News

A new sanctions package of the US government on Feb 6, 2025, targeted the 'CH Billion', which took on more than 700,000 barrels of Iranian crude from a Tehran-owned tanker in waters off Singapore in 2024. The vessel was also used to ferry oil from Russia’s Pacific port of Kozmino. The fleet involved in that trade was heavily sanctioned last month, and two other tankers, the 'Gioiosa' and the 'Star Forest'. Separately, the Comoros-flagged tanker 'Siri' was also singled out. The already-sanctioned vessel has been operating under a disguise after its Iranian owner falsified documents and physically hid its name to conceal its identity and pass it off as a different tanker called 'New Prime'. The sanctions also targeted several entities and individuals across different countries that were involved in the trade, which was on behalf of Tehran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its sanctioned front company, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars.

A gastrointestinal illness has broken out on the 'Radiance of the Seas', according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak was reported to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on Feb 4. 89 of the 2,164 passengers onboard have been affected by the outbreak, which is around 4.1 % of the passengers. Two of the 910 crew members have also reported symptoms. The CDC did not specify what type of gastrointestinal illness it was, with the predominant symptoms reportedly being been diarrhea and vomitin. The sick passengers and crew members have been isolated from the rest of the people on the ship. The ship has also increased cleaning and disinfection procedures and collected stool specimens for testing. The present cruise of the 'Radiance of the Seas' has started on Feb 1 in Tampa and was scheduled to end on Feb 9.

A new sanctions package of the US government on Feb 6, 2025, targeted the 'CH Billion', which took on more than 700,000 barrels of Iranian crude from a Tehran-owned tanker in waters off Singapore in 2024. The vessel was also used to ferry oil from Russia’s Pacific port of Kozmino. The fleet involved in that trade was heavily sanctioned last month, and two other tankers, the 'Gioiosa' and the 'Star Forest'. Separately, the Comoros-flagged tanker 'Siri' was also singled out. The already-sanctioned vessel has been operating under a disguise after its Iranian owner falsified documents and physically hid its name to conceal its identity and pass it off as a different tanker called 'New Prime'. The sanctions also targeted several entities and individuals across different countries that were involved in the trade, which was on behalf of Tehran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its sanctioned front company, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars.

On Feb 6, 2025, a person needed to be medevaced from the 'MSC Bianca Silva' in the port of Hamburg. Three tugs held the ship in position in the Park Port at around 9 a.m., and also the fire boat 'Brandirektor Westphal' went alongside. After a helicopter had hoisted the patient and transferred to a hospital for further medical care, the ship was finally towed to its intended berth at the Eurogate Terminal in the Waltershof Port for cargo operations. It left the port again on Feb 7 at 3.45 a.m., bound to Le Havre with an ETA as of Feb 9.

A new sanctions package of the US government on Feb 6, 2025, targeted the 'CH Billion', which took on more than 700,000 barrels of Iranian crude from a Tehran-owned tanker in waters off Singapore in 2024. The vessel was also used to ferry oil from Russia’s Pacific port of Kozmino. The fleet involved in that trade was heavily sanctioned last month, and two other tankers, the 'Gioiosa' and the 'Star Forest'. Separately, the Comoros-flagged tanker 'Siri' was also singled out. The already-sanctioned vessel has been operating under a disguise after its Iranian owner falsified documents and physically hid its name to conceal its identity and pass it off as a different tanker called 'New Prime'. The sanctions also targeted several entities and individuals across different countries that were involved in the trade, which was on behalf of Tehran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its sanctioned front company, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars.