The Joint U.S. and Thai Navy forces dismantled and raised three starboard torpedo tubes on Feb 28, the seventh day of the 20-day operation. Participating in the operation off Prachuap Khiri Khan were the HTMS 'Rattanakosin (FSG-441)', which is of the same type as the US-built Ratanakosin-class corvette that sank, the mine hunter HTMS 'Bang Rachan (MHC-631)', the Thai Navy landing craft HTMS 'Mannai (LCU-783)' and the US Navy tug 'Ocean Valor'. Report with photo: https://www.wochenblitz.com/news/3-steuerbord-torpedorohre-vom-gesunkenen-schiff-geborgen?utm_content=cmp-true
News
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
On Feb 28, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty off the coast of Pas-de-Calais. In the morning, a boat departed from the Wissant sector. The 'Abeille Normandie' was deployed to ensure that this boat does not require assistance. Once in the area, no specific report was made by the people on board of this boat, and it continued its journey. Around 10:30 a.m., a second boat nearby was reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez being in difficulty and requesting assistance. The CROSS deployed the 'Abeille Normandie' to assist. The crew rescued the 55 people on board, who were then dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. At around 11:15 a.m., the police launch 'Eulimène' was engaged on the first boat to ensure that assistance was still not necessary. The boat continued its journey without making any particular request. Later, the 'Seine' of the French Navy took over the task to monitor the boat. Around noon, the migrants on board asked to be rescued. The 'Seine' took on board 56 people. Once the rescue was completedat around 1:20 p.m., the crew of the 'Seine' was informed that three people had fallen into the sea earlier in the day during the attempted crossing. The 'Seine' then began searching and saw a body drifting in the water. The CROSS Gris-Nez simultaneously deployed a Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy and the patrol boat 'Flamant' to try to find other possible people in the water. Once in the area, the Dauphin helicopter located three people adrift, one of whom was already submerged. With instructions from the helicopter, the 'Seine' found and recovered a first person, unconscious, who could not be resuscitated on board and was declared dead at the dock. During the search, weather conditions deteriorated in the area and made investigations difficult. The two other people reported could not be found. After the area hwas fully investigated, the maritime prefect of the Channel and the North Sea decided to interrupt the search. In the late afternoon, the 'Seine' docked at the port of Calais where the migrants were taken care of by the rescue services. An investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office. Report with photo: https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/bilan-des-operations-de-recherches-et-de-sauvetage-dans-le-detroit-du-pas-de-calais-62
GLEN SANNOX
The 'Glen Sannox' may not be completed until June, with CalMac needing two months to familiarise the ship, leaving islanders without the new vessel until after the tourist season is complete, due to further delays in its construction. The 'Glen Sannox' was meant to begin service on the Ardrossan to Arran route back in 2019 but has been littered with building issues. Issues with the engine system were the reason for the postponement as the shipyard struggled to find a company to install the LNG technology needed for it to be environmentally-friendly. It will run on diesel until this is sorted. The ferry is scheduled to be ready in June now, instead of May, but will need to undertake familiarisation work for two months with CalMac, pushing back the date it can actually serve passengers into potentially September, after the tourist rush. The yard will be practically complete building the ship by the end of March and commissioning will run through in the months afterwards, mainly on the LNG system. The rest of the time in April-May will be handover trials and further testing, and client [Scottish Government ferry-owning firm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited] acceptance trial, with the handover before the end of May or in June.
SKALEY
Since the beginning of the year, the Iceland Fisheries Authority has temporarily revoked the fishing licenses of three vessels due to discarding: The 'Fálkatindur NS-99' lost its license for 14 days from the start of the next license issue for lumpfish fishing, The 'Hrönn NS-50' and 'Skáley SH-300' had to revoke their licenses for coastal fishing for a week. For the 'Fálkatindur' and 'Hrönn', this was the second license loss within two years. Thanks to improved drone surveillance, fisheries authority inspectors know exactly what is happening on the ships. Five fish were thrown overboard on the 'Fálkatindur' on May 5, 2023, before the end of the two-year deadline. In the opinion of the fisheries authority, the repetition of offenses was sufficient for the license to be revoked, especially since the offense was the same. After the fishing license is revoked, the delinquent is not allowed to commit any offenses for two years. On March 30, 2022, the crew had thrown 16 halibut overboard while fishing for lumpfish. Five halibut were thrown overboard on the 'Hrönn' on May 3, 2023, and the license was revoked at the beginning of February because the authorities believed the discarding was intentional. Last year, the 'Hrönn' had to give up the license twice because of discards, once for 14 halibuts and one plaice, and the second time for 26 halibuts and three plaices, both within a week.
FGS HESSEN
The 'Hessen', deployed to the Red Sea as part of the EU mission Aspides, has for the first time repelled an attack by the Houthi movement in Yemen. The frigate carried out counterattacks against two enemy targets on Feb 27, 2024. It was the first time on the mission that the German navy used sharp weapons. The ships of the EU mission may only attack militants who attack first. However, they are allowed to fire shots in a preventive manner.
