On May 3 the Iran has released the 25 crew members of the 'MSC Aries', while the vessel remains under judicial detention. The Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian stated that Iran still maintained control of the vessel. The release of the crew was deemed a humanitarian gesture, allowing them to return to their respective countries along with the ship’s captain. Iran’s foreign ministry previously stated that the 'MSC Aries' was seized for violating maritime laws and alleged ties to Israel. The vessel was leased by MSC from Gortal Shipping, a subsidiary of Zodiac Maritime, partially owned by the Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
News
YSER
On the morning of May 1, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed by the Dieppe semaphore that a migrant boat was off the coast of Dieppe ad deployed the lifeboaat 'SNS 080 - Notre Dame de Bonsecours' from the SNSM station in Dieppe, on exercise in the area, to check the situation of the boat. The SNSM launch was then relieved by the 'Yser' of the Maritime Gendarmerie, which reached the boat in difficulty on the afternoon. The 'Yser' recovered 66 castaways including women and children. They were then dropped off at the port of Dieppe where they were taken care of by the land rescue services and the border police.
Whittier
U.S. Coast Guard crews have given up the search for a 49-year-old Cordova man who went missing after an explosion and subsequent fire on a fixed barge at Delong Dock in Whittier, Alaska, shortly after midnight on Monday. The fire spread to the pier and then to the Anagalik, a 99-foot commercial fishing vessel that was initially reported to have two people aboard at the time of the explosion. Whittier Police Department personnel have since confirmed one of those two is safely aboard a different vessel en route to Whittier. The fire has now been extinguished, but the fishing vessel and barge sank in 85 feet of water at the pier with a potential maximum of 5,500 gallons of fuel oil aboard. The fishing vessel owners have contracted Global Diving and Salvage for clean-up and salvage efforts. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak has searched for the missing person by air, and crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and Coast Guard Auxiliary 336 searched nearby waters.
Halsa
With a NOK 1.23 billion offer, Fjord1 won the concession to run the E39 Halsa-Kanestraum route, the latest major ferry connection awarded by the Norwegian Road Authority.
RHONE FRENCH WARSHIP
On April 30, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the Strait of Pas-de-Calais. On the morning, a boat requested assistance off the coast of Audinghen, and the CROSS Gris-Nez deployed the 'Minck', which rescued two people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French rescue services and continued on their way. The people rescued by the 'Minck' were then dropped off at the dock in Calais. On the evening, the CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the BSAM 'Rhône' to assist a boat in difficulty off the coast of Sangatte, which picked up a family of five people including three children. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued on their way. The people picked up by the 'Rhône' were then dropped off at the dock in Calais.
RIDENS
In the morning of May 4, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Calais and depoloyed the 'Ridens' to assist. It launched a boat to reach the position and recovered the 22 castaways on board. A Dauphin helicopter was also engaged to ensure that no other person was in difficulty. The castaways were dropped off at the port of Calais where they were taken care of by the shore based rescue services and the border police. Report with photo: https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/operation-d-assistance-et-de-sauvetage-de-22-personnes-au-large-de-calais-62
Rizhao
Shandong Landbridge Group has entered into an agreement with Beijing Energy Group to jointly develop a LNG receiving terminal at Landbrige Port in Rizhao. Under the agreement, the two parties will invest RMB6.7bn ($973m) in total for the construction of the terminal, which will have a designed handling capacity of 5m tons of LNG annually. Additionally, the two companies plan to join their efforts to develop overseas energy projects.
Gothenburg
APM Terminals Gothenburg has managed to cut quay crane waiting times by as much as 90% by implementing new standard operational procedures for container lashing. This translates to a reduction from 38 minutes to just four. Using ‘Lean’ methodology, which is being adopted across all of the company’s terminals around the world, a Transformation Team at APM Terminals Gothenburg identified the root cause of the time delay – inaccurate information provided to the vessel crew.
MINCK
On April 30, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the Strait of Pas-de-Calais. On the morning, a boat requested assistance off the coast of Audinghen, and the CROSS Gris-Nez deployed the 'Minck', which rescued two people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French rescue services and continued on their way. The people rescued by the 'Minck' were then dropped off at the dock in Calais. On the evening, the CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the BSAM 'Rhône' to assist a boat in difficulty off the coast of Sangatte, which picked up a family of five people including three children. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued on their way. The people picked up by the 'Rhône' were then dropped off at the dock in Calais.
ADAMANTIOS KORAIS
In the morning hours of May 2, 2024, the Port Authority of Alexandroupoli was informed that during the mooring process of the 'Adamantios Koreis', en route from the port of Samothraki, the passenger ramp pulled the mooring cable which caused the ramp to deform and the lower plate to detach o a length of about 30 centimeters. The passengers disembarked safely, with no injuries reported. The Central Port Authority of Alexandroupoli banned the ferry from sailing until the damage was repaired. Upon presentation of a certificate of class maintenance by the monitoring classification society, it was allowed to sail to the port of Samothraki.
Sydney
DP World Australia has called for an end to the strikes at its ports this week, warning that the industrial action comes at a time when shipping lines are reviewing stevedore contracts. “The industrial action will cause significant disruption to DPWA customers and importantly the broader supply chain of shippers, exporters and importers. DPWA employees will also be unnecessarily and avoidably impacted by these lost earnings,” said Andrew Adam, chief operating officer at DPWA. DP World’s Brisbane, Sydney and Fremantle container terminals are on a rolling 48-hour strike, while workers at the company’s Melbourne operations have decided to down tools for 96 hours. The workers said in a release their actions this week are in order to fight against automation, outsourcing, cuts to income protection insurance, and “dishonest bargaining” by the company During the recent 12-week bargaining period, DP World said the local union did not make any material concessions to its initial 50 claims. These claims include a wage increase well above CPI, DP World said.
Rijeka
After many creditors withdrew distraint proceedings, the Commercial Court in Rijeka decided on Thursday to postpone the bankruptcy of Croatia’s debt-ridden shipyard “3. Maj” until Aug. 1. Seven days ago the shipyard’s account was blocked for 156 million kuna (23.8 million U.S. dollars). After some of the creditors pulled back, the blockade now amounts to 86 million kuna (13.1 million U.S. dollars). Judge of the Commercial Court in Rijeka Ljiljana Ugrin urged Croatian Electricity Industry and the Croatian government to engage in the process of revocation of the enforcement order, so that “3. Maj” could continue with unfinished shipbuilding contracts.