The former RAF terrorist Ernst-Volker Staub (70) was said to have been spotted on the 'Wappen von Berlin' in Berlin on the afternoonof July 18, 2024. Passengers alerted the police, and three teams from a task force boarded the ship at around 6:15 p.m. and arrested a suspect at the Treptow Park. The man was identified at the station using the "Fast-ID" procedure, which can compare fingerprints in the police computer within minutes. It turned out that he was not the terrorist who had been wanted for decades.
News
LEGEND AQUARIUS
Indonesian authorities have busted a group of would-be meth smugglers aboard the 'Legend Aquarius' in the Riau Islands, just opposite Singapore, on July 13, 2024. The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) discovered more than 100 kilos of methamphetamine aboard the landing ship off Karimun. Three supernumeraries - all Indian nationals with Singaporean residency permits - were allegedly responsible for chartering the ship, bringing the drugs on board and concealing them during a call at a private port in Johor Bahru. The 10 Indonesian crew members were not suspects in the investigation. The three people designed a special place to store drugs hidden on the ship's deck and placed them in a fuel container. The suspects were zip-tied and compelled to help the boarding team uncover and inventory the consignment of drugs. On July 17, the three Indian nationals were displayed at a press conference in orange jumpsuits and handcuffs, along with a tabletop covered by the narcotics. If they are convicted on smuggling charges, Indonesian law provides severe penalties, up to and including death by firing squad for the most extreme cases. The three suspects are all marine engineers with academic credentials, and had resided in Singapore for at least six years. The vessel's ultimate destination was in Australia. Report with photo and video: https://maritime-executive.com/article/indonesia-busts-indian-engineers-for-smuggling-100-kilos-of-meth
SKIPPIN SUE
Okaloosa County commissioners approved a $740,000 contract to transform the fire damaged passenger ship 'Spirit of Norfolk' (IMO: 8861618) into an artificial reef along with the 'Skippin Sue', in order to enhance local marine habitats and tourism. The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved a contract on July 16, 2024, for the acquisition, preparation, and deployment of the two vessels as artificial reefs off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The $740,000 contract with the Coleen Marine Inc. will fund the transformation of the passenger ship and the tug into underwater habitats for marine life. An additional $42,000 was approved as a weather contingency, bringing the total potential project cost to $782,000. The former dinner cruise vessel was damaged by fire beyond repair. The ship will provide nearly 40 feet of relief with a 16-foot mast, making it one of the highest-profile artificial reefs in the area. Following negotiations, a formal inspection was conducted in May, and during that inspection a second vessel,the 'Skippin Sue', was also identified as a potential reef. Due to mobilization and towing costs already being covered in the cost of the 'Spirit of Norfolk' project, the cost of the second vessel was lower than similar vessel projects, and it was determined that piggybacking this vessel on the existing project was in the best interest of the artificial reef program. The tug is slated for deployment in state waters less than nine miles offshore. Its lower profile makes it suitable for shallower depths in the nearshore artificial reef system, making it ideal for scuba diving and fishing opportunities. The new reefs will provide essential habitat for numerous fish species, further enhancing Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s reputation as a premier fishing and diving destination in Florida.
NORTHERNLIGHT
The patrol team of NNS Beecroft on July 13, 2024 arrested eight suspected stowaways in two speedboats attempting to board the 'Northernlight', which was transiting the Lagos Channel. The patrol team sighted the suspects attempting to board the vessel through its rudder compartment. Upon interrogation, five suspects admitted that they attempted to board the vessel to enable them travel abroad. The suspects and speed boats have been handed over to Nigerian Immigration Service, Lagos State Port and Marine Command for further investigation.
YASA H.MEHMET
The 1st officer on the 'Yasa H. Mehmet', en route from Tuticorin to Rio Grande, fell ill while the ship was sailing off the coast of South Africa, and a medical evacuation was required. The patient was hoisted by a helicopter on July 18, 2024, and taken to the AAKKM. The response was coordinated by the MSRCC Ankara and MRCC Cape Town. Report with photos: https://x.com/denizcilikgm/status/1813845213820911745