After Britain's Merchant Shipping Authority UKMTO announced that the 'MSC Aries' was seized near the Strait of Hormuz between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, about 50 nautical miles northeast of the port city of Fujairah, the British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has called on Iran to release the detained ship. He called the seizure unacceptable and a blatant violation of international law, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the ship and crew. The Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari threatened consequences if Iran decided to escalate further. Expert Hasan Alhasan from the International Institute for Strategic Studies speculated that the seizure could be in retaliation for the attack on the consulate in Damascus in order to save face without causing a major escalation.
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SALVAMAR ADHARA
Two rescue missions took place in the night from April 16-17. The 'Salvamar Izar' assisted a boat with 72 people on board, among them 60 men and 12 women, from a boat 53 nautical miles southwest of Gran Tarajal. They were accompanied to this port, where they arrived on April 17 at 5:50 a.m. The 'Salvamar Adhara' accompanies a boat with 61 people on board, among them 58 men and three women, which was located seven nautical miles south of Restinga, to this port. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780488524057161944
MSC ARIES
Portugal’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iran’s Ambassador on April 16 to condemn the attack on Israel by Tehran on April 13 and to demand the immediate release of the “MSC Aries”. The Ministry said in a statement after the meeting that it “will await the results of this formal measure and evaluate any additional steps, depending on those”. Portugal had demanded the release of the crew “as explanations provided so far have not been considered consistent”,. Tehran said on April 15 that the ship was seized in the Strait of Hormuz for “violating maritime laws”. MSC, which operates the 'MSC Aries', wass working “with the relevant authorities” for the vessel’s safe return and the well-being of its 25 crew members. MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman, Eyal Ofer.
SALVAMAR MACONDO
The CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas coordinated the rescue of 151 migrants from three boats on Aoril 16, 2024, at dawn. The 'Salvamar Macondo' and the SAR helicopter Helimer 201 assisted 45 people. They were transferred to Arguineguín. The 'Salvamar Izar' rescued 59 people. They were disembarked in Gran Tarajal. The 'Salvamar Al Nair' rescued 48 people, who were transferred to Arrecife. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1780144279949541515
GUARDAMAR CALIOPE
On April 16 the 'Guardamar Calíope' has carried out the rescue of the occupants of thre inflatable boats off Arrecife. Rescued were 161 migrants, 50 in the first, 53 in the second and 58 people in the third boat. They have been disembarked at 10:00 a.m. Canary Islands time in Arrecife. The response was coordinated by the RCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780188257180918204
DUCKY SAPPHIRE
Chittagong 06/2011 https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3699422?navList=homeMostPopular
SILVER NOVA
The 'Silver Nova', has reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on its current sailing, with nearly 30 guests and crew members reporting symptoms. Onboard actions have been taken to ensure good hygiene and minimize any further spreading of the illness, as well as to keep guests informed of the situation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was monitoring the disease outbreak. Of the confirmed cases, 28 were reported from passengers out of the 633 travelers onboard (4.42%), while just one was a crew member out of the 538 staff onboard (.19%). The severity of the symptoms has also not been clarified. At this time, the type of disease is not yet confirmed, though the primary symptom was diarrhea. This could likely be norovirus or may be a different gastrointestinal disease. The total of 29 cases does not mean that 29 guests and crew members were sick simultaneously; the total is only confirmed, reported, symptomatic cases during the entire voyage. In response to the reported cases onboard, crew members aboard the 'Silver Nova' have immediately implemented enhanced sanitation and other measures to minimize any further spread. This includes announcements to both crew and staff encouraging good hand hygiene at all times, including before eating and after using the restroom. Anyone reporting symptoms has also been isolated to further minimize possible transmission. Increased cleaning and disinfection protocols have also been implemented onboard, particularly for high-contact surfaces and public areas. The 'Silver Nova' was sailing a 16-night one-way cruise from Lima, Peru to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, having visited ports in Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, Jamaica, and Mexico en route. Guests could also have embarked in Cartagena, Colombia, for the last 7 nights of the sailing. The ship was due to arrive at Port Everglades on April 16, and there appeared to be no delay in the scheduled arrival. Her next voyage, scheduled to depart the same day, was a 20-night one-way from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco, California, including a full transit of the Panama Canal. It was possible that embarkation for the next sailing was slightly delayed in order to facilitate further deep cleaning and sanitation procedures, and guests would be contacted directly if that were to be implemented. The next itinerary should not be impacted by any slight delay.
