The 'Beskidy', en route from Itaqui to Cartagena, reported a semi-submerged cayuco 60 nautical miles south of El Hierro on April 28, 2024. The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara', a patrol boat of the Guardia Civil and the SAR helicopter Helimer 206, to the scene. The vessel, measuring between 15 to 20 metres in length, was flooded and hardly protruding from the water. The helicopter flew nine survivors to El Hierro to receive initial medical assistance. Meanwhile, the 'Salvamar Adhara' was instructed to continue sailing towards the location of the boat to verify that there were no remaining victims onboard, as indicated by reports from the Helimer rescuers. The survivors told the helicopter crew and medical personnel that they had set sail nine days ago bound for the Canary Islands, capsized two days ago, and they are the only ones who managed to turn the boat back over and climb aboard again, despite it being partially submerged. The survivors, for whom no further details have been disclosed yet, except that they were from sub-Saharan Africa, were being attended to by healthcare professionals and Red Cross personnel at the El Hierro airport. Ambulances have transported three of them to the island’s hospital. Report with photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1784911195557826861
News
CYCLADES
Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Sanaa time) on April 29, 2024, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards the 'Cyclades', en route from Djibouti to Jeddah, 54 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Mocha. The ship was slightly damaged due to a nearby explosion. Initial reports indicated there were no injuries and the vessel continued on its way. A Houthi Armed Forces spokesperson said the bulker was targeted for having called the Israeli port of Eliat on April 21. Earlier, at 7:49 a.m., U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully engaged and destroyed one Houthi launched airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a flight path towards the USS 'Philippine Sea' and USS 'Laboon' in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damages reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.
Kiel
The Port of Kiel expects another good season in 2023, resulting in 218 cruise calls, said its MD Dirk Claus in the morning of Jan 17, 2023, as part of a presentation reflecting on last year's results. It follows 2022's record-breaking 244 calls, which saw the port handle over 2.24m passengers, 836,000 of those from cruise vessels. The number of calls in 2019 was 37% less by comparison, numbering 178, and passenger volumes 4.1% lower. 2020 had been forecast to become a record season for Kiel, with 200 calls and 880,000 passengers, but aspirations were dashed owing to the pandemic. This year, a number of larger vessels are scheduled to arrive at Kiel on multiple occasions making the gross tonnage of arriving ships similar to 2022. For 2023, the choice of routes and destinations approached from Kiel will be slightly broader. Moving into the future, Claus expects Kiel to settle on between 200 and 250 cruise calls annually. According to the port, last year’s promising results were the result of ‘intense planning’ with international cruise operators. While 11 calls were cancelled owing to the conflict in Ukraine and the resulting loss of St Petersburg from itineraries, nine were newly added as a result of rerouting by operators. Looking ahead, there will be a strong focus on greener shipping with Claus hoping that between 60 and 100 calls can be supplied with green shore power this year. He stated that Kiel will continue to look at strengthening shore power in line with its corporate sustainability strategy to lower carbon emissions. Work on the new Ostuferhafen shore power plant is expected to conclude towards the end of this year, resulting in Kiel being able to offer shoreside connectivity at all its ferry and cruise terminals from 2024. Along with this €17m investment, a further €2m will be invested to install solar arrays. The systems, which will be fitted on roofs at Kiel Port, are intended to cover up to 30% of the port's electricity requirements in the long term. Kiel’s first call is expected to arrive April 7 with the river vessel 'Frederic Chopin'. The first cruise ship of the season, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 'Balmoral', will arrive a week later. The largest ships to call will be 'MSC Euribia' and 'AIDAnova'. At the other end of the scale, the 'Ocean Majesty' will visit Kiel on six occasions while chartered to Hansa Touristik. The vessel, which celebrates its 57th anniversary this year, is popular with the German source market. One of its calls is scheduled to occur on June 18 during the Kieler Woche sailing festival which will run from June 17-25. Traditionally, this marks the peak of the cruise season with this year no exception: 22 calls are expected by Kiel at the same time as the event takes place. While the highest number of calls is expected between mid-April and the end of September as usual, some ships will continue to call later in the year. 'AIDAnova'’s last departure is scheduled for November 4 whilst December 20 will see Phoenix Reisen's 'Amera' arrive at Kiel as part of a pre-Christmas itinerary. The season will draw to a close a few days later with the 'Spirit of Discovery' on December 29. Costa-, AIDA-, MSC- and TUI Cruises will again be the port's largest cruise customers. The majority of calls account for turnarounds serving the German-speaking source markets, but a number of transit calls will also take place, P&O Cruises’ Britannia, Swiss Ruby, Holland America Line’s 'Nieuw Statendam' and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 'Seven Seas Splendor' among them. As in previous years, the Ostuferhafen outside the city centre will be heavily utilised by MSC Cruises and most other cruise ships will arrive at the Ostseekai.
Kerch
The Crimean Bridge across Kerch Strait suffered an explosion and fire in the morning of Oct 8, 2022. Two spans of the motorway bridge collapsed and fell into the water, the railway bridge above the motorway witha cargo train including railway car tanks with fuel, was on fire. All bridge traffic was suspended. The Crimean Bridge was more than a Bridge, both for Russia and Ukraine. For Russia it was a symbol of the Russian “victory” and historical justice. For the Ukraine, it was a symbol of the Russian aggression and Crimea occupation. The navigation span of the Bridge is yet undamaged, and therefore, the Kerch Strait Channel remained navigable. The Kerch Strait Transit is from now on, however, a risky undertaking, so all ship owners are advised to calculate risks and probably, change their ships voyages, avoiding Azov sea calls.
