Towing operations of the 'Wan Hai 503' were temporarily suspended after a fresh fire broke out on board. The blaze was detected again on July 4 , and as of July 5 morning, operations remained on hold. This has left the ship’s relocation to the port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka uncertain until the fire is fully extinguished. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) is now considering moving the ship to a port in an African country. With the help of the tug 'Advantis Virgo’, about 12,000 litres of a chemical mixture have already been used to douse the fire. Around 3,000 litres of the mixture remained. Authorities are trying to procure additional chemical supplies from Singapore, if necessary. The Directorate General of Shipping has identified undeclared goods in 243 containers and suspected this may be the reason for the recurring fires despite intensified rescue efforts The 'Wan Hai 503' was positioned 3.5 nautical miles south of the 200-nautical mile boundary.
News
ARMOISE
On the night of July 3 and on July 4, numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez. First, at 3:00 a.m., the departure of a boat was reported to the CROSS in the Dunkirkarea. TheCROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie 'to monitor the boat. Once on site, the tug launched its RIB to monitor the boat during a migrant boarding phase near the coast. The tug then reported that seven people on board were requesting assistance, rescued them and took them on board. At 3:30 a.m., a boat was reported departing from the Dunkirk Canal des Dunes in Dunkirk. The CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the "Armoise" to monitor the boat. At 9:00 a.m., the 'Armoise' reported having rescued all 60 people on board. All the people disembarked at the Paul Devot quay and were taken care of by the emergency services on shore. At 5:00 a.m., another boat was spotted off Hardelot. The CROSS Griz-Nez engaged the patrol boat PSP 'Pluvier' to monitor it. Once on site, the 'Pluvier' lunched its operational patrol boat (EDO) to maintain contact with the boat. The 'Pluvier' reported having rescued one person who had fallen overboard. The person was in good health and did not require medical assistance. In the early afternoon, the boat was disembarked at the Saint-Paul quay in Calais and taken into care by rescue services on land. Late in the morning, a boat was reported off the Walde lighthouse in Calais. The CROSS engaged the lifeboat from the Calais SNSM station, the 'SNS 067 – "Mona Rigolet' to monitor the boat. Once on site, the 'SNS 067 'alerted that the boat was damaged and sinking, and began the rescue of all 81 people. At 1:00 p.m., all rescued people were disembarked in Calais and taken into care by government services on land. In total, 149 people were rescued and taken into care by government resources.
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.
THERESA LIMA
Two crew members became unwell on board the 'Theresa Lima' in the Petroleum Port in Rotterdam on July 5, 2025. The men were working in the hold. It was possible that they became unwell due to carbon monoxide. The ship was carrying coconut oil. A trauma helicopter, four ambulances, the port authority and the fire brigade were called. One of the victims was conscious, the other was unconscious. Both were given oxygen on board. The conscious victim was able to get down the gangway and off the ship himself, the other victim was taken off the ship unconscious on a stretcher. Both were taken to hospital. Report with photo: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/07/05/twee-bemanningsleden-onwel-op-schip-theresa-lima-traumaheli-opgeroepen/
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
On the night of July 3 and on July 4, numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez. First, at 3:00 a.m., the departure of a boat was reported to the CROSS in the Dunkirkarea. TheCROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie 'to monitor the boat. Once on site, the tug launched its RIB to monitor the boat during a migrant boarding phase near the coast. The tug then reported that seven people on board were requesting assistance, rescued them and took them on board. At 3:30 a.m., a boat was reported departing from the Dunkirk Canal des Dunes in Dunkirk. The CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the patrol boat "Armoise" to monitor the boat. At 9:00 a.m., the 'Armoise' reported having rescued all 60 people on board. All the people disembarked at the Paul Devot quay and were taken care of by the emergency services on shore. At 5:00 a.m., another boat was spotted off Hardelot. The CROSS Griz-Nez engaged the patrol boat PSP 'Pluvier' to monitor it. Once on site, the 'Pluvier' lunched its operational patrol boat (EDO) to maintain contact with the boat. The 'Pluvier' reported having rescued one person who had fallen overboard. The person was in good health and did not require medical assistance. In the early afternoon, the boat was disembarked at the Saint-Paul quay in Calais and taken into care by rescue services on land. Late in the morning, a boat was reported off the Walde lighthouse in Calais. The CROSS engaged the lifeboat from the Calais SNSM station, the 'NS 067 – "Mona Rigolet' to monitor the boat. Once on site, the 'SNS 067 'alerted that the boat was damaged and sinking, and began the rescue of all 81 people. At 1:00 p.m., all rescued people were disembarked in Calais and taken into care by government services on land. In total, 149 people were rescued and taken into care by government resources.
MONA RIGOLET
On the night of July 3 and on July 4, numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez. First, at 3:00 a.m., the departure of a boat was reported to the CROSS in the Dunkirkarea. TheCROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie 'to monitor the boat. Once on site, the tug launched its RIB to monitor the boat during a migrant boarding phase near the coast. The tug then reported that seven people on board were requesting assistance, rescued them and took them on board. At 3:30 a.m., a boat was reported departing from the Dunkirk Canal des Dunes in Dunkirk. The CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the "Armoise" to monitor the boat. At 9:00 a.m., the 'Armoise' reported having rescued all 60 people on board. All the people disembarked at the Paul Devot quay and were taken care of by the emergency services on shore. At 5:00 a.m., another boat was spotted off Hardelot. The CROSS Griz-Nez engaged the patrol boat PSP 'Pluvier' to monitor it. Once on site, the 'Pluvier' lunched its operational patrol boat (EDO) to maintain contact with the boat. The 'Pluvier' reported having rescued one person who had fallen overboard. The person was in good health and did not require medical assistance. In the early afternoon, the boat was disembarked at the Saint-Paul quay in Calais and taken into care by rescue services on land. Late in the morning, a boat was reported off the Walde lighthouse in Calais. The CROSS engaged the lifeboat from the Calais SNSM station, the 'SNS 067 – "Mona Rigolet' to monitor the boat. Once on site, the 'SNS 067 'alerted that the boat was damaged and sinking, and began the rescue of all 81 people. At 1:00 p.m., all rescued people were disembarked in Calais and taken into care by government services on land. In total, 149 people were rescued and taken into care by government resources.
LOCH DUNVEGAN
The 'Loch Dunvegan', serrving on the route Colintraive-Rhubodach, suffered a technical issue with the ramp on July 4, 2025. As a consequence, the service had to be suspended. Afer the issue has been resolved, the service was operating as normal.
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.