A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 10 Thai crew members of the 'Chayanee Naree' for trafficking 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria from Brazil through the Apapa seaport. The convicted sailors are Krilerk Tanakhan, Boonlert Hansoongnern, Jakkarin Booncharoen, Thammarong Put-tlek, Worrapat Paopinta, Marut Kantaprom, Werapat Somboonying, Urkit Amsri, Panudet Jaisuk, and Amrat Thawom. They were arrested alongside nine Nigerian suspects on Oct 13, 2021 and arraigned in February 2022 on charges bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful importation of narcotic. On May 15, 2025, the trial judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, delivered the judgment following a plea bargain agreement entered into by the convicted crew members with the NDLEA. Justice Osiagor convicted the vessel under Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act and imposed a fine of $4 million or its Naira equivalent for its role in smuggling the illicit drug into Nigeria. The convicted sailors opted for a plea bargain agreement with the NDLEA and as a result, Justice Osiagor delivered his ruling at the resumed hearing of the matter. Among other penalties, the judge convicted the 'Chayanee Naree' for unlawful transportation of 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria and ordered to pay a fine of $4 million or its Naira equivalent. The 2nd – 11th defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act for permitting the use of the vessel for the unlawful transportation of 32.9kg of cocaine, while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants were ordered to pay N100,000.00 each as punishment for the offence and in addition restitution in the sum of $50,000 each or its equivalent in Naira to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The 5th – 11th defendants are to pay N100,000.00 each and restitution in the sum of $30,000.00, bringing the total amount payable to $4,360,000.00. Justice Osiagor adjourned the trial of the nine Nigerian suspects to June 25.
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SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER
The 'Seven Seas Explorer arrived in Vancouver, British Colombia, on May 14, 2025, after a repositioning journey across the Pacific Ocean, during which 22 of the 666 passengers and two members of the 545 crew membersbecame victims of a gastrointestinal outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received word from the ship’s medical team after the ship pulled into port. It had departed from Tokyo on April 26, with passengers beginning to fall ill to symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. The cause of the outbreak was unknown, but norovirus was a likely cause. The affected passengers and crew members were isolated and deep cleaning procedures commenced.
Kiel
The Port of Kiel has launched a three-step plan that puts the port's 'Blue Port' concept into concrete terms, as a framework of its effort to completely reduce all of its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030. "The port will be climate-neutral by the end of this decade," noted Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director of Port of Kiel. The port's three-step plan envisages covering 60% of the energy requirements of ships calling at Kiel with green electricity as early as next year. This figure is expected to reach 80-90% by 2025, before climate neutrality is achieved for all activities of the German port in 2030, through a range of measures to supply port facilities with 100% climate-neutral green electricity that have already been implemented. The port is also planning to further decrease nitrogen oxides emissions. According to an environmental report, the Port of Kiel already avoided more than 6,200 tonnes of CO2 in 2020, while almost 18,800 tonnes were still emitted. The energy demand at the terminals has already been sustainably reduced by switching to economical LED technology and increasing energy efficiency, while photovoltaic systems provide around 290,000-kilowatt hours of solar energy every year. The port in the Baltic is also gradually converting its own vehicle fleet to electric drive and offers incentives to customers to promote the decarbonisation process. Moreover, the port has invested in on-shore power to reduce emissions. After the first system for shore-side power supply was connected to Norwegenkai in 2019, a second larger one was commissioned at Ostseekai in June, earlier this year. In the meantime, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) is funding the establishment of a digital test field in the port to make the processes at the freight terminals even more efficient. Operational processes will therefore be optimised and made more sustainable on the basis of a 5G campus network. In this way, climate-neutral growth in port handling is expected to be supported by innovative information technology (IT). Measures towards zero emissions by 2030 in the German port also include electrification of the vehicle fleet, such as industrial trucks, digitalisation of operational processes for increased efficiency, as well as tariff-based environmental discount as an incentive for climate-friendly transformation.
Burgas
BMF Port Burgas EAD is a private-owned port operator of terminal Burgas East 2 and terminal Burgas West, part of the national public port of Burgas, Republic of Bulgaria. On June 5 2019 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria decided to expand the duration of the concession term of both of the terminals from 35 to 46 years and 8 months each. A couple of days ago, we took an opportunity to talk with Mr. Boris Balev, CEO of BMF Port Burgas EAD, who provided us with invaluable insight into the company’s business and development plans and their most important projects on the horizon. Mr. Balev, how much money and in what directions are your investments in the development of BMF Port Burgas since 2012? The investments that will be realized for the 2021 amount to nearly 8 million euros. With them, the total amount of investments since 2012 is approximately 158 million euros. I dare say that with these funds we have completely transformed the two terminals of the Port of Burgas since they were given to us for management and operation. We have talked many times about the facilities we have built and modernized in the port in the past, so I will focus on what is new for this year. We have put into operation a new installation for discharging oil bitumen from ships to railway cars and tank trucks. We strive not only to constantly increase the number of available equipment, but also to modernize it to such with modern technologies for energy efficiency. We are constantly working towards expanding and modernizing the storage areas in the terminals. The project for expansion of our silo complex is going well so far. This year we built 2 more silos, 5,100 m3 each. The construction of another 2 is forthcoming. The total capacity of the complex after the completion of the construction activities will be 119,000 m3. The implementation of this project allowed us to mark a number of strong months in the processing of cereals this year. Interview in English: https://maritime1.com/65710/
INVICTUS
The Invictus', which was disabled and adrift in the Indian Ocean after an engine room fire on April 23, is being towed to safety by the tug 'Advantis Virgo' (IMO: 9276676). On May 16, the ship was towed at a speed of 3.7 knots towards Dubai to undergo repairs at the Gulf Emirate and moored in pos. 25° 23' N 055° 05' E on May 16. One Filipino crew memberhad suffered burns in the fire and received emergency medical assistance from an Indian Navy vessel, but was not evacuated. The tanker was then drifting for about a week, in good weather and at a safe distance from the Somalian coast, before a tug arrived to pick it up. Though the ship remained without power, it was largely cables and panels that suffered the brunt of the blaze. The reason for the fire was not yet known.
