On Nov 5, 2024, a crew member who was in critical medical condition, was medevaced from the 'Celebrity Edge' off the coast of New South Wales, while the vessel was on a 4-night roundtrip voyage from Sydney to Hobart. The airlift operation was a coordinated effort involving the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. A rescue helicopter, supported by an additional aircraft, was dispatched to ensure the crew member received the necessary medical attention. Report with photo and video; https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/urgent-medical-airlift-conducted-for-crew-member-on-celebrity-edge-cruise-ship/
News
MSC SEASIDE
The Canary Islands Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (ARCC Canarias) carried out a rescue mission, requested by Maritime Rescue (SASEMAR), in which the Air and Space Forces intervened, on Nov 5, 2024. At 3:20 p.m., an HD.21 Super Puma helicopter from the 82nd Group of the Armed Forces of Wing 46, based at the Gando Air Base, was mobilized to medevac a 60-year-old Danish passenger, who was in a serious condition due to peritonitis, aboard "MSC Seaside", which was located approximately 470 kilometres southwest of Gran Canaria. To optimise the mission, a D.4 "VIGMA" aircraft was also activated, which provided information on the winds at high altitude and facilitated the rescue manoeuvre by communicating with the cruise ship. The aircraft guided the helicopter on the course and speed that the ship had to maintain to facilitate the hoisting operation, while the satellite communications capacity (SATCOM) allowed real-time contact to be maintained between the SAR air resources and the ARCC Canarias. Once the passenger was hoisted on board the helicopter, he was taken to the helipad of the Juan Negrín Hospital, where he was picked up by an ambulance from the Canary Islands Emergency Service and taken to the hospital for treatment. The helicopter landed safely at Gando Air Base at 8:00 p.m., completing a total of 4 hours and 20 minutes of flight. Report with photo: https://teldeactualidad.com/art/166079/un-helicoptero-de-gando-rescata-pasajero-en-estado-grave-a-470-km-de-gran-canaria
Tyne
The Port of Tyne has created a new baggage handling for Marella Cruises at its International Passenger Terminal, which is located in North Shields near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. The port has reconfigured 300 square metres of its terminal, creating space to process 1,000 bags as well as a marquee that functions as an undercover baggage handling facility. There are now also 382 additional parking spaces specifically for Marella Cruises’ guests. Marella Cruises’ customer will be able to drop off their luggage before heading straight to a dedicated car park. The baggage will be checked by security and loaded onto the ship, expediting the embarkation process.
Sydney
DP World Australia has called for an end to the strikes at its ports this week, warning that the industrial action comes at a time when shipping lines are reviewing stevedore contracts. “The industrial action will cause significant disruption to DPWA customers and importantly the broader supply chain of shippers, exporters and importers. DPWA employees will also be unnecessarily and avoidably impacted by these lost earnings,” said Andrew Adam, chief operating officer at DPWA. DP World’s Brisbane, Sydney and Fremantle container terminals are on a rolling 48-hour strike, while workers at the company’s Melbourne operations have decided to down tools for 96 hours. The workers said in a release their actions this week are in order to fight against automation, outsourcing, cuts to income protection insurance, and “dishonest bargaining” by the company During the recent 12-week bargaining period, DP World said the local union did not make any material concessions to its initial 50 claims. These claims include a wage increase well above CPI, DP World said.
MADRE MARGARITA
A 53 year old crew member of the 'Madre Margarita' had to be urgently medevaced on Nov 2, 2024, 230 kilometers from the Port of Mar del Plata., by a helicopter of the Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA) as he was suffering from acute coronary syndrome. he national Maritime Authority received a radio communication from the Captain of the fishing vessel after the man was suffering from difficulty breathing, pain in the chest, neck, head and intense sweating. Given this situation, a radio consultation was carried out with a doctor belonging to the Mar del Plata Prefecture, who diagnosed “acute coronary syndrome with respiratory difficulty” and gave the Captain some instructions, including the immediate return to port. After a second radio consultation to determine the evolution of the crew member, the doctor of the Prefecture suggested performing an aeroevacuation, since the man did not show improvement. Thus, a helicopter of the Force took off from the Astor Piazzolla airport with a rescue team from the Mar del Plata Air Station, which intercepted the "Madre Margarita" about 124 nautical miles from the local port. The aircraft was placed over the fishing vessel and the Prefecture personnel carried out the medevac to the airport, where an ambulance was waiting for him. Upon arriving at the destination, the man was sent to the medical unit, which took him to a private hospital in the city for better medical care.
