On May 26, 2024, a fire broke out in the cargo of the 'Northern Juvenile. Full details on the extent of the fire have not been released, but in a customer advisory, the carrier was recommending that shippers notify their cargo underwriters without delay. The ship was about 600 nautical miles from Port Klang. The owners have entered into a salvage agreement with SMIT Salvors under LOF terms to provide firefighting and salvage assistance to the vessel. Shippers could also be facing additional security demands if General Average is declared. The owner Norddeutsche Reedere is overseeing the salvage. The ship had made a stop in Singapore on May 23 after loading at Qingdao Port on May 7-8, Shanghai Port on May 9-10, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on May 10-11, and Nansha Port on May 13-14. The vessel is fully loaded with Chinese goods and may be sharing boxes with Maersk, COSCO, OOCL, and Hapag-Lloyd. It was bound for Pointe Noire as one of four stops on the West Coast of Africa before returning to Singapore. Two tugs came to assist, and the 'Maju Mercury' established a towing connection.
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GLORIA G
On the night of June 1, 2024, the 'Gloaria G', loaded with 66,000 tons of corn, en route from Yuzhny to Port Said, suffered an engine malfunction in front of Akbaş during the transit of the Dardanelles, under the coordination of the Çanakkale Vessel Traffic Services Center, the ship was taken in tow by the tugs 'Kurtarma 13', 'Kurtarma 14' and 'Kurtarma 16' at Nara Cape and was safely moored at the Şevketiye Anchorage in pos. 40° 25.17' N 026° 49.74' E. Video: https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1796709735439139140
Chittagong
The trial transshipment of goods from India to its northeast, via the sea route, started on Tuesday after four containers bound for the region were unloaded from a merchant vessel at Bangladesh's Chittagong port, officials said on Tuesday. India and Bangladesh had signed an MOU for goods for northeast India transiting via Bangladesh's ports - a small but significant opening up of both Bangladesh's ports under the broader economic relationship between the two countries. Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk told on Tuesday: "The first ship under the trial run of transshipment of Indian goods to its northeastern states through Bangladesh arrived at Chattogram (Chittagong) port on Tuesday morning. "MV Shejyoti, carrying back to Chattogam 4 TEUs (20-feet equivalent unit) with 221 containers full of transhipment goods from India's Haldia port, reached the NCT-1 Berth, the outer anchorage of Chattogram port at around 1.25 a.m. But as night navigation is restricted in the port, that is why we started the navigation at morning," he said. MV Shejyoti had left the Syama Prasad Mukherjee port of Kolkata on July 17. Handling of the containers was completed before midnight and the container trailers started for Akhaura with an escort provided by Bangladesh's customs security. Shipping agent sources said the four containers under the trial transshipment contain iron rods and pulses. Those will head to Agartala through the Akhaura Land Port. The consignment of rods will be brought to West Tripura's Jirania from Agartala, while the pulses will go to Assam's Karimganj. Habibur Rahman of Mango Lines, the agent for the merchant vessel, had said that offloading may begin also on Tuesday after completing the formalities. Indian transshipment goods would enjoy a 28-day free-stay after offloading at the port as per the international transshipment agreement. Bangladesh will earn 254 takas from the scanning of each container loaded with transshipment goods. Bangladeshi importers also pay the same charge. Similarly, 30 takas document processing fee for each consignment of Indian goods will be levied, the same amount charged on Bangladeshi importers. Joint Commissioner of the Customs House S.M. Shamsuzzaman said the transshipped goods will have to pay police 50 takas per tonne as escort charge to reach the Indian border in Tripura from the port by road. Usually a 20 feet container carries a maximum of 30 tons of goods. According to this estimation, Bangladesh will realise around 1, 500 takas as escort charge for accompanying goods of a container to the border. Akhaura Customs Officer Harunur Rashid said they have taken necessary preparations for the transportation of the Indian goods, under the trial run. India is transporting goods to its northeastern states, using Bangladeshi ports, as per the agreement on "The Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of Goods to and from India" signed between Dhaka and Delhi in 2018 and a standard operating procedure (SoP) signed in October 2019. Earlier, the Indian government used the Ashuganj river port to transport goods for the Palatana Power Plant in Tripura through the Akhaura land port. On the new chapter in connectivity with Bangladesh via container shipping, India's Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the transit route will open new opportunities for both countries. He said that it will provide an alternative and shorter route to connect the northeast region through Bangladesh, reducing distance and time taken in transportation of goods for India and is a win-win for both the economies. On the other hand, job creation, investment in the logistical sector, enhanced business services and revenue generation are advantages that will accrue to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi vessels and trucks will be utilised to move the Indian cargo, the Indian government said. India and Bangladesh have enhanced cooperation in shipping and inland water trade in recent years. Under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, in addition to the six existing Ports of Call, five more in each country have been added recently. Dredging of inland waterway routes is ongoing under an MoU, signed by the two countries on development of selected stretches of Bangladesh waterways. The trial transportation of goods to the northeastern states by road, via Bangladesh, had started earlier.
