News

The 'Celanova' and its crew of 15 remained stranded one nautical mile from the shore of Manila four months after it was abandoned by its owner and eventually held by Philippine port state control authorities for rudder damage and several technical issues. But as travel restrictions were eased and lockdowns were lifted by the Philippine government, the 'Celanova' still has no immediate respite from its uncertain conditions. It was towed nearer to the port of Manila from its original position for safety reasons. The owner went bankrupt and tried to sell the vessel to pay four months’ worth of back wages of its crew. The Spanish mortgage bank, Abanca, however, did not allow the transaction. The ITF notified and asked for assistance from the American Club (AC), the financial security provider of Celanova, on Feb 22. At that time, the crew was already unpaid for five months. It was not until June 5 when AC responded. AC asked for the ship to enter port for them to start taking responsibility. The ship's ordeal began on Dec. 7, 2019 when it broke down and lost its rudder off the Philippine coast. Ten days later, it was towed to anchor in Manila Bay and was detained on Feb. 14, 2020 by the Philippine port state control after authorities found it to be in breach of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) due to months of unpaid wages. Its 15 crew, 13 of which are Cubans and two are Spanish, were left without electricity, lights, refrigeration, global positioning system, security lights, and Wi-Fi. Their mobile phones have also run out of batteries and the vessel wsa dangerously low on fuel, food, fresh water and medicines. The crew have also been reported to be sleeping on deck as there is no air conditioning, but storms on the metro’s coast forced the seafarers to take shelter in the dark below the deck, rendering them helpless should the vessel drag its anchor with the strong currents. For months leading to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the 'Celanova' and its men relied on the generosity and kindness of Filipinos who would bring them food, water and other provisions while anchored 13 nautical miles out at sea.

The 43 migrants rescued on June 30 by the 'Marre Jonio' in the central Mediterranean were disembarked in the morning of July 1 in Augusta, in the province of Syracuse. The port was assigned the evening before by the MRCC Maritime Coordination Center of Rome. The 43 castaways were in good health and were to be transferred to a reception facility.

Somali boarts

Port of Itaqui - At the Itaqui Port Complex, ANVISA (Health Authority), made the quarantine flexible for 7 (seven) days. The rule is as follows: 1 - Crew members must stay in a fit hotel single room (each one), for 7 (seven) days before the ship's arrival and must be evaluated daily by a doctor regarding temperature control and general health conditions, who will make a report to ANVISA at the end of the 7 (seven) days. 2 - ANVISA will give consent for boarding and Immigration will do embark / disembark procedures. Note: Immigration will not authorize embark / disembark of seafarers without ANVISA's approval. 3 - According to the last virtual meeting with the board of FENAMAR (Federation of Shipping Agencies in Brazil), a visit to ANVISA will be organized in Brasília in order to clarify and give definition of procedures for changing crew members (seafares). 4 – VALE (iron ore terminal – PDM) in São Luís, only will authorizes disembark of crew members in case of medical assistance. The crew is being exchanged at anchorage by helicopter or speedboat via public port access (EMAP). Any questions please feel free to ask. By Noel Magioli - GAC Logistic

The 'Vista Star' was disabled by a mechanical failure on June 30, 2020, at 11 a.m. in the Duluth Harbor, requiring assistance from the Coast Guard. The ship was adrift near the Aerial Lift Bridge with 33 people on board. They were all ordered to wear life jackets. The vessel had to be to towed and pushed by other ships including the Coast Guard towards its docking place by the DECC, where others ashore took up the lines and pulled it in. No one was injured. All tours for July 1 were halted, and the hope was to be back up and running for the 4th of July Weekend.

The number of migrants who were tested positive for COVID 19 rose to 30 on the quarantine ship "Moby Zazà". After being rescued in the Mediterranean by the humanitarian vessel "Sea Watch 3", 211 migrants had been transferred to the quarantine ship and had been swabbed from which emerged the presence of 28 cases of coronavirus, who were immediately isolated on a deck of the ship. From the daily tests of the last few days, however, two other infections have resulted.

