MAERSK RIO INDIA

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Container ship's Timaru departure delayed due to heavy swell

A massive container ship's departure from Timaru has been delayed due to heavy swells. The 286.5 metre long and 40m wide Maersk Rio de Janeiro arrived in Timaru on Sunday evening and was due to leave on Monday morning, but PrimePort chief executive Phil Melhopt said there had been a delay. "It's not uncommon for deep draught container ships such as this one to be held up by swell," Melhopt said.

385 kilo of cocaine intercepted onboard of Rio de Janeiro, 9 crew arrested

Italian Guardia di Finanza of Reggio Calabria received information about drug trafficking operation, involving container ship RIO DE JANEIRO and some of her crew. Significant shipment of cocaine was to be offloaded somehow during vessel’s trip from Spain to Gioia Tauro. Italian law enforcement agencies, including Coast Guard speedboats, began monitoring vessel on Oct 18, and finally, found the whole shipment some 17 nm off Gioia Tauro, packed in 17 bags, which were tied to buoys and thrown overboard, to be picked up by other mobsters, allegedly cocaine was to be received by notorious Ndrangheta mafia. 350 bricks of cocaine weighing 385 kilo were found inside bags. On arrival to Gioia Tauro, 24 crew were searched, both bodily and cabins. 9 crew members, all of Kiribati nationality, were arrested after search found evidence they’ve been involved in a crime scheme. Vessel arrived at Gioia Tauro on Oct 20, left port on Oct 21, sailing according to service schedule. https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2016/15523/hamburg-sud-boxship-385-kilo-cocaine-intercepted-9/ and http://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/italy-seizes-77-million-euros-of-cocaine/news-story/092ac76a219d0078db63a09d7d16d99b