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The Thurso lifeboat "The Taylors" was launched on April 22, 2019, at 5.55 p.m. in response to a report from the Coastguard that the "Stella Polaris" had suffered engine failure. The creel fishing vessel had lost power 7,5 miles west of Holburn Head. The lifeboat arrived on scene at 6.25 p.m. and secured a tow rope. Both vessels arrived back in Scrabster at 7.05 p.m. The lifeobat then proceeded to take part in a prearranged training exercise in Thurso Bay. Report with photo: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2019/april/23/thurso-lifeboat-tows-boat-back-to-scrabster

The "Strait Feronia" was leaking oil into the Cook Strait - maybe for months - with no clear solution in sight. The leak was minor - five litres in a 24-hour period at most - but a fix for the problem would require a trip overseas to a dry dock. The leak was noticed in one of the Strait Feronia's two stem tube seals. There was an intermittent leak of oil that sometimes was nothing and some days was up to five litres. Bluebridge had been using expensive bio-degradable lubricant until the problem was fixed. The closest dry dock of sufficient size was in Sydney but it was a naval dock that was hard to get a slot in. The ferry was now using a biodegradable oil to minimise any potential environmental impact.

(Reuters) – Congo Republic shipped its first iron ore exports on Friday from a rehabilitated deep-water port that will be used by Congolese billionaire Paul Obambi’s Sapro SA and Swiss commodities giant Glencore. Sapro mined the oil-dependent Central African country’s first iron ore in 2017 from its Mayoko project in the southwest and plans to reach output of 12 million tonnes per year by 2022. Glencore’s joint venture with British Virgin Islands-incorporated Zanaga Iron Ore Co plans to ship 2 million tonnes of iron ore per year through Sapro’s port and rail link over the next two years, and 30 million tonnes by 2024. Sapro, the Congolese government and British shipping company Ashley Global are spending a combined $550 million on rehabilitation to Pointe Noire’s deep-water port, the Mayoko mine and an old railway track connecting the two. At a ceremony on Friday in Pointe Noire attended by the mines minister, a ship loaded with 23,000 tonnes of ore set sail for China, where it will be processed for a European buyer.

The Arkona offshore wind farm has been officially opened by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. ‘Arkona is an iconic project for future generations - built today!’ The opening ceremony was held in Sassnitz, Germany, on board one of Van Oord’s installation vessels, the company said in its release. E.ON awarded Van Oord the contract for the transport and installation of the 60 monopiles and transition pieces in 2016. Heavy-lift installation vessel Svanen completed these works safely, on time and to the full satisfaction of the client in 2018. The 385 megawatts wind farm is located in the Baltic Sea, about 35 kilometres north of Rügen Island, Germany. The offshore wind farm provides 400,000 homes with sustainable energy and displace approximately 1.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. This reduction fits to the goals set by the German government to reduce CO2 emissions in 2020 with 40% compared to 1990.

On April 22, 2019, around 10:30 p.m. the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted after a fire broke out aboard the "Saint Jean Pierre - BL.589306", 10 gt, in the Traffic Separation Zone of Pas de Calais 26 miles off Boulogne-sur-Mer. The fire was spotted by another fishing vessel, the "Loïc II", after the crew of the distressed ship had fired two red rockets. The three crew members were recovered safe and sound by the "Loïc II". The CROSS Gris-Nez deployed the tug "Abeille Languedoc" to try to extinguish the fire on the ship while a Falcon 50 of the National Navy monitored the area. Despite all the efforts made, the ship sank in the English zone around 1 a.m. on April 23. French report with photo: https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/incendie-a-bord-d-un-navire-de-peche-au-large-de-boulogne-sur-mer-62

Court-mandated surveys described the "Babylon" as being in structurally sound, serviceable condition and free of any significant damage. The "Babylon" was estimated to have a market value of US dollars 17 million. The vessel was set to be sold through a sealed bidding process, with offers due in at the Sheriff of Singapore?s office at 3 p.m. on April 23, 2019. The tanker was arrested by the Singapore Supreme Court in Singapore on Jan 8, 2019.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) has ordered a fifth Edge Class cruise vessel for its Celebrity Cruises brand from Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, with delivery in the fall of 2024.

