The Houthis announced on March 15, 2024, that they attacked the 'Pacific 01' while it was traveling in the Red Sea. The ship reported an explosion while traveling in the Red Sea about 65 nautical miles west of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The Houthis then claimed responsibility for the attack on the ship and referred to the vessel as an "Israeli ship". The ship's crew was reportedly safe. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations initially reported that the ship had been hit by a missile. However, the UKMTO reversed its statement after a daylight inspection of the vessel revealed that no damage was found to the vessel. The ship and crew were described as safe and continued their voyage.
News
FRONTIER ASUKA
The police boarded the 'Frontier Asuka', which was docked in Port Talbot on March 15, 2024, over concerns about a person's welfare. South Wales Police reportedly sent specialist teams to the ship. It was believed that both police and border force officials attended the scene after the alarm was raised. The circumstances and condition of the person on board were not known but the police was understood to be working with other agencies to establish what happened. There were no wider public safety concerns, and the ship was not in danger. Report with photo: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/police-board-ship-docked-port-28833957
RED EAGLE
The CEO of Red Funnel Ferries has apologised for the disruption and delays on the weekend of March 15/16, 2024, which brought misery to hundreds of people travelling between Southampton and Cows upon the the Isle of Wight The 'Red Jet 7' had suspended its passenger service on March 16 because of technical problems in the propulsion system. A technical team was working to resolve the issue. Red Jet will be offering a replacement service from March 17, which will take 50 minutes rather than the Red Jet's 28 minutes crossing. An issue with a fuel leak on the 'Red Eagle' meant the ferry was also out of commission for a time, causing major delays and crowded crossings because of the backlog.
GEOLOG DM.NALIVKIN
On MArch 16, 2024, a fire broke out abaoard the 'Geolog Dmitriy Nalivkin' at Livadia Repair and Shipyard in Nakhodka. As a result, the interior of the ship was damaged by fire. There were no dead or injured. The cause of the fire and damage were being established. Investigators of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations assessed the ship. The vessel is an expedition vessel, the scientists on board are engaged in environmental and hydrometeorological research in the Arctic and was under maintenance at the time of the fire. Report with photo and video: https://newsnhk.com/pod-nahodkoy-v-livadii-zagorelos-issledovatelskoe-sudno-geolog-dmitriy-nalivkin-na-sudoremontnom-zavode/
ERMAK
Scrapped at St. Petersburg 03/2024 https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3686723?navList=gallery&category=70&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest
MIN LIAN YU 60911
The Taiwan Coastguard on the morning of March 15, 2024, joined Chinese rescuers in searching for a 26 year old Chinese fisherman who fell overboard the 'Min Lian Yu 60911' on the afternoon of March 14 three nautical miles east of Lienchiang County’s Sanlien Islets, east of Beigan. The Coastguard’s Matsu flotilla received notice at 12:30 a.m. from the Lienchiang County Government and dispatched a team to help the Chinese in the rescue effort. The man was suspected to have slipped while walking along the edge of the ship. The other crew members attempted a rescue, but contacted Chinese authorities after they were unsuccessful. The Chinese Coastguard sent a vessel and three to four other fishing boats to search for the missing man, before contacting authorities in Lienchiang County to aid the search. The Matsu Coastguard dispatched two to three boats to the area after receiving notice from the Lienchiang County Economic Development Department.
OPEN ARMS
A barge carrying 200 tons of relief aid towed by the 'Open Arms' reached a temporary pier in Gaza on March 15, where a famine threatens after months of war. The barge was carrying, among other things, rice and flour, supported by the EU and the US. The emergency aid on board the barge was donated by the American organization “World Central Kitchen. The US military has started to establish a floating port off the coast of Gaza, which will be able to receive emergency aid for the Palestinians. It will take up to 60 days and involve more than 1,000 soldiers to establish the temporary port, which can accommodate over two million. meals a day for the citizens of Gaza. The sea corridor was approved by Israel, which had previously inspected the cargo on the barge from the World Central Kitchen to ensure that it did not contain weapons or anything else that could be used for military purposes.
CGCALDER
The 'Alder' accidentally discharged about 500 gallons of diesel fuel 30 miles offshore of Fort Bragg, California, on March 15, 2024. The buoy tender was on its way to Humboldt Bay omn the orning while the vessel was about 30 miles offshore from the town of Fort Bragg. Coast Guard officials swere investigating and evaluating potential impacts to sensitive sites, but did not expect the shoreline to be affected.
