A problem with the engine of the 'Queen of New Westminster' has prompted the cancellation of nearly 30 scheduled sailings on the Swartz Bay - Tsawwassen route between Sep 4 and Sep 8. The mechanical difficulty was discovered on Sep 3 on the 6 a.m. sailing to Vancouver Island, and the vessel was returned to Vancouver for repairs. As a result, initially seven scheduled sailings were called off. On the evening, BC Ferries announced further cancellations starting Sep 4. Other sailings on this route were expected to proceed as scheduled.
News
SNS 077
On the foremidday of Sep 3, a migrant boat was reported in difficulty off Cap Gris Nez. The 'Minck', which present in the area for surveillance, quickly provided emergency assistance to the boat, which was less than seven meters long, and on which nearly 70 people, mostly of Eritrean origin, crammed together, of whom barely eight were wearing a life jacket. The crew intervened as soon as it broke apart. The CROSS Gris Nez deployed several other resources to strengthen the SAR system: - The Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy based in Le Touquet (62); - The Dragon 76 helicopter of the civil security; - Two fishing vessels; - The patrol boat 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin'; - A customs helicopter and plane for the relocation of the shipwrecked; - A rescue boat of the 'Abeille Normandie'; - The patrol boat PSP 'Cormoran'; - The semi-rigid 'SNS 6295-Président Jacques Lebrun' of the SNSM station Boulogne-sur-Mer; - The lifeboat 'SNS 077-Notre Dame de Risban' of the SNSM station Calais; - Medical teams (SMUR and SDIS) on board the resources deployed. More than 50 castaways were taken care of. Several of them required emergency medical care. An advanced medical post (PMA) has been set up in Boulogne-sur-Mer to care for the victims. 65 boat people were recovered, 12 of them were confirmed deceased,, including 10 women and two men. Half of the victims were minors. Reports with photos: https://www.stern.de/panorama/weltgeschehen/aermelkanal--zwoelf-tote-bei-bootsunglueck-vor-der-kueste-nordfrankreichs-35033958.html https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/03/europe/english-channel-migrant-boat-deaths-intl/index.html https://www.la-croix.com/france/migrants-nombreux-morts-apres-un-naufrage-dans-la-manche-20240903 https://www.koha.net/fr/bote/430520/te-pakten-10-te-vdekur-nga-fundosja-e-nje-anijeje-ne-kanalin-anglez
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
On the foremidday of Sep 3, a migrant boat was reported in difficulty off Cap Gris Nez. The 'Minck', which present in the area for surveillance, quickly provided emergency assistance to the boat, which was less than seven meters long, and on which nearly 70 people, mostly of Eritrean origin, crammed together, of whom barely eight were wearing a life jacket. The crew intervened as soon as it broke apart. The CROSS Gris Nez deployed several other resources to strengthen the SAR system: - The Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy based in Le Touquet (62); - The Dragon 76 helicopter of the civil security; - Two fishing vessels; - The patrol boat 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin'; - A customs helicopter and plane for the relocation of the shipwrecked; - A rescue boat of the 'Abeille Normandie'; - The patrol boat PSP 'Cormoran'; - The semi-rigid 'SNS 6295-Président Jacques Lebrun' of the SNSM station Boulogne-sur-Mer; - The lifeboat 'SNS 077-Notre Dame de Risban' of the SNSM station Calais; - Medical teams (SMUR and SDIS) on board the resources deployed. More than 50 castaways were taken care of. Several of them required emergency medical care. An advanced medical post (PMA) has been set up in Boulogne-sur-Mer to care for the victims. 65 boat people were recovered, 12 of them were confirmed deceased,, including 10 women and two men. Half of the victims were minors. Reports with photos: https://www.stern.de/panorama/weltgeschehen/aermelkanal--zwoelf-tote-bei-bootsunglueck-vor-der-kueste-nordfrankreichs-35033958.html https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/03/europe/english-channel-migrant-boat-deaths-intl/index.html https://www.la-croix.com/france/migrants-nombreux-morts-apres-un-naufrage-dans-la-manche-20240903 https://www.koha.net/fr/bote/430520/te-pakten-10-te-vdekur-nga-fundosja-e-nje-anijeje-ne-kanalin-anglez
LAYA
The CNCS was notified by the 'Laya' with six passengers and two crew members on board, that it had been in collision with the pleasure boat 'Galup' on Sep 3, 2024, south of Menorca. The small boat had sunk. The fisherman was picked up another boat from the water and taken to shore in good condition. The CCS Palma of Salvamento Marìtimo mobilised the 'Salvamar Antares', which towed the Princes-65-yacht 'Laya' to the Mahón dry dock. The Maritime Captaincy and the Guardia Civil were informed. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1830963633133695103
SALVAMAR SUHAIL
