The firefighting and rescue operation of the burning 'Fremantle Highway' was difficult due to poor communication between the various emergency services and slow decision-making. This was concluded by the Dutch Safety Board (OVV). The fragmentation of the various services was 'at the expense of the speed of action. The fire on the ship carrying electric cars, among other things, broke out late in the evening of 25 July 2023, 27 kilometres off the coast of Ameland. The Coast Guard started fighting the fire, but did not know that the fire was spreading and the people on board were in danger. It was only when the special helicopters reached the ship after two and a half hours that it became clear that almost the entire ship was on fire and a rescue operation was necessary. The fire caused a lot of smoke and seven crew members saw no other way out than to jump from a great height from the ship. They were seriously injured and one of them did not survive the jump. 16 people were taken off the ship by helicopter. They had all inhaled heavy smoke. When the victims were taken to Groningen Airport Eelde, the emergency services there were not prepared for their arrival, which caused delays in transport to hospitals. The OVV stated that 'emergency aid in the North Sea must be put in order as soon as possible'. Communication between the Coastguard and the partners on land in particular must be improved. 'The Safety Board has regularly pointed out in recent years that the Coastguard Centre is insufficiently capable of taking control when it has to collaborate with other parties. 'It does not help that several ministries share the administrative responsibility for the Coastguard.'
News
CITY OF LOUISVILLE
On May 6, 2025, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released findings regarding the grounding incident of the ''City of Louisville' on July 29, 2023, while pushing 11 barges upbound on the Mississippi River near Thebes, Illinois. The grounding resulted in substantial damage to the tug’s bottom plating and engine room, causing flooding in multiple spaces. The incident also led to approximately 30 gallons of gear oil being released into the river. While no injuries were reported, the vessel sustained an estimated $2 million in damage. According to investigators, the pilot, who was alone on watch in the wheelhouse, left the helm unattended for approximately five minutes to go to the port side of the wheelhouse. During this brief absence, the vessel missed a critical course change to starboard along the recommended route. The investigation revealed that the vessel was equipped with a pilothouse alerter system, designed to warn both the wheelhouse and other vessel spaces if the operator becomes unresponsive. However, investigators discovered the system’s power supply was disconnected, though they could not determine when this occurred. In their recommendations, the NTSB stressed the importance of proper alerter system protocols, stating that “established procedures for the operation and use of the system should be outlined in the company safety management system.” They emphasized that alert intervals should be based on navigational risks and proximity to hazards. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2519.pdf
Lüneburg
- there is an access control system for the port: registration at www.hafen-lueneburg.de - special services: drinking water, shore power, acceptance of domestic sewage, acceptance of washing water on request
Cochin
The coast guard found signs of an accident on the British oil tanker Orange Victoria which was seized in COCHIN after the accident involving a fishing boat on the coast of Vizhinjam The Fort Kochi Coastal Police and the Marine Mercantile Division conducted an inspection of the ship anchored in the open sea on Saturday morning .The paint on this part has been collected by scientific experts for scientific examination . Captain Nikhil told the Coastal Police that they were not aware that the ship had collided with the boat . There are 23 sailors on board . The ship while en route from Singapore to Indian port, presumably struck fiberglass fishing boat 46 nm off COCHIN at night Mar 18. boat was damaged, all 6 crew safe. Hull paint samples are taken, to conduct lab analysis
ILSE-MARIE
The 'Ilse-Marie', that ran aground on a sandbank in front of the port of Stavoren on the afternoon of May 22 , has been refloated and berthed in the marina of Stavoren with own power. The ship, which is carrying a load of gravel, came loose on the evening after part of the cargo was transferred to another ship. The operation was completed around 8:30 p.m. The vessel was temporarily moored at the Cruise Pier,, where the transferred load was loaded again on the morning, of May 23, and will move to the Hubert Quay during the day, where it will remain until May 2'5. The ship will probably leave on the evening when the wind has dropped. The 'Ilse-Marie' did not sustain any significant damage. There was only some water in the forecastle near the bow thruster. Because there was no leakage, environmental damage was also avoided. Rijkswaterstaat was on site to monitor the situation and provide support. The cause of the grounding is not yet known. Report with photo: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/05/22/binnenvaartschip-ilse-marie-vastgelopen-voor-havenmond-stavoren/
Beirut
The French container giant CMA CGM is working on a plan to rebuild the port of Beirut within three years. Political stalemate in Lebanon has meant that no decisions have been made after the huge explosion that killed 200 in 2020. CMA CGM first presented the plan to the Lebanese authorities in September, which includes the reconstruction of damaged quay facilities and warehouses, along with a port expansion and digitization. The total price was estimated to be between 400 and 600 million. dollar. Another offer was announced on April 9, 2021. German companies presented a multi-billion dollar plan to rebuild the port and surrounding districts, which was also devastated by the violent explosion.
