The USNS '2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008)' which was deployed to support the mission of building a pier to deliver aid to starving residents in Gaza, was forced to turn back on April 11, 2024, after it suffered a fire in its engine room, while in transit to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The crew evacuated the area and used portable extinguishers to put out the fire. The ship had to return to Jacksonville, Florida, using just one engine for further assessments. The incident came as the Pentagon's self-imposed deadline of having the pier operational and delivering the needed aid by May rapidly approached. When the Pentagon first announced the plan to use the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, platform to construct the pier that would serve as a way to quickly deliver large amounts of aid to war-torn Gaza in early March, it was hoped the pier would be operational in the next 60 days. Shortly after that announcement, a group of five Army ships left for the Mediterranean, followed by the m/v 'Roy P. Benavidez', a military sealift command vessel that was carrying heavy equipment and material needed to construct a temporary pier. In late March, the Navy said that it would deploy Naval Beach Group 1 along with the Bobo and the USNS '1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez'. The unit and the ships would bring enough watercraft and equipment to operate a huge floating dock three miles off the coast of Gaza that would serve as the off-load point for aid. One of the Army Landing Craft Utility ships, the 'Wilson Wharf', seems to be stuck in Tenerife, the Army's Logistics Support Vessel 'General Frank S. Besson' spent a week in the Azores before finally making it to the Navy's base at Souda Bay, which may indicate the ship had an engineering issue.
News
ERA STAR
On March 3, 2024, at 03.45 a.m. the 'Era Staro was boarded by 8-10 perpetrators, armed iwht long knives, at the Hiron Pilot Station, Mongla, in pos. 21° 50.93' N 89° 31.82' E. They stole heave lines and messenger lines. The ship left Mongla again on April 1 and anchored off the port.
MAERSK CHATTOGRAM
On April 8, 2024, at 12.45 a.m. the 'Maersk Chattogram' was boarded by ttwo perpetrators on the Chattogram Outer Anchorage in pos. 21° 91' N 91° 7' E. The pirates stole paint, a safety chain, brass fire hgydrant caps and fire hoses. The ship left Chittagong on April 12 en route to Mongla.
YING SHENG
Beached at CHittagong 29.12.23 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10160173488355036&set=pcb.10162954469523943
MSC EURIBIA
After the trips had no longer been bookable for a few weeks, MSC Cruises has now finally canceled the positioning trips from Kiel to Dubai with the 'MSC Euribia'. Due to the security situation on the Red Sea, where ships are being attacked by the Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, MSC Cruises has now reacted early to ensure security for booked guests. The 2024 summer season ends on October 19, 2024 in Kiel. The last guests of a one-week fjord cruise from/to Kiel and the guests of a six-day cruise from Copenhagen to Kiel will disembark there. MSC Cruises currently seems to be planning a trip around Africa for the 'MSC Euribia' without guests in order to safely move the ship from the summer sailing area in Northern Europe to the winter sailing area on the Persian Gulf. The first cruise in the Orient is scheduled to begin in Dubai on Nov 16, 2024. All sailings with the 'MSC Euribia' from Oct 19 to Nov 15 have therefore been cancelled. This applies to the Grand Voyage from Northern Europe to the Orient, which could also be booked in shorter sections. The period from Oct 19 to Nov 16 should be enough to take the 'MSC Euribia' from Kiel to Dubai without guests. New cruises to destinations in Africa are unlikely to be possible given the relatively short cancellation period. In addition to the 'MSC Euribia', according to the original schedule, the 'MSC Musica' is also scheduled to sail through the Red Sea in autumn 2024 to get to South Africa from the Mediterranean. Trips in the period from Oct 29, 2024 to Nov 22 cannot currently be booked. An alternative for the journey from Genoa to Durban is still unknown. Here, too, there could be travel cancellations or a new itinerary along the coast of West Africa.
