The 'No. 102 Haejin' sank on March 14, 2024, at 4.12 a.m. on a water depth of 60 meters about 8.5 kilometers south of Yokjido Island in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. The accident left three sailors dead and one missing. The sinking was caused by a loss of stability by loading more catches than usual on the aft deck with a net. The Tongyeong Maritime Police Station has secured statements from surviving crew members on March 18, stating that the ship developed a list to port side while moving after loading more catch than usual on the deck behind the ship without storing it in a fish hold on the stern deck to meet the consignment time of the Tongyeong Fisheries Cooperative at around 5 a.m. the same day. Most of the catches were sardines, two to three times more than usual, and about 40 tons were caught. In the case of mackerel, which is mainly caught by this ship, the usual catch is found to be between 10 and 20 tons. The Coast Guard judged that the maximum amount of catch that the ship can load was up to 4,800 boxes, so it was not overloaded.
News
SPARTA IV
The 'Sparta IV' is one of the ships at the top of the list of possible targets by Ukraine as the freighters owned by state-owned Russian shipping companies transport weapons. The ship is actually in the North Sea on the way to Baltiysk with an ETA as of March 23, 2024. It is expected in the North Sea on March 19. A Russian naval unit is currently operating there. It is still unclear whether Russia's naval presence in the North Sea is currently connected to the diverted freighter which is of great importance for Russia. On Feb28, the “Sparta IV” was off Istanbul and was supposed to travel through the Bosphorus into the Black Sea to Novorossiysk, the previous hub for Russian military supplies via the Kerch Bridge. As Ukraine expanded naval drone attacks, sinking a landing ship on Feb 14 and a corvette on March 5 and the “Sparta IV” narrowly escaped an attack by Ukrainian Magura-type drones on its way from Novorossiysk to the Bosphorus last year, it is shown that the Russian Navy has not yet succeeded in developing effective defense concepts. The “Sparta IV” turned around off the Bosphorus on Feb 26 and sailed back through the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea. Together with two other supply ships from the Russian army, the ship set course for the Baltic Sea at the beginning of March. Another aspect for the change of course could be that Russia would have to bring military equipment that is landed in Novorossiysk to the front via the Kerch Bridge. So it may be that Russia is now trying not to necessarily carry important supplies over this bridge if there are alternatives such as the Baltic Sea. The freighter “Sparta IV” belongs to the Russian state shipping company SC South LLC in Novorossiysk. The same shipping company also owns the freighter “URSA Major”, which was on its way to the Black Sea behind the “Sparta IV” and has now also set course for the Baltic Sea. Both ships were in the English Channel on March 18. The freighters are followed by a Russian tanker. According to the visible inputs in the AIS devices on board, the destination ports are now the Russian military base Baltiysk in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg. The ships are no longer allowed to pass through the Kiel Canal because they are high on the US and EU sanctions lists. The freighter “Sparta IV” was last seen in the Kiel Canal in Dec 2021, when it was carrying cargo from Russia on its way to the Black Sea. Even then, the ship was suspected of transporting high-value military goods. The return of the “Sparta IV” to the Baltic Sea could also be the reason for the Baltic Fleet’s naval maneuvers that have been underway for several days. Corvettes, frigates and aircraft practice attacks on sea targets and submarines. The frigate “Neustrashimy” sailed past Rügen through the Kadet Trench and Fehmarn Belt on MArch 18 en route to the North Sea. The frigate was shadowed by the patrol ships “Bamberg” and “Neustadt” and the German mine diving boat “Rottweil” from Kiel as well as the patrol boat “Nymfen” of the Danish Navy. The “Neustrashimy” followed the Russian naval tanker “Kola”, which has been in the North Sea since the weekend.
