On May 3, 2024, the 'Ambience' reported a missing crew member during the final stage of its world cruise en route from Lisbon to Tilbury. Shortly after breakfast he failed to report for duty. Eventually, an extensive search was initiated by the cruise line to locate the missing crew member along with the Spanish Coast Guard. The cruise ship started retracing its previous route in the Atlantic Ocean west and South of A Coruna and West and North of Vigo, to locate the missing crew member. On May 5, the ship arrived in Tilbury.
News
OHSHU MARU
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on May 3, 2024, issued a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) of the 'Ohshu Maru' for drifting and loitering in the Bohol Sea since April 22, en route to the port of Kinuura, while there was no contraband found aboard the ship. The warrant was issued because the captain did not give a notice of arrival when the vessel started drifting to the Bohol Sea on April 22. The ship’s master only has 24 hours after its arrival to file a notice or protest explaining the circumstances of the change in its course. The vessel was advised by its charterer to drift to a safe place at Philippine Sea while en route to the port of Kinuura. Captain Agmata was also adamant that he and his crew did not allow any vessel to come close to their ship while it was ddrift. But while the letter expressed his apology for not reporting immediately, the vessel must still be subjected to seizure proceedings because it is the proper forum for Mr. Agmata to explain what happened. The explanation was still subject to approval under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The warrant also recommended the vessel be continuously under monitoring by the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard until a clearance from the proper authorities has been issued. The vessel’s intent to avoid detection of any irregular movements made it the subject of inspection proceedings because of the possibility of its involvement in smuggling activities. The 'Ohshu Maru' turned off its AIS transmission in Malaysia for a day and eight hours before entering Philippine waters. Even the Coast Guard Station in Siquijor was unable to establish a radio communication with the ship. The vessel, its master, and crew could face charges in violation of Sections 214, 218, 300, and 1212 of the CMTA, the Customs Memorandum Circular No. 08-2019, and Customs Administrative Order No. 15-2020.
Houston
Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE: KMI) announced a series of projects, totaling over $170 million of capital investment, that will increase efficiency, add product liquidity, and enhance blending capabilities at its Pasadena and Galena Park terminals, part of its best-in-class refined products storage hub on the Houston Ship Channel. In response to growing customer demand, KMI’s liquids terminal platform now boasts 10 ship docks, 38 barge spots, 20 inbound pipelines providing connectivity to 10 regional refineries and chemical plants, 15 outbound pipelines, 14 cross-channel lines, and approximately 43 million barrels of storage on the Houston Ship Channel, North America’s leading port for energy exports.
Takoradi
Expansion works on the Takoradi Port have started with the construction of a multipurpose on-dock Atlantic Container Terminal. The project will see the port basin being dredged to create a 16-metre depth and land reclamation for the building of five new berths to hold bigger capacity vessels. A visit to the Takoradi Port in the Western Region revealed that the contractors were casting the foundation stones for the quay wall to herald the expansion project at the port. The project, being developed by Ibistek Ghana Limited at a cost of $475 million, marks the first time a wholly owned Ghanaian firm has been engaged in port development in the country. The Atlantic terminal, which will be the major development in the history of the Takoradi port when completed, will have a cargo holding space of one million twenty-footer equivalent units (TEUs), an upscale from the average container traffic of about 55,000 TEUs a year.
KNOSSOS PALACE
In the evening of May 4, 2024, the Unified Center for Coordination of SAR in Heraklion was informed by the Master of the 'Knossps Palace' that while the ship was carrying out a scheduled route from Heraklion to the ports of Milos and Piraeus, a 9-year-old passenger required immediate hospital treatment. The ship returned to the port of Heraklion, where the patient disembarked safely and was transported by ambulance to the University General Hospital of Heraklion for the provision of first aid. Afterwards, the ferry set sail with 119 crew members and 951 passengers on board to the port of Milos.
Hamburg
Germany’s largest universal port remains on a growth course, achieving a distinct 4.1 percent advance to 69.4 million tons in seaborne cargo handling in the first half of 2019. Especially good growth trend in the general cargo segment, up 6.1 percent at 48.4 million tons, was the main contributor to the excellent figures for total and container handling. The total for bulk cargo handling was just 0.3 percent lower than for last year’s first half at 21.0 million tons. Germany’s largest universal port remains on a growth course, achieving a distinct 4.1 percent advance to 69.4 million tons in seaborne cargo handling in the first half of 2019. Especially good growth trend in the general cargo segment, up 6.1 percent at 48.4 million tons, was the main contributor to the excellent figures for total and container handling. The total for bulk cargo handling was just 0.3 percent lower than for last year’s first half at 21.0 million tons.
Sabetta
Icebreaker assistance and ice restrictions for ships entering the basin of Section No.1 at the Port of Sabetta, Yamal and access channel are canceled as of 00:00 Moscow time, August 6. The corresponding order was signed by the Port Harbourmaster Nikolay Nesterov. The order says that there is a possibility of separately floating ice floes, therefore masters of ships sailing in this water area of the Port of Sabetta and on approaches to the port are advised to exercise caution. Arctic Port of Sabetta is built on the western shore of the Gulf of Ob (Kara Sea) for transshipment of hydrocarbons from the South-Tambey gas condensate field on the Yamal peninsula to the Western Europe, South America and APR countries under Yamal LNG project. The project envisages the construction of an LNG plant capable of producing 16.5 million metric tonnes of LNG and 1.35 million tonnes of gas condensate annually
KMP.SAMUDERA UTAMA
The KMP 'Samudera Utama' ran aground in the waters of the Bali Strait in pos. 08°09.4581' S 114°26.3417' E on 6 May 2024, at 3.55 a.m. WITA due to strong winds and currents. The ship was waiting for the high tide to get off the ground to immediately dock at Gilimanuk Harbor. The ferry was en route from Gilimanuk Port to Ketapang Port. After refloating, it returned to Gilimanuk Harbour with all passengers and crew members still on board. Report with photo: https://bali.tribunnews.com/2024/05/06/kmp-samudera-utama-kandas-di-selat-bali-diduga-karena-angin-dan-arus-laut-yang-kencang#google_vignette
Monfalcone
ENCHANTED PRINCESS, the fifth in a line of six Royal Class ships built for Princess Cruises, was floated out on 6 August at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone.
Immingham
On August 1, ABP announced new customers for the Port of Immingham this week: The port welcomed the first vessel in a new contract with customers Top Blue and The Fuel Trading Company. The new deal is expected to bring an extra 30,000 tonnes per year through the Port of Immingham – the largest Port by tonnage in the UK. The cargo being delivered is Prilled Urea which is a key part of the mixture for the AdBlue market.