FGS HESSEN
The “Hessen” unknowingly shot at a drone belonging to an allied country during its operation in the Red Sea. The warship had already spotted a drone in the operational area on Feb 26, that could not initially be assigned to any of the allied nations. The “Hesse” then tried to shoot down this drone, but was unsuccessful. The case was resolved in the sense that it was not a hostile drone, which only became clear afterwards. Before, the “Hessen” had asked all allied nations, in which no country had reported its own drone in the area of operation. Only later did it turn out that it was an unreported drone. It is well known that there are US combat drones in the region that have nothing to do with the operation in the Red Sea.
CG JOSEPH DOYLE
The 'Joseph Doyle' rescued 12 migrants from a capsized vessel on Feb 26, following the interdiction of an unlawful irregular maritime migration voyage in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico. The ship repatriated 11 of the migrants, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals, to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel just off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in the afternoon of Feb 28. During an evening patrol, a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew had detected a suspect vessel in Mona Passage waters southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, on Feb 26. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle to intercept the vessel. Once on scene, the 'Joseph Doyle' observed packages being jettisoned from the suspect vessel shortly before capsizing. The crew, with the assistance of the cutter's Over the Horizon small boat, rescued all 12 persons from the water. Following the rescue, the crew members discovered three holes in the suspect vessel’s hull which appeared to have been unplugged to scuttle the vessel. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3689544/coast-guard-rescues-12-migrants-following-unlawful-voyage-interdiction-in-the-m/
RUBYMAR
Efforts to mount a salvage operation for the 'Rubymar' continued to be hampered by the instability of the region and the competing political interests. Reports suggested, at the rate the vessel is settling it could be days before it loses sufficient buoyancy to remain afloat. The ship settled further at the stern. Last week the stern deck was barely above the water. but now has clearly slipped below the water level. The vessel was also reported to be drifting to the north in the Red Sea despite the earlier indications that it was anchored. It has drifted approximately 37 nautical miles since the reported position when it was struck. The U.S. Navy has offered assistance- Talks are ongoing to find a port willing to accept the ship, which might be towed to Djibouti or Saudi Arabia. The government of Yemen on Feb 26 stated it was working on the salvage. They said they would be willing to bring the ship to port. Environmentalists were expressing concern regarding the 41,000 tons of fertilizer which could spill into the Red Sea and worsen this environmental disaster. Salvage companies are concerned about attempting any efforts due to further threats from the Houthis. U.S. officials however have suggested a ceasefire might be put into place in Gaza to coincide with the start of Ramadan on March 10, assuming the vessel could stay afloat that many days without intervention. Report with photo and video: https://maritime-executive.com/article/video-rubymar-s-position-is-precarious-as-ship-becomes-political-pawn
LOMETO
Six Papua New Guinea nationals were rescued by the 'Lometo' on Feb 26, 2024, at midday, after spending 37 days adrift in the South Pacific. The five adults and a nine-year-old boy were on board a small boat that was spotted in Solomon Islands waters by the vessel. The boat had broken down and drifted at sea for 37 days. After their rescue, the six Papua New Guineans underwent medical examinations, and the ship provided them with food and water. They were all in good health. Report with photo: https://french.xinhuanet.com/20240228/db24e85bc29e46ae9704ae251b147c4d/c.html
FALKATINDUR
Since the beginning of the year, the Iceland Fisheries Authority has temporarily revoked the fishing licenses of three vessels due to discarding: The 'Fálkatindur NS-99' lost its license for 14 days from the start of the next license issue for lumpfish fishing, The 'Hrönn NS-50' and 'Skáley SH-300' had to revoke their licenses for coastal fishing for a week. For the 'Fálkatindur' and 'Hrönn', this was the second license loss within two years. Thanks to improved drone surveillance, fisheries authority inspectors know exactly what is happening on the ships. Five fish were thrown overboard on the 'Fálkatindur' on May 5, 2023, before the end of the two-year deadline. In the opinion of the fisheries authority, the repetition of offenses was sufficient for the license to be revoked, especially since the offense was the same. After the fishing license is revoked, the delinquent is not allowed to commit any offenses for two years. On March 30, 2022, the crew had thrown 16 halibut overboard while fishing for lumpfish. Five halibut were thrown overboard on the 'Hrönn' on May 3, 2023, and the license was revoked at the beginning of February because the authorities believed the discarding was intentional. Last year, the 'Hrönn' had to give up the license twice because of discards, once for 14 halibuts and one plaice, and the second time for 26 halibuts and three plaices, both within a week.
TOP DILIGENCE
Four men, armed with gun-like objects, boarded the 'Top Diligence' on Feb 20, 2024, at 03.05 a.m. in the Strait of Malacca off Pulau Iyu Kecil, Indonesia, in pos. 1° 8.29' N 103 ° 29.15' E. Some spare parts were stolen. No injuries were reported. The ship berthed in Zhanjiang on Feb 25.
