Tatiana Soroka, the former wife of the Russian oligarch Farkhad Akhmedov, has dropped a negligence claim against her former law firm, Payne Hicks Beach, which cited a failure to seize the 'Luna' during divorce proceedings. This marks the latest installment in a decade of an acrimonious legal struggle that began when Tatiana Soroka issued a financial relief petition against her husband, the former Russian senator Farkhad Akhmedov, in 2013. Soroka would officially file for divorce 2016, with London's High Court awarding her a record-breaking £453 million settlement. The negligence claim against Payne Hicks Beach, first filed in 2023, alleged that the lawyer and her firm did not provide the correct advice when Soroka asked them to explore options to have the 'Luna' impounded, while she was docked in Miami. The vessel remained there from Jan to March 2017, during which time Soroka hired secondary counsel in the US to discuss the possibility of seizure. Soroka claimed that she asked Payne Hicks Beach to reconsider whether she might be able to enforce the financial remedy order against the yacht. However the firm argued that Soroka had explicitly stated she was not interested in impounding the Luna, and that her stance remained unchanged. The firm had pledged to "vigorously defend" the claim. Now that the case has been dropped, the Russian must cover both the lawyers' costs and her own legal expenses. The 'Luna' was recently implicated in another high-profile case involving a decade-long tax evasion scheme led by Roman Abramovich.
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SOLONG
The 'Solong' is being towed to Aberdeen. The tugs 'Multratug 35' 'Multratug 36', 'Multrasalvor 4' and 'Forth Warrior' have established a towing connection with the container ship. An antipollution ship was escorting the convoy which is expected to arrive in Aberdeen on March 27. In recent days, Multraship ships have been near the 'Solong'. The salvage of the 'Solong' is in the hands of the American T&T, but the ships of Multraship are involved. The 'Stena Immaculate' is still at anchor for the time being with the tug 'Brage Viking' (IMO: 9475791) nearby.
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
On March 27, two rescue operations were coordinated by the CROSS Gris-Nez. On the morning the CROSS was informed of a migrant boat leaving the beach at Petit-Fort-Philippe. The CROSS engaged the 'SNS 276-Notre Dame des Flandres' and a patrol boat from Dunkirk, to locate and monitor the boat. Once in contact with the boat, its occupants made a request for assistance. The lifeboat then recovered the 12 people aboard the boat and dropped them off at the quay in Gravelines. The same morning, the CROSS received a call from an occupant of a boat off Wimereux and engaged the 'Abeille Normandie', which was then relieved by the BEGM 'Thétis' of the French Navy. Following their request for assistance, the 'Thétis' recovered all 62 migrants and dropped them off at the dock in Calais. A total of 74 people were rescued during the responses.
MARVEL SWALLOW
Greenpeace conducted two protests, trying to hinder two LNG carriers from the USA and Russia, respectively, urging the EU to expedite their phasing out of Russian fuels, as well as to denounce fossil fuels altogether. On March 27, 2025, eight Greenpeace volunteers temporarily blocked the 'Marvel Swallow' on its way to Zebruuge en route from Louisiana with a shipment of LNG. The group launched out of their mothership, the 'Arctic Sunrise', and encircled the Marvel Swallow, displaying banners having the likenesses of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in addition to slogans such as “Their gas your cash.” Greenpeace claimed that they were conducting the protest to remind the EU that their reliance on fossil fuels was fostering geopolitical instability and hurting households due to skyrocketing fuel prices. The 'Marvel Swallow' managed to dock in Zeebrugge later that same day. Already on March 26, a prrotest was carried out against the 'Fedor Litke', en route from Sabetta in Russia. The goal behind these protests was to stop fuel carriers from transferring fuel to the EU. Greenpeace is urging the EU to completely phase out fossil gas by the year 2035. Photos: https://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJV9UE_5?_gl=1*1jty749*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjY3MjQ0ODE0LjE3NDMxNTM2MjQ.*_ga_94MRTN8HG4*MTc0MzE1MzYyNC4xLjAuMTc0MzE1MzYyNC4wLjAuMTk0MTExNTI1MQ..
