The Coast Guard Cutter 'Heriberto Hernandez' repatriated 58 migrants to the Dominican Republic on Sep 14, following the interdiction of an irregular, unlawful migration voyage in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico, on the evening of Sep 12. The USCG 'Reliance' had located and interdicted a grossly overloaded 35-foot makeshift vessel in international waters, approximately 50 nautical miles northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The 'Reliance' launched their over-the-horizon small boat, which came alongside the migrant vessel, where the crew provided life jackets to the migrants, before transferring them to the safety of the cutter. The migrants were later transferred to the 'Heriberto Hernandez' to complete their repatriation. They were finally transferred to Dominican Republic Navy authorities in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3907249/coast-guard-repatriates-58-migrants-to-dominican-republic-following-interdictio/
News
MARIA PITA
On the night of Sep 16, 2024, the pleasure boat 'Carmen' was disabled and adrift in the mussel farm polygon northeast of La Guía, due to an engine failure. The auxiliary boat of the 'María Pita' was launched and took the boat in tow to the port of Santa Cristina de Cobres.
Kiel
The PORT OF KIEL has redesigned the port apron in Ostuferhafen, which is the freight and logistics centre on the fjord. Where once stood a grain silo, there is now an expanded pre-stacking and stand-by area of three hectares for trucks, trailers and pas-senger cars.The State Premier of Schleswig- Holstein, Daniel Günther, visited the Ostufer-hafen on 12th August to hand over the grant notice coming from the State Programme Economy for 5.44 million Euros: The project to redesign the port apron included dismantling three hall areas of the former grain silo, excavation and road works as well as drainage, lighting and security measures and the connection of the area to the infrastructure. Through the new and generous port apron it has been possible to merge formerly separated pre-stacking areas, shorten distances and gain more space for trucks, busses, trailers and passenger cars. Furthermore, IT solutions have been developed to accelerate the handling processes at the gate, which also allow truck drivers to reduce personal contact.Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director at the PORT OF KIEL: “Even under the current circumstances the Ostuferhafen operates in a reliable and safe way. The port of Kiel has proven its systemic importance regarding the transshipment of cross-border freight transport.”In the first seven months of the year 2.1 million tons of cargo have been tran-shipped via the Ostuferhafen (+ 1 %). Additional volumes have been transported by the ferries of the DFDS shipping company to the Baltic States or they have been delivered by the SCA-RoRo-freighters from Scandinavia. Not only general cargo and forest products are unloaded resp. transhipped in Ostuferhafen but also project and heavy cargo, scrap metal and agricul-tural products. The integrated passenger terminal to handle cruise vessels emphasizes the universal character of this port part.
CG HERIBERTO HERNAND
The USCG 'Heriberto Hernandez' repatriated 58 migrants to the Dominican Republic on Sep 14, following the interdiction of an irregular, unlawful migration voyage in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico, on the evening of Sep 12. The Coast Guard Cutter 'Reliance' had located and interdicted a grossly overloaded 35-foot makeshift vessel in international waters, approximately 50 nautical miles northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The 'Reliance' launched their over-the-horizon small boat, which came alongside the migrant vessel, where the crew provided life jackets to the migrants, before transferring them to the safety of the cutter. The migrants were later transferred to the 'Heriberto Hernandez' to complete their repatriation. They were finally transferred to Dominican Republic Navy authorities in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3907249/coast-guard-repatriates-58-migrants-to-dominican-republic-following-interdictio/
LS HERMES
The CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Fisterra has coordinated the assistance to the pöeasure boat 'Sinde', which requested towing assistance on Sep 16, 2024, with two crew members on board. The boat had got its propulsion fouled by rope around the propeller at the entrance to the Arousa Estuary. The 'LS Hermes' was mobilized and towed the boat to Ribeira. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1835673048550089059
Beirut
The Port of Beirut (PoB) resumed partial operations on Aug 10 with the first two container ships berthing in the container terminal after the explosion which killed at least 160 persons, injured thousands and made hundred thousands homeless. Out of 16 cranes at the container terminal, 12 were currently operational. The port was gradually resuming operations to ensure the supply of all kinds of goods to citizens. Bassem Al Kaissi, the new Director of the PoB, said that the container terminal will be fully operational by Aug 14. Al Kaissi said that 420 containers were unloaded on Aug 10. The container terminal storage area has been cleaned up and restored to its state before the blast. The container terminal represents 80 percent of the overall cargo movement at the PoB. It is located one kilometer away from the blast epicenter. Container vessels can dock at quay number 16. Shipping movement at the PoB had already plunged by 75 percent due to the economic crisis and has reached 15 percent following the blast. Customs have opened offices in the PoB’s warehouse number 14 which was partially damaged. The customs have become able to carry out the inspection of merchandise- Customs duties are being temporarily paid at the Rafic Hariri International Airport. Tthe PoB is now handling only full containers as groupage consignment requires warehouses which don’t exist now. Amer Al Kaissi said groupage, which represents 15 percent of shipments at the PoB, will be diverted to the Port of Tripoli until the rebuilding of warehouses at the PoB is completed. The first two containerships to berth at the PoB after the blast were the 'Electra' (Gezairi Transport) and the 'Nicolas Delmas' (CMA CGM). The 'Electra', which was carrying 400 containers, was diverted to Tripoli where there was a license to operate but the company insisted to unload it in Beirut when it was told that the PoB has resumed operation. The CMA CGM Group and CEVA Logistics said they are fully operational and ensuring business continuity to serve their customers. The Group has redeployed its employees in its two back-up sites in Beirut Digital District and reinforced its presence in Tripoli. Part of CMA CGM’s vessels has been temporarily directed to Tripoli. Few shipping companies are authorized to operate in other ports such as Tripoli or Saida. BCTC, the Customs and the PoB’s authorities did their best to handle the clearing formalities despite the difficult working conditions. The general cargo area was fully operational on Aug 12 both for imports and exports. This includes wheat and other grains as well as construction steel bars. The cost of rebuilding the port is estimated at around $1 billion.
CG STRATTON
The USCG 'Stratten (WMSL 752)' located four Russian Federation Navy (RFN) vessels on Sep 15, 2024, about 57 nautical miles northwest of Point Hope, Alaska on a routine patrol in the Chukchi Sea, The RFN vessels were observed while they were transiting southeast along the Russian side of the Maritime Boundary Line (MBL). The crew of the 'Stratton' witnessed the RFN vessels cross the MBL into the U.S. Arctic and moved to observe the vessels. The Russian vessels were assessed to be avoiding sea ice on the Russian side of the MBL and operated in accordance with international rules and customs as they transited approximately 30 miles into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The Russian Surface Action Group consisted of a Severodvinsk-class submarine, Dolgorukiy-class submarine, Steregushchiy– class Frigate, and Seliva-class tug. The 'Stratton' was patrolling under Operation Frontier Sentinel, an operation designed to meet presence with presence when strategic competitors operate in and around U.S. waters. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3907798/us-coast-guard-encounters-russian-naval-vessels-near-point-hope-alaska/
SALVAMAR ADHARA
On Sep 16 a cayuco asked for help via telephone call 13 nautical miles southeast of El Hierro. The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara', which located the stopped bpat. The crew rescued the 67 people on board, among them one woman and two children, and transferred the castaways to La Restinga. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1835721170357755931