The CNCS Madrid was notified by the pleasure boat 'Holanda' with two crew members on board on Sep 3, indicating that it was sinking six nautical miles north of the Chipiona lighthouse. The boat had run aground off the Doñana beach and managed to get ioff again with own means, but was suffering from a leak. The SAR helicopter Helimer 204 and the 'Salvamar Suhail' were mobilised to assist. The SAR boat took the 'Holanda' in tow and safely pulled it to the Chipiona marina. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1830990490533036275
HARI LEELA
On Sep 2, 2024, the 'Hari Leela', en route from Kandla, requested the medevac of a crew member approximately 30 nautical miles off the coast of Gujarat. At 11 p.m. local time, the Indian Coast Guard dispatched an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) to evacuate the injured cman. The region was on high alert due to the approaching cyclonic weather conditions. While conducting the operation, the helicopter, which had two pilots and two divers on board, was forced to make an emergency landing, which was described as a hard landing in the sea. Later, the helicopter sank. The Coast Guard launched an SAR operation to locate the missing crew members. One of them was rescued, and the search for the remaining three was ongoing. On Sep 3, two bodies were discovered in the Arabian Sea waters, One member of the crew of the crashed helicopter was still missing.
RELIANCE
Sailings between Kingston and Seattle have been canceled until further notice after the 'Reliance' suffered a blown head gasket on Aug 27, 2024, and woud be out of service until repairs have been completed. Mechanics were working to fix the engine issue. The 'Rich Passage 1' has been pulled from the Kingston-Seattle route to fill in for a broken vessel on the Bremerton-Seattle route. The ferries 'Enetai' and 'Commander' were taken off their routes after both suffering unanticipated failures in their jet propulsion system and weren’t anticipated to return to service for months. The 'Enetai' will be out of service until mid-November and the 'Commander' could be benched until early 2025, Without the backup ferries, sailings could be canceled on the Kingston and Southworth routes if one of the vessels fails. In this instance, the 'Rich Passage' will be taken from Kingston to cover for the failed Bremerton-Seattle ferry.
PSP CORMORAN
On the foremidday of Sep 3, a migrant boat was reported in difficulty off Cap Gris Nez. The 'Minck', which present in the area for surveillance, quickly provided emergency assistance to the boat, which was less than seven meters long, and on which nearly 70 people, mostly of Eritrean origin, crammed together, of whom barely eight were wearing a life jacket. The crew intervened as soon as it broke apart. The CROSS Gris Nez deployed several other resources to strengthen the SAR system: - The Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy based in Le Touquet (62); - The Dragon 76 helicopter of the civil security; - Two fishing vessels; - The patrol boat 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin'; - A customs helicopter and plane for the relocation of the shipwrecked; - A rescue boat of the 'Abeille Normandie'; - The patrol boat PSP 'Cormoran'; - The semi-rigid 'SNS 6295-Président Jacques Lebrun' of the SNSM station Boulogne-sur-Mer; - The lifeboat 'SNS 077-Notre Dame de Risban' of the SNSM station Calais; - Medical teams (SMUR and SDIS) on board the resources deployed. More than 50 castaways were taken care of. Several of them required emergency medical care. An advanced medical post (PMA) has been set up in Boulogne-sur-Mer to care for the victims. 65 boat people were recovered, 12 of them were confirmed deceased,, including 10 women and two men. Half of the victims were minors. Reports with photos: https://www.stern.de/panorama/weltgeschehen/aermelkanal--zwoelf-tote-bei-bootsunglueck-vor-der-kueste-nordfrankreichs-35033958.html https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/03/europe/english-channel-migrant-boat-deaths-intl/index.html https://www.la-croix.com/france/migrants-nombreux-morts-apres-un-naufrage-dans-la-manche-20240903 https://www.koha.net/fr/bote/430520/te-pakten-10-te-vdekur-nga-fundosja-e-nje-anijeje-ne-kanalin-anglez
WORLDCHAMPION JET
On the morning of Sep 3, the Port Authority of Naxos was informed about the injury of a 40-year-old local crew member of the 'Woldchapion Jet', while the ship was sailing from the port of Mykonos to the port of Naxos. The sailor was injured at the left leg, after falling from a low height on an internal staircase of the ship. When the ferry berthed in the port of Naxos, the injured was transferred to the General Hospital-Health Center of Naxos, for medical examinations. A preliminary investigation was being carried out by the Port Authority of Naxos, while the ship sailed for the ports of Ios and Thira in accordance with the provisions of art. 89 of the C.D.N.D. (Composition number incomplete).
