MSC MARTA

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Two stowayways crossed the ocean on rudder

The Spanish Coast Guard and police in the Canary Islands found two stowaways perched on the top of the rudder of the 'MSC Marta', which arrived in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on July 10, 2023, after a voyage of more than 2,700 nautical miles from Lome. The two men had been aboard the vessel for six days in a position where they were unable to stand up and had no shelter in an attempt to reach Europe. The vessel docked at 11.3o p.m. UTC at the container terminal on its normal route in which the Canary Islands are an interim stop between Africa and Europe. In a routine inspection, Salvamento Maritimo reports its patrol boat 'Nunki' spotted the two lying atop the rudder one feet above the water. They launched a zodiac and were able to retrieve the two, who turned out to be young men from Nigeria age 18 and 22. The local police were on the dock to take custody of the men. They determined that they had climbed aboard the rudder on July 2, while the ship was in Lagos. The vessel first traveled more than 100 nautical miles to Lome, where it was handling containers on July 3 and 4. It then sailed 2,500 nautical miles to the Canary Islands with the two men on the rudder. They were taken to the hospital and spent the night being checked out. In the morning of July 11, they were released and taken back to the vessel, which is responsible under Spanish law for the removal of the illegal migrants and returning them to their home country. The men could have asked for asylum in Spain, which would have permitted them to remain in the Canary Islands, but they have family in Italy and were likely trying to get asylum when the vessel reaches Italy. The 'MSC Marta' sailed on July 11, with the two men bound for the port of Gioia Tauro with an ETA as of July 15. There was no word if the men would seek asylum or remain aboard until the vessel reaches Nigeria.

Iinjured sailor medevaced off Cayenne after amok run

Two crew members of the "MSC Marta" suffered injuries aboard the "MSC Marta" on Jan 28, 2019. The CROSS Antilles-Guyane received an emergency call from the vessel at 9.55 p.m. which was enroute from the Dominican Republic to Santos. A Serbo-Croatian crew member went amok and wounded three other crew members – the cook, an engineer and a fitter. The cook’s wounds requested immediate medical assistance. The CROSS West Indies-Guyana organized a medical consultation with a doctor in Toulouse, which confirmed the need for a medical evacuation. The ship diverted to Cayenne, located 200 nautical miles away. At the same time the CROSS sent a Puma helicopter of the Armed Forces in French Guiana as well as a medical team from the SAMU. The sailor was hoisted 70 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana and taken to Cayenne for further care on Jan 29 at 5:35 a.m. The other two injured crew members remained on board. All three were from Montenegro. The attacker was neutralized and isolated by other crew members and was to be handed over to police upoon the ship's arrival at Santos.

MSC MARTA 9295385

On June 13, 2016, the Greek tank m/v "Delta Maria" was called to assist jointly with the "MSC Marta" after a migrant boat with about 200 people on board got in distress around 120 kilometers south of Gavdos island. After an emergency call was received, the Greek Coastguard requested nearby ships to join the rescue operation.