The US Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy offloaded $44.2 million worth of cocaine in San Diego, on the morning of Sep 12, 2024. The 'Yellowknife (HMCS-706)' and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment team had interdicted more than 3,100 lbs. of cocaine approximately 430 miles southwest of Acapulco on Sep 5 during a successful patrol in the Eastern Pacific. Multiple U.S. agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security, are collaborating in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, all play a role in counter-narcotic operations. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3904327/photo-release-coast-guard-royal-canadian-navy-offload-442-million-worth-of-drug/
News
AM PRIDE
On the morning of Sep 12, 2024, a fire broke out aboard the 'AM Pride', with 15 crew members on board, about 48.5 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay, Western Cape Province. At 10.30 a.m. the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at SAMSA in Cape Town, received a distress call from PetroSA (Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa) stating that the messroom was on fire, and the ship required urgent assistance. The MRCC issued a MayDay relay, upon which two vessels, the 'Angelic Peace' and 'Thunderbird', which were sailing nearby, respnded. The PetroSA deployed a helicopter to the scene. The weather conditions were challenging with strong winds and high swells. However, the helicopter was able to hoist the crew, which had abandoned ship onto the life rafts, aboad. Eight of the castayways were brought to the FA platform, and seven more flown to George, to be shifted to Cape Town on Sep 13. It was planned to tow the damaged vessel to a safe location by the Emergency Towing Vessel 'Mkhuseli'.
Richards Bay
Moves are afoot for a new multi-billion-rand liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification terminal to be established at the port of Richards Bay by 2024, but state-owned Transnet wants the private sector to be the main investor and operator of the facility. The plan was revealed on Tuesday as Transnet announced the signing of a cost-sharing agreement with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to jointly fund a feasibility study into the terminal project. The IFC has committed $2 million (around R28 million) as part of the cost-sharing agreement. The move comes as Transnet looks to bolster South Africa’s LNG infrastructure, both at the country’s ports and within its pipelines business.
Napier
Ships could continue to be turned away from Napier Port for the next few days as an "unprecendented" swell hammers Hawke's Bay. Clifton Beach was closed by Hastings District Council on Wednesday and Napier City Council closed the Marine Parade viewing platform after tourists were drenched by a heaving sea on Wednesday morning. MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes said a slow building pressure system out to the east of Hawke's Bay had ramped up the seas, causing swells of close to 4m. McInnes said the 4m swells had the potential to "cause a bit of havoc on the coast" as it could possibly continue until Saturday morning. "The main thing that is causing the big waves is the easterly winds that are occur. "With a large space and a slow build-up it leaves time for some quite nice swells to develop," McInnes said. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12252333
SALVAMAR ALKAID
On Sep 12 the sailing yacht 'Mimo', with three people on board, suffered engine failure and problems with the sails at the height of the entrance jetty of the marina of Mazagón. The boat requested assistance, and the CCS Huelva of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Alkaid', which took the yacht in tow and safely pulled it to the courtesy pontoon of the marina. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1834253242101842210
PELICAN OF LONDON
Mr. Glover, a professional seafarer and a volunteer relief cook, was above the legal limit for duty on board the 'Pelican of London' when he fell to his death into the dry dock of Sharpness Docks in Gloucestershire, on the evening of Oct 2, 2023. A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report into the death said the vessel's drug and alcohol policy did not specify parameters for crew returning on board from recreational time ashore. The report recommended the vessel's owners, Seas Your Future, to review and amend the fleet policy and procedure for dealing with drugs and or alcohol. The MAIB said drug and alcohol policies in place did not help crew members recognise the limits that applied to crew returning from recreational time ashore. The report also found there was no safe means of access to the vessel from the gangway and on board training and risk assessments did not mitigate the risk of fall from the area. Seas Your Future, a charity who take young people from disadvantaged backgrounds on tall ship voyages, were also recommended to amend and review their policy and training for the rigging and approval of the gangway when used and their risk assessment procedure. Glover had lost his balance as he went to step down from the inboard end of the gangway onto the top step of the bulwark ladder when returning on board the vessel. His fall was neither prevented by the guard rope or by the gangway net. Under the influence of alcohol, and likely suffering from cold water shock, he was unable to climb out of the water and rapidly succumbed to drowning. The report also said how his absence was not noted until the following morning, with a search later taking place. His body was recovered by police divers on the afternoon of Oct 3. Following the incident, Seas Your Future have made a number of changes - including introducing an approval process for rigging and making the gangway safe, fitted bulwark stanchions to provide secure handholds when joining and departing the ship and revised the drug and alcohol policy. They have also made amendments to the SMS and emergency procedures, including for missing persons.