SALVAMAR ADHARA
In the night from April 17 to 18, the 'Guardamar Calíope' assisted a boat 51 nautical miels east of Arrecife. The crew rescued 56 sub-Saharan migrants. The response was coordinated by the CCS Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo. The 'Salvamar Adhara' assisted a boat eightn nautical miles south of La Restinga. Its crew rescued 76 sub-Saharans. The resonse was coordinated by the CCS Tenerife of Salamento Marítimo. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780859022985363715
RNLI LIFEBOAT 13-03
Three fishermen were rescued after their vessel sank off Devon's coast on April 16, 2024. RNLI teams from Exmouth and Torbay were requiested at 9.32 p.m. by the HM Coastguard after having received an urgent mayday call, stating: "fishing vessel sinking". This report was quickly followed by a 999 call confirming that all three crew had taken to the vessel's life raft. Within 12 minutes, both the 'R & J Welburn' from Exmouth and Torbay's Severn Class all-weather lifeboat were on their way to the scene. Additionally, an HM Coastguard's rescue helicopter was also tasked to join the effort. The HM Coastguard secured the location of the sunken vessel using its emergency positioning beacon, pinpointing it roughly 14 miles northeast from Berry Head. The Exmouth's crew were the first to arrive on the scene and recovered all three fishermen from their life raft. Despite being cold, none required further medical assistance. All three casualties were then safely transferred to the waiting Torbay lifeboat and brought back to Brixham, where they were met and collected by their waiting families. Report with photos: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/three-fishermen-forced-life-raft-140714624.html
CASANOVA
On April 14, 2024, tat 02.47 a.m. he 'Casanova', en route from Liuheng to Son Duong, was boarded by five perpetrators, armed with pistols, in pos. 1° 4.47' N 103° 40.72' E, at the Takong Kecil Light. Nothing was reported stolen. The ship arrived in the port of destination on April 18 at 2.10 a.m. uTC.
MEIN SCHIFF 5
Due to the current situation in the Red Sea, TUI Cruises has been forced to cancel the trip of the 'Mein Schiff 5' from Dubai through the Suez Canal. Instead, the ship will take a course around Africa, which means that the port of Heraklion will not be reached until June 21, 2024. Due to this background, the trips on May 23, 2024, June 7, 2024 and June 14, 2024 with the 'Mein Schiff 5' must also be canceled. Bookings will be canceled free of charge in the next few days and guests receive a travel credit with a 10% discount on the cruise share for a new booking. This credit does not have a redemption deadline and can be used flexibly. The following trips with Mein Schiff 5 are affected: 15 nights – Dubai to Heraklion / May 23 – June 7, 2024 7 nights – Eastern Mediterranean with Piraeus / June 7. – June 14, 2024 14 nights – Eastern Mediterranean with Cyprus / June 7 – June 21, 2024 7 nights – Eastern Mediterranean with Cyprus / June 14 – June 21, 2024 14 nights – Eastern Mediterranean with Cyprus & Crete / June 14 – June 28, 2024
EXPRESS JET
On April 17, 2024, at noon, the Port Authority of Milos was informed by the master of the'Express Jet', that due to adverse weather conditions, the ship would return to the port on a scheduled route from Milos to Folegandros, Thira, Naxos, Paros and Mykonos with 15 crew members and 73 passengers on board. When the ship docked in the port, it was found that a pane of glassof the wheelhouse was broken, and the Milos Port Authority banned the ferry from sailing, until the damage was repaired and a certificate of seaworthiness was presented by the attending classification society. The ship remained stationary as of April 18. The passengers were forwarded to the their destinations by the ship-owning company.
GUARDAMAR CALIOPE
In the night from April 17 to 18, the 'Guardamar Calíope' assisted a boat 51 nautical miels east of Arrecife. The crew rescued 56 sub-Saharan migrants. The response was coordinated by the CCS Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo. The 'Salvamar Adhara' assisted a boat eightn nautical miles south of La Restinga. Its crew rescued 76 sub-Saharans. The resonse was coordinated by the CCS Tenerife of Salamento Marítimo. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780859022985363715
SCOT PIONEER
A leaked radio exchange between an the captain of the 'Scot Pioneer' and the French Coastguard exposed France's infuriating response to the small boats crisis. The captain was outraged after he spotted French navy vessels, including a warship, guiding the traffickers' boats around his ship towards Britain and blocked the 'Scot Pioneer' from entering Dunkirk harbour. The captain begins his protest by radioing the French coastguard with the words: 'I would like to report what is an illegal operation in your waters. This morning we witnessed a French government vessel and a French navy warship escort a boat-load of illegal immigrants across the Channel to the midway point where they handed them over to another [Border Force] ship out of Dover. It has now arrived there. Now I have the French warship passing under my stern, passing another boat-load of immigrants across the Channel. There is also another [French] vessel to the west of us which is escorting a third boat of migrants." In response, the Coastguard informed him that there was an 'arrangement' between the London and Paris governments for the French navy to escort migrant boats towards Britain.
