The US Coast Guard medevaced a 67-year-old woman from the 'Carnival Dream' on April 27, 2024, approximately 160 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a report from the ship of a 67-year-old woman with symptoms of kidney failure. Watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew to conduct the medevac. The aircrew arrived on-scene, hoisted the woman aboard the helicopter, and transported her to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at University Medical Center in New Orleans. The woman was last reported in stable condition. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3758471/coast-guard-medevacs-67-year-old-woman-160-miles-off-southwest-pass-la/
News
AKDENIZ
The 'Akzdeniz', aimed to sail from Turkey to Gaza with humanitarian aid have been denied the right to sail. On the afternoon of April 25, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was contacted by the Guinea Bissau International Ships Registry (GBISR), requesting an inspection of the 'Akdenez', altihough the ship had already passed all required inspections. The inspector arrived on the evening. On afternoon of April 26, before the inspection was completed, the GBISR, in a blatantly political move, informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had withdrawn the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the Freedom Flotilla’s ships, one of which the cargo ship, already loaded with over 5000 tons of life-saving aid for the Palestinians of Gaza. The 'Akdeniz' remained stationary in Tuzla as of April 29. Report with photo: https://thehill.com/policy/international/4626240-gaza-humanitarian-aid-ships-turkey-denied-right-sail-flags-removed/
Whittier
U.S. Coast Guard crews have given up the search for a 49-year-old Cordova man who went missing after an explosion and subsequent fire on a fixed barge at Delong Dock in Whittier, Alaska, shortly after midnight on Monday. The fire spread to the pier and then to the Anagalik, a 99-foot commercial fishing vessel that was initially reported to have two people aboard at the time of the explosion. Whittier Police Department personnel have since confirmed one of those two is safely aboard a different vessel en route to Whittier. The fire has now been extinguished, but the fishing vessel and barge sank in 85 feet of water at the pier with a potential maximum of 5,500 gallons of fuel oil aboard. The fishing vessel owners have contracted Global Diving and Salvage for clean-up and salvage efforts. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak has searched for the missing person by air, and crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and Coast Guard Auxiliary 336 searched nearby waters.
Halsa
With a NOK 1.23 billion offer, Fjord1 won the concession to run the E39 Halsa-Kanestraum route, the latest major ferry connection awarded by the Norwegian Road Authority.
SHEN KUO
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on April 28, 2024, were monitoring the unauthorized presence of the 'Shen Kuo' in the coastal vicinity northeast of Viga, Catanduanes on April 25, 2024, about 60.9 nautical miles east off Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay. The Tactical Operations Wing, Southern Luzon (TOWSOL) conducted maritime patrol (MARPAT) on April 27, and was observed that the vessel was still in the area and had no personnel on the main deck. Several attempts to contact the vessel through regular radio channels were unsuccessful. Te AFP remained vigilant, and tasked nearby vessels for enhanced surveillance and reporting. The AFP coordinated with relevant agencies to address the unauthorized presence and investigate any illegal activities within the EEZ. Report with photo: https://tribune.net.ph/2024/04/28/afp-detects-unauthorized-china-research-vessel-near-catanduanes
DALI
As of Apri 26, 137 containers of the estimated 180 necessary to access the portion of the bridge atop the 'Dali' have been removed. 171 commercial vessels have transited the four alternate channels, including five of the vessels waiting to depart the Port of Baltimore since March 26. More than 350 uniformed and civilian workers from 53 federal, state, and local agencies across the U.S. have been deployed to Baltimore for the ongoing recovery and salvage efforts. In addition, 553 contract specialists were actively involved in various roles related to dive, crane, and vessel operations. Over 1,000 individuals have contributed to the Key Bridge Response mission over the past month. To address the estimated 50,000 tons of wreckage at the Francis Scott Key Bridge site, the Unified Command has assembled a substantial fleet of diverse vessels and equipment which includes 36 barges, 27 tugs, 22 floating cranes, 10 excavators, one dredger, one skimmer, and three Coast Guard cutters. Progress in the salvage effort has been significant, with over 3,000 tons of wreckage and debris already removed from the site for disposal or recycling. 