FS FLAMANT
On Feb 28, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty off the coast of Pas-de-Calais. In the morning, a boat departed from the Wissant sector. The 'Abeille Normandie' was deployed to ensure that this boat does not require assistance. Once in the area, no specific report was made by the people on board of this boat, and it continued its journey. Around 10:30 a.m., a second boat nearby was reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez being in difficulty and requesting assistance. The CROSS deployed the 'Abeille Normandie' to assist. The crew rescued the 55 people on board, who were then dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. At around 11:15 a.m., the police launch 'Eulimène' was engaged on the first boat to ensure that assistance was still not necessary. The boat continued its journey without making any particular request. Later, the 'Seine' of the French Navy took over the task to monitor the boat. Around noon, the migrants on board asked to be rescued. The 'Seine' took on board 56 people. Once the rescue was completedat around 1:20 p.m., the crew of the 'Seine' was informed that three people had fallen into the sea earlier in the day during the attempted crossing. The 'Seine' then began searching and saw a body drifting in the water. The CROSS Gris-Nez simultaneously deployed a Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy and the 'Flamant' to try to find other possible people in the water. Once in the area, the Dauphin helicopter located three people adrift, one of whom was already submerged. With instructions from the helicopter, the 'Seine' found and recovered a first person, unconscious, who could not be resuscitated on board and was declared dead at the dock. During the search, weather conditions deteriorated in the area and made investigations difficult. The two other people reported could not be found. After the area hwas fully investigated, the maritime prefect of the Channel and the North Sea decided to interrupt the search. In the late afternoon, the 'Seine' docked at the port of Calais where the migrants were taken care of by the rescue services. An investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office. Report with photo: https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/bilan-des-operations-de-recherches-et-de-sauvetage-dans-le-detroit-du-pas-de-calais-62
GUARDAMAR TALIA
On Feb 28, the 'Guardarmar Talía' rescued 43 migrants of sub-Saharan origin from a canoe, which had been sighted about 56 nautical miles south of El Hierro. The SAR helicopter Helimer 206 also intervened. The castaways were transferred to La Restinga. Video: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1762877027353285053
CARNIVAL JUBILEE
Two men were rescued by the 'Carnival Jubilee' from a kayak, after their boat had sunk in the Gulf of Mexico on Feb 26, 2024. Crew members aboard the cruise ship spotted them and quickly rescued them off the coast of Isla Mujeres. The men paddled toward the ship's side before crew members helped pull them aboard. The men were then evaluated by the ship's medical staff and given first aid and water. while the ship's team and Carnival's Fleet Operation Center staff in Miami arranged a transfer with Mexican Navy officials. That was completed shortly after the rescue. The cruise ship, which departed from Galveston, Texas, on Feb 24, then continued its regular travel itinerary, heading to Mahogany Bay, Roatan in Honduras. Report with photo and video: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/carnival-cruise-ship-rescues-2-023909017.html
OLLI KROKUR
Since the beginning of the year, the Iceland Fisheries Authority has temporarily revoked the fishing licenses of three vessels due to discarding: The 'Fálkatindur NS-99' lost its license for 14 days from the start of the next license issue for lumpfish fishing, The 'Hrönn NS-50' and 'Skáley SH-300' had to revoke their licenses for coastal fishing for a week. For the 'Fálkatindur' and 'Hrönn', this was the second license loss within two years. Thanks to improved drone surveillance, fisheries authority inspectors know exactly what is happening on the ships. Five fish were thrown overboard on the 'Fálkatindur' on May 5, 2023, before the end of the two-year deadline. In the opinion of the fisheries authority, the repetition of offenses was sufficient for the license to be revoked, especially since the offense was the same. After the fishing license is revoked, the delinquent is not allowed to commit any offenses for two years. On March 30, 2022, the crew had thrown 16 halibut overboard while fishing for lumpfish. Five halibut were thrown overboard on the 'Hrönn' on May 3, 2023, and the license was revoked at the beginning of February because the authorities believed the discarding was intentional. Last year, the 'Hrönn' had to give up the license twice because of discards, once for 14 halibuts and one plaice, and the second time for 26 halibuts and three plaices, both within a week.
NORDLAND III
The 'Nordland III' has not been moved since having been lifted ashore in the Greifswald Wieck on Nov 13, 2023, with cranes on order of the city. Since then, the ship has stood on the bank between the barrage and Hotel Utkiek. The owners did not take any action at the time. The salvage operation was intended to eliminate dangers to the Ryck federal waterway as quickly as possible and avoid environmental pollution and contamination of the Ryck with oil and diesel still present on board. There are no plans to leave the shipwreck at its current location, which belongs to the State Office for Agriculture and the Environment of Western Pomerania (StALU). The administration itself doesn't yet know when the ship will leave. The salvage has so far cost 227,920 Euros. The ministry did not specify a deadline by which the wreck must be removed. There are no rental costs for storing the ship. Report with photos: https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/greifswald/das-schiff-das-einfach-nicht-bewegt-wird-2292967