The Walloon Waterways Directorate continued to deal with the 'Kepejora', that sank in Auvelais. After the barge has been emptied of its 1,400 tons of scrap cargo, a specialized company was preparing the wreck for refloating on July 29, using powerful pumps, which have to remove the same amount of water from the flooded holds, in an effort to quickly restore ship traffic on the Sambre, which remained suspended due to a pollution threat. Report with photo: https://www.lavenir.net/regions/namur/2025/07/29/sambreville-dans-la-peniche-coulee-1-400-000-litres-deau-a-pomper-6YQMZR4RR5FRJCNSKZYPIPX7GY/
News
MEDITERRANEE
The French shipping company Corsica Linea has announced the cancellation of a crossing between Marseille and Algiers by the 'Méditerranée', scheduled for June 29,. The ship was unable to leave the port of Algiers for reasons beyond the control of the shipowner. On June 28, Corsica Linea indicated that the 'Méditerranée' was still immobilized in Algiers, preventing it from making its rotation to Marseille scheduled for June 29. Corsica Linea urged passengers affected by this cancellation not to show up at the port of Marseille. The company has set up an information system including text messages and phone calls to warn affected travelers. The shipowner assured that it would provide additional information as soon as possible, This cancellation came amid recurring tensions surrounding port controls between France and Algeria. On June 26, 2025, Algérie Ferries had issued a statement explaining that the ferry 'El Venizelos', chartered for the summer season, had been detained in Marseille for nearly a week. The detention was the result of a routine inspection conducted by the French port authorities. These checks revealed the need to improve certain of the ferry's equipment to ensure its proper functioning. Despite this restraint, Algérie Ferries reassured its customers that the detention of the 'El Venizelos' would have no impact on its summer schedule with the rest of its fleet continuing to operate its usual routes between Algeria and Europe.
Chittagong
The trial transshipment of goods from India to its northeast, via the sea route, started on Tuesday after four containers bound for the region were unloaded from a merchant vessel at Bangladesh's Chittagong port, officials said on Tuesday. India and Bangladesh had signed an MOU for goods for northeast India transiting via Bangladesh's ports - a small but significant opening up of both Bangladesh's ports under the broader economic relationship between the two countries. Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk told on Tuesday: "The first ship under the trial run of transshipment of Indian goods to its northeastern states through Bangladesh arrived at Chattogram (Chittagong) port on Tuesday morning. "MV Shejyoti, carrying back to Chattogam 4 TEUs (20-feet equivalent unit) with 221 containers full of transhipment goods from India's Haldia port, reached the NCT-1 Berth, the outer anchorage of Chattogram port at around 1.25 a.m. But as night navigation is restricted in the port, that is why we started the navigation at morning," he said. MV Shejyoti had left the Syama Prasad Mukherjee port of Kolkata on July 17. Handling of the containers was completed before midnight and the container trailers started for Akhaura with an escort provided by Bangladesh's customs security. Shipping agent sources said the four containers under the trial transshipment contain iron rods and pulses. Those will head to Agartala through the Akhaura Land Port. The consignment of rods will be brought to West Tripura's Jirania from Agartala, while the pulses will go to Assam's Karimganj. Habibur Rahman of Mango Lines, the agent for the merchant vessel, had said that offloading may begin also on Tuesday after completing the formalities. Indian transshipment goods would enjoy a 28-day free-stay after offloading at the port as per the international transshipment agreement. Bangladesh will earn 254 takas from the scanning of each container loaded with transshipment goods. Bangladeshi importers also pay the same charge. Similarly, 30 takas document processing fee for each consignment of Indian goods will be levied, the same amount charged on Bangladeshi importers. Joint Commissioner of the Customs House S.M. Shamsuzzaman said the transshipped goods will have to pay police 50 takas per tonne as escort charge to reach the Indian border in Tripura from the port by road. Usually a 20 feet container carries a maximum of 30 tons of goods. According to this estimation, Bangladesh will realise around 1, 500 takas as escort charge for accompanying goods of a container to the border. Akhaura Customs Officer Harunur Rashid said they have taken necessary preparations for the transportation of the Indian goods, under the trial run. India is transporting goods to its