Matson, Inc. , a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, has received three new 65 long-ton capacity gantry cranes at its Honolulu hub terminal at Sand Island. The biggest ship-to-shore container cranes to be deployed at any commercial harbor in Hawaii, the cranes arrived aboard a special heavy-lift vessel on Saturday and were positioned for discharge starting this morning. Matson's acquisition of the new cranes, along with the upgrading of three existing cranes and other improvements, is part of a multi-year $60 million terminal expansion and modernization project at its hub that is tied to the deployment of four new ships between 2018 and 2020. Built for Matson by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, the new cranes weigh approximately 1,290 tons each and will have greater lifting capacity, height and reach than existing cranes, which will enable full service of Matson's new, larger ships.

In the Tanjung Redeb, Berau Regency, the "Kapal Pekan Riau" allided with the embankment of the Segah River on April 22, 2019, at 10.30 a.m. The top of the plaster which was cast in concrete and had a thickness of about 60 centimeters. was broken in the accident which happened when the ship was about to dock at the Port of Tanjung Redeb. The "Kapal Pekan Riau" was carrying around 200 containers and maneuvered too fast and rubbed against concrete slabs with its port side bow, causing a friction along 40 meters. The top of the plaster was damaged at four points with one point suffering severe damage. Reports with photo and video: http://kaltim.tribunnews.com/2019/04/22/disenggol-kapal-pekan-riau-turap-sungai-segah-hancur https://www.korankaltim.com/berita-terkini/read/22727/viral-video-turap-sungai-segah-disenggol-kapal-besar-polisi-selidiki https://www.korankaltim.com/berita-terkini/read/22752/kapal-penabrak-turap-sungai-segah-tidak-boleh-berlayar http://berau.prokal.co/read/news/60059-kapal-kargo-seruduk-turap-sungai-segah.html

The arrest of the "Arita" in Singapore, where it arrived on April 5, 2019, could be the first of many for Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). The shipmanager filed a US Dollars 1.92 million claim against the vessel for unpaid bunker bills, crew-wages, ship chandler services, ship repair costs and provision of services. With the United Stated taking a tough stance against the state-owned PDVSA and all in shipping who deal with it, BSM?s long-standing relationship with PDVSA had to come to an end. According to a news agency, PDVSA owes BSM, crews and suppliers at least US dollars 15 million.

The Port of Oakland will add new direct service to Vietnam by late April. Pacific International Lines (PIL) will launch direct Vietnam links using vessels that can carry up to 11,900 twenty-foot containers. PIL’s new service is called AC5 and is in partnership with Cosco and Wan Hai. New Vietnam-US West Coast service: Haiphong, Vietnam loop – Haiphong, Nansha, Hong Kong, Yantian, Long Beach, Oakland, Yantian, Haiphong (AC5) “PIL’s new direct service from the Port of Oakland is a good sign of increasing demand on Vietnam routes,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “Vietnam is showing strong growth in its import and export markets.”

Less than one month after Carnival Cruise Line announced it was pulling its ships out of Antigua’s cruise port, officials have reached an agreement that will bring Carnival ships back to the island on new terms. "The Government of Antigua and Barbuda representatives, having had further dialogue with executives from Carnival Corporation, fully understand and acknowledge the misunderstandings of the past," reads a statement issued by the Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda on Monday. "Both parties expressed their desire to maintain the relationship that has been in place for the last 30 years." Under the agreement with Global Ports Holding, a ports development company, the cruise facilities at St. John’s, Antigua, would be updated and expanded in coming years to accommodate four mega cruise vessels, homeporting operations and improved shopping experiences within the terminal.