The 'Open Arms', carrying relief supplies for the population in the Gaza Strip has finally left the port of Larnaca on the morning of March 12. After the arrival in the Gaza Strip within about two days, the relief supplies will be distributed by the NGO World Central Kitchen. The ship's departure was delayed due to technical problems. The ship was towing a cargo barge with around 200 tons of food, drinking water and medicine. It is a test sailing along the route of a planned aid corridor that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis announced on March 8. Report with photo: https://www.radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/349516-aid-ship-sets-sail-from-cyprus-to-gaza-amid-israeli-naval-blockade
News
GENERAL FRANK BESSON
The US has sent the first ship carrying equipment to build the planned pier on the Gaza Strip coast. The 'General Frank S. Besson' from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, departed the Joint Base Langley-Eustis on March 9, 2024l, less than 36 hours after US President Joe Biden's announcement for Gaza, that he would build a temporary dock for ships carrying aid supplies for the suffering population of the Gaza Strip. There are currently no ports there that could be used for aid deliveries by sea. Report with photo: https://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/630511a44735dc465863d3b7140de0ed/US-Army-Vessel-General-Frank-S-Besson-LSV-1-Departs-En-Route-to-the-Eastern-Mediterranean/
TAI AN
For presumed illegal fishing carried out by the 'Tai An' within the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone without authorization or a fishing permit that supports the capture of toothfish, complaints have been filed against the owner Prodesur S.A., for carrying out fishing activities specifically aimed at this species without the proper authorization or fishing permit to support its operation. Calls were made to heo government control and inspection officials by personnel of the Foreign Ministry, with the aim of hindering the order for the ship's return to port, once the capture of toothfish has been confirmed. In the absence of action from the government, companies were taking steps to file a criminal complaint. Due to a clear violation of the Federal Fisheries Law, all captured toothfish was confiscated. The vessel would be violating the Federal Fishing Regime and the quota system for toothfish, as corroborated by satellite plots and the observation of other fishing vessels in the area. The companies subscribing to the petition have means to verify these facts, such as the 72-hour electronic fishing report, communication with the onboard inspector and the satellite monitoring system. It was required that, if these infractions are confirmed, the ship be forced to immediately return to port and a supervisory discharge commission be formed. The same group requested that an exemplary sanction be applied and the merchandise involved be seized. The signatory companies warned of the possible negative repercussions at the international level for Argentina, its Federal Fisheries Law and its quota system, as well as for the international certification process for toothfish (PROME). They requested an urgent call to the Federal Fisheries Council and the monitoring commission for the toothfish species to address this complaint.
OPEN ARMS
The Maritime aid organization Open Arms has shifted its mission from rescuing migrants in the Central Med to delivering aid to the beach in Gaza. The group has retasked the 'Open Arms' to the task of delivering a small barge laden with humanitarian supplies from World Central Kitchen and the government of the UAE. The vessel's back deck was also laden with supplies. The “Open Arms” was expected to deliver around 200 tons of drinking water, medicine and food to the Gaza Strip. The location of the planned landing site was not immediately clear; offloading a vessel of Open Arms' size would require a pier or a lightering operation. The last mile of the three-day voyage was expected to be the most complicated operation. World Central Kitchen is working on building its own jetty out of rubble in Gaza. Israeli officials inspected all of the cargo at the pier in Larnaca, Cyprus before the ship departed, ensuring that there were no concealed security-sensitive items on board. The ship was still in the port of Larnaca as of March 11, 2024. The holdup was primarily because the receiving platform in Gaza, designated to accommodate the ship’s cargo of roughly 150 tonnes of humanitarian aid, was not yet prepared. Report with photos: https://maritime-executive.com/article/food-aid-groups-plan-their-own-barge-delivery-to-gaza
FV SAE IN CHAMPION
After the Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA) medevaced a South Korean crew member of the 'Sae in Champion' in Argentine waters, the State recovered all of the expenses of the operation. The ship was also fined for traveling in the Malvinas area without having the corresponding authorization. The transaction occurred on March 9 after representatives of the organization contacted those responsible. The unprecedented case served as an example for future international operations. The measure had been ordered by the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, and the head of the Naval Prefecture, Prefect General Guillermo Giménez Pérez. The collection of infractions for transgressing the national territory was supported by decree 256/10, in which it was established that any ship that intends to transit between ports located in the Argentine continental territory and the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands must request prior authorization. Before the measure was made official, the promulgation of Law 24,922 of the Federal Fisheries Regime determined in article 37 that foreign fishing vessels would be authorized to fish unexploited or underexploited species, as long as the international treaty between parties had the approval of the Government. national and Congress. The regulations establish that the fines represent a minimum of one thousand Fishing Units (1,000 UP) and a maximum of 300 thousand Fishing Units (300,000 UP). After the control established a connection with the company, the agents agreed to medevc the South Korean citizen who had severe abdominal pain that was compatible with a case of appendicitis. In addition, the South Korean Consulate was in charge of coordinating the authorization so that the man could receive medical assistance and was hoisted aboard a helicopter, which took off from the Comodoro Rivadavia Air Station, 87 nautical miles from the city of Rawson. Report with photo and video: https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2024/03/10/la-prefectura-recupero-el-costo-del-rescate-de-un-tripulante-surcoreano-en-altamar/