Update movent

The current pandemic moment has caused the Brazilian federal government and the state governments to carry out coordinated actions, in order to avoid restrictions to cargo circulation during lockdown. Following the understanding of the G20 and the IMO/UN, the Federal Government declared shipping to be fundamental to the country's supply chain and the economy not to collapse; Updates In the beginning of this month, the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) published the Informative Note 02/2020, providing a better interpretation on the rules regarding crew change, and relaxing the restrictions on repatriation processes. In this Informative Note, ANVISA expressly states that do not apply anymore the terms of the Technical Note 86/2020, by which the repatriation of seafarers depended on the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The necessity of such approval became obsolete since the Ministries of Justice, Health and Infrastructure signed Ordenance 225/2020, which, making reference to the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (1958), establishes a safety protocol and relaxed the process for the crewmembers repatriation. The Federal Police and National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) still need to be contacted and provided with information on the situation of the crewmembers who are to be disembarked for repatriation. The entry of foreigners remains generally prohibited in Brazil, both by air and water. The exceptions to the seafarers exist only because cargo transportation/shipping sector is regarded as an essential service for supplying cities and the IMO had complained on the situation of seafares who could not leave their vessels even when their contracts had expired, because the shipping company could not change the crewmembers, as the seafarers could not enter brazilian territory. Even so, the measures adopted due to COVID-19 continue to impact the routine of many ports in the North and Northeast of Brazil, as the restriction of the circulation of people and vehicles have side effects in the functioning of the delicated port logistics. The air network continues to be severely restricted and with low demand, which ends up impacting the port / shipping sector, specifically the pilotage in the north of the country and the transport of surveyors / experts / crew and other professionals to more remote port areas. Santana (AP) - Reinforced controls by Health Authorities, as daily updates on crew members temperatures before free pratique granted. - Immigration working from home office and all clearance will be done by electronic system. No papers are required. - Crewmembers are not authorized to come alongside unless otherwise requested by local Authorities. - Ports and terminals on skeleton staff - All entrance clearances, boarding access to the vessels is highly suggested to be avoided and will be deeply checked by authorities, if not necessary it will not be granted. - Due to issues in the aviation sector, pilots are struggling to reach the city in time, with some sailing maneuverers having been delayed. Upon suggestion of the pilot companies, charter flights are being used as an alternative, with the shipping companies paying for all the costs, until the situation is normalized. Santarém (PA) - Reinforced controls by Health Authorities, as daily updates on crewmembers temperatures before free pratique granted - Immigration working from home office and all clearance will be done by electronic system. No papers are required. - Crewmembers are not authorized to come alongside unless otherwise requested by local Authorities. - All entrance clearances, boarding access to the vessels is highly suggested to be avoided and will be deeply checked by authorities, if not necessary it will not be granted - Ports and terminals on skeleton staff - Due to issues in the aviation sector, pilots are struggling to reach the city in time, with some sailing maneuverers having been delayed. Upon suggestion of the pilot companies, charter flights are being used as an alternative, with the shipping companies paying for all the costs, until the situation is normalized. Municipal administration decrees curfew (except for essential activities) to take effect as of April 09. lFor these essential activities, workers must be wearing their company's uniform or name tag, to identify themselves and inform the authorities their line of work, be it in the port or while aboard the vessels. Vila do Conde (PA) - Reinforced controls by Health Authorities, as per National standards - Ports operations working with reduced staff due to risk of virus contamination, however without affecting any loading or discharge operation - Crewmembers are not authorized to come alongside unless otherwise requested by local Authorities. Itacoatiara (MA) Because of the rainy seasons and the lack of flights due to COVID-19, all night shift manoeuvres will be previously analysed by a Port Operations Specialist, taking into account the following conditions before approving the manoeuvres: river current ; amount of cargo and weather and crew. Reinforced controls by Health Authorities, as daily updates on the crewmembers body temperature are required. Temperature measurement period to be confirmed. Hermasa Terminal is minimizing the stay of their workers on vessel's deck, leading to the following changes: - No availability of hand trimming. Loading