On the night of May 23, 2024, during an operation ordered by the Maritime Prefect of the Atlantic, in conjunction with the Brest public prosecutor, and guided by customs from the operational center of the national directorate customs Coastguard in Nantes, the 'Kermorvan' seized 406 kg of cocaine on board the Polish sailboat 'Le Dahu' in the Bay of Biscay. The National Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations (DNRED) had detected the yacht in the Caribbean and tracked its route into the the Bay of Biscay, in liaison with OFAST, MAOC and DEA. On the evening of May 23, with the agreement of the Polish authorities, and following the relocation of the ship by a Beechcraft Customs aircraft, the crew of the 'Kermorvan' carried out an inspection of the sailboat on the basis of Article 17 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. The two crew members, after setting fire to the ship in an attempt to sink it and its cargo, were taken in custody by the crew of the 'Kermorvan', and the cargo was seized. The narcotics were packed in 19 bales. The drug was handed over to OFAST under the authority of the Public Prosecutor at the Brest Judicial Court, who relinquished the case in favour of the public prosecutor's office of the Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction (JIRS) of Rennes, now in charge of conducting the judicial investigation. Report with photo: https://www.premar-atlantique.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/saisie-de-stupefiants-sur-un-voilier-dans-le-golfe-de-gascogne
News
SALVAMAR GIENAH
On May 27, 2024, at 2:44 a.m., the 'Salvamar Gienah' rescued 16 migrants of Maghreb origin from a precarious boat, which had been located by the aircraft Condor 2 seven nautical miles south of the port of Motril. The castaways were taken to the port and disembarked in Motril. The response was coordinated by the MRCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Almería. Reports with photos: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1794990036846272777 https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1795119745273930021
Beirut
The Port of Beirut (PoB) resumed partial operations on Aug 10 with the first two container ships berthing in the container terminal after the explosion which killed at least 160 persons, injured thousands and made hundred thousands homeless. Out of 16 cranes at the container terminal, 12 were currently operational. The port was gradually resuming operations to ensure the supply of all kinds of goods to citizens. Bassem Al Kaissi, the new Director of the PoB, said that the container terminal will be fully operational by Aug 14. Al Kaissi said that 420 containers were unloaded on Aug 10. The container terminal storage area has been cleaned up and restored to its state before the blast. The container terminal represents 80 percent of the overall cargo movement at the PoB. It is located one kilometer away from the blast epicenter. Container vessels can dock at quay number 16. Shipping movement at the PoB had already plunged by 75 percent due to the economic crisis and has reached 15 percent following the blast. Customs have opened offices in the PoB’s warehouse number 14 which was partially damaged. The customs have become able to carry out the inspection of merchandise- Customs duties are being temporarily paid at the Rafic Hariri International Airport. Tthe PoB is now handling only full containers as groupage consignment requires warehouses which don’t exist now. Amer Al Kaissi said groupage, which represents 15 percent of shipments at the PoB, will be diverted to the Port of Tripoli until the rebuilding of warehouses at the PoB is completed. The first two containerships to berth at the PoB after the blast were the 'Electra' (Gezairi Transport) and the 'Nicolas Delmas' (CMA CGM). The 'Electra', which was carrying 400 containers, was diverted to Tripoli where there was a license to operate but the company insisted to unload it in Beirut when it was told that the PoB has resumed operation. The CMA CGM Group and CEVA Logistics said they are fully operational and ensuring business continuity to serve their customers. The Group has redeployed its employees in its two back-up sites in Beirut Digital District and reinforced its presence in Tripoli. Part of CMA CGM’s vessels has been temporarily directed to Tripoli. Few shipping companies are authorized to operate in other ports such as Tripoli or Saida. BCTC, the Customs and the PoB’s authorities did their best to handle the clearing formalities despite the difficult working conditions. The general cargo area was fully operational on Aug 12 both for imports and exports. This includes wheat and other grains as well as construction steel bars. The cost of rebuilding the port is estimated at around $1 billion.
ZELENGA
On May 26, 2024, the 'Zelenga' suffered an engine malfunction in Rostov-on-Don, lost control and crashed into a pillar of the drawbridge across the Don River. The impact destroyed the wheelhouse of the ship when it got stuck under the construction. The bridge is actively involved in logistics to the Russian occupied Ukrainian Crimea which means that the accident could cause significant difficulties with rail transportation. Reports and photos and video: https://meta.ua/news/kurezi/165608-v-rostove-suhogruznoe-sudno-zelenga-poteryav-upravlenie-vrezalos-v-zheleznodorozhnii-most/ https://www.imago-images.de/st/0481334549 https://sputnikmediabank.com/story/list_336061662/ https://rumble.com/v4xi8rx-bulk-carries-crashes-into-bridge-in-rostov-on-don.html
KFS MERYEM ANA
On May 26, 2024, the 'KFS Meryem Ana' suffered an engine malfunction off the Haydarpaşa breakwater en route from Tuzla to Sulina. Under the coordination of the Istanbul Ship Traffic Services Center; it was taken in tow by the tug 'Kurtarma 2' (IMO: 8959764) and safely moored in pos. 40° 57.69' N 028° 54.74' E at the Ahırkapı Anchorage, assisted by a pilot. https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1794788049521651803
KMP JAMBO VI
The KMP 'Jambo VI' ran aground in the waters of the Bali Strait, when it was about to dock at the landing craft (LCM) pier in Gilimanuk on May 26, 2024. The ship had departed from Ketapang Harbour and got stuck due to strong winds which dragged it into shallow water amid wind speed of 27 to 33 knots from the south at 00.46 a.m. WIT, while the tide was also recedingm and ran aground at 2 a.m. It was able to refloat with the rising tide at around 08.50 a.m. WITA and immediately maneuvered towards the LCM pier at the Gilimanuk Harbour. Report with photo: https://radarbali.jawapos.com/jembrana/704693473/terbawa-angin-ke-perairan-dangkal-kmp-jambo-vi-kandas-enam-jam-lebih-segini-kecepatan-anginnya
Kiel
The PORT OF KIEL has redesigned the port apron in Ostuferhafen, which is the freight and logistics centre on the fjord. Where once stood a grain silo, there is now an expanded pre-stacking and stand-by area of three hectares for trucks, trailers and pas-senger cars.The State Premier of Schleswig- Holstein, Daniel Günther, visited the Ostufer-hafen on 12th August to hand over the grant notice coming from the State Programme Economy for 5.44 million Euros: The project to redesign the port apron included dismantling three hall areas of the former grain silo, excavation and road works as well as drainage, lighting and security measures and the connection of the area to the infrastructure. Through the new and generous port apron it has been possible to merge formerly separated pre-stacking areas, shorten distances and gain more space for trucks, busses, trailers and passenger cars. Furthermore, IT solutions have been developed to accelerate the handling processes at the gate, which also allow truck drivers to reduce personal contact.Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director at the PORT OF KIEL: “Even under the current circumstances the Ostuferhafen operates in a reliable and safe way. The port of Kiel has proven its systemic importance regarding the transshipment of cross-border freight transport.”In the first seven months of the year 2.1 million tons of cargo have been tran-shipped via the Ostuferhafen (+ 1 %). Additional volumes have been transported by the ferries of the DFDS shipping company to the Baltic States or they have been delivered by the SCA-RoRo-freighters from Scandinavia. Not only general cargo and forest products are unloaded resp. transhipped in Ostuferhafen but also project and heavy cargo, scrap metal and agricul-tural products. The integrated passenger terminal to handle cruise vessels emphasizes the universal character of this port part.