90 dive missions have been conducted by as many as seven dive teams, each consisting of four to five specialists. This tally does not include the numerous recovery-related dives undertaken within the initial 48 hours by over 60 divers from the Maryland State Police and other federal, state, and local agencies. Survey vessels deployed by the Unified Command have executed more than 60 missions to gather sonar and laser imagery, essential for mapping the wreckage of the 'Dali' and determining safe maritime navigation routes. This data, acquired day and night, is crucial for diver safety, enabling dive supervisors to guide underwater operations amidst the murky depths of the Patapsco River. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey completed nine hydrographic survey assessments to help establish the temporary channels by identifying obstructions for salvage teams to remove. Following obstruction removal, the NOAA hydrographic survey team returned and verified the temporary alternate channels were clear and safe for vessel navigation. Aerial efforts have also played a vital role, with more than 100 pilots and support specialists from over 35 agencies conducting 250 Unmanned Aircraft System missions and 60 manned helicopter and fixed-wing sorties. Serving as the literal eye-in-the-sky, the Air Operations branch has been instrumental from the early search and rescue phase to the ongoing salvage operations, providing essential oversight for Unified Command planners, operators, and leadership. Report with photo: https://www.keybridgeresponse2024.com/post/update-16-multimedia-release-unified-command-reflects-on-month-s-progress-during-joint-recovery-and
Rizhao
Shandong Landbridge Group has entered into an agreement with Beijing Energy Group to jointly develop a LNG receiving terminal at Landbrige Port in Rizhao. Under the agreement, the two parties will invest RMB6.7bn ($973m) in total for the construction of the terminal, which will have a designed handling capacity of 5m tons of LNG annually. Additionally, the two companies plan to join their efforts to develop overseas energy projects.
Gothenburg
APM Terminals Gothenburg has managed to cut quay crane waiting times by as much as 90% by implementing new standard operational procedures for container lashing. This translates to a reduction from 38 minutes to just four. Using ‘Lean’ methodology, which is being adopted across all of the company’s terminals around the world, a Transformation Team at APM Terminals Gothenburg identified the root cause of the time delay – inaccurate information provided to the vessel crew.
ABDULLAH
The 'Abdullah' departed Al-Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh on the afternoon of April 28, after it successfully unloaded 55,000 metric tonnes of coal the previous day. The vessel and its crew of 23 sailors were expected to arrive at Chattogram Port by mid-May. The ship berthed at the Mina Sagr Bulk Terminal on April 28.
MSC PASSION III
The Port of Baltimore welcomed the 'MSC Passion III', being the first commercial container ship to enter the port, on April 28, 2024m since the suspension of vessel traffic following the Francis Scot Key Bridge collapse on March 26. The ship berthed at Ports America Chesapeake’s Seagirt Terminal via the newly opened 35-foot-deep alternative channel. Approximately 1,000 containers were handled by around 80 workers from the International Longshoremen Association. The 'MSC Passion III' was preceded by the barge 'Columbia Freedom' at the terminal, which saw loading and discharging of 442 containers. Report with photos: https://www.worldcargonews.com/news/2024/04/1st-container-ship-docks-at-baltimores-seagirt-terminal-since-bridge-collapse/?gdpr=accept
Sydney
DP World Australia has called for an end to the strikes at its ports this week, warning that the industrial action comes at a time when shipping lines are reviewing stevedore contracts. “The industrial action will cause significant disruption to DPWA customers and importantly the broader supply chain of shippers, exporters and importers. DPWA employees will also be unnecessarily and avoidably impacted by these lost earnings,” said Andrew Adam, chief operating officer at DPWA. DP World’s Brisbane, Sydney and Fremantle container terminals are on a rolling 48-hour strike, while workers at the company’s Melbourne operations have decided to down tools for 96 hours. The workers said in a release their actions this week are in order to fight against automation, outsourcing, cuts to income protection insurance, and “dishonest bargaining” by the company During the recent 12-week bargaining period, DP World said the local union did not make any material concessions to its initial 50 claims. These claims include a wage increase well above CPI, DP World said.
Rijeka
After many creditors withdrew distraint proceedings, the Commercial Court in Rijeka decided on Thursday to postpone the bankruptcy of Croatia’s debt-ridden shipyard “3. Maj” until Aug. 1. Seven days ago the shipyard’s account was blocked for 156 million kuna (23.8 million U.S. dollars). After some of the creditors pulled back, the blockade now amounts to 86 million kuna (13.1 million U.S. dollars). Judge of the Commercial Court in Rijeka Ljiljana Ugrin urged Croatian Electricity Industry and the Croatian government to engage in the process of revocation of the enforcement order, so that “3. Maj” could continue with unfinished shipbuilding contracts.