TAURUS I
The salvage of the 'Taurus I' has entered its final stage as of Nov 5. After two months, the wreck of the ship, which suffered a fire and subsequently sank in the Buenaventura Bay in 2022, the final stage of the removal has begun. After the refloating of the vessel, the disposal was carried out, under the supervision of the General Maritime Directorate (DIMAR), guaranteeing compliance with current regulations. The General Maritime Directorate, through the Port Captaincy of Buenaventura, has verified that the extraction of the wreck from a depth of, approximately 12 meters. was carried out safely. The salvage operation had started on Aug 28 and was carried out by the Colombian company Servicios Portuarios SAS (SerPort) and the international company Resolve Marine. So far, the process has progressed according to plan and without problems in the towing maneuvers. Underwater inspections, diving and evaluation activities of the vessel's condition have been carried out, as well as the verification of possible remnants of fuel and organic waste, along with an analysis of the seabed. In addition, an extraction plan was implemented that included the transfer of the vessel to a shallower area and its refloating. Following the disposal of the remains, inspections will be carried out to verify its condition and ensure that it is in optimal conditions for safe transit and anchoring in Buenaventura Bay. The General Maritime Directorate will continue to supervise maneuvers at sea to ensure that all activities are carried out safely and in strict compliance with maritime regulations, avoiding any negative impact on the marine environment.
Whittier
U.S. Coast Guard crews have given up the search for a 49-year-old Cordova man who went missing after an explosion and subsequent fire on a fixed barge at Delong Dock in Whittier, Alaska, shortly after midnight on Monday. The fire spread to the pier and then to the Anagalik, a 99-foot commercial fishing vessel that was initially reported to have two people aboard at the time of the explosion. Whittier Police Department personnel have since confirmed one of those two is safely aboard a different vessel en route to Whittier. The fire has now been extinguished, but the fishing vessel and barge sank in 85 feet of water at the pier with a potential maximum of 5,500 gallons of fuel oil aboard. The fishing vessel owners have contracted Global Diving and Salvage for clean-up and salvage efforts. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak has searched for the missing person by air, and crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and Coast Guard Auxiliary 336 searched nearby waters.
Halsa
With a NOK 1.23 billion offer, Fjord1 won the concession to run the E39 Halsa-Kanestraum route, the latest major ferry connection awarded by the Norwegian Road Authority.
NISSOS RHENIA
The 'Nissos Rhenia' is being repaired at its anchorage since Oct 31. It has activated maritime and ecological safety protocols on Nov 5. The repair works began on Oct 31. A protocol of action was activated by the National Maritime Authority of Portugal and the Portuguese Navy, which sent the corvette NRP 'António Enes' to the area. Once on scene, the ship contacted the tanker and is currently monitoring navigation in the area, ensuring the safety of other ships in the vicinity. The repairs by a technical team are expected to last until the end of this week, so it can continue its journey to its port of destination.
PSP CORMORAN
On Nov 5, a ferry reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez that it had observed a body adrift off the coast of Calais. The PSP 'Cormoran' was diverted to the scene, and the PSMP 'ESMP 03' of the Calais maritime gendarmerie was also deployed to carry out a search in the area. Early in the afternoon, the 'Cormoran' reported to the CROSS that it had located two bodies adrift in the sea. The two deceased persons were recovered by the PSMP boat and deposited at the quayside in Calais. The bodies were then taken care of by the maritime gendarmerie, and an investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office.
Rizhao
Shandong Landbridge Group has entered into an agreement with Beijing Energy Group to jointly develop a LNG receiving terminal at Landbrige Port in Rizhao. Under the agreement, the two parties will invest RMB6.7bn ($973m) in total for the construction of the terminal, which will have a designed handling capacity of 5m tons of LNG annually. Additionally, the two companies plan to join their efforts to develop overseas energy projects.
Gothenburg
APM Terminals Gothenburg has managed to cut quay crane waiting times by as much as 90% by implementing new standard operational procedures for container lashing. This translates to a reduction from 38 minutes to just four. Using ‘Lean’ methodology, which is being adopted across all of the company’s terminals around the world, a Transformation Team at APM Terminals Gothenburg identified the root cause of the time delay – inaccurate information provided to the vessel crew.