northeastern states, using Bangladeshi ports, as per the agreement on "The Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of Goods to and from India" signed between Dhaka and Delhi in 2018 and a standard operating procedure (SoP) signed in October 2019. Earlier, the Indian government used the Ashuganj river port to transport goods for the Palatana Power Plant in Tripura through the Akhaura land port. On the new chapter in connectivity with Bangladesh via container shipping, India's Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the transit route will open new opportunities for both countries. He said that it will provide an alternative and shorter route to connect the northeast region through Bangladesh, reducing distance and time taken in transportation of goods for India and is a win-win for both the economies. On the other hand, job creation, investment in the logistical sector, enhanced business services and revenue generation are advantages that will accrue to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi vessels and trucks will be utilised to move the Indian cargo, the Indian government said. India and Bangladesh have enhanced cooperation in shipping and inland water trade in recent years. Under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, in addition to the six existing Ports of Call, five more in each country have been added recently. Dredging of inland waterway routes is ongoing under an MoU, signed by the two countries on development of selected stretches of Bangladesh waterways. The trial transportation of goods to the northeastern states by road, via Bangladesh, had started earlier.
FV VIRGINIE
On July 28, 2025, the 'Virginie' got its propeller fouled by a part of its trawl while fishing about 26 nautical miles west of Pointe de la Hague in the English Channel near the Casquets TSS, and requested towing assistance at around 4:00 a.m. The CROSS Jobourg mobilized the lifeboat of the SNSM station Goury-La Hague, which took the trawler in tow and pulled it to the port of Cherbourg. Report with photo: https://www.ouest-france.fr/societe/faits-divers/au-large-de-la-pointe-de-la-hague-la-snsm-remorque-un-chalutier-en-action-de-peche-35238e4c-6bb5-11f0-bf3f-03e335cb8146
REACH REMOTE 1
The emergency services responded on July 28, 2025, at 1:05 p.m. to a gas leak on the 'Reach Remote 1', one of the offshore service provider Massterly's two USV vessels, in Kristiansund. Hydrogen fluoride, probably from a battery cell that had leaked, while the vessel was docked, and work was carried out on board. One man who was working on board inhaled the gas, became nauseous and was taken to the emergency room. The rest of the crew has been evacuated. The fire department established a safety distance of 50 meters and quickly isolated the leak. The cause of the incident was likely a short circuit in a battery cell that has led to a leak. At 1:30 p.m., the fire department had controlled the temperature and isolated the gas. The temperature was unchanged, and there was no risk of an explosion. The room where the leak occurred has been sealed off, and there was no longer any ongoing gas leak from the room. At 2:30 p.m., the entire dhip, with the exception of the room that has been sealed off, has been ventilated. The ship builder was contacted to handle the case further. An investigation was launched.
Chittagong
A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control The blazing fire at the Chittagong port was brought under control on Wednesday evening 15 July 2020. Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has formed a five-member probe body, headed by Zafar Alam, Member (Administration and Planning) of the CPA, to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage. The CPA Secretary Omark Faruk confirmed the matter. “Although the fire has been brought under control, smoke is still billowing from the gutted goods,” said the Secretary, The blazing fire originated at Shed No 3 of the maritime port at around 4pm on Wednesday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room in Agrabad, Chittagong city. A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control. According to the CPA, goods like foam, fabrics, machineries, papers, and soda meant for destruction were stockpiled at the No.3 shed of the port. AIS/Station/ BDCGP
KVALOY
The 'Kvaløy' suffered technical problems and had to be removed from the route Småge – Finnøya – Sandøya – Ona on July 28., The speed boat 'Lagertha' was inserted as a replacement with a departure from Ona at 12:00 p.m., following the established timetable and taking a maximum of 46 passengers. The 'Kvaløy' was sidelined in Småge and expected back in operation on July 30, departing from Ona at 05:20 a.m. Between 10 and 15 cars that were supposed to travel by ferry were stuck at the ferry pier of Ona for the time being.