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
Swinoujscie
The first cargo of liquified natural gas under the long-term contract between PGNiG and US LNG provider Cheniere Energy arrived at the President Lech Kaczyński LNG Terminal in Świnoujście. The long-term contract, which was signed in November of 2018, will total approximately 39 bcm of natural gas over the 24 year period of the agreement. The official reception ceremony of the first delivery at the LNG terminal in Świnoujście included representatives of the government of the Republic of Poland, local authorities, as well as executives from PGNiG and Cheniere Energy.
Tanger-Med
The Tanger Med port has emerged as the biggest port in Africa in terms of container capacity, surpassing Africa’s bigger ports like Durban (South Africa) and Mombasa (Kenya). The Tanger Med port now connects Morocco to 77 countries and 186 ports around the world. The Tanger Med II has two new container terminals – TC3 and TC4 – with an additional 6 million container capacity. The TC3, which is operated by Morocco’s main port operator Marsa Maroc, has a capacity of 1 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units). The TC4, which is operated by the Netherlands-based APM Terminals, has a capacity of 5 million TEUs. According to the Tanger Med Port Authority, with its new terminals, Tanger Med port will have a capacity of processing 9 million containers, 7 million passengers, 1 million vehicles and 700,000 trucks. Thanks to its extensions, Tanger Med port has now become the largest port in the Mediterranean region, surpassing some of the region’s top ports like Algeciras (Spain), Valencia (Spain) and Gioia (Italy). The port is located 40 kilometers east of the Moroccan town of Tangier, which is a gateway to both Europe and Africa. “Our aim is to develop an effective port platform integrated with transshipment activities, imports and exports,” Tanger Med Port Authority said on its website. The Tanger Med port has become vital for Morocco’s economy as it handled 317 billion Moroccan dirhams (US$33.14 billion) worth of exports and imports in 2018. It processed an overall tonnage of 52.24 tonnes last year.
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/
Fos-sur-Mer
The French port of Marseille Fos plans to spend over US$22 million to reduce air emissions by extending its shoreside electrical connections to every ferry, cruise ship and repair quay in the eastern harbour. The port has also introduced speed restrictions to reduce industrial air pollution. Already available on the Corsica ferry quays, the shore power network will be expanded in two phases to cover North Africa ferry quays and the ship repair hub by 2022 and the cruise terminal between 2022 and 2025. The zero-emissions investment, which is supported by national and regional government, recognises the need to maintain the port’s economic value while improving the city’s waterside air quality.
Singapore
Phase one of the new Jurong Port Tank Terminals (JPTT) was officially opened on Monday (July 29), with Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat saying it will allow Singapore to strengthen its position as one of the world’s top bunkering ports for low-sulphur fuels. The $200 million, 16ha petrochemical terminal is a joint venture between port operator Jurong Port and German firm Oiltanking with 252,000 cubic m of clean petroleum storage capacity. From January next year, the International Maritime Organisation will prohibit ships from using fuels containing more than 0.5 per cent sulphur.
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
Dubrovnik
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the City of Dubrovnik have partnered to introduce sustainable tourism management practices that will preserve the Croatian city’s cultural heritage. CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead and Dubrovnik’s Mayor Mato Franković signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which outlines plans to make Dubrovnik a model of sustainable tourism for the Adriatic region. All plans focus on investment, collaboration and best practices that will benefit both Dubrovnik’s residents and visitors. “Today’s agreement validates the work we have already done with Mayor Franković and formalises the cruise industry’s continued commitment to the City of Dubrovnik and its people,” said Craighead.
Sihanoukville
Congestion at Cambodia’s top port is creating supply chain disruptions. In a note to clients German containerline Hapag-Lloyd noted that terminal productivity at Sihanoukville port has deteriorated due to port and yard congestion. Feeder services and turnaround times are affected and feeder space is tight. In an effort for medium term improvement of this situation, the port is building an extended yard for additional storage space. “Before the new container yard is completed, port congestion may persist,” Hapag-Lloyd warned.