Two men were facing charges after the 'Tyrhaug' collided with the workboat ' Frøy Loke' on Nordmøre on June 28, 2023, just outside Ringholmen in the Aure municipality. There were 31 passengers and a crew of five on board the speedboat and four people aboard the work boat. Several people were sent to hospital after the accident, including two of the employees on board the speedboat. One of these were seriously injured. One of those on board the 'Frøy Loke' was also injured in the incident. The express boat usually runs between Kristiansund and Trondheim. It was on its way to Trondheim when the accident happened. In the aftermath of the accident, the master of the fast ferry was charged with breach of Penal Code 356. The public prosecutor in Møre og Romsdal has now brought charges against two people in connection with the case under Section 356 of the Penal Code, cf. Section 355, for negligently causing damage at sea, which could have led to the loss of human life. The collision occurred because the bridge of the 'Tyrhaug' was not manned in accordance with the current procedure, and because the helmsman of the 'Tyrhaug' was not sufficiently observant of other traffic, the indictment states. The case will be heard in Møre and Romsdal district court in January. Four days have been set aside for the case. None of the lawyers for the two defendants have so far commented on the indictment. In February, the National Accident Investigation Board issued its report on the accident. According to the report, the crew of the service boat did not perceive it as abnormal that the speedboat was coming directly towards them, as this was normal, and they were obliged to give way. The crew of the service vessel then maintained the same speed and course. The navigator on the speedboat was focused on a passing sailboat and the support navigator was in another room behind the bridge. None of them should have perceived the risk of collision, the report states. On board the work boat they saw that the fast boat was approaching on a steady course and that they were going to pass close by. They assumed that the speedboat saw them and wanted clearance to pass. When they discovered that this did not work, everything happened so quickly that they did not have time to take remedial measures to avoid a collision. When the accident happened, there was only one navigator on the bridge, the Accident Investigation Board wrote in the report. The support navigator must then have stayed in the room behind the bridge and not perceive the danger of collision. If there had been two navigators present on the bridge, this would have increased the chance of observing the 'Frøy Loke', the Accident Investigation Board wrote in the report.
News
JUMBO JET
On Sep 12 at noon, during the disembarkation of passengers from the 'Jumbo Jet', the ferry moved forward, as a result of which the front part of the ramp was found inclined towards the sea with a risk of a person falling into the sea, while three passenger luggages and one baby carriage fell into the sea. One man, holding a baby. almost fell into the water but was rescued at the last moment by other passengers who pulled him back to safety. Some passengers sustained minor injuries. The ship had sailed to the port of Mykonos en route from Piraeus, Syros and Tinos with 946 passengers on board. After presenting a certificate of class maintenance by the attending classifification society to the Port Authority of Mykonos, the ship sailed with 705 passengers for Paros, Naxos and the final destination Piraeus. The captain claimed to have accidentally started the ferry, which caused the ramp to move. He was arrested by officials of the Central Port Authority of Piraeus for violation of article 291 par. 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. "Dangerous interference in the transport of means of fixed orbit" and after apologizing, following a verbal order from Mr. Protodic Prosecutor of Syros, he was released. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident. Report with video: https://greekcitytimes.com/2024/09/13/ferry-accident-at-mykonos-port-sparks-panic-and-injuries-investigation-underway/
Fos-sur-Mer
The French port of Marseille Fos plans to spend over US$22 million to reduce air emissions by extending its shoreside electrical connections to every ferry, cruise ship and repair quay in the eastern harbour. The port has also introduced speed restrictions to reduce industrial air pollution. Already available on the Corsica ferry quays, the shore power network will be expanded in two phases to cover North Africa ferry quays and the ship repair hub by 2022 and the cruise terminal between 2022 and 2025. The zero-emissions investment, which is supported by national and regional government, recognises the need to maintain the port’s economic value while improving the city’s waterside air quality.