JULIE
On May 15, 2025, shortly before midnight, the 'Julie' caught fire near the Remanso Bridge over the Paraguay River. The violent fire, which started n the engine room and spread rapidly, caused multiple explosions due to the presence of flammable materials on board. It completely destroyed the pusher tug, owned by the Brazilian company LHG MINING, near the Remanso Bridge over the Paraguay River. The Paraguayan Volunteer Firefighters were mobilized and managed to evacuate the ten crew members unharmed. The ship had approximately 250,000 liters of fuel in its tanks, as well as oil drums and electronic equipment. The fire was only contained during the early morning hours after extensive fighting efforts. Firefighters continued their cooling operations to prevent a possible re-ignition, given the characteristics of the remaining cargo. The vessel was recently undergoing repairs on a floating dock in Villa Hayes. The Authorities started nvestigate the cause of the fire. Reports with photo and video: https://dataportuaria.ar/nota/21606/el-remolcador-julie-fue-consumido-por-el-fuego-en-remanso-rescate-exitoso-de-su-tripulacion/ https://www.npy.com.py/noticias/nacionales/incendio-en-remolcador-del-rio-paraguay-rescatan-a-toda-la-tripulacion
Haimen
Fifth X-Bow cruise ship for SunStone Ships US-based SunStone Ships are having innovative Infinity class expedition cruise ships with X-Bow built in China, and things are happening in quick succession: The GREG MORTIMER (IMO 9834648), which was completed in 2019, was followed by the OCEAN EXPLORER (IMO 9883194) in July 2021 and the OCEAN VICTORY (IMO 9868869) in October 2021, which will also be followed this year by the SYLVIA EARLE (IMO 9872327). On November 9, 2021, the fifth Infinity class ship was already launched at China Merchants Heavy Industries in Haimen: the OCEAN ODYSSEY (IMO 9880673). Like the OCEAN EXPLORER that has already been delivered, she is intended for the charterer Vantage Travel and is scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter 2022. The further ships of this class currently under construction are the OCEAN ALBATROS and OCEAN DISCOVERER. Full article + images: https://www.cruisedeck.de/stapellauf-der-ocean-odyssey/
Barranquilla
Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia
DISNEY FANTASY
On May 12, a passenger was suffering from an urgent mecidal issue and needed to be medevaced from the 'Disney Fantasy', while the ship was heading toward Lisbon, during the ship’s 13-night sailing, a one-way transatlantic cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona. On May 14, a military helicopter approached the ship in the early evening. An emergency responder was loweredon to the foreship. The patient was loaded onto a lift basket, and both were raised up to the helicopter. Once the basket had been safely loaded into the helicopter, the aircraft took the affected individual to more extensive land-based care. Report with video: https://www.cruisehive.com/amazingly-efficient-operation-to-airlift-guest-from-disney-ship/173983
MAERSK SANA
On May 15, the tug 'Sea 1 Ruby' (IMO: 9413444 ), which had left Bergen on May 4, has reached the 'Maersk Sana', which has been adrift in the Atlantic Ocean after an engine room explosion on April 28, approximately 354 nautical miles east of Bermuda, in pos. 33° 27' N 064° 47' W. The tug is due to tow the ship to the Bahamas, where it is expected to arrive in the last week of May. The explosion had injured three crew members one of them seriously, who remains in critical but stable condition in a U.S. hospital. Despite the explosion, the vessel has retained auxiliary power and can use its thruster for limited maneuvering. The tug was dispatched on May 4 with the aim of towing the container ship to a port of refuge in the Bahamas by the last week of May. Maersk defended its decision to use a distant tug, stating it prioritized finding the right vessel for the job rather than the nearest one. Calm weather has thus far prevented the situation from worsening, and Maersk’s monitoring teams continued to track conditions to ensure safety.
Saint Nazaire
Fourth Edge class ship under construction. The first steel cut for the CELEBRITY ASCENT was celebrated on November 17, 2021 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France. It is already the fourth Edge class ship for Celebrity Cruises – after the CELEBRITY EDGE, CELEBRITY APEX and CELEBRITY BEYOND. The ships are each 306 meters long and measured with approx. 130,000 gross tons. A special feature of these cruise ships is the so-called Magic Carpet, a vertically movable deck on the starboard side. The CELEBRITY ASCENT is expected to be completed by the second half of 2023. Full article: https://www.cruisedeck.de/erster-stahlschnitt-fuer-celebrity-ascent/
Buenaventura
Get in touch We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. LBH Colombia is an exclusive and experienced company with more than 26 years in the Colombian market, enhancing integrated maritime operations with leadership and professionalism, We are fully committed to serve with excellence, to respect the business and to positively surprise our customers. Rendering fllw services: Ship Agents Logistic Management Husbandry Agents Reliable protective Agents Head Office Manga Av. California # 26 - 64 Cartagena- Bolivar, Colombia. marketing@lbhcolombia.com please kindly visit our website www.lbhcolombia.com @lbhcolombia