Due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the 'Carnival Legend' is unable to reach Baltimore’s Cruise Ship Terminal at the end of its current trip, which left the port on March 24, 2024. In the evening of March 26 passengers were informed they would be diverted to Norfolk instead of returning to Charm City. The 'Carnival Legend'’s Baltimore operations were moved to Norfolk, Virginia by the Carnival Cruise Line. Guests will be provided free bus transportation back to Baltimore.
News
VLAARDINGEN
The Dutch Royal Navy said a ceremonial farewell to HNLMS 'Vlaardingen' on March 27 after 35 years of service. The mine service will be completely renewed in the coming years. At the end of 2025, the first new mine countermeasures vessel Zr.Ms. 'Vlissingen' will be put into service. The 'Vlaardingen' often took part in NATO exercises and also cleared many explosives. In March, the ship defused three aircraft bombs in the North Sea. It involved two so-called 500-pounders and a 1,000-pounder. During the farewell ceremony, the war pennant, the Dutch flag and the Geus of the HNLMS 'Vlaardingen' were taken down. The geus is the flag that a ship flies as a salute. Former commanders traditionally received a letter from the ship's nameplate. The 'Vlaardingen' is donated to Ukraine. It is not yet known exactly when.
CARNIVAL SUNRISE
The 'Carnival Sunrise' faced undefined flooding on its way back to Miami from a five-day Caribbean cruise on MArch 23, 2024, at around 2 a.m. Cabins were flooed with two to four inches of water. Passengers were told to go to their muster station. The vessel had taken on water, as bad weather had impacted the route. The crew distributed bottled water and a small number of blankets to passengers who got off the ship shortly after 8 a.m. Some staterooms were taken out of service for the next departure as the Carnival team completed clean up and replaced carpet. Those guests who were not able to sail were provided full refunds, a future cruise credit and received overnight accommodations if they needed them.
SALVAMAR SIRIUS
On March 27, the motore boat 'Puca', with three crew members on board, suffered an engine breakdown in the southern Agaró Bay (Sant Feliu de Guíxols). The CCS Barcelona of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Sirius', which took the boat in tow and safely pulled it to Palamós.
DALI
The allision of the 'Dali' with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was expected to have a limited but significant impact on the local port and shipping operations. The effect on the overall US economy was expected to be remaining relatively limited. About a dozen large ships have been trapped in Baltimore port along with a similar number of tugs and workboats. Another 30 vessels were signalling their destination as Baltimore, one of the smaller US container ports, ranking around no. 11, which handled about 265,000 TEUs in the fourth quarter of 2023. These can be redirected to other ports along the US east coast, although such a necessary move may lead to short-term congestion and delays in those ports. The port is important for the handling of specialised cargo and bulk handling, including motor vehicles and oil. In 2023 Baltimore handled approximately 850,000 motor vehicles, all types. Baltimore is particularly important for the handling of farm and construction machinery, automobiles, imported forest products, imported sugar, imported gypsum, and exported coal. No estimates have been given so far for the clearing of debris obstructing the channel and preventing access to the port. President Biden intimated on March 26 that federal funding would be available for the rebuilding of the bridge, but first it was necessary to clear the channel of all obstacles. Much of the debris can possibly be dragged away from the channel in relatively short time, allowing trapped ships to depart the port and others to enter. Meanwhile, enquiries into the cause of the ship’s failure to navigate safely have commenced. The accident site was being treated as a crime scene.
ST NIKOLAS
Iran has released the Filipino crew members of the 'St. Nikolas', which was seized in January with 145,000 tons of oil on board. The 18 seafarers people were only allowed leave after replacement staff had been arranged. A Greek crew member was released shortly afterwards. The Filipino crew were allowed to go home in groups from the end of January. The latter returned to Manila last week.
