on May 27, 2024, the “Igor Farkhutdinov” with 125 people on board en route from Yizhni-Kurilsk, while following the Korsakov route, lost speed due to a technical malfunction and smoke development. The vessel was towed to the Nevelsk seaport. The last reported pos. was 45° 21.39' N 147° 09.90' E.
News
LARGO DESERT
Houthi rebels on May 27, 2024, claimed attacks onto the 'Largo Desert' in the Indian Ocean and the container ship “MSC Michela” and referred to an attack in the Red Sea against the tanker “Minerva Lisa”. A spokesman did not give details of the results or the weapons used. The 'Largo Desert' was en route from Durban to Beira, and the 'Minerva Lisa' was located in the Red Sea earlier in the day. The 'MSC Michela' was en route from Valencia to Suape.
Chittagong
The trial transshipment of goods from India to its northeast, via the sea route, started on Tuesday after four containers bound for the region were unloaded from a merchant vessel at Bangladesh's Chittagong port, officials said on Tuesday. India and Bangladesh had signed an MOU for goods for northeast India transiting via Bangladesh's ports - a small but significant opening up of both Bangladesh's ports under the broader economic relationship between the two countries. Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk told on Tuesday: "The first ship under the trial run of transshipment of Indian goods to its northeastern states through Bangladesh arrived at Chattogram (Chittagong) port on Tuesday morning. "MV Shejyoti, carrying back to Chattogam 4 TEUs (20-feet equivalent unit) with 221 containers full of transhipment goods from India's Haldia port, reached the NCT-1 Berth, the outer anchorage of Chattogram port at around 1.25 a.m. But as night navigation is restricted in the port, that is why we started the navigation at morning," he said. MV Shejyoti had left the Syama Prasad Mukherjee port of Kolkata on July 17. Handling of the containers was completed before midnight and the container trailers started for Akhaura with an escort provided by Bangladesh's customs security. Shipping agent sources said the four containers under the trial transshipment contain iron rods and pulses. Those will head to Agartala through the Akhaura Land Port. The consignment of rods will be brought to West Tripura's Jirania from Agartala, while the pulses will go to Assam's Karimganj. Habibur Rahman of Mango Lines, the agent for the merchant vessel, had said that offloading may begin also on Tuesday after completing the formalities. Indian transshipment goods would enjoy a 28-day free-stay after offloading at the port as per the international transshipment agreement. Bangladesh will earn 254 takas from the scanning of each container loaded with transshipment goods. Bangladeshi importers also pay the same charge. Similarly, 30 takas document processing fee for each consignment of Indian goods will be levied, the same amount charged on Bangladeshi importers. Joint Commissioner of the Customs House S.M. Shamsuzzaman said the transshipped goods will have to pay police 50 takas per tonne as escort charge to reach the Indian border in Tripura from the port by road. Usually a 20 feet container carries a maximum of 30 tons of goods. According to this estimation, Bangladesh will realise around 1, 500 takas as escort charge for accompanying goods of a container to the border. Akhaura Customs Officer Harunur Rashid said they have taken necessary preparations for the transportation of the Indian goods, under the trial run. India is transporting goods to its northeastern states, using Bangladeshi ports, as per the agreement on "The Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of Goods to and from India" signed between Dhaka and Delhi in 2018 and a standard operating procedure (SoP) signed in October 2019. Earlier, the Indian government used the Ashuganj river port to transport goods for the Palatana Power Plant in Tripura through the Akhaura land port. On the new chapter in connectivity with Bangladesh via container shipping, India's Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the transit route will open new opportunities for both countries. He said that it will provide an alternative and shorter route to connect the northeast region through Bangladesh, reducing distance and time taken in transportation of goods for India and is a win-win for both the economies. On the other hand, job creation, investment in the logistical sector, enhanced business services and revenue generation are advantages that will accrue to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi vessels and trucks will be utilised to move the Indian cargo, the Indian government said. India and Bangladesh have enhanced cooperation in shipping and inland water trade in recent years. Under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, in addition to the six existing Ports of Call, five more in each country have been added recently. Dredging of inland waterway routes is ongoing under an MoU, signed by the two countries on development of selected stretches of Bangladesh waterways. The trial transportation of goods to the northeastern states by road, via Bangladesh, had started earlier.
MINERVA LISA
Houthi rebels on May 27, 2024, claimed attacks onto the 'Largo Desert' in the Indian Ocean and the container ship “MSC Michela” and referred to an attack in the Red Sea against the “Minerva Lisa”. A spokesman did not give details of the results or the weapons used. The 'Largo Desert' was en route from Durban to Beira, and the 'Minerva Lisa' was located in the Red Sea earlier in the day. The 'MSC Michela' was en route from Valencia to Suape.
FRENCH WARSHIP
The crew of the “Ventôse” boarded a Venezuelan fishing vessel 820 miles northeast of Martinique on May 27, 2024. 81 bales with 2,4 tons of cocaine were discovered on board. The operation was carried out on the basis of information transmitted by the General Directorate of Customs in association with the anti-narcotics office Ofast. After a relocation phase by its on-board Panther helicopter, the crew proceeded to board the ship. The crew members and the cargo were returned to the Venezuelan authorities at sea. This seventh seizure of the year 2024 brings the FAA's toll to more than 12 tons of narcotics. At the beginning of May, the 'Ventôse' and the Antilles-Guyane patrol boat 'La Résolue' intercepted two ships carrying dozens of bales of cocaine. Traffic on the rise
Beirut
A powerful explosion rocked Beirut port on Aug 4, 2020, killing and injuring dozens of people, and causing widespread damage. There was no clarity yet with regards to the cause of explosions, and what triggered it. The talk was of a firework factory which blew up. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR88CECmTso&feature=emb_title
Chittagong
A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control The blazing fire at the Chittagong port was brought under control on Wednesday evening 15 July 2020. Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has formed a five-member probe body, headed by Zafar Alam, Member (Administration and Planning) of the CPA, to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage. The CPA Secretary Omark Faruk confirmed the matter. “Although the fire has been brought under control, smoke is still billowing from the gutted goods,” said the Secretary, The blazing fire originated at Shed No 3 of the maritime port at around 4pm on Wednesday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room in Agrabad, Chittagong city. A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control. According to the CPA, goods like foam, fabrics, machineries, papers, and soda meant for destruction were stockpiled at the No.3 shed of the port. AIS/Station/ BDCGP
MSC MICHELA
Houthi rebels on May 27, 2024, claimed attacks onto the tanker 'Largo Desert' in the Indian Ocean and the “MSC Michela” and referred to an attack in the Red Sea against the tanker “Minerva Lisa”. A spokesman did not give details of the results or the weapons used. The 'Largo Desert' was en route from Durban to Beira, and the 'Minerva Lisa' was located in the Red Sea earlier in the day. The 'MSC Michela' was en route from Valencia to Suape.
HUMANITY 1
On the morning of May 27, the crew of the “Humanity 1” was informed by the civil emergency hotline Alarmphone about a boat in distress in international waters off the Libyan coast. The “Humanity 1” set course for the last known position of the boat and found it at midday. It was a completely overcrowded inflatable boat with 82 people on board, which was unable to maneuver and was floating on the open sea without any rescue equipment. The crew immediately initiated rescue measures and took the people on board the “Humanity 1”. During the first rescue, Alarmphone also reported to the crew a second marine emergency in the immediate vicinity. A short time later, the crew of the rescue ship discovered a small, overcrowded plastic boat with 18 people on board. The “Humanity 1” also took these survivors on board. About half of those rescued were minors, including several small children and babies. The majority of the minors were unaccompanied. Numerous women, including several pregnant women, were also among the survivors. Several people were suffering from severe seasickness and skin burns. The Italian authorities assigned the ship to the port of Livorno, almost 1,200 kilometers from the rescue site, which means at least three days of sailing with an ETA as of May 30. The aid organization accused the authorities of “knowingly violating the survivors’ right to rapid disembarkation as enshrined in maritime law.” The captain therefore immediately asked the ItalianMRCC to assign a closer port.