On Feb 20, 2024, just after 8 p.m., the 'Apollo Stella', bound for Hokkaido from Port Klang with 17 Indonesian crew members on board, suffered an engine failure and was disabled off the coast of the Shimane Prefecture. The patrol boat 'Oki' of the Sakai Coast Guard was deployed to the scene and took the ship, which was drifting in the Sea of Japan, 10 kilometers southwest of Hinomisaki, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, in tow on Feb 21 at around 4 a.m., and will consider whether to hand it over to another ship and proceed to a port where the ship can be repaired.
News
CLARA INSIGNIA
The Paranà River remained snarled on Feb 20 even after the 'Clara Insignia' was freed in the evening of Feb 19 after being stuck for three days, and moored in pos. 33° 21.97' S 060° 07.57' W on Feb 20. The Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA) and a local port authority said the trunk route near the area of San Nicolas remained totally closed as the authorities carried out studies on the river bed, which meant that cargo ships could not reach or leave the inland farming port hub of Rosario, from where most of the country’s soy, corn and wheat flows down to the sea and around the globe. Once the bathymetry has been finished it would be known if it has to be corrected it with dredging or if tthe passage can be authorized through the sector at kilometer 345 (mile 214). Rosario is further upriver at kilometer 410.
NORDPUMA
On Feb 2, 2024, at 12.40 a.m. the 'Nordpuma' was boarded by six perpetrators while moored on Manila Anchorage. The intruders stole two sets of self contained breathing apparatus with cylinder. No injuries were reported.
NISSHIN MARU
dismantled in Kitakyushu City ,Japan https://www.facebook.com/groups/shipbreaking/?ref=nf_target&fref=nf
GALAXY LEADER
The global maritime industry on Feb 19 marked the three-month anniversary of the seizure of the 'Galaxy Leader' and its 25 crew members by the Houthi forces, the only vessel seizure by Houthi forces since launching their attacks on shipping in Oct 2023. The maritime community worldwide has united in expressing their profound concern for the captured seafarers, hailing from Bulgaria, Mexico, Romania, Ukraine and the Philippines, and urging the Houthi forces to immediately release the ship’s crew. “The 25 seafarers who make up the crew of the Galaxy Leader are innocent victims of the ongoing aggression against world shipping, and their plight is a major concern as the merchant shipping community continues to come under attack. All efforts must be made by international organisations and States to secure the release of the seafarers. It is abhorrent that seafarers were seized by military forces and that they have been kept from their families and loved ones for too long. All 25 crew members of the Galaxy Leader must be released now,” the statement said. Numerous global maritime organizations co-signed this statement, demonstrating the industry’s unified stance on the issue. Signatories include the Asian Shipowners Association (ASA), Asociación de Navieros Españoles (ANAVE), Bahamas Shipowners Association, BIMCO, Chamber of Marine Commerce, International Chamber of Shipping, and the World Shipping Council, among many others.
JOLY FRANCE
On Feb 19, 2024, at 12:28 p.m., the CROSS Jobourg relayed to CROSS Corsen an alert from the 'Joly France', reporting the discovery of a human body at sea at 5,4 nautical miles north of Saint-Malo. The CROSS Corsen immediately deployed the lifeboat 'Gildas Cuny-SNS 728' from the SNSM station Saint-Malo. In agreement with the Maritime Gendarmerie Operations and Intelligence Center (CORGMAR), the body of a man in his seventies was recovered at 1:30 p.m. by the lifeboat. The body was picked up at the dock by the Saint Malo maritime gendarmerie at 2:07 p.m.
NAVIS FORTUNA
In the evening of Feb 19, 2024, the Houthis said they had targeted three vessels in the last 24 hours, including the British-registered 'Rubymar', the US-owned 'Sea Champion' and the 'Navis Fortuna'. Earlier, the maritime security firm Ambrey had reported that a Greek-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier was attacked twice in two hours in the Gulf, which adjoins the Red Sea. The bulk carrier reported a missile attack before another projectile hit the water just meters from the ship. The master reported evidence of shrapnel and damage to paintwork in the second incident, the Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The 'Sea Champion' was en route from Argentina to Yemen, the 'Navis Fortuna' was approaching the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait in the afternoon. Later the UKMTO said it had received a report of an incident 60 nautical miles north of Djibouti, also near the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.
