After a month of pursuit, the 'Run Zeng 03' was arrested by surveillance officers Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The ship was the target of an operation related to a transnational crime syndicate, namely fishing theft in Indonesian waters, fuel oil smuggling and human slavery. The government promised to pursue the perpetrators of this crime down to the beneficiaries of the criminal practice of syndicating foreign vessels with national vessels. The 'Run Zeng 03' was captured in the Arafura Sea using the monitoring ship 'Paus 01' belonging to the PSDKP-KKP on May 19, 2024. The ship used prohibited fishing gear, namely trawling, with a catch of 30 tons of mixed fish species. The ship was taken to the PSDKP base in Tual, Maluku. In the initial interrogation, the crew stated that they departed from their home country in May 2023 and caught fish in Indonesian waters since Jan 12, 2024. The ship also carried 12 Indonesian crew members and 18 foreign crew members from China. The Acting Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (PSDKP-KKP), Pung Nugroho Saksono, who led the operation to capture the foreign ships, stated that the capture was expected to uncover the underlying crimes of transnational and organized crime involving foreign-national fishing boat syndicates. The case will be further investigated. Report with photo: https://www.kompas.id/baca/english/2024/05/20/en-penerima-manfaat-akan-dijerat
News
POSTOJNA
Any civil liability for a ship accident during navigation lies with the captain and the vessel's owner, judge Décio Gabriel Gimenez, of the 3rd Federal Court of Santos (SP), ruled in the case of the accident of the 'Postojna' on Sep 29, 2011. Civil action for damages, including lost profits, which was filed by a terminal against the Port Authority of Santos (APS) and the agency of the freighterwas unfounded. The accident occurred due to the ship's maneuver carried out at the time of leaving the Port of Santos channel, after completion of loading of 44000 tons of sugar, bound to Indonesia, possibly due to the vessel colliding with debris from the previous shipwreck of the Greek cargo m/v 'Ais Giorgios', partially submerged since January 1974 due to a fire. Responsibility for navigation, as explained above, lies with the shipowner and the master (Law No. 9,537/1997). The plaintiff was the company Rumo. Due to rudder damage, the freighter was unable to continue its voyage and re-docked at the Rumo terminal until it was repaired. The company had allegedthat the measures adopted after the accident affected its operations, preventing it from fulfilling contracts signed with third parties. Therefore, it asked for the defendants to be sentenced to compensate it for the losses suffered and compensate the damages. The amount to be paid by the defendants, in the event of conviction, would be determined through an expert opinion, but the plaintiff gave the case a value of R$5 million. With the claim dismissed, the judge ordered the terminal to pay procedural costs and expenses, in addition to legal fees, set at 15% of the updated value of the action, considering the complexity of the case and the time required to resolve the controversy.
Sevastopol
Ukrainian forces struck the Russian naval base in Sevastopol, in Russian-occupied Crimea 150 miles south of the Ukraine front line on Sep 13, 2023. Fires were raging across a drydock that exploded in the early morning, which cradled two warships, the Ropucha-class amphibious vessel 'Minsk' and the Kilo-class submarine 'Rostov on Don'. The Black Sea Fleet could lose two more of its roughly 30 large ships—ships it can’t replace until Russia’s wider war on Ukraine ends and Turkey reopens the Bosphorus Strait connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. A nighttime drone-boat attack on the landing ship 'Olenegorsky Gornyak' in Novorossiysk, a port in southern Russia just 70 miles east of Russian-occupied Crimea, brought to four the number of major Black Sea Fleet warships the Ukrainian navy definitely has put out of action. The losses include the landing ship 'Saratov', blasted by a ballistic missile in March 2022; the cruiser 'Moskva', holed by an anti-ship missile the following month; the rescue ship 'Vasily