Due to the ongoing exhaust fault of the 'Argyll Flyer'. serving on the route Gourock-Dunoon, a single vessel service remained in in operation, and the 'Argyll Flyer' has berthed at the Dales Marine Services in Greenock for repairs and will remain off service until further notice. Modification and repair plans were underway. During the amended timetable, a replacement shuttle bus service will operate for these sailings: Mondays - Saturday Departure Gourock – 10:15 a.m. Departure Dunoon – 10:45 a.m. Mondays & Fridays Departure Gourock – 11:15 a.m. Departure Dunoon – 11:45 a.m. In addition to the cancellations above, the following sailings have been cancelled due to the combination of overnight berthing and required crew hours of rest: Departure Gourock – 10:40 p.m. Departure Dunoon – 11:10 p.m.
News
FRENCH WARSHIP
On the afternoon of May 12, 2025, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed of a migrant boat leaving the Walde Lighthouse area and deployed the BSAM 'Rhône' to locate and monitor the boat. A Dauphin helicopter of the Navy Base in Le Touquet, on exercise near the area, was also engaged to assist. At the end of the day, the boat suffered engine failure and requested assistance. The crew of the 'Rhône' launched its high-speed boat and took on board the 71 people of the boat. Three of them required medical attention. The CROSS Gris-Nez immediately established a conference call with the Maritime Medical Coordination in Le Havre. All boat people were taken to Calais and cared for by shore based government services. On May 13, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed of several migrant boat departures. On the morning, a passenger vessel reported a paddleboard adrift with one person on board off the coast of Calais, following an attempt to cross the strait. The BSAM 'Rhône' was deployed to assist and made contact with the person on the paddleboard, who requested assistance. After rescuing the person, the Navy vessel dropped him off at the dock in Calais, where he was taken into care. At midday, the CROSS deployed the 'Ridens' to monitor a boat in the Slack Dunes beach area. Once on site, all persons on board requested assistance. The crew of the rescue ship took on board 61 people, who were dropped off at Boulogne-sur-Mer and taken into care by shore based authorities.
Nassau
Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) has officially resumed operations and welcomed back its first commercial vessel following Hurricane Dorian. The 57,062-ton crude oil tanker Agathonissos, owned by Greece-based Eletson, returned to the yard to complete repair works that began before the hurricane arrived in the Bahamas earlier this month. The shipyard also said it remains on track for the next planned cruise ship visit, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Ecstasy, scheduled to arrive on October 5.
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.
LOCH FRISA
The 'Loch Frisa', serving on the route Oban-Craignure, suffered an issue with the drencher system. As a consequence, the vessel is currently unable to carry any dangerous goods until May 31. CalMac personnel was waiting on the delivery of the required parts for repairs, and a further update was to be provided when they have arrived. Affected bookings were to be contacted directly by the ports. Any customers wishing to travel via Lochaline - Fishnish were required to call Craignure Port (01680 340258 option 2) or Tobermory Port (01688 327089 option 2) directly. http://calm.ac/11
RIDENS
On May 13, 2025, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed of several migrant boat departures. On the morning, a passenger vessel reported a paddleboard adrift with one person on board off the coast of Calais, following an attempt to cross the strait. The BSAM 'Rhône' was deployed to assist and made contact with the person on the paddleboard, who requested assistance. After rescuing the person, the Navy vessel dropped him off at the dock in Calais, where he was taken into care. At midday, the CROSS deployed the 'Ridens' to monitor a boat in the Slack Dunes beach area. Once on site, all persons on board requested assistance. The crew of the rescue ship took on board 61 people, who were dropped off at Boulogne-sur-Mer and taken into care by shore based authorities.
New Orleans
The US Coast Guard is continuing efforts on containing an oil spill on the Mississippi River in New Orleans. First assets were deployed on September 11 after a helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans observed a sheen on the water earlier in the day during a routine overflight. Fifteen hundred feet of boom has been deployed to contain the sheen while oil spill response company OMI Environmental Solutions has been contracted to contain and recover the product. The Coast Guard is yet to provide details on the cause or source of the spill. The incident is still under investigation. In addition to US Coast Guard assets, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office has joined the response effort and six oil spill response boats have been on site as of September 13.
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.
SALVAMAR LYRA
The pleasure boat 'Son Moix', with one crew member on board, suffered a mechanical failure in the Bay of Roses, off Sant Pere Pescador, on May 13. The CCS Barcelona of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Lyra' to assist. The SAR boat took the 'Son Moix' kin tow and safely pulled it to the port of Santa Margarida. Video: https://x.com/i/status/1922256871215312931
DODEKANISOS EXPRESS
On May 7, 2025, at noon , the Port Authority of Patmos was informed of the fall of a person from the 'Dodekkanisos Express' into the sea at the port of Skala. The 34-year-old Greek national, who had boarded the passenger catamaran in order to place luggage of his relatives, realized that the ship had departed and fell into the water when he tried to get to the shore. A patrol boat was deployed for assistance, while the ferry stopped, and the crew dropped a life jacket into the sea. The man reached the shore in good health and the ferry set sail for its scheduled route. A preliminary investigation was being conducted by the Patmos Port Authority.
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.