The 'Cornelia', en route from Bari to Constanta, suffered an engine failure while transiting the Bosphorus on May 31, 2024. The vessel encountered a breakdown near Beşiktaş , leading to the immediate deployment of a pilot and the tugs "Kurtarma 9" and "Kurtarma 12' from the Directorate General of Coastal Safety to assist. Consequently, the ship traffic in the Bosphorus has been halted temporarily to facilitate the safe handling of the situation. Ship traffic was set to resume at 7 a.m. for southbound vessels after a brief suspension. The ship was taken to Türkeli and safely moored in pos. 41° 16.38'N 029° 01.98' E. Report with photos: https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1796459078283411496
News
TORO ROSSO
Seven people died and several were injured on the morning May 30, 2024, in an explosion followed by a fire on the 'Toro Rosso', with 20 crew members on board, eight nautical miles from the port of Jorf Lasfar, when the ship was about to load a cargo of fertilizer. An ensuing fire engulfed the engine room. Once the alert was raised, Civil Protection and local authorities in El Jadida were mobilized to fight the fire, with the intervention including a gendarmerie helicopter. This allowed for the evacuation of the dead and injured. The bodies of several victims have been removed from the ship. Three people were transferred to Casablanca and later succumbed to their injuries. Report with photo: https://fr.le360.ma/societe/cargo-en-feu-au-large-de-jorf-lasfar-le-bilan-monte-a-4-morts-et-6-blesses_HN3YUKEZHFAMTKJULVM7TY462E/
Iskenderun
Thick black smoke was rising from burning containers at Iskenderun Port on Feb 6, 2023. The fire was caused by containers that toppled over during the powerful earthquake that struck southeast Turkey. ATurkish Coast Guard vessel was assisting efforts to extinguish the blaze.
Kerch
Russia's Ministry of Transport has set up a ferry service across the Kerch Strait to take over vehicle traffic, offsetting some of the impact of the damage to the Kerch Strait Bridge after a truck was blown up on the westbound road deck of the Kerch Strait Bridge on Oct 7 at about 6 a.m. Two spans of the westbound deck collapsed into the water, but the adjacent eastbound deck remained in place. The blast's timing coincided with the passage of a fuel train on the adjacent rail deck, and it ignited seven fuel tank cars, which burned for hours after the explosion. A Russian salvage diving team has arrived on the site and is completing an underwater survey of the damage, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said Sunday. An above-water inspection process is already under way. Traffic had partially resumed on the bridge by late Saturday, though restricted by the extent of the damage. Russia's Ministry of Transport said that it also resumed suburban commuter rail service over the rail track, though not heavy freight trains. Two ferries are already in operation to provide a bypass route, and eight separate parking lots have been set up for temporary storage for cars and trucks waiting to make the crossing. Two more ferries will join the effort on Monday, the Yeysh and Mriya.
CONRO TRADER
The 'Avangard' was damaged in a Ukrainian missile strike on occupied Kerch, Crimea, early in the morning on May 30, 2024. The ship was run aground. Four crew members, including 19-year-old interns, were injured. Shrapnel from a downed missile damaged the pilot boat 'Mechta' at the Kerch ferry crossing, and it sank. The crew members managed to leave the boat and were unharmed. Also the 'Conro Trader' was damaged, one crew member was injured. Four KS-701 transport amphibious boats were damaged. In addition, Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels Magura V5 attacked and hit two Russian boats near the village of Chornomorske, Yevpatoriia district, the KS-701 Tunets. Reports and photos: https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-damages-russian-ferry-in-kerch-strait-photos-50423301.html https://ru.krymr.com/a/news-kerch-parom-udar-krym/32972707.html https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/de/video-pet-broda-i-dva-feribroda-se-oshteteni-vo-sinokjeshniot-napad-na-krim/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-11/
FR PEARL
On MAy 29, the work started to refloat the 'FR Pearl' in Artvin's Hopa district. It was planned to tow to the ship Hopa Port, and in preparation of this it was turned around. The works, however, could not be completed due to technical reasons, and will be restarted in the coming days. Report with photo: https://www.yildizhaber.com.tr/karaya-oturan-yuk-gemisini-limana-cekme-calismalari-tamamlanamadi-143133-haberi
Kiel
The Port of Kiel expects another good season in 2023, resulting in 218 cruise calls, said its MD Dirk Claus in the morning of Jan 17, 2023, as part of a presentation reflecting on last year's results. It follows 2022's record-breaking 244 calls, which saw the port handle over 2.24m passengers, 836,000 of those from cruise vessels. The number of calls in 2019 was 37% less by comparison, numbering 178, and passenger volumes 4.1% lower. 2020 had been forecast to become a record season for Kiel, with 200 calls and 880,000 passengers, but aspirations were dashed owing to the pandemic. This year, a number of larger vessels are scheduled to arrive at Kiel on multiple occasions making the gross tonnage of arriving ships similar to 2022. For 2023, the choice of routes and destinations approached from Kiel will be slightly broader. Moving into the future, Claus expects Kiel to settle on between 200 and 250 cruise calls annually. According to the port, last year’s promising results were the result of ‘intense planning’ with international cruise operators. While 11 calls were cancelled owing to the conflict in Ukraine and the resulting loss of St Petersburg from itineraries, nine were newly added as a result of rerouting by operators. Looking ahead, there will be a strong focus on greener shipping with Claus hoping that between 60 and 100 calls can be supplied with green shore power this year. He stated that Kiel will continue to look at strengthening shore power in line with its corporate sustainability strategy to lower carbon