Bekh', another victim of an anti-ship missile; and then the 'Olenegorsky Gornyak', which entered a drydock a few days after the Ukrainian attack—and may be out of the war, for good. The Ukrainians also have sank or badly damaged several Russian patrol boats and landing craft—and also recently ejected Russian forces from a pair of captured Ukrainian oil platforms that the Russians had been using as naval outposts in the western Black Sea. The sinkings and raids are a remarkable feat for a Ukrainian fleet that, after scuttling its sole frigate in the early hours of the Russian invasion in February 2022, apparently has just one large ship left: an aging landing ship that has been hiding out near the mouth of the Dnipro River and occasionally lobbing short-range rockets at Russian forces. The Ukrainian navy now effectively is a shipless navy, but no less dangerous for its lack of large hulls. Between its locally-made Neptune anti-ship missiles and Western-made Harpoon ASMs, as well as its missile-armed TB-2 drones and one-way drone boats, the Ukrainian navy isn’t just holding the Russian Black Sea Fleet at bay, it actively is beating back the fleet. Russian warships staging from Crimea are under constant assault; as of last month, ships in Russia proper are at risk, too. When Russian warships leave port, they do so briefly—usually only long enough to launch a few cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities. The Russian fleet’s security is going to get worse before it gets better. The number and variety of deep-strike weapons with which Ukrainian forces can attack the fleet steadily are growing. The Ukrainian industry is developing a new thousand-mile cruise missile; and the administration of U.S. president Joe Biden reportedly has signaled it will donate to Ukraine Army Tactical Missile System ballistic rockets that range as far as 190 miles. Either prospective new weapon could hit Sevastopol from the Ukrainian side of the front line. And the steady drumbeat of Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships is clear evidence that Ukrainian intelligence has no problem pinpointing the ships’ locations. Reports with photos and videos: https://gagadget.com/en/314212-one-of-the-best-vr-games-on-pc-half-life-shooter-until-19-september-alyx-costs-20-on-steam/ https://www.newsweek.com/photos-russian-landing-ship-submarine-damage-crimea-drydocks-hit-sevastopol-1826581
Greenock
One of Scotland’s main cruise ports is set to experience its busiest year since records began. Greenock Ocean Terminal has 91 cruise liners booked into the Inverclyde town’s new dedicated pontoon across 2023 – a rise of over 25 per cent on last year. As many as 150,000 passengers and 38,000 crew members are expected to pass through the port over the course of this year. It’s more good news for the terminal in its second full season since Covid effectively closed down the cruise industry. Jim McSporran, Clydeport Port Director at Peel Ports said: “We’re extremely proud to be announcing a record cruise year for Greenock Ocean Terminal. “Welcoming cruise liners to Greenock is a hugely important aspect of our port offering and we’re delighted that we continue to attract and grow cruise numbers to the region. “This increase in tourism will benefit visitor attractions and businesses across Inverclyde and central Scotland, and we look forward to welcoming these visitors across the season.” “In an effort to showcase the port as the cruise gateway to the West Coast of Scotland, this year we are also investing in a promotional campaign to feature at the global cruise industry’s key annual gathering in the U.S.” Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “The cruise sector here in Inverclyde continues to go from strength to strength and I’m delighted that this year is set to be the busiest yet with record numbers of ships and passengers, as well as a substantial number of crew visiting these shores. “It’s timely that with 2023 shaping up to be a bumper year for cruise calls that the finishing touches are being put on our new state-of-the-art Greenock cruise ship visitor centre which will provide our guests from around the world with a first class welcome to Inverclyde and the west coast of Scotland.
