The 'Joseph Tezanos' repatriated 51 migrants to the Dominican Republic on May 7, following the interdiction of an unlawful, irregular migration attempt near Puerto Rico. The repatriated migrants were transferred to Dominican Republic Navy vessel off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. One other migrant interdicted in the group remains in U.S. custody to face federal prosecution under 8 U.S. Code § 1324. During an evening patrol on May 4, the aircrew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft sighted a 30-foot makeshift vessel taking part in an unlawful maritime migration voyage, approximately 27 nautical miles southwest of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard Cutter responded to interdict the suspect vessel. Once on scene, the cutter stopped the vessel and embarked 52 migrants, 51 claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals and one other who claimed to be Haitian. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3768822/coast-guard-repatriates-51-migrants-to-dominican-republic-following-vessel-inte/
News
CELEBRITY EDGE
Authorities in Hawaii were investigating claims that the 'Celebrity Edge' had sailed too close to shore when passing Hawaii’s protected Na Pali coast, en route from Honolulu to Vancouver. It allegedly came within 1,000 feet of Kauai’s north shore last week. Local laws prohibit ships with more than 50 passengers from sailing within 3,000 feet of the island’s coast. Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) was aware of these incidents and an investigation was continuing. The DLNR has also consulted with the US Coast Guard and Department of was aware on the matter. The 'Celebrity Edge' has since left Hawaii and was heading for Vancouver, where it is due to arrive on May 11, 2024.
Dhamra
French oil and gas giant Total SA has taken a 50 per cent stake in Dhamra LNG Terminal Pvt Ltd (DLTPL), a unit of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), which is constructing a 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) LNG regasification terminal at its port located at Dhamra in Odisha’s Bhadrak district.
San Juan
Two more cruise ships bypassed scheduled stops in san Juan as demonstrators have been calling for the resignation of Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. The loss of tourism is impacting the island's economy. Tourism officials said the two ships would have generated a $1.3 million economic impact. Officials estimated the island missed out on a combined $760,000 from the Seaside and Equinox on Monday
BLUE SHARK
The Nigarian Navy has arrested the 'Blue Shark' following an alert issued by the Multinational Maritime Coordination Center Zone D on May 2, 2024. The vessel was alleged to have escaped from Port Gentil Gabon at about 11:35 p.m. without obtaining necessary customs clearance documents from the Gabonese maritime, judicial and customs authorities. The Nigerian Navy, using her Maritime Domain Awareness facilities vectored the Nigerian Navy Ship 'Ose'to intercept and arrest the vessel on May 6 at 11.50 a.m. 52 in pos. 040 49 929’ N, 008017 602’E, off Calabar.
MSC MERAVIGLIA
The NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement was conducting an investigation after a dead whale was found caught on the bow of the 'MSC Meraviglia' when it approached the port in Brooklyn, New York, on May 4, 2024. The roughly 44-foot-long sei whale was towed to shore at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, for a necropsy, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries spokesperson Andrea Gomez. The examination, done on May 7, found broken bones in its right flipper and evidence of tissue trauma along the right shoulder blade region. The gastrointestinal tract was full of food, as well. The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the lead on the case, said that the whale was a mature female.
Richards Bay
Moves are afoot for a new multi-billion-rand liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification terminal to be established at the port of Richards Bay by 2024, but state-owned Transnet wants the private sector to be the main investor and operator of the facility. The plan was revealed on Tuesday as Transnet announced the signing of a cost-sharing agreement with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to jointly fund a feasibility study into the terminal project. The IFC has committed $2 million (around R28 million) as part of the cost-sharing agreement. The move comes as Transnet looks to bolster South Africa’s LNG infrastructure, both at the country’s ports and within its pipelines business.
Napier
Ships could continue to be turned away from Napier Port for the next few days as an "unprecendented" swell hammers Hawke's Bay. Clifton Beach was closed by Hastings District Council on Wednesday and Napier City Council closed the Marine Parade viewing platform after tourists were drenched by a heaving sea on Wednesday morning. MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes said a slow building pressure system out to the east of Hawke's Bay had ramped up the seas, causing swells of close to 4m. McInnes said the 4m swells had the potential to "cause a bit of havoc on the coast" as it could possibly continue until Saturday morning. "The main thing that is causing the big waves is the easterly winds that are occur. "With a large space and a slow build-up it leaves time for some quite nice swells to develop," McInnes said. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12252333
PRESTIGIOUS
The 'Prestigious', apprehended on suspicion of engaging in illegal oil bunkering, was still in the custody of the Nigerian Navy on the Bonny River Anchorage. The vessel belongs to an oil service and transportation company, Newcross Exploration and Production Ltd., which uses it to service barges that convey crude to oil export mother ships on the high seas off Bonny. It was arrested by the Inspector-General of Police’s Oil Bunkering Team on suspicion of engaging in illegal oil bunkering.
MSC ARIES
Iran has released seven crew members from the 'MSC Aries'. About 17 people were still on board. The Portuguese government announced this on May 9. According to the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, Iran has released five Indians, one Filipino and one Estonian. The Estonian was the only European of the 25 crew members. One Indian citizen had also previously been released, as Iran had announced on April 18. At the end of April, Tehran had announced that the other crew members would also be released.
Keelung
Hong Kong-based Dream Cruises’ World Dream cruise ship made its first port call to Keelung on July 8 and tourism operators have said that the port could receive a visit by Royal Caribbean International’s new Spectrum of the Seas in 2021. With gross tonnage (GT) of 151,300, the World Dream is the largest ship ever to visit Keelung Port, the Keelung Harbor Bureau said on Sunday, July 21. Tourism operators have said that the 169,379GT Spectrum of the Seas could set a new record if it makes an anticipated port call in 2021.
Chittagong Shipbreakers
Bangladesh has become the top dumping ground for discarded ships in the world with the country dismantling the highest number of vessels in the first half (January-June) of the current year, according to a report of the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, a leading NGO coalition campaigning for clean and safe ship recycling.