On April 4, 2024, the Greek Air Force medevaced a 25-year-old Cuban dancer who suffered serious injuries aboard the 'Celestyal Discovery' Air Force personnel swiftly responded to the distress call, initiating a rescue mission at 10:30 p.m. A Super Puma helicopter departed from the base in Rhodes to conduct the evacuation. The incident took place while the 'Celestyal Discovery' was sailing near Karpathos. The injured dancer, who was part of the ship's entertainment team, required urgent medical attention after falling and sustaining severe injuries. She was airlifted to a hospital in Rhodes for immediate medical treatment.
News
DARK KNIGHT
The 'Dark Knight'along with the drill ship ÄAmbur' was boarded by four perpetrators on March 26, 2024, at 2.40 p.m. in pos. 1° 24.35' N 103° 13.58' E off Pisang Island. Nothing was reported stolen, and no injuries were reported.
GUARDAMAR URANIA
In the night of April 7, 2024, the motor yacht 'Sagittarius Star' with one person on board suffered engine problem and was disabled 15 nautical miles from Agaete. The bulk carrier 'Rich Azure' (IMO:9950648 ), en route from Riga to Hamad, managed to located the boat in the dark and collaborated with the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Tenerife center, which mobilized the 'Guardamar Urania' to assist, which took the boat in tow and safely pulled it to the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Report with photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1777082078825177585
ABDULLAH
The negotiations to free the crew of the ÄAbdullah' have been nearly finalised, with plans outlined for their release and return after Eid following the payment of ransom, said officials of KSRM Group that owns the vessel. The formal negotiations on the release process are well advanced. After freeing them, 23 new sailors wiil be ready to man the ship, which remained anchored off the coast of Gedoberjan. The exact amount of demanded ransom has not been disclosed. The sailors were said to be in good health, performing regular duties on board, and maintaining a cordial relationship with the pirates. They were managing water usage and food supplies adequately, without any cause for concern. It might take one to four weeks for the sailors to return home after the negotiation process has been completed. The 'Abdullah' may be directed to the nearest port, such as Oman. From there, the sailors will undergo health checks before being airlifted back to Bangladesh.
HOPE ISLAND
The Houthis claimed over the weekend to have widened their area of operations, having targeted three merchant ships as well as US frigates, including one attack in the Indian Ocean. Security consultants however have not confirmed the attacks. and there is a history of the Houthis overstating the success of their naval attacks in the six months that they have been conducting strikes on merchant shipping in support of seeking a truce between Israel and Hamas. The Houthis claimed to have launched missiles against the 'Hope Island', the 'MSC Gina' and the 'MSC Grace F'. The ships were in three separate locations, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, a significant ramp-up in terms of the geographic spread of attacks, if confirmed. Early indications suggested that none of these ships has been damaged.
ICON OF THE SEAS
Edmond Bradley Solomon III, a 66-year-old South Carolina resident, was missing on the 'Icon of the Seas' in the port of Cozumel on April 3, 2024. The former VA critical care nurse had disappeared minutes after getting off the ship. Solomon was recently diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Solomon and his wife Mimi disembarked from the ship around 1:30 p.m. and stopped for a restroom break before leaving the terminal, where he disappeared. Solomon was reported missing just after 8 p.m., and a search and rescue operation was launched at 9 p.m. During the search, local police received a call from a taxi driver who claimed to have picked up a tourist matching Solomon’s description at around 2:30 p.m. and was asked to drop the American off at a road with beach access. Solomon had paid for the ride using his watch because he claimed he didn’t have any money. The search focused on the vicinity of Isla de la Pasión and all the beaches and businesses in the northern hotel zone were visited, without success. The couple had boarded the 'Icon of the Seas' on March 30 in Miami, Florida and made stops in Costa Maya, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras before docking in Cozumel around 8 a.m. Report with photo and video: https://nypost.com/2024/04/07/us-news/royal-caribbean-passenger-edmond-solomon-missing-in-mexico-vacation/
SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR
The Spanish Air Force medevaced a passenger from the 'Seven Seas Splendor' with a stroke 500 kilometers from La Palma on April 8, 2024. An air force helicopter based in Gran Canaria hoisted the patient, who was in serious condition. The emergency was attended to by an HD 21 Super Puma helicopter from its search and rescue service (SAR). The Air Force also activated a D4 VIGMA (Maritime Surveillance) aircraft from the same group, which provided the helicopter with wind information at altitude, allowing it to optimize its flight at the highest speed and lowest fuel consumption. The aircraft had previously made contact with the cruise ship to facilitate the helicopter's maneuvering upon arrival. Once the radio coverage was terminated, the satellite communications capabilities allowed the SAR air resources involved to maintain contact with the Canary Islands Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center and thus coordinate in real time. Throughout the mission, contact was maintained both with the airport of La Palma, which had to extend its opening hours to support air resources, and with the maritime rescue, to update the ship and patient data during the mission and the health resources 112 of the Canary Islands to mobilize. With the patient on board, the helicopter flew to La Palma airport, where she was picked up by an ambulance from the Canary Islands Ambulance Service and taken to the island's general hospital.
DANUM 53
The 'Danum 53', towing the barge 'Linau 135', was boarded by three perpetrators on April 6, 2024, at 4.45 p.m. in pos. 1° 18.59' N 104° 15.77' E off Tanjung Ramunia. The intruders stole copper coils and fibre boards. No injuries were reported.
SALVAMAR SIRIUS
The Palamos Brotherhood reported that the fishing boat 'Ramona', with three crew members, suffered problems with the diesel pipe and requested towing assistance to port on April 8, 2024. The CCS Barcelona of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Sirius', which took the boat in tow and safely pulled it to Palamós.
