The European Parliament called on the EU to take immediate measures to free the hostages taken by Yemeni Houthis during the attack on the 'Galaxy Leader', including three Ukrainian citizens. The European Parliament has drawn up a resolution concerning the hostage of crew members by Iran-backed Houthi forces, adopted on April 25 during a meeting in Strasbourg. The document was voted in favor by 357 MEPs, against by 20, and 58 abstained. “The European Parliament… Calls on the EU and its Member States to strengthen and intensify efforts to secure the safe and immediate release of all hostages taken (on board) the Galaxy Leader, including two Bulgarian, one Romanian and three Ukrainian nationals, who have been held by the Houthis since November 19, 2023,” the resolution noted. In addition, the European Parliament called on the EU High Representative and Member States to step up diplomatic efforts in this context and to engage all relevant parties to ensure the safe return of the captured Europeans without further delay. The document notes that Iran keeps the Yemeni Houthis under direct control and provides them with substantial military support. International shipping severely affected The International Chamber of Shipping has called on the international community to act to secure the immediate release of all 25 crew members of the 'Galaxy Leader', who have been seized by military force and held hostage by the Houthis.
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PAPUA JAYA 02
Rescuers from Timika, Central Papua, launched an SAR operation on April 25, 2024 after Muhammad Royani (43), a crew member of the 'Papua Jaya 02' was reported missing, after the vessel's skipper, Muhammad Hidayat, could not find him during breakfast on the morning. Royani may have fallen into the sea while defecating around 3 a.m. LT on April 24. Before calling for the Timika SAR Agency's help, the crew members tried to search for Royani around the Timika waters that the vessel had passed through earlier. After they failed to locate him, Hidayat decided to ask the SAR agency to help. Report with photo: https://en.antaranews.com/news/311814/search-on-for-missing-mv-papua-jaya-2-crew-sar
LU ZHOU
Beached at Chittagong 06.04.24 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=922708242980055&set=a.518272956756921
HMS DIAMOND
HMS 'Diamond' shot down a missile fired at a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden by Iranian-backed Houthis on April 24, 2024. The warship used a Sea Viper missile system to shoot down the missile, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said: “I want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for her vital role in saving innocent lives and protecting international shipping from illegal Houthi attacks.”
MSC ARIES
In the case regarding Indian crew members aboard the 'MSC Aries', seized by Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs said on April 25 that one of the 17 Indian crew members has safely returned to India and the others were safe. They will be released once their contractual obligations have been accomplished. The Ministry asked for consular access for the 16 seafarers, and the officers met them. Their health was good, and there was no problem of any kind on the ship. Concerning their return, there were some technicalities and contractual obligations. Once they are done, their return will be decided. This came as the Iranian envoy to India, Iraj Elahi, has said that the Indian crew members of the 'MSC Aries' wre not detained and that they were free to go.
KM BUKIT RAYA
The KM 'Bukit Raya' caught fire at the mouth of the Kapuas River, Jungkat District, Mempawah Regency, West Kalimantan on April 25, 2024. Smoke could be seen billowing from one of the rooms on the top deck of the ferry. The plan was for the ship to enter the Kapuas River and dock at Pontianak's Dwikora Harbor. The fire has been successfully extinguished. There was no information on the cause of the fire. A joint team of firefighters and Basarnas Pontianak have headed to the ship. Reports with photos and video: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2024/04/25/ 154550978/km-bukit-raya-burn-when-entering-muara-jungkat-kalbar-pelni-already-started#. https://www.viva.co.id/berita/nasional/1708638-km-bukit-raya-terbakar-di-muara-sungai-kapuas-penumpang-panik-berjibaku-padamkan-api https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r5evRUIwIU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikOKvmgrz20
LAS PALOMAS
The 'Las Palomas', with two crew members on board, suffered an engine failure on April 25, 2024, and asked for assistance about 14 nautical miles from Garrucha. The CCS Almería of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR vessel 'Salvamar Algenib', which took the pleasure boat in tow and safely pulled it to Garrucha. Report with photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1783492593738821689
ISLE OF ARRAN
The scheduled arrival in Brodick, Arran, on April 25, 2024, at 4.15 p.m. of the 'Isle of Arran' was delayed as it participated in an SAR operation and launched a fast rescue crraft. Also the Coastguard scrambled helicopters from Inverness and Stornoway, and RNLI lifeboats from Troon and Arran also rushed to the scene in the Firth of Clyde near Ardrossan. An RAF Poseidon plane was mobilized too. A fishing boat sank after smashing into a tanker between Ardrossan and Arran at around 3 p.m. The ‘RNLB Jim Moffat’ from Troon recovered the castaways from a liferaft. With initial casualty care being carried out by the volunteer lifeboat crews, the Troon lifeboat made best speed back to Troon to meet with the other partner emergency services at the lifeboat station. Once back at the lifeboat berth, the casualties were handed over to the care of the ambulance service and coastguard teams, and the lifeboat crew made the all-weather lifeboat ready for service with the assistance of the shore crew. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Police Scotland and MCA Survey and Inspection teams have been informed. Report with photos: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12550368/three-rescued-from-sinking-fishing-boat-after-horror-firth-of-clyde-crash/
NEWNEW POLAR BEAR
The 'Newnew Polar Bear' remains the prime suspect in causing damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline between NATO members Finland and Estonia, Finnish investigators said on April 25, 2024. It has been over six months since substantial, human-made damage that caused a major drop in pressure was first detected in the Balticconnector pipeline in Finnish economic waters on Oct. 8. Finland and Estonia's gas system operators were forced to shut it down, disconnecting a crucial link between the Nordic and Baltic gas markets for several months. The pipeline, which runs across the Gulf of Finland between the Finnish town of Inkoo and the Estonian port of Paldiski, was reopened this week after multimillion-euro repair work. The National Bureau of Investigation, a branch of the Finnish police, said that it still believed that an anchor of the 'Newnew Polar Bear', which was en route to St. Petersburg, Russia, was dislodged and caused the damage detected in Balticconnector. The investigation has progressed, and there has been cooperation with the Chinese authorities probing the case. The Finnish investigators haven't said whether they believed the damage allegedly caused by the Chinese vessel was done intentionally or whether it was caused by incompetent seafaring. The Finnish maritime authorities said at the time of the incident they failed to establish radio contact with the captain of the 'Newnew Polar Bear' despite several attempts.
MSC DARWIN VI
Yemen's Houthi group on April 26, 2024, claimed responsibility for an attack on the 'MSC Darwin VI', en route from Aden, in the Gulf of Aden and the launch of missiles toward the Israeli city of Eilat with a number of naval missiles and drones. The group consistently describes MSC-operated ships as "Israeli" for uncertain reasons. The master of the attacked ship reported a loud bang heard and a splash and smoke seen coming from the sea. He reported the vessel and all crew are safe. Military authorities" were sent to the scene to provide support. The ship berthed at the Dorealeh Container Terminal in Djibouti at 4.20ß a.m.
RED JET 6
Red Funnel has been forced to cancel eight of its hi-speed Red Jet sailings on April 25, 2024, due to technical issues. In the early afternoon the coolant pump of the 'Red Jet 6' failed, which resulted in the cancellation of the 12:40 p.m. sailing from Southampton and the departure at 1:15 p.m. from West Cowes. Also the 3:35 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 5:55 p.m. departures from Southampton and the 4:10 p.m., 5:20 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. sailings from West Cowes have all been pulled. The ship left Southampton again on April 26 at 8.20 a.m. and arrived in Coews at 8.40 a.m.
CG WILLOW
Two U.S. Coast Guard cutters returned a combined 92 migrants on April 24, 2024, following four separate interdictions of unlawful, irregular migration attempts over the weekend. The 'Isaac Mayo' transferred 40 people to the Bahamas, following two interdictions of migration attempts on April 19. The first of the two interdictions occurred on the morning when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Miami received notification from Border Patrol and CBP Air and Marine Operations crews that Miami-Dade Police were on-scene with a migrant venture in Biscayne Bay. The second interdiction occurred Friday night when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West received notification from Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crews of a migrant venture south of Key Largo, Florida. The crew of the 'William Trump' repatriated 52 people to Cuba, following two migration attempts on April 19, 2024 and April 21, 2024. The first of the two interdictions occurred on the morning of April 19, when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West received notification from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office of a migrant venture south of Boot Key. The second interdiction occurred on April 21 during the night hours, when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West received notification from the 'Willow' of a migrant venture south of Marathon, Florida. Once aboard the Coast Guard cutter, all migrants received food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention.
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
Four persons have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after five migrants including a child died trying to cross the English Channel on April 23. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said an 18-year-old from Sudan was arrested on the evening of April 24 at Manston migrant processing centre, in Kent, and was now being questioned in custody. Officers also detained a 22-year-old Sudanese man and a 22-year-old man from South Sudan on April 24. They were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the UK illegally. A 19-year-old man from Sudan initially arrested on April 23 has since been released without charge and was now being dealt with by immigration authorities. The 55 surviving boat passengers have already been interviewed and were expected to be spoken to further in the coming days. More than 400 migrants arrived in the UK on the day the group died. The agency and partners from Kent Police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force were working with French counterparts to investigate the circumstances of the deadly incident on a beach near Wimereu. A dinghy carrying more than 100 people set off from Wimereux at around 6 a.m. but got into difficulty. Three men, a woman and a girl died. 49 people were rescued, but 58 others refused to leave the boat and continued their journey towards the UK, with several other boats later embarking on the crossing. The incident reportedly took place as rival migrant groups all tried to scramble into the boat, causing it to become heavily overcrowded.
ANGARA
China has provided a berth for the 'Angara', which is under US sanctions and transports weapons, in Zhoushan. The British Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) claimed that the Angara has been anchored in the port of Zhoushan in China's Zhejiang province since Feb 2024. According to the British think tank, since August last year, the vessel has transported thousands of containers to Russian ports, which allegedly contained weapons from North Korea. The presence of a Russian vessel under sanctions in a Chinese port was further evidence that China is helping Russia wage war, despite repeated warnings from the USA that such assistance is unacceptable. It is expected that China's support for Russian aggression will be the main topic of discussion during Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's visit to Beijing. The United States has warned allies of China's expanding support for Russia, including the provision of geospatial intelligence. Allegedly, China has provided Russia with satellite imagery, microelectronics, machine tools for manufacturing tank components, optics and rocket fuel, and expanded cooperation in the space sector. Report with photo: https://mind.ua/en/news/20272812-china-allows-russian-arms-ship-to-use-its-berth
COLOR HYBRID
On April 25, 2024, at 11:45 a.m. the 'Color Hybrid' had to turn around on the first sailing of the day between Sandefjord and Strømstad. Two passengers needed medical assistance. 20 minutes after the ferry set off on the day's first trip to Strømstad, the ship was back in Sandefjord. Two ambulances attended at the port, once the ship had docked. The incident led to some delays, but the company Color Line hoped that the afternoon departures could go as scheduled. Report with photo: https://www.sb.no/hybriden-matte-avbryte-seilas-returnerte-til-sandefjord/s/5-73-1828718
X-PRESS PEARL
A judge has ruled that a claim against the London P&I Club over the sinking of the 'X Press Pearl' off the coast of Sri Lanka must be heard in the UK. The protection and indemnity club successfully argued that the case brought by cargo interests in Sri Lanka should be halted and arbitration brought to London. The judgment followed the trial of this action, which was held on April 12. Approved Judgement: https://jusmundi.com/en/document/pdf/decision/en-the-london-steam-ship-owners-mutual-insurance-association-ltd-v-trico-maritime-l-d-p-thisari-senanayake-s-d-k-prasanna-t-m-j-n-m-tennakoon-and-t-n-aluthwaththa-judgment-of-the-high-court-of-justice-of-england-and-wales-2024-ewhc-884-tuesday-23rd-april-2024