MSC ORION
Yemen’s Houthis said they targeted the 'MSC Orion', en route from Oman, on April 29, 2024, in a drone attack in the Indian Ocean about 170 nauical miles from Socotra as part of their ongoing campaign against international shipping in solidarity with Gaza. The 'MSC Orion' suffered slight damage. She was sailing between the ports in Sines and Salalah. Its registered owner is Zodiac Maritime, which is partly owned by the Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
CG JOSEPH DOYLE
The 'Joseph Doyle' repatriated 119 migrants to Dominican Republic on April 26, following two interdictions of unlawful, irregular migration attempts near Puerto Rico. The repatriated migrants were transferred to Dominican Republic Navy authorities at San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. The second interdiction occurred on April 25, after the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft sighted a 30-foot makeshift vessel taking part in an unlawful maritime migration voyage, approximately 30 nautical miles northwest of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. A responding Customs and Border Protection marine unit interdicted the suspect vessel while the 'Joseph Doyle' arrived on scene and embarked 66 migrants, 63 who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals and three who claimed to be Haitian nationals. The first interdiction occurred on April 24, when a Customs and Border Protection Marine unit stopped a 30-foot makeshift vessel taking part in an unlawful maritime migration voyage, approximately four nautical miles north of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders diverted the 'Joseph Doyle', which arrived on scene and embarked 58 migrants, 56 who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals and two who claimed to be Haitian nationals.
Singapore
On Dec 1, 2022, at about 3 p.m. the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was informed that 15 empty containers at Keppel Terminal had fallen from the wharf into the water as a result of strong winds during a squall. There were no reported injuries and no immediate impact to port operations. The MPA deployed two patrol crafts to monitor and cordon off the affected area to facilitate recovery work by PSA Corporation Ltd. MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre has restricted all vessel movements in the vicinity of Keppel Terminal until the containers were recovered.
Odessa
For the fourth day in a row, Iranian-made drones attacked Odesa on Sep 26 in the morning, this time against military targets and without civilian casualties. On Sep 23, two civilians were killed during Russian drone attacks on the port city. On Sep 25, Odesa was attacked by three drones, one of which was reportedly shot down by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine has not officially identified the drones, but from the video footage below it appears, according to experts, that they are Iranian-produced Shakhed 136 drones.
USS WARSHIP 58
Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Sanaa time) on April 29, 2024, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards the 'Cyclades. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries and the vessel continued on its way. Earlier, at 7:49 a.m., U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully engaged and destroyed one Houthi launched airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a flight path towards the USS 'Philippine Sea' and USS 'Laboon' in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damages reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.
CG ANACAPA
The crew of the USCGC 'Anacapa' held a decommissioning ceremony for the cutter in Port Angeles, Washington, on April 26, 2024. Rear Adm. Charles Fosse, commander, Coast Guard 13th District, presided over the ceremony honoring the 34 years of service of the 'Anacapa' and its crews provided to the nation. Commissioned in 1990, the 'Anacapa' was one of 49 Island-class cutters built in Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana and was originally homeported in Petersburg, Alaska for more than three decades. While homeported in Port Angeles, the Anacapa successfully conducted numerous missions. Notably, in August 2022, the 'Anacapa' rescued three people from a disabled sailboat and conducted an overnight tow of the vessel. In April 2023, the Anacapa responded and assisted in the safe evacuation of 600 passengers, after the ferry 'Walla Walla' grounded in the Rich Passage. Following the decommissioning ceremony, the 'Anacapa' will transit to the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, and will be placed in the Cutter Transition Division. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3759112/us-coast-guard-cutter-anacapa-decommissioned-after-34-years-of-service/
Kerch
Russia's Ministry of Transport has set up a ferry service across the Kerch Strait to take over vehicle traffic, offsetting some of the impact of the damage to the Kerch Strait Bridge after a truck was blown up on the westbound road deck of the Kerch Strait Bridge on Oct 7 at about 6 a.m. Two spans of the westbound deck collapsed into the water, but the adjacent eastbound deck remained in place. The blast's timing coincided with the passage of a fuel train on the adjacent rail deck, and it ignited seven fuel tank cars, which burned for hours after the explosion. A Russian salvage diving team has arrived on the site and is completing an underwater survey of the damage, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said Sunday. An above-water inspection process is already under way. Traffic had partially resumed on the bridge by late Saturday, though restricted by the extent of the damage. Russia's Ministry of Transport said that it also resumed suburban commuter rail service over the rail track, though not heavy freight trains. Two ferries are already in operation to provide a bypass route, and eight separate parking lots have been set up for temporary storage for cars and trucks waiting to make the crossing. Two more ferries will join the effort on Monday, the Yeysh and Mriya.
Yaizu
Yaizu Port is one of the leading fishing ports in Japan. In August 2022, the VesselTracker AIS receiving station opened at Yaizu Port.