On March 13, 2024, all passenger sailings betweeen Picton and Wellington on the 'Kaiarahi' have been cancelled until the afternoon of March 17 at the earliest. The Cook Strait ferry continued sailing with freight, but would not take passengers until a mechanical fault is fixed. The operator Interislander initially cancelled the three sailings on March 13, but has now extended the cancellations, after, dring a scheduled asset maintenance survey, a fault was found with the lifeboat reengagement system, used to reattach the lifeboats onto the ship after use. While the safety of the ship was unaffected, further testing revealed a faulty part requiring replacement. Until that part is sourced, the ferry would not take passengers. Customers were contacted and transferred to the next available sailing, or offered a refund.
News
ABDULLAH
In the afternoon of March 12, 2024, about 20 armed pirates hijacked the 'Abdullah', en route from Maputo to Hamriyah with a cargo of coal, 1000 kilometers off the coast of Somalia and have taken the 23 crew members hostage. Several pirates approached the ship in a small and a large boat, boarded the vessel and captured the entire crew. The captain, Abdur Rashid, valiantly attempted to fend off the attackers, but the sheer force and organization of the pirates proved insurmountable. The security company Ambrey confirmed the hijacking and warns other ships in the vicinity to keep their distance. The hijacked ship came to a standstill, then turned around and has meanwhile reached the coast of Somalia. Atiq Ullah Khan, the chief officer of the 'Abdullah', sent an audio message to his wife. It said, “Share this message with everyone. (They are) taking mobile phones from us. The final thing is, if they are not paid, they are ordered to kill us one by one. They said that the sooner they get payment, the sooner they will release us. Spread this message everywhere.” 11 out of the 23 crew members are residents of Chattogram. The crew members are: Captain Mohammad Abdur Rashid, Chief Officer Mohammad Atikullah Khan, Second Officer Mazharul Islam Chowdhury, Third Officer Tarequl Islam, Deck Cadet Sabbir Hossain, Chief Engineer ASM Saiduzzaman, Second Officer Toufiqul Islam, Third Engineer Rokon Uddin, Fourth Engineer Tanvir Ahmed, Engine Cadet Ayub Khan, electrician Ibrahim Khalil, seaman Md Anwarul Haque, seaman Md Asifur Rahman, seaman Sazzad Hossain, seaman Joy Mahmud, seaman Nazmul Haque, seaman Ainul Haque, oiler Mohamamd Shamsuddin, Ali Hossain, fireman Mosharraf Hossain Shakil, chief cook Shafiqul Islam, general steward Nur Uddin, and fitter Saleh Ahmed. Reports with photo and video: https://en.somoynews.tv/news/2024-03-13/sailors-send-messages-from-hijacked-ship https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/2024/03/12/pirates-board-bangladeshi-ship-off-coast-of-somalia/
SALVAMAR IZAR
On March 12, 2024, the sailing yacht 'Wind of Deserts' was disabled due to an engine failure and a lack of wind with three people on board at Morro Jable upon Fuerteventura. The 'Salvamar Izar' was mobilizaded by the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas. It took the ship in tow and safely pulled it to port. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1767613479576358942
BALTIC PRINCESS
A 75-year-old man was sentenced by the Åland district court to daily fines for maritime traffic offenses after having come close to a collision with the 'Baltic Princess' with a sailboat in November 2023. He and another person were underway with the sailboat in the dark at Skiftet on their way from Stockholm to Pargas, when the boat encountered problems with both steering and the propeller shaft. At Skiftet the man had left the helm and gone down into the engine room to check the steering and propeller shaft, causing the boat to lose course and be on a collision course with the ferry. When the man returned to the helm, he made a turn towards the same course the 'Baltic Princess' was heading. The ferry had to turn to avoid a collision, and they passed each other with a distance of about 20 meters. The man was sentenced to 50 daily fines of a total of 500 Euros, and he must also pay 80 Euros in victim surcharge.
APIRADEE NAREE
The 'Apiradee Naree', while underway in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) on March 6, 2024, at 12.30 a.m., en route from Mangalore to Guangzhou, was boarded by three perpetrators in pos. 1° 7.63' N 103° 51.5' E. Nothing was reported stolen. The ship continued on its way with an ETA as of March 11.