emissions. Work on the new Ostuferhafen shore power plant is expected to conclude towards the end of this year, resulting in Kiel being able to offer shoreside connectivity at all its ferry and cruise terminals from 2024. Along with this €17m investment, a further €2m will be invested to install solar arrays. The systems, which will be fitted on roofs at Kiel Port, are intended to cover up to 30% of the port's electricity requirements in the long term. Kiel’s first call is expected to arrive April 7 with the river vessel 'Frederic Chopin'. The first cruise ship of the season, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 'Balmoral', will arrive a week later. The largest ships to call will be 'MSC Euribia' and 'AIDAnova'. At the other end of the scale, the 'Ocean Majesty' will visit Kiel on six occasions while chartered to Hansa Touristik. The vessel, which celebrates its 57th anniversary this year, is popular with the German source market. One of its calls is scheduled to occur on June 18 during the Kieler Woche sailing festival which will run from June 17-25. Traditionally, this marks the peak of the cruise season with this year no exception: 22 calls are expected by Kiel at the same time as the event takes place. While the highest number of calls is expected between mid-April and the end of September as usual, some ships will continue to call later in the year. 'AIDAnova'’s last departure is scheduled for November 4 whilst December 20 will see Phoenix Reisen's 'Amera' arrive at Kiel as part of a pre-Christmas itinerary. The season will draw to a close a few days later with the 'Spirit of Discovery' on December 29. Costa-, AIDA-, MSC- and TUI Cruises will again be the port's largest cruise customers. The majority of calls account for turnarounds serving the German-speaking source markets, but a number of transit calls will also take place, P&O Cruises’ Britannia, Swiss Ruby, Holland America Line’s 'Nieuw Statendam' and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 'Seven Seas Splendor' among them. As in previous years, the Ostuferhafen outside the city centre will be heavily utilised by MSC Cruises and most other cruise ships will arrive at the Ostseekai.
Kerch
The Crimean Bridge across Kerch Strait suffered an explosion and fire in the morning of Oct 8, 2022. Two spans of the motorway bridge collapsed and fell into the water, the railway bridge above the motorway witha cargo train including railway car tanks with fuel, was on fire. All bridge traffic was suspended. The Crimean Bridge was more than a Bridge, both for Russia and Ukraine. For Russia it was a symbol of the Russian “victory” and historical justice. For the Ukraine, it was a symbol of the Russian aggression and Crimea occupation. The navigation span of the Bridge is yet undamaged, and therefore, the Kerch Strait Channel remained navigable. The Kerch Strait Transit is from now on, however, a risky undertaking, so all ship owners are advised to calculate risks and probably, change their ships voyages, avoiding Azov sea calls.
AVANGARD
The 'Avangard' was damaged in a Ukrainian missile strike on occupied Kerch, Crimea, early in the morning on May 30, 2024. The ship was run aground. Four crew members, including 19-year-old interns, were injured. Shrapnel from a downed missile damaged the pilot boat 'Mechta' at the Kerch ferry crossing, and it sank. The crew members managed to leave the boat and were unharmed. Also the 'Conro Trader' was damaged, one crew member was injured. Four KS-701 transport amphibious boats were damaged. In addition, Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels Magura V5 attacked and hit two Russian boats near the village of Chornomorske, Yevpatoriia district, the KS-701 Tunets. Reports and photos: https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-damages-russian-ferry-in-kerch-strait-photos-50423301.html https://ru.krymr.com/a/news-kerch-parom-udar-krym/32972707.html https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/de/video-pet-broda-i-dva-feribroda-se-oshteteni-vo-sinokjeshniot-napad-na-krim/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-11/
OCEAN DESTINY
The US Coast Guard medevaced a 31-year-old man from the 'Ocean Destiny' on May 29, 2024, approximately 63 miles off Southwest Pass, Louisiana. At approximately 7 p.m. Coast Guard District Eight watchstanders received a phone call from the bulk carrier, requesting a medevac for the crew member who was experiencing a medical emergency. Coast Guard District Eight watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew to conduct the medevac and a Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew to provide communications. The aircrews arrived on-scene, the helicopter aircrew hoisted the man aboard, and transported him to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at University Medical Center in New Orleans. The man was last reported in serious condition. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3791408/video-available-coast-guard-medevacs-31-year-old-man-63-miles-offshore-from-sou/
Singapore
On Dec 1, 2022, at about 3 p.m. the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was informed that 15 empty containers at Keppel Terminal had fallen from the wharf into the water as a result of strong winds during a squall. There were no reported injuries and no immediate impact to port operations. The MPA deployed two patrol crafts to monitor and cordon off the affected area to facilitate recovery work by PSA Corporation Ltd. MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre has restricted all vessel movements in the vicinity of Keppel Terminal until the containers were recovered.
Odessa
For the fourth day in a row, Iranian-made drones attacked Odesa on Sep 26 in the morning, this time against military targets and without civilian casualties. On Sep 23, two civilians were killed during Russian drone attacks on the port city. On Sep 25, Odesa was attacked by three drones, one of which was reportedly shot down by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine has not officially identified the drones, but from the video footage below it appears, according to experts, that they are Iranian-produced Shakhed 136 drones.