The 'Sea Horizon' was detained on April 8, 2025, in Tekirdag with 29 deficiencies, eight of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - International Oil Pollution Prevention Expired 2) Certificate & Doc - Cargo Ship Safety Construction (incl exemp) Expired 3) Certificate & Doc - Cargo Ship Safety Equipment (incl exemp) Expired 4) Certificate & Doc - Document of Compliance Invalid 5) Certificate & Doc - Ballast Water Management Certificate Expired 6) Pollution Prevention - Ballast Water Management Plan Missing 7) Safety of navigation - Voyage data recorder Missing 8)) Emergency systems - Emergency lighting, batteries and switches Insufficient The vessel was released again on April 10. As of April 11, it remained stationary at its mooring in pos. 40° 57' N 028° 50' E. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
News
CG JAMES
The 'James' offloaded more than 44,550 pounds of cocaine and 3,880 pounds of marijuana valued at approximately $509.9 million in Port Everglades on April 9, 2025. This patrol resulted in 11 interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the detainment of 34 suspected drug traffickers who were transferred ashore to face federal prosecution. All of these interdictions have been tied to criminal investigations by federal partners and are linked to transnational criminal and foreign terrorist organizations including the Clan del Golfo, Sinaloa Cartel, and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion. On Jan. 5, the 'James'’ embarked unmanned aircraft system (drone) spotted a suspicious vessel approximately 260 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The 'James'’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehending three suspected smugglers and seizing more than 2,025 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 6, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted three suspicious go-fast vessels approximately 280 miles off the coast of Ecuador. James simultaneously intercepted the three go-fast vessels, with the help from the embarked UAS and Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew, The 'James'’ boarding teams interdicted the vessels, apprehending nine suspected drug traffickers and seizing more than 13,960 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 7, a maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspicious low-profile go-fast vessel approximately 330 miles off the coast of Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.The ' James'’ embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to compel the non-compliant vessel to stop, and the boarding team apprehended three suspected drug traffickers and seized over 8,240 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 11, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations aircrew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 275 miles off the coast of Ecuador. A 'James'’ boat crew and the Coast Guard Cutter 'Stone'’s embarked HITRON aircrew interdicted the go-fast vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing more than 3,385 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 18, the Coast Guard Cutter 'Mohawk’' detected a suspicious go-fast vessel, approximately 185 miles off the coast of Ecuador. After the suspected smugglers jettisoned the presumptive narcotics into the water, James’ small boat chased down the fleeing go-fast from 60 nautical miles away while Mohawk’s crew recovered the jettisoned bales. James’ boarding teams interdicted the go-fast vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing approximately 5,950 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 30, the 'James'’ embarked UAS crew detected multiple suspicious go-fast vessels approximately 380 miles west off the coast of Peru. James’ boarding team employed surface use of force tactics to interdict the go-fast vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing more than 3,870 pounds of cocaine. On Feb 1, the 'James'’ embarked UAS crew spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel operating approximately 280 miles off Ecuador. James’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing more than 3,630 pounds of cocaine. On Feb. 3, the 'James'’ embarked UAS crew detected multiple suspicious go-fast vessels operating 215 miles off Peru. James’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing nearly 3,490 pounds of cocaine. On Feb. 15, a CBP-AMO aircrew spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel, operating 260 miles off Costa Rica. The 'James'’ embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to compel the non-compliant vessel to stop. James’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehending four suspected drug traffickers and seizing nearly 3,880 pounds of marijuana. The following assets and crews assisted James in the interdiction operations: - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC 913); - U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Jacksonville; - U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-Pacific (PAC-TACLET); - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) aircrews: - Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S). Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4150439/coast-guard-offloads-nearly-510-million-in-illegal-narcotics-interdicted-in-eas/
LUNITA
The 'Lunita' remained under investigation in South Korea after authorities found a huge quantity of cocaine on board. The bulk carrier arrived at Okgye Port in Gangneung, Gangwon Province on April 1. It was inspected on April 2 by South Korean officials from the Korea Coast Guard and Seoul Regional Customs Office. The search followed a tip from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations. The authorities found 50 tightly packed bundles of cocaine, each weighing about 20 kilograms, hidden in the vessel’s engine room. In total, the drugs weighed two metric tons. The Korea Customs Service estimated the street value at a staggering $679.6 million. All 20 crew members on the ship were Filipinos and remained on board the vesse, having not been formally detained or charged. The South Korean authorities were still investigating. If they find that the crew members were involved in trafficking the drugs, then charges and possible detention may follow. The possibility that only one person could be responsible, or that the drugs may have been placed on board at a previous port, was not ruled out either. The Norwegian shipowner, J.J. Ugland Companies, confirmed the drug seizure in a public statement on April 3. The company said it is still unclear how the drugs were smuggled onto the vessel and stated that it had already hired a lawyer to represent the crew. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines also stepped in, promising to provide legal assistance. Government lawyers will be joining the legal team within the next two days to help the Filipino crew members. The DMW was coordinating with the DFA to ensure the crew receives all the necessary assistance. He reaffirmed that under the law, the crew members are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. The vessel remaine docked at Okgye Port.