SALVAMAR SPICA
On Spe 3 at 11.18 a.m, the 'Salvamar Spica' rescued 19 Moroccan migrants, among them 14 men, two women and three minors, from a precarious boat that had been located by the LPG tanker 'Syn Tabit' (IMO: 9346902), en route from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Tarragona, about 19 nautical miles southeast of Carboneras. The castawayys were taken aboard the SAR boat and disembarked in the port of Almería. The response was coordinated by the Almería Maritime Rescue Center of Salvamento Marítimo.
SALVAMAR LEO
On Sep 3 the sailing yacht 'Blue Minx' sighted a precarious boat, which had stopped 27 nautical miles east of Benidorm. The ferry 'El Djazair II' diverted to the scene and provided the occupants with food and water. The 'Blue Minx' remained in the area until the arrival of the 'Salvamar Leo', which had been deployed by the CCS Valencia of Salvamento Marítimo for further assistance, which rescues 15 people, among them one woman and one minor, and transferred them to the port of Valencia.
SOUNION
A salvage team has abandoned efforts to secure and tow away the 'Sounion' from near the Yemen coast after deciding it was too dangerous on Sep 3. It was not deemed safe for the salvors to proceed and board the vessel.After setting the tanker on fire the Houthis withdrew but have since given permission to salvage crews to approach with the intention of putting out the fires on deck and towing the ship to safety. The Suezmax tanker is fully loaded with crude oil and will become one of the world’s worst ecological disasters if the vessel explodes or otherwise breaks up and her cargo of 100 million barrels of oil escapes from her tanks. Aspides stated: “The private companies responsible for the salvage operation have concluded that the conditions were not met to conduct the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed. Alternative solutions are now being explored by the private companies.”
LEFKADA PALACE
On Sep 2, 2024, at noon, the Lefkada Port Authority was informed by the Master of the 'Lefkada Palace' about a mechanical damage to the ship's port side main engine, while it was moored at the port of Meganisi Lefkada. The ship was carrying out the scheduled route Paxos - Lefkada - Meganisi - Pisaeto Ithaca - Sami Kefallinia - Zakynthos, with 69 passengers on board, who were forwarded to their destinations by the ship's owning company. The Port Authority initially banned the ship from sailing and then granted permission to operate a single voyage, without passengers, to the port of Perigiali in Lefkada.
