The 'Captain Leonidas', the largest ship to call at Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, has left the port of Yuzhny. This was announced by the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure on April 6, 2024. The bulk carrier has started exporting 195,700 products of Ukrainian metallurgical companies. Since August 2023, the Ukrainian maritime corridor has exported more than 36 million tons of cargo. At the same time, 1,286 ships have already passed through the corridor, exporting 25 million tons of agricultural products to countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Now 135 more ships are waiting to approach the ports of the Odessa region, which are expected to export 4 million tons of various cargoes. The performance of the Ukrainian maritime corridor has already exceeded the results of the grain agreement, which was terminated after Russia started its war against Ukraine.
News
U32
On the morning of April 6, 2024, shortly after 7 a.m. smoke development was discovered in the engine room of the 'U 32' in Kiel-Gaarden at the Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) Shipyard. The fire brigade of the yard and several emergency vehicles from the professional fire brigade along with the police rushed to the scene. The situation was brought under control very quickly. . There were no injuries and no environmental damages. Since the submarine was in a dry dock, there was no direct access to the water. The emergency services were able to proceed directly to the covered dock next to Hall 9 and set up their logistics. The members of the TKMS fire brigade and the professional fire brigade checked the submarine, which could also be entered again after ventilation. The water police began investigating on site. An assessment of the damage and the search for the cause were due to start on April 8. The “U 32” was in the shipyard for repairs.
QUEEN MARY 2
On APril 4, 2024, at 6 a.m. a fire broke out on the 'Queen Mary 2', en route from Colombo to Port Louis on the Indian Ocean. Passengers were confined to their cabins, but could still smell smoke. The crew dealt with the blaze quickly. The ship berthed in Port Louis on April 5 at 4 a.m. UTC and sailed again at 4.30 p.m., headed to Durban with an ETA as of April 9.
SALVAMAR IZAR
On April 6, 2024, at 9.25 a.m. the 'Salvamar Izar' rescued 50 people from a cayuko 11 nautical miles off Fuerteventura. Hours before, the Civil Guard located a boat with 69 people on board 12 nauitcal miles from Arguineguín. The 'Guardamar Calíope' rescued the migrants. The operations were coordinated by the RCC Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo. Photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1776549411868348906
ORIENTAL PEARL VI
The "Oriental Pearl VI", which had been sailing between Vladivostok and the port of Sokcho until Feb 7, 2024, commenced repairs in Yeosu on Feb 16, and was supposed to resume sailing on March 11. But the ship was delayed at the dock and did not resume the service, which started at the end of November 2023 by the South Korean shipping company JS Shipping, which faced management problems and owed the ferry crew two months' salary. The vessel operator had planned to attract new investors and inject operating funds into the project by the end of March, but this did not happen. Since April, the prospects for service on the route have become uncertain. The website of the Passenger Portal, which is responsible for selling tickets for the 'Oriental Pearl VI', states that the resumption of sailings is planned for April 22.
ARTEMIS
On April 3, 2024, the Romanian Agency for Saving Life at Sea (ARSVOM) was alerted by the MRCC regarding an overturned boat in the area of Tuzla, about 35 kilometers from the shore. The 'Artemis' was tasked to carry out SAR operations. At 5:45 p.m. the 'Artemis' arrived at the indicated position and began searching the sector as instructed by the MRCC. As a result of the searches, no person was found. The vessel was towed by the'Artemi' to the Port of Constanța on April 4. Following investigations, the Romanian Information Service (SRI) antiterrorism troops allegedly found explosive devices on board. Additionally, the vessel is equipped with radars and data transmission systems. There was a hypothesis that the rapid intervention boat belonged to the Ukrainian navy. Specialists were conducting investigations to determine the origin of the vessel and the causes that led to its overturning. Report with photos: https://spotmedia.ro/en/news/news/an-overturned-boat-in-the-black-sea-is-believed-to-have-explosive-devices-on-board
FGS HESSEN
The “Hessen” has repelled another attack while deployed to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea on April 6 on the afternoon. The incoming missile could be destroyed. The “Hessen” has been in operation in the Red Sea since the end of February to protect merchant ships against attacks by the Houthi militia operating from Yemen. The operation is part of the EU military mission “Aspides”. On its 4th day of operations, the frigate had already shot down two Houthi drones. In mid-March it repelled an attack with a surface drone against a civilian ship.
