The Zr.Ms. 'Karel Doorman' was stranded in the Mediterranean Sea with technical problems, on the way to the Red Sea. According to the ministry, there were problems with 'one of the weapon systems. A source reported that was is a defect in two of the automatic rapid-fire cannons, the so-called Goalkeepers. These are needed to destroy incoming missiles. A technical team has been flown in to solve the problem. The ship had left Den Helder for the operations area on April 21, 2024, fully operational. After the Zr.Ms. 'Karel Doorman' has completed the necessary tests, the ship will sail to the operating area as quickly as possible.
News
THUNDER
On May 9 2024, at noon, the Port Authority of Paros was informed that the 'Thunder', during the docking process at the port of Parikia, Paros, suffered a malfunction of the ramp, resulting in the inability to disembark and embark passengers and vehicles. The ship came from the port of Ios on a scheduled route to the ports of Mykonos, Syros and Piraeus. With the care of the ship-owning company, the ramp was disengaged with the assistance of a heavy-duty vehicle, and then the safe disembarkation of the passengers and vehicles was completed. On board were 259 passengers and 35 crew members. The disembarked passengers and vehicles destined for the ports of Mykonos and Syros were transferred to the 'Super Express' in order to be forwarded to their final destinations. The Port Authority of Paros banned the 'Thunder' from sailing. After the presentation of a certificate of class maintenance by the monitoring classification society, the departure was granted for a single voyage the port of Piraeus with 237 passengers on board.
SARAH M
The 'Sarah M' was lingering off Spain awaiting orders after the vessel was denied entry into Greenore on April 30, 2024, for a scheduled export voyage. An animal activist group used the sanctions against Russia and the fact that the ship had recently switched to the Russian classification society to get the ship barred from the trade she has been involved in for a few years. The 'Sarah M' didn’t dock at Greenore, it turned around and scuttled away empty shortly after Farming Ireland sent off a bunch of emails to various authorities. sHe eft Irish waters, turned east into international waters, and then dropped anchor. Ethical Farming Ireland spotted in the records that the vessel, despite operating since 2019 as the 'Sarah M', in March 2024 switched flags from Panama to Antigua and Barbuda. It also moved from the Polish class society to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. That provided the opening for the activists who quickly highlighted to the Irish authorities that the April 2023 EU sanctions imposed on Russia included a provision to block any vessel in the Russian class from EU ports. The ship was due to reach Greenore to export 2,000 young bulls. The vessel has had past problems with the authorities. Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the past revoked the operation license of the 'Sarah M' for breaches of regulations before being re-granted. In late 2019, the vessel made a trip for its prior owner, Beirut Shipping Company, but then suddenly changed ownership to DMS Lines, also in Lebanon. Media reports were that the prior owner had its license revoked because of a low-performance rating. The Agricultural authority opted to remain silent on the latest incident. The 'Sarah M' arrived on May 7 off Cartagena with the AIS signal showing it was waiting for orders.
PLAYA DE CESANTES
On May 8, 2024, the 'Playa de Cesantes' suffered an engine failure with 10 crew members on board. The fishing vessel 'Xurel Uno' started pulling the ship, but requested assistance due to problems with the tow. The CCS Santanader of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR vessel 'Salvamar Deneb', which took over the tow and pulled the ships safely to the port of Laredo. Report with photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1788170641302077884
MEIRA DA COSTA
The 'Meira da Costa' got the propeller fouled by its net and requestsed towing assistance on May 8, 2024, about 6.5 nautical miles south of Cabo Fisterra with seven crew members on board. The CCS Fisterra of Salvevamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR vessel 'Salvamar Régulus', which pulled the ship safely to Muros.