BONGAWAN 9
On April 14, 2024, at 10.20 a.m. four perpetrators boarded the 'Bongawan 9' along with the barge 'Hexagro 9' in pos. 1° 20.93' N 104° 21.08' E off Tanjung Penyusop. The pirates stole scrap metals from the barge.
PHILAUVENT
On April 17, 2024, at 8 a.m. Salvamento Marítimo was alerted after the skipper of the 'JPK 960 Philauvent-Passecoque', the 63 year old veteranian Philippe Benoiton, whio was participatin in the 'Saliling Race Cap Martinique', and had left from La Trinité-sur-Mer (France) bound for Fort-de-France (Martinique). He went missing west of Cape Finisterre in strong northwestern winds in the night of April 16. The regatta coordinator informed that they had no news of a participating sailboat, with a reduced course and speed as they were able to discover from its GPS. They couldn't contact him. The double-handed competitors Yann Gindre and Michel Foucart aboard the 'L'Opale - A Chacun son Everest' finally found the yacht,at 7:40 a.m., without being able to confirm the sailor's presence aboard. The CCS Fisterra coordinated the SAR operation with the 'Don Inda' and the helicopters Helimer 401, Helimer 402,Pesca 1 and the Sasemar 102 plane. At 9.19 a.m. the auxiliary boat of the 'Don Inda' located the sailboat and verified that the single crew member was not on board. The engine was running and the tiller was broken. The yacht was towed to the Cee Port in A Coruña. The body of the missing person was located five nautical miles southwest of Cabo Fisterra by the Pesca I helicopter. it waa recovered and transoorted to the Vigo airport, where the National Police was waiting. The response was coordinated by the RCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Fisterra. Reports with photos: https://www.elidealgallego.com/articulo/a-coruna/helimer-coruna-une-busqueda-regatista-desaparecido-alta-mar-4799426 https://www.boatnews.com/story/45745/cap-martinique-transatlantic-race-mourns-death-of-competitor
MSC MUSICA
After the trips had no longer been bookable for a few weeks, MSC Cruises has now finally canceled the positioning trips from Kiel to Dubai with the 'MSC Euribia'. Due to the security situation on the Red Sea, where ships are being attacked by the Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, MSC Cruises has now reacted early to ensure security for booked guests. The 2024 summer season ends on October 19, 2024 in Kiel. The last guests of a one-week fjord cruise from/to Kiel and the guests of a six-day cruise from Copenhagen to Kiel will disembark there. MSC Cruises currently seems to be planning a trip around Africa for the 'MSC Euribia' without guests in order to safely move the ship from the summer sailing area in Northern Europe to the winter sailing area on the Persian Gulf. The first cruise in the Orient is scheduled to begin in Dubai on Nov 16, 2024. All sailings with the 'MSC Euribia' from Oct 19 to Nov 15 have therefore been cancelled. This applies to the Grand Voyage from Northern Europe to the Orient, which could also be booked in shorter sections. The period from Oct 19 to Nov 16 should be enough to take the 'MSC Euribia' from Kiel to Dubai without guests. New cruises to destinations in Africa are unlikely to be possible given the relatively short cancellation period. In addition to the 'MSC Euribia', according to the original schedule, the 'MSC Musica' is also scheduled to sail through the Red Sea in autumn 2024 to get to South Africa from the Mediterranean. Trips in the period from Oct 29, 2024 to Nov 22 cannot currently be booked. An alternative for the journey from Genoa to Durban is still unknown. Here, too, there could be travel cancellations or a new itinerary along the coast of West Africa.
KEOYOUNG PIONEER
The 'Keoyoung Pioneer' ran aground on a reef five kilometers north of Kuchinoshima Island in the Kagoshima Prefecture on April 16, at aroudn 4 p.m. with 14 people on board the ship, including 10 Indonesians, three Koreans, and one Myanmar nationals. Just after 7 p.m., they were all rescued by a small boat sailing nearby and taken to Kuchinoshima with no injuries reported. The ship was en route from Kenen to the port of Nagoya with a cargo of cyclohexan. The ship suffered damages to its hull, and fuel was leaking due to a hull breach. The maritime authorities were assessing the damage and extent of hazard posed by the grounded vessel. The potential environmental impact of the fuel leak was currently undetermined. The 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters dispatched patrol boats and helicopters to the area to respond. The weather on scene was calm.