Chittagong
Crew change have resumed at the port of Chittagong, albeit to a limited extent. In case of joining, covid negative certificate is required. In case of sign off, the crew will have to undergo a covid test at a local government approved hospital. Which takes a total of 3 days to stay in a hotel. Then he has to show immigration and airlines authorities when he gets on the plane. We've learned from talking to a crew service provider that this process is safe for all parties. NC Shipping's operations manager said Chittagong port service is now much more efficient and less time consuming. All rules are governed by international standards. "Even in the covid pandemic lockdown, we get international quality service from Chittagong port which has played a positive role in the operation of our ships and maintaining the dynamism of the maritime trade," he added. He thinks crew change approval is part of a continuous process. This is a valiant decision of the government and port authorities
GLEN SANNOX
On May 23, the 06:30 a.m. sailing of the Glen Sannox' from Troon was delayed due to a technical issue with the steering gear that required investigating, and the Troon berth was temporarilly unavailable. The 07:30 a.m.sailing from Brodick operated be the 'Alfred' was at risk to be delayed. After the technical issue has been resolved, the delayed 06:30 a.m. sailing from Troon was loadedto and depart as soon as possible. The 07:30 a.m. sailing from Brodick operated be the 'Alfred' was also loaded in order to depart as soon as possible.
ANKORVA
The 'Akorva' was being broken up at the local scrap metal yard EMR Erith in May 2025: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1272096398256957&set=a.488324753300796
Papenburg
The Meyer shipyard located in Papenburg, Germany, announced, they secured an order for a new cruise ship. The new customer is NYK who placed an order for a medium size cruise ship for their brand Asuka Cruises. Full article + image: https://www.cruisedeck.de/meyer-werft-sichert-sich-neubau-auftrag/
Cochin
The Cochin Port Trust handled a record 3.20 million tonnes of cargo in December 2020, a monthly record volume for it. The volume is a 10.55 per cent growth over December 2019, said Cochin Port Trust chairperson M. Beena, in a message to the employees and officials of the port trust. Container movement too touched a consistent 60,000 TEUs consecutively in the four months leading to December. The surge in the movement of cargo is being looked upon as new shoots in the port business after the plans of 2020 were washed away in the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth in cargo movement is “charting a new growth trajectory. However, we need to find new vistas for revenue generation by optimum utilisation of resources available to us,” the chairperson told the port community. The port has been recovering from the losses, which had affected it for the past decade. But the pandemic and resultant loss in business had pushed the port into the red. But the port was expected to make a recovery by the end of 2021, the chairperson said. There was optimism stemming from the fact that though there was a substantial fall in cargo movement in the first half of the current financial year, there was some recovery in the second half. The port trust was also optimistic that the inauguration of the Kochi-Mangaluru LNG pipeline earlier this month would pave the way for more gas volumes and revenue for the port. Meanwhile, figures from the Indian Ports Association showed that ports across the country suffered owing to the pandemic and its impact on the global economy. The average fall across the major ports in the country is nearly nine per cent for the period. Mumbai suffered a fall of more than 17 per cent and the Momugao traffic fell more than 23 per cent and JNPT traffic was down by over 12 per cent. Haldia Dock Complex, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, and New Mangaluru suffered lesser falls in business.