The long-standing issue of the deteriorating 'Tulele' at the Buka Wharf in Bougainville has once again resurfaced in the Bougainville House of Representatives, raising serious concerns over safety and accountability. The vessel, which was brought into Bougainville with the intention of servicing Nissan and the Atolls constituencies, is now visibly tilting and deteriorating in the Buka Passage. Members have warned it could become an environmental and maritime disaster if not urgently removed. The 'Tulele' was purchased by the previous Autonomous Bougainville Government for K1 million from Korea, despite its original value of K9 million. It was meant to boost sea transport in remote areas. However, the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) deemed the ship unseaworthy shortly after its arrival and grounded it. The vessel has remained docked since, sinking slowly and accumulating more than K1 million in berthing fees. The ownership company, Bou & Ko (a joint Bougainville-Korea venture), has failed to take responsibility for the vessel’s condition or its removal. The issue has drawn in multiple agencies, including NMSA, PNG Customs, and PNG Ports, complicating efforts to address the situation. Legal constraints are further slowing the ABG’s ability to act decisively. With growing fears over public safety, pressure was mounting for all responsible authorities to resolve the matter and ensure the MV Tulele is removed before disaster strikes. Report with photo: https://www.postcourier.com.pg/sinking-ship-sparks-political-blame-game-in-bougainville/
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PRIDE OF AMERICA
Tsunami waves generated by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia on July 29, 2025, caused cruise ships, among them the 'Pride of America', to leave the port of Hilo, leaving passengers behind on Hawaii. The ship notified all guests via SMS and advised them "to seek higher ground and follow instructions from local authorities if they were unable to return to the ship in time for its departure. Affected passengers on excursions frantically called the Norwegian customer service line and asked for the ship to be held until they got back. Originally, NCL said it would hold the ship for them. But at 3:38 p.m., the company said the ship was leaving after a request from the state’s Department of Transportation in response to local emergency procedures and to prioritizing the safety of the guests and crew. The ship left at 4 p.m., two hours earlier than its scheduled 6 p.m. departure. After the ship departed, the excursion guests boarded their bus again and drove uphill, before eventually being taken to the Waiakea High School, where they slept on the gym floor or in tour buses, while the 'Pride of America' remained at sea, waiting for permission to re-enter the port and collect its passengers. On the morning of July 30, the authorities in Hawaii canceled the tsunami advisory and issued an all-clear. Report with photos: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/travel/tsunami-hawaii-cruise-ships-passengers.html
CARNIVAL BREEZE
The FBI was investigating sexual assault allegations on the 'Carnival Breeze'. The alleged sexual assault incident took place onboard the ship on a cruise that returned to Galveston on July 28, 2025. As is customary with crimes aboard a cruise ship, an FBI Maritime Liaison Agent, based out of the Texas City Resident Agency, was coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the cruise line regarding the incident, also keeping in line with case reviews or open investigations, The cruise was four days and made a stop in Cozumel.
CARNIVAL LEGEND T5
A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter crew from the Air Station Astoria, Oregon, medevaced a woman experiencing a health emergency from the 'Carnival Legend' nearly 120 miles west of Grays Harbor, Washington, on the night of July 29, 2025. The cruise ship was transiting from Prince Rupert, British Columbia, to San Francisco, California. At 6:00 p.m., watchstanders at the Coast Guard Northwest District Command Center received the medevac request from the ''Carnival Legend' for the 71-year-old woman experiencing a cardiac event. The Coast Guard helicopter crew arrived on scene at 8:39 p.m. and safely hoisted the woman onboard the aircraft. She was transported to the Air Station Astoria at 10:12 p.m. Upon arrival she was transferred by emergency medical services. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4260358/coast-guard-medevacs-woman-from-cruise-ship-120-miles-off-washington-coast/
REGATTA
The 'Regatta' had to leave the port of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii early due to a tsunami warning on July 29, 2025. Despite the cruise line's extensive efforts to warn passengers of the impending tsunami threat, a group of ten guests was unable to return to the ship before its departure. The ship's departure followed maritime protocols designed to protect the ship and its passengers from the threat of the tsunami. Teams of Oceania Cruises weare in contact with the stranded passengers and local authorities to facilitate their return to the ship. The safety of all guests, crew, and the surrounding communities remained its top priority. Despite the inconvenience, the company assured guests that it was actively working to return passengers to the ship as quickly as possible.