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The 'Marsgracht' has been detained twice this year by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Port Alma for the improper stowage of dangerous goods, first on Feb 6, 2024, and then on Nov 14 for contravening the IMO’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. It was the fourth detention of Spliethoff vessel since June 2022 for failure to comply with the IMDG code in the stowage of dangerous cargoes, which demonstrate an inability to ensure safe operational practices across the fleet, the AMSA said. Spliethoff has a 12.6% average of detentions over the last two years, well above the global average with multiple ships detained. Noting the seriousness and nature of these breaches, and the apparent lack of effective processes to rectify failings, it was regarded as appropriate that the 'Marsgracht' may not enter or use an Australian port for a period of 180 days.

The municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee has extended the reception of asylum seekers in the outer harbour of Stellendam until FEb 15, 2026. With this extension, the municipality responded to a request from the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). The request was to continue to help with the reception of asylum seekers, as there was still a great need for reception places in order to relieve the pressure on the registration centre in Ter Apel. At the moment, 118 asylum seekers are accomodated on the 'Bo Elise' which has replaced the 'Esmeralda', which needed maintenance and will not return Stellendam afterwards. The extension of the reception in Stellendam is in line with the regional reception plan for Rotterdam-Rijnmond. This plan was drawn up in the context of the Distribution Act. It was created after extensive consultation between municipalities and other parties involved. The aim is to achieve a balanced distribution of the reception of asylum seekers across the municipalities in the region. The plan stipulates that Goeree-Overflakkee will provide a total of 298 reception places for asylum seekers. With the locations in Middelharnis and Stellendam, the municipality complies with this agreement. On Nov 7, representatives of the municipality and the COA spoke with a s group of stakeholders at the outer harbour of Stellendam. The reception period from jan 1, 2024 to the present was evaluated. The reception was generally going well and quietly. However, members of the group did ask for attention to traffic safety around the reception ship, especially when it is dark. The municipality and COA are addressing this point.

The 'Glen Sannox' has been handed over by the Ferguson shipyard to the Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. on the night of Nov 20, exactly seven years after it was launched by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, being the first new large vessel for the west coast ferry fleet in nearly a decade. The ferry operator CalMac will now conduct several weeks of crew familiarisation trials before the ship carries its first passengers in Jan 2025. The 'Glen Sannox' was originally due for delivery in 2018 but has faced major challenges in design and construction, sparking the longest-running political controversy of the devolution era. Costs have risen from an initial contract price of £97m to more than £400m, including £45m of government loans that were never fully recovered. Report with photos: https://www.inverclydenow.com/port-yard-hand-over-glen-sannox-at-last/

On the morning of Nov 21, 2024, the Port Authority of Agios Efstratios was informed by the master of the'Blue Star Mykonos', which was performing its scheduled route from Kavala to Myrina – Agios Efstratios – Mytilini – Chios – Vathi – Karlovasi – Fourni – Agios Kyrykos – Mykonos – Syros and Piraeus, that its approach to the port was deemed unsafe due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the area. The ship continued its route for the port of Mytilene. Four passengers and two trucks were waiting to disembark on the ship.

The Spanish government confirmed on Nov 20 that it will not allow the 'Maersk Denver' and another ship to dock in Spanish ports. The Danish company Maersk had announced that its container ship was prevented from entering the port of Algeciras. The company claimed that the cargo did not contain weapons or military ammunition. The company said in an official statement: “The goods to be transported through the port do not contain weapons or military ammunition.” This decision comes in the context of the Spanish government's hard-line approach to dealing with weapons destined for Israel since the recognition of the State of Palestine last May. Spain has halted arms sales to Israel and prevented ships carrying military cargo from docking in its ports. According to Maersk, the cargo was not physically inspected and the ship's crew was forced to divert to the port of Tangier. Maersk expressed its surprise at the decision, stating that it had contacted the Spanish authorities to understand the reasons for denying entry to the ship: “We understand that Spain has changed its criteria on a discretionary basis, and now refuses to receive ships to or from Israel if they are carrying any military-related cargo, even if the cargo is legal.”