The BRP 'Bagacay', on a resupply mission to the Scarborough Shoal, was confronted by 10 Chinese ships, four China Coast Guard vessels and six Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, which encircled the vessel on April 30, 2024. They swerved in front of the Philippine crew, who exchanged warnings over the radio. On the deck, the crew rushed towards buoys every time the Chinese edged closer, trying to protect themselves in case there was a collision. Then the Chinese fired with their water cannons. The 'Bagacay' turned back after a patrol ship of the country's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the BRP 'Datu Bankaw', which was travelling alongside, had its radar damaged by the water cannons. The'Bagacay' suffered damage to the railing and canopy. No injuries were reported. Report with photos: https://news.sky.com/story/how-a-philippine-coastguard-ship-ended-up-being-surrounded-by-12-chinese-vessels-13126205 https://www.businessinsider.com/china-philippines-ship-confrontation-with-water-cannons-video-2024-4
News
MSC ORION
Yemen’s Houthis said they targeted the 'MSC Orion', en route from Oman, on April 29, 2024, in a drone attack in the Indian Ocean about 170 nauical miles from Socotra as part of their ongoing campaign against international shipping in solidarity with Gaza. The 'MSC Orion' suffered slight damage. She was sailing between the ports in Sines and Salalah. Its registered owner is Zodiac Maritime, which is partly owned by the Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
CG JOSEPH DOYLE
The 'Joseph Doyle' repatriated 119 migrants to Dominican Republic on April 26, following two interdictions of unlawful, irregular migration attempts near Puerto Rico. The repatriated migrants were transferred to Dominican Republic Navy authorities at San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. The second interdiction occurred on April 25, after the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft sighted a 30-foot makeshift vessel taking part in an unlawful maritime migration voyage, approximately 30 nautical miles northwest of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. A responding Customs and Border Protection marine unit interdicted the suspect vessel while the 'Joseph Doyle' arrived on scene and embarked 66 migrants, 63 who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals and three who claimed to be Haitian nationals. The first interdiction occurred on April 24, when a Customs and Border Protection Marine unit stopped a 30-foot makeshift vessel taking part in an unlawful maritime migration voyage, approximately four nautical miles north of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders diverted the 'Joseph Doyle', which arrived on scene and embarked 58 migrants, 56 who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals and two who claimed to be Haitian nationals.
EUNAVFOR WARSHIP
On the morning of April 29, the 'Virginio Fasan' reported downing a drone from Yemen. The frigate had recently arrived in the region to take over as the flagship of EU NAVFOR Aspides. While German, Denmark, and Belgium have withdrawn their vessels, Italy has sent a new frigate, which took over as the new flagship of the operation. Italy's Duilio had been leading the operation. The drone was about three miles away when it was downed, as they believed it was heading for an unnamed merchant ship that they were escorting. A missile exploded in the water in the vicinity of the escorted vessel, causing only minor superficial damage.
ABDULLAH
The 'Abdullah' departed Al-Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh on the afternoon of April 28, after it successfully unloaded 55,000 metric tonnes of coal the previous day. The vessel and its crew of 23 sailors were expected to arrive at Chattogram Port by mid-May. The ship berthed at the Mina Sagr Bulk Terminal on April 28.
MSC PASSION III
The Port of Baltimore welcomed the 'MSC Passion III', being the first commercial container ship to enter the port, on April 28, 2024m since the suspension of vessel traffic following the Francis Scot Key Bridge collapse on March 26. The ship berthed at Ports America Chesapeake’s Seagirt Terminal via the newly opened 35-foot-deep alternative channel. Approximately 1,000 containers were handled by around 80 workers from the International Longshoremen Association. The 'MSC Passion III' was preceded by the barge 'Columbia Freedom' at the terminal, which saw loading and discharging of 442 containers. Report with photos: https://www.worldcargonews.com/news/2024/04/1st-container-ship-docks-at-baltimores-seagirt-terminal-since-bridge-collapse/?gdpr=accept
SUN BRAVE
The 'Sun Brave', enroute from Fukuyamato Hong Kong, ran aground with 19 crew members on board on the west coast of Nakado Island in the Kurushima Kaikyo Strait near Imabari City, on April 26, 2024, just past noon. According to the Imabari Coast Guard, there were no injuries, no flooding, no oil spills, and no impact on shipping routes.The ship was refloated at around 11 p.m. the same night with the assistance of tugs during the high tide. It dropped anchor in pos. 34° 03.82 N 133° 02.91' E off Imabari, where it remained stationary as of April 30. Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkXYlvcaExc&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title
USS WARSHIP 58
Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Sanaa time) on April 29, 2024, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards the 'Cyclades. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries and the vessel continued on its way. Earlier, at 7:49 a.m., U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully engaged and destroyed one Houthi launched airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a flight path towards the USS 'Philippine Sea' and USS 'Laboon' in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damages reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.