Singapore
Phase one of the new Jurong Port Tank Terminals (JPTT) was officially opened on Monday (July 29), with Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat saying it will allow Singapore to strengthen its position as one of the world’s top bunkering ports for low-sulphur fuels. The $200 million, 16ha petrochemical terminal is a joint venture between port operator Jurong Port and German firm Oiltanking with 252,000 cubic m of clean petroleum storage capacity. From January next year, the International Maritime Organisation will prohibit ships from using fuels containing more than 0.5 per cent sulphur.
MARE DI LEVANTE
On Sep 11 at noon, the Port Authority of Zakynthos was informed by the Master of the 'Mare di Levante', that the starboard side main engine failed, while preparing for the main engine start operations. The ship had a scheduled route to the port of Kyllini with 263 passengers on board, who were forwarded to their destination by the care of the company with the 'KEfalonia'. The Port Authority of Zakynthos initially banned the ferry from sailing. Upon presentation of a a certificate about the repair of the damage by the monitoring classifcation, the prohibition was lifted.
CG RICHARD DIXON
The 'Richard Dixon' rescued 11 migrants on Sep 7, who were left stranded by smugglers on the uninhabited natural reserve of Monito Island, Puerto Rico, in the Mona Passage. The rescue involved efforts and coordination with Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) partner agencies. Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan, Puerto Rico received a communication at 10:30 a.m., from the crew of the fishing vessel 'Likeo', reporting a group of people with orange shirts who appeared to be stranded on the rocky cliffs of Monito Island. Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter to confirm the report and provide rescue assistance. The Coast Guard aircrew sighted the group on Monito and vectored-in the 'Richard Dixon' to their location. Once on scene, the favorable sea state conditions allowed the cutter Richard Dixon’s Over the Horizon boat to safely approach Monito Island. The Coast Guard crew provided lifejackets to the group of 11 migrants, six men and five women, who claimed to be Haitian nationals. The Coast Guard boat crew provide instructions to each migrant for them to hold onto a life ring wearing a life jacket and jump into the water. Once in the water, the Coast Guard boat crew safely recovered each migrant and transferred them to the cutter Richard Dixon. All 11 migrants were transferred to Ramey Sector U.S Border Patrol agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3903920/coast-guard-rescues-11-haitian-migrants-left-stranded-by-smugglers-on-monito-is/
Dubrovnik
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the City of Dubrovnik have partnered to introduce sustainable tourism management practices that will preserve the Croatian city’s cultural heritage. CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead and Dubrovnik’s Mayor Mato Franković signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which outlines plans to make Dubrovnik a model of sustainable tourism for the Adriatic region. All plans focus on investment, collaboration and best practices that will benefit both Dubrovnik’s residents and visitors. “Today’s agreement validates the work we have already done with Mayor Franković and formalises the cruise industry’s continued commitment to the City of Dubrovnik and its people,” said Craighead.
Sihanoukville
Congestion at Cambodia’s top port is creating supply chain disruptions. In a note to clients German containerline Hapag-Lloyd noted that terminal productivity at Sihanoukville port has deteriorated due to port and yard congestion. Feeder services and turnaround times are affected and feeder space is tight. In an effort for medium term improvement of this situation, the port is building an extended yard for additional storage space. “Before the new container yard is completed, port congestion may persist,” Hapag-Lloyd warned.
CHERRY TONDA
The 'Cherry Tonda', en route from Pasir Gudang to Barcelona, has rescued 38 migrants from a precarious boat 45 nautical miles south of Gavdos. After the Greek Coast Guard was informed, they were transferred to a lifeboat and safely transported to the port of Karave Gavdos. Subsequently, they were transferred by a passenger ferry to the port of Chora Sfakion, from where they were transferred by bus to a temporary accommodation area in the area of Agia Chania. The Central Port Authority of Chania, which was conducting the preliminary investigation, seized the inflatable motorized dinghy.
