News

On Aug 7, 2025, at around 5:00 p.m. the medical evacuation of a crew member from the'Perla de Palamos' was requested, while the ship was sailing 5.5 nautical miles west of Llafranc. The CCS Barcelona of Salvamento Mar´itimo mobilized the SAR boat 'Salvamar Sirius', which embarked the fisherman and transported him to Palamós for further medical attention ashore.

The 'Fortune' has sparked controversy for carrying a cargo of coal destined for Hadera. The shipment violates a Colombian government decree banning coal exports to Israel, due to ongoing concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza. The ship had sailed from Colombia on July 24, 2025, with an ETA as of Aug 14. The Colombian government classifies coal as a "dual-use item", which could support military activities, in addition to its civilian use for energy production. Activists claimed that the shipment was breaching the decree issued by the Colombian president in 2024,banning exports of coal to Israel. The Colombian President Gustavo Petro says he would order the Colombian Navy to intercept vessels bound for Israel. The 'Fortune' has not broadcast the vessel's location for the past nine days.

On Aug 5, 2025, the ' Trackhound' was detained in Novorossiysk with 11 deficiencies, eight of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Radio communications - Facilities for reception of marine safety inform Not as required 2) Emergency systems - Fire pump and its pipes Inoperative 3) Emergency systems - Water level indicator Inoperative 4) Pollution Prevention - Ballast Water Management System Not as required 5) Pollution Prevention - 15 PPM alarm arrangements Not as required 6) Pollution Prevention - Other (Marpol Annex I) Other 7) Labour conditions - Morring ropes/lines and wires Not as required 8)) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Not as required The vessel was released again on Aug 7. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On Aug 3, 2025, the 'Gemini' was detained in Piraeus with six deficiencies, three of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Labour conditions - Non payment of wages Non payment of wages 2) Certificate & Doc - Seafarers employment agreement Expired 3) ISM - ISM certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Aug 5 and left the port en route to Kusadasi with an ETA as of Aug 7. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

A pilot project for munitions recovery was to start on Aug 9, 2025, on the Mecklenburg Baltic coast off Boltenhagen. In 30 days, up to 15 tons of old World War II munitions were to be retrieved from the seabed at a depth of around 22 meters. The munitions will then be disposed of. The company, Baltic Taucherei- und Bergungsbetrieb (Baltic Diving and Salvage Company), in Rostock was contracted for this task, and the "Baltic Lift," was scheduled to depart Rostock on Aug 8 toward the Bay of Wismar. The majority of the 80-year-old munitions, such as grenades and rocket-propelled grenades, was likely buried under meters of sediment and mud. The 30-day operation near Großklützhöved off Boltenhagen (Rostock district) is part of the emergency program for the removal of old ammunition in the North and Baltic Seas, for which a total of 100 million euros in federal funds has been made available. The cost of the salvage off Boltenhagen is estimated at around five million euros. In the Bay of Wismar, the old ammunition was sunk together with a barge, which is why the majority of the ammunition is likely located next to the barge, which is lying bottom up. The total volume was estimated at just under 1,000 tons. The project's primary goal was to gather information about ammunition and salvage. The clearance work was to run 24/7 with the team working in two shifts of 24 employees each. On board the converted "Baltic Lift," formerly a tanker, are several submersible elevators that take the divers to a depth of 22 meters. The ammunition is pre-sorted underwater and loaded separately into crates. It is then transported by ship to Wismar, from where it is transported to a federal disposal facility.