On Aug 30, 2024, the US Coast Guard medevaced a 26-year-old woman off the 'Navigator of the Sea' approximately 30 miles west of San Diego. Coast Guard Sector San Diego watchstanders received a report from the cruise ship at 12:10 a.m. of a 26-year-old woman with lower abdominal pain. They coordinated the launch of a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter of the Air Station San Diego ´to conduct the medevac. The aircrew arrived on-scene, hoisted the woman aboard the helicopter, and transported her to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at Coast Guard Air Station San Diego. The woman was taken to Hillcrest Medical Center at the University of California, San Diego, where she was last reported to be in stable condition. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3891802/coast-guard-medevacs-26-year-old-woman-off-cruise-ship-near-san-diego/
News
FG SEFA
En route from Beirut to Poti, the 'FG Sefa' suffered an engine failure on Sep 1, 2024, at around 8.45 p.m. UTC north of the Dardanelles Strait in the area of the Karanlık Liman Anchorage. Under the coordination of our Çanakkale Ship Traffic Services Center, the ship was safely moored at around 10 p.m. in pos. 40° 02' N 026° 19' E for repairs by the crew. Report with photo: https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1830372078295355477
SALVAMAR ADHARA
On Aug 31, the CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo has mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara' on two occasions. On the morning a cayuco was sighted six nautical miles from La Restinga by the Guardia Civil. It was escorted to the port. During the afternoon a cayuco with 54 people on board was sighted 50 nautical miles off La Restinga by the m/v 'Seapeak Madrid'. After instructing the ship to remain in the area and not lose sight of the boat, the 'Salvamar Adhara' was mobilised and went to the rescue.a At around 4:45 p.m. itlocated the boat and brought ithe occupants to La Restinga, in El Hierro a final count was made at 8.45 p.m.
SALVAMAR MIRACH
The sailboat 'Rako' with two crew members on board suffered an engine failure and was adrift due to a lack ot wind near the Limens inlet (Ría de Vigo) on Aug 30. The crew requested assistance, and the CCS Vigo of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Mirach', which took the yacht in tow and safely pulled it to the Liceo Marítimo de Bouzas.
UNCLE BLUE
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded its investigation into the partial sinking of the 'Uncle Blue' on the Lower Mississippi River near Ascension Parish, Louisiana, on March 26, 2023, and has discovered significant hull damage that led to the vessel’s flooding. The tug was transporting an empty barge when it began taking on water. During salvage operations, NTSB investigators observed water pouring from holes in the portside shell plating of the lazarette. The nearly 60-year-old vessel exhibited numerous wastage holes and doubler plates, indicating inadequate hull maintenance. NTSB investigators emphasized the importance of proper hull maintenance, stating. They recommended that vessel owners should crop out wasted steel on the hull and replace it by inserting new plating instead of covering it up with doubler plating. The investigation also revealed that pipe runs inside the hull, previously used for rod placement, were open on both ends and either corroded or missing in some areas. These openings allowed for progressive flooding into the voids and engine room. Highlighting the importance of proactive maintenance, Another contributing factor to the sinking was the absence of a high-water bilge sensor in the lazarette, which prevented early detection of flooding. The vessel’s only sensor was located in the forward end of the engine room. While no injuries or pollution were reported, the incident resulted in an estimated $500,000 in damage to the vessel. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2423.pdf
GROTON
The 'Groton' was victim of a missile attack on Aug 31. The incident took place 130 nautical miles east of the Gulf of Aden. The Company Security Officer of the ship reported that two missiles had exploded close to the vessel. No damage to the vessel was reported, and the vessel continued proceeding towards its next port call. All crew members were reported safe. The Houthi terrorists took responsibility for the attack and stated that they had used naval, UAV, and missile forces to attack the ship. Already on Aug 3 the vessel was attacked, involving explosions in the sea and a missile strike.
SOUNION
A salvage operation to recover the 'Sounion' was expected to start in the coming days, On Aug 30 the ASPIDES published a letter with an an initial game plan for the salvage of the 'Sounion' with the operation starting in 48 hours, which was likely to be complex. A potential spill of 2.2 nautical milesin length has been detected in the area matching the location of the tanker, which was, however, from the vessel’s engine and not from the oil cargo onboard. "The potential spill is from the tanker's engine after the first hit,” the ASPIDES official said. All nations and all actors involved were urged to assist in preventing the environmental hazard and resolving the situation the soonest possible. The Filipino crew members returned to the country on Aug 31. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac welcomed the repatriated seamen. The other seven seafarers are also set for repatriation in coordination with their manning agencies, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa). Each received immediate financial assistance worth P75,000 from the DMW Aksyon Fund and additional cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Owwa. They will also receive necessary medical assessment and psycho-social counseling. The recovery operation will be carried by private companies in cooperation with forces in the area partaking in the the European Aspides operation – namely the Greek navy frigate 'Psara', the German frigate 'Hessen', the French frigate 'Chevalier Paul', the Italian destroyer 'Andrea Doria' and the Dutch support vessel 'Karel Doorman',
SALVAMAR MIZAR
On Aug 30 a cayuco was located seven nautical miles from San Sebastián de La Gomera. The 'Salvamar Mizar 'was mobilized by the CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo. After the boat was located, it accompanied it to the port, where 109 people disembarked and were treated by the health and safety team.
