A missile attack targeted the 'Yannis' southwest of the city of Hodeidah, off the coast of Yemen on May 23, 2024, without causing casualties or damage. The owner and operator is the Greek shipping company Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited. The ship was on his way from Novorossyisk to Mombasa and attacked 68 nautical miles (125 kilometers) off the coast of Hodeidah. The missile impacted the water in the vicinity of the ship. The ship and all crew are safe and heading to the next port of call.
News
INTERASIA PURSUIT
The 'Interasia Pursuit' and the container barge 'SP-ITC 01' (MMSI: 57740091) were in collision on the Dong Nai River on May 23, 2024, causing nine containers on the barge to fall overboard, several more were damaged. The container ship was carrying 468 containers from the SP-ITC Internation Container Terminal in HCMC's Thu Duc City to Port Klang. Shortly after leaving the port at around 2 p.m. it hit against the 'SP-ITC 01', which was headed for the container terminal with 63 containers. The containers that fell into the river were empty. At the time of the accident there were heavy rains and strong winds. The barge suffered damage to its port side hull. The 'Interasia Pursuit' remained unscathed. Officers of the HCMCs Coast Guard arrive at the accident scene. The authority deployed boats and canoes, which recovered eight of the nine containers from the water. The remaining one broke open and was suspected to have sunk. Salvage efforts were ongoing to ensure it did not affect traffic. The collision did not result in any oil spill or injuries. Reports with photos and video: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/traffic/9-containers-fall-into-dong-nai-river-as-singapore-vessel-barge-collide-4750068.html https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tin-tuc-tai-nan-giao-thong-moi-nhat-ngay-hom-nay-24-5-2024-192240524063140121.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKFO6tf6xNE
Beirut
The Port of Beirut (PoB) resumed partial operations on Aug 10 with the first two container ships berthing in the container terminal after the explosion which killed at least 160 persons, injured thousands and made hundred thousands homeless. Out of 16 cranes at the container terminal, 12 were currently operational. The port was gradually resuming operations to ensure the supply of all kinds of goods to citizens. Bassem Al Kaissi, the new Director of the PoB, said that the container terminal will be fully operational by Aug 14. Al Kaissi said that 420 containers were unloaded on Aug 10. The container terminal storage area has been cleaned up and restored to its state before the blast. The container terminal represents 80 percent of the overall cargo movement at the PoB. It is located one kilometer away from the blast epicenter. Container vessels can dock at quay number 16. Shipping movement at the PoB had already plunged by 75 percent due to the economic crisis and has reached 15 percent following the blast. Customs have opened offices in the PoB’s warehouse number 14 which was partially damaged. The customs have become able to carry out the inspection of merchandise- Customs duties are being temporarily paid at the Rafic Hariri International Airport. Tthe PoB is now handling only full containers as groupage consignment requires warehouses which don’t exist now. Amer Al Kaissi said groupage, which represents 15 percent of shipments at the PoB, will be diverted to the Port of Tripoli until the rebuilding of warehouses at the PoB is completed. The first two containerships to berth at the PoB after the blast were the 'Electra' (Gezairi Transport) and the 'Nicolas Delmas' (CMA CGM). The 'Electra', which was carrying 400 containers, was diverted to Tripoli where there was a license to operate but the company insisted to unload it in Beirut when it was told that the PoB has resumed operation. The CMA CGM Group and CEVA Logistics said they are fully operational and ensuring business continuity to serve their customers. The Group has redeployed its employees in its two back-up sites in Beirut Digital District and reinforced its presence in Tripoli. Part of CMA CGM’s vessels has been temporarily directed to Tripoli. Few shipping companies are authorized to operate in other ports such as Tripoli or Saida. BCTC, the Customs and the PoB’s authorities did their best to handle the clearing formalities despite the difficult working conditions. The general cargo area was fully operational on Aug 12 both for imports and exports. This includes wheat and other grains as well as construction steel bars. The cost of rebuilding the port is estimated at around $1 billion.
