The HMS 'Trent' seized £290.66m of cocaine and narcotics in two huge blows to drug runners in the Caribbean. British sailors, Royal Marines and a US Coast Guard team on the vessel intercepted a suspected smuggling speedboat south of the US Virgin Islands. The smugglers began jettisoning their illegal cargo as they fled towards land, but the 'Trent', her fast sea boats and an American patrol aircraft gave chase – eventually recovering 94 bales of class-a narcotics, weighing 2,757 kg and worth £220.56m. This was the vessel's second drugs bust in the space of three weeks, having seized £70.1m of cocaine in a separate operation in Jan 2024, pouncing as darkness fell as smugglers tried to escape. Royal Marines coxswains and the USCG boarding team closed in, took control of the vessel and detained four crew members. At dayligt, the crew of the 'Trent' scoured the ocean for the abandoned cargo, eventually retrieving 29 bales of cocaine weighing in at 876kg after an extensive ten-hour search across 24 square miles. The 'TrentÄ then more than tripled her total seized with the second bust, again in a coordinated operation with the USCG and a US Maritime Patrol Aircraft.The ship’s sea boats – crewed by sailors, USCG personnel and Royal Marines – worked with the aircraft to pursue the speedboat The traffickers dumped 20 bales of the narcotics – later recovered by HMS 'Trent' – before they ran aground and were detained by authorities on the US Virgin Islands, where a further 74 bales were seized. In all, the 94 bales of narcotics weighed in at 2,757kg and worth £220.56m.
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ECO MEDITERRANEA
The Fire Brigade of Catania responded on the morning of March 5, 2024, to a firein a battery room of the 'Eco Mediterranea', which was moored at pier 32 of port of Catania, upon request from the Port Authority. Initially he Fire Brigade of the Port Detachment intervened, then two further teams were sent from the Southern Detachment and the Provincial Command Headquarters. The room affected by the fire was made safe, and a team remained in charge of the ship until the normal operating conditions of the affected systems were fully restored. Investigations into the causes of the fire were underway. Report with video: https://livesicilia.it/incendio-porto-catania-fiamme-eco-mediterranea/
ALLURE OF THE SEAS
The wife of a father-of-four who died after diving headfirst off a structure at Roatan island during an onshore break from a cruise is suing the Royal Caribbean cruise line now. Edmund Rucker, 52, died on March 15, 2023, when the 'Allure of the Seas' was docked at Roatan. The 52-year old man had jumped into the water from a high dock and struck his head, leaving him unconscious ultimately leading to his death. The structure may have been previously used to support a zip line which was abandoned years ago. It is unknown why the dangerous structure was still available for use by tourists. Several people indicated that other accidents, including multiple deaths in the same area, had happened and that there should be warnings to prevent similar accidents in the future. Rucker’s wife, Laura Rucker, is now suing Royal Caribbean, alleging the cruise line acted recklessly by encouraging passengers to take part in excursions in Roatan at a time when there were work stoppages and strikes in the health and public safety sectors in Honduras. Royal Caribbean allegedly knew that there were strikes in Honduras in the healthcare sector and chose to dock at Roatan anyway because of the revenue generated at this port of call. This resulted in a delay in emergency medical care available to Mr. Rucker.
MINCK
In the early morning of March 4, at the end of the night, the emergency medical aid service relayed to the CROSS Gris-Nez the call of a migrant boat in difficulty off the coast of Gravelines. The 'Minck' was tasked to assist and rescued the 63 people on board the boat. They were taken care of by the crew of the 'Minck' before being disembarked at the port of Calais.
