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On Feb 3, 2025, the 'Chrysalis', which had been targeted by the Houthis on July 12, 2024, made its first transit through the Suez Canal. The tanker had been attacked while it was entering the Red Sea. Later as it transited the Bab el-Mandeb, they launched drones for a second attack on the ship. The Houthis announced they would honor the Gaza cease-fire reached in January and suspended their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. While many of the major shipping lines have taken a wait-and-see attitude stressing their focus on security the Suez Canal Authority is anxious to restore traffic. The 'Chrysalis' was ballasting from Seka to the Sidi Kerir oil terminal in Alexandria, eight months after the Houthis had claimed to have heavily damaged the vessel due to its association with Israel. The tanker s registered in Liberia and reported to be owned by Turkish interests. Report with photos: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/tanker-targeted-by-houthis-returns-to-suez-as-canal-seeks-more-traffic

The “Dominica” has assisted a sailing vessel with three Spanish crew members on board on the Atlantic coast on Jan 30, 2025. The vessel was en route to Praia (Cape Verde), off Mauritania, when it received a notice from the National Rescue Coordination Centre (CNCS) requesting assistance in the search for a sailing vessel whose radio beacon had been activated. At 2:50 p.m. UTC, the vessel “Dominica”, which was carrying a cargo of bulk cement, diverted to the position, and assisted the yacht crew amid adverse weather conditions, who boarded the vessel safely. On Feb1 1, the three sailors were accompanied to the Spanish Consulate in Praia by the immigration authorities and the shipping agency, after verifying their good condition.

- there is an access control system for the port: registration at www.hafen-lueneburg.de - special services: drinking water, shore power, acceptance of domestic sewage, acceptance of washing water on request

The coast guard found signs of an accident on the British oil tanker Orange Victoria which was seized in COCHIN after the accident involving a fishing boat on the coast of Vizhinjam The Fort Kochi Coastal Police and the Marine Mercantile Division conducted an inspection of the ship anchored in the open sea on Saturday morning .The paint on this part has been collected by scientific experts for scientific examination . Captain Nikhil told the Coastal Police that they were not aware that the ship had collided with the boat . There are 23 sailors on board . The ship while en route from Singapore to Indian port, presumably struck fiberglass fishing boat 46 nm off COCHIN at night Mar 18. boat was damaged, all 6 crew safe. Hull paint samples are taken, to conduct lab analysis

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) unveiled the design for the new Francis Scott Key Bridge almost a year after it was hit by the 'Dali', causing it to collapse. "Today, we take an important step toward recovering from the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse that has affected not just Maryland's economy, but the nation's economy. While we mark the unveiling of the new bridge design, we continue to honor the six Marylanders who lost their lives while serving our state and their families who carry their legacy forward. Together, we will show the world what it means to be Maryland Tough and Baltimore Strong," said Governor Moore. The proposed bridge design honors the architectural tradition of the original Key Bridge. The new bridge will also be constructed in accordance with the most advanced industry standards and the very best in infrastructure design, usng the best materials available and employ many Marylanders to build it. The cable stay design of the new bridge will allow the federal shipping channel to expand from 700 ft. to 1,000 ft. wide. The base of the bridge will also be raised to 230 ft., which is a 45-foot increase to accommodate ship traffic. The roadway will still be two lanes wide going in each direction. Other pier support structures will be implemented to secure the structure. In spring 2025, demolition will begin to remove the remaining pillars of the old Francis Scott Key Bridge. Immediately after that, construction will begin. In Nov 2024, the former president included money for the Key Bridge in a $100 billion disaster fund request sent to Congress. By Dec, Maryland lawmakers announced that federal funding would cover the full cost of rebuilding the bridge as quickly as possible. The provision also ensures that the federal taxpayers will be reimbursed through proceeds from insurance payments and litigation taken on by the Department of Justice, the Maryland Attorney General and others. In August 2024, the MDTA approved a $73 million contract with Kiewit Infrastructure Company for the design and construction of a new bridge. Pre-construction began in Jan 2025, and the rebuild is expected to be completed by fall 2028. Kiewit Infrastructure estimated that the project will cost about $2 billion. The pre-construction activities include inspecting about 1,100 homes and businesses in nearby communities, scanning the riverbed, collecting soil samples and surveying. In January, the MDTA also approved a $75 million contract with the Bridging Maryland Partnership for General Engineering Consultant services. The partnership will perform planning, engineering, construction, management and program support for the rebuild project. Report with photo and video: https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-key-bridge-collapse-design-new-construction/