KMP PERMATA LESTARI1
The KMP 'Permata Lestari 1', which was docked in a damaged condition in Bengkalis, caught fire on May 23, 2024, at around 10:00 a.m. WIB at the port of PT. Bumi Laksamana Jaya (BLJ). The Bengkalis Police immediately coordinated with the Fire Department to extinguish it. All 15 crew members were safe. The cause of the fire was still under investigation by the Bengkalis Water Police Unit (Satpolair). The ferry had not been operational for more than two weeks and was heavily damaged by the fire. Report with photos and video: https://www.rri.co.id/daerah/708616/penyebab-kmp-permata-lestari-1-terbakar-masih-dalam-penyelidikan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ3KArvbnGw
CG WALNUT
The oast Guard Cutter 'Paul Clark' has repatriated 31 migrants to Cuba on May 22, following multiple interdictions in the Florida Straits. The first interdiction occurred on the morning of May 17, when Sector Key West watchstanders received a report from the 'Walnut' of a migrant voyage 38 miles southwest of Marquesas, Florida. The 'Walnut' arrived on scene and safely embarked the migrants. The second interdiction occurred on the afternoon of May 17, after an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew detected a migrant vessel 23 miles north of Matanzas, Cuba. Sector Key West watchstanders diverted the 'Walnut', which safely embarked the migrants. The final interdiction occurred on thze morning of May 18, when Sector Key West watchstanders received a report from a good Samaritan of a migrant venture 23 miles south of Plantation Key, Florida. Coast Guard Station Islamorada boat crews arrived on scene and safely embarked the migrants. Once aboard the Coast Guard cutter, all migrants were treated with dignity and respect, and receive food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3784117/coast-guard-repatriates-31-migrants-to-cuba/
Novorossiysk
During a Ukrainian attack in the morning of Aug 4, 2023, in Novorossyisk, the Russian landing craft ÄOlenegorski Gornjak-SDK 91' of the Ropucha class was severly damaged by a maritime drone carrying a 450 kg warhead. The explosion of the drone caused a significant water leak, as well as a strong list to port side, which could lead to the total loss of the ship. The military port of Novorossiysk (Krasnodar Krai) was attacked by several Ukrainian maritime drones. It should be noted that the port in question is very far from the Ukrainian front lines with maritime access, and even more from Ukrainian ports. For example, a drone that left Odessa must have traveled at least 700 kilometres, unless a ship of camouflaged commerce in the Eastern Black Sea deployed the drones used in this attack. The LST was towed by a tug towards the port, the latest videos show it on the side of the entrance to the military port. With 3,450 tons, it is the third largest Ukrainian attack against the Russian Navy in the Black Sea, after the loss of the cruiser 'Moskva' and the loss of a Alligator-class tank landing ship and damage to two Ropucha-class tank landing ships after a Ukrainian Tochka missile attack on the port of Berdyansk. The LST had previously made headlines by being used as ferries between Crimea and mainland Russia to help civilian ferries provide the only direct connection after the Crimean road bridge explosion. While this is indeed the first attack by maritime drones in this Russian region, the neighboring port of Tuapse had also been attacked by aerial drones, once again demonstrating the capacity of the Armed Forces Ukrainians to project means, albeit light, at very long distances. Reports with photos and video: https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2023/08/northern-fleet-ship-seriously-damaged-drone-attack https://air-cosmos.com/article/attaque-a-novorossiisk-un-navire-de-debarquement-russe-tres-serieusement-endommage-par-un-drone-ukrainien-65581
Ashkelon
One person is was and two others were missing after a crane collapsed into the water on an Ashkelon pier latein the night of March 14, 2023. The collapse of the crane was caused by unusual weather and strong winds. The injured person was in moderate condition and is receiving treatment at Barzilai Medical Center. Attempts to contact two people who had been working on the site of the crane have been unsuccessful, leading police to believe that they were missing after falling into the sea. Extensive search and rescue efforts were commenced with the help of police diving units, the elite 669 Search and Rescue unit, the Israeli Navy and others. The body of a man of about 60 years of age was found on Beersheba Beach in Ashdod on March 15. The gas pier at the Rotenberg power plant in Ashkelon was damaged. The Electric Company formed a team to investigate the incident. Reports with photos: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-734237 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-734373
MV KARAR