NM COPENHAGEN
On March 26, 2025, the 'NM Copenhagen' was detained in Þorlákshöfn with two deficiencies, one of which being regarded as serious and ground for a detention: 1) Safey of navigation - Charts Missing The vessel was released again the same day and remained stationary in port as of March 28. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
KORMORAN
On March 24, 2025, the 'Kormoran' was detained in Kocaeli with 15 deficiencies, two of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Structural conditions - Other (Structural conditions) Other 2) Fire safety - Fire dampers Inoperative The vessel was released again on March 25 and left the port en route to Misurata with an ETA as of April 2. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
GOLDEN CARRIER
On Jan 31, 2025, the 'Wolin' made its final voyage on the Świnoujście–Trelleborg route, marking the end of its distinguished 18-year tenure, and the vessel had been sold by the Polska Żegluga Morska, to the A Ship Management SA, for which it will continue to serve under the name 'Golden Carrier'. The name change was on March 18, 2025. The once 'Wolin' is the second ferry in the shipowner’s fleet, joining the 'Galaxy' (ex-'Silesia'), which operated in the Polska Żegluga Bałtycka fleet from 1979 to 2005. The former 'Wolin' departed Świnoujście for her new career on March 20, en route to Perama for a refit. The ship is due to be operated in the Mediterranean as from June. Report with photo: https://www.shippax.com/en/news/a-ships-management-acquires-wolin-due-to-depart-for-greece-as-the-golden-carrier-this-week.aspx
KATRE
A crew member of the 'Katre' fell overboard on March 27, 2025, shortly after 4 p.m. while the shp was en route from Kotka to Birkenhead, between Läsö and Gothenburg, west of the Swedish port. An SAR operation was launched after the Maritime and Air Rescue Centre was alerted at 4.20 p.m. A few units were deployed to the scene, as well as a rescue helicopter. The Coast Guard and the Maritime Rescue Society were also alerted along with a Danish rescue helicopter. The person has been found, and was winched up by the Danish helicopter. He was taken to hospital, but has since died, The circumstances surrounding what happened were still unclear at this time, The police was investigating the matter.
ALFRED
The 'Alfred', serving on the route Troon - Brodick, required to carry out sea trials after previous overhaul works on March 27. As a consequence, the scheduled departures from Troon at 1.35 p.m. and from Brodick at 3.45 p.m. had to be cancelled. The service was resumed with the sailing from Troon at 6 p.m.
SNS276
On March 27, two rescue operations were coordinated by the CROSS Gris-Nez. On the morning the CROSS was informed of a migrant boat leaving the beach at Petit-Fort-Philippe. The CROSS engaged the 'SNS 276-Notre Dame des Flandres' and a patrol boat from Dunkirk, to locate and monitor the boat. Once in contact with the boat, its occupants made a request for assistance. The lifeboat then recovered the 12 people aboard the boat and dropped them off at the quay in Gravelines. The same morning, the CROSS received a call from an occupant of a boat off Wimereux and engaged the 'Abeille Normandie', which was then relieved by the BEGM 'Thétis' of the French Navy. Following their request for assistance, the 'Thétis' recovered all 62 migrants and dropped them off at the dock in Calais. A total of 74 people were rescued during the responses.
SEMSA
On March 17, 2025, the 'Semsa' was detained in Kocaeli with 23 deficiencies, four of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Radio communications - INMARSAT ship earth station Inoperative 2) Pollution Prevention - Other (Marpol Annex I) Other 3) Emergency system - Emergency fire pump and its pipes Not as required 4) Fire safety - Fire doors/openings in fire resisting division Not as required The vessel was released again on March 21 and left the port en route to Split with an ETA as of March 28. The last detention was on Aug 16, 2024, in Porto Nogaro with 30 deficiencies fir 28 days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
MEDAR
On March 25, 2025, the 'Medar' was detained in Trabzon with ten deficiencies: 1) Certificate & Doc - Oil record book Not as required 2) Structural conditions - Decks - Corrosion Corroded 3) Structural conditions - Hull - cracking Cracked 4) Structural conditions - Beams, frames, floors-op damage Not as required 5) Fire safety - Ventilation Not as required 6) Life saving Appliances - Lifeboats Inoperative 7) Life saving Appliances - Other (Life saving) Other 8)) Water/Weathertight - Ventilators, air pipes and casings Not as required 9) Water/Weathertight - Freeboard marking Not as required 10) Safety of navigation - Voyage or passage plan Inoperative The vessel was released again on March 27. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
SALVAMAR MIMOSA
The CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Palma de Mallorca has coordinated the rescue of the occupants of three small boats southeast of Cabrera on the afternoon of March 25. The 'Salvamar Libertas' rescued 25 migrants from one of them. They were disembarked in Palma de Mallorca. The 'Salvamar Mimosa' rescued 50 people from the other two rickety boats, who were then taken to Portocolom. The Provincial Maritime Service of the Guardia Civil and the Port of Palma Civil Guard also intervened.
RISICO
The skipper of the 'Risico', who is held responsible for the death of 12-year-old Tara from The Hague on Aug 31, 2022, has been given a community service order of 150 hours and a suspended prison sentence of three months on appeal. The Leeuwarden court previously imposed the same sentence on the 51-year-old skipper from Harlingen. According to the judge at the court, the skipper "acted significantly carelessly, negligently and negligently." The court therefore convicted the skipper of manslaughter. Tara was hit by the boom of the sailing vessel, aboard which she was on a school trip on the Wadden Sea. There were 12 students and two teachers on board. According to the court, the man had a duty of care as the owner of a ship on which carried passengers. This means that the ship must always be in good condition, and this was not the case. There were cracks at the top of the boom. The court found that this should have had this checked by an expert. According to the court, the chance of an accident increased by not doing so. "The court therefore considers it proven that the suspect did not sufficiently check whether the boom was still in good condition. The ship's rigging inspection had also expired." Regarding the severity of the punishment, the court states: "The suspect's actions have caused irreparable suffering to the victim's relatives. The court understands that no punishment will do justice to the grief that has been caused to them." The Public Prosecution Service had demanded a prison sentence of eight months, four of which were conditional. They also demanded a five-year professional ban. According to the judiciary, there was 'gross' rather than 'significant' negligence as the court had ruled. The court did not agree. It also did not see a reason to impose a professional ban. The Public Prosecution Service did not think that the sentence is high enough. The skipper himself also disagreed with the sentence: he says that he could not have known that the boom was in such bad condition. Tara's family had requested a professional ban to prevent the skipper from sailing again. The court found that going too far. "Such a sentence is only imposed in exceptional cases. The suspect has not been convicted before, and there is no evidence that dangerous situations have occurred on board his ship before." According to the court, he "takes his responsibility as a skipper seriously". It also saw no reason to impose a professional ban.