RUBYMAR
The Russian Pravda published a report of the alleged sinking of the 'Rubymar' on Feb 20 with a video. In fact it shows the scuttling of the ore carrier 'Stellar Banner' years ago, while salvage work at the damaged 'Rubymar' was going on. Other sources also published pictures on the platform X, former Twitter, of the 'Atlantik Confidence', which sank in 2013 off the coast of Oman, with more than $30 million of steel products onboard. The 'Rubymar', which was hit by two Houthi missiles on Feb 18, was listing heavily with a flooded engine room, but the vessel’s Lebanese owners have signed an LOF salvage contract and are trying to tow the ship to Djibouti. Reports with video: https://pravda-en.com/world/2024/02/20/331038.html https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-does-video-show-houthis-sinking-cargo-ship-red-sea-1871539
MARIA MARIA
The 'Maria Maria' was boarded by four perpetrators, armed with knives, on Feb 6, 2024, at 4.54 a.m. off Pulau Iyu Kecil. The intruders left the vessel without nothing reported stolen. No injuries were reported.
CG JOSEPH TEZANOS
The 'Joseph Doyle' repatriated 71 migrants to San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, on Feb 17, 2024, following the interdiction of an unlawful irregular migration voyage in the Mona Passage. The Coast Guard Cutter 'Joseph Tezanos' repatriated one other migrant from this case to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel, on Feb 19, just off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The interdiction occurred after the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft detected a grossly overloaded makeshift vessel in the Mona Passage waters southwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, in the night of Feb 15. The suspect vessel was transiting from the Dominican Republic to enter the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted the 'Joseph Doyle' to interdict the suspect vessel. Once on scene, the cutter stopped the vessel and safely embarked the migrants. Following the interdiction, 68 of the migrants claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals while four others who claimed to be Haitian nationals. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3680854/coast-guard-repatriates-72-migrants-to-dominican-republic-following-unlawful-mi/
MT KQLI
The Nigeria Police have unmasked three Indians and five Nigerians as sponsors of the 'Kali', which was impounded for illegally siphoning crude oil from the platform of the Anglo-Dutch Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), in Bayelsa State. Similarly, the police have arrested a popular Lagos-based oil and gas magnate as the alleged owner and sponsor of the 'Harbor Spirit', which was also arrested siphoning crude oil illegally from Sengana oilfields in the coastal axis of Bayelsa State on Feb 4, 2024. The oil merchant, whose office is located in Ikeja, Lagos Sate, was arrested on Feb 19 as he honoured the invitation of the police investigating the operations of the illegal bunkering ship. He was promptly taken to Abuja on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, and has since been kept in custody as police detectives tried to establish his culpability in the shady oil deals. The Indians, who are members of the management team of a major oil company operating in Kwale axis of Delta State, were yet to honour the police invitation. Their emissaries, identified as retired naval rear admiral and captain, as well as a retired assistant superintendent of police who came to represent the foreign nationals, claimed that the Indians were out of the country. The police e insisted that the Indian suspects must honour the invitation personally upon their return to the country. Findings by the police revealed that the Indians and Nigerians were the promoters of Deep Frontline Shippers Ltd., which allegedly procured the 'Kali' for the illegal assignment. The Indians. The tanker was impounded by the joint team of a private security company, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) while siphoning crude oil from Pennington oil fields of SPDC in Bayelsa State, on Jan 11. 23 suspects, made up of 12 crew members and 11 host community boys offering operational support to the crew to successfully carry out the nefarious assignment in their areas, were apprehended in the manhunt by TSSL and NSCDC operatives. The 'Kali' was actually registered in the name of Frontline Shippers Ltd., as against the initial fake name, Sasna Global and Sasna Global Resources Ltd. given by the captain of the ship. The police were able to establish, with the assistance of the Nigeria Maritime and Safety Administration Agency (NIMASA), that the vessel was deleted from the Nigerian maritime networks since Feb 1, 2022 and that it had no valid permit to sail on Nigerian waters without a valid certificate of registry and applicable trading certificates.The Indians, who were captured in the CAC records of Deep Frontline Shippers Ltd., were in charge of the finance of the company and are also associated with 150 other corporate entities, including an oil company operating in Kwale axis of Delta State. Full report:
AL KUWAIT
The 'Al Kuwait' caused an unbearable stench in the air of Cape Town in the morning of Feb 19, 2024, which was initially thought to be a sewage fault, but turned out to come from the cattle carrier at the Ducan Dock. After checking other potential sewage failures, the City reported that the smell was in fact emanating from a cattle ship that had docked in the harbour in the evening of Feb 18. A team, including a NSPCA Veterinary Consultant, went onboard the ship at 10 p.m., inspecting the welfare of the 19 000 animals onboard. The cattle were bound for Rio Grande to Iraq and stopped in Cape Town to load feed, and was due to leave Cape Town in the evening of Feb 20. The smell was indicative of the awful conditions the animals endured, having already spent 2,5 weeks on board, with a build-up of faeces and ammonia. Several animals were euthanised and some were covered in their own faeces. The NSPCA labelled the Al Kuwait a ”death ship” in its statement, and has reiterated its firm stance against the live export of animals by sea. Reports with photos: https://smilefm.co.za/livestock-death-ship-with-19-000-cattle-onboard-causes-stink-in-city/ https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-20-inside-the-stinking-ship-at-cape-town-harbour-carrying-19000-cattle-to-the-middle-east/ https://bnnbreaking.com/world/south-africa/tragic-end-for-cattle-on-al-kuwait-ship-in-cape-town-a-grim-tale-of-animal-welfare
SUMBER SUKSES UTAMA
The 'Sumber Sukses Utama' caught fire during repairs at the PT. Baramitra Sejahtera Shipyard, Tanjung Uncang, Batu Aji, Batam City, on Feb 19, 2024, at around 12.30 WIB. The fire occurred while the workers were taking their lunch break. Two workers saw smoke and fire in the port side ide of the foreship and immediately notified the office and contacted the fire department. Fire trucks arrived at the sport about an hour after the incident began and successfully extinguished the fire at around 3.45 p.m., followed by a cooling process to ensure there were no hot spots left. Officers started investigating the cause of the fire. Reports with photos: https://batamline.com/kapal-mv-sumber-sukses-utama-terbakar-di-tanjunguncang-batam/ https://batam.inews.id/read/409644/kapal-mv-sumber-sukses-utama-terbakar-saat-perbaikan-di-tanjunguncang https://batam.tribunnews.com/2024/02/19/subkon-pt-batamitra-sejahtera-sebut-penyebab-kebakaran-diduga-human-error#
SEA CHAMPION
The 'Sea Champion' arrived in the port of Aden on Feb 20 after being attacked in the Red Sea in what appeared to have been a mistaken missile strike by Houthi militia. The bulk carrier, which was ferrying corn from Rosario to Aden, was attacked twice on Veb 19, with a window damaged but no crew injuries. The vessel was now unloading part of its cargo of 9,229 tonnes of corn in Aden, before proceeding to Hodeidah, where it was to discharge the remaining load of 31,000 tonnes.
CLIPPER STAR
The 'Clippper Star' was boarded by six perpetrators, armed with machetes, on Jan 31, 2024, at 2 a.m. off Pulau Cula. Three crew members were tied up, no injuries were reported. The intruders stole engine spares and a crew's mobile phone.