LHOR ONE
The crew of the reefer 'Frio Ionian' (IMO: 9189873), along with the US Coast Guard rescued two mariners on March 4, 2024, approximately 1,726 miles east of Bermuda. Watchstanders with the Fifth Coast Guard District command center received an EPIRB alert from the 'Lhor One', en route from Gouadeloupe to France, at approximately 6 p.m. They alerted ships in the area to be on the lookout for the sailors and conducted a query of vessels from AMVER. They also directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina HC-130 Hercules airplane crew to assist. The airplane crew arrived on scene at 4:45 a.m. and established communications with the mariners, who reported they were taking on water after a lightning strike had cause a hole in their yacht. The aircrew also directed the 'Frio Ionian', an AMVER participating ship, en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Cristobal, towards the sailing vessel’s position. The 'Frio Ionian' arrived on scene at 10 a.m., and after the yacht was alongside, the crew, a 20-year-old and 24-year-old male from the 'Lhor One', safely boarded the vessel with no reported injuries. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3694512/coast-guard-good-samaritan-vessel-rescue-2-mariners-more-than-1700-miles-east-o/
MARELLA EZSORER
On March 5, 2024, short after midnight the 'Marella Explorer', en rute from Puerto del Rosario to Arrecife, requested the medical evacuation of a passenger eight nautical miles south of Arrecife, requests medical evacuation of passenger. The CCS of Salvamento MArítimo in Las Palmas mobilized the SAR boat 'Salvamar Al Nair' which embarked the patient along with a companion and dropped them off at the Lanzarote Marina where an ambulance was waiting. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1764916776553283632
HAPPY FALCON
The Marine Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published an investigation report of the collision between thecargo m/v 'Scot Explorer' and the 'Happy Falcon' on Oct 24, 2023, about 12 nautical miles north -west of Thyborøn. Both vessels had departed ports in Sweden the previous day and were bound for the UK and the Netherlands, respectively. The 'Happy Falcon' had overtaken the 'Scot Explorer' overnight along the northern tip of Denmark and both vessels proceeded south-westerly along the Danish coast. At 10.12 a.m. the 'Scot Explorer' was proceeding at 12 knots on a 216° course with the master alone on the bridge, when the 'Happy Falcon', which was fine on the 'Scot Explorer'’s port bow and five miles ahead, began to slow down due to a technical fault on the main engine. At 10.18 a.m. the 'Happy Falcon' came to a stop and started to drift while repairs were being made, but the required ‘vessel NUC’ signals were not displayed; the vessel’s navigational status was not updated on the AIS, and a maritime safety information message was not broadcast. Meanwhile, the 'Scot Explorer' maintained its course and speed, with a steady bearing and decreasing range to the 'Happy Falcon'. Over the next 20 minutes, the 'Scot Explorer'’s master was undertaking other duties on the bridge and was not monitoring nearby traffic. The master made two minor course alterations with the autopilot, but this did not affect the closest point of approach (CPA) with the 'Happy Falcon', which was almost zero. At 1042, a crew member, who had been working on deck, ran to the bridge and alerted the master to the developing close-quarters situation. By then, the 'Happy Falcon' was about 200 meters away, with a CPA of 20 m in just 40 seconds. Still making good a speed of 12 kts, the master immediately used the autopilot to initiate a turn to starboard before switching to hand steering to increase the rudder angle, but the turn was not enough to avoid the collision 10 seconds later. The 'Scot Explorer'’s port side struck the 'Happy Falcon'’s starboard quarter, resulting in hull damage to both vessels above the waterline. No injuries were sustained on either vessel and there was no pollution. The MAIB’s preliminary assessment identified that: - The officer of the watch on neither vessel was keeping an effective lookout; using all available means to determine if a risk of collision existed; or acted in time to prevent a collision in accordance with the COLREGs. - Although the 'Happy Falcon' was unable to manoeuvre as required by the COLREGs or keep out of the way of another vessel, its crew had not taken the appropriate actions to inform other vessels of the situation. - The 'Scot Explorer' ’s master was alone on the bridge and distracted by other duties that interfered with keeping a safe navigational watch, contrary to Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 315 (M). - The 'Scot Explorer'’s electronic navigation aids were not being monitored, nor were they optimally set or used in accordance with the best practice described in MGN 379 (M+F). This included: - Both Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) units were set to silent mode, with all audible alarms deactivated while underway. - Although the 'Happy Falcon' was visible on both of the 'Scot Explorer'’s radars, the target had not been acquired by an automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA). - The 'Happy Falcon'’s slowdown was not observed on board the 'Scot Explorer', despite being readily apparent on the AIS. . The absence of a dedicated lookout on the 'Scot Explorer'’s bridge meant there was no one immediately available on the bridge to assist the master as the situation developed by activating hand steering and taking the helm. This was again contrary to MGN 315 (M), which highlighted that ‘when the vessel is in automatic steering it is highly dangerous to allow a situation to develop to the point where the OOW is without assistance and has to break the continuity of the look-out in order to take emergency action’. - The initial use of the autopilot by the 'Scot Explorer'’s master instead of using hand steering to conduct the emergency manoeuvre resulted in a smaller rudder angle being used and, therefore, a slower rate of turn to avoid the collision. - The 'Scot Explorer'’s general emergency alarm was not sounded to alert the crew about the collision or activate the ship’s emergency response. Actions taken: The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to Intrada Ships Management Ltd about the standards of watchkeeping on Scot Explorer and reiterated the recommendation made following the collision between the 'Scot Carrier' and the split hopper barge 'Karin Høj' on Dec 13, 2021. The Intrada Ships Management Ltd has: - Carried out an internal investigation into this collision. - Issued a safety bulletin to its fleet about the accident and the role of the watchkeeper in ensuring safe navigation. - Written to each of its masters sharing its expectations for safe navigation. The Navigator Gas Ship Management (Denmark) ApS, the manager of the 'Happy Falcon', has: - Carried out an internal investigation into the collision. - Scheduled Bridge Resource Management refresher courses for the master and officer of the watch. - Updated its safety management system and bridge emergency checklists to include engine breakdown and actions to be taken when the vessel is unable to manoeuvre and keep out of the way of another vessel. - Updated its Bridge Resource Management procedures to ensure the bridge is appropriately manned when a vessel is not under command. - Issued a safety bulletin to its fleet about the accident and the lessons learned. - Added the lessons learned from this accident to its list of 2024 company audit topics.
