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.
News
Lisbon
The Alcantara container terminal in Lisbon announced this week plans to invest 122 million euros (137.4 million U.S. dollars) by 2038 to modernize and streamline the operational activity of its port infrastructure.
Basrah Offshore Oil Terminal
July 16: A fire at Iraq’s southern Basra offshore oil export terminal briefly halted crude loading operations on Tuesday but was put out and loading resumed, Iraqi oil officials said. The fire occurred in a residential section of the terminal accommodating workers and did not directly damage oil infrastructure, a port official and sources in the Basra Oil Company said. “Fire erupted at around 5 am (0200 GMT) and it was put out in two hours. We had to halt crude loading operations for three hours for safety issues,” said a port official who was speaking from the Basra port. Basra port has restored full operations with no stoppage at the oil exports jetties, said a statement from the state-run Basra Oil Company. Four workers suffered minor injuries, it added.
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
Sydney
Australia’s biggest port operator DP World is telling dock workers that 200 jobs will be made redundant in Sydney and Melbourne as the company grapples with stalled union negotiations and growing commercial pressures. DP World Australia’s chief operating officer Andrew Adam told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that the company had no choice but to shed 200 staff – 100 in Melbourne (on top of 50 stevedores who will leave the business this week) and 100 in Sydney. About 1800 stevedores work at the company. “It’s a decision not taken lightly, but we’ve lost volume and market share since last year,” Mr Adam said.
Manzanillo
The Mexican government is upgrading the Port of Manzanillo, one of the country’s main Pacific Ocean ports, with four new terminals. The terminals will include a specialized container facility with capacity to handle 1.75 million TEUs per year, another for agricultural bulk, one more for mineral bulk and one specialized for hydrocarbons.
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.
Tanger-Med
Nippon Express France, S.A.S. (hereinafter, “NEF”), a subsidiary of Nippon Express Co., Ltd., has opened a Tanger Med Logistics Center in the Moroccan port of Tanger Med, and this Center began operations on Wednesday, June 26, as NEF’s second location in Morocco.
Sohar
US-based McDermott International has received a contract to provide front-end engineering design (FEED) services for the Sohar LNG Bunkering Project in Oman. The project has an aim of establishing Oman as a regional LNG bunkering hub capable of supplying LNG as a fuel to marine vessels. Under the deal, awarded by Total Oman E&P Development B.V. in partnership with Oman Oil Company S.O.A.C., the scope of work during the FEED phase includes fully defining the onshore mid-scale LNG facilities and preparing a competitive tender for the engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning phase.