TAI AN
For presumed illegal fishing carried out by the 'Tai An' within the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone without authorization or a fishing permit that supports the capture of toothfish, complaints have been filed against the owner Prodesur S.A., for carrying out fishing activities specifically aimed at this species without the proper authorization or fishing permit to support its operation. Calls were made to heo government control and inspection officials by personnel of the Foreign Ministry, with the aim of hindering the order for the ship's return to port, once the capture of toothfish has been confirmed. In the absence of action from the government, companies were taking steps to file a criminal complaint. Due to a clear violation of the Federal Fisheries Law, all captured toothfish was confiscated. The vessel would be violating the Federal Fishing Regime and the quota system for toothfish, as corroborated by satellite plots and the observation of other fishing vessels in the area. The companies subscribing to the petition have means to verify these facts, such as the 72-hour electronic fishing report, communication with the onboard inspector and the satellite monitoring system. It was required that, if these infractions are confirmed, the ship be forced to immediately return to port and a supervisory discharge commission be formed. The same group requested that an exemplary sanction be applied and the merchandise involved be seized. The signatory companies warned of the possible negative repercussions at the international level for Argentina, its Federal Fisheries Law and its quota system, as well as for the international certification process for toothfish (PROME). They requested an urgent call to the Federal Fisheries Council and the monitoring commission for the toothfish species to address this complaint.
CG VENTUROUS
The 'Venturous' repatriated 65 migrants to Haiti on March 12, 2024, following the interdiction of a migrant venture near Great Inagua, Bahamas. A good Samaritan notified watchstanders in the Seventh Coast Guard District command center of a sailing vessel in distress on March 7. Once aboard the Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3704408/coast-guard-repatriates-65-migrants-to-haiti/
SARCO
Beached at Alang 12.03.24 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3653436208264242&set=pcb.10162888216463943
SUKHOTHAI
As a 19-day salvage mission at the HTMS 'Sukothai' came to a conclusion on March 11, the bodies of five missing crew members remained missing. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) joined with its US counterpart to find the missing crew members. Admiral Chatchai Thongsaard, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Fleet, said the joint mission begun on Feb 22 had resulted in the salvage of 58 items of physical evidence, including a CCTV camera recording device. The items should help in determining the cause of the ship’s sinking. The RTN expected to announce the cause of the ship’s sinking within a month. The new evidence should be sufficient to draw a conclusion without having to raise the whole ship from the seabed. Divers from the RTN and the US Navy, who were in Thailand to join this year’s Cobra Gold military exercise, had explored every accessible room and cabin of the ship without finding the bodies the five missing crew members. The search included the ship’s bridge, command centre room, commander’s room, radio room, ward room, engine room, radar room, chart room, and hallways. The diving crews were successful in decommissioning three armaments on the ship, namely harpoon guided missiles, torpedoes, and communication devices. Two 22-millimetre guns and 10 rifles brought ashore for the Naval Ordnance Department to inspect. Divers also brought up 11 objects of sentimental value from the ship, namely the ship’s nameplate, a Garuda statuette, a Buddha statuette, a portrait of King Taksin, a low relief of the Prince of Chumphon, the ship’s bell, an RTN flag, a mast, an anchor, the ship’s commission plate, and the nameplate of the ship commander. Report with photos: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40036301
PINOCCHIO
The Houthi terrorists fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at the 'Pinocchio', en route from Jeddah to Suez in the Red Sea, on March 11, 2024. The ship was not damaged but the US responded with six raids against targets in Houthi areas in Yemen. The strikes destroyed an unmanned underwater vessel and 18 anti-ship missiles, which had presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region.
MEKHANIK POGODIN
The 'Mekhanik Pogodin', which the Russians converted into a command post, has been destroyed on March 11, 2024, as the result of a successful airstrike by the Ukrainian Air Force in the area of the Kinburn Spit on a mud flat, 2,5 kilometers from the village of Vynohradne. A large part of the bridge roof was blown into the air by a huge explosion and landed in the water. Large black plumes of smoke were then seen. On May 2, 2018, the VEB-Leasing OJSC in St. Petersburg, the owner of the tanker, was included in the sanctions list and arrested. The ship was located in the territory of the Kherson seaport until the summer of 2023. After the occupation of Kherson in 2022, Russian forces tried to withdraw the sanctioned tanker, but were unable to do so. The vessel later fell into the so-called “grey zone” between Ukrainian and Russian forces. After the Russians blew up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, the tanker was washed ashore on the Kinburn Spit, which is temporarily controlled by the Russians. Subsequently, an observation post for reconnaissance and electronic warfare means was deployed on the mentioned vessel. The ship was periodically used as a platform for launching FPV drones to strike the territory of the Kherson region. Therefore, the destruction of the Russian tanker Mekhanik Pogodin not only thwarted the invaders in their plans but was also carried out in full compliance with the norms of International Humanitarian Law. Reports with photos and video: https://censor.net/en/video_news/3478084/ukrainian_aviation_hits_russian_command_post_on_tanker_ship_video https://forbes.ua/news/povitryani-sili-znishchili-rosiyskiy-tanker-mekhanik-pogodin-detali-12032024-19784
SALVAMAR LYRA
On March 11, 2024, the sailing yacht 'Mandalay' went adrift near L'Escala and requested assistance. The 'Salvamar Lyra' was mobilized by the JRCC of Salamento Marítimo in Barcelona. The boat was taken in tow and safely pulled to the Roses marina.