AYA
The Ukraine President Zelenskiy accused Russia of attacking the 'Aya', with 23 Syrian crew members on board and carrying 26,550 tons of wheat in the Black Sea en route from Chornomorsk, where it sailed on Sep 11, 2024, to Egypt, 30 nautical miles away from the town of Sf. Gheorghe, within Romania's Exclusive Economic Zone, at 11.03 p.m. The captain requested a change of course towards Constanța for an assessment of the damages. The maritime surveillance ship 'MAI 0201', which was on patrol mission, was sent to the bulk carrier in coordination with the Romanian Naval Authority, in order to provide assistance in case needed. After communicating with the captain, he did not request assistance. So far, there has been no need for intervention by the border police. The ship was moored off Constanta on Sep 12. The president condemned the attack as being "brazen" and a violation of international norms, endangering global food security and navigational freedom. Ukrainian officials have claimed that the Kh-22 missiles that struck the vessel were launched by Russian Tupolev Tu-22 bombers. The vessel suffered damage on its port side, including its crane and the cargo hold. No injuries were reported among the crew. If confirmed, the act of aggression would escalate tensions between Russia, and NATO military alliance, as the attack was allegedly carried out near the mouth of the Danube River, close to the waters of Romania, Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the Russian armed forces' attack, calling it an unprecedented escalation of Russia's actions in its illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine. The ministry also emphasized that the deliberate targeting of a commercial ship is a serious violation of international humanitarian law governing naval warfare, and firmly urged the Russian Federation to cease all attacks on commercial vessels and to respect the freedom of navigation. The Romanian Ministry of Defense echoed the condemnation, adding that freedom of navigation in the Black Sea must be protected. Ukraine will immediately notify the UN and the International Maritime Organization of the attack which violates a UNGA resolution and threatens freedom of navigation and food security and was an assault on freedom of navigation and global food security, in violation of UN General Assembly Resolution A.1183. Reports with photos: https://www.romania-insider.com/ukrainian-wheat-ship-hit-russian-missile-near-romanian-waters-2024 https://unn.ua/en/news/ukraine-will-inform-the-un-and-the-international-maritime-organization-about-russias-attack-on-a-civilian-vessel-in-the-black-sea-mfa
Tanger-Med
The Tanger Med port has emerged as the biggest port in Africa in terms of container capacity, surpassing Africa’s bigger ports like Durban (South Africa) and Mombasa (Kenya). The Tanger Med port now connects Morocco to 77 countries and 186 ports around the world. The Tanger Med II has two new container terminals – TC3 and TC4 – with an additional 6 million container capacity. The TC3, which is operated by Morocco’s main port operator Marsa Maroc, has a capacity of 1 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units). The TC4, which is operated by the Netherlands-based APM Terminals, has a capacity of 5 million TEUs. According to the Tanger Med Port Authority, with its new terminals, Tanger Med port will have a capacity of processing 9 million containers, 7 million passengers, 1 million vehicles and 700,000 trucks. Thanks to its extensions, Tanger Med port has now become the largest port in the Mediterranean region, surpassing some of the region’s top ports like Algeciras (Spain), Valencia (Spain) and Gioia (Italy). The port is located 40 kilometers east of the Moroccan town of Tangier, which is a gateway to both Europe and Africa. “Our aim is to develop an effective port platform integrated with transshipment activities, imports and exports,” Tanger Med Port Authority said on its website. The Tanger Med port has become vital for Morocco’s economy as it handled 317 billion Moroccan dirhams (US$33.14 billion) worth of exports and imports in 2018. It processed an overall tonnage of 52.24 tonnes last year.
Dhamra
French oil and gas giant Total SA has taken a 50 per cent stake in Dhamra LNG Terminal Pvt Ltd (DLTPL), a unit of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), which is constructing a 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) LNG regasification terminal at its port located at Dhamra in Odisha’s Bhadrak district.