The 'Mersin Express', which had been seized in Livorno with 2,000 kilos of cocaine, unloaded 1,400 tons of bananas and pineapple in Vigo. The ship which transported the cargo from Ecuador, made its usual stop in the port to unload refrigerated containers. Most of the product arriving in Galicia was banana, the most commonly used by drug trafficking groups to conceal drugs. The ship that operates the regular route between South America and Europe through the Port of Vigo, unloaded approximately 1,400 tons of fruit on its last visit to the Guixar dock on March 12, mostly bananas but also pineapple. The ship was carrying at least 2,000 kilos of cocaine, which were seized on March 22, 2025, when the vessel made a stopover in the port of Livorno by officials from the local customs anti-fraud unit and financiers of the Livorno group. The huge amount of drugs, divided into 1,800 loaves of bread, was hidden in a container of cocoa powder and loaded onto the ship at the port of Guayaquil. The ship was released again on March 24 en route to Barcelona.
News
HONGTAI58
The captain of the 'Hong Tai 58' has been charged with severing an undersea telecommunications cable off the coast of Taiwan, near the Taiwanese archipelago of Penghu, last February, by the Taiwanese prosecutors. Captain Wang, has been detained in Taiwan since the incident, which occurred in the strategic and sensitive waters between Taiwan and China. The ship had eight Chinese nationals on board and was financed by China, the Coast Guard said. The vessel, which was spotted about 11 kilometres northwest of the Jiangjun fishing port, was intercepted by the Coast Guard after the cable linking Penghu to Taiwan was severed. Mr. Wang was accused of "destroying submarine cable-related facilities. The captain instructed the crew to drop anchor (...) with the intention of destroying the submarine cable. He also steered the vessel in a zigzag pattern over the cable by using the cargo ship's anchor to cut the cable, which damaged the submarine cable and affected communications between Taiwan and Penghu, according to the prosecutors. Mr. Wang faces a maximum prison sentence of seven years. Taiwan is connected by 14 international submarine cables and 10 domestic cables, which are of great strategic importance for ensuring telecommunications.
Kiel
The Port of Kiel has reported that it achieved good results in 2019. The cargo sector achieved an increase of 1.9 % to 6.8 million t handled on the terminals operated by the port. Taking into account the bulk cargo business at independent facilities, all in all the 7 million t mark could be affirmed despite the decommissioning of the local coal power station. Highlights: Handling result rose by 1.9 % in port areas operated by the Port of Kiel. The port again reached the 7 million t mark in overall cargo handling. Investment in shore power supply plants at Norwegenkai, Ostseekai and Schwedenkai. Passenger traffic rose by 8.4 % to nearly 2.4 million passengers. Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director at the port, said: “The Port of Kiel was able to pursue its growth course in its core business areas – the ferry traffic and the cruise business sector. At the same time, the focus of our investments lies on the implementation of the Blue Port strategy – on the shore power plants and the intermodal traffic, so that the Port of Kiel will be climate-neutral by 2030.” Approximately €15 million are currently being invested in the construction of shore power plants so that they will be ready for operation at all three ferry and cruise terminals in the city port in the course of 2020. The Color Line ferry has been supplied with shore power at the Norwegenkai Terminal on a daily basis since early summer 2019. Ferry traffic contributing more to overall transhipment rate The core business of the port is the general cargo handled in the ferry traffic sector and with nearly 6 million t it accounts for 85% of overall transhipment activities. The biggest volume handled was on the Kiel – Klaipeda (Lithuania) service of the DFDS shipping company. For the first time, 2.5 million t of cargo were transhipped and the frequency was also augmented with an eighth weekly departure in autumn. Since April 2019, more trucks destined for Russia have been transported on this route after the weekly ferry service to St. Petersburg was suspended. Longer trains and new connections in intermodal transport In the ferry traffic sector to Norway resp. West Sweden the service of an additional freight ferry has had a positive impact on the Kiel – Oslo route, whereas fewer unaccompanied trailers were transported between Kiel and Gothenburg in 2019. Trains with an overall length of 750 m (550 m before) can now enter the Rbf Kiel-Meimersdorf and a third shunting track is about to be completed at the Schwedenkai Terminal. At this terminal, no less than 25% of the hinterland transport units are transhipped by rail already. After nearly 24 000 load units were transhipped by rail in 2019, this number is expected to increase to well over 32 000 in 2020. Investments in terminal facilities and environmental protection The port is currently investing nearly €30 million in terminal facilities and environmental protection. After the apron in Ostuferhafen (Germany) was completely redesigned in 2019 in order to optimise logistical processes and to create more space for trucks, trailers and passenger cars, the construction projects now focus on the city port. The interior construction of the new terminal measuring 3700 m2 is in full swing while the works on the exterior façade are nearly finished. The €10 million building will be inaugurated in spring with the beginning of the season. The largest single investment of the port is the shore power supply plant for the Ostseekai and Schwedenkai terminals amounting to €13 million. Construction works at the shore power supply plant started last autumn and the structural as well as the civil engineering is currently in progress. The technical equipment will follow so that the power plant can start test operations during the season.