MINXIN
The ''Minxin' was detained in the port of Vladivostok on the basis of a letter from Port Vera LLC dated March 1, 2024, with a claim arising in connection with a damage to port facilities. The corresponding orders, dated March 4, were signed by the port captain Vasily Burda and posted on the website of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Administration of Seaports of the Western Arctic”. According to the order, the ship has been detained at noon LT for 72 hours, excluding days officially considered as non-working days, until the shipowner and cargo owner have provided sufficient security. The detention was undertaken in accordance with Art. 81 of the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation. In this case, liability for losses caused by the unjustified detention of the vessel and cargo shall be borne by the person at whose request the detention took place.
NORMAND OCEAN
After a helicopter crash in the night of Feb 28, 2024, off the coast of Norway, the 'Normand Ocean' was tasked to recover the wreckage off the island of Sotra. The helicopter was on a training exercise for state-backed oil firm Equinor and involved low-altitude training flights. One person, Reidun Hestetun (61), an Equinor nurse, was fatally injured in the accident, while five others were taken to hospital. The five men on board all reportedly worked for Bristow and were transported to Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen with various levels of injury. One man was in a critical condition, one man sustained a serious injury and three others sustained minor injures. The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) reported that the S-92 helicopter, with registration LN-IOJ, was discovered at the bottom of the sea by an ROV on March 1 at around 8:15 p.m. 220 meters deep. The recovery took place through the night, and the helicopter has since been taken to the Haakonsvern naval base. The priority was to recover the black box of the flight recorder to obtain more details of what happened. Other pieces of floating debris have been recovered by the Norwegian coastguard and placed at the disposal of the NSIA. Reports with photos: https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/549249/wreckage-recovered-norway-helicopter/ https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/548988/helicopter-norway-ditches-equinor-bristow/ .
ZIM CARMEL
A crew member of the 'Carmel 1' in urgent need of medical care was safely evacuated from the vessel 100 nautical miles off Guam on March 2, 2024, by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25). The 26-year-old Filipino was suffering from severe abdominal pains, when the ship was located 400 nautical miles northwest of Guam. The U.S. Coast Guard's Joint Rescue Sub-Center in Guam was alerted in the afternoon of March 1, while the ship was en route to Vietnam. HSC-25 mobilized to assist following a recommendation for a medevac from the U.S. Coast Guard's duty flight surgeon in Alameda, California, and concurrence from HSC-25's flight surgeon in Guam. An MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crew from HSC-25 reached the 'Carmel 1' in the morning of March 2. The patient was then airlifted from the ship amid winds of 17 miles and 10-foot seas, and delivered to emergency medical responders from the Guam Fire Rescue at the Naval Hospital Guam. They transported him to the Guam Memorial Hospital in stable condition. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3693183/us-coast-guard-navy-helicopter-squadron-execute-critical-medical-evacuation-of/
SALERNO
The crew of the 'Frio Ionian' along with the US Coast Guard rescued two mariners on March 4, 2024, approximately 1,726 miles east of Bermuda. Watchstanders with the Fifth Coast Guard District command center received an EPIRB alert from the 19-foot sailing vessel 'Lhor One' (MMSI: 228193640), en route from Gouadeloupe to France, at approximately 6 p.m. They alerted ships in the area to be on the lookout for the sailors and conducted a query of vessels from AMVER. They also directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina HC-130 Hercules airplane crew to assist. The airplane crew arrived on scene at 4:45 a.m. and established communications with the mariners, who reported they were taking on water after a lightning strike had cause a hole in their yacht. The aircrew also directed the 'Frio Ionian', an AMVER participating ship, en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Cristobal, towards the sailing vessel’s position. The 'Frio Ionian' arrived on scene at 10 a.m., and after the yacht was alongside, the crew, a 20-year-old and 24-year-old male from the 'Lhor One', safely boarded the vessel with no reported injuries. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3694512/coast-guard-good-samaritan-vessel-rescue-2-mariners-more-than-1700-miles-east-o/
SANTA CRUZ
On March 3, 2024, a crew member of the 'Santa Cruz's was lost overboard from the 'Santa Cruz' off the Eastern Cape coast after the ship had sailed from Durban on March 1, en route to Cape Town, about 22 nautical miles east of Cape Recife, near Port Elizabeth. Despite exhaustive efforts, the search for the man, who has not been located, was aborted without success. The response was coordinated by the MRCC in Cape Town, which at 6.42 p.m. LT issued a call for assistance to nearby vessels. The fishing vessel 'Portunity' was the closest and first to respond, with additional resources from the NSRI in Port Elizabeth and other vessels joining the search efforts through the night. SAMSA added that despite the participation of up to six other vessels and extensive search operations conducted by the NSRI, the seafarer was not found. It was reported that at the time of his disappearance, he was not wearing a life jacket. The MV Santa Cruz is continuing its journey to Cape Town, where SAMSA will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