RUEN
The operation of the INS 'Kolkata' to re-capture the 'Ruen' lasted 40 hours. Through concerted actions the crew successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender and ensured the safe evacuation of the 17 crew members in the evening of March 16 without any injury almost 1400 nautrical miles from the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by the INS'Subhadra', RPA 'Hale', the maritime patrol aircraft 'P 81' and Marcos Prahars air-dropped by a C-17 aircraft. The 'Ruen' has also been sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. Reports with photos: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/thats-what-friends-are-for-india-bulgarias-sweet-exchange-after-rescue-of-hijacked-ship-article-108567452
OPEN ARMS
The unloading of almost 200 tons of humanitarian aid transported by the 'Open Arms' to the coast of the Gaza Strip was completed on March 16. The NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK), responsible for the operation, has reported the start of the distribution on the Gaza coast. The ship had arrived on the coast of the Gaza Strip on March 15 on the pilot trip to try to establish a maritime humanitarian corridor called Operation Amalthea. The NGO founded by the Spanish chef José Andrés was already preparing a second shipment of humanitarian aid from Larnaca with 240 more tons of food, although at the moment there was no date for the departure of the 'Jennifer'. WCK manages, in collaboration with Gazan organizations, 60 community kitchens in the Gaza Strip that prepare food for the population. The 'Open Arms' was back in Larnaca on March 18 at 12.20 p.m.
VENTURA
A passenger from the 'Ventura' was medevaced southwest of Ushant off the coast of Finistère by a H 160 helicopter of the French Navy on March 16, 2024, at around 1:30 p.m. for a medical reason and transported to the Brest University Hospital Cavale Blanche at around 2:30 p.m. The reason for the medical evacuation was not revealed. The 'Ventura' was en route from A Coruna to Southampton, where it arrived on March 17 at 6.30 a.m.
ABDULLAH
Despite six days passing, the pirates who hijacked the 'Abdullah' have made no contact with the ship's owner and have not issued any demands. The owner has reached out to various media outlets seeking assistance in securing the safe return of the ship and its crew. The Kabir Group stated on March 16: "All sailors aboard the hijacked ship are in good health. A sailor contacted the owners on Saturday night to update them on their condition. However, food supplies on board are depleting rapidly as the pirates are sharing meals with the sailors. We are actively working to ensure the safe return of the crew. We have initiated contact with several media outlets for assistance, but have yet to receive a favourable response." Meanwhile, for the past six days, family members of the 23 sailors held hostage have been enduring extreme anxiety. Some relatives have fallen ill due to the stress.
KING RICH
On March 13, 2024, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province requireds the authorities to ensure that the process of salvaging the 'King Rich' from the Cu Lao Cham beach must be on schedule and absolutely avoid environmental pollution. It has sent a document to relevant agencies and units on monitoring and coordinating the salvage process in the Tan Hiep commune (Hoi An city, Quang Nam). The People's Committee of theQuang Nam province assigned the Provincial Commanding Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and SAR, the Provincial Border Guard Command, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the People's Committee of Hoi An City and related branches such as the Quang Nam Maritime Port Authority to inspect and supervise the Vietnam National Marine Co., Ltd. as salvors. The salvage work must be carried out on schedule according to the approved plan, with absolutely no environmental pollution occurring during the process. On Dec 1, 2023, at around 10:30 a.m. the tanker had been spotted adrift off Cu Lao Cham island and ran aground at 11:05 a.m. near Bai Huong village. At the time of discovery, there were no crew members on the ship, its bow was damaged, and it was at high risk of sinking. The ship is owned by the Kindom Co., Ltd. in Tainan City (Taiwan). Report with photo: https://thanhnien.vn/quang-nam-truc-vot-tau-king-rich-mac-can-o-vung-bien-cu-lao-cham-1852403130904314.htm
SLEIPNIR
The SAR helicopter Helimer 402 medevaced a sick crew member from the 'Sleipnir', en route to Rotterdam, more than 300 miles from Galicia on March 15, 2024. The patient was hoisted and taken to Alvedro with a doctor on board at 10:20 p.m. The response was coordinated by the Fisterra Rescue Center, which mobilized the helicopter, based at the Alvedro airport in Coruña, and the Sasemar 102 plane, which operates from the Rosalía de Castro in Santiago. The sailor was transported to Alvedro, where an ambulance was waiting for him and took him to a hospital for further medical care. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1768983943099957492
UTOPIA
An SAR operation was underway for a crew member who went missing in Singapore waters from the 'Utopia'. The MRCC was notified of the incident on March 15, 2024, at about 3.30 a.m. The MPA, Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force craft have been deployed to search for the missing person within Singapore Port Limits. The MPA also issued navigational safety broadcasts and requests that vessels in the vicinity and in port to keep a lookout and report sightings to MRCC Singapore. The bulk carrier was anchored in Singapore’s Eastern Anchorage, located in the waters south of the East Coast Park.