The captain and chief mate of the 'Tyrhaug' have been sentenced to 90 and 45 days in prison on probation on Feb 4. In June 2023, the 'Tyrhaug' and the workboat "Frøy Loke" collided in the area between Smøla and Aure. Four people have been injured in the accident. The court ruled that the two Trøndelag residents in their 40s and 50s acted grossly negligently on the trip between Kristiansund and Trondheim: There was not much traffic on the Edøyfjord, and it was not a matter of a momentary inattention or a misallocation of attention in a demanding traffic situation. Nor were there other reasons that can explain why no lookout was kept. It was incomprehensible that the 'Frøy Loke' was not observed in time before the collision, and the court had no doubt that the collision was caused by grossly negligent navigation. The two must also pay a total of 60,000 Norwegian crowns in fines, and 120,000 Norwegian crowns in compensation to one of the passengers who was subsequently partially disabled as a result of the accident. According to the indictment, the collision occurred because the bridge on the speedboat was not manned in accordance with applicable procedure, and because the bridge guard was not sufficiently observant of other traffic. Both of the two convicted have pleaded guilty. Report with photo and video: https://www.nrk.no/mr/skipperen-og-styrmannen-domde-til-fengsel-etter-hurtigbatkollisjon-1.17251937

The French container giant CMA CGM is working on a plan to rebuild the port of Beirut within three years. Political stalemate in Lebanon has meant that no decisions have been made after the huge explosion that killed 200 in 2020. CMA CGM first presented the plan to the Lebanese authorities in September, which includes the reconstruction of damaged quay facilities and warehouses, along with a port expansion and digitization. The total price was estimated to be between 400 and 600 million. dollar. Another offer was announced on April 9, 2021. German companies presented a multi-billion dollar plan to rebuild the port and surrounding districts, which was also devastated by the violent explosion.

Crew change have resumed at the port of Chittagong, albeit to a limited extent. In case of joining, covid negative certificate is required. In case of sign off, the crew will have to undergo a covid test at a local government approved hospital. Which takes a total of 3 days to stay in a hotel. Then he has to show immigration and airlines authorities when he gets on the plane.  We've learned from talking to a crew service provider that this process is safe for all parties. NC Shipping's operations manager said Chittagong port service is now much more efficient and less time consuming. All rules are governed by international standards. "Even in the covid pandemic lockdown, we get international quality service from Chittagong port which has played a positive role in the operation of our ships and maintaining the dynamism of the maritime trade," he added. He thinks crew change approval is part of a continuous process. This is a valiant decision of the government and port authorities 

