The U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Netherlands Navy and Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard suspended a search for three suspected smugglers who went overboard during the pursuit of a non-compliant vessel suspected of smuggling illicit narcotics in the Caribbean Sea, June 4, 2024. In the early morning hours, a Royal Netherlands Navy ship with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment deployed for a counter drug patrol identified a vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics in international waters. The vessel failed to stop when signaled and the smuggling vessel operator instead increased speed and changed direction toward the Dutch pursuit boat, called a fast-raiding interception and special forces craft (FRISC). The FRISC boat crew, consisting of Dutch and U.S. Coast Guard boarding team members, discharged their weapons at the go-fast vessel in self-defense and defense of others in response to the life-threatening situation. The go-fast vessel caught fire and sank, and three suspected smugglers went overboard into the water and were not recovered. There were no reported injuries to the combined law enforcement team members. Assets and crews involved in the search efforts included: - Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS 'Groningen'; - Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS 'Pelikaan'; - U.S. Coast Guard helicopter; - Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied helicopter; - Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied cutter 'Jaguar'.
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SALVAMAR MIZAR
A cayuco was located by the research vessel 'Ramform Atlas' (IMO: 9629897) on the afternoon of June 5, 2024, en route from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, to Pecem, about 207 kilometers southwest of La Gomera. The boat had more than a hundred people on board, about whom there were no further details for now. The SAR vessels 'Guardamar Urania', 'Guardamar Talía', 'Salvamar Adhara' and 'Salvamar Mizar' as well as the SAR helicopter Helimer 201 were sent to the area and encountered four more boats with a large number of migrants on board and started providing aid. Finally 516 people were rescued from five cayucos with the units working all night. The resonse was coordinated by the CCS Tenerife and the Maritime Captaincy Directorate. Photos: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1798671779826966613
Chittagong
The trial transshipment of goods from India to its northeast, via the sea route, started on Tuesday after four containers bound for the region were unloaded from a merchant vessel at Bangladesh's Chittagong port, officials said on Tuesday. India and Bangladesh had signed an MOU for goods for northeast India transiting via Bangladesh's ports - a small but significant opening up of both Bangladesh's ports under the broader economic relationship between the two countries. Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk told on Tuesday: "The first ship under the trial run of transshipment of Indian goods to its northeastern states through Bangladesh arrived at Chattogram (Chittagong) port on Tuesday morning. "MV Shejyoti, carrying back to Chattogam 4 TEUs (20-feet equivalent unit) with 221 containers full of transhipment goods from India's Haldia port, reached the NCT-1 Berth, the outer anchorage of Chattogram port at around 1.25 a.m. But as night navigation is restricted in the port, that is why we started the navigation at morning," he said. MV Shejyoti had left the Syama Prasad Mukherjee port of Kolkata on July 17. Handling of the containers was completed before midnight and the container trailers started for Akhaura with an escort provided by Bangladesh's customs security. Shipping agent sources said the four containers under the trial transshipment contain iron rods and pulses. Those will head to Agartala through the Akhaura Land Port. The consignment of rods will be brought to West Tripura's Jirania from Agartala, while the pulses will go to Assam's Karimganj. Habibur Rahman of Mango Lines, the agent for the merchant vessel, had said that offloading may begin also on Tuesday after completing the formalities. Indian transshipment goods would enjoy a 28-day free-stay after offloading at the port as per the international transshipment agreement. Bangladesh will earn 254 takas from the scanning of each container loaded with transshipment goods. Bangladeshi importers also pay the same charge. Similarly, 30 takas document processing fee for each consignment of Indian goods will be levied, the same amount charged on Bangladeshi importers. Joint Commissioner of the Customs House S.M. Shamsuzzaman said the transshipped goods will have to pay police 50 takas per tonne as escort charge to reach the Indian border in Tripura from the port by road. Usually a 20 feet container carries a maximum of 30 tons of goods. According to this estimation, Bangladesh will realise around 1, 500 takas as escort charge for accompanying goods of a container to the border. Akhaura Customs Officer Harunur Rashid said they have taken necessary preparations for the transportation of the Indian goods, under the trial run. India is transporting goods to its northeastern states, using Bangladeshi ports, as per the agreement on "The Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of Goods to and from India" signed between Dhaka and Delhi in 2018 and a standard operating procedure (SoP) signed in October 2019. Earlier, the Indian government used the Ashuganj river port to transport goods for the Palatana Power Plant in Tripura through the Akhaura land port. On the new chapter in connectivity with Bangladesh via container shipping, India's Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the transit route will open new opportunities for both countries. He said that it will provide an alternative and shorter route to connect the northeast region through Bangladesh, reducing distance and time taken in transportation of goods for India and is a win-win for both the economies. On the other hand, job creation, investment in the logistical sector, enhanced business services and revenue generation are advantages that will accrue to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi vessels and trucks will be utilised to move the Indian cargo, the Indian government said. India and Bangladesh have enhanced cooperation in shipping and inland water trade in recent years. Under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, in addition to the six existing Ports of Call, five more in each country have been added recently. Dredging of inland waterway routes is ongoing under an MoU, signed by the two countries on development of selected stretches of Bangladesh waterways. The trial transportation of goods to the northeastern states by road, via Bangladesh, had started earlier.
