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Seven cayucos were assisted in the waters of the Canary Islands on the night of Jan 22, six in the El Hierro/Tenerife area and one in Gran Canaria. The total number of survivors on board was 464, plus one deceased person, to which 57 were added from a boat that arrived unassisted at El Hierro. The 'Salvamar Adhara', 'Salvamar Alpheratz' and 'Salvamar Macondo' as well as the SAR helicopter Helimer 204 were involved in the responses. Report with photos: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1882035892535148728

On Jan 21, 2025, the 'Atlas Bey' was detained in Iskenderun with 16 deficiencies, four of whch being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Fire safety - Jacketed high pressure lines and oil leakage alarm Inoperative 2) Safety of navigation - Long-range identification and tracking system Missing 3) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Expired 4) Certificate & Doc - Other (Certificates) Other. The vessel was released again on Jan 21 and left the port en route to Batumi with an ETA as of Jan 29. The last detention was on Oct 14, 2024, in Bandirma with 11 deficiencies for two days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

Agents from the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard have been checking the interior of the 'Baltic Summer' and also some containers that were unloaded but without finding drugs in the port of Vigo, where it has been docked since Jan 21. The 'Baltic Summer', managed by a German shipping company and loaded with refrigerated containers, was boarded on the high seas and escorted by members of the Civil Guard with the support of the Navy to the port of Vigo to undergo an inspection on suspicion that it was transporting a drug shipment. The ship was en route from Puerto Bolívar to St. Petersburg. The 23 crew members, of Russian and Belarusian nationality, have been arrested, but it was expected that they would be released in the next few hours.

On Jan 21, 2025, at noon, the Port Authorities of Agia Galini, Kala Limeni, Chora Sfakion and Kokkinos Pyrgos were informed by the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center of the Greek Coast Guard that the 'Future', en route from Vila do Conde to Damietta, had rescued 45 migrants, among them 43 men, one woman and one minor, 42 nautical miles south of Gavdos. The vessel approached the port of Paleochora, where the castaways were transferred to a patrol boat of the Greek Coast Guard and were initially transferred into the port of Paleochora and then to a temporary accommodation facility in Agia Chania. A preliminary investigation was conducted by the Central Port Authority of Chania.

After the incident on Jan 20 with the 'Zander II', when an excavator on the workboat rammed and moved a bridge above the lock chamber, which damaged electrical and control cables in the bridge, the Himmelstadt lock has been closed, Now the Main lock was to be opened again in an emergency mode on Jan 22. Initially, this was planned for 12 p.m., but now the opening has been delayed by two hours to 2 p.m. The lock will then have to be operated semi-automatically in a kind of emergency mode. Ten cargo ships are currently waiting to be able to pass through the lock to continue their journey towards Schweinfurt or Aschaffenburg. The Himmelstadt lock operation is now to run temporarily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Three people will open and close the four swing gates of the Main lock with emergency generators and in manual operation. This is normally controlled by the Harrbach control center, which is a good ten kilometers away. The 'Zander II' remained stationarys inside the lock chamber in pos. 49° 55' N 009° 48' E as of Jan 22. On the evening of Jan 20, a mobile crane had moved the bridge back. However, the bridge is still not accessible and had to be further secured on Jan 21. The cables were checked all day. A temporary bridge for the cables is also being built. This means that the bridge can also be checked. It is still completely uncertain how badly it has been damaged, whether segments will have to be replaced or whether the entire steel, non-public bridge on the lock's premises will have to be replaced. It was assumed that the damage would be in the six-figure range. Report with video: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/nach-schiffshavarie-mainschleuse-oeffnet-im-notbetrieb,UaaFVL7

On Jan 16, 2025, at 2.37 a.m., the Jolanda', enroute from Lanshan to Qingdao, was boarded by two perpetrators, armed with gun like objects, 2,96 nautical miles north of Pulau Cula in pos. 1°5.33' N 90° 103°43.26' E, while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singpore Strait. No injuries were reported, and nothing was reported stolen.