CMA CGM RIVOLI
On May 15, 2024, the 'CMA CGMA Rivoli' rescued five Indonesian fishermen from Pangkalan Brandan, Langkat, who were stranded at sea after an unknown container ship collided with their fishing boat in the Malacca Strait at around 9 a.m. They were adrift at sea for more than 10 hours before being rescued. The fishing boat was anchored while fishing in the Malacca Strait. The fishermen immediately jumped into the water to save their lives. At 7 p.m. LT, the 'CMA CGM Rivoli', en route from Singapore to Dukirk, located four fishermen floating on a piece of wood from their destroyed fishing boat. The fifth fisherman was rescued at a different location by fishermen from Langkat. Bad weather with thick fog is believed to have caused the collision between the fishing boat and the vessel. The visibility was less than five meters, which made it difficult for the fishermen to spot the approaching vessel, which had failed to sound the horn. On the evening of May 17, the four fishermenaboard the 'CMA CGM Rivoli' were trnsferred onto the 'Pekar' of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency(APMM) Pekar boat. One of them had a broken arm with other injuries and was rushed to Malaysian Hospital. Subsequently, the Indonesian Consulate General Protection Team from Penang came to Perak to facilitate the fishermen. After recovery, on May 27, the four fishermen departed from Penang for their homeland, Pangkalan Brandan, Langkat, with the assistance of the Indonesian Consulate General Protection Team. Before flying from the Kuala Namu Airport to their home, the fishermen were invited to the Wisma Indonesia Penang, a foreign consulate in George Town, Malaysia.
Beirut
A powerful explosion rocked Beirut port on Aug 4, 2020, killing and injuring dozens of people, and causing widespread damage. There was no clarity yet with regards to the cause of explosions, and what triggered it. The talk was of a firework factory which blew up. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR88CECmTso&feature=emb_title
Chittagong
A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control The blazing fire at the Chittagong port was brought under control on Wednesday evening 15 July 2020. Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has formed a five-member probe body, headed by Zafar Alam, Member (Administration and Planning) of the CPA, to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage. The CPA Secretary Omark Faruk confirmed the matter. “Although the fire has been brought under control, smoke is still billowing from the gutted goods,” said the Secretary, The blazing fire originated at Shed No 3 of the maritime port at around 4pm on Wednesday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room in Agrabad, Chittagong city. A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control. According to the CPA, goods like foam, fabrics, machineries, papers, and soda meant for destruction were stockpiled at the No.3 shed of the port. AIS/Station/ BDCGP
SALVAMAR ADHARA
On the night of June 1, the Guardia Civil was notified of a cayuco sailing eight nautical miles from La Restinga. The MRCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Tenerife mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara' to assist, which locates the canoe with 61 peeople on board. It was escorted to the portof La Restinga. Photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1797228022052909543