CG ANACAPA
The crew of the USCGC 'Anacapa' held a decommissioning ceremony for the cutter in Port Angeles, Washington, on April 26, 2024. Rear Adm. Charles Fosse, commander, Coast Guard 13th District, presided over the ceremony honoring the 34 years of service of the 'Anacapa' and its crews provided to the nation. Commissioned in 1990, the 'Anacapa' was one of 49 Island-class cutters built in Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana and was originally homeported in Petersburg, Alaska for more than three decades. While homeported in Port Angeles, the Anacapa successfully conducted numerous missions. Notably, in August 2022, the 'Anacapa' rescued three people from a disabled sailboat and conducted an overnight tow of the vessel. In April 2023, the Anacapa responded and assisted in the safe evacuation of 600 passengers, after the ferry 'Walla Walla' grounded in the Rich Passage. Following the decommissioning ceremony, the 'Anacapa' will transit to the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, and will be placed in the Cutter Transition Division. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3759112/us-coast-guard-cutter-anacapa-decommissioned-after-34-years-of-service/
SALVAMAR ADHARA
The bulk carrier 'Beskidy' reported a semi-submerged cayuco 60 nautical miles south of El Hierro on April 28. The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara', a patrol boat of the Guardia Civil and the SAR helicopter Helimer 206, to the scene. The vessel, measuring between 15 to 20 metres in length, was spotted by the 'Beskidy', while it was en route from Itaqui to Cartagena. The helicopter flew nine survivors to El Hierro to receive initial medical assistance. Meanwhile, the 'Salvamar Adhara' was instructed to continue sailing towards the location of the boat to verify that there were no remaining victims onboard, as indicated by reports from the Helimer rescuers. The survivors told the helicopter crew and medical personnel that they had set sail nine days ago with 60 people on board, bound for the Canary Islands, capsized two days ago, and they are the only ones who managed to turn the boat back over and climb aboard again, despite it being partially submerged. The survivors, for whom no further details have been disclosed yet, except that they were from sub-Saharan Africa, were being attended to by healthcare professionals and Red Cross personnel at the El Hierro airport. Ambulances have transported three of them to the island’s hospital. Report with photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1784911195557826861
CARNIVAL DREAM
The US Coast Guard medevaced a 67-year-old woman from the 'Carnival Dream' on April 27, 2024, approximately 160 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a report from the ship of a 67-year-old woman with symptoms of kidney failure. Watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew to conduct the medevac. The aircrew arrived on-scene, hoisted the woman aboard the helicopter, and transported her to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at University Medical Center in New Orleans. The woman was last reported in stable condition. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3758471/coast-guard-medevacs-67-year-old-woman-160-miles-off-southwest-pass-la/
AKDENIZ
The 'Akzdeniz', aimed to sail from Turkey to Gaza with humanitarian aid have been denied the right to sail. On the afternoon of April 25, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was contacted by the Guinea Bissau International Ships Registry (GBISR), requesting an inspection of the 'Akdenez', altihough the ship had already passed all required inspections. The inspector arrived on the evening. On afternoon of April 26, before the inspection was completed, the GBISR, in a blatantly political move, informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had withdrawn the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the Freedom Flotilla’s ships, one of which the cargo ship, already loaded with over 5000 tons of life-saving aid for the Palestinians of Gaza. The 'Akdeniz' remained stationary in Tuzla as of April 29. Report with photo: https://thehill.com/policy/international/4626240-gaza-humanitarian-aid-ships-turkey-denied-right-sail-flags-removed/
MEIN SCHIFF 1
On April 25, 2024, the bridge crew of the 'Mein Schiff 1' discovered a boat with two people in distress during a day at sea between the ports of Málaga and Alicante. The Spanish Coastguard was then immediately alerted. The speed of the cruise ship was reduced and a dinghy was lowered into the water, and the people were successfully rescued. After providing support, the 'Mein Schiff 1' continued the current cruise as scheduled.
BESKIDY
The 'Beskidy', en route from Itaqui to Cartagena, reported a semi-submerged cayuco 60 nautical miles south of El Hierro on April 28, 2024. The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Adhara', a patrol boat of the Guardia Civil and the SAR helicopter Helimer 206, to the scene. The vessel, measuring between 15 to 20 metres in length, was flooded and hardly protruding from the water. The helicopter flew nine survivors to El Hierro to receive initial medical assistance. Meanwhile, the 'Salvamar Adhara' was instructed to continue sailing towards the location of the boat to verify that there were no remaining victims onboard, as indicated by reports from the Helimer rescuers. The survivors told the helicopter crew and medical personnel that they had set sail nine days ago bound for the Canary Islands, capsized two days ago, and they are the only ones who managed to turn the boat back over and climb aboard again, despite it being partially submerged. The survivors, for whom no further details have been disclosed yet, except that they were from sub-Saharan Africa, were being attended to by healthcare professionals and Red Cross personnel at the El Hierro airport. Ambulances have transported three of them to the island’s hospital. Report with photo: https://twitter.com/salvamentogob/status/1784911195557826861
CYCLADES
Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Sanaa time) on April 29, 2024, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards the 'Cyclades', en route from Djibouti to Jeddah, 54 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Mocha. The ship was slightly damaged due to a nearby explosion. Initial reports indicated there were no injuries and the vessel continued on its way. A Houthi Armed Forces spokesperson said the bulker was targeted for having called the Israeli port of Eliat on April 21. Earlier, at 7:49 a.m., U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully engaged and destroyed one Houthi launched airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a flight path towards the USS 'Philippine Sea' and USS 'Laboon' in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damages reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.