OSCAR 1
Beached at Gadani 07.04.24 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=901557398432294&set=pcb.901557918432242
DALI
Unified Command dive teams have recovered the body of a missing person at the Key Bridge incident site in Baltimore on April 5 at approximately 10:30 a.m. The recovered person was identified as 38-year-old Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval. The dive teams located what they believed to be the missing construction worker and notified the Maryland Department of State Police. Maryland State Police Underwater Recovery Team deployed in coordination with dive teams from allied law enforcement partners and recovered Suazo-Sandoval. Maryland State Police investigators, along with an FBI Victim Specialist, Baltimore County Critical Response Team, Governor's Office of Immigrant Affairs met with and notified Suazo-Sandoval’s family
HDMS IVER HUITFELDT
The 'Iver Huitfeldt' used both missiles and cannons to shoot down four drones that on March 9 were heading for the frigate and a number of civilian ships in the Red Sea. The ship's commander emphasized that the frigate was at no time defenseless. According to new information that emerged when the press met the crew in Korsør on the afternoon of April 4, crews shot down the first three drones using Sea Sparrow missiles guided to the target by the frigate's Swedish-made Ceros 2000 weapons control system. The system has two radar positions on the frigate, one above the two long-range guns on the foredeck, and one on the roof of the hangar above the ship's close-in defense gun. Why the crew used the Ceros 2000 weapons control system, which has a shorter range than the frigate's central and far more expensive Apar weapons control system, there was so far no explanation, but it can be about the distance to the goals. To combat the fourth and final drone, the crew chose to switch to the Apar weapon control system. However, this system did not work, so the crew switched back to the Ceros 2000 system. At the same time, the weapon type was changed from missiles to the ship's long-range main guns, which, with the help of several grenades, 10-50 percent of which exploded too quickly, shot down the drone. Why they chose to change the weapon type from the successful missiles to the ship's long-range main guns, there was so far no explanation., but it can be about the distance to the target. There was still uncertainty about the sequence of events and which systems and weapon systems were used, when and why. During the coming week, a third and more thorough account of the incident is expected to be ready. However, just like the previous statements, it will be confidential.
DALI
While dive teams were focusing on surveys of the 'Dali' to support the planning for the recovery of the vessel, assets were being positioned to begin the delicate operation of removing undamaged containers from the bow of the vessel. One large crane has now been positioned at the foreship. Two of the cranes onsite at the recovery operation have been assigned to move containers from the bow. No timeline has been released though for when the container operation would begin. The salvage teams need to stabilize and clear boxes from the bow of the 'Dali' to get access to the embedded steel and roadway, but would need a window of good weather to conduct the operations. Some of the boxes were ripped open but the first concern seemsed to be on the boxes that were leaning and raising danger for the crews that need to access the bow of the vessel. Crews need to reach each box to secure lines to the crane for the lifting operation, and then they will be lowered to a barge alongside the ship. The vessel's hull is resting on the bridge footings in addition where portions of the bridge steel are embedded in the hull. The divers’ primary objectives were to assess any damage sustained by the vessel and pinpoint the exact locations where it is grounded. This information is being used to develop the salvage plan for the safe recovery of the vessel. Report with photos: https://maritime-executive.com/article/crane-positioned-to-lift-boxes-as-divers-survey-dali-for-salvage-plan
AL MESSILAH
After the 'Al Messilah' docked in East London on April 2, 2024, the NSPCA has been site to screen all animals bound for the vessel which has been loading about 60,000 sheep, 1,500 cattle and 200 goats destined for slaughter in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The vessel was expected to leave East London harbour either late on April 5 or on April 6. The NSPCA has now confirmed that through veterinary laboratory testing together with visual examination, the presence of contagious ecthyma, an infectious dermatitis of sheep and goats, which is contagious to humans too, among the animals in the feedlot. The inspectors observed lesions on the lips of numerous sheep in the feedlot, which raised suspicions of contagious ecthyma. During the course of the disease, which lasts up to four weeks, affected animals can go off feed, lose condition and may develop serious secondary infections at the lesion sites. This posed a serious concern in terms of the welfare of the animals on board the 'Al Messilah', especially those who were not yet showing clinical signs, but who could suffer on the vessel during their three-week journey. Should this shipment be rejected by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the South African government has confirmed with the NSPCA that South Africa will not be able to accept the returning animals. The NSPCA has pulled animals from the feedlot that are displaying clinical signs, although the fate of those still to show clinical signs were a serious cause for concern.