SALVAMAR ADHARA
On the night of June 6, the 'Salvamar Adhara' was mobilized by the CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo to a migrant boat eignt nautical miles southsoutheast of La Restinga (El Hierro). The lifeboat escorted the boat port. On board were 108 sub-Saharan people, among them 72 men, 21 women and 15 minors. The castaaways were cared for by health and safety devices once they had arrived in La Restinga. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1798748953514778932
SALVAMAR ADHARA
A cayuco was located by the research vessel 'Ramform Atlas' (IMO: 9629897) on the afternoon of June 5, 2024, en route from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, to Pecem, about 207 kilometers southwest of La Gomera. The boat had more than a hundred people on board, about whom there were no further details for now. The SAR vessels 'Guardamar Urania', 'Guardamar Talía', 'Salvamar Adhara' and 'Salvamar Mizar' as well as the SAR helicopter Helimer 201 were sent to the area and encountered four more boats with a large number of migrants on board and started providing aid. Finally 516 people were rescued from five cayucos with the units working all night. The resonse was coordinated by the CCS Tenerife and the Maritime Captaincy Directorate. Photos: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1798671779826966613
Beirut
A powerful explosion rocked Beirut port on Aug 4, 2020, killing and injuring dozens of people, and causing widespread damage. There was no clarity yet with regards to the cause of explosions, and what triggered it. The talk was of a firework factory which blew up. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR88CECmTso&feature=emb_title
Chittagong
A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control The blazing fire at the Chittagong port was brought under control on Wednesday evening 15 July 2020. Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has formed a five-member probe body, headed by Zafar Alam, Member (Administration and Planning) of the CPA, to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage. The CPA Secretary Omark Faruk confirmed the matter. “Although the fire has been brought under control, smoke is still billowing from the gutted goods,” said the Secretary, The blazing fire originated at Shed No 3 of the maritime port at around 4pm on Wednesday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room in Agrabad, Chittagong city. A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control. According to the CPA, goods like foam, fabrics, machineries, papers, and soda meant for destruction were stockpiled at the No.3 shed of the port. AIS/Station/ BDCGP
SALVAMAR ALCYONE
On June 6 the 'Salvamar Alcyone' was mobilized by the CCS Bilbao of Salvamento Marítimo to assist the motor boat 'Mari Jose', which had been disabled and adrift with one person on board in the area of the Santoña estuary. The boat was taken in tow and safely pulled to Laredo. Photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1798794067687641285
GUARDAMAR TALIA
A cayuco was located by the research vessel 'Ramform Atlas' (IMO: 9629897) on the afternoon of June 5, 2024, en route from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, to Pecem, about 207 kilometers southwest of La Gomera. The boat had more than a hundred people on board, about whom there were no further details for now. The SAR vessels 'Guardamar Urania', 'Guardamar Talía', 'Salvamar Adhara' and 'Salvamar Mizar' as well as the SAR helicopter Helimer 201 were sent to the area and encountered four more boats with a large number of migrants on board and started providing aid. Finally 516 people were rescued from five cayucos with the units working all night. The resonse was coordinated by the CCS Tenerife and the Maritime Captaincy Directorate. Photos: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1798671779826966613