KBV 003
Divers from the Swedish Coast Guard have, in connection with an exercise, dived on the seabed in the Pukavik Bay to find any oil which could have leaked from the the grounding of the roro ferry 'Marco Polo' in Oct 2023. So far no oil has been found. The descended from the 'KBV 003-Amfitrite' in the area on three occasions. The locations that have been relevant have been selected based on received information about suspected oil finds. Some places have been designated by the County Administrative Board in Blekinge County. Visibility below the surface has varied from good to non-existent. The oil that leaked from the 'Marco Polo' was of a type that under certain conditions sinks below the surface, can drift with currents or completely sink and settle to the bottom. When the temperature in the sea rises, there is the possibility that it will rise to the surface again or reach the shore. Any oil finds are reported to the municipality concerned and to the Norwegian Maritime and Water Authority. Report with photo: https://www.kustbevakningen.se/nyheter/resultatlosa-dykningar-efter-olja-i-pukaviksbukten/
SALVAMAR IZAR
Two rescue missions took place in the night from April 16-17. The 'Salvamar Izar' assisted a boat with 72 people on board, among them 60 men and 12 women, from a boat 53 nautical miles southwest of Gran Tarajal. They were accompanied to this port, where they arrived on April 17 at 5:50 a.m. The 'Salvamar Adhara' accompanies a boat with 61 people on board, among them 58 men and three women, which was located seven nautical miles south of Restinga, to this port. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780488524057161944
SALVAMAR AL NAIR
The CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas coordinated the rescue of 151 migrants from three boats on Aoril 16, 2024, at dawn. The 'Salvamar Macondo' and the SAR helicopter Helimer 201 assisted 45 people. They were transferred to Arguineguín. The 'Salvamar Izar' rescued 59 people. They were disembarked in Gran Tarajal. The 'Salvamar Al Nair' rescued 48 people, who were transferred to Arrecife. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1780144279949541515
SALVAMAR DENEB
On April 15 at 9:00 p.m. the CCS Santander of Salvamento Marítimo was notified about a fishing boat with 16 people on board near Punta Rebollera (San Vicente de la Barquera) with engine problems. The 'Salvamar Deneb' wass mobilized to assist and towed it to Santoña, where it arrived on April 16 at 7:35 a.m. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780150282095095962
SALVAMAR SPICA
On April 16, 2024, the 'Salvamar Spica' rescued 18 North African migrants 14 nautical miles southeast of Mesa Roldan. They were disembarked at 1:10 p.m. in Almería. The response was coordinated by the RCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Almería. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780199983423058006
CARNIVAL MIRACLE
The Honolulu medical examiner and the victim’s family have identified the passenger of the 'Carnival Miracle' who died after a shuttle bus plowed into a group near the Honolulu cruise port on April 12. The shuttle bus driver dropping off passengers hit the gas instead of the brake and pinned several people against concrete barriers. The 68-year-old Dianna Cricelli from Pocahontas, Illinois, was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and police traffic investigators confirmed she later died. One of the others who were seriously injured was her husband, Frank Cricelli, 66. A message from the family was relayed through the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, “The family is mourning the loss of Dianna. They are asking for privacy during this difficult time.” Three others were seriously injured, including a 67-year-old woman, a 55-year-old woman, and a 58-year-old man. They were also from Illinois and they were being offered assistance.