SEACON MANILA
A person has died on the 'Seacon Manila', which was berthed at Marsden Point on March 28, 2024. The sudden death was reported to the police around 8.46 a.m. The police investigated the matter, but there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. The ship’s agent advised the port that at 8 a.m. emergency services had been called to the bulk carrier for a medical incident that had nothing to do with cargo operations. Report with photo: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350228874/emergency-services-respond-incident-marsden-point
AIDAMAR
Two days after the 'Aidamar' set off from Antigua to cross the Atlantic on March 24, 2024, the ship had to turn back towards the Caribbean due to a medical emergency on board. On March 27 at around 2 p.m. the ship reached a position near the island of Tortola (British Virgin Islands) and was within helicopter range, so that the patient could be hoisted for medical care ashore. A short time after the patient was taken off, the 'AIDAmar' resumed heading east towards the Azores. Due to the medical emergency she was now around two days late. The next destination was now scheduled to be Ponta Delgada on the island of Saõ Miguel on April 1. At the same time, however, this meant that the stay in Praia da Victoria of Terceira on March 31 had to be cancelled. After arriving in Ponta Delgada, the AIDAmar will return to its original itinerary.
BINTANG MULIA 2
The 'Bintang Mulia 2', carrying 42 containers containing basic necessities including chicken eggs, cooking oil, flour, corn, plant seeds, fertilizer, Coca Cola drinks and electronic goods, from Medan to Batam for the people of the Riau Islands, sank in Tanjung Sibunga, in the waters of the Malacca Strait, on March 24 2024, at around 9.50 p.m. WIB. The ship suffered a list of around 15 degrees in the afternoon before finally sinking completely at night. The crew of the ship was rescued and interviewed by the relevant agencies at the Tanjung Beringin Harbour Master's Office. Report with photo: https://www.batamnews.co.id/berita-110288-km-bintang-mulia-2-yang-tenggelam-berisi-pasokan-sembako-dari-medan-ke-kepri.html
SALVAMAR DRACO
On March 27, a container fell into the sea at the height of the synchrolift in the port of Cartagena. The Port Authority requested assistance, and the CCS Cartagena mobilized the 'Salvamar Draco', which towed it to the Navantia dock for recovery. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1773009823245676701
SAKHALIN ISLAND
The 'Sakhalin Island', the seventh and final tanker carrying Sokol oil and sanctioned by the U.S., arrived at the port of Tianjin and berthed at the Shihua Crude Oil Terminal on March 27 at 5.30 a.m. UTC, discharge its Russian oil cargo. The six other sanctioned tankers offloaded their Sokol oil cargo in China earlier in March, pushing China's March imports of seaborne Russian oil to a record high. The 'Sakhalin Island' started making its way to theTianjin late on MArch 25 after floating off the coast of nearby Shandong province for more than three weeks. Russia has been struggling with a Sokol glut amid ramped up U.S. sanctions. More than 10 million barrels of the oil supplied by Sakhalin-1, a unit of Rosneft (ROSN.MM), have been floating in storage over the past three months amid payment difficulties and sanctions on shipping firms and vessels carrying the crude. India, the top buyer of Russian crude in 2023, has retreated from purchases amid tighter sanctions, giving top global oil importer China the opportunity to scoop up the light sweet grade from Russia to replace costly Iranian supply. Chinese companies that received Sokol crude in March include Sinopec, PetroChina , Sinochem, CNOOC and independent refiners in Shandong. China's seaborne Russian crude imports were set to hit a record high in March at 1.816 million barrels per day, boosted by record imports of Far East Russian grades including 440,000 bpd of Sokol and 967,000 bpd of ESPO. Apart from the 'Sakhalin Island', the six other vessels that offloaded Sokol crude in China in MArch were the 'Krymsk', 'Liteyny Prospect', 'Nellis', 'NS Antarctic', 'NS Century' and 'NS Lion'. The tankers, except the 'NS Century', offloaded their cargo within temporary waiver periods from U.S. sanctions. All tankers are operated by companies tied to Sovcomflot. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Russia's leading tanker group for violating a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian crude oil exports. Aftr unloading their cargo, the 'Krymsk' and 'Liteneyny Prospect' were anchored off Nakhodka, while the 'Nellis', 'NS Antarctic' and 'NS Lion' were outside Yeosu. The 'NS Century' anchored off Qingdao.
