News

arrived Chittagong Anchorage 14.05.25

Repair work on the grounded oil rig 'Ocean Valiant' off El Houichate, which was lost by the 'SPM Neel Pratab 180' on Jan 12, in the Bizerte Governorate, were continuing in preparation for its upcoming towing to a Turkish port, a governorate statement said on May 13. The Tunisian authorities—local, regional, and central—were working together to finalize the technical and administrative interventions necessary to refloat the platform, while ensuring that the rights of the Tunisian state are protected. Despite difficult weather conditions in recent weeks, marked by strong winds and strong sea currents, more than 40 cubic meters of sand accumulated beneath the structure have been extracted. The operations also enabled the suction of polluted water and liquids that had seeped into the platform. These actions were carried out in collaboration with the tug 'Rota Salvor', tasked with the salvage operation, in accordance with the environmental protocol approved by the Tunisian authorities. The repair work on the cracks observed in the lower part of the structure has reached a completion rate of over 80% on the seaward side, while repairs to the northern side have already been completed by companies specializing in underwater welding. Barring adverse weather conditions, the operations to refloat the platform are expected to begin in the second half of June 2025. Report with photo: https://lapresse.tn/2025/05/14/tunisie-remise-a-flot-imminente-de-la-plateforme-petroliere-echouee-a-el-houichate/

Two fishermen were rescued by the crew of the 'FWN Sun', en route from La Rochelle to Gibraltar, on the Atlantic, off the Gironde coast on the morning of May 13, 2025. At 9:36 a.m., the CROSS Etel had received a distress alert by VHF from the fishing vessel 'Ablette ' (MMSI: 227309000) 120 miles west of the Gironde, following a water ingress and a subsequent fire. The CROSS immediately launched "a May Day, enabling the mobilization of the Beechcraft customs aircraft, the Spanish hospital ship 'Juan de la Cosa' and the 'FWN Sun' besides the Raffut SAR helicopter from the Cazaux air base. The two fishermen were finally picked up by the 'FWN Sun' from a life raft. The Raffut SAR helicopter then hoisted the castaways and transferred them to the Arcachon health center, where they were treated at 1:20 p.m.

When the 'Glomar Venture' allided with the Vattenfall wind turbine 18 kilometres off the coast of Zandvoort, its lower part was damaged. This concerns the wind farm Wind Farm Hollandse Kust Zuid. This is one of the largest wind farms at sea, stretching from The Hague to IJmuiden. The affected wind turbine has a tip height of 225 metres and is located exactly on the point of the front section. Hollandse Kust Zuid consists of four sectors and has a total of 139 wind turbines. According to initial research, the turbine was hit at the bottom, which is the yellow part that forms the foundation. After the impact, the wind turbine was stopped and then put 'in neutral' and let the blades continue to turn quietly so that they no longer catch any wind. Last weekend, the wind turbine was put back into operation, temporarily at half power. Vattenfall was still guessing about the cause. An exploratory investigation is currently underway by the Dutch Safety Board. They will investigate what exactly happened that day and which factors played a role in this. Depending on these findings, an official investigation will follow later. The 'Glomar Venture' remained at the Damen Shipyard as of May 15.

Costa Cruises will dispose of the 'Costa Fortuna', which will become the third ship to join the fleet of the US operator Margaritaville at Sea. The operator already has two ships from the Costa Cruises in its fleet, the former 'Costa Classica', now sailing as 'Paradise', and the former 'Costa Atlanica', now serving as 'Margaritaville at Sea Islander'. The 'Costa Fortuna' will become the largest ship of the cruise line Margaritaville at Sea. The operator emerged from Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line in 2022 and offers Margaritaville-style party cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico. The operations of the 'Costa Fortuna' from a new homeport wiill be starting in 2026.

On May 14, 2025, at 6.15 a.m., the Spanish fishing vessel 'Nuevo Mariña', measuring 8.76 meters in length, caught fire more than three nautical miles off Monte Louro with two crew members on board. The twin brothers, Santiago (vice-captain of the Fisterra guild) and Alberto Castro Romero.were rescued by anoteher fishing vessel, the 'La Chainza' from Porto do Son, and transferred onto the 'Salvamar Régulus', which had been mobilized by the CCS Finisterre of Salvamento Marítimo, and which coordinated the response. It took them to Porto do Son. Alberto suffered burns to his face and hands and was transported by helicopter to the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC), where he remained in the Burns Unit. Santiago, the vessel's owner, was taken to Barbanza Hospital but has since been released with minor injuries. According to the owner, everything went very quickly. He was in bed and his brother saw a puff of smoke coming out of the engine. They barely had time to launch the liferaft, because the fire was already spreading all over the ship. The patrol boat 'Mar de Galicia' (MMSI: 9905045) of the Coastguard carried out fire extinguishing operations, but finally reported that the fiberglass boat had sunk. Besides the Galician Health Emergency Service-061, Salvamento Marítimo, the Galician Coast Guard Service and agents from the Civil Guard participated in the rescue operation. The cause of the fire was unknown, but the hypothesis of a short circuit was being considered. Reports with photos: https://www.elcorreogallego.es/barbanza-muros-noia/2025/05/14/rescatan-tripulantes-pesquero-nueva-marina-117374886.html https://cadenaser.com/galicia/2025/05/14/naufragio-en-muros-rescatados-los-dos-tripulantes-del-nueva-marina-radio-galicia/

The sanctioned 'Kiwala', which was detained in Estonia for operating without a valid flag state registration, being suspected to be part of the Russan “shadow fleet” used to circumvent international sanctions, was released, after Djibouti agreed to register the vessel temporarily. The ship weighed anchor on April 26 and headed to the Russian port Ust-Luga, where it arrived on April 29.

On April 30, 2025, 469 kilos of cocaine were found aboard the 'Ceci' in San Lorenzo. The ship's cook was arrested on May 2 by the Federal Guarantee Judge Carlos Vera Barros, who also ordered the 20 Filipinmo crew members to remain on the vessel. They will not be allowed to leave the port of San Lorenzo while the investigation was continued. They were brought to an arraignment hearing in the Federal Courts of Rosario. Before Guarantee Judge Carlos Vera Barros, federal prosecutors primarily charged the vessel's cook, who was remanded in custody. The, federal prosecutors Claudio Kishimoto and Francisco Bernhardt, together with the Procunar (National Prosecutor's Office), ordered measures to further investigate a line of investigation publicly presented by the Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich: that the cocaine was transported on a boat that provides food to the ship. One of these measures was to request video surveillance cameras in the area and inspect warehouses for material of interest. There were no elements that implicated the port of Vicentin with the drugs. The vessel's captain was important in the procedure, as he was the one who reported the strange packages in the cold storage, with a market value of $6 million. The ship had been inspected that same morning, and after that inspection, the food supplier boarded the ship to the place where the drugs were ultimately found. Another point to be elucidated was the destination of the drugs. Although the ship's final destination was Amsterdam, it had previously stopped in Montevideo. However, it was assumed that during the voyage, it was to be thrown into the water to be collected. In this context, it became relevant that one of the 16 packages had GPS and nets, elements to lower the cocaine into the sea or river. Investigators would evaluate the possibility that the drugs had been loaded on Argentine territory. However, there was also the possibility that they had been collected in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. There were traces of salt water inside the packages which were protected by several materials that would guarantee the substance's impermeability. The drug packages were stored inside waterproof bags. The ship remained stationary in San Lorenzo as of May 15. Report with photos: https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/policiales/2025/05/03/casi-500-kilos-de-cocaina-en-un-barco-el-cocinero-del-buque-quedo-preso/

Repair work on the grounded oil rig 'OCean Valiant' off El Houichate, which was lost by the 'SPM Neel Pratab 180' on Jan 12, in the Bizerte Governorate, were continuing in preparation for its upcoming towing to a Turkish port, a governorate statement said on May 13. The Tunisian authorities—local, regional, and central—were working together to finalize the technical and administrative interventions necessary to refloat the platform, while ensuring that the rights of the Tunisian state are protected. Despite difficult weather conditions in recent weeks, marked by strong winds and strong sea currents, more than 40 cubic meters of sand accumulated beneath the structure have been extracted. The operations also enabled the suction of polluted water and liquids that had seeped into the platform. These actions were carried out in collaboration with the tug 'Rota Salvor', tasked with the salvage operation, in accordance with the environmental protocol approved by the Tunisian authorities. The repair work on the cracks observed in the lower part of the structure has reached a completion rate of over 80% on the seaward side, while repairs to the northern side have already been completed by companies specializing in underwater welding. Barring adverse weather conditions, the operations to refloat the platform are expected to begin in the second half of June 2025. Report with photo: https://lapresse.tn/2025/05/14/tunisie-remise-a-flot-imminente-de-la-plateforme-petroliere-echouee-a-el-houichate/

Beached at Chittagong 15.05.25

Eduard Khudainatov, the former CEO of the Russian state-owned oil conglomerate Rosneft, has filed an appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit over his claim to the 'May Amadea', which US authorities seized in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The development came after a US judge ruled in March that Khudainatov could not plausibly claim ownership of the luxury yacht, effectively granting the US Justice Department permission to sell the vessel at auction.

The 'Celestyal Crystal' has been renamed 'Right' on its final voyage to Alang breakers and set off from Duqm on May 10, 2025. On May 13 it arrived off Bhavnagar, and on May 14 it dropped anchor in pos. 21° 22' N 072° 13' E.

On May 14, 2025, the sailing yacht 'Argonaut' caught fire in the dry dock area of ​​Marina Sant Carles de la Ràpita. The 'Salvamar Achernar' was mobilized by the CCS Tarragona of Salvamento Marítimo to assist the firefighters, who worked to extinguish the blaze. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1922592077914775657

There was a major incident off the coast of Estonia in the Gulf of Finland on May 14, 2025, as the Estonian Navy attempted to detain the'Jaguar', operated by the Russian shadow fleet and sailing under the flag of Gabon. With the Estonian Defense Force and Border Guard deploying an AgustaWestland AW139 Helicopter, M28 Skytruck Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and an EML Raju Patrol Boat to intercept and halt the ship, which refused to follow orders to halt or change course towards Estonia. The Russian Air Force eventually deployed a Su-35S to fly over the tanker in an attempt to scare away the Estonians, who in the process violated Estonia’s Airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The tanker appeared to be anchored near the Island of Gogland in the eastern Gulf of Finland and subsequently proceeded to Russian waters and anchored near Gogland Island before proceeding towards Primorsk with an ETA as of May 15. Report with video: https://gcaptain.com/russian-jet-buzzes-estonian-forces-in-gulf-of-finland-shadow-tanker-showdown/

Beached at Alang 14.05.25 https://www.facebook.com/kuresiarif.kuresi/videos/1351266056159248?idorvanity=6884293942

The 'Ablette', with two crew members on board, suffered water ingress and subsequently caught fire in the Bay of Biscay off the Gironde coast on the morning of May 13, 2025. At 9:36 a.m., the CROSS Etel received a distress alert by VHF from a fishing vessel 120 miles west of the Gironde, and immediately launched "a May Day, enabling the mobilization of the Beechcraft customs aircraft, the Spanish hospital ship 'Juan de la Cosa' and the cargo m/v 'FWN Sun' (IMO: 9721669) besides the Raffut SAR helicopter from the Cazaux air base. The two fishermen were finally picked up by the 'FWN Sun', which was en route from La Rochelle to Gibraltar, from a life raft. The Raffut SAR helicopter then hoisted the castaways and transferred them to the Arcachon health center, where they were treated at 1:20 p.m. The pelagic trawler had left the port of Les Sables d'Olonne' on May 12, en route to Spain, where it was scheduled to arrive at a Galician shipyard for repairs. The voyage was expected to take approximately 40 hours.

arrived Alang anchorage 14.05.25

The scheduled call of the 'AIDAprima' in Geirangerfjord on May 15, 2025, had to be cancelled. Geirangerfjord has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 14, 2005, and even stricter regulations have been in place since 2025. In order to comply with these regulations, the 'AIDAprima' was recently retrofitted with systems that will continue to allow entry into the fjord. Due to technical challenges, this retrofitted system could not be put into operation on May 15, 2025. As a result, the Norwegian authorities have not granted the 'AIDAprima' permission to enter the World Heritage Fjord. The ship turned around and left the fjord again with a 180-degree turn. AIDA canceled the excursions for the Geirangerfjord and credited the onboard accounts. Captain Miklitza reported that the ship would call in Alesund as an alternative. Alesund was already set as a destination for the current voyage, so ideally they would simply change the rotation and call at Geiranger later in the voyage. The ship berthed in Alesund at 8:15 a.m. Almost all excursions that were planned for a later call in Alesund have been rebooked. The 'AIDAprima' will stay in Alesund until 7 p.m. It is still unclear whether Geiranger will be called later in the voyage.

On May 14, 2025, at 6.15 a.m., the Spanish fishing vessel 'Nuevo Mariña', measuring 8.76 meters in length, caught fire more than three nautical miles off Monte Louro with two crew members on board. The twin brothers, Santiago (vice-captain of the Fisterra guild) and Alberto Castro Romero.were rescued by anoteher fishing vessel, the 'La Chainza' from Porto do Son, and transferred onto the 'Salvamar Régulus', which had been mobilized by the CCS Finisterre of Salvamento Marítimo, and which coordinated the response. It took them to Porto do Son. Alberto suffered burns to his face and hands and was transported by helicopter to the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC), where he remained in the Burns Unit. Santiago, the vessel's owner, was taken to Barbanza Hospital but has since been released with minor injuries. According to the owner, everything went very quickly. He was in bed and his brother saw a puff of smoke coming out of the engine. They barely had time to launch the liferaft, because the fire was already spreading all over the ship. The 'Mar de Galicia' carried out fire extinguishing operations, but finally reported that the fiberglass boat had sunk. Besides the Galician Health Emergency Service-061, Salvamento Marítimo, the Galician Coast Guard Service and agents from the Civil Guard participated in the rescue operation. The cause of the fire was unknown, but the hypothesis of a short circuit was being considered. The Xunta (Galician Regional Government) has activated the Territorial Contingency Plan for Accidental Marine Pollution in Galicia (Camgal), at its medium level, due tothe considerable" diesel spill caused by sinking of the 'Nueva Mariña'. The Regional Minister of the Sea, Alfonso Villares, has written to the Government Delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, requesting the activation of the National Maritime Plan, which has indeed been implemented "in the alert phase." Reports with photos: https://www.elcorreogallego.es/barbanza-muros-noia/2025/05/14/rescatan-tripulantes-pesquero-nueva-marina-117374886.html https://cadenaser.com/galicia/2025/05/14/naufragio-en-muros-rescatados-los-dos-tripulantes-del-nueva-marina-radio-galicia/ https://www.laopinioncoruna.es/galicia/2025/05/14/vertido-hundimiento-pesquero-nueva-marina-117406139.html

On May 14, 2025, a cayuco was located by the Guardia Civil about 1.3 miles from La Restinga (El Hierro). The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Navia' to assist. The cayuco entered the port under its own power, and 55 people, among them three women, disembarked. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1922698998676148483