Explosive charges were detonated on the afternoon of May 13 to bring down sections of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the 'Dali', with officials now hopeful that they will be able to remove the vessel later this week. The detonation went as planned. Next, crews will assess the remaining bridge pieces on the ship’s bow ande then ensure anything underwater may not be preventing the ship from being floated and moved out of the area. After a resurvey of the channel as well as surveys around the 'Dali' to make sure there are no obstructions that come from that precision cutting that would interfere with traffic, the US Coast Guard will reopen the limited-access channel to traffic. After necessary assessments and surveys, the plan was to remove ballast to make the ship buoyant on its own and then use four tugs to pull it out into the channel and escort it to a nearby pier. Additional wreckage and containers will be removed from the 'Dali' at the pier and the ship will undergo necessary, temporary repairs before more permanent ones can be made. Report and video: https://splash247.com/baltimore-officials-confident-of-removing-stricken-dali-this-week/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_a0XSfc1AE&t=118s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP2tXgp4q-8&t=1543s
News
MED STAR
After ten months moored in the port of Gibraltar, the “Med Star”, once owned by the Moroccan company Intershipping, set sail on May 9, 2024, towed by the tug “Christos XXXIV”, headed to Piraeus. The registration port was erased, and the ship did not have a flag. During the departure maneuver the ferry was assisted by the tugs “Rooke” and “Eliott”. Since January 2023 it was moored in the port of Algeciras, frequently detained due to excessive smoke problems and suffering from the financial problems of its owner. Report with photo: https://www.puentedemando.com/el-ferry-ex-marroqui-med-star-abandona-gibraltar-remolcado-a-grecia/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3zG2HJbay8Eae9ihca8Uyhs1Yzmur_nD1P63LyLSJnq5cAcczV9N-COvw_aem_AYpDR19m7H0LIWjOPCgHt6ERT4nTZbJrTMoP8y1V67GZVYzHR8hwFQfDx3XJPq8pppKelW0SACigfWBSidg4R_fL
Mumbai
Mumbai Port’s decision to raise the draft level to 10.3 metres and 11 metres to dock vessels at BPX and BPS respectively, subject to low tides being over 60 cm has been welcomed by maritime fraternity. This has avoided the waiting period for the vessels arriving with deep drafts till the tide is favorable for berthing. At times, such vessels had to arrange for discharging the import cargo for reducing the draft in stream and only subsequently berth at BPX/BPS.
Halifax
PSA International Pte Ltd (PSA) has completed the acquisition of Halterm Container Terminal (“Halterm”) in the Port of Halifax, Canada, from Macquarie Infrastructure Partners,a fund managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, following formal approval by the relevant regulatory authorities. Halterm is the only container terminal in Eastern Canada that can serve mega container vessels.
DALI
On May 7, Unified Command salvage teams discovered the sixth and final victim who died in the 'Dali' accident, José Mynor López, 38. Maryland State Police investigators along with officers from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and the FBI responded to the scene and recovered the body of the sixth construction worker. According to the release, Maryland State Police investigators, an FBI Victim Specialist, a linguist and a team of mental health professionals notified López's family after a positive identification was confirmed. Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, said: “With heavy hearts, today marks a significant milestone in our recovery efforts and providing closure to the loved ones of the six workers who lost their lives in this tragic event. As we mourn with the families, we honor the memory of José Mynor López, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, Carlos Daniel Hernandez Estrella, and Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez.”
OSTROVNOY-7
On May 12, 2024, at 4 a.m. a fire broke out aboard the 'Ostrovnoy 7' at the berth of Aspers LLC in the Diomede Bay of Vladivostok, where the crab fishing vessel was being repaired. Firefighters were on the spot within five minutes. At that moment, the cabins in the stern of the ship were burning. No one was hurt. The fire area was about 50 square meters. The cause was being established by investigators from the Ministry of Emergency. The Primorsky investigative department for transport of the Eastern MSUT of the Investigative Committee of Russia was conducting a pre-investigation check under Art. 216 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of safety rules during work, resulting in the infliction of major damage through negligence). Report with video: https://www.newsvl.ru/accidents/2024/05/12/223808/
Salalah
The Port of Salalah, Oman’s major regional gateway port and transshipment hub on the Arabian Sea, set another record in productivity with a delivering 412.97 Port Moves per Hour (PMPH) on vessel Cap San Tainaro handling 3,820 moves in a port stay of 9.25 hours. This is the highest productivity delivered by any port in the region till date.
Rijeka
The Croatian government said it would help a troubled shipyard owned by Uljanik, the country’s largest shipbuilder, resume production. The government, which owns a 25% stake in Uljanik, said in March that it would not back a proposed restructuring plan for the group due to the financial burden it would place on the state. However, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday that the government was willing to support 3.Maj, which is located in the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka and is one of the group’s two shipyards, because it did not have as big a debt burden. “Unlike Uljanik, the 3.Maj is not an overly indebted company and there is an interest in the construction of new ships,” Plenkovic told a televised press conference after a government meeting. He said the government expected 3.Maj to draft a plan for its future operations.
MJ PINAR
On the early morning of May 13, 2024, the 'MJ Pinar', en route from Aviles to Ravenna, requested the medevac of a crew member north of Burela. The CCS Fisterra of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the Helimer 401 helicopter, which hoisted the patient and transported him to Alvedro (A Coruña).
MOBY KISSO
The 'Moby "Kiss' suffered an engine failure on the afternoon of April 11, 2024, while maneuvering to approach the docks of the port of Piombino. It hit the metal passenger access ladder, positioned on the pier, almost destroying it. The ferry remained stationary for the rest of the day and resumed service on May 12. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhYMGtipahU
Taranto
This is the 22nd marine port in Yilport Holding’s portfolio, and its first terminal in Italy. The company, ranked 12th among international container terminal operators by Drewry, targets to be ranked among the top 10 by 2025. Chairman Robert Yuksel Yildirim made the following remarks at the signing ceremony: “We have a strong presence in the Mediterranean. We are in Malta and operate seven ports between Spain and Portugal. Being able to enter Italy and work here in Taranto is like filling in the missing piece of a puzzle that we are building globally. The infrastructure was there but there was no one to take care of it. Our intention is to create another success story in Taranto. From today until the end of this year, we will be fixing cranes to ramp up business, visiting potential customers, and promote the container terminal. The project also aims to cooperate with local operators to improve cargo and ro-ro traffic.”
Venice
Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Barcelona are a few of the European ports that the President of the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority, Pino Musolino, has sent a letter to in recent days, inviting his colleagues to meet in Venice to discuss the economic and environmental impact of the cruise industry and to draw up guidelines for a new sustainable approach to maritime tourism. The ports mentioned above have already accepted and other replies are expected in the coming days. A date will soon be set for a seminar on the issues, to be held in the Venice area.