CG JOSEPH DOYLE
The 'Joseph Doyle' repatriated 71 migrants to San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, on Feb 17, 2024, following the interdiction of an unlawful irregular migration voyage in the Mona Passage. The Coast Guard Cutter 'Joseph Tezanos' repatriated one other migrant from this case to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel, on Feb 19, just off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The interdiction occurred after the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft detected a grossly overloaded makeshift vessel in the Mona Passage waters southwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, in the night of Feb 15. The suspect vessel was transiting from the Dominican Republic to enter the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted the 'Joseph Doyle' to interdict the suspect vessel. Once on scene, the cutter stopped the vessel and safely embarked the migrants. Following the interdiction, 68 of the migrants claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals while four others who claimed to be Haitian nationals. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3680854/coast-guard-repatriates-72-migrants-to-dominican-republic-following-unlawful-mi/
KING XIA CRUISE
China's Coast Guard inspected the 'King Xia' on Feb 19, 2024, and the boarding of the vessel caused people to panic. At least six Chinese Coast Guard officers boarded the sightseeing ship "King Xia” in the afternoon in the waters of the Taipei-controlled Kinmen Islands when it strayed near Chinese territorial waters. The Coast Guard officers were aboard the sightseeing ship for around 32 minutes. After inspecting the 'King Xia', examining its navigation plan, ship documents, captain and crew licenses, and obtaining the captain's signature, the Chinese personnel disembarked at 5.19 p.m. LT. China last week accused Taiwan's Coast Guard of driving away a fishing boat with four people on board, that capsized and resulted in the death of two people. Red Cross Society officials from China's southern Quanzhou city Feb 20 accompanied the families of the four people to Kinmen islands for the return of the two surviving crew members. Several Chinese patrol boats were seen off Kinmen Island following the incident. Taiwan protested against the boarding. Report with video: https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2010754
WATATSUMI
On Feb 14, 2024 at 02:50 a.m. UTC the Dutch yacht 'Phoenix', participating in the Global Solo Challenge, suffered severe water ingress, and the Canadian skipper William MacBrien activated his EPIRB over 1300 nautical miles west of Cape Horn, over 3000 miles from New Zealand. The signal via satellite was relayed to the Dutch Coast Guard, which immediately contacted the MRCC Punta Arenas. The 'Watatsumi', en route from San Lorenzo, was identified in the morning as being 300 miles away, and was notified of the situation, sailing almost exactly towards William’s position. The vessel altered course to be on the most direct route, but required approximately 30 hours at 10 knots boat speed. At 11:30 p.m. UTC, William said he was ok, that he had donned his Thermal Protection Suit and could wait 24 hours for the rescue. In the morning of Feb 15, the 'Watatsumi' was still 150 miles away. At around 6 p.m. UTC the MRCC Chile received a further distress signal, this time from a PLB, a personal EPIRB. The tracker update frequency on the boat was progressively increased. From 30’ to 15’ when the ship was 50 miles away and when the 'Watatsumi' was 10 miles away we triggered the unit to report position every 5’. At 10:42 p.m. UTC the ship was alongside the distressed sailing vessel, and the captain had established VHF contact with the skipper. At 11:36 p.m. UTC it was confirmed William had been rescued, and the 'Watasumi' resumed the voyage to Brisbane with an ETA as of March 3. William had spent 46 hours adrift in a semi-submerged yacht. Report with photos: https://globalsolochallenge.com/william-macbrien-watatsumi-en/
SEA CHAMPION
In the evening of Feb 19, 2024, the Houthis said they had targeted three vessels in the last 24 hours, including the British-registered 'Rubymar', the US-owned 'Sea Champion' and the 'Navis Fortuna'. Earlier, the maritime security firm Ambrey had reported that a Greek-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier was attacked twice in two hours in the Gulf, which adjoins the Red Sea. The bulk carrier reported a missile attack before another projectile hit the water just meters from the ship. The master reported evidence of shrapnel and damage to paintwork in the second incident, the Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The 'Sea Champion', with 23 crew members on board, was sailing from Argentina to Aden carrying grain when it reported a missile attack in the Gulf of Aden before another projectile hit the water just metres from the ship. A projectile impacted the water 10 to 15 meters off the vessel’s starboard side. Two hours prior, the bulker had reported the first incident. No injuries or damage were reported in either incident and the ship continued its voyage. The 'Navis Fortuna' was approaching the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait in the afternoon. Later the UKMTO said it had received a report of an incident 60 nautical miles north of Djibouti, also near the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.