DALI
The Baltimore Port Authority on April 29 closed the deepest, temporary channel to the port to date after just a few days. This was done to get ready to remove the bridge section that lies across the bow of the 'Dali', and subsequently also remove the container ship itself. The goal is that the 'Dali' has been removed by May 10 at the latest, and the entire entrance to the harbour is cleared before the end of May. Before the salvors can remove the bridge section that lies across the bow of the vessel, it is necessary to remove 180 containers from the ship. Of these, 140 have now been removed, but the last ones were expected to be the most difficult. Once the bridge section is removed, the 'Dali' can be towed away. Around May 15, the plan is to reopen the temporary channel with a water depth of 35 feet again and which was briefly opened to allow some of the ships that have been locked up in the port since the accident. A single container ship, the feeder 'MSC Passion III', also managed to slip into the port with 1,000 containers on board, unload and leave the port again before the temporary channel was closed again.
SALVAMAR SIRIUS
On April 29, 2024, the trawler 'Concha', with 2 crew members on board, suffered an engine damage and went adrift in front of Sant Feliu de Guixols. The CCS Barcelona of Salvamento MArítimo mobilized the ' 'Salvamar Sirius' to assist, which took the ship in tow and safely pulled it to Palamós.
SHEN KUO
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on April 28, 2024, were monitoring the unauthorized presence of the 'Shen Kuo' in the coastal vicinity northeast of Viga, Catanduanes on April 25, 2024, about 60.9 nautical miles east off Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay. The Tactical Operations Wing, Southern Luzon (TOWSOL) conducted maritime patrol (MARPAT) on April 27, and was observed that the vessel was still in the area and had no personnel on the main deck. Several attempts to contact the vessel through regular radio channels were unsuccessful. Te AFP remained vigilant, and tasked nearby vessels for enhanced surveillance and reporting. The AFP coordinated with relevant agencies to address the unauthorized presence and investigate any illegal activities within the EEZ. Report with photo: https://tribune.net.ph/2024/04/28/afp-detects-unauthorized-china-research-vessel-near-catanduanes
DALI
As of Apri 26, 137 containers of the estimated 180 necessary to access the portion of the bridge atop the 'Dali' have been removed. 171 commercial vessels have transited the four alternate channels, including five of the vessels waiting to depart the Port of Baltimore since March 26. More than 350 uniformed and civilian workers from 53 federal, state, and local agencies across the U.S. have been deployed to Baltimore for the ongoing recovery and salvage efforts. In addition, 553 contract specialists were actively involved in various roles related to dive, crane, and vessel operations. Over 1,000 individuals have contributed to the Key Bridge Response mission over the past month. To address the estimated 50,000 tons of wreckage at the Francis Scott Key Bridge site, the Unified Command has assembled a substantial fleet of diverse vessels and equipment which includes 36 barges, 27 tugs, 22 floating cranes, 10 excavators, one dredger, one skimmer, and three Coast Guard cutters. Progress in the salvage effort has been significant, with over 3,000 tons of wreckage and debris already removed from the site for disposal or recycling. 90 dive missions have been conducted by as many as seven dive teams, each consisting of four to five specialists. This tally does not include the numerous recovery-related dives undertaken within the initial 48 hours by over 60 divers from the Maryland State Police and other federal, state, and local agencies. Survey vessels deployed by the Unified Command have executed more than 60 missions to gather sonar and laser imagery, essential for mapping the wreckage of the 'Dali' and determining safe maritime navigation routes. This data, acquired day and night, is crucial for diver safety, enabling dive supervisors to guide underwater operations amidst the murky depths of the Patapsco River. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey completed nine hydrographic survey assessments to help establish the temporary channels by identifying obstructions for salvage teams to remove. Following obstruction removal, the NOAA hydrographic survey team returned and verified the temporary alternate channels were clear and safe for vessel navigation. Aerial efforts have also played a vital role, with more than 100 pilots and support specialists from over 35 agencies conducting 250 Unmanned Aircraft System missions and 60 manned helicopter and fixed-wing sorties. Serving as the literal eye-in-the-sky, the Air Operations branch has been instrumental from the early search and rescue phase to the ongoing salvage operations, providing essential oversight for Unified Command planners, operators, and leadership. Report with photo: https://www.keybridgeresponse2024.com/post/update-16-multimedia-release-unified-command-reflects-on-month-s-progress-during-joint-recovery-and