In the morning of Feb 29, 2024, the Port Authority of Milos was informed about a mechanical breakdown of the French flagged s/y 'Melchior' with one person on board southeast of Milos. The local emergency plan was immediately activated and the 'Freberg' was diverted to the postion, where it located the vessel and towed it to the Vani area, where the tow was taken over by the 'Kapitan Dionysis', which pulled the boat safely to the port of Adamas. The Milos Port Authority prohibited the sailing vessel from sailing until the damage has been repaired and a certificate of seaworthiness was presented.
News
AFRICAN HALCYON
The Dumai Naval Base in Indonesia's Riau province foiled a robbery attempt by pirates on the 'African Halcyon', which was anchored in the Malacca Strait's Dumai waters, on Feb 29, 2024. The pirates jumped into the sea and escaped on a speedboat as soon as the Dumai Naval Base's first fleet quick response team members arrived on the scene. The quick response team departed on a sea rider boat shortly after several crew members of the ship raised alarm when they saw the four pirates trying to climb on board the ship's deck. After thwarting the pirates' attempt to rob the ship, the Indonesian Navy launched a probe into the incident. Several navy personnel also remained on standby near the area where the ship was anchoring.
BAHIJAH
After a little over two weeks since 16,000 sheep and cattle were unloaded from the 'Bahijah', Australia’s Department of Agriculture has given the all-clear to load them onto the same ship and re-export them to Israel. The vessel will not use the Red Sea route due to the danger of Houthi attacks, which was the reason it was ordered back from the route in the first place. The animals already spent nearly six weeks at sea which included the trip from Fremantle to the Red Sea, diverting from the route, the return to Australia, being stranded off Perth and then finally being unloaded on Feb 14. In all that time, the vessel berthed in port only once to restock supplies and fodder. After disembarking, the livestock were taken by truck from Fremantle Port to be held in a feedlot in quarantine amid biosecurity concerns. Now, the Department of Agriculture has approved a notice of intention to export a consignment of that same livestock to Israel, the only condition being that the exporter does not go through the Red Sea. The exporter did submit a plan to re-export the animals without unloading them back to the Middle East via the Cape of Good Hope, a 33-day route around Africa to evade the Houthis. A plan that was shot down by the Department. From the departure on Jan 5 and unloading on Feb 14 a total of 81 animals died. Four cattle and 64 sheep died while onboard while seven cattle and six sheep died on land. The ship finally sailed from Fremantle on MArch 3 at 9 a.m. with an ETA at Haifa as of April 5.
RUBYMAR
The 'Rubymar', which was struck on Feb 18 with multiple missiles, has finally sunk on March 2 at 2.15 a.m. (Feb 1, 11:15 p.m. GMT), coinciding with weather factors and strong winds at seam, after days of taking on water. The sinking has prompted concerns of disastrous ecological damage to the Red Sea and its coral reefs, as it was carrying more than 21,000 tonnes of fertiliser and leaking oil for several days after it came under attack. The wreck also presented a subsurface impact risk to other ships transiting the busy shipping lanes of the waterway. The 'Rubymar'’s sinking marks the first vessel lost since Yemen’s Houthis began targeting commercial shipping in November. Reports with photos and video: https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3693370/sinking-of-motor-vessel-rubymar-risks-environmental-damage/ https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=231e97aa2d205226&sxsrf=ACQVn0-uNUK_O3SX1vQ46_BdbbNOxnLpWw:1709545462436&q=rubymar,+sunk&tbm=vid&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjd74-QqdqEAxX0cvEDHRD0C4AQ0pQJegQIChAB&biw=1920&bih=955&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:af149edf,vid:3mjFMzKG1YA,st:0 https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240303-cargo-ship-sunk-by-houthi-strike-poses-environmental-risk-says-us-military
USNS PAUL BUCK
Scrapped 2024 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10226326428446973&set=g.6884293942
DILIGENCE
Sold to Breakers https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=911630060963517&set=pcb.911630437630146
RED JET 6
A number of commuter sailings between West Cowes-Southampton have been cancelled in the morning of March 1, 2024, as an obstruction in an inner starboard jet unit limited the operating capabilities of the 'Red Jet 6', which was already running on three out of four engines. As a result, the 06:05 a.m., 07:15 a.m. and 08:25 a.m. sailings from Southampton have been cancelled, alongside the 06:40 a.m., 07:40 a.m. and 09:00 a.m. sailings from West Cowes. It was unknown at that time if there would be any further cancellations throughout the day.
