On Feb 4, 2025, the 'Argyll Flyer', serving on the route Gourock-Dunoon, suffered a technical issue with the starboard side main engine. As a consequence, the scheduled departures from Gourock at 12:15 p.m. and Dunoon at 12:45 p.m. had to be cancelled..The following sailings from Gourock at 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p..m. and from Dunoon at 1:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. were operated as per timetable. After the technical issue has been resolved, the normal timetable has resumed.
News
AIDABLU
Misc. for ports and Vessels
The 'Aidablu', en route from San Sebastian de la Gomerato Arrecife, requested the medevac of a passsenger on the night of Feb 4. The SAR helicopter Helimer 202 was deployed to the ship, which was sailing 26 nautical miles from Arrecife, by Salvamento Marítimo. The affected woman was safely hoisted on board and taken to the airport of #Lanzarote, where an ambulance was waiting for further transport to hospital for medical care on a higher level.
Vladivostok
Misc. for ports and Vessels
The typhoon Maysak crushed onto the port of Vladivostok on Sep 3, 2020, wreaking havoc at the Navy base and in the commercial port. A floating dock in the base broke off her moorings, drifted along the piers and hit berthed submarines and other ships. The amount of damage was yet unknown. The container terminal at the ommercial port was flooded. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=50&v=Yr8JHgunKNY&feature=emb_title
FRESAN
Casualty
On Feb 4, 2025, the 'Fresán' suffered a mechanical failure and went adrift four nautical miles from Estaca de Bares. The CCS of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR boat 'Salvamar Shaula' to assist, which took the fishing vessel in tow and safely pulled it to the port of Cariño.
COLOR FANTASY
Misc. for ports and Vessels
On Feb 4, the 'Color Fantasy', en route from Kiel to Oslo, requested the medevac of a sick passenger. At 5.46 p.m. an SAR helicopter of the Danish Armed Forces in Skrydstrup had reached the ferry, which was sailing north of the island Langeland at that time, and hoisted the patient on board. He was then transported to Odense and transferred to a hospital for further medical care.
Paramaribo
Misc. for ports and Vessels
The Maritime Authority of Suriname has issued the following 2 Notices to Mariners: 1. "From September 5, 2020 to January 6, 2021, the Noble Sam Croft drillship will conduct exploration drillings off the coast of Suriname at the drilling location 07 ° 23 "401 N - 55 ° 55" 264 W (WGS 84). For safety reasons the shipping should keep a safe distance of 1000 (one thousand) metres from thenNoble Sam Croft. The Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) that will assist during the operations are: Southern Tide, States Tide and Polaris. Please note: • Communication is through VHF, all international channels 13, 16, 69, 72. • There is a SAFETY ZONE of 1000 (one thousand) metres from the drilling site. • The Noble Sam Croft is not maneuverable and will display the relevant characters. All ships should take notice of the above mentioned." 2. "The drillship Maersk Developer will conduct exploration drilling of the Coast of Suriname from September 19th till December 3rd, 2020 at the drilling location 07° 21’.270 N – 055° 33’.247 W (WGS 84). For safety reasons vessels should keep a safe distance of 1000 (one thousand) meters from the drillship. The Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) that will assist during the operations are MV Bourbon Topaz, MV Gerard Tide, MV Felton Tide and MV National Energy Explorer. Please note: • Communication is through the VHF channels 16 and 77. • There is a SAFETY ZONE of 1000 (one thousand) meters from the drilling site. • Maersk Developer is not maneuverable and will display the relevant characters. All ships should take notice of the above mentioned."
URREBURU PRIMERO
Casualty
On Feb 4, 2025, the "Urreburu I" contacted the CCS Bilbao of Salvamento Marítimo to inform that it had suffered an engine failure next to the lighthouse of the Arriluze jetty and was being dragged by the current. The fishing vessel requested towing assistance. The CCS Bilabo mobilized the 'Salvamar Alcyone', which took it in tow and safely pulled it to the port of Getxo.
LOCH RANZA
Casualty
Due to the ongoing technical issue with the main engine, the service of the 'Loch Ranza' was still liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice on Feb 4. The crew was monitoring the issue with the main engine, while the sailings were expected to operate. On Feb 3, the final sailing of the day departed from Tayinloan to Gigha at 04:30 p.m., and the vessel then had returned to the Gigha South pier for repairs. On Feb 5 the technical issue has been resolved, and the ship was sailing according to schedule.
Beirut
Misc. for ports and Vessels
The Lebanese army on Sep 3 found a further 4.35 tonnes of the explosive ammonium nitrate a month after 2,750 tonnes of the substance exploded in the harbour and destroyed large parts of the city. The explosive substance was found in a warehouse immediately outside one of the entrances to the port, and engineers from the army took care of it. Simultaneously with the new discovery, it emerged that the outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab told the head of the investigation of the catastrophic explosion that he knew of the existence of the large amount of ammonium nitrate at the port before the explosion. 25 suspects have been arrested so far, including the port's chief of staff Hassan Koraytem and customs chief Badri Daher. Among the others arrested were also three Syrian workers who carried out welding work at the warehouse, where the huge amount of ammonium nitrate was stored, on the day the explosion took place. Up to 200 were killed and about 6,500 injured in the blast, causing damage to a double-digit billion.
