The US Coast Guard decommissioned the 'Sea Dog (WPB 87373)' and 'Sea Dragon (WPB 87367)' on May 29, 2024, during a ceremony in St. Marys, Georgia. Rear Adm. Douglas M. Schofield, Coast Guard District Seven commander, presided over the ceremony honoring the years of service the Coast Guard Cutters provided to the nation. The marine protector-class cutters assigned to Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay in the Coast Guard’s Seventh District. The 'Sea Dragon' was commissioned in January 2008 and the 'Sea Dog' was commissioned in July 2009. Following the decommissioning ceremony, the cutters will be transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The Coast Guard cutters 'Sea Devil (WPB 87368)' and 'Sea Fox (WPB 87374)' have relocated from Bangor, Washington, to replace the 'Sea Dog' and 'Sea Dragon'. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3788815/photo-release-coast-guard-cutters-sea-dog-sea-dragon-decommissioned-in-st-marys/
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SALVAMAR MARKAB
On May 29, 2024, the fishing vessel 'Santa Esperanza' with two crew members on board was disabled and adrift north of Menorca. The CCS Palma of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Markab', which took the ship in tow and safely pulled it to Ciutadella.
Mumbai
Mumbai Port’s decision to raise the draft level to 10.3 metres and 11 metres to dock vessels at BPX and BPS respectively, subject to low tides being over 60 cm has been welcomed by maritime fraternity. This has avoided the waiting period for the vessels arriving with deep drafts till the tide is favorable for berthing. At times, such vessels had to arrange for discharging the import cargo for reducing the draft in stream and only subsequently berth at BPX/BPS.
Halifax
PSA International Pte Ltd (PSA) has completed the acquisition of Halterm Container Terminal (“Halterm”) in the Port of Halifax, Canada, from Macquarie Infrastructure Partners,a fund managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, following formal approval by the relevant regulatory authorities. Halterm is the only container terminal in Eastern Canada that can serve mega container vessels.
ZELENGA
Representatives of the Western Interregional Investigative Committee for Transpor of the Russian Federation have opened a criminal case based on the allision of the 'Zelenga' with a railway bridge in Rostov for violation of traffic safety rules and operation of water transport․ While the ship's crew was not injured, the ship and part of the bridge suffered structural damages. The amount of damage to the owner of the ship and Russian Railwayswas more than a million Russian rubles. The cause of the accident was a failure of the steering control. The damaged vessel was towed out of the bridge and to a pier․ Trains can cross the bridge at a speed lower than usual․ Reports with photo and video: https://rtvi.com/visual/suhogruz-protaranil-zheleznodorozhnyj-most-cherez-don-foto-dnya/ https://e-nautilia.gr/rosiko-fortigo-ploio-prosekrouse-se-sidirodromiki-gefura-pou-trofodotei-tin-krimaia/#google_vignette
ARINO
On May 29, 2024, the 'Ariño' suffered a leak when it was near Corrubedo. The CCS Fisterra of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR vessel 'Salvamar Régulus' and the helicopter Pesca I of the Coast Guard. After verifying that the three crew members were safe, the rescuers helped to gain control of the water ingress. Later, the 'Salvamar Regulus' towed the fishing vessel to Aguiño.
Salalah
The Port of Salalah, Oman’s major regional gateway port and transshipment hub on the Arabian Sea, set another record in productivity with a delivering 412.97 Port Moves per Hour (PMPH) on vessel Cap San Tainaro handling 3,820 moves in a port stay of 9.25 hours. This is the highest productivity delivered by any port in the region till date.
Rijeka
The Croatian government said it would help a troubled shipyard owned by Uljanik, the country’s largest shipbuilder, resume production. The government, which owns a 25% stake in Uljanik, said in March that it would not back a proposed restructuring plan for the group due to the financial burden it would place on the state. However, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday that the government was willing to support 3.Maj, which is located in the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka and is one of the group’s two shipyards, because it did not have as big a debt burden. “Unlike Uljanik, the 3.Maj is not an overly indebted company and there is an interest in the construction of new ships,” Plenkovic told a televised press conference after a government meeting. He said the government expected 3.Maj to draft a plan for its future operations.
GUARDAMAR POLIMNIA
On May 29, the pleasure boat 'Troyona' with one crew member on board suffered an engine breakdown one nautical mile from Cala Castell. The CCS Barcelona of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Guardamar Polimnia', which took the boat in tow and safely pulled it to Palamós.
Taranto
This is the 22nd marine port in Yilport Holding’s portfolio, and its first terminal in Italy. The company, ranked 12th among international container terminal operators by Drewry, targets to be ranked among the top 10 by 2025. Chairman Robert Yuksel Yildirim made the following remarks at the signing ceremony: “We have a strong presence in the Mediterranean. We are in Malta and operate seven ports between Spain and Portugal. Being able to enter Italy and work here in Taranto is like filling in the missing piece of a puzzle that we are building globally. The infrastructure was there but there was no one to take care of it. Our intention is to create another success story in Taranto. From today until the end of this year, we will be fixing cranes to ramp up business, visiting potential customers, and promote the container terminal. The project also aims to cooperate with local operators to improve cargo and ro-ro traffic.”
Venice
Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Barcelona are a few of the European ports that the President of the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority, Pino Musolino, has sent a letter to in recent days, inviting his colleagues to meet in Venice to discuss the economic and environmental impact of the cruise industry and to draw up guidelines for a new sustainable approach to maritime tourism. The ports mentioned above have already accepted and other replies are expected in the coming days. A date will soon be set for a seminar on the issues, to be held in the Venice area.