Chittagong
There are 5 seaports in the world that operate 1 million or 1 million single container premises annually. The name of the main Chittagong seaport has been added to the list of the three million port. Chittagong seaport has set a new record of 1 lakh single container courtyard on Saturday. This container container has been set up in Chittagong port from January 1 to December 25. There are still 7 days left to complete 20 years; Chittagong port has already been named in the list. It is worth mentioning that the Chittagong port is now ranked 5th in the list of one hundred seaports in the world. Chittagong Port has achieved this position in view of the 2 million single container building in 20 years. Earlier, the port was the 5th in the 21st. The Lloyds List, the world’s oldest shipping magazine, produces and publishes this list every year. There are 5 seaports in that list; Those who build more than one million million container containers a year. And the port of Chittagong was the 5th, but was not considered as a port of three millionaires. Confirming the matter, Chittagong Port Member (Administration and Planning) Jafar Alam told Kall Kantha that the combined efforts of the port authorities and users have achieved this milestone. We have been able to handle 1 million units without having to deal with constraints and many challenges. It would not be logical to combine our Chittagong port with the best and busiest ports in the world. Because most of the ports there are transshipment ports; Not an ‘end port’ or end destination like ours. “If we can still transfer delivery from the port to the Bay Terminal, we can show more success,” he said. I can be on the front row more on the Lloyds list. Referring to the glory of Chittagong port being linked to the port of the World’s Three Millionaire Club, Galaxy Bangladesh Shipping Lines Chairman Ahmed Yusuf Walid told Kal Kantha that the image of Bangladesh along with Chittagong port at sea port of the world will be brightened. We must build capacity to sustain growth and further enhance the port’s efficiency by protecting this continuity. Because the economy of Bangladesh is very dependent on the efficiency of the port. The four-year plan of the Chittagong Port, made by the Hamburg Port Consultancy (HPC) in Germany, stated that in the port of Chittagong, container shipments would be about 2 million units in 20 years; There will be 25 lakh 1 thousand units in 20 and 25 lakh units in 2021. The Chittagong port has fulfilled its forecast in the last 25 years. Great plan has indicated that new jet terminals and machinery will have to be added to keep up with the growth of product lines. Otherwise, the business of commodity trading will take off elsewhere. And if this situation continues, the port growth will slow down. That means it will take longer than expected to leave the product. But the Chittagong Port Authority has so far handled the commodity boom with the addition of new and modern equipment, but by 2020 it will not be possible to keep up with the growth of the port without actually having a new terminal or jetty. Port officials say the port authorities are building a Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) on the banks of the Karnaphuli river to curb growth. It was supposed to be launched in the 21st, the government is working with the army for speedy execution. But that project is also unlikely to start before 2020. Otherwise, no JT-terminal will be coming to port in the next two years. As a result, 2020 is very important for the port. The port is seeking to build only a delivery yard and a truck terminal at the Bay Terminal at the moment. But the file is stuck in the ministry. If the Chittagong port does not keep up with the sustained growth, the country’s economy will also be under pressure, and its importers will have to pay losses. If the port does not function properly, Bangladesh will fall behind in competition in the world export market. Asked to know, Chittagong Chamber President Mahbubul Alam told Kal Kantha, “It is not only Chittagong, but the economy for the entire country.” Because despite the government’s highest policy-making forums, construction of the Bay Terminal has apparently not progressed. Construction didn’t start until the sand filled the distance. So when will the delivery yard, truck terminal be built? We want to know why the most important ‘Bay Terminal project’ of the port is not being taken on the Prime Minister’s priority fast track, he added. Source : https://chittagongportagent.com
COBRA
Juan Sanhueza, 58, a lookout of the 'Cobra', was found dead in the Bosques de Quiñenco area of Coronel on the morning of April 10. He had been missing since April 4. The discovery was made during the search led by the PDI's Homicide Squad, following a complaint filed by the crew member's family. The man was considered a key witness in the investigation into the sinking of the boat "Bruma," which still leaves seven fishermen missing. The head of the Concepción Homicide Squad, Enrique Guzmán, explained that during the investigation, they were able to "obtain this location of criminal interest, so detailed investigations were carried out with this specialized equipment, which finally allowed to locate a person. "It is part of the examination and forensic process to be able to categorically establish the date of