FRONT POLLUX
Two crew members off the Swiss flagged s/y 'Nina Pope' (MMSI:269107270) were rescued and one was presumed drowned after the yacht sank about 2,400 kilometers southwest of Cape Town. They were rescued on March 13, 2024, from a life raft after swift intervention by South Africa’s Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre which requested the passing 'Front Pollux' to divert its course to the yacht, which had been on its way to Cape Town from Tristan da Cunha. Despite challenging conditions, with winds up to 74 km/h and swells of up to eight metres, the tanker managed to recover two male survivors from the life raft. The German skipper of the yachht could not be saved and was presumed to have gone down with the vessel. The survivors, one with dual Swiss/US citizenship and the other Brazilian, have since communicated with their respective embassies in Cape Town, facilitated by the tanker. Both men did not require medical assistance and were currently en route to Cape Town. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) emergency operations centre (EOC) will be assisting with their arrival early next week.
RUEN
The Indian Navy has successfully recaptured the 'Ruen' and rescued all 17 crew members who have been held captive by pirates off the coast of Somalia for three months. All 35 pirates on board have been apprehended. There have been no reported injuries among the crew. The operation took place after the Indian Navy’s destroyer, INS 'Kolkata' intercepted the vessel on March 15 in the Indian Ocean. The 'Ruen' had set sail from Somalia’s central coast, allegedly to carry out more attacks. Once on scene, pirates opened fire on an Indian Navy helicopter and a standoff ensued. With the INS 'Subhadra' providing assistance, a specialized Navy unit was able to corner the pirates, leading to their surrender. The ship had been hijacked by pirates nearly 800 miles from Somalia on Dec 14, 2023, marking the first successful hijacking of a commercial ship by Somali pirates since 2017. Pirates sailed the ship back to Somali waters where it was being held. Report with photos and video: https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/world/indian-navy-seizes-ship-from-somali-pirates-and-rescues-17-crew/ar-BB1k13hu
ITS BERSAGLIERE
Beached at Aliaga 16.03.24 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=918506003611465&set=pcb.918359563626109
JIN HAI HUA
Captain Shishir Nishikant Patange, a pilot of the Deendayal Port Authority, has secured an arrest warrant against the 'Jin Hai Hua' over a personal injury claim. He was dispatched to undock the vessel from the Deendayal Port Jetty on the afternoon of March 4, 2024. While mounting the ship’s gangway, it overturned and collapsed, which resulted in him falling onto the wharf. His left wrist was severely severed, crushed, and fractured. He was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment, where doctors told him that there would be permanent loss of mobility in his left hand, even after surgery. This injury meant he was unable to function successfully as a pilot. Patange accused the 'Jin Hai Hua' and its owners of breach of duty by failing to maintain proper rigging and monitoring of the gangway. He was suing the ship and its owners for $822,000 for pain, suffering and the loss of income he would expect to have earned until retiring at age 65. He was also suing for legal costs and interest and still assessing the full extent of the damages and reserves his right to increase the amount of the claim. The lawyers also noted that as Patange was injured while on duty, the Deendayal Port Authority has taken responsibility for his injuries. When applying for the vessel’s arrest, Patange said there was a danger the port authority may permit the ship to depart once investigations have been concluded. The arrest will likely be lifted once security is lodged with the court by the ship’s protection and indemnity provider which was the UK P&I Club. The ship shifted to Kandla anchorage on March 9, where it remained stationary as of March 15.
GALAXY LEADER
The 'Galaxy Leader' and its crew are in the hands of the brothers in the Hamas resistance movement and the Al-Qassam Brigades. We have no claims of our own regarding this vessel,” Houthi spokesman Nasr Al-Din Amer said on March 14, and hope was fading for the imminent return of the international crew of the ship. A senior Filipino diplomat saying he did not expect a release until the war in Gaza is over, while the Houthis said, the fate of the sailors was now in Hamas’ hands.On Board were 17 Filipinos, two Bulgarians, three Ukrainians, two Mexicans and a Romanian hostage. 116 days since the hijacking, there was no indication that the Houthis were open to releasing them until the hostilities have ended. The word from the Houthiswas that they will keep holding the ship, and all the crew, until we see an end to the hostilities in Gaza, said Eduardo de Vega, the Filipino foreign affairs official. “It will be difficult for any government to recognize a government which attacks ships on the sea,” said de Vega. So, he said, “there is no point to negotiate, except to ensure humane conditions for the hostages."