MEHLE
The USA have blacklisted the 'Ady Sofia' after a ship-to-ship transfer with ‘fake’ vessel linked to the Houthi financial fixer Sa’id al-Jamal. The tanker was expected to deliver its cargo of alleged Iranian oil to China. It had received the cargo on Jan 31, 2024, off Singapore from a tanker that was falsely broadcasting its location and disguised as a fictitious tanker, the 'Amor', according to US Treasury officials. The “fake” tanker, the 'Mehle' (built 1999), had been blacklisted earlier that month because it was said to be linked to the network of the alleged Houthi financial fixer Sa’id al-Jamal.
JENNIFER
The 'Jennifer', loaded with humanitarian aid, was ready to leave Larnaca for Gaza on March 16, hours after the 'Open Arms', the first ship with 200 tons of food reached the Palestinian enclave. Crew members and port staff inspected the freighter carrying humanitarian aid ahead of the departure, loaded with 240 tons of food. The first ship has begun its return to Cyprus after unloading nearly 200 tons of food in Gaza. The food was sent by World Central Kitchen, the charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, and transported by the Spanish aid group Open Arms. On board were items such as rice, flour, lentils, beans, tuna and canned meat, among others. Report with photo and video: https://www.france24.com/es/medio-oriente/20240316-desembarca-primer-buque-de-ayuda-humanitaria-en-gaza-m%C3%A1s-de-30-personas-mueren-en-un-campo-de-refugiados
SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS
A US Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter medevaced a passenger of the 'Symphony of the Seas' on March 14, 2024, in the Caribbean Sea just southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. A 57-year-old man, U.S. citizen, had experienced possible stroke symptoms and required a higher level of medical care ashore. Coast Guard watch standers in Sector San Juan received a request for medevac assistance in the morning, when the cruise ship was transiting 116 nautical miles southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Watchstanders at Sector San Juan coordinated medevac arrangements and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to rendezvous with the cruise ship. Once on scene, the Coast Guard Jayhawk aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer aboard the cruise ship, who prepared the patient for a litter hoist and ensured he was safely hoisted aboard the aircraft. The Coast Guard aircrew transported the patient to the La Mercedita Airport in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where awaiting local Emergency Medical Service personnel received and transported the patient to a local hospital. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3708134/coast-guard-medevacs-us-citizen-symphony-of-the-seas-cruise-ship-passenger-in-t/
SEROJA III
On March 9, 2024, the 'Seroja III' went adrift after the anchor dragged, amid strong currents. It then ran aground in extreme weather with wave heights of 2,5-3,5 meters and heavy rain in the waters of the Sumenep Regency, ballasting en route from Makasar to Gresik, at the coast of Kangean Island in pos. 06°50, 054'S 115° 13, 656' E. The accident was first noticed by a number of Kangean Island fishermen who then reported to officers of the Republic of Indonesia Sea and Coast Guard. The Kangean Police have been coordinating with officers from the Republic of Kangean Maritime and the Coast Guard. The officers were still investigating the cause of the breakdown and the impact the accident had on the marine environment.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
An investigation has been launched into the cause of a fire which broke out aboard the HMS 'Queen Elizabeth' on March 8, while it was moored in Argyll and Bute. The aircraft carrier was en-route to Rosyth to undergo repairs when the fire broke out during a stop on Loch Long at Glenmallan. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 11.50 p.m. to assist partners at Glen Mallan Jetty, Argyll and Bute. The operations Control mobilised three appliances and a height vehicle, and the fire was quickly put out. No ordnance was involved in the incident. Personnel in the vicinity were able to return to work. There were no reported injuries. Crews remained on standby to assist and left on March 9 at 2.15 a.m. The ship had to withdraw from a NATO exercise before because of an issue with a starboard propeller shaft coupling. The HMS 'Prince of Wales' was sent on the Steadfast Defender exercise instead, with the 'Queen Elizabeth' sailing from its base at Portsmouth to the Rosyth dockyard to fix the issue.
