MAERSK BROWNSVILLE

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Container ship rescued 42 migrants

In the afternoon of Jan 19, 2024, the Port Authorities of Chania, Rethymno, Paleochora and Agia Galini were informed by the MRCC of a migrant boat in a difficult position south of Gavdos. The 'Maersk Brownsville' which had located the boat 13.7 nautical miles. southeast of Gavdos, took on board a total of 37 men and five minors, who were disembarked at the port of Kale Limeni, Heraklion. They had started in the early hours of the morning of Jan 18 in Tobruk, paying sums of money from 1,000 to 3,200 dollars, in order to transport them to Gavdos. The Central Port Authority of Heraklion, which was conducting the preliminary investigation, arrested a 31-year-old and a 26-year-old man, who were identified as the smugglers of the vessel. Report with photos: https://www.hcg.gr/el/epikairothta/entopismos-kai-diaswsh-42-atomwn-137-nm-notioanatolika-n-gaydoy/

Kenya defended stop of nuclear waste ship

Kenya on Dec 22 has defended its move to stop the 'Seago Piraeus' en route to Zanzibar loaded with radioactive materials, saying the decision was within the international treaty to protect Africa from the import of harmful waste. Ordering the ship to return the 20-feet container, which was detected emitting high radiation levels, to India was within the Bamako Convention, which prohibits the import into Africa of any hazardous materials, including radioactive waste. The cargo TCKU3337296 on board the MV Piraeus Voy 174S was disguised as padlocks and other hardware items destined for Tanzania. The Convention was adopted under the auspices of the Organisation of African Unity in 1991 (now African Union) and came into force in 1998 and calls for the ban of the import into the continent and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa. Health Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Dec 19 ordered the captain of MV Seago Piraeus to return the dangerous consignment to the loading port – Nhava Sheva Port in India. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) acting head of security Tony Kibwana said high standard operating procedures and modern scanning equipment helped the country to detect uranium substances in the 20 feet container on the ship which docked at Salalah Port in Oman on Dec 22.

Containe ship quarantined for threat of radioactive emissions

The Kenya Health Ministry ordered on Dec 17, 2021, that the 'Seago Piraeus' was quarantined at the Mombasa Container Terminal because of a threat posed by the emission of radioactive material. Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe directed the head of the Kenyan Nuclear Regulatory Authority to inspect the contents of the ship in view of the serious threat posed to the health and lives of Kenyans by the emission of radiation by radioactive or nuclear material on board. The director-general for health and port health officer were hereby directed to quarantine the 'Seago Piraeus'. The port health officer has been directed by Kagwe to inspect the ship and conduct a medical examination on the persons on board. The ship had arrived from Salalah on Dec 12.