plans must be adjusted considering it. - Shifting of shiploader between holds will be done from shore side and shifts among the far end holds must be avoided at night time - Mooring will be performed by shore side only, assisted by photos sent thru the agency - Due to issues in the aviation sector, pilots are struggling to reach the city in time, with some sailing maneuverers having been delayed. Upon suggestion of the pilot companies, charter flights are being used as an alternative, with the shipping companies paying for all the costs, until the situation is normalized. ITAQUI/ ALUMAR / PDM (MA) São Luís, state capital with three ports, is reopening. After the lockdowns on the capital and other cities were lifted on May 18th, With such, previous restrictions are back in place. As transport and logistics are deemed essential services, the employees can leave their homes and work normally, with general caution measures. Port complexes Located in São Luís, the Public Port of Itaqui, the Ponta da Madeira Terminal and the ALUMAR Terminal are operating normally. Cargo Movement exempted from restrictions. - Agents Port meeting, comercial visitors, workshops and training courses are suspended. - Compulsory usage of facemask and gloves within Port premises and vessels. - Crewmembers are not allowed to leave the vessel, except for medical needs. Crew change temporally suspended. MUCURIPE / PECÉM (CE) June 1st – Lockdown ends in Fortaleza. Other cities are kept under lockdown. Fortaleza, the state capital, is no longer under lockdown under lockdown, which lasted from May 8th. to May 31st. After having accomplished the transition phase, the city is under phase 1 of 4. There are barriers in the entries of some cities of the state under lockdown, but cargo transport is exempted from any restriction. Port activity remains normal both in Mucuripe (Fortaleza) and Pecém. - Many flights inbound to Fortaleza were cancelled due to the drop in the demand caused by the restrictions. - Passenger Ships are not authorized to come alongside unless otherwise requested by local Authorities. - Despite the lockdown, both Pecém and Fortaleza ports are functioning normally. AREIA BRANCA / NATAL (RN) Rio Grande do Norte (RN) has two major ports. One of them is in Natal, the capital of the state, which is under general restrictions, with stores and offices closed so that people can stay at their homes. As essential services are exempted from these measures, cargo transport/shipping is normal, with typical restrictions on gatherings and personal contact. The other port is the the Porto-Ilha, a port built for salt export in an artificial island deep sea, with a base in Areia Branca, a city which is the most important industrial pole for salt production in Brazil. Areia Branca is under lockdown as of June 12th. The lockdown shall remain until June 21st. Apart from those who work in essential activities, people can only leave their houses for medical reasons and to buy food. Cargo transport/shipping are also deemed essential activies, but it is not clear if the production of salt itself will be affected, which is unlikely as it generates much of the revenue of the municipality. - Agents Port meeting, commercial visitors, workshops and training courses are suspended. Compulsory usage of facemask and gloves within Port premises and vessels. RECIFE (PE) - Agents Port meeting, commercial visitors, workshops and training courses are suspended. Compulsory usage of facemask and gloves within Port premises and vessels. - Crewmembers are not allowed to leave the vessel, except for medical needs. Crew change temporally under restrictions. MACEIÓ (AL) - Passenger Ships are not authorized to come alongside unless otherwise requested by local Authorities. - Crew change under restrictions. TMIB (SE) - Reinforced controls by Health Authorities, as per National standards SALVADOR/COTEGIPE/ILHÉUS (BA) - Reinforced controls by Health Authorities, as per National standards - Crewmembers are not authorized to come alongside unless otherwise requested by local Authorities. - Strict policy for protective gear including face mask are also in force Source: Promare

The 'Carnival Legend' while sailing off the coast of the Bahamas in the morning of July 1, responded to a distress call of a yacht that had run out of fuel. They were able to provide the small ship with about 25 gallons of diesel fuel, which allowed the vessel to make its way back to Jacksonville, Florida. The 'Carnival Legend' is currently biding its time off the coast of the Bahamas during the cruise industry’s suspension of operations. Report with photo: https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-cruise-ship-assists-stranded-vessel-in-bahamas/

On June 30 the 'Ocean Viking' rescued anothter 47 Libyan refugees in the SAR zone of Malta close to Lampedusa. Their wooden boat was without water and with a damaged engine. Seven had already passed out. The first emergency call was at 9 a.m. The migrants had been at sea for 4 or 5 days without water or food and were adrift 40 miles from Lampedusa. At 7.30 p.m. the 'Ocean Viking' came to the rescue.

Somali boarts

June 12, 2020 - 10:00 LT - Bulk carrier STELLAR BANNER, by decision of P&I, shipowners and Brazilian authorities, decided to sink the ship, about 150 km from the coast of Maranhao State (Brazilian coast) with about 1500 meters depth. About 250.000 mt of iron ore remained on board.