The US Coast Guard intercepted two separate boats packed with Cuban migrants trying to set foot in Florida aboard tiny vessels ill-suited for the high seas. The first boat was spotted about 12 miles south of the Marquesas Keys near Key West on May 10, 2024, with 15 Cubans on board. On May 12, authorities in Key West were tipped off by a good Samaritan that another boat with migrants was in the ocean about 26 miles south of Marathon. The Coast Guard Cutter 'Valiant' plucked eight Cubans from that boat and sent them home. The crew of the 'Paul Clark' repatriated 23 migrants to Cuba on May 14. Report with photo: https://nypost.com/2024/05/14/us-news/coast-guard-catches-23-cuban-migrants-headed-to-florida-and-sends-them-back-home/
News
COMMANDANT CHARCOT
the helicopter team of the Icelandic Coast Guard received a call of the ''Commandant Charcot' on the early morning of May 14, 2024, due to the acute illness of a passenger of the cruise ship, which was located on the east coast of Greenland. The crew of the TF-EIR helicopter flew a long distance from Reykjavík and about 130 nautical miles north of Horn. The man was hoisted on board in good condition and flown to Ísafjörður to refuel. From there, the helicopter flew straight to Reykjavik, and the patient was transported to the National Hospital. Report with video: https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2024/05/14/video_picked_up_a_sick_passenger_from_a_cruise_ship/
Yaizu
Yaizu Port is one of the leading fishing ports in Japan. In August 2022, the VesselTracker AIS receiving station opened at Yaizu Port.
Chittagong
A fire at a container depot in the town of Sitakunda about 40 km from Chittagong led to a chemical explosion in containers that killed at least 49 and injured more than 300 people on June 4, 2022. Among those killed in the blast that could be heard several miles away were several firefighters. Dozens of dead were scattered among the burnt-out containers and many of the wounded were in critical condition after the huge explosion in the depot containing about 4,000 containers. Hundreds of firefighters, police and volunteers quickly arrived at the depot as the fire broke out around 6 p.m. LT. The extinguishing work had started when the violent explosion threw parts from containers and people into the air. At least five firefighters were killed and even more injured. Many were still missing on June 5. The container depot serves as a staging post for the goods - primarily clothing - to be exported via Chittagong, and contained millions of dollars worth of clothing that was to be passed on to businesses in Western countries. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLiyBU7RKIc&feature=emb_title
HAFNIA PACIFIC
On May 1, 2024, at 03.50 a.m. the 'Hafnia Pacific' was boarded by three perpetrators, who were armed with knives and machetes, at Belawan Anchorage in pos. 3° 55.10' N 98° 44.81' E. The crew was threatened by the intruders, who stole torch, walkie talkie and two fire hose nozzles and then fled the vessel. On May 5 the ship berthed in Port Klang.
SALVAMAR LYRA
The CROSS La Garde reported the French yacht 'Arvi' with rudder problems in the Gulf of Roses. The CCS Barcelona mobilized the 'Salvamar Lyra', which took the ship in tow and safely pulled it to Roses at low speed due to the weather conditions and the rudder problem.
Felixstowe
Workers at Felixstowe have decided to go on a strike for the first time since 1989. Shipping firms and union leaders have warned that the actions could heavily impact the supply chains and also leave buyers waiting for their necessary goods and other commodities. Nearly 1,900 members of the Unite at Felixstowe have walked out in a dispute regarding pay in the most recent outbreak of industrial action to hit some sectors of the economy. Workers, including machine operators, crane drivers, and stevedores will take action after voting by more than nine to one in favor of strikes. The union said that the eight-day halt is likely to have a significant impact on the port that typically handles almost 4m containers in one year from about 2,000 ships. Felixstowe handles about half of the containerized freight that enters the country and the actions could indicate that vessels have to be diverted to ports in other places in Europe or the UK. Haulage majors have warned that the strike could have a serious impact on business, while trade organizations have said that the consumers could be affected by price increases. All through Suffolk, the bill could run into millions and all over the country a lot more. It is not going to impact the food supply chains as all fresh produces are in stock, but it will impact the supply chain in terms of fences, furniture, and bits and bobs. Maersk, one of the largest container shippers in the world, has said that the strike may cause delays and force it to make changes to its vessel lineup. In the meantime, consumers may be hit with price hikes and shortages of some products. Consumer prices are already rising owing to the increases in the shipping rates experienced since the middle of 2020. Further disruptions in the UK are going to add to the cost pressures, even though the temporary unavailability of some commodities may be the first noticeable impact on the consumers.
Puerto Brisa
LBH Colombia- SHIP AGENTS We are always glad to provide our dedicated assistance as ship agents when a vessel is calling at any Colombian port or terminal. ON YOUR BEHALF, WE CONTRACT, COORDINATE AND / OR SUPERVISE FOLLOWING SERