The BRP 'Bagacay', on a resupply mission to the Scarborough Shoal, was confronted by 10 Chinese ships, four China Coast Guard vessels and six Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, which encircled the vessel on April 30, 2024. They swerved in front of the Philippine crew, who exchanged warnings over the radio. On the deck, the crew rushed towards buoys every time the Chinese edged closer, trying to protect themselves in case there was a collision. Then the Chinese fired with their water cannons. The 'Bagacay' turned back after a patrol ship of the country's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the BRP 'Datu Bankaw', which was travelling alongside, had its radar damaged by the water cannons. The'Bagacay' suffered damage to the railing and canopy. No injuries were reported. Report with photos: https://news.sky.com/story/how-a-philippine-coastguard-ship-ended-up-being-surrounded-by-12-chinese-vessels-13126205 https://www.businessinsider.com/china-philippines-ship-confrontation-with-water-cannons-video-2024-4
News
MSC ORION
Yemen’s Houthis said they targeted the 'MSC Orion', en route from Oman, on April 29, 2024, in a drone attack in the Indian Ocean about 170 nauical miles from Socotra as part of their ongoing campaign against international shipping in solidarity with Gaza. The 'MSC Orion' suffered slight damage. She was sailing between the ports in Sines and Salalah. Its registered owner is Zodiac Maritime, which is partly owned by the Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
Swinoujscie
The first cargo of liquified natural gas under the long-term contract between PGNiG and US LNG provider Cheniere Energy arrived at the President Lech Kaczyński LNG Terminal in Świnoujście. The long-term contract, which was signed in November of 2018, will total approximately 39 bcm of natural gas over the 24 year period of the agreement. The official reception ceremony of the first delivery at the LNG terminal in Świnoujście included representatives of the government of the Republic of Poland, local authorities, as well as executives from PGNiG and Cheniere Energy.
Tanger-Med
The Tanger Med port has emerged as the biggest port in Africa in terms of container capacity, surpassing Africa’s bigger ports like Durban (South Africa) and Mombasa (Kenya). The Tanger Med port now connects Morocco to 77 countries and 186 ports around the world. The Tanger Med II has two new container terminals – TC3 and TC4 – with an additional 6 million container capacity. The TC3, which is operated by Morocco’s main port operator Marsa Maroc, has a capacity of 1 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units). The TC4, which is operated by the Netherlands-based APM Terminals, has a capacity of 5 million TEUs. According to the Tanger Med Port Authority, with its new terminals, Tanger Med port will have a capacity of processing 9 million containers, 7 million passengers, 1 million vehicles and 700,000 trucks. Thanks to its extensions, Tanger Med port has now become the largest port in the Mediterranean region, surpassing some of the region’s top ports like Algeciras (Spain), Valencia (Spain) and Gioia (Italy). The port is located 40 kilometers east of the Moroccan town of Tangier, which is a gateway to both Europe and Africa. “Our aim is to develop an effective port platform integrated with transshipment activities, imports and exports,” Tanger Med Port Authority said on its website. The Tanger Med port has become vital for Morocco’s economy as it handled 317 billion Moroccan dirhams (US$33.14 billion) worth of exports and imports in 2018. It processed an overall tonnage of 52.24 tonnes last year.
SUN BRAVE
The 'Sun Brave', enroute from Fukuyamato Hong Kong, ran aground with 19 crew members on board on the west coast of Nakado Island in the Kurushima Kaikyo Strait near Imabari City, on April 26, 2024, just past noon. According to the Imabari Coast Guard, there were no injuries, no flooding, no oil spills, and no impact on shipping routes.The ship was refloated at around 11 p.m. the same night with the assistance of tugs during the high tide. It dropped anchor in pos. 34° 03.82 N 133° 02.91' E off Imabari, where it remained stationary as of April 30. Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkXYlvcaExc&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title
USS WARSHIP 58
Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Sanaa time) on April 29, 2024, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards the 'Cyclades. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries and the vessel continued on its way. Earlier, at 7:49 a.m., U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully engaged and destroyed one Houthi launched airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a flight path towards the USS 'Philippine Sea' and USS 'Laboon' in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damages reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.
Fos-sur-Mer
The French port of Marseille Fos plans to spend over US$22 million to reduce air emissions by extending its shoreside electrical connections to every ferry, cruise ship and repair quay in the eastern harbour. The port has also introduced speed restrictions to reduce industrial air pollution. Already available on the Corsica ferry quays, the shore power network will be expanded in two phases to cover North Africa ferry quays and the ship repair hub by 2022 and the cruise terminal between 2022 and 2025. The zero-emissions investment, which is supported by national and regional government, recognises the need to maintain the port’s economic value while improving the city’s waterside air quality.
Singapore
Phase one of the new Jurong Port Tank Terminals (JPTT) was officially opened on Monday (July 29), with Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat saying it will allow Singapore to strengthen its position as one of the world’s top bunkering ports for low-sulphur fuels. The $200 million, 16ha petrochemical terminal is a joint venture between port operator Jurong Port and German firm Oiltanking with 252,000 cubic m of clean petroleum storage capacity. From January next year, the International Maritime Organisation will prohibit ships from using fuels containing more than 0.5 per cent sulphur.
BESKIDY
The 'Beskidy', en route from Itaqui to Cartagena, reported a semi-submerged cayuco 60 nautical miles south of El Hierro on April 28, 2024. The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara', a patrol boat of the Guardia Civil and the SAR helicopter Helimer 206, to the scene. The vessel, measuring between 15 to 20 metres in length, was flooded and hardly protruding from the water. The helicopter flew nine survivors to El Hierro to receive initial medical assistance. Meanwhile, the 'Salvamar Adhara' was instructed to continue sailing towards the location of the boat to verify that there were no remaining victims onboard, as indicated by reports from the Helimer rescuers. The survivors told the helicopter crew and medical personnel that they had set sail nine days ago bound for the Canary Islands, capsized two days ago, and they are the only ones who managed to turn the boat back over and climb aboard again, despite it being partially submerged. The survivors, for whom no further details have been disclosed yet, except that they were from sub-Saharan Africa, were being attended to by healthcare professionals and Red Cross personnel at the El Hierro airport. Ambulances have transported three of them to the island’s hospital. Report with photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1784911195557826861
CYCLADES
Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Sanaa time) on April 29, 2024, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards the 'Cyclades', en route from Djibouti to Jeddah, 54 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Mocha. The ship was slightly damaged due to a nearby explosion. Initial reports indicated there were no injuries and the vessel continued on its way. A Houthi Armed Forces spokesperson said the bulker was targeted for having called the Israeli port of Eliat on April 21. Earlier, at 7:49 a.m., U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully engaged and destroyed one Houthi launched airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a flight path towards the USS 'Philippine Sea' and USS 'Laboon' in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damages reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.
Dubrovnik
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the City of Dubrovnik have partnered to introduce sustainable tourism management practices that will preserve the Croatian city’s cultural heritage. CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead and Dubrovnik’s Mayor Mato Franković signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which outlines plans to make Dubrovnik a model of sustainable tourism for the Adriatic region. All plans focus on investment, collaboration and best practices that will benefit both Dubrovnik’s residents and visitors. “Today’s agreement validates the work we have already done with Mayor Franković and formalises the cruise industry’s continued commitment to the City of Dubrovnik and its people,” said Craighead.
Sihanoukville
Congestion at Cambodia’s top port is creating supply chain disruptions. In a note to clients German containerline Hapag-Lloyd noted that terminal productivity at Sihanoukville port has deteriorated due to port and yard congestion. Feeder services and turnaround times are affected and feeder space is tight. In an effort for medium term improvement of this situation, the port is building an extended yard for additional storage space. “Before the new container yard is completed, port congestion may persist,” Hapag-Lloyd warned.