RESOLVE II
The 22-year-old Indian deck cadet Pranav Karad has been reported missing from the 'REsolve II' on the night of April 4, 2024, while the ship was sailing between Singapore and Indonesia. Pranav’s family, who are residents of Pune’s Warje area, were seeking help from the Indian government. Employed by Mumbai-based Wilhelmsen Ship Management India for six months, Karad’s whereabouts remained unknown since the company notified his family. The family was trying to approach the police in Pune and Mumbai and other authorities to help them reach the Prime Minister’s Office and external affairs and shipping ministries.
MSC GINA
The Houthis claimed over the weekend to have widened their area of operations, having targeted three merchant ships as well as US frigates, including one attack in the Indian Ocean. Security consultants however have not confirmed the attacks. and there is a history of the Houthis overstating the success of their naval attacks in the six months that they have been conducting strikes on merchant shipping in support of seeking a truce between Israel and Hamas. The Houthis claimed to have launched missiles against the 'Hope Island', the 'MSC Gina' and the 'MSC Grace F'. The ships were in three separate locations, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, a significant ramp-up in terms of the geographic spread of attacks, if confirmed. Early indications suggested that none of these ships has been damaged.
MEGASTAR
On April 6, 2024, the 'Megastar' allided with a quay in Helsinki due to strong gusts of wind. The passengers hardly noticed the impact. The ship suffered minor damage. After an inspection, the ferry was allowed to set sail for Tallinn at 3 p.m. with a delay of 1,5 hours. .
QUEEN OF COWICHAN
Sailings of the 'Queen of Cowichan' between Metro Vancouver and Nanaimo saw major delays on the morning of April 6, 2024, after a medical emergency forced athe vessel to return to dock in Horseshoe Bay. The 8:25 a.m. sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay on the 'Queen of Cowichan' turned around mid-voyage and returned to the mainland. As of 10:30 a.m. the vessel remained docked in Horseshoe Bay. The 'Queen of Cowichan''s next scheduled voyage was supposed to depart Nanaimo's Departure Bay terminal at 10:40 a.m. with the vessel is now operating 132 minutes late as a result of the earlier emergency.
CG STEELHEAD
The 'Steelhead' along with other Coast Guard units started a search for Jeffrey Kale, 47, from Clover, South Carolina, on April 6, 2024, after the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders received a notification at around 10:30 p.m. from Kale’s family stating he was overdue from a fishing trip aboard a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat. The active search for him was suspended on April 8 at 8:20 p.m., after the rescue crews searched for approximately 72 combined hours and covered more than 7,762 square miles. Rescue crews involved in the search: were a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules airplane, response boats from the Coast Guard Stations Oak Island and Wrightsville, mltiple good Samaritan boaters and the patrol boat.
ASL LEBAN
The 'ASL Leban' was boarded by three perpetrators on March 30, 2024, at 12.45 a.m. in pos. 22° 14' N 91° 42' E on Chattogram anchorage. Nothing was reported stolen and no unjries reported.
SALVAMAR DENEB
The Spanish flagged fishing vessel 'Faro de Guia' with two crew members on board went adrift near Cabo Menor due to a mechanical breakdown, after the engine overheated, on April 8, 2024, and requested assistance. The CCS Santander of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamaber Deneb', which took the ship in tow and safely pulled it to the fishing dock of Santander.
MSC GRACE F
The Houthis claimed over the weekend to have widened their area of operations, having targeted three merchant ships as well as US frigates, including one attack in the Indian Ocean. Security consultants however have not confirmed the attacks. and there is a history of the Houthis overstating the success of their naval attacks in the six months that they have been conducting strikes on merchant shipping in support of seeking a truce between Israel and Hamas. The Houthis claimed to have launched missiles against the 'Hope Island', the 'MSC Gina' and the 'MSC Grace F'. The ships were in three separate locations, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, a significant ramp-up in terms of the geographic spread of attacks, if confirmed. Early indications suggested that none of these ships has been damaged.
NUYINA
The 'Nuyina' remains at the center of controversy with the latest report highlighting that it has not carried out any scientific voyages since its launch in 2021. The icebreaker, which is operated by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), has experienced mechanical failures which have raised concerns. as the new Australian federal government report criticizes the fact that the ship has not carried out any scientific expeditions. The only form of scientific research, according to the AAD, arrived in February2024 with its first contribution to a decades-long multinational program studying the tiny marine plants and animals of the Southern Ocean. The 'Nuyina' conducted the survey while sailing to the Casey research station. Before that, the vessel had initially been withdrawn after arriving in Australia due to an electrical problem. During the launch in 2022, it experienced a shortage of spare parts which delayed the first missions until 2023. “The Australian Antarctic Division is struggling to leave enough time on the ship to deliver marine science", the report stated, adding that with Antarctic science being a major benefit the government sought from the investment in the icebreaker, it may be necessary to consider whether the single-ship model is going to achieve all that is required in the Australian Antarctic Programme. The 'Nuyina' is equipped with four permanent scientific laboratories and can accommodate 20 more in additional containers for specialized research projects that will evolve in the coming decades. She can accommodate 117 people and 32 crew for 92 days at sea.
DALI
The Unified Command began to remove containers from the 'Dali' at the Key Bridge on April 7 as part of the effort to gain access to the portion of the bridge that lies atop the ship. The transfer of containers from the the 'Dali' will continue in the coming days, as weather permits. In parallel, wreckage and debris removal continued at the site, including portions of Span 19 that were taken to Sparrows Point, Maryland. While marine traffic was still limited, one vessel has transited through in the last 24 hours, totalling 32 since the creation of the temporary alternate channels. Report with video: https://www.keybridgeresponse2024.com/post/update-11-multimedia-release-removal-of-containers-onboard-m-v-dali-commences-at-site-of-key-bridge