CARIBANA EXPRESS
On Aug 30, 2024, the 'Caribana Express' has left the port of Castellón and arrived in Vinaròs on Sep 2 after intense efforts made by the Port Authority of Castellón for the removal and transfer of the vessel. A report commissioned by the Maritime Authority by the president of PortCastelló, Rubén Ibáñez, concluded that the ship, which lost its Panamanian flag registry, was in danger of sinking in the port of Castellón with a serious risk to maritime safety and environmental pollution. Based on this report, the president of the Port Authority started all necessary procedures for its removal as a matter of urgency. Thus, he requested the court - through the State Attorney's Office - to authorize its transfer, which establishedthe port of Vinaròs as the most suitable due to the shorter navigation distance and availability of a dock. The 'Caribana Express' had occupied its berth for more than three and a half years. In Dec 2020, the Maritime Captaincy had detained the ship due to serious deficiencies found during a port state inspection due to inadequate maintenance, as well as irregularities in the crew contracts. The ship was initially docked at the Centenario dock, but was later shifted to the the inner Transversal. The commercial court subsequently declared the preventive seizure and immobilization of the ship, which was declared abandoned in Nov 2022. At this time, work was underway to proceed with the auction of the ship. The Port Authority of Castellón is finalising the tender for the auction of the Cvessel. The appraisal carried out last week estimated an approximate value of 700,000 euros. Reports with photos and video: https://castellonplaza.com/adios-a-un-problema-portcastello-traslada-el-buque-caribana-express-tras-cuatro-anos-varado https://www.diariodelpuerto.com/maritimo/portcastello-ultima-las-condiciones-para-la-subasta-del-buque-caribana-express-EL20902446 https://www.castelloninformacion.com/fin-de-una-pesadilla-el-caribana-express-trasladado-al-puerto-de-vinaros/
FOURMENTIN
On the foremidday of Sep 3, a migrant boat was reported in difficulty off Cap Gris Nez. The 'Minck', which present in the area for surveillance, quickly provided emergency assistance to the boat, which was less than seven meters long, and on which nearly 70 people, mostly of Eritrean origin, crammed together, of whom barely eight were wearing a life jacket. The crew intervened as soon as it broke apart. The CROSS Gris Nez deployed several other resources to strengthen the SAR system: - The Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy based in Le Touquet (62); - The Dragon 76 helicopter of the civil security; - Two fishing vessels; - The patrol boat 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin'; - A customs helicopter and plane for the relocation of the shipwrecked; - A rescue boat of the 'Abeille Normandie'; - The patrol boat PSP 'Cormoran'; - The semi-rigid 'SNS 6295-Président Jacques Lebrun' of the SNSM station Boulogne-sur-Mer; - The lifeboat 'SNS 077-Notre Dame de Risban' of the SNSM station Calais; - Medical teams (SMUR and SDIS) on board the resources deployed. More than 50 castaways were taken care of. Several of them required emergency medical care. An advanced medical post (PMA) has been set up in Boulogne-sur-Mer to care for the victims. 65 boat people were recovered, 12 of them were confirmed deceased,, including 10 women and two men. Half of the victims were minors. Reports with photos: https://www.stern.de/panorama/weltgeschehen/aermelkanal--zwoelf-tote-bei-bootsunglueck-vor-der-kueste-nordfrankreichs-35033958.html https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/03/europe/english-channel-migrant-boat-deaths-intl/index.html https://www.la-croix.com/france/migrants-nombreux-morts-apres-un-naufrage-dans-la-manche-20240903 https://www.koha.net/fr/bote/430520/te-pakten-10-te-vdekur-nga-fundosja-e-nje-anijeje-ne-kanalin-anglez
DIAGORAS
On Sep 2 at noon, the Port Authority of Chios was informed by the Master of the 'Diagoras' that a crew member of the ferry felt unwell. The sailor was transferred to the General Hospital of Chios for the provision of first aid, while the ship continued its planned route to Mytilini, Lemnos and Kavala.
SALVAMAR ANTARES
The CNCS was notified by the charter boat 'Laya' with six passengers and two crew members on board, that it had been in collision with the pleasure boat 'Galup' on Sep 3 south of Menorca. The small boat had sunk. The fisherman was picked up another boat from the water and taken to shore in good condition. The CCS Palma of Salvamento Marìtimo mobilised the 'Salvamar Antares', which towed the 'Laya' to the Mahón dry dock. The Maritime Captaincy and the Guardia Civil were informed. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1830963633133695103
VENTURA
The 'Venmtura', en route from Santander to Lisbon, requested the urgent evacuation of a 76-year-old passenger 22 nautical miles northeast of Estaca de Bares on Sep 3. The CCS Fisterra of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 204, which hoisted the patient and transferred him to the A Coruña airport, where an ambulance was waiting for further transport to hospital.