SALVAMAR ACHERNAR
On Aug 30, 2024, the Spanish flagged fishing vessel 'Campeon Primero' with eight crew members on board suffered an engine failure 13 nautical miles east of Torrenostra (Castellón) and requested towing assistance to Vinaros. The CCS Castellón of Salvamento MArítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Achernar', which took the vessel in tow and safely pulled it to Vinaros.
TORO ROSSO
arrived Aliaga Anchorage 08/2024 https://www.instagram.com/p/C_R9veUIZN_/?img_index=2
ODYSSEY
Passengers on the 'Villa Vie Odyssey', that was supposed to travel around the world for three years, have been stuck in Belfast for three months. The ship was supposed to leave Belfast on May 30, 2024, but due to various problems with the rudders and gearbox, the passengers have been stuck in the port since. They can spend the whole day on board the ship, and also request to take a shuttle bus for a city trip in the area. Mike Petterson, CEO of Villa Vie Residences, hoped the ship would to be able to set sail again next week. A cabin on board the ship costs between €118,000 and €1 million. The company’s mission is to let people live on cruise ships and live their lives there, instead of just treating it as a vacation. The ship was drydocked Harland & Wolff for the upcoming three-and-a-half-year world cruise. The original start date was May 15 in Southampton. The former cruise ship 'Braemar' has been converted into the residential cruise ship 'Villa Vie Odyssey' for several million US dollars. Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, the ship has not been in use and has been idle in Edinburgh for several years.
PELAGOS
On Sep 1, 2024 the French Maritime Rescue Centre asked its counterpart in Madrid for an urgent medical evacuation of a crew member, who had fallen ill, from the 'Pelagos', due to illness, The RCC Valencia of Salvamento Marítimo mobilised the SAR helicopter Helimer 203 which hoisted the patient and transferred him directly to the Hospital de la Fe in Valencia.
DIONISIOS SOLOMOS
On the morning of Aug 31, the Central Port Authority of Piraeus was informed that during the mooring of the 'Dionisios Solomos' the forward port side keel was involved in the forward propeller, while the ships was running a scheduled route from the port of Piraeus to the ports of Kythnos-Serifos-Sifnos-Kimolos-Milos with 128 passengers o board. The Port Authority of Tzelepi initially prohibited the ship from sailing, while upon presentation of a certificate of class maintenance from the monitoring classification societym it was allowed to continue the route. A procedure to impose the prescribed administrative sanctions was initiated by the Central Port Authority of Piraeus.
SAIPEM FDS
On Aug 28, 2024, a HD.21 'Super Puma' helicopter from the Gando Air Base medevaced an 38-year-old Italian crew member in serious condition from the 'Saipem FPS', which was sailing about 500 kilometres from Gran Canaria, in a mission that lasted almost five hours, The patient was suffering from severe abdominal pain and required urgent medical assistance, so the SAR of the Canary Islands Air and Space Force was activated, which has a nurse as part of its permanent crew on its rescue helicopters. To undertake this mission, the support of a CN-235/300 aircraft belonging to SASEMAR was requested, which provided the helicopter with information on winds at altitude, with the aim of optimizing its flight to minimize fuel consumption and maximize speed. Thus, the plane gave the ship the instructions required by the helicopter regarding the course and speed that it should maintain during the manoeuvre in order to facilitate landing on the ship, with which the helicopter was able to rescue the patient. With the evacuee on board, the helicopter headed for the helipad of the Doctor Negrín Hospital, in Gran Canaria, where he was picked up by an ambulance from the Canary Islands Emergency Service and was admitted. Report with photo: https://www.abc.es/espana/canarias/rescate-alta-mar-marinero-estado-grave-buque-20240828113733-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
SOUNION
Yemen's Houthi terrorits released a video on Aug 29, showing their f"ighters" boarding and planting explosives on the 'Sounion' and triggering explosions that put the Red Sea at risk of a major oil spill. The ship had been abandoned after the Houthis attacked it several times. In the video, the terrorists chant their slogan as bombs detonate aboard the tanker: “God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.” The 'Sounion' was carrying about one million barrels of oil when the Houthis attacked it on Aug 21 with small arms fire, rockets and an unmanned boat. On Aug 29, the vessel was leaking some oil from where it was hit, and multiple fires were still burning. BRIT, the British-based insurer with a 100% line on the tanker, has hired two tugs to attempt the salvage, the 'Hercules' (IMO: 9558517) and 'Gladiator' (IMO: 7621011). Both were subject to sanctions from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the operation may not get under way unless dispensation has been obtained. Reports with photos and video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adOZ-tsnzzg https://www.ucodigital.com.ar/noticias/los-rebeldes-huties-asaltan-un-petrolero-griego-antes-de-hacerlo-estallar-con-explosivos-mientras-los-militantes-continuan-su-guerra-contra-israel-en-el-mar-rojo/46305/ https://apnews.com/world-news/general-news-23098ab74782896d33a8c2b5726113df