The “Humanity 1” has rescued 28 people from distress in international waters. Among the refugees in a small, overcrowded wooden boat, which was unable to maneuver and without rescue equipment, were pregnant women, small children and babies. The crew of the rescue ship “Humanity 1” took the people on board on May 16. The castaways were exhausted, some seasick and dehydrated, but in a stable medical condition. The Italian authorities assigned the “Humanity 1” Marina di Carrara as a safe port, which, according to SOS Humanity, is more than 1,150 kilometers ways from the rescue site, with an ETA as of May 21. The voyage would take four to five days. The captain asked the MRCC to assign a closer port.
News
Southampton
Dutch dredging and offshore outfit Royal Boskalis Westminster has been awarded contracts in the United Kingdom and Romania worth a combined €85m ($94m). Portsmouth City Council has contracted Boskalis to construct new sea defenses in Southsea, near Portsmouth, in a joint venture with VolkerStevin. Boskalis will deploy a large trailing suction hopper dredger to replenish the beach and will construct revetments using rock barges. Project execution is expected to start early 2020 and is estimated to take five years.
Belfast
The port in Northern Ireland has committed GB£254m of investment to deliver new marine and estate infrastructure. Belfast Harbour’s investment is part of a 2019-2023 Strategic Plan to boost Northern Ireland’s economy. The plan focuses on increased collaboration and partnerships with key city stakeholders to drive growth and regeneration in Belfast’s waterfront area and has been unveiled alongside an outlook through to 2035. Belfast Harbour’s chairman, David Dobbin, said: “Over the next five years Belfast Harbour intends to invest £254 million in new Port and estate infrastructure and facilities. This major investment programme is really only possible because of our Trust Port status which allows us to reinvest every penny of our net earnings back into the business.” Belfast Harbour will upgrade its cranes and material handling equipment, install new ramps to accommodate larger vessels and build new storage facilities. Work will also begin on digital ‘Smart Port’ initiatives to provide greater automation and a new unified system to coordinate cargo and shipping communications.
ISLAND BIRI
On May 9, 2024, the 'Island Biri' ran aground on the coast of Lajala, Coron Palawan. An area of 255 square meters sauare meters coral reef was damaged by the fast craft. An administrative case was to be filed with the PCSD against the owner of the vessel as soon as the investigation has been completed. The collected fines will also be used for the rehabilitation of the damaged reefs, which serve as a home and breeding ground for various fish.
Brunswick GA
The American port of Brunswick has reopened on a “case by case” basis after Sunday’s capsizing of a car carrier in a nearby channel. The Golden Ray overturned with 24 crew members inside sparking a dramatic, successful rescue mission over the weekend. Authorities are still assessing how to remove the vessel, which is stuck on St Simons Sound. A half-mile perimeter has been established around the Golden Ray, which sits half in the water with its starboard side pointing skyward. An oil boom has been placed around the ship. Salvage teams are likely to start taking the bunker fuel from the ship this weekend.
Houston
The US Coast Guard informed that it reopened the Houston Ship Channel, on September 13, after a protest demonstration near Baytown, Texas. Namely, on September 12, 22 Greenpeace US climbers created a blockade from the Fred Hartman Bridge in Baytown. The closure on the ship channel started on September 12, after Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received notification that about 11 individuals were suspended from the Fred Hartman Bridge. A US Coast Guard Station Houston 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew, a US Coast Guard Station Galveston 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew and the crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Tiger Shark were launched to the scene.
MARIANNE DANICA
The Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has confirmed reports that the 'Marianne Danica', which was carrying a cargo of arms to Israel, and had requested permission to call at the port at Cartagena on May 21, 2024, got the request denied on May 16. The ship had left Madras for Israel, carrying a cargo of about 27 tons of explosives.
SALVAMAR MACONDO
On May 17 at 4:09 a.m. the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas was notified of a cayuco warning 2.5 nautival miles from Mogán. The 'Salvamar Macondo' was mobilized to assist and located it. The boat with 126 sub-Saharan migrants, among them 12 women and one minor on board, was escorted to Arguineguín. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1791352460826599645
Limassol
Cyprus continues to address every facet of its maritime offering to lure more shipowners to the island. The country’s deputy minister for shipping Natasa Pilides has revealed plans to abolish initial ship registration fees to boost one of Europe’s fastest growing flags. Members of parliament will vote on the issue later this month with a view to making the regulation official in time for Cyprus’s shipping week, which kicks off on October 6. The Cypriot register today is the 11th largest in the world with 24.4m gt on its books.
Napier
Napier Port, the third largest port on New Zealand’s North Island, has placed an order with Damen Shipyards Group for an Azimuth Tractor Drive (ATD) Tug 2412 Twin Fin for delivery later this year. The contract was signed by Sjoerd de Bruin, sales manager Pacific for Damen and Napier Port CEO Todd Dawson at Napier Port main office. Napier Port is currently developing a sixth wharf which, at 350 metres long, will be capable of handling the larger vessels that are expected to access the port in the near future. As a key transport hub for the Hawke’s Bay region of the North Island, the port already hosts a wide range of vessels including container ships, cruise ships, cargo and timber carriers. The ATD Tug 2412 Kaweka will join two existing Voith-type tugs at the port; the Te Mata and Ahuriri. Tractor tugs work best at Napier Port due to their ability to operate effectively in a swell, to tow indirectly, and their manoeuvrability, the last particularly important due to the tight berthing arrangements in the harbour. Just 24-metres in length but with 72 tonnes of bollard pull, the ATD Tug 2412 delivers just the combination of power but compactness that the Napier Port management team is seeking.