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/
News
EMPEDOKLIS
On May 22, 2024, at noon, the Port Authority of Salamina was informed that the 'Empedoklis' allided with the docked ferry 'Protoporos XIV' ((IMO: 9848974) during the berthing manoever at the port of Palukia, causing minor property damage, on a scheduled route from the port of Perama with 136 passengers and 77 vehicles on board. The 'Pioneer XIV' had no passengers and vehicles on board. No injuries were reported from the incident, and no marine pollution was observed. The Port Department of Salamina of the Central Port Authority of Piraeus, which was conducting the preliminary investigation, banned both ships from sailing , until the certificates of seaworthiness have been presented by the attending classification societies.
JETLINER
Due to bad weather, the 'Jetliner', sailing from Kendari City to the port of Raha City, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) with 39 crew members and five passengers on board, ran aground in Muna waters on May 23, 2013, at around 01.30 a.m. WITA, while entering Raha port. Ahead of the grounding, the ferry had suffred damage to the port side main engine, so that during its voyage it used the starboard side main engine. When it entered Muna waters, it was caught by stron winds and currents and got stuck. The KUPP together with the Raha Port Area Police evacuated the passengers. The Harbour Master and related parties planned to return to the ship at around 10.00 p.m. WITA when the water has started to rise to monitor the refloating process. Reports with photos: https://kiatnews.co.id/akibat-cuaca-buruk-kapal-jetliner-kandas-di-perairan-muna-upp-raha-lakukan-evakuasi/ https://butonpos.fajar.co.id/2024/05/22/jetliner-kandas-di-perairan-laino-raha/2/
MAUNALEI
A substandard propellor blade caused a loss of propulsion and large spill of hydraulic oil from the 'Maunalei' in August 2022. The ship lost power as a result of a flawed propeller blade on a voyage between Anchorage and Portland according to a US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. The NTSB revealed its findings on May 21, 2023, concluding that the vessel’s controllable pitch propeller had failed to meet design requirements. En route to a drydocking in Portland, theship’s controllable pitch propeller failed, resulting in a loss of propulsion about 245 nautical miles from the entrance to the Columbia River, close to Portland. The vessel’s propeller system was thought to have lost more than 1,632 gallons of hydraulic oil and resulting damage has been estimated at $3m. The NTSB concluded that the manufacture of the propeller was substandard. Cracks and fractures at the base of the fourth blade in the five-blade propeller failed to meet specification requirements and did not meet requirements for impact toughness, tensile, or yield strength. The NTSB investigators concluded that the blade damage was probably an isolated incident. The analysis of other five-bladed propellers on similar vessels indicated no problems. However the blade manufacturer has adjusted the specification to improve propeller fatigue fracture resistance. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2411.pdf
PROTOPOROS XIV
On May 22, 2024, at noon, the Port Authority of Salamina was informed that the ferry 'Empedoklis' ((IMO: 9812793) allided with the docked 'Protoporos XIV' during the berthing manoever at the port of Palukia, causing minor property damage, on a scheduled route from the port of Perama with 136 passengers and 77 vehicles on board. The 'Pioneer XIV' had no passengers and vehicles on board. No injuries were reported from the incident, and no marine pollution was observed. The Port Department of Salamina of the Central Port Authority of Piraeus, which was conducting the preliminary investigation, banned both ships from sailing , until the certificates of seaworthiness have been presented by the attending classification societies.
PS DREAM
The U.S. Department of Justice stated on May 21, 2024, that the two operator companies of the 'PS Dream', the Prive Overseas Marine LLC and Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, have pleaded guilty to intentionally violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and misleading the authority of justice by providing a false report of oil records. The guilty plea was logged in the federal court of Orleans, presided over by the Chief Justice of the U.S. District Court. If convicted, the two companies will be charged $2 million and probation for four consecutive years. Moreover, the captain of PS DREAM has also been separately charged. On Jan 11, 2023, a crew member reported to the Coast Guard of Orleans, by sharing a video that showcased the oil being pumped overboard and trailing behind the vessel. After two weeks, the vessel made a port call at New Orleans, where the crew member submitted the video as evidence to the Coast Guard of Orleans.