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The 'Pioneer', which was recently sanctioned by the US over the Ukraine war, is crossing the Suez Canal for the first time and likely on its way to Asia, Kjell Eikland, director of the Oslo-based intelligence and consulting firm Eikland Energ, said on Sep 25. The loaded vessel started crossing the canal on the morning, likely heading towards Asia across Yemeni waters, in what would also be a first for a full cargo since the Houthi group starting disrupting traffic.Crossing the canal would indicate that either a buyer had been found in Asia or that it was moving closer to the region to facilitate closing of a deal. There was no indication it has been sold, and probably won’t be until it reaches some destination. # The vessel is one of nine ships sanctioned by the US that is believed to be part of the so-called Russian dark fleet, at the also sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 facility. As such, the 'Pioneer' is carrying the first cargo loaded early in August from the plant’s first production unit, or train, with a 6.6m tonnes per year (9bcm/year) capacity. The ship was unlikely to deliver to terminals in Egypt and Jordan due to the US sanctions. It was still three days away from the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the tip of the Red Sea near Yemen, where Houthi rebels have been attacking ships. The 'Pioneer' was involved in a “fake” ship-to-ship transfer in the Mediterranean with another sanctioned vessel, but had yet to unload its cargo, according to its reported draft data. It was insured by a New Zeland company. Russia may have to shut down its Arctic LNG 2 plant soon if sanctions continue to impede it from selling cargoes.

Joshua Darrell Lowe was indicted for an alleged bomb hoax on the 'Carnival Sunrise'. He was charged with making a false bomb threat, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan said on Sep 25, 2024. The cruise line received an email from Lowe in January stating that “someone might have a bomb” on the 'Carnival Sunrise', as it was on its way to Jamaica from Miami, Florida, The crew searched more than 1,000 cabins and notified the U.S. Coast Guard and authorities in Jamaica, receiving a Marine Police escort to port. Lowe, who is from Bailey, Michigan, faces up to five years in prison if convicted. The 19-year-old will also have to pay restitution for costs resulting from the hoax. Court documents did not list an attorney for Lowe. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating.

The Port of Kiel and AIDA Cruises are jointly celebrating the 100th cruise ship call this year to be supplied with shore power as the 'AIDAnova' docked at the Ostseekai Cruise Terminal on Sep 25, 2024. Dr Dirk Claus, the MD of the Port of Kiel, highlighted that Kiel had defined 100 shore power supplies to cruise ships as its benchmark for this year. Now this goal has been fulfilled ahead of schedule and ahead of the season’s close. Almost 70% of all ocean cruise ship calls handled at Kiel this year will make use of shore power supply. While the majority of supplies conducted in recent years accounted for tests and preparations, Kiel has now achieved 85% of the connections accounting for regular supplies - with just a 15% share remaining for tests of further ships wanting to take shore power. According to the Port of Kiel, ships wanting to take shore power usually need between one and three 'trial calls' for tests and preparations before regular supplies can start. During recent years, 22 ships have passed respective testing at Kiel, and 2024 alone saw another ten ships being integrated. Out of this year's shore power supplies, about one third have taken place at Ostuferhafen which saw its facility going into regular operation this spring. Here, among others MSC Euribia and Costa Diadema receive shore power regularly. Up to and including 2025, the Port of Kiel will have invested €55m into its shore power facilities. The port supplies its customers entirely with 'green shore power' purchased on the spot market according to demand. Out of the 100 cruise ship calls supplied with green shore power this year, Carnival Corporation accounts for 54 - out of which 41 calls are AIDA Cruises ships. Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, outlined the mutually beneficial cooperation between the Port of Kiel and AIDA Cruises commenting that Kiel had recognized the potential of shore power supply early on and made corresponding investments. Eichhorn said the milestone call was the result of joint, collaborative efforts to make cruising more sustainable. German ports - with Kiel at the top – have takn a leading position in onshore power supply for cruise vessels. While shore power is increasingly turning into a standard in Germany's cruise hubs, according to recent CLIA figures, only 35 cruise ports worldwide have the facilities in place to offer shore power at present. Report with photo: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/kiel-celebrates-100th-cruise-ship-supplied-with-shore-power-this-year-as-aidanova-plugs-in-at-ostseekai

Plymouth RNLI's relief All-Weather Lifeboat ‘Volunteer Spirit’ was requested to launch by Falmouth Coastguard to assist with a medical evacuation from the 'Queen Anne', en route from Southampton, UK, to Cadiz, 1.5 nautical miles south of the Plymouth Breakwater on Sep 23, 2024, at 5.39 a.m. The lifeboat, launched from the Millbay Marina at 6.15 a.m. and made best speed towards the cruise ship, already diverting to Plymouth from the English Channel, and finally rendezvousing just before 6.25 a.m. Once on scene the patient was assessed by the casualty care crew, and in consultation with the cruise ship’s medical team the decision was made to evacuate the person to the lifeboat via the pilot ladder to be taken back to the Plymouth Lifeboat Station into the care of South Western Ambulance Service for onward treatment in hospital. Report with photo: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/september/24/plymouth-rnli-volunteers-evacuate-injured-crew-member-from-323m-ocean-liner

Guests on the seven-night cruise of the 'MSC Seashore' from Miami, Florida to The Bahamas were informed on Sep 21, 2024, that some of the ports that were on the itinerary were no longer going to be possible because of Hurricane Helene. Initially, guests on the 'MSC Seashore' were supposed to visit Mexico, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. However, deeming those areas unsafe, the captain decided early on to avoid the ports and traded them out for ports in Nassau, Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk instead. It was later confirmed that it would also be impossible for the ship to return on Sep 26 to Port Canaveral, Florida as a result of winds expected to be blowing at "50 miles per hour. The passengers instead had a bonus day at sea and will reach the port only when conditions were safe to do so.