SCOT EXPLORER
The Marine Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published an investigation report of the collision between the 'Scot Explorer' and the gas carrier 'Happy Falcon' on Oct 24, 2023, about 12 nautical miles north -west of Thyborøn. Both vessels had departed ports in Sweden the previous day and were bound for the UK and the Netherlands, respectively. The 'Happy Falcon' had overtaken the 'Scot Explorer' overnight along the northern tip of Denmark and both vessels proceeded south-westerly along the Danish coast. At 10.12 a.m. the 'Scot Explorer' was proceeding at 12 knots on a 216° course with the master alone on the bridge, when the 'Happy Falcon', which was fine on the 'Scot Explorer'’s port bow and five miles ahead, began to slow down due to a technical fault on the main engine. At 10.18 a.m. the 'Happy Falcon' came to a stop and started to drift while repairs were being made, but the required ‘vessel NUC’ signals were not displayed; the vessel’s navigational status was not updated on the AIS, and a maritime safety information message was not broadcast. Meanwhile, the 'Scot Explorer' maintained its course and speed, with a steady bearing and decreasing range to the 'Happy Falcon'. Over the next 20 minutes, the 'Scot Explorer'’s master was undertaking other duties on the bridge and was not monitoring nearby traffic. The master made two minor course alterations with the autopilot, but this did not affect the closest point of approach (CPA) with the 'Happy Falcon', which was almost zero. At 1042, a crew member, who had been working on deck, ran to the bridge and alerted the master to the developing close-quarters situation. By then, the 'Happy Falcon' was about 200 meters away, with a CPA of 20 m in just 40 seconds. Still making good a speed of 12 kts, the master immediately used the autopilot to initiate a turn to starboard before switching to hand steering to increase the rudder angle, but the turn was not enough to avoid the collision 10 seconds later. The 'Scot Explorer'’s port side struck the 'Happy Falcon'’s starboard quarter, resulting in hull damage to both vessels above the waterline. No injuries were sustained on either vessel and there was no pollution. The MAIB’s preliminary assessment identified that: - The officer of the watch on neither vessel was keeping an effective lookout; using all available means to determine if a risk of collision existed; or acted in time to prevent a collision in accordance with the COLREGs. - Although the 'Happy Falcon' was unable to manoeuvre as required by the COLREGs or keep out of the way of another vessel, its crew had not taken the appropriate actions to inform other vessels of the situation. - The 'Scot Explorer' ’s master was alone on the bridge and distracted by other duties that interfered with keeping a safe navigational watch, contrary to Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 315 (M). - The 'Scot Explorer'’s electronic navigation aids were not being monitored, nor were they optimally set or used in accordance with the best practice described in MGN 379 (M+F). This included: - Both Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) units were set to silent mode, with all audible alarms deactivated while underway. - Although the 'Happy Falcon' was visible on both of the 'Scot Explorer'’s radars, the target had not been acquired by an automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA). - The 'Happy Falcon'’s slowdown was not observed on board the 'Scot Explorer', despite being readily apparent on the AIS. . The absence of a dedicated lookout on the 'Scot Explorer'’s bridge meant there was no one immediately available on the bridge to assist the master as the situation developed by activating hand steering and taking the helm. This was again contrary to MGN 315 (M), which highlighted that ‘when the vessel is in automatic steering it is highly dangerous to allow a situation to develop to the point where the OOW is without assistance and has to break the continuity of the look-out in order to take emergency action’. - The initial use of the autopilot by the 'Scot Explorer'’s master instead of using hand steering to conduct the emergency manoeuvre resulted in a smaller rudder angle being used and, therefore, a slower rate of turn to avoid the collision. - The 'Scot Explorer'’s general emergency alarm was not sounded to alert the crew about the collision or activate the ship’s emergency response. Actions taken: The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to Intrada Ships Management Ltd about the standards of watchkeeping on Scot Explorer and reiterated the recommendation made following the collision between the 'Scot Carrier' and the split hopper barge 'Karin Høj' on Dec 13, 2021. The Intrada Ships Management Ltd has: - Carried out an internal investigation into this collision. - Issued a safety bulletin to its fleet about the accident and the role of the watchkeeper in ensuring safe navigation. - Written to each of its masters sharing its expectations for safe navigation. The Navigator Gas Ship Management (Denmark) ApS, the manager of the 'Happy Falcon', has: - Carried out an internal investigation into the collision. - Scheduled Bridge Resource Management refresher courses for the master and officer of the watch. - Updated its safety management system and bridge emergency checklists to include engine breakdown and actions to be taken when the vessel is unable to manoeuvre and keep out of the way of another vessel. - Updated its Bridge Resource Management procedures to ensure the bridge is appropriately manned when a vessel is not under command. - Issued a safety bulletin to its fleet about the accident and the lessons learned. - Added the lessons learned from this accident to its list of 2024 company audit topics.