The 'Manawanui' will not be replaced, according to Defence Minister Judith Collins, as dive and survey work is not the Defence’s “main job”: "I’d rather have that money go into the fact that we have a large maritime area, and we have to be significantly more, say, able to deal with that and what might be happening in the future.” Collins will before the end of March reveal the Government’s long-awaited Defence Capability Plan, which will outline billions of dollars of defence spending for the coming decades. Major decisions need to be made about navy assets in particular, with much of the fleet reaching end-of-life in a decade. The $103 million dive and survey vessel acquired by defence in 2019, was among late-arising issues in the development of the plan, which Collins said was being considered by Cabinet. Collins said she would not spend $120m or $200m on a new survey ship, given dive and survey needs could be met by the offshore patrol vessel HMNZS 'Otago' and the new Niwa vessel 'Kaharoa II'. Also unresolved was a question of whether the 'Manawanui' would remain on the sea floor which would depend on discussions with the Samoan Government. However, Collins suggested it was likely to remain in place. "The reality of actually taking it off the sea bed, where it's been sitting there now for quite some time, may be almost impossible, and could possibly bring other issues to bear that are even more dangerous. But it might become part of a reef." Report with photos: https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360554576/sunken-manawanui-will-not-be-replaced-collins-says

On Jan 21, 2025, an engine room fire broke out aboard the 'Dongjin Fortune', en route from Busan, while the ship was sailing approximately one nautical mile north of Tsuwaji Island. The crew managed to extinguish the fire within short time, and no injuries were reported. The ship was NUC and disabled due to the damage suffered, and was taken in tow by a tug to the port of Hiroshima for inspections and possible repair works ,where it was safely moored in pos. 34° 20' N 132° 22' E at 2.40 p.m. UTC.

On Jan 16, 2025, the Manassa Moon M' was detained in Kocaeli with 29 deficiencies, nine of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Cargo Ship Safety Construction (incl exemption) Withdrawn 2) Structural conditions - Hull - cracking Cracked 3) Structural conditions - Beams, frames, floors op damage Loose 4) Fire safety - Remote Means of control (Machinery spaces) Not as required 5) Safety of navigation - Record of drills and steering gear test Lack of information 6) Pollution Prevention - Suspected of discharge violation Not as required 7) Living and working - Cleanliness of engine room Insufficient 8)) Living and working - Guards, fencing around dangerous machinery parts Missing 9) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Jan 18, being permitted a single voyage to the shipyard area in Tuzla for permanent repairs, but instead called at Sulina on Jan 21. The last detentions were on Dec 16,2023:, in Alexandria, with 21 deficiencies for ten days and on Sep 23, 2023, in: Piraeus, with 15 deficiencies for five days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

The 'Yantar' has been located while operating near the British coast, once again raising concerns about potential threats to key cables. The ship, which was being closely monitored by NATO assets, had briefly activated its AIS on the night of Jan 21, revealing its location. The ship’s activities are also believed to be coordinated with other naval assets, such as an oiler and a frigate, previously seen accompanying the vessel. The fregate "HMS Somerset" escorted the spy ship out of the territorial waters on Jan 22. The presence of the 'Yantar' and its potential implications for regional security continue to be a matter of interest. The vessel has been observed close to important undersea telecommunications routes and infrastructure, sparking concerns among NATO and other nations about its possible intentions. The 'Yantar' has made headlines for its presence in key regions. In 2015, it was spotted off the coast of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and later in Norwegian waters. In the following years, it appeared near Greenland, Israel, and Cyprus, locations that were coinciding with sensitive undersea cables or military recovery missions. More recently, the 'Yantar' has been reported off the Brazilian coast, in the English Channel, and near Ireland, often closely following submarine cables and sometimes operating without activated identification systems. Its presence in the North Atlantic, especially close to critical transatlantic cables, has led to increased monitoring by NATO countries. In 2023, the Norwegian Coast Guard documented an incident where the 'Yantar' had shadowed the research vessel 'Kronprins Haakon' for over 16 hours, mirroring its movements in what Norwegian officials called harassment, though Yantar adhered to international maritime law. Report with photo: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/22/uk-minister-warns-putin-as-royal-navy-tracks-russian-spy-ship-a87705

