The “Humanity 1” has rescued 28 people from distress in international waters. Among the refugees in a small, overcrowded wooden boat, which was unable to maneuver and without rescue equipment, were pregnant women, small children and babies. The crew of the rescue ship “Humanity 1” took the people on board on May 16. The castaways were exhausted, some seasick and dehydrated, but in a stable medical condition. The Italian authorities assigned the “Humanity 1” Marina di Carrara as a safe port, which, according to SOS Humanity, is more than 1,150 kilometers ways from the rescue site, with an ETA as of May 21. The voyage would take four to five days. The captain asked the MRCC to assign a closer port.
News
Beirut
The Port of Beirut (PoB) resumed partial operations on Aug 10 with the first two container ships berthing in the container terminal after the explosion which killed at least 160 persons, injured thousands and made hundred thousands homeless. Out of 16 cranes at the container terminal, 12 were currently operational. The port was gradually resuming operations to ensure the supply of all kinds of goods to citizens. Bassem Al Kaissi, the new Director of the PoB, said that the container terminal will be fully operational by Aug 14. Al Kaissi said that 420 containers were unloaded on Aug 10. The container terminal storage area has been cleaned up and restored to its state before the blast. The container terminal represents 80 percent of the overall cargo movement at the PoB. It is located one kilometer away from the blast epicenter. Container vessels can dock at quay number 16. Shipping movement at the PoB had already plunged by 75 percent due to the economic crisis and has reached 15 percent following the blast. Customs have opened offices in the PoB’s warehouse number 14 which was partially damaged. The customs have become able to carry out the inspection of merchandise- Customs duties are being temporarily paid at the Rafic Hariri International Airport. Tthe PoB is now handling only full containers as groupage consignment requires warehouses which don’t exist now. Amer Al Kaissi said groupage, which represents 15 percent of shipments at the PoB, will be diverted to the Port of Tripoli until the rebuilding of warehouses at the PoB is completed. The first two containerships to berth at the PoB after the blast were the 'Electra' (Gezairi Transport) and the 'Nicolas Delmas' (CMA CGM). The 'Electra', which was carrying 400 containers, was diverted to Tripoli where there was a license to operate but the company insisted to unload it in Beirut when it was told that the PoB has resumed operation. The CMA CGM Group and CEVA Logistics said they are fully operational and ensuring business continuity to serve their customers. The Group has redeployed its employees in its two back-up sites in Beirut Digital District and reinforced its presence in Tripoli. Part of CMA CGM’s vessels has been temporarily directed to Tripoli. Few shipping companies are authorized to operate in other ports such as Tripoli or Saida. BCTC, the Customs and the PoB’s authorities did their best to handle the clearing formalities despite the difficult working conditions. The general cargo area was fully operational on Aug 12 both for imports and exports. This includes wheat and other grains as well as construction steel bars. The cost of rebuilding the port is estimated at around $1 billion.
ISLAND BIRI
On May 9, 2024, the 'Island Biri' ran aground on the coast of Lajala, Coron Palawan. An area of 255 square meters sauare meters coral reef was damaged by the fast craft. An administrative case was to be filed with the PCSD against the owner of the vessel as soon as the investigation has been completed. The collected fines will also be used for the rehabilitation of the damaged reefs, which serve as a home and breeding ground for various fish.
MARIANNE DANICA
The Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has confirmed reports that the 'Marianne Danica', which was carrying a cargo of arms to Israel, and had requested permission to call at the port at Cartagena on May 21, 2024, got the request denied on May 16. The ship had left Madras for Israel, carrying a cargo of about 27 tons of explosives.
SALVAMAR MACONDO
On May 17 at 4:09 a.m. the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas was notified of a cayuco warning 2.5 nautival miles from Mogán. The 'Salvamar Macondo' was mobilized to assist and located it. The boat with 126 sub-Saharan migrants, among them 12 women and one minor on board, was escorted to Arguineguín. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1791352460826599645
Kiel
The PORT OF KIEL has redesigned the port apron in Ostuferhafen, which is the freight and logistics centre on the fjord. Where once stood a grain silo, there is now an expanded pre-stacking and stand-by area of three hectares for trucks, trailers and pas-senger cars.The State Premier of Schleswig- Holstein, Daniel Günther, visited the Ostufer-hafen on 12th August to hand over the grant notice coming from the State Programme Economy for 5.44 million Euros: The project to redesign the port apron included dismantling three hall areas of the former grain silo, excavation and road works as well as drainage, lighting and security measures and the connection of the area to the infrastructure. Through the new and generous port apron it has been possible to merge formerly separated pre-stacking areas, shorten distances and gain more space for trucks, busses, trailers and passenger cars. Furthermore, IT solutions have been developed to accelerate the handling processes at the gate, which also allow truck drivers to reduce personal contact.Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director at the PORT OF KIEL: “Even under the current circumstances the Ostuferhafen operates in a reliable and safe way. The port of Kiel has proven its systemic importance regarding the transshipment of cross-border freight transport.”In the first seven months of the year 2.1 million tons of cargo have been tran-shipped via the Ostuferhafen (+ 1 %). Additional volumes have been transported by the ferries of the DFDS shipping company to the Baltic States or they have been delivered by the SCA-RoRo-freighters from Scandinavia. Not only general cargo and forest products are unloaded resp. transhipped in Ostuferhafen but also project and heavy cargo, scrap metal and agricul-tural products. The integrated passenger terminal to handle cruise vessels emphasizes the universal character of this port part.