ELEEN SOFIA
The International Transport Workers Federation(ITF) along with Australian authorities was resolving the case involving crew mistreatment, wage theft, and poor living conditions aboard the 'Eleen Sofia'. The vessel was being closely monitored and frequently inspected by its Australian inspectorate. The ITF stated that the vessel changed its ownership in 2023. The vessel has a poor track record of living conditions onboard and also has a history of failing to pay the crew wages. A review record indicated that the vessel was detained for 10 days by the U.S. Coast Guard in New Orleans, in 2022 due to safety deficiencies. In April 2024, the ITF claimed to have discovered that the provisions aboard the ship had been depleted with no access to food for the crew. The crew argued that the ship owner had repeatedly failed to replenish provisions and provide better living conditions for them. The crew also alleged that while anchored at Bangladesh the ship reported no air conditioning in the crewmember's cabin area for over three months. The ITF also stated about the unresolved case regarding the disappearance and presumed death of the ship’s cook who went overboard when the ship was anchored in South China. In February 2024, the ITF became aware of the unpaid and overdue wages of the crew, when the vessel docked in Adelaide and later in Portland, Victoria. The ITF reported that its inspectorate was able to address the wage issues and lack of provision of the vessel at that time. However, the ship left Australia and visited other ports before returning to Mackay, where the same issues were identified by the Australian inspectorate. Currently, thr ITF along with the Australia Border Force and Local port Authorities in Queensland was working to ensure the remaining crew aboard the ship have access to decent, healthy living conditions with medical attention, shore leave, and possible repatriation despite the ship being under arrest. This assistance is provided to the crew while the issues of the ship were being addressed.
PACIFIC ENCOUNTER
The 'Pacific Encounter' received adistress call and rescued three stranded sailors on May 4, 2024. The cruise ship departed from Brisbane on May 3 and was off the coast of New Caledonia when the distress call waa issued from a nearby broken yacht. The three sailors, which included two men and one woman, were sailing from Queensland en route to Noumea when their yacht encountered a broken mast and loss of power. The trio was drifting at sea for three days waiting for a passing ship to receive their distress call and provide assistance. The cruise ship answered the distress call and diverted to assist and rescue the three sailors. The sailors boarded the ship and were in good health after receiving onboard medical assistance. The vessel continued the voyage to Noumea.
DALI
The Key Bridge Response Unified Command was scheduled to use precision cuts made with small charges to remove a large section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge wreckage from on top of the 'Dali'. The exact time of the precision cuts depended on multiple environmental and operational factors. The small charges, a standard controlled demolition tool, will split the large section of truss at specific locations to create multiple, smaller sections, which allows salvors to use cranes and barges already on scene to remove these sections of the bridge and ultimately remove the 'Dali' from the channel. On May 9, the Captain of the Port (COTP) has established a transit plan to afford recreational vessels the opportunity for transit through the Key Bridge Response Safety Zone. Traffic will be one-way at a time during one period: on May 12, oubound transits will be permitted in the afternoon from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and INBOUND transits will be permitted from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The Unified Command or Captain of the Port may cancel these time periods at any time for safety reasons. Mariners must monitor VHF Channel 16 and 81A while transiting the area.
NORWEGIAN ENCORE
The FBI has arrested a Norwegian cruise ship worker in Alaska after he allegedly stabbed three people with medical scissors aboard the 'Norwegian Encore'. The suspect, identified as Ntando Sogoni, 35, from South Africa, was recently hired by Norwegian and boarded the ship in Seattle on May 5, 2024. The ship left that day for a weeklong, round-trip excursion to Alaska with stops including Glacier Bay National Park and Victoria, British Columbia. On May 6, Ntando Sogoni, was working on the ship when other ship employees observed the defendant attempting to deploy a lifeboat. Sogoni was contacted by ship security and escorted to the ship’s medical center for an assessment. Upon arrival, Sogoni physically attacked a security guard and a male nurse inside an examination room and proceeded to enter another examination room where a woman, a U.S. citizen, was being examined. He grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed the woman multiple times in the arm, hand and face. He also stabbed two security guards who intervened, one in the head and one in the back and shoulders. Sogoni was detained in the ship’s jail, and arrested by the FBI on May 7 in Juneau, Alaska. He is now facing a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon within maritime and territorial jurisdiction.