Keelung
Hong Kong-based Dream Cruises’ World Dream cruise ship made its first port call to Keelung on July 8 and tourism operators have said that the port could receive a visit by Royal Caribbean International’s new Spectrum of the Seas in 2021. With gross tonnage (GT) of 151,300, the World Dream is the largest ship ever to visit Keelung Port, the Keelung Harbor Bureau said on Sunday, July 21. Tourism operators have said that the 169,379GT Spectrum of the Seas could set a new record if it makes an anticipated port call in 2021.
Chittagong Shipbreakers
Bangladesh has become the top dumping ground for discarded ships in the world with the country dismantling the highest number of vessels in the first half (January-June) of the current year, according to a report of the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, a leading NGO coalition campaigning for clean and safe ship recycling.
SALVAMAR ALGENIB
The Spanish flagged fishing vessel 'Belmonte Rodríguez' suffered an engine fault on Sep 12 with three 3 crew members on board. The ship was located about three nauticla miles southeast of the port of Garrucha. The CCS Almería of Salvamento MArítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Algenib' to assist, which took the vessel in tow and safely pulled it to the port of Garrucha. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1834266469762244811
MSC APOLLO
South African authorities were investigating the oil spill in Algoa Bay, believed to have leaked from the 'MSC Apollo' , which anchored in the bay on the afternoon of Sep 7. Another vessel in the region had first detected the spill after spotting oil-like blobs and an oily sheen on the water. Early examinations by response teams found that the oily substance came from the 'MSC Apollo' at around 5 p.m. As part of the response efforts, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF) requested oil spill trajectory modelling by contacting the vessel’s insurers. As of Sep 12, the ship remained stationary in pos. S 33° 52' N 025° 43' E. The class society for the vessel, RINA, was involved representing the flag state, Cyprus, and dealing with technical issues on the vessel. A thorough inspection will be conducted to identify the source of the oil leak. The vessel will proceed to the port when dock space becomes available. Rangers searching a bird sanctuary have found a few oiled birds but overall, the spill appeared to be fairly limited in scope. No oil has yet been seen on the beaches and they were unable to locate an oil strain in an overflight of the area. Rangers accessing St. Croix Island, a bird preserve approximately five miles offshore, however, identified six oiled penguins the South Africa Maritime Safety Authority reported. Three of the birds were heavily oiled while three lightly oiled. The penguins were captured and transported to the local SANCCOB facility for treatment. However, SAMSA reported two additional oiled penguins evaded capture. Efforts were ongoing to locate and capture them. Report with photos: https://maritime-executive.com/article/oiled-birds-found-as-south-africa-investigates-spill-from-msc-vessel
San Juan
Two more cruise ships bypassed scheduled stops in san Juan as demonstrators have been calling for the resignation of Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. The loss of tourism is impacting the island's economy. Tourism officials said the two ships would have generated a $1.3 million economic impact. Officials estimated the island missed out on a combined $760,000 from the Seaside and Equinox on Monday
Sines
The Portuguese government announced an investment of 547 million euros in the expansion of the Port of Sines in the southwest of the country and an agreement to extend its concession from 2029 to 2049. The agreement was reached last week between Portugal and PSA Singapore for the completion of the 3rd phase of expansion of Terminal XXI, so as to greatly increase its capacity and give another 20 years of operations in Portugal to PSA Singapore. The Sines port, 58 nautical miles south of Lisbon, is one of the major European ports and the great hub port of the Iberian-Atlantic front.