MARE JONIO
A Libyan patrol boat fired at the 'Mare Jonio' while rescuing migrants on April 4, 2024. The ship from the so-called Libyan coast guard intervened violently during the response to a vessel in danger in international waters. The Libyan militiamen fired shots into the water and into the air, creating panic and causing several people to fall into the water. The 'Mare Jonio' was recovering and protecting the shipwrecked people. The NGO “Mediterranea saving humans” asked that the Italian Government intervene immediately to stop the violent, dangerous and criminal behaviour of the so-called Libyan Coastguard.
DALI
The Unified Command continued salvage operations at the Key Bridge site on April 6. Progress included the removal of a 156-ton piece of Span 19 outside of the navigational channel, which was hoisted and loaded onto a barge for future disposal. Traffic through the alternate channels, while still limited, was gradually increasing, with 10 vessels transiting since April 5. The Unified Command emphasized that safety remains their top priority throughout the operation. All measures were being taken to ensure the safety of the divers and personnel involved in the assessment process. The current 2,000-yard safety zone around the Francis Scott Key Bridge remained in effect and is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment. Members of the public may not enter the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or designated representative. Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or designated representative. The COTP issued a Broadcast Notice to Mariners (BNM) via VHF-FM marine channel 16. Mariners were requested to monitor channel 16 for the latest information.
MUGUNGHWA18
Scrapped at Busan,Korea 03/2024 https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3694968?navList=gallery&
GUARDAMAR CALIOPE
On April 6 at 9.25 a.m. the 'Salvamar Izar' rescued 50 people from a cayuko 11 nautical miles off Fuerteventura. Hours before, the Civil Guard located a boat with 69 people on board 12 nauitcal miles from Arguineguín. The 'Guardamar Calíope' rescued the migrants. The operations were coordinated by the RCC Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo. Photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1776549411868348906
MOBY ORLI
The 'Moby Orli' made it possible to tranship the 69 Bolivian passengers, among them 14 minors, who could not disembark in Barcelona from the 'MSC Armonia' and will be transported to a non-EU port by the Spanish authorities. The 'Moby Orli' has left the regular Livorno – Bastia route and reached Barcelona on April 4, 2024. The ferry will transport the Bolivian passengers back to a non-EU port. Without this prompt assistance from the 'Moby Orli', the 'MSC Armonia' would have remained stuck on the dock in Barcelona for another few days before being able to sail again. Once this mission has been completed, the ferry will return to its regular service for Moby between Tuscany and Corsica, where in the meantime it has been replaced by the 'Moby Kiss'. Before arriving in Barcelona, the authorities at the port of Tenerife had allowed the Bolivian citizens to disembark on Spanish territory, and only when the ship arrived on the Iberian peninsula did they encounter problems with their documentation.
MV SIVERKO
In the morning of April 5, 2024, a fire broke out on the 'Siverko' in the port of Arkhangelsk. Emergency services were summoned to the ship, which was being repaired in a floating dock. When the firefighters arrived, there was heavy smoke in the ship’s engine compartment, but no open fire was observed. It turned out that the oil was burning inside. Six fire trucks and 24 people combatted the fire. At 11.37 a.m. the fire was localized at an area of three square meters and was extinguished at 11.58 a.m. There were no injuries.
TT SPIRIT
The Oropouche West MP Dave Tancoo alleged that crew members of the 'TT Spirit' have been abandoned at sea with no means of relief, since the ship was drydocked aboard the heavy load carrier 'White Merlin' (IMO: 9670224) on the Port of Spain Anchorage for a prolonged period. Tancoo claimed that the technical crew of the ferry have been marooned at sea, on board their vessel which was hitched to the repair vessel 'White Marlin'. The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago chairman Lyle Alexander said that the 'TT Spirit' was not being held for ransom. The repairs to the vessel have been completed while it was on drydock and it would be relaunched on April 4 to complete other minor repairs so it could return to the water after it underwent engine repairs with the shaft and parts on the jets of the engine being replaced. The emaining repairs were to be continued while the vessel is in the water, alongside the GSS Jetty in Port-of-Spain. All payments for the operations on the 'White Marlin' have been made to the ship’s agent.