The "Song of America" was the largest tourist cruise ship in the world when it was delivered in November 1982 and emblem of Royal Caribbean International, which became an icon of the American industry based in Miami on trips through the Caribbean. The construction number 431 from the Wärtsilä shipyard, Helsinki, was launched on Nov 26, 1981 and on Nov 11, 1982 she was delivered. After crossing the Atlantic, on Dec 5, she began her first voyage from the cruise terminal in Miami In May 1999, as Royal Caribbean expanded with ever larger ships, the ship “Song of America” was sold to Sun Cruises, a subsidiary of Airtours, and renamed “Sunbird”. During this period, it frequently came to the Canary Islands with British tourists. In July 2004, it was resold to Fulmar Shipping Co., a Louis Cruise Line company, and in May 2005 it was chartered to Thomson Cruises, renamed “Thomson Destiny”, being registered in Cyprus and focused on British tourism, with great success in terms of occupancy during its winter campaigns in the Canary Islands. In May 2012 it was registered under the name of the company Destiny Trading Opco Llc, being flagged in Malta and renamed “Louis Olympia” and “Celestyal Olympia” in Nov 2014, when the Louis Cruise Lines rebranded itself, making short trips around the Greek islands. Then came the coronavirus health and financial crisis, and the ship remained moored from March 2020 until June 2021, when it resumed its activity. At the end of 2023, she was moored in the port of Lavrion when Celestyal Cruises announced the acquisition of the “Celestyal Discovery”, formerly “AIDAlaura”, for replacement from March 2024. In January, the “Celestyal Olympia”, flagged in Liberia, was renamed “Bella Fortuna” and moored in Cesme, and in May she traveled to Ras Al Kahimah (UAE) until it was finally decided to scrap her. Report with photos: https://www.puentedemando.com/desguace-del-iconico-song-of-america-el-crucero-de-turismo-mayor-del-mundo-en-1982/

The captain and chief mate of the 'Tyrhaug' have been sentenced to 90 and 45 days in prison on probation on Feb 4. In June 2023, the 'Tyrhaug' and the workboat "Frøy Loke" collided in the area between Smøla and Aure. Four people have been injured in the accident. The court ruled that the two Trøndelag residents in their 40s and 50s acted grossly negligently on the trip between Kristiansund and Trondheim: There was not much traffic on the Edøyfjord, and it was not a matter of a momentary inattention or a misallocation of attention in a demanding traffic situation. Nor were there other reasons that can explain why no lookout was kept. It was incomprehensible that the 'Frøy Loke' was not observed in time before the collision, and the court had no doubt that the collision was caused by grossly negligent navigation. The two must also pay a total of 60,000 Norwegian crowns in fines, and 120,000 Norwegian crowns in compensation to one of the passengers who was subsequently partially disabled as a result of the accident. According to the indictment, the collision occurred because the bridge on the speedboat was not manned in accordance with applicable procedure, and because the bridge guard was not sufficiently observant of other traffic. Both of the two convicted have pleaded guilty. Report with photo and video: https://www.nrk.no/mr/skipperen-og-styrmannen-domde-til-fengsel-etter-hurtigbatkollisjon-1.17251937

The Meyer shipyard located in Papenburg, Germany, announced, they secured an order for a new cruise ship. The new customer is NYK who placed an order for a medium size cruise ship for their brand Asuka Cruises. Full article + image: https://www.cruisedeck.de/meyer-werft-sichert-sich-neubau-auftrag/

The Cochin Port Trust handled a record 3.20 million tonnes of cargo in December 2020, a monthly record volume for it. The volume is a 10.55 per cent growth over December 2019, said Cochin Port Trust chairperson M. Beena, in a message to the employees and officials of the port trust. Container movement too touched a consistent 60,000 TEUs consecutively in the four months leading to December. The surge in the movement of cargo is being looked upon as new shoots in the port business after the plans of 2020 were washed away in the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth in cargo movement is “charting a new growth trajectory. However, we need to find new vistas for revenue generation by optimum utilisation of resources available to us,” the chairperson told the port community. The port has been recovering from the losses, which had affected it for the past decade. But the pandemic and resultant loss in business had pushed the port into the red. But the port was expected to make a recovery by the end of 2021, the chairperson said. There was optimism stemming from the fact that though there was a substantial fall in cargo movement in the first half of the current financial year, there was some recovery in the second half. The port trust was also optimistic that the inauguration of the Kochi-Mangaluru LNG pipeline earlier this month would pave the way for more gas volumes and revenue for the port. Meanwhile, figures from the Indian Ports Association showed that ports across the country suffered owing to the pandemic and its impact on the global economy. The average fall across the major ports in the country is nearly nine per cent for the period. Mumbai suffered a fall of more than 17 per cent and the Momugao traffic fell more than 23 per cent and JNPT traffic was down by over 12 per cent. Haldia Dock Complex, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, and New Mangaluru suffered lesser falls in business.