On March 27 the 'HT 8' was back to its normal work in the Schwentine estuary following the successful defusing of an air mine weighing on the Kiel Fjord the previous day by the explosive ordnance disposal service defused a bomb on the Kiel Fjord. It was the largest unexploded bomb from the Second World War ever found in Schleswig-Holstein. Around 170 people from Kiel-Holtenau and around 1,500 people from Heikendorf had to leave their homes at 10 a.m. for several hours for the time of the defusing. At 2:05 p.m. the detonators were removed and detonated in the water. At 2:20 p.m. the team announced the successful defusing. The police boat 'Falshöft' brought the crew of the work boat back on board. At 2:38 p.m. shipping was allowed again on the Kiel Fjord. At 3:31 p.m. the blockbuster bomb arrived safely in Kiel-Holtenau. The unexploded bomb was loaded onto a transporter and prepared for the transport to Groß-Nordsee. Video: https://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/sendungen/schleswig-holstein_1800/Entschaerfung-einer-Luftmine-in-der-Kieler-Foerde,shmag114954.html
News
STERREBOS
The 'Sterrebos' was delayed by three hours on the afternoon of March 22, 2024, because activists blocked the Prinses Irenes lock at Wijk near Duurstede. The ship was targeted, according to activists from 'Kappen met Kooks', affiliated with Extinction Rebellion, as it sailed for the Tata Steel. Six activists entered the lock doorat around 1 p.m. with banners, causing the ship to become stuck in the lock. When the 'Sterrebos' tried to sail through the other chamber a little later, activists also blocked that chamber. The ship was on its way to Duisburg from Tata Steel Velsen with a cargo of steel. The activists want the Dutch government to ban the use of coke in steel production as soon as possible. The activists threatened to take action every Friday, not only at locks, but also in other places. The 'Tata' finally reached Duisburg on March 23. Report with photos: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2024/03/26/actievoerders-blokkeren-schip-met-staal-in-sluis-wijk-bij-duurstede/
HT8
On March 26, 2024, the 'HT 8' was used for the defusal of a 1.8 ton air mine in the Kiel Fjord off the Naval Depot in Kiel-Gaarden. At 10 a.m. divers went down and prepared the bomb, which was then lifted and placed on the pontoon by a crane. The bomb was assessed and secured on board at 11 a.m. Short time later the work boat started moving, escorted by the water police, and reached the defusing position on the Holtenau roadsted. The Kiel Fjord was barred for any ship traffic. The crew of the “HT8” lowered the two legs hydraulically at around noon, to give the “HT8” the necessary stability for the work. Preparations were made for the crew to be evacuated using a dinghy. Of the 11 people on board, only the two defusers remain on board. The divers and crew were taken out of the restricted area. Defusing only begins when the crew is out of the restricted area. Liveblog with photos: https://www.kn-online.de/lokales/kiel/kiel-bombe-auf-der-foerde-wird-dienstag-entschaerft-QMG3SOPXG2IRZY5NKZMQS3QSNU.html
SAN ARAWA II
In the midst of the controversy over toothfish fishing in the Argentine Sea, the 'San Arawa 2' was being investigated for having captured more than 40 tons of this protected species off the coast of Tierra del Fuego, in Patagonia, greatly exceeding the allowed quota. The vessel, which is operated by the Estremar company, captured more than 40 tons of juvenile toothfish in a single haul on March 22, 2024, which poses a serious danger to marine fauna. The amount of juvenile toothfish captured greatly exceeds the limits of “bycatch” that can occur when using the trawling technique, which would demonstrate that there was a manifest intention to capture this protected species. The opeaators of the 'San Arawa 2', the Norwegians Ingvar Johannesson and Idar Rekkedal, are named as those most responsible within the framework of the investigation into this case of illegal fishing of juvenile hake. The quota of toothfish in Argentina is monopolized by three large companies: Argenova, Estremar and Pesantar, which got the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) to issue an act in 2019 that left out the Prodesur company and officially enabled the cartelization of the activity, which yields annual profits of US$ 150 million. On March 5, 2021, the CFP automatically renewed the authorizations to catch toothfish for the same three companies until 2025 inclusive.
BRAHMAN EXPRESS
A disease outbreak has killed at least 100 cattle underway aboard the 'Brahman Express'. An exporter using the vessel notified Australia’s government of the incident involving cattle deaths, the agriculture department said in a statement, without providing additional details. The Australia’s Livestock Exporters Council confirmed by phone that at least 100 animals had perished. The ship had left Darwin on March 14, 2024, and arrived in Panjang on March 19. All cattle were inspected according to government regulations before the ship left Darwin. There was no suggestion that exotic animal disease is involved including foot-and-mouth disease or lumpy skin disease.