AL DHAFERAH
arrived Gadani Anchorage 19.02.24 https://www.facebook.com/reel/1719686385227290 new Name Dhafi
BRP SINDANGAN
The BRP 'Singangan', which had been deployed along with the BRP 'Cabra' to support the Rotation and Reprovisioning Operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was in collison with the 'China Coast Guard 21555' on March 5, 2024, in the South China Sea. Throughout the operation, the Philippine vessels faced dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia. The 'Sindangan' suffered minor structural damage when being hit at the starboard side foreship. Report with videos: https://angers.maville.com/actu/actudet_-un-navire-des-garde-cotes-philippins-endommage-apres-une-collision-avec-un-bateau-chinois-_54135-6186506_actu.Htm
CG VIGILANT
The 'Vigilant (WMEC 617)' returned home to Cape Canaveral on March 3, 2024, following a 60-day patrol in the Central and Eastern Caribbean. Deploying in support of Joint Interagency Task Force-South, the 'Vigilant' worked alongside other Coast Guard cutters, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security units, and international partners to conduct maritime safety and security missions. Vigilant deterred illegal drug smuggling and directly contributed to U.S. Coast Guard and national objectives to combat transnational criminal organizations. During the patrol, the 'Vigilant' responded to a distress signal from a French-flagged sailing vessel with two French crew members, who were stranded at sea for over eight days with no means of propulsion and no remaining drinking water. The 'Vigilant' was first on scene and provided them with water, shelter, and medical aid until their safe return home was coordinated. Additionally, the 'Vigilant' assisted the USS 'Leyte Gulf (CG 55) 'in stopping a drug trafficking venture, detaining six suspected drug traffickers, and interdicting 1,200 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $15.7 million. In addition, the 'Vigilant' conducted a professional exchange with officials in St. Lucia as well as St. Kitts and Nevis. Vigilant worked to promote regional stability, security and strengthen partnerships. Members of the crew also conducted a community relations project in Basseterre, St. Kitts, where they joined members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force to paint two classrooms at a local school. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3693449/us-coast-guard-rescues-2-assists-in-interdicting-1200-pounds-of-cocaine-during/
CG FORWARD
The 'Forward (WMEC 911)' returned to its homeport in Portsmouth on Feb 3, 2024, following a 75-day patrol of the Windward Passage. During the patrol, the ship intercepted five unlawful migrant voyages and rescued 33 migrants from one vessel taking on water. The 'Forward' provided essential life-saving equipment, to include personal flotation devices and dewatering equipment, to the migrants aboard. Patrolling in support of Homeland Security Task Force - Southeast and Operation Vigilant Sentry (OVS), within the Coast Guard Seventh District’s area of responsibility, Forward’s crew deterred illegal migration. By conducting routine patrols of the Windward Passage, the 'Forward' was able to maintain safety of life at sea and protect U.S. maritime borders. Additionally, the 'Forward' conducted interactions with valued partners and the local community during a port call to the Dominican Republic. Forward hosted Dominican Republic navy leadership aboard the cutter and discussed ongoing relationships within the region. The crew also participated in a community relations project held at a local orphanage in Maimon, Dominican Republic. They donated toys and home items as well completed renovation and restoration projects, building stronger relationships between partners. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3694393/us-coast-guard-cutter-forward-returns-home-to-virginia-after-lifesaving-deploym/