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The ADV 'Stoker', using advanced robotic and autonomous systems, normally used for hydrographic survey capabilities, has located the USS 'Edsall' on the sea-bed south of Christmas Island. where the destroyer was sunk on March 1, 1942 with 185 sailors and 31 U.S. Army Air Force pilots aboard at the time. The announcement of its discovery was made on Nov. 11, 2024, celebrated as Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Australia. "Captain Joshua Nix and his crew fought valiantly, evading 1,400 shells from Japanese battleships and cruisers before being attacked by 26 carrier dive bombers, taking only one fatal hit. There were no survivors," said Caroline Kennedy, U.S. ambassador to Australia, in a joint statement recorded with Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, head of the Australian Navy. Commissioned in 1919, on March 1, 1942, the USS 'Edsall' was steaming alone south of Java, having spent the past several months escorting convoys between Australia and Indonesia. Overtaken by a force of much faster and more heavily armed Japanese battleships and cruisers, the Edsall nevertheless spent almost two hours performing evasive maneuvers, laying smoke screens, and avoiding more than 1,000 enemy shells. Eventually, more than two dozen Japanese aircraft were launched to bomb the destroyer, finally leaving it dead in the water. Japanese observers reportedly described the destroyer as performing like a "dancing mouse", referring to a popular Japanese pet at the time known for its erratic movement. Almost all of the ship's crew were lost in the sinking, although war crimes trials convened after the war revealed that a handful of survivors had been picked up by the Japanese fleet, only to later be executed. The Australian Navy initially encountered the wreck in 2023, and researchers had worked since then to confirm that it was, in fact, the 'Edsall'.

The 'Maersk Denver' was denied entry to the port of Algeciras, the Danish shipping company Maersk said on Nov 9, 2024, denying that its cargo contained weapons for Israel. On Nov 12, the deputy of the Spanish coalition, Sumar Enrique Santiago, filed a complaint to prevent the docking of two ships at the port of Algeciras, considering that an authorization went against the government’s agreement. The Spanish government had explained two days earlier that the ship, as well as another also belonging to Maersk and due to dock later in the month,, would not call in Spain, without giving further details. “In order to clarify future operations, we have consulted with the Spanish authorities to understand why entry has been refused for a cargo that is no different from previous cargoes,” Maersk said, noting that the cargo had not been inspected. The Maersk Denver was diverted to Tangier, en route to Oman.

A US Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew conducted a medical evacuation of a passenger from the 'Carnival Vista' on Nov 7, approximately 45 miles southwest of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The patient was a 69-year-old female U.S. citizen, who experienced health complications and required a higher level of medical care ashore. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a communication from the cruise ship on the afternoon, requesting a medical evacuation to transport the patient to a hospital in Puerto Rico, coordinated arrangements and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to rendezvous with the cruise ship. Once on scene, the Coast Guard aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer aboard the cruise ship, who prepared a rescue basket to hoist the patient’s spouse and cruise ship nurse, followed by a litter hoist of the patient aboard the aircraft. The Coast Guard aircrew transported the patient to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where awaiting local Emergency Medical Service personnel received and transported her to the Centro Medico’ Hospital. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3962928/coast-guard-medically-evacuates-us-passenger-from-carnival-vista-cruise-ship-ne/

On Nov 10, the 'AIDAstella' had to change its planned route off the coast of South Africa during a day at sea, en route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, due to a medical emergency on board, which caused the ship to set course for the coast in the morning. A helicopter was deployed near Cape Agulhas to bring the 72 year old, German passenger from the ship to shore. After the patient was hoisted, the 'AIDAstella' continued its journey and reached the port of Port Elizabeth as planned on the morning of Nov 11. Report with video: https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2024/11/12/south-african-air-force-and-nsri-rescue-german-tourist-from-cruise-ship-in-cape-town/

On Nov 9, 2024, the Russian captain of the 'Nakhal Silver', en route from Kandla Port to Fujairah Port, fell seriously ill while the ship was in Porbandar waters. In response to an SOS call received by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) at Porbandar Port, GMB staff launched a swift rescue operation to bring the ailing captain ashore for urgent medical care. Captain Arvind Mishra of GMB promptly granted permission for the ship to divert towards Porbandar Port and directed Port Traffic Inspector Shamla to arrange immediate assistance. The port traffic team dispatched a tug to the ship at midnight, safely bringing the Captain to shore. He was then admitted to Asha Hospital in Porbandar for treatment.