SKY MARINE
On April 4, 2025, the 'Sky Marine' was detained in Oristano with 17 deficiencies, eleven of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Manning specified by the minimum safe manning Not as required 2) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats Damaged 3) Structural conditions - Decks - Corrosion Holed 4) Structural conditions - Ballast, fuel and other tanks 'Not as required 5) Emergency systems - Fire drills Lack of training 6) Emergency systems - Crew familiarization with Emergency system Not as required 7) Alarms - Steering gear alarms Inadequate 8)) Fire safety - Jacketed high pressure lines and oil leakage alarm Inoperative 9) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion Main Engine Not as required 10) Pollution Prevention - Oil filtering equipment Inoperative 11) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on April 8 and left the port en route to Annaba, where it arrived on April 10. The last detention was on Aug 22, 2024, in te port of Foynes with ten deficiencies for seven days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
CG MOHAWK
The 'James' offloaded more than 44,550 pounds of cocaine and 3,880 pounds of marijuana valued at approximately $509.9 million in Port Everglades on April 9, 2025. This patrol resulted in 11 interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the detainment of 34 suspected drug traffickers who were transferred ashore to face federal prosecution. All of these interdictions have been tied to criminal investigations by federal partners and are linked to transnational criminal and foreign terrorist organizations including the Clan del Golfo, Sinaloa Cartel, and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion. On Jan. 5, the 'James'’ embarked unmanned aircraft system (drone) spotted a suspicious vessel approximately 260 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The 'James'’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehending three suspected smugglers and seizing more than 2,025 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 6, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted three suspicious go-fast vessels approximately 280 miles off the coast of Ecuador. James simultaneously intercepted the three go-fast vessels, with the help from the embarked UAS and Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew, The 'James'’ boarding teams interdicted the vessels, apprehending nine suspected drug traffickers and seizing more than 13,960 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 7, a maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspicious low-profile go-fast vessel approximately 330 miles off the coast of Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.The ' James'’ embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to compel the non-compliant vessel to stop, and the boarding team apprehended three suspected drug traffickers and seized over 8,240 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 11, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations aircrew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 275 miles off the coast of Ecuador. A 'James'’ boat crew and the Coast Guard Cutter 'Stone'’s embarked HITRON aircrew interdicted the go-fast vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing more than 3,385 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 18, the Coast Guard Cutter 'Mohawk’' detected a suspicious go-fast vessel, approximately 185 miles off the coast of Ecuador. After the suspected smugglers jettisoned the presumptive narcotics into the water, James’ small boat chased down the fleeing go-fast from 60 nautical miles away while Mohawk’s crew recovered the jettisoned bales. James’ boarding teams interdicted the go-fast vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing approximately 5,950 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 30, the 'James'’ embarked UAS crew detected multiple suspicious go-fast vessels approximately 380 miles west off the coast of Peru. James’ boarding team employed surface use of force tactics to interdict the go-fast vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing more than 3,870 pounds of cocaine. On Feb 1, the 'James'’ embarked UAS crew spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel operating approximately 280 miles off Ecuador. James’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing more than 3,630 pounds of cocaine. On Feb. 3, the 'James'’ embarked UAS crew detected multiple suspicious go-fast vessels operating 215 miles off Peru. James’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehending three suspected drug traffickers and seizing nearly 3,490 pounds of cocaine. On Feb. 15, a CBP-AMO aircrew spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel, operating 260 miles off Costa Rica. The 'James'’ embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to compel the non-compliant vessel to stop. James’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehending four suspected drug traffickers and seizing nearly 3,880 pounds of marijuana. The following assets and crews assisted James in the interdiction operations: - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC 913); - U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Jacksonville; - U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-Pacific (PAC-TACLET); - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) aircrews: - Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S). Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4150439/coast-guard-offloads-nearly-510-million-in-illegal-narcotics-interdicted-in-eas/