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
In the night of March 26 the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Oye-Plage and deployed the 'Abeille Normandie' to assist. The crew of the emergency tug noticed that the boat had an engine failure and launcehd two semi-rigid boats which recovered 53 people. They were dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken care of by shore based rescue teams and the border police.
VIKING KVASIR
A man fell from the 'Viking Kvasir' at the Jordaens Quay near the new cruise terminal in Antwerp on March 27, 2024, shortly before 9 a.m.. The fire brigade, ambulance and mosquito arrived on the scene, but at that time the man had already been removed from the water via the cruise terminal. He received first aid on the spotThe victim was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Report with photo: https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240327_93363963
SANKT-PETERBURG
The 'Sankt Petersburg' ran aground near Kronstadt Port in pos. 59° 54.18' N 030° 05.53' E in the night of March 24, 2024, while navigating the Kronstadt ship fairway. The North-Western Transport Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred en route from the Big Port of St. Petersburg. Despite salvage efforts, the ship remaind immobilized, while no injuries or oil spills have been reported. A diving surveywas underway, with towing companies awaiting clearance to commence the vessel's retrieval. The ship had left St. Petersburg on March 24 at 11 p.m. UTC, and was bound for Nava Sheva, India, carrying various containers, including one with hazardous cargo—turpentine.
GUARDAMAR CALIOPE
On March 26 at 11:35 p.m. Canary Islands time the 'Guardamar Calíope' rescued 53 people from a cayuco about 110 miles south of Gran Canaria. A merchant ship had located the cayuco, and the Sasemar 101 plane and the Helimer 201 helicopter were dispatched to locate the boat. The response was corrdinated by the JRCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas. Photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1772911324940447799
DALI
Divers recovered the bodies of two of the six missing workers who fell into the icy Patapsco Riverin the night of March 27, the 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and the 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera. They were recovered from a red pickup truck submerged in about 7.62 meters of water near the bridge’s middle span. They were on a break and some were sitting in their trucks to warm up when the bridge collapsed. It was no longer safe for divers to continue operations in the area after having exhausted all search efforts in the areas around this wreckage. Based on sonar scans, it was firmly believed that the vehicles were encased in the superstructure and concrete. The six construction workers who were presumed dead were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Under the weight of the bridge's rubble, the bow of the 'Dali' lies on the bottom, but nothing seemed to be leaking. There were still more than 5.5 million liters of lubricating and fuel oil on board, plus 4,700 containers, 56 of which contained hazardous substances including corrosives, flammables and lithium ion batteries. 13 containers were damaged, two fell overboard. All containers with hazardous substances were safe. Some containers were breached and a sheen there was a sheen in the water. The voyage data recorder has been recovered. The investigation could take 12 to 24 months. The NTSB will not hesitate to issue urgent safety recommendations during that time. A preliminary report should be released in two to four weeks. The Singapore port authorities have confirmed that the ship was in good condition in terms of its structural integrity and "operation of the ship's equipment". In 2023, the ship passed two inspections, and a defective fuel pressure gauge was repaired. Investigators from the Singapore Ministry of Transport's Inspection Service were on their way to Baltimore to assist the US Coast Guard. The authorities had been informed that the ship was going to undergo routine engine maintenance during the port stay, but were not informed of any problems. The accident could cost insurers billions of dollars in claims, analysts say, with one putting it at as much as US$4-billion, which would make the tragedy a record shipping insurance loss. Report with photos: https://apnews.com/live/baltimore-key-bridge-collapse-latest-2024
ABDULLAH
Pirates have demanded $5 million for the release of 23 Bangladeshi crew members held captive aboard the´'Abdullah'. The Indian Navy had swiftly responded to the piracy attack on the vessel, deploying both a warship and an LRMP- long-range maritime patrol. The Indian warship intercepted the hijacked vessel on March 14, ensuring the initial safety of the Bangladeshi crew held hostage by armed pirates and maintaining proximity until it arrived in Somalia's territorial waters. The Indian Navy has offered to the Bangladesh government and the ship's owner to conduct operations aboard the ship.