COLOR FANTASY
On March 19 at 1.08 a.m. a patient was medevaced from the 'Color Fantasy' with a helicopter of the Danish Defence and taken to shore for further medical treatment in hospital, while the ship was sailing in the waters of Djursland. The ferry was en route from Oslo to Kiel at the time of the incident.
LILA LISBON
The 'C 425' of the Indian Coast Guard medevaced a 59 year old Indian crew member of the 'Lila Lisbon' off Paradip in Odisha on MArch 17, 2024, at 7.50 p.m. The patient was handed over to the shipping agent at Paradip for further medical care. Report with photo: https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/coast-guard-conducts-medical-evacuation-of-indian-crew-onboard-liberia-flagged-merchant-vessel-lila-lisbon
LADY SOFIA
The USA have blacklisted the 'Ady Sofia' after a ship-to-ship transfer with ‘fake’ vessel linked to the Houthi financial fixer Sa’id al-Jamal. The tanker was expected to deliver its cargo of alleged Iranian oil to China. It had received the cargo on Jan 31, 2024, off Singapore from a tanker that was falsely broadcasting its location and disguised as a fictitious tanker, the 'Amor', according to US Treasury officials. The “fake” tanker, the 'Mehle' (built 1999), had been blacklisted earlier that month because it was said to be linked to the network of the alleged Houthi financial fixer Sa’id al-Jamal.
OCEAN VIKING
23 of the 359 migrants still on board the 'Ocean Viking' after being rescued by the SOS Méditerranée ship were disembarked in Catania to receive emergency medical care on March 16. They were transferred at the port's anchorage to an Italian Coastguard boat. The NGO appealed that the 336 other migrants still on board can be disembarked in a port closer than that of Ancona, which was assigned to them by the Italian authorities, some 1,500 km from the rescue site. Many were in an extremely fragile physical and mental state, the majority suffered from severe dehydration, some having had to drink sea water. Others were burned by the mixture of fuel and sea water in the bottom of their boat. During four successive rescues, the 'Ocean Viking' had rescued 361 migrants between March 13 and March 15. The first 25 were rescued while they were drifting in a boat en route from Zawiya in Libya. According to testimonies from these survivors, at least 60 people on board this boat died at sea before they could be saved. Two of these 25 migrants, in serious condition, were immediately airlifted from the Ocean Viking and hospitalized, but one of them, too weakened, did not survive too.
ES RIGHT
The 'ES Spirit' was arrested in Singapore waters on Feb 29, 2024. The vessel was added to the list of vessels under Sheriff’s arrest in Singapore’s court system. The vessel was arrested at 12.24 p.m. The arresting solicitor listed was law firm Oon & Bazul LLP. The ship was being held at Singapore’s Western Petroleum Anchorage A. No details regarding the reason behind the arrest were provided. The tanker was arrested in Singapore waters on Jan 2 too. The arresting solicitor listed was also Oon & Bazul LLP.
RED JET 6
On March 16, 2024, the Isle of Wight to Southampton Red Jet service has been suspended. Initially the service had been running a revised timetable due to a water jet issue on the 'Red Jet 6'. However, the operator has confirmed its Red Jet services have now been suspended following an issue with the 'Red Jet 7' regarding the starboard side jet room. The Red Jet sailings at 10.20 a.m. from Southampton and 10.55 a.m. from Cowes were cancelled due to the same technical issue.