GRETA
The 'Greta' , en route from Ashdod to Istanbul, suffered an engine failure at the southern entrance of the Çanakkale Strait on March 20, 2025. The ship was taken on tow by the tug 'Kurtarma 18' and was safely moored at the Karanlık Liman anchorage in poss. 40° 01' N 026° 15' E under the coordination of the Çanakkale Ship Traffic Services Center, accompanied by a pilot. On MArch 26 the ship weighed anchor with the status of restricted movement, and on March 28 it arrived at the shipyard area in Altinova for permanent repairs. Report with photo: https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1902739468907319403
FEDOR LITKE
Greenpeace conducted two protests, trying to hinder two LNG carriers from the USA and Russia, respectively, urging the EU to expedite their phasing out of Russian fuels, as well as to denounce fossil fuels altogether. On March 27, 2025, eight Greenpeace volunteers temporarily blocked the 'Marvel Swallow' on its way to Zeebrugge, en route from Louisiana, with a shipment of LNG. The group launched out of their mothership, the 'Arctic Sunrise', and encircled the Marvel Swallow, displaying banners having the likenesses of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in addition to slogans such as “Their gas your cash.” Greenpeace claimed that they were conducting the protest to remind the EU that their reliance on fossil fuels was fostering geopolitical instability and hurting households due to skyrocketing fuel prices. The 'Marvel Swallow' managed to dock in Zeebrugge later that same day. Already on March 26, a prrotest was carried out against the 'Fedor Litke', en route from Sabetta in Russia. The goal behind these protests was to stop fuel carriers from transferring fuel to the EU. Greenpeace is urging the EU to completely phase out fossil gas by the year 2035. Photos: https://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJV9UE_5?_gl=1*1jty749*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjY3MjQ0ODE0LjE3NDMxNTM2MjQ.*_ga_94MRTN8HG4*MTc0MzE1MzYyNC4xLjAuMTc0MzE1MzYyNC4wLjAuMTk0MTExNTI1MQ..
CATIVERA
On March 19, 2025, the 'Cativera' was detained in Novorossiysk with 20 deficiencies, 17 of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Safety of navigation - Voyage or passage plan Missing 2) Safety of navigation - Electronic charts 3) Safety of navigation - Compass correction log Not as required 4) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Expired 5) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Not as required 6) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Gauges, thermometers etc Not as required 7) Labour conditions - Ropes and wires Not as required 8)) Labour conditions - Dangerous areas Unsafe 9) Labour conditions - Electrical in general Not as required 10) Certificate & Doc - Record of employment Not as required 11) Emergency systems - Emergency lighting, batteries and switches Not as required 12) Emergency systems - Emergency source of power - emergency generator Inoperative 13) Radio communications - Reservce source of energy Not as required 14) Radio communications - Facilities for reception of marine safety inform Not as required 15) Radio communications - Radio diary log Not as required 16) Water/Weathertight - Railing, gangway, walkway and means for safe passage Not as required 17) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on March 26 and shifted to Novorossiysk anchorage, beffore heading to Djibouti with an ETA as of April 6. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
MSC RHIANNON
On March 21, 2025, the 'MSC Rhiannon' was detained in Tekirdag with 30 deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Engine International Air Pollution Prev Cert Missing 2) Life saving Appliances - Launching arrangement for survival craft Not properly maintained 3) Life saving Appliances - Launching arrangements for rescue boats Not properly maintained 4) Safety of navigation - Bridge operation Lack of familiarity 5) Safety of navigation - Voyage data recorder Not as required 6) Pollution Prevention - 15 PPM Alarm Arrangements Not properly maintained The vessel was relased again on March 26 and left the port en route to Diliskilesi, where it arrived on March 27. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
SALVAMAR LIBERTAS
The CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Palma de Mallorca has coordinated the rescue of the occupants of three small boats southeast of Cabrera on the afternoon of March 25. The 'Salvamar Libertas' rescued 25 migrants from one of them. They were disembarked in Palma de Mallorca. The 'Salvamar Mimosa' rescued 50 people from the other two rickety boats, who were then taken to Portocolom. The Provincial Maritime Service of the Guardia Civil and the Port of Palma Civil Guard also intervened.