SALVAMAR AL NAIR
On MArch 15 at 10:50 p.m. the JRCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas center a telephone notification from a boat 53 nautical miles off Lanzarote, requesting assistance. The maritime controllers mobilized the 'Al Nair and notified vessels in the area. At 12:40, a.m. the SAR vessel located the boat and rescued the 63 people on board. At 2:50 a.m. the disembarkation started in Arrecife. On March 16 at 8.15 a.m. another boat was located nine nautical miles off Arrecife. The 'Salvamar Al Nair' located the boat and rescued 22 people. In the afternoon of March 15 the 'Salvamar Al Nair' already had rescued 117 people from two inflatable boats about seven nautical miles southeast of Arrecife. At 5:05 p.m. the disembarkation in Arrecife began.
RED JET 7
The CEO of Red Funnel Ferries has apologised for the disruption and delays on the weekend of March 15/16, 2024, which brought misery to hundreds of people travelling between Southampton and Cows upon the the Isle of Wight The 'Red Jet 7' had suspended its passenger service on March 16 because of technical problems in the propulsion system. A technical team was working to resolve the issue. Red Jet will be offering a replacement service from March 17, which will take 50 minutes rather than the Red Jet's 28 minutes crossing. An issue with a fuel leak on the 'Red Eagle' meant the ferry was also out of commission for a time, causing major delays and crowded crossings because of the backlog.
NINA POPE
Two crew members off the 'Nina Pope' were rescued and one is presumed drowned after the yacht sank about 2,400 kilometers southwest of Cape Town. They were rescued on March 14, 2024, from a life raft after swift intervention by South Africa’s Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre which requested a passing ship, the tanker 'Front Pollux' (IMO: 9780263), to divert its course to the yacht, which had been on its way to Cape Town from Tristan da Cunha. Despite challenging conditions, with winds up to 74 km/h and swells of up to eight metres, the tanker managed to recover two male survivors from the life raft. The German skipper of the yachht could not be saved and was presumed to have gone down with the vessel. The survivors, one with dual Swiss/US citizenship and the other Brazilian, have since communicated with their respective embassies in Cape Town, facilitated by the tanker. Both men did not require medical assistance and were currently en route to Cape Town. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) emergency operations centre (EOC) will be assisting with their arrival early next week.
CUYAHOGA
Multiple fire departments and U.S. Coast Guard personnel fought a blaze aboard the 'Cuyahoga', docked in Ashtabula for winter lay-up, in the afternoon of March 15, 2024. There were no reported injuries. The fire started at 2 p.m., and it took three hours to put it out. The fire was caused by welding works. Sparks ignited paint on the inside of the cargo hold, and the fire spread to the main deck, and the unloading belt caught fire. The fire was extinguished by late afternoon.
RTN331
A near-catastrophe unfolded on March 14, 2024, when the HTMS 'Chon Buri' inadvertently discharged its weapon, firing at the HTMS 'Khirirat'. The frigate had docked at Laem Thian Pier within the Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province and had just completed training on March 13, when a malfunction occurred in its main gun, resulting in a 76 mm round becoming lodged in the barrel. On March 14, RTN technicians were working to remove the bullet from the main gun when the gun accidentally fired and hit the nearby docked HTMS 'Khirirat'. The shooting at point-blank range caused an explosion and fire, injuring 14 sailors who were standing by on the deck of the ship. RTN officials managed to control the fire and rushed the injured officers to the Somdech Phra Nangchao Sirikit Hospital. Eight sailors were discharged from the hospital while the others remain under treatment. The condition of the six officers was not serious. Most of the officers suffered from smoke suffocation and that they would recover soon. The HTMS 'Khirirat' sustained minor damage to its rear but remained capable of operating despite the damage. An investigation into the cause of the accidental shooting was ordered. The accident might have occurred due to a failure to follow training and safety procedures. The HTMS 'Chon Buri' was required to dock at the pier of the Naval Ordnance after training because the location was isolated from the residential community and had no other ships at the dock. At the Naval Ordnance’s pier, technicians were tasked with inspecting and rectifying any malfunctions before the ship returned to its main pier. However, HTMS 'Chon Buri' disregarded these safety protocols and opted to head back to its main dock, the Laem Thian Pier, immediately after training. During repairs, the gun barrel should be positioned at an angle of over 45 degrees from the horizontal to enable any accidental shots to be fired into the sky. It appeared that in this instance, the barrel may have been left at a horizontal angle, resulting in the shot being discharged towards the nearby ship.