The Italian authorities have detained the 'Sea-Watch 5' for 20 days on Sep 3, and fined up to €10,000, after having rescued 289 people on Aug 31 in four operations in international waters off Libya, after dropping them off in the port of Civitavecchia, almost 1,000 kilometres away from where the assistance request was made. Italy accused Sea-Watch of having rescued the asylum seekers at sea, without clearance from the Libyan authorities. After the Italian authorities assigned Civitavecchia as a safe port, a 17-year-old had to be medically evacuated by Maltese forces as his medical condition did not permit the long journey. The basis for the detention is the so-called Piantedosi Decree, introduced in January 2023, which deliberately attacks the work of civil rescue organisations in the Mediterranean. “The accusations made by the authorities are false: following the 1982 UNCLOS regulation, permission for the rescue is not required under international law. In addition, the state authorities in Italy, Malta and Germany were informed about the sea emergencies and rescues,” Sea-Watch 5 head of operations Chiara Milanese said. It had informed the coordination centre in Libya of the rescue, even though it does not meet necessary international standards.
News
CMA CGM BELEM
As of Sep 5, the 'CMA CGM Belem', which had lost 99 containerrs on Aug 16, remained anchored in pos. 33° 51' S 025° 45' E in the Algoa Bay port of Ngqura having her onboard cargo loads adjusted and repairs as necessary, while the 'MSC Antonia', (IMO 9398216), which had lost 46 containers and had another 305 boxes damaged on Aug 28, 29 nautical miles northeast of Port St Johns, has reached Cape Town and taken up a berth at that port’s container terminal to undergo similar treatment. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that on Aug 29 the ship’s insurer representatives in South Africa launched a five hour aerial surveillance and search for the lost containers after several sightings of floating containers along the Wild Coast area of the Eastern Cape province were reported. 19 containers were spotted at sea in an area along the Transkei Wild Coast during the aerial search, but it could not be readily established which ship they belonged to. Efforts were ongoing to search for the lost containers. Report with photos: http://africaports.co.za/#8919
DAMAR
On Sep 4, 2024, a crew member of the 'Damar' was injured in a work accident on board about 20 nautical miles northwest of Laxe. The CCS Fisterra of Salvamento Marítimo was requested to assist and mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 402. It hoisted the victim and transferred him to the A Coruña airport, where an ambulance was waiting for further transport to hospital.
MSC ANTONIA
As of Sep 5, the 'CMA CGM Belem' remained anchored in pos. 33° 51' S 025° 45' E in the Algoa Bay port of Ngqura having her onboard cargo loads adjusted and repairs as necessary, while the 'MSC Antonia', (IMO 9398216), which had lost 46 containers and had another 305 boxes damaged on Aug 28, about 29 nautical miles northeast of Port St Johns, has reached Cape Town and taken up a berth at that port’s container terminal for a comprehensive assessment and necessary repairs. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that on Aug 29 the ship’s insurer representatives in South Africa launched a five hour aerial surveillance and search for the lost containers after several sightings of floating containers along the Wild Coast area of the Eastern Cape province were reported. 19 containers were spotted at sea in an area along the Transkei Wild Coast during the aerial search, but it could not be readily established which ship they belonged to. Efforts were ongoing to search for the lost containers. Report with photos: http://africaports.co.za/#8919
LOVEBUG
The 'Lovebug' was successfully refloated and transited from roughly a half-mile off the shore between Beverly Beach and Curtis Point, Maryland, to Dorchester, New Jersey, on Aug 31. Local, state, and federal partners continued to monitor the operation during the yacht's transit, standing by to support if needed. The United States Coast Guard Sector Maryland-NCR and the Maryland Department of the Environment provided oversight of salvage efforts to ensure the safe operations while minimizing any environmental impacts from the 'Lovebug'. An oil boom was deployed around the vessel by a salvage company to mitigate any potential pollution while pollution responders from the U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland Department of the Environment were deployed to assess the situation. Partner agencies and the company hired to conduct the salvage coordinated throughout the four-week long salvage operation. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3894752/partners-complete-removal-of-aground-yacht-off-maryland/