SWEET MIRI
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) 'Beecroft' on March 2, 2024, announced the arrest of the 'Sweet Miri', suspected to be carrying 2000 tons of stolen crude oil. There were 12 Nigerians and one Ghanaian crew members on board. On Feb 25, the vessel was observed to have switched off its AIS to avoid detection. The vessel was arrested 174 nautical miles of the coast of Nigeria, heading to Benin Republic. This necessitated the deployment of the Nigerian Navy Ship 'Aba' to investigate the vessel. Subsequently, it was found to be carrying products suspected to be crude oil. Thereafter, the NNS 'Sokoto' was deployed to double up the search and interdict the vessel. On arrival, it was discovered that it was carrying 2000 tons of suspected product without approval.” The FOC, in line with the directive of Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), opened the ship for other agencies to come and take samples and carry out their own independent investigations to find out the culpability of the vessel, which is owned by a Ghanaian and registered in Ghana by a Ghanaian company. Report with photos: https://onepageafrica.com/2024/03/03/nns-beecroft-arrests-mt-sweet-miri-in-suspected-2m-liters-stolen-crude-oil/
MT KQLI
The office of the Inspector General of Police has secured the forfeiture of the 'Harbor Spirit' and 'Kali', which were arrested for illegal oil bunkering. The 'Kali' was arrested with 20 crew and accomplices from the communities while siphoning illegal crude oil in Bayelsa State. The combined team of Tantita operatives and the Navy arrested the 'Harbor Spirit' on Feb 4, 2024 while the arrest of MT Kali was ongoing. The IGP’s office obtained the forfeiture order from the Federal High Court and also ordered the forfeiture of the contents of the tankers to the Federal Government. The judge also ordered the sale of the stolen crude oil by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The Justice further directed that the proceeds from the sale be deposited by NNPCL in an interest-yielding account to be determined by the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court.
LOCH ALAINN
To assist with a medical incident in Eriskay on Feb 29, 2024, the 'Loch Alainn' was required to carry out an additional sailing. Therefore, the 07:15 a.m. departure from Ardmhor and the 08:10 a.m. departure from Eriskay have been cancelled. The service resumed at 09:15 a.m. departing from Ardmhor.
SAMUEL L COBB
Scrapped 2024 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10226326429246993&set=g.6884293942
FALK NJEMA
The 'Falik Ndjema' caught fire on Feb 29 in Daressalam. There was one deceased, Habis, a native of Mitsoudjé, while seven other passengers were seriously injured. Onstead of carrying the usual containers, the boat would have been loaded with livestock during the voyage. The exact circumstances of the fire which ravaged the ship remained unclear, but the ship was allegedly badly maintained. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ByguJNUz_E
CMA CGM ATTILA
Indian security agencies have intercepted the 'CMA CGM Attila', at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port on Jan 23, 2024, as it was suspected to be carrying a dual-use consignment that could be used by Islamabad in its nuclear and ballistics missile programme. The consignment included a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine by an Italian company, which was inspected by customs officials and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The DRDO certified that the CNC machine could be used in manufacturing critical parts for Pakistan's missile development programme. The consignment, weighing 22,180 kilograms, was shipped by Taiyuan Mining Import and Export Co Ltd and was meant for Cosmos Engineering in Pakistan. The consignment was seized under the prevention of possible proliferation by Pakistan and China. The port officials had alerted Indian defense authorities, who inspected the heavy cargo and reported their suspicions. The consignment was seized, highlighting concerns that Pakistan might be using China as a conduit to acquire restricted items from Europe and the US, masking identities to evade detection.The ship left Indian waters on Feb 26 and arrived in Qasim on Jan 27.
HARBOR-SPIRIT
The office of the Inspector General of Police has secured the forfeiture of the 'Harbor Spirit' and 'Kali', which were arrested for illegal oil bunkering. The 'Kali' was arrested with 20 crew and accomplices from the communities while siphoning illegal crude oil in Bayelsa State. The combined team of Tantita operatives and the Navy arrested the 'Harbor Spirit' on Feb 4, 2024 while the arrest of MT Kali was ongoing. The IGP’s office obtained the forfeiture order from the Federal High Court and also ordered the forfeiture of the contents of the tankers to the Federal Government. The judge also ordered the sale of the stolen crude oil by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The Justice further directed that the proceeds from the sale be deposited by NNPCL in an interest-yielding account to be determined by the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court.
HORIZON PACIFIC
Scrapped 03.06.23 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10226326427646953&set=g.6884293942