The Houthi claimed attack on three vessels, the 'Yannis' (IMO: 9401910), 'Essex' (IMO: 9403877) and 'MSC Alexandria' recently. On May 24, a Houthi spokesperson stated that they targeted the three vessels in the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Arabian Sea, but did not specify any date or further details of the attacks on the three vessels. The U.S. Central Command May 24, stated that Iranian-backed Houthis had launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea. No injuries and damage were reported to any commercial ships. The 'Essex' arrived at Alexandria Anchorage on May 24 with no sign of unusual. The LPG tanker is managed by an Israeli company, the Zodiac Maritime. The vessel is anchored in Egyptian water. The 'Yannis had sailed from Port Said Anchorage on May 19 with an ETA at Mombasa as of June 2. Finally, the Houthis claimed ak on the 'MSC Alexandria', en route from Valencia, which arrived at Khalifa Anchorag on May 25.
News
Rio de Janeiro
The Mexican tank m/v ’Irmã Dulce’, 72900 dwt (IMO: 9548691), which was under construction at Estalairo Maua in Rio de Janeiro, suffered water ingress in the engine room and aft peak in the night of May 4, 2020. The stern came to rest on bthe bottom at a water depth of four to five meters. The accident was apparently caused by a leaking valve. In the afternoon of May 5 divers managed to stabilize the ship. It was the second of a series of four for Transpetro and was launched in 2014. The order for all three ships still under construction was later canceled. The Panamax had currently been 95% completed. Report with photo: https://splash247.com/near-complete-brazilian-tanker-newbuild-sinks-at-pier/ .
Port Elizabeth
On May 2, 2020, at 08.50 a.m. the NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew and EC Government Health EMS were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority to respond to rendezvous with a bulk carrier approaching Port Elizabeth from Cape Town to attend to a 52 year old Iraqi crew member onboard the ship suffering an emergency medical condition, not Covid-19 related. The sea rescue craft 'Spirit of Toft' was launched accompanied by an EMS rescue paramedic and rendezvoused with the ship seven miles East of Cape Recife. The EMS rescue paramedic and an NSRI rescue swimmer were transferred onto the ship and the patient was found to be in a critical condition. The paramedic took over emergency medical treatment from the ships medical crew and the patient, secured into a stokes basket stretcher, was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and the EMS paramedic and NSRI medics continued with medical care onboard the sea rescue craft while the patient was brought to the NSRI Port Elizabeth sea rescue base and in the care of paramedics he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance. Despite extensive efforts by hospital medical staff the patient passed away.
SALVAMAR ADHARA
A migrant boat was in need of assistance 2.5 nautical miles from La Restinga on May 24. The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara', which located a canoe with 63 sub-Saharan people, among them 58 men, four women and one minor, on board. THe boat was escorted to the port of La Restinga, where the castaways were treated by health and security personnel. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1794013217477292494
Libreville
22 and 36 nautical miles Northwest of Libreville the latest acts of piracy occurred in positions 00° 30.50’N 009°06.21’E and 00° 55.24N 009° 08 09E and involved two fishing trawlers named 'amerger II' and 'Amerger VIIÄ – the first taking place 20 nautical miles off Libreville and the second 36 n.miles off Libreville. Both incidents involved a single speedboat described as a skiff powered by three engines and having 13 pirates on board. The pirates were reported as being English-speakers which gives rise to suspicions of them being of Nigerian origin, despite this being some distance from Nigeria. The boarding of each trawler resulted in three of the crew from each vessel being kidnapped. The nationalities of those kidnapped are reported as three Indonesian, two Senegalese, and one South Korean.
Durban
On May 3, 2020, at 10.15 a.m. the NSRI Durban launched the sea rescue craft 'Alick Rennie' to transport a ShipsMed doctor to a bulk carrier at the outer anchorage off-shore of the Port of Durban. The Port Health Authorities had arranged for the doctor to take sample swabs from a crewman onboard the ship, which is due to enter Port, for Covid-19 laboratory testing prior to the ship being granted permission to enter Port. Observing all Covid-19 Department of Health and Port Health Authority safety regulations and protocols on arrival at the ship the doctor was transferred onto the ship and sample swabs were collected from the crewman. The doctor returned to the sea rescue craft accompanied by the samples that he had collected and he was brought into Durban Port without incident. Port Health Authorities evaluated the samples to determine safe passage for the ship to enter Port. The operation completed at 11.40 a.m.
OSAKA
On May 25, 2024, the 'Osaka' loaded with 40696 tons of petroleum products, was dragged ashore off the coast of Haydarpaşa due to a rudder failure en route from Norovosyisk to Mersin. The tanker was secured by the tugs 'Kurtarma 7', 'Kurtarma 10' and 'Kurtarma 11' under the coordination of the Istanbul Ship Traffic Services Center, assisted by a pilot. The ship was safely moored at the Küçükçekmece anchorage. As of May 26, it remained stationary in pos. 40° 56.70' N 028° 48.09' E. Video: https://x.com/i/status/1794249538171240576
ESSEX
The U.S. Central Command said on May 25, 2024, the Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea, but no injuries or damage were reported. The 'Essex' was anchored off the coast of Alexandria port. The vessel is managed by Zodiac Maritime, which is controlled by Israeli magnate Eyal Ofer. There has been no sign of anything unusual. In an apparent reference to the 'Essex', the British maritime security company Ambrey said in a note that the vessel had traded between Alexandria and Port Said, and had not called at any Israeli port in recent weeks. The tanker was not further offshore Egypt than 15N nautical miles over the prior week. The Houthi language indicated they did not hit the vessel.
Port Elizabeth
On April 30, 2020, at 11.15 a.m. the NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were alerted by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) requesting assistance to evacuate a Filipino crew member of a bunkering tanker at anchorage off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth. The man required transportation to a dentist as soon as possible and considering the Covid-19 lockdown the Port Health Authorities advised the tasking of NSRI to carry out the operation, taking into consideration that NSRI are well prepared for all Covid-19 Department of Health protocols, regulations and precautions. At 1 p.m. the sea rescue craft 'JLT Rescuer' was launched and rendezvoused with the tanker thre miles off Port Elizabeth in calm seas. The patient was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and he was brought to shore and transported to a dentist appointment by the ships agent. At 3.30 p.m. the patient returned to the Port of Port Elizabeth and he boarded our sea rescue craft JLT Rescuer and we transported him back to the ship and returned to base without incident.
Grenaa
After the gas explosion aboard the Danish dredger vessel ‘Grete Fighter‘, 582 gt (IMO: 7944762), on April 23 in the port of Grenå,the Grenaa Shipyard has not yet received a report from the Labor Inspectorate on the cause of the accident which was thought to be be due to gas emissions or diesel fumes. However, the yard has already chosen to tighten security in several areas. On April 28, a joint meeting was held where staff and management discussed what they could do to be 100 percent sure the accident cannot recur. It was decided to buy a lot of technical equipment to prevent such an explosion in the future, and some new procedures for this type of work will be intrduced. The two survivors of the accident were in critical condition.