ABDULLAH
The European Union Naval Force Operation ATALANTA, or EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, has released three photos of the 'Abdullah' after Somali pirates freed the ship and its Bangladeshi crew. Confirming the release in a statement with the photos on X, formerly Twitter, on April 15, EUNAVFOR said the Operation ATALANTA was the first actor to respond to the hijacking of the vessel on March 12. One ATALANTA vessel had started shadowing the hijacked ship after the incident. Throughout the 32 days of captivity of the sailors, Operation ATALANTA has been actively engaged monitoring the situation. Report with photos: https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/zsf6d9045l
FRANCISCO Y CATA
The 'Francisco y Cata' suffered an engine failure and went adrift three nautical miles from the mouth of the Rota marina on April 16, 2024, and requested towing assistance. The CCS Cádiz of Salvamnto Marítimo mobilized the SAR vessel 'Salvamar Suhail', which safely pulled the boat to Rota. Report with photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780308539812073907
T165
The INS 'Talwar-F40', which was recently operating in support of the Canadian-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, conducted its first interdiction of illicit narcotics as a member of Combined Maritime Forces, seizing 940 kg of drugs in the Arabian Sea on April 13, 2024. The frigate crew seized 453 kg of methamphetamines, 416 kg of hash and 71 kg of heroin from a dhow as part of Focused Operation Crimson Barracuda. The seizure was the f4th of the operation in deterring and disrupting criminal and terrorist activities at sea. Crimson Barracuda, which concluded on April 15, focused on countering terrorist and criminal organizations’ use of the high seas to conduct smuggling operations in the Western Indian Ocean region.
SALVAMAR IZAR
The CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas coordinated the rescue of 151 migrants from three boats on Aoril 16, 2024, at dawn. The 'Salvamar Macondo' and the SAR helicopter Helimer 201 assisted 45 people. They were transferred to Arguineguín. The 'Salvamar Izar' rescued 59 people. They were disembarked in Gran Tarajal. The 'Salvamar Al Nair' rescued 48 people, who were transferred to Arrecife. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1780144279949541515
SALVAMAR ALPHERATZ
On April 16, a fishing vessel located a cayuco with migrants eight nautical miles southwest of Punta Rasca (Tenerife). The 'Salvamar Alpheratz' was mmobilized to assist and accompanied the cayuco to Los Cristianos, where the 91 sub-Saharan people disembarked, among them 44 men, 17 women and 30 minors. The response was coordinated by the RCC of Salvamento Maítimo in Tenerife. Photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780183060761186788
SALVAMAR SUHAIL
The Spanish flagged motor yacht 'Francisco y Cata' (MMSI:224569340)suffered an engine failure and went adrift three nautical miles from the mouth of the Rota marina on April 16, 2024, and requested towing assistance. The CCS Cádiz of Salvamnto Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Suhail', which safely pulled the boat to Rota. Photos: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1780308539812073907
SHINGLE
A tourism project in County Mayo is waiting to hear if a decision will lead it to receiving a licence to tow the 'Shingle' into Killala Bay as part of a plan to create an artificial reef. The ship was centre-stage in 2014 when Irish authorities seized the ship in a major smuggling operation at Drogheda Port. In the last five years, the Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd. has been working to get the 'Shingle' towed to Killala Bay, to enable the 42 year-old ship to be sunk and create what would be the first artificial reef in Ireland. On the River Barrow the 60m ship went into the dry dock at New Ross Boatyard on April 9, 2024. The facility downriver of the County Wexford inland port of New Ross, is where the vessel is to be either scrapped or prepared to be towed to Killala Bay for sinking. To proceed with such an action, the Killala Bay Ship 2 Reef, requires a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) licence from the Maritime Regulatory Authority (MARA). Last November, an application was submitted, but a decision is awaited. The Councillor Michael Loftus was hopeful about the MAC licence. “The Revenue Commissioners have been working with us to get the best outcome for the Shingle, creating Ireland's first artificial reef that will generate a major attraction and financial benefit in Mayo and Sligo. It would be a major mistake if the Shingle were to be scrapped because of a delay in getting the MAC's licence from MARA. Time is running out.” It was almost a year ago when the 'Shingle' was finally towed out of Dublin Port from where it had been idle for almost a decade, following the vessel's relocation from the County Meath port. Report with photo: https://afloat.ie/watersport/diving/item/62815-key-decision-awaited-on-plans-to-sink-ship-off-mayo-coast