On Jan 13, 2025, the 'Flying Spur' was detained in Kalymnos with ten deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Cargo Ship Safety Equipment (incl exemption) Not properly filled 2) Labour conditions - Wages No records 3) Safety of navigation - Charts Missing 4) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Missing 5) Fire safety - Remote Means of control (Machinery spaces) Inoperative 6) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Jan 22 and left the port en route to Canakkale. The last detention had been on Sep 14, 2024, in the port of Novorossiysk with14 deficiencies. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On Jan 13, 2025, at 12.50 a.m., the 'Ceylon Breeze' was boarded by 10 perpetrators, armed with knives and stel bars, at the Payra Outer Anchorage, where the ship has been moored in pos. 21°19.2' N 90° 4.28' E since Jan 10, having sailed from Asam Asam on Dec 30, 2024. The crew of the cargo vessel was tied up, and the pirates stole ship's properties and stores.

On Jan 19 2025, at 05.05 a.m., the Golden Calvus', en route from Itaqui to Zhoushan, was boarded by six perpetrators, armed with parangs, 3.7 nautical miles off Batu Berhanti in the in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait in pos. 1°10.65' N 103°49.32' E. The crew was tied up, and the pirates stole engine spares.

Stena RoRo has purchased the 'Giuseppe Lucchesi' from the Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (CIN), a part of the Moby Lines group of companies. The ship will be renamed 'Stena Shipper' and fly the Danish flag. It is the last ship in a long series of sister ships built at the Odense shipyard and has a large cargo capacity. In connection with the transaction, Stena RoRo is taking over a contract with the Tunisian shipping company Cotunav for service on the Rades-Marseille route. In Dec 2024, Stena RoRo took delivery of the 12the E-Flexer in a series of 15 roll-on/roll-off passenger (RoPax) ferries from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai), the 'Guillaume de Normandie', which is expected to enter service on the Portsmouth-Caen route in April 2025.

On Jan 17, 2025, the 'Fortius' was detained in Kocaeli with 17 deficiencies, four of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Records of seafarers daily hours of work and rest Missing 2) Certificate & Doc - Maximum hours of work and minimum hours of rest Not as required 3) Structural conditions - Hull - Construction Not as required 4) Structural conditions - Beams, frames, floors - construction Not as required The vessel was released again on Jan 20 and left the port en route to Izmail with an ETA as of Jan 22. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

Ukrferry has launched a new connection between Varna and Batumi, using the 'Vilnius', which can carry 50 universal railway wagons and 50 TIR heavy trucks simultaneously, made a trip from Varna to Batumi and back. On Jan 21, 2025, the vessel was set to depart again. It is planned that it will operate weekly regular trips. To order transportation, contact us or directly to agents in the ports of Varna -- https://www.ukrferry.com/en/contacts/agenty-v-bolgarii Batumi -- https://www.ukrferry.com/en/contacts/in-georgia The 'Vilnius' has been refurbished at the Varna Ship Repair and Shipbuilding Plant. The Bulgarian maritime agent Vart BG later assured that the vessel passed all necessary inspections and that there were no technical issues with its service at the Varna ferry complex. Rail wagons, trucks, other rolling stock, as well as passengers and their vehicles are accepted for transportation. Interest in transportation between Varna and Georgia has been shown not only by the Ukrainian company. In Dec 2024, the AIA ferry transported railway tankers and wagons from the Varna ferry complex to Poti for the second time. AIA operates between the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanța and Georgia, but the shipping company E60 Shipping Line has announced its intention to launch regular ferry services between Varna and Poti. Weekly voyages are planned by the “Vilnius”. https://www.ukrferry.com/en/schedule https://www.ukrferry.com/en/tariffs

On the morning of Jan 22, 2025, the Central Port Authority of Piraeus was informed by the Captain of the 'Fast Ferries Andrs' about a malfunction of the port side main engine, while the ship was moored in the port of Piraeus on a scheduled route from the port of Piraeus to the ports of Syros, Tinos and Mykonos, with 121 passengers on board. The passengers were transported to their destination by the care of the company. The Port Authority banned the ferry from sailing until the presentation of a certificate of class maintenance from the classification society that monitors it.

