On May 29, 2024, the Colombo Additional Magistrate Keminda Perera has issued a foreign travel ban to the Indian captain Raj Dev Yadev of the 'Ark Prestige', which caused an oil spill in Colombo. An investigation was started regarding a hydraulic oil leak from the ship, which was berthed at the dockyard jetty of Colombo Port, where the vessel had arrived for maintenance on April 20. The ban was to prevent him from leaving the country for one month. After considering a request made by the Colombo Port Police, the Magistrate who issued the ban on foreign travel has asked the police to forward the order to the Immigration Controller and inform the captain about the prohibition order. After considering the facts of the complaint, the Magistrate issued the relevant order to be effective for one month and ordered police to inform the court about the progress of the investigation.
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ICON OF THE SEAS
The passenger who jumped from the running track on the fifth deck of the 'Icon of the Seas' on May 26, fell 90 feet to his death. Each deck is about 20 feet high. He was likely dead when he was recovered from the water. The doctor on board pronounced him dead once his body was transported to the medical bay. The passenger’s body was then stored in the on-board morgue, which is equipped with eight drawers. The body was removed from the ship after it docked on the morning of June 1. The man’s body was transported via van to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office. The police met the ship and took statements at the docks, and retrieved a copy of the surveillance footage of the fatal incident. The overboard detection system was activated almost immediately, prompting onboard staff into action. The protocol was to immediately make visual contact. One guard also saw the man jump on a security camera feed. The captain stopped and turned the ship around. Once the alert was sounded, the ship’s specialized security team prepared to take a rescue boat out to pick up the man. The rest of the security team was stationed at predetermined lookout spots to do a 360-degree scan of the surrounding waters, while the Coast Guard was also briefed and immediately sent out an aircraft to the site. While the potential rescue got underway, the vessel's medical team was put on high alert. The ship had paramedics, nurses, former ER doctors, and even a surgeon on board – as well as all the lifesaving medical equipment. The man was likely not alive when he was recovered from the water. Report with photo and video: https://nypost.com/2024/06/02/us-news/icon-of-the-seas-jumper-fell-90-feet-sources/
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.
LUCERNE
On June 2, 2024, the 'Lucerne' assisted a fishing vessel with 17 people on board, which was taking on water three nautical miles off-shore of Duiker Island in Hout Bay and had issued a Mayday call. TheNSRI Hout Bay, Bakoven and Table Bay were activated to respond to base to prepare rescue craft to launch to assist. The 'Lucerne' diverted to assist, reached the vessel. It went aongside as a precaution until the fishing vessel managed to get the engine running again. As a precaution, the skipper headed his vessel away from land to give them added drift time, in case the engine conced out again. The crew had stemmed the ingress of water. The vessel was heading towards the port of Table Bay in up to four-metre swells, occasional rain and fair winds and rough seas. The NSRI Table Bay lifeboat 'DHL Deliverer' reached the vessel where, once on-scene, the 'Lucerne' was released to return to the fishing grounds. A towline was established to begin towing the fishing vessel towards the Port of Table Bay. The towline snapped due to chaffing but was quickly re-established. The ship was finally handed over to the waiting Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) tug 'Blue Jay', that brought the vessel to a berth in the port. The fishing company has initiated repairs.
QUEEN ANNE
The Rescue 118 helicopter was mobilized for a medevac from the 'Queen Anne' off the coast of County Donegal on May 31, 2024. The cruise ship was located 40 nautical miles north of Tory Island, en route from Invergordon to Greenock. The helicopter hovered above the decks of the ship, with a crew member being winched down. One of the ship’s passengers was winched onto the helicopter to receive further assistance. Report with photo: https://www.donegaldaily.com/2024/06/01/rescue-118-called-to-cruise-ship-off-donegal-coast/
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
CELEBRITY EQUINOX
A passenger of the 'Ecelebrity Equinox' lost consciosness and died in the cabin on the afternoon of June 1, 2024, while the ship was docked at the Port of Mykonos. The local port authority was immediately informed. The 81-year-old female passenger was pronounced dead by the ship's doctor. The Coast Guard report states that the passenger's body was to be transported to the cruise ship's final destination in Civitavecchia, where the ship is due to arrive on June 4. The Mykonos Port Authority conducted a preliminary investigation into the incident.