The 'Stone' offloaded approximately 45,600 pounds of illicit narcotics worth more than $517.5 million at Port Everglades on March 20, 2025. The seized contraband was the result of 14 interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and 35 suspected smugglers were transferred ashore to face federal prosecution in U.S. courts. On Dec. 21, 2024, the 'Stone'’s embarked aircrew from the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron detected a suspicious vessel in international waters approximately 321 miles west of Ecuador. The 'Stone'’s boarding team interdicted the go-fast vessel, apprehended three suspected smugglers and seized over 1,630 pounds of cocaine. On Dec. 22, a maritime patrol Dash-8 detected a suspicious vessel in international waters approximately 180 miles southeast of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The 'Stone'’s HITRON aircrew and boarding team interdicted the low-profile go-fast vessel, apprehended three suspected smugglers and seized approximately 12,220 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 9, a maritime patrol Dash-8 detected a suspicious vessel in international waters approximately 148 miles west of Salinas, Ecuador. The HITRON aircrew and boarding team interdicted the go-fast vessel, apprehended three suspected smugglers and seized approximately 2,370 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 28, the 'Stone'’s drone detected a suspicious vessel in international waters approximately 459 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico. Stone’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehended five suspected smugglers and seized approximately 3,885 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 30, the 'Stone'’s UAS crew detected a suspicious vessel in international waters approximately 715 miles off Mexico. A boarding team interdicted the vessel, apprehended two suspected smugglers and seized approximately 3,800 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 31, the 'Stone'’s UAS crew detected a suspicious vessel in international waters approximately 630 miles off Mexico. The HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to compel the non-compliant vessel to stop, and the boarding team apprehended three suspected smugglers and seized more than 2,565 pounds of cocaine. On Feb. 12, the UAS crew detected a suspicious vessel in international waters approximately 655 miles south of Mexico. The HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to compel the non-compliant vessel to stop, and the boarding team apprehended three suspected smugglers and seized more than 3,640 pounds of cocaine. On Feb. 18, the Coast Guard Cutter 'Mohawk' detected and boarded a sailing vessel approximately 70 miles northwest of Isla Malpelo, Colombia. A boarding team apprehended three suspected smugglers and seized approximately 635 pounds of cocaine. On Feb. 19, the 'Stone'’s UAS crew detected multiple suspicious vessels approximately 110 miles south of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to compel the non-compliant vessels to stop, and their boarding teams interdicted four go-fast vessels, apprehending eight suspected smugglers and seizing approximately 10,885 pounds of cocaine. On Feb. 25, the 'Mohawk' detected and interdicted a suspicious vessel approximately 230 miles south of Costa Rica. Mohawk’s boarding team apprehended three suspected smugglers and seized approximately 1,600 pounds of cocaine and 330 pounds of marijuana. Costa Rican authorities took custody of the fishing vessel, suspects and bulk contraband for prosecution. On March 10, the HITRON aircrew detected a suspicious vessel in international waters approximately 270 miles southeast of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to compel the vessel to stop, and Stone’s boarding team interdicted the go-fast vessel, apprehending two suspected smugglers and seizing approximately 3,980 pounds of cocaine. The transfer of custody from this case will occur at a later date. The following assets and crews were involved in the interdiction operations: - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone (WMSL 758); - 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); - Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATFS); - Eleventh Coast Guard District. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4130261/coast-guard-offloads-over-5175-million-in-illicit-drugs-interdicted-in-eastern/
News
GOTLAND
Already on Nov 5, 2024, the 'Gotland' was detained in Liverpool with ten deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Structural conditions - Steering gear Inoperative 2) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats Inoperative 3) Fire safety - Evaluation of crew performance Lack of familiarity 4) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion main engine Inadequate 5) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Inadequate 6) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again only on March 13, 2025, after 129 days,, and left Liverpool en route to the port of Hambur with an ETA as of March 23. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
LOCH SHIRA
To allow for maintenance works on the 'Loch Shira', serving on the route Largs-Cumbrae, the Ferry 'Loch Tarbert' was operate this route on March 20. Due to a reduced vehicle capacity, wait times might be increased. While the repairs were progressing, there was currently an approximately 30 min waiting tim for vehicles departing Largs aboard the 'Loch Tarbert'. After the successful completion of the works, the 'Loch Shira' finally resumed its service departing from Largs at 4:15 p.m., allowing the traffic queues to be cleared in the aftermath.
LILY
On March 13, 2025, the 'Daban', carrying Russian crude transferred from three smaller tankers that are under U.S. sanctions unloaded at a berth run by the privately-controlled Qingdao Haiye Group at the port of Qingdao, ending an unusual month-long voyage highlighting the efforts of producers and traders to keep Moscow's oil flowing despite tightened curbs. The VLCC was carrying two million barrels of Russian Sokol oil. The cargo was initially headed to the port of Yantai in Shandong province, a refining hub and top destination for oil sanctioned by the United States. Yantai, part of Shandong Port Group, rejected the cargo.The 'Daban' had transferred oil from the tankers 'Vladimir Arsenyev' on Feb 3, the 'Kapitan Kostichev' on Feb 9 and the 'Victor Konetsky' on Feb 10 at Nakhoda Bay in Russian territorial waters. These three vessels had come under U.S. sanctions on Jan 10. Nakhoda Bay is not known as a regular site for ship-to-ship transfers of oil, making the 'Daban's movements more conspicuous. The tanker is managed by Hong Kong-based Confident Apex Ltd,, while contact information for the company was not available.
DAGAT MAS
On March 3, 2025, the 'Dagat Mas' was detained in Dalian with 11 deficiencies, two of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion main engine Not as required 2) Fire safety Other (Fire safety) Other The vessel, which had arrived from Lome on Feb 1 and finally berthed on March 2, left Dalian again on March 7 and remained moored off the port in pos. 38° 53' N 121° 58' E as of March 21. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591