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In the evening of Feb 19, 2019, the "Cemsea III" suffered a mechanical failure in Baltic Sea NW of Hiiumaa island, en route from Liepaja to Turku. The voyage was interrupted, the ship sailed to Saaremaa island where it berthed on Feb 21.

In the afternoon of Feb 20, 2019, the "MSC Orchestra" allided with the "MSC Poesia" at the Benito Quinquela Martín at the port of Buenos Aires. The "MSC Orchestra" left the port bound to the final destination of the cruise which was Rio de Janeiro after a previous stopover in Montevideo. However, for causes that were under investigation by the Argentine Naval Prefecture, it scraped the port side of the "MSC Poesía", which had moored the same day, with it starboard side. While the damage was minor, the accident caused concern among the passengers of both ships. The "MSC Poesia" suffered damage to a structure that protruded from the hull. The "MSC Orchestra" left the port at 10.40 p.m., bound to Punta dell Este. The "MSC Poesia" remained stationary at the Terminal Rio de Plata S.A. in Buenos Aires. Spanish report with video: https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2019/02/21/chocaron-dos-buques-de-pasajeros-en-en-el-puerto-de-buenos-aires/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=RhZv2jkR7O0

Container terminals managed by DP World Australia are set for delays and increased turnaround times as stevedores with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) prepare to strike. Workers at DP World Brisbane, DP World Fremantle, DP World Melbourne and DP World Sydney have been granted approval from the Fair Work Commission to hold a ballot allowing protected strike action after DP World said it would cancel a union-backed income protection scheme. “Wharfies working at container terminals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle are outraged after management at DP World Australia — the largest stevedore in the country — moved to strip them of income protection insurance unless they accepted the company’s demands,” stated the MUA.

The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Friday suspended all coking coal handling operations at Mormugao Port Trust owing to “deteriorating air quality” in Vasco in South Goa. The order impacts South West Port Limited, a subsidiary of Jindal Steel and Adani, which imports coking coal at the port and transports it to its steel plants in north Karnataka. The order said that the operations had been suspended as heavy winds were carrying soot into residential areas.

On Feb 20, 2019, at 11.30 p.m. the "Vlaanderen VII", 941 gt (IMO-Nr.: 9198173), allided with the wooden pierhead at the port of Blankenberge, damaging fenders and breaking off poles. As the damage to the structurer had yet to be assessed, the jetty was partially closed. The shipping police conducted a further research in cooperation with the Maritime Services and Coast Agency (MDK). Some beams have been broken and some of the railing has also been demolished. The ship itself suffered little damage and was able to continue its dredging work in the port channel. There was no hindrance for other ships that intended to enter the port. The local police called for caution by walkers and cyclists, but the stability of the jetty was not at risk. Dutch reports with photos: https://www.hln.be/regio/blankenberge/baggerschip-vaart-tegen-oosterstaketsel-in-blankenberge-geen-gevaar-meer-voor-stabiliteit~a9e95205/ https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20190221_04195453

After all salvage preparations have been completed, the salvors were now waiting for a weather window of 5-6 days with winds below 10 meters per seconds and waves not higher than half a meter. Ot is not necessary for the crane to lift the frigate completely out of the water, but only so much that the lower part of the frigate is located eight meters below the water surface so that the submersible lighter can be pushed under the frigate. The rest of the lifting operatioon will take place by emptying the lighter's water tanks. The lifting operation will be carried out very slowly so that the water can run out of the frigate, thereby reducing the weight and the pressure on the lifting chains. If it was necessary to interrupt the salvage, e.g. due to a sudden change of the weather situation, the frigate will slowly be lowered again onto the rock bottom. In addition to the place where the frigate had sunk, two more places have been identified nearby where the frigate could be deposited on the bottom if necessary. If an emergency should occur, it is possible to drop the frigate where it is, but it would make a later recovery operation more difficult. Regarding the weather development, the salvage will hardly take place before Easter.

The new Rio-class container vessels visiting Port Chalmers weekly are causing sleepless nights for some residents, because of large, noisy generators aboard the bigger ships. The issue has prompted the port company to begin noise assessments at its various wharves and look for ways to mitigate the problem.

APM Terminals holds the concession to operate the Free Port of Monrovia for 25 years. Vessels coming to Liberia can now berth at the Freeport of Monrovia any time of the day and this has eliminated vessel waiting time and has improved efficiency and reduced logistics cost, APM Terminals Liberia announced on Wednesday, February 13, 2019. According to an official release, the company has commenced the berthing of vessels 24-hour a day at the Freeport of Monrovia. “Until now, the berthing, mooring, pilotage, and towage of vessels at the Freeport of Monrovia was restricted to only day-time operations between 8am-6pm,” the release said.

In the afternoon of Feb 20, 2019, the "MSC Orchestra" allided with the "MSC Poesia" at the Benito Quinquela Martín at the port of Buenos Aires. The "MSC Orchestra" left the port bound to the final destination of the cruise which was Rio de Janeiro after a previous stopover in Montevideo. However, for causes that were under investigation by the Argentine Naval Prefecture, it scraped the port side of the "MSC Poesía", which had moored the same day, with it starboard side. While the damage was minor, the accident caused concern among the passengers of both ships. The "MSC Poesia" suffered damage to a structure that protruded from the hull. The "MSC Orchestra" left the port at 10.40 p.m., bound to Punta dell Este. The "MSC Poesia" remained stationary at the Terminal Rio de Plata S.A. in Buenos Aires. Spanish report with video: https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2019/02/21/chocaron-dos-buques-de-pasajeros-en-en-el-puerto-de-buenos-aires/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=RhZv2jkR7O0

sold to Breakers 420 USD/TO as is Colombo with additional payment for available bunkers

DP World has recently launched a new water distribution centre increasing water supplies in Somaliland’s Berbera by 60 percent. The US$1 million project started in 2018 and includes four water wells, two shallow pools, two water troughs, a concrete reservoir tank and seven kilometre pipeline connected to the main water supply.

Feb 18 (Reuters) – A Spanish warship tried to order commercial shipping to leave anchorages in British waters near Gibraltar but was challenged by the British navy and sailed away, Gibraltar said, the latest example of tension over the strategic port as Brexit approaches. The Spanish ship tried to order ships to leave their anchorages on the eastern side of the Rock, but the ships stayed in position, Gibraltar’s authorities said. After being challenged by the British navy, the Spanish warship then sailed slowly along the coast with its weapons uncovered and manned. Spanish authorities did not immediately comment on the issue.