictly prohibited in the vicinity of the ship, which is docked in an area not used for loading and unloading, is raising suspicions. The fact that the ship turned off its AIS on Dec 13, 2024, off Rabat led to the issue being followed with suspicion. Official Moroccan sources said they knew nothing about the ship and did not provide any information on the matter. Neither has Spain made any statement, despite the proximity of the port of docking to Melilla. Given the port of departure and the destination, it is thought to carry rather weapons and/or explosives, without any confirmation in this regard. The alarm about the presence of the ship in the port of Nador was raised by the Association of the Great Rif for Human Rights, led by activist Said Chramti, who expressed his concern due to the lack of official communication from entities such as the National Port Agency and the company Marsa Maroc. From the first moment, a strict surveillance was mounted around the ship, which, as it does not have the AIS activated, does not appear in this port.