On April 30, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the Strait of Pas-de-Calais. On the morning, a boat requested assistance off the coast of Audinghen, and the CROSS Gris-Nez deployed the 'Minck', which rescued two people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French rescue services and continued on their way. The people rescued by the 'Minck' were then dropped off at the dock in Calais. On the evening, the CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the BSAM 'Rhône' to assist a boat in difficulty off the coast of Sangatte, which picked up a family of five people including three children. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued on their way. The people picked up by the 'Rhône' were then dropped off at the dock in Calais.
News
ADAMANTIOS KORAIS
In the morning hours of May 2, 2024, the Port Authority of Alexandroupoli was informed that during the mooring process of the 'Adamantios Koreis', en route from the port of Samothraki, the passenger ramp pulled the mooring cable which caused the ramp to deform and the lower plate to detach o a length of about 30 centimeters. The passengers disembarked safely, with no injuries reported. The Central Port Authority of Alexandroupoli banned the ferry from sailing until the damage was repaired. Upon presentation of a certificate of class maintenance by the monitoring classification society, it was allowed to sail to the port of Samothraki.
Walvis Bay
Global trade enabler DP World has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Namibia’s Nara Namib Free Economic Industrial Zone today to develop a free economic zone for industry and logistics in Walvis Bay to support the growth of Namibia as a regional hub for Southern Africa. Development of the first 50 hectares phase of the zone has the potential to create 3,000 jobs and help attract investment to Namibia of N$ 3.5 billion (approx. US$237 million). Expansion to 1,500 hectares is expected to increase the potential investment to N$25 billion (around US$1.7 billion) with 20,000 job opportunities.
Takamatsu
Shikoku Kyuko Ferry, also known as ‘Olive Line’, has announced that it will close the historic Uno-Takamatsu route on 16 December.
YSER
On the morning of May 1, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed by the Dieppe semaphore that a migrant boat was off the coast of Dieppe ad deployed the lifeboaat 'SNS 080 - Notre Dame de Bonsecours' from the SNSM station in Dieppe, on exercise in the area, to check the situation of the boat. The SNSM launch was then relieved by the 'Yser' of the Maritime Gendarmerie, which reached the boat in difficulty on the afternoon. The 'Yser' recovered 66 castaways including women and children. They were then dropped off at the port of Dieppe where they were taken care of by the land rescue services and the border police.
BLUE STAR PATMOS
In the afternoon hours of May 2, 2024, the Port Authority of Syros was informed about the emergency approach of the 'Blue Star Patmos' in the port. The ferry had deviated from its scheduled route, in order to disembark a sick passenger.
Venice
Costa Cruises’ second Chinese market-designed cruise ship, COSTA FIRENZE, was floated out at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. COSTA FIRENZE follows the February delivered COSTA VENEZIA.
Kiel
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Germany's third-largest defence company and world market leader in conventional submarines, has recorded a pleasing development: by 2023, the company will be investing 250 million Euro in Kiel. Its objective is to develop the shipyard into an international competence centre for conventional submarine construction. Thanks to the currently good development with new orders, around 500 new employees will be hired throughout the company by the end of 2020, the majority of them in Kiel. The company is looking primarily for engineers and skilled workers, particularly in R&D, construction and manufacturing. https://www.thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com/en/press-releases/d/uid-26938af4-8f4e-e141-8c2d-54a1f4623b48.html https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/TKMS-will-250-Millionen-Euro-in-Kieler-Werft-investieren,thyssenkrupp126.html
RIDENS
In the morning of May 4, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Calais and depoloyed the 'Ridens' to assist. It launched a boat to reach the position and recovered the 22 castaways on board. A Dauphin helicopter was also engaged to ensure that no other person was in difficulty. The castaways were dropped off at the port of Calais where they were taken care of by the shore based rescue services and the border police. Report with photo: https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/operation-d-assistance-et-de-sauvetage-de-22-personnes-au-large-de-calais-62
POWER JET
On the afternoon of May 2, 2024,, the 'Power Jet' on its scheduled route from Piraeus to the ports of Syros, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Santorini with 1106 passengers and 31 crew members on board, experienced an increase of temperature in one of the four main engines five nauztical miles east of Aegina. The ship sailed under its own power to the port of Syros, and after presenting a certificate of seaworthiness from the monitoring classification society, it was permitted to continue its approved route to the next ports with 820 passengers on board.
Victoria (Canada)
Damen Shipyards Group is to build a further four Island Class double-ender ferries for BC Ferries. All four vessels will be built at Damen’s yard in Romania and will enter service in 2022. Damen is already building two Island Class vessels for BC Ferries, both of which have completed sea trials and are due in Victoria, BC in early 2020.
Le Havre
A joint venture featuring CMA CGM and DP World has been granted the contract to expand box facilities at the port of Le Havre in northern France. Générale de Manutention Portuaire (GMP), a joint venture held 50:50 by DP World and Terminal Link, a subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group, will build and operate the 1m teu container terminal for the Port 2000 berths 11 and 12 under a 34-year concession. The new terminal will include a 700 m long quay and 42 ha of land.