SEA-EYE 4
After the arrival in Reggion Cantabria on Mach 10 with a total of 145 rescued migrants on board, the Italian authorities detained the 'Sea Eye 4' for 60 days and justified this by saying that the helpers in the Mediterranean took refugees on board even though Libya's (so-called) Coastguard was ready to take them. The aid organization said such action would have violated international law. The migrants were picked up from boats that had made the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe from Africa.
QMS GLORIA
The US Coast Guard medevaced two men on March 12, 2024, and was searching for another one after an allision with a rig at ship shoal 87. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a report from the boat 'Linedout' that they were taking on water with two people onboard, and a third man who fell overboard. Watchstanders broadcasted an urgent marine information broadcast and coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a Station Grand Isle 45-foot boat to conduct the medevac for the two men and search for the man who fell overboard. The crew of the 'QMS Gloria' responded to the urgent marine information broadcast and recovered the two injured men. The aircrew arrived on scene and searched the vicinity for the third man. After no visual reports, the aircrew hoisted the two men aboard the helicopter from the liftboat and transported them to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at the University Medical Center, New Orleans. They were reported conscious and responsive. A Coast Guard Station Grand Isle 45-foot response boat continued searching for the missing man. Future search plans included a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, an Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 aircraft and the Coast Guard Cutter 'Tigershark'.
RIO XUNCO
On March 12, 2024, a crew member of the 'Río Xunco' needed to be medevaced 17 nautical miles north of Ribadeo. The SAR vessel 'Salvamar Alioth' was tasked to take the fisherman off and transported him to Burela for further medical care.
KUM YA
The 'Kum Ya', known for smuggling coal in violation of U.N. sanctions, docked at Pier 17 (PPK-3) in the port of Vanino, Russia, on March 6, 2024 at 5:19 a.m. The U.N. listed the 'Kum Ya' as an illegal coal carrier for alleged coal smuggling to China in 2021. U.N. Security Council resolutions 1718 and 2397 explicitly limit the trade of North Korean coal. The Pier 17, the docking location of the vessel, is recognized as the “coal pier”. Despite the absence of indications of coal being loaded or unloaded, such a move raised suspicions of illegal coal transfer, especially given the heightened concerns about arms trade between North Korea and Russia. Report with photo: https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2024/03/12/5OIMFZXTSVBETNJ5KJO7XNOM5Y/
OPEN ARMS
The 'Open Arms', carrying relief supplies for the population in the Gaza Strip has finally left the port of Larnaca on the morning of March 12. After the arrival in the Gaza Strip within about two days, the relief supplies will be distributed by the NGO World Central Kitchen. The ship's departure was delayed due to technical problems. The ship was towing a cargo barge with around 200 tons of food, drinking water and medicine. It is a test sailing along the route of a planned aid corridor that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis announced on March 8. Report with photo: https://www.radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/349516-aid-ship-sets-sail-from-cyprus-to-gaza-amid-israeli-naval-blockade
GR. COSTA DAVORIO
The US Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold the final planned witness testimony on March 13 in support of the ongoing investigation into the fire that occurred on July 5, 2023 aboard the 'Grande Costa D’Avorio', while docked at the Port of Newark, New Jersey. The video of testimony will be posted to the investigation’s website at https://www.news.uscg.mil/News-by-Region/1st-District-Northeast/PADET-New-York/Grande-Costa-DAvorio-Investigation/ in the morning of March 14. The scheduled testimony on March 13 is from Deputy Chief Alfonse Carlucci of the Newark Fire Department. Carlucci is the last planned testimony to be given during the fact gathering phase of the investigation. At a future date, both the Coast Guard and NTSB will issue separate reports of findings, which will include the respective agency’s official determination of the probable cause of this incident and recommendations to correct safety problems discovered during the investigations. Once the Coast Guard’s investigation has been concluded, the report of findings will be published to the investigation site and shared via news release.
ST NIKOLAS
Iran has allowed a crew change from the captured 'St Nikolas', still held off Bandar Abbas. The vessel’s shipmanager, Greece-based Empire Navigation, confirmed in an email that 11 of the 17 remaining seafarers on board the tanker have been released. The 11 Filipino seafarers were due to return home to Manila starting on March 10. Nine of the crew arrived on that day, and two others were due to arrive on March 13. The remaining six seafarers were expected to also return as soon as their replacements arrive. The company expressed its sincere gratitude to our crew for their commendable behaviour and resilience during this trying period, our Manning Agent in Manila and the Department of Migrant Workers for their excellent cooperation. A replacement crew will be arriving at the vessel.