A Finnish couple have been assisted after the 'Canape' drifted ashore in the early hours of Jan 21, 2025, at Santos Beach, Mossel Bay. At 08.16 a.m. the NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew was activated by the TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Mossel Bay Port Control, and Police Sea Borderline Control. The high tide had just turned at 08.02 a.m. when the yacht got stuck. The NSRI Mossel Bay lifeboat 'Spirit of Safmarine III', was launched while NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the shore side in an NSRI rescue vehicle. The TNPA harbour tug 'Arctic Tern' was placed on alert by Mossel Bay Port Control. Upon their arrival on the scene the rescuers joined an inflatable boat, the 'Blue Duck' of The Skippers Foundation of Mossel Bay, that was in attendance and assisted NSRI during the operation. The yacht crew, a husband and wife, from Finland, were sailing around South Africa, and the previous port of call was Richards Bay. They were at the swing mooring off Santos beach where in three meter high swells the yacht broke lose and drifted onto the beach. The Skippers Foundation of Mossel Bay inflatable boat assisted to transfer a towline from the 'Spirit of Safmarine III', where NSRI rescue swimmers, in cooperation with the yacht skipper, established a towline. Timing the swells that were washing ashore in the outgoing tide they were able to pull and turn the sailing yacht, that was initially lying side on - abeam - on the beach, to bow to the sea, and then attempts were made to pull the yacht off the beach in the shallow water, but the attempts were not successful. Later, they were joined by the 'Arctic Tern', onto which the towline was transferred. The tug was able to pull the yacht out to sea. The NSRI Mossel Bay rescue crew remained onboard, with the yacht crew, throughout the operation. The anchor, still deployed and dragging, was recovered manually once the yacht reached deeper waters. The 'Arctic Tern' towed the yacht into the Mossel Bay harbour where, once inside the port, the NSRI lifeboat went alongside the yacht, which was then safely moored at the Vincent Jetty at around 11.15 a.m. with no further assistance required. Report with photo: https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/01/a-foreign-sailing-yacht-that-drifted-ashore-has-been-recovered/

On Jan 17, 2025, at 5.36 p.m., the 'Golden Curl', en route from Qingdao to Belawan, was boarded by two unarmed perpetrators, at the Belawan Anchorage Area no. 6 in pos. 3°55.8' N 98° 44.5' E. The pirates stole unsecured items and escaped.

The former captain Francesco Schettino of the 'Costa Concordia' could soon be sent to open custody, 13 years after the tragedy on the night of Jan 12, 2012, when the cruise ship sank off the Italian island of Giglio in Tuscany. The legal and psychological consequences of the accident continue to this day. In 2017, the Supreme Court of Cassation in Rome convicted Captain Francesco Schettino as the person primarily responsible for the shipwreck and the deaths of 32 people to 16 years in prison. He has been in prison in Rome ever since. His request for a retrial of his case failed in 2023. The Supreme Court in Rome rejected a corresponding request from Schettino. The captain came under criticism not only for the failed maneuver, but also for leaving the ship while the evacuation was still underway. He has become a figure of fun at times because of his bizarre statements. In May 2025, the Neapolitan, now 64 years old, will have served half of his 16-year prison sentence. Because of his good behaviour, this gives him the opportunity to go into open custody. Schettino has now submitted a corresponding application, and the decision is due to be made on March 4. The ex-captain would then be allowed to leave the Rebibbia prison in Rome in the morning, go to work or take part in a rehabilitation measure, and return to his cell in the evening. Promoting the return of an offender to a responsible life is an explicit goal in many legal systems, including Italy. Schettino is already entitled to 45 days of release per year.