PETREL 8

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Course/Position

Latest news

North Korean ships banned from global port calls

The United Nations has banned four ships from visiting any global port, after they were found violating sanctions imposed on North Korea, the "Petrel 8", "Hao Fan 6", "Tong San 2" and "Jie Shun". The UN Security Council expanded sanctions on North Korea last month in response to Pyongyang's sixth and largest nuclear test yet. The ban was announced following a UN meeting on Oct 9, 2017. The ships were found transporting prohibited goods. The ban, which went into effect on Oct, did not entail asset freezes or travel bans. In August, a UN resolution banned exports of coal, seafood and iron ore from North Korea. Sanctions were expanded last month to include the export of textiles and North Korean guest workers, as well as a cap on oil imports. The tightening of trade restrictions followed Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test and the firing of two missiles over Japan. North Korea's main economic partner China has signed up to the measures, along with Russia. Both have previously vetoed harsher sanctions on the secretive state.

Insane master disabled by crew

The "Jal Vahini" was entering Visakhapatnam port in the afternoon of Aug 4, 2014, when officers and crew attacked the master of the vessel thus preventing a disaster. The master of the bulk carrier made an attempt to steer his vessel into port around 3 p.m. LT. The bulk carrier had been waiting anchored outside the port to load a Jindal Steel consignment but suddenly it was seen approaching a jetty without been permitted to. The harbour pilot and CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel manning the port managed to board the "Jal Vahini". Having overpowered the captain, they switched off the engine. The master and crew were taken into custody and an hour later the bulk carrier was berthed at Ore Berth-1. Prior the incident, the vessel's captain, Manmohan Saba, asked the port control for permission to enter. Having the cargo not ready, the permission was denied. Manmohan Saba insisted stating the vessel had technical issues but his vessel was still refused in port. It was then when he started steering the "Jal Vahini" into harbour. The port control gave repeated warnings and when he still failed to stop, VPT followed the standard protocol of informing the CISF, Coast guard and Indian Navy after which the harbour pilot boarded the ship and defused the situation. Manmohan Saba was allegedly mentally disturbed for the past one week. The crew had complained to their shipping company and a replacement was about to be sent. The master had problems with the company. Last week, he forcibly docked "Jal Vahini" at Colombo port for two days after a quarrel with the crew. Currently only the master was in custody, and still there are conflicting reports on what exactly happened. The vessel, coming from Colombo, had arrived at Visalhapatnam to load a cargo of steel.