A police officer has linked the Castañas clan, from Andalusia, with those accused of the stash of 3,800 kilos of cocaine aboard the 'Karar' in 2020, and companies from Galicia and northern Portugal that manufacture semi-rigid boats like those used by drug traffickers. Police surveillance of the members of the Galician criminal group allegedly led by Juan Carlos Santórum, the main defendant in the 'Karar' plot, began in June 2019 - the ship was boarded in April 2020 - and confirmed trips from Andalusia by members from the Castañas, to Galicia and, from there, to Portugal. During these trips, they visited, according to investigators, ships in which vessels like those used by drug traffickers were built to receive drugs. The agent has mainly referred to the Galician Fidel F., one of the accused, who is dedicated to the manufacture of vessels in Galicia. In the trial being held at the Vigo headquarters of the Provincial Court of Pontevedra, where 28 people are accused, the second witness who testified this week has stated that he never saw a work routine for Santorum, his brother and other defendants. In his story, the police officer has also referred to other investigated persons who are not prosecuted, such as Sergio R.T., whom he has linked, through an intercepted telephone call to Fidel F., with a transaction to purchase 300 HP motors for boats. . In March 2020, the police detected that the businessman in the nautical sector was requesting naval gray paint from a company, the kind used to go unnoticed by the boats that transport drugs to shore. On March 27, all the alarms went off, according to the researcher, following the so-called loss of a Portuguese telephone to Fidel F., which he returned and in which there was no communication. "We don't give it importance, but there is a coincidence with the Central Narcotics Brigade and they tell us that a report from the DEA - United States Agency - related that telephone number to a ship that was bringing a large amount of cocaine. We interpret it as a notice for Fidel F. to contact them by another means because they do not usually use conventional lines," the police officer stated. A subsequent communication from the DEA told the agents that "a guarantee person" was traveling on the ship, a certain José, of Galician origin, and that the ship had departed from Panama. Thus, after filtering the data of travelers who had flown from Spain to the Central American country, they found another of the defendants, José B.G. They tracked the route of the 'Karar', and that coincided with a new call from the Portuguese telephone, in this case to a number located in Madrid, which is attributed to it in the letter of accusation to the Colombian René Robledo, to tell him that "the transport had passed all the points" and would arrive the following week. From there, the organization accelerated preparations to receive the shipment. After an hour and a half of testimony, the defenses protested because the witness, behind a screen, was consulting some notes - 9 pages with 63 days outlined - and the hearing was suspended for a few minutes so that the parties had access to those documents. Back in the room, the defenses have asked that the witness's statement be annulled for procedural fraud and violation of the law by appearing with a script, but the magistrate has rejected it.
CGC PAUL CLARK
The 'Paul Clark' has repatriated 31 migrants to Cuba on May 22, following multiple interdictions in the Florida Straits. The first interdiction occurred on the morning of May 17, when Sector Key West watchstanders received a report from the Coast Guard Cutter 'Walnut' of a migrant voyage 38 miles southwest of Marquesas, Florida. The 'Walnut' arrived on scene and safely embarked the migrants. The second interdiction occurred on the afternoon of May 17, after an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew detected a migrant vessel 23 miles north of Matanzas, Cuba. Sector Key West watchstanders diverted the 'Walnut', which safely embarked the migrants. The final interdiction occurred on thze morning of May 18, when Sector Key West watchstanders received a report from a good Samaritan of a migrant venture 23 miles south of Plantation Key, Florida. Coast Guard Station Islamorada boat crews arrived on scene and safely embarked the migrants. Once aboard the Coast Guard cutter, all migrants were treated with dignity and respect, and receive food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3784117/coast-guard-repatriates-31-migrants-to-cuba/
Kiel
Having seen its first ever LNG fuelling in May, the Port of Kiel has announced that, for the first time, two cruise vessels have bunkered LNG on the same day. The bunker operations took place on June 10, 2023, and involved the 'AIDAnova' – which became the first vessel to bunker LNG at the port in May – and MSC Cruises’ latest ship, the 'MSC Euribia'. The bunkering of the AIDA Cruises vessel by Titan capped its third fuelling at the Port of Kiel while LNG for the 'MSC Euribia' was supplied by Nordic energy company Gasum. MSC Cruises and Gasum have inked a long-term agreement for LNG supply to the 'MSC Euribia'. The companies have also signed a letter of intent (LOI) which aims to secure liquefied synthetic gas (e-LNG).
Iskenderun
The fire at the Port of Iskenderun has finally been extinguished, Turkey's ministry of defense announced on Feb 7. It was the second time that the ministry has reported that the fire has been put out; after the previous announcement, the blaze resumed at scale, and firefighters managed to contain it later that night. Iskenderun's container terminal is still closed due to the severe structural damage, which forced the facility to halt all operations. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southern Turkey on Feb 6 had a significant impact on the port, toppling stacks of containers and cracking pavement. The physical damage is severe enough that container lines were diverting vessels to other ports, like nearby Mersin. The quake also sparked a fire in the center of the terminal's container storage area. Turkey's coast guard deployed a vessel to apply water from the quayside, and the Turkish air force and army sent aircraft to drop fire retardant on the blaze. The fire spread despite these efforts, but was finally contained in the night of Feb 7. Report with video: https://maritime-executive.com/article/fire-at-port-of-iskenderun-extinguished-after-two-days