death, which would correspond more or less to the period of disappearance," The Biobío regional prosecutor, Marcela Cartagena, reported that the identity of the body was confirmed by the Criminalistics Laboratory through a fingerprint examination. Third party involvement was ruled out and a suicide presumed. Sanhueza, who was serving as a lookout the night before the sinking of the "Bruma," disappeared after attending a psychological support session organized by the company Blumar. He was later scheduled to appear before the Investigative Police (PDI), but decided to travel on his own instead of using the company's transportation and missed the summons. Sanhueza's last record indicates that he boarded a Ruta del Mar bus, where, according to the driver, he displayed nervous behaviour and changed seats several times. He got off at Vega Monumental, and his whereabouts have not been known since. The widow had told prosecutor Hugo Cuevas that Sanhueza intended to cooperate with the investigation and testify. Report with photos: https://www.adnradio.cl/2025/04/10/fiscalia-confirma-que-cadaver-encontrado-en-coronel-corresponde-a-juan-sanhueza-testigo-clave-del-barco-cobra/
FRAMFJORD
On April 10, 2025, the 'Frjamfjord' suffered engine probles off the por of Myre. The NSSR boat 'Halfdan Grieg' (MMSI: 259176000) and other ships were mobilized to assist the disabled vessel at 11.40 a.m., which had trouble with its cooling system, and the lifeboat took it in tow just before noon with the catamaran ship 'Brennsund' (MMSI: 257026930) as steering assistance at the stern. The cargo ship was safely docked at Kartneset at 3:10 p.m. The weather on scene was calm, and everything went well. At 4 p.m. the damage was repaired, and the ship continued to Andenes. Report with photo: https://www.blv.no/redningsskoyta-tauer-frakteskip-flere-bater-rundt/s/5-9-833490
Cebu
On its way from Cebu to Tagbilaran City, Bohol, the 'Oceanjet 88', 240 gt (IMO: 9712929), was forced to return to port in the morning of Jan 10, 2020, after its starboard-side generator set experienced a voltage fluctuation due to bogged down air-conditioning compressor. The chief engineer found out that the port and starboard’s air-conditioning compressor broke down and experienced high voltage, affecting the starboard-side generator. The malfunction occurred while sailing along the vicinity of the Naga Point just between the waters of Bohol and Cebu. At the Pier 1, all of the 191 passengers of the 'Oceanjet 88' were transferred to the 'Oceanjet 15' which departed at 10:10 a.m.
Buenaventura
Sociedad Puerto Industrial de Aguadulce (SPIA) sets a new operational milestone at the Port of Buenaventura after servicing the 14,436-TEU vessel MSC Faith, the largest ship ever to dock in Colombia. With a length of overall of 366 meters, the MSC Faith makes its maiden call in South America at Puerto Aguadulce, as part of Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) weekly service between Asia and Latin America’s west coast.
ELMO
Rijkswaterstaat is looking for the owner of the 'Elmo', that has been moored in Dintelsas, because the ship has to be removed. The ship was confiscated six years ago by the Court of Appeal in Antwerp. Because Rijkswaterstaat suspected that the owner of the ship was a Flemish, they placed an advertisement in the Gazet van Antwerpen. The newspaper then discovered that the presumed last owner was a certain Cornelis L. He was convicted in 2019 by the Court of Appeal in Antwerp for smuggling cocaine via the port of Antwerp. The case did receive some attention in the press because the Dutch TV presenter Frank Masmeijer was also convicted. Cornelis L. was sentenced to 14 years in prison and a fine of 240,000 euros. In addition, the 'Elmo' was confiscated and remained in Dintelsas since, and poses a danger to shipping and the environment because it is in a poor condition. The owner is therefore called upon to remove it within two weeks. The question now is whether that is the Belgian state. Report with photo: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/04/11/binnenschip-nederland-elmo-antwerpen-verbeurd-verklaard-hof-van/
Kiel
On Jan 7, 2020, at 6:23 a.m. a fire broke out in the silo of the "Raps und Ölsaatenververarbeitung GmbH" in the North Port of Kiel. Heavy smoke and fire were already visible on the 12th floor of the silo. Several troops of the fire brigade entered the building under respiratory protection to extinguish the fire in the ventilation system. The operational measures were extended because the fire had to be extinguished not only in the building but also on the outer facade. This turned out to be difficult because it was not possible to erase the turntable ladder to this height. After two hours the fire was out. A total of 75 emergency services of the professional fire brigade and vthe olunteer fire brigades Suchsdorf, Russee, Gaarden and the emergency services were on site. German report with photo: https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/82765/4485121
Las Palmas
The new emblematic terminal of the Naviera Armas-Trasmediterránea Group, situated on the Nelson Mandela Pier, Port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is up and running. The new terminal will serve both passenger and freight traffic. It is the first privately-financed passenger terminal in a Spanish state-owned port.