MITRA BAHARI IX
On May 5, 2024, the crew of the KM 'Mitra Bahari IX' was successfully evacuated after the ship sank due to a leak in the hull. The 16 crew members were picked up by the passing 'Bratan' five nautical miles from Balikpapan. The distance between the MBS 'Bratan' and the KM 'Mitra Bahari IX' was around 23 miles. The castaways were transferred onto ships of the Balikpapan Harbour Master and Port Authority (KSOP) ships. The ship was loaded with approximately 1,900 tons of fertilizer and sank en route from Gresik, East Java, to Central Kalimantan, in the waters of Tanjung Puting, West Kotawaring. Before, the captain of the KM 'Mitra Bahari' had tried to ground the ship in Tanjung Puting waters. This attempt failed because the ship suddenly suffered a blackout. Report with photo: https://www.prokal.co/kalimantan-timur/1774633537/kapal-bawa-pupuk-tenggelam-16-abk-berhasil-dievakuasi
SALVAMAR ALPHERATZ
On May 8, 2024, a cayuco issued a distress call by mobil telephone south of Tenerife. It was located by a whale watching boat. The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Menkalinan' and the 'Salvamar Alpheratz', which rescued the 52 people on board and transferred them to Los Cristianos. The canoe ended up sinking. Report with photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1788214298923135323
SALVAMAR BETELGEUSE
The pleasure boat 'Marian', with three crew members on board, requested assistance following a mechanical failure between Lorbé and Ares on MAy 8. The CCS A Coruña of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Betelgeuse', which took the boat in tow and safely pulled it to Miño (A Coruña).
DARYA SHAAN
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority(AMSA) imposed a 180-day ban on the 'Darya Shaan' for serious safety and maintenance issues. The ship has been detained from entering Australia after the vessel failed to report serious defects in the main engine and the machinery. On April 26, 2024, the vessel docked at Port of MELBOURNE, where it was inspected by the AMSA, and several maintenance issues were identified. The inspection revealed serious defects in the main engine and monitoring system. The engine room alarm system was found faulty and has a defective starting arrangement for the two generators. The maintenance of the vessel was also poor, as evidence from the 19 deficiencies found after the survey. Moreover, the safety management system was also not effective enough in maintaining the vessel safety standards. The AMSA reported that the vessel operator took repeated risks with the vessel, and the safety of the crew and endangered the Australian Marine Environment. The AMSA stated that it would have not detained the vessel under the port state control procedure if only the operator of the vessel, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, had followed the protocol and reported the defects to the authorities.
RIDENS
On the evening of May 6, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Gravelines and deployed the 'Ridens' to assist, which launches its rescue boat to reach the site. The crew recovered 22 people. Several people still present on board the migrant boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued their journey under appropriate surveillance. The castaways recovered by the Ridens were then dropped off at the port of Dunkirk. Once at the dock, were are taken care of by the land emergency services and the border police.
ALEXIS
The 'Alexis', which had run aground following an engine failure in front of the Haydarpasa breakwater, was refloated, and ship traffic in the Bosphorus was reopened in both directions on May 8. The vessel was towed to Ahirkapi anchorage and was stationary in pos. 40° 58.73' N 028° 57.40' E as of May 9.
BREMEN
On the early morning of May 8, 2024, the 'Bremen', en route from Klaipeda, ran aground at Silloth at around 12:10 a.m. Efforts were underway to address the situation and minimize potential risks resulting from the grounding. The circumstances surrounding the grounding were under investigation, with authorities diligently ensuring the safety of both the vessel and the surrounding environment.
SALVAMAR MENKALINAN
On May 8, 2024, a cayuco issued a distress call by mobil telephone south of Tenerife. It was located by a whale watching boat. The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Menkalinan' and the 'Salvamar Alpheratz', which rescued the 52 people on board and transferred them to Los Cristianos. The canoe ended up sinking. Report with photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1788214298923135323
SALVAMAR IZAR
A rubber boat issued a distress call on May 9, 2024, about 20 nautical miles east of Fuerteventura. The CCS Las Palmas mobilized the 'Salvamar Izar', which rescued the 57 people on boardd and sights another boat from which 55 people were taken off. All castaways were transferred to Gran Tarajal, where they were taken care of by medical and security teams. Report with photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1788564140354588972
S MARU 5
Beached at Chittagong 05/2024 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=932048962045983&set=a.518272953423588