On the morning of April 18, 2025, several migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez off the coasts of Pas-de-Calais and Nord. First, a boat was reported departing from Cap Blanc-Nez. The CROSS deployed an aircraft to monitor the boat's departure and the Gendarmerie's RHIB 'Ouranos', which was then relieved by the 'Cormoran' to continue monitoring the boat. The crew launched their operational droma boat (EDO) to make contact with the boat. The occupants refused the offered assistance. The 'Cormoran' continued its surveillance of the boat until arriving in the British SAR region, where it was taken over by the British emergency services. During the recovery by British assets assisted by the 'Cormoran', one person was reported unconscious. A medevac was coordinated by the British rescue center. The victim was declared dead as they approached Dover. At the same time, the CROSS engaged the 'Oyapock' of the Maritime Gendarmerie, to relocate a migrant boat adrift from Gravelines. Once there, the vessel made contact with the boat's occupants, who refused the assistance offered. Shortly after, the occupants requested assistance from the vessel, which then picked up all nine occupants before dropping them off at the port of Dunkirk. Late in the morning, a migrant boat set sail from Equihen beach. The 'Pluvier' was hired by CROSS to locate and monitor the boat. The boat was heavily laden. While conducting surveillance near the boat, the 'Pluvier' reported the deflation of the boat's inflatable tubes and people who had fallen into the water. The victims in the water were immediately recovered by the 'Pluvier's EDO. The 'Minck' was deployed to support the 'Pluvier'. A total of 15 people were rescued. The other occupants of the boat refused all assistance and resumed their journey, under the supervision of the 'Minck', towards British waters after having managed to reinflate the boat's inflatable tube. In total, 24 people were rescued by French resources.
News
FELIX
Leaking diesel fuel contaminated the water surface in Brunsbüttel's Elbe port on the morning of April 16, 2025. The cause was an overflow during the loading/bunkering process of the 'Felix'. At 8:45 a.m., officers from the Brunsbüttel Water Police Station were called to respond to the incident . The tug had lost a small amount of fuel while bunkering diesel. Some of the spilled fuel entered the Elbe River. Emergency response was not necessary because the fuel had already evaporated due to the strong current. The Brunsbüttel Water Police, in consultation with the Itzehoe Public Prosecutor's Office, has initiated an investigation for water pollution.
SUPERSTAR
On the morning of April 18, 2025, the Port Authority of Volos was informed by the Captain of the 'Superstar', that during the execution of its scheduled route from the port of Volos to the ports of Skiathos-Skopelos and return, a failure was detected in the port side main engine. The ship returned to the port of Volos, where it safely disembarked 427 passengers. The Central Port Authority of Volos prohibited the departure of the ship until the presentation of a certificate of class maintenance from the classification society that monitors it, while the passengers were transported with the company's care.
WAN XIANG 699
The death toll from the capsized of the 'Hong Hai 16' in the vicinity of Barangay Malawaan, Rizal, in Occidental Mindoro, has climbed to four, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on April 17. Divers from the Coast Guard Special Operations Unit – Southern Tagalog (SOU-STL) recovered two more bodies – one from the accommodation area below the wheelhouse at 8:15 a.m. and another body at a cabin located at the main deck at 11:36 a.m. 14 crew members survived the incident while seven others remained missing. The survivors have been requested to assist in the identification of the recently recovered cadaver. The Coast Guard Special Operations Unit – Southern Tagalog conducted on April 17 an underwater SAR operation, while the Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection – Emergency Response Group Southern Tagalog deployed oil spill booms around the capsized vessel to contain a possible oil spill and ensure the protection of the marine environment. A surface assessment confirmed no visible oil sheen in the vicinity. The Philippine Coast Guard in Southern Tagalog now intensified its ongoing response efforts in search for the remaining missing persons from the vessel. Report with photos: https://maritime-executive.com/article/death-toll-in-chinese-sand-carrier-capsizing-rises-to-four
LOCH SEAFORTH
Due to a technical issue of the 'Loch Seaforth ', serving on the route Ullapool-Stornoway, on April 17, that required further investigations, the scheduled deaprture at 10:30 a.m. frm Ullapool and the departure from Stornoway at 2 p.m. have been cancelled. After the technical issue has been resolved, the service was resumed with the 5:30 p.m. sailing departing Ullapool.