MAUI PRINCESS
On the afternoon of May 20, 2024, work has started to remove 2,500 gallons of fuel from the 'Maui Princess', after it ran aground on May 16 just off Lahaina in pos. 20° 51.97' N 156° 40.60' W. The process of getting fuel, batteries, hazardous materials, and other items off the vessel is expected to take a few days. After everything is removed a salvage contractor will begin work to try and move the ship back into deeper water. The boat broke from its mooring further offshore after a part failed. The Willoughby Consulting and Adjusting is leading the defueling effort. It will take a helicopter nine to 10 trips to remove most of the fuel. The ship is hard aground on w a shallow shelf of sand and rubble. The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is providing expertise and guidance for the removal operation to minimize any additional impacts to important hard substrate and living corals in the area. High surf along the West Maui coastline has made it unsafe for aquatic biologists to get in the water to assess any possible damage to marine habitats. It will take several days to remove the 2,500 gallons of fuel. In addition to the fuel, the salvage crews will remove batteries, hazardous materials and other items from the vessel. The Willoughby Consulting and Adjusting is leading the defueling effort with use of a helicopter. It will take the helicopter nine to 10 trips to remove most of the fuel. The DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources is providing guidance to minimize any impacts to the sea floor and living corals in the area. Report with photo: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-05-23/maui-princess-undergoes-defueling-after-running-aground
SP-ITC 01
The container m/v 'Interasia Pursuit' (IMO: 9757553) and the 'SP-ITC 01' were in collision on the Dong Nai River on May 23, 2024, causing nine containers on the barge to fall overboard, several more were damaged. The container ship was carrying 468 containers from the SP-ITC Internation Container Terminal in HCMC's Thu Duc City to Port Klang. Shortly after leaving the port at around 2 p.m. it hit against the 'SP-ITC 01', which was headed for the container terminal with 63 containers. The containers that fell into the river were empty. At the time of the accident there were heavy rains and strong winds. The barge suffered damage to its port side hull. The 'Interasia Pursuit' remained unscathed. Officers of the HCMCs Coast Guard arrive at the accident scene. The authority deployed boats and canoes, which recovered eight of the nine containers from the water. The remaining one broke open and was suspected to have sunk. Salvage efforts were ongoing to ensure it did not affect traffic. The collision did not result in any oil spill or injuries. Reports with photos and video: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/traffic/9-containers-fall-into-dong-nai-river-as-singapore-vessel-barge-collide-4750068.html https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tin-tuc-tai-nan-giao-thong-moi-nhat-ngay-hom-nay-24-5-2024-192240524063140121.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKFO6tf6xNE
BASILISK
The forces of EUNAVFOR Atalanta responded to a privacy incident o nhte 'Basilisk', currently underway off the coast of Somalia on May 23, 2024. Two small craftshad come alongside the ship. The vessel’s last AIS signal was transmitted two days ago north of Madagascar. The indication was that the vessel was traveling from Porto Grande in Cape Verde where it departed on May 3 with an ETA at Khalifa on May 29. Atalanta is placing the ship as sailing approximately 380 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, Somalia, heading north. The UK Maritime Trade Organizations places the vessel approximately 420 nautical miles southeast of Merca, Somalia. There were unconfirmed reports that the crew was able to secure themselves in the vessel’s citadel. Atalanta reports one of its warships is in the vicinity and is first to respond.
Kiel
The PORT OF KIEL has redesigned the port apron in Ostuferhafen, which is the freight and logistics centre on the fjord. Where once stood a grain silo, there is now an expanded pre-stacking and stand-by area of three hectares for trucks, trailers and pas-senger cars.The State Premier of Schleswig- Holstein, Daniel Günther, visited the Ostufer-hafen on 12th August to hand over the grant notice coming from the State Programme Economy for 5.44 million Euros: The project to redesign the port apron included dismantling three hall areas of the former grain silo, excavation and road works as well as drainage, lighting and security measures and the connection of the area to the infrastructure. Through the new and generous port apron it has been possible to merge formerly separated pre-stacking areas, shorten distances and gain more space for trucks, busses, trailers and passenger cars. Furthermore, IT solutions have been developed to accelerate the handling processes at the gate, which also allow truck drivers to reduce personal contact.Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director at the PORT OF KIEL: “Even under the current circumstances the Ostuferhafen operates in a reliable and safe way. The port of Kiel has proven its systemic importance regarding the transshipment of cross-border freight transport.”In the first seven months of the year 2.1 million tons of cargo have been tran-shipped via the Ostuferhafen (+ 1 %). Additional volumes have been transported by the ferries of the DFDS shipping company to the Baltic States or they have been delivered by the SCA-RoRo-freighters from Scandinavia. Not only general cargo and forest products are unloaded resp. transhipped in Ostuferhafen but also project and heavy cargo, scrap metal and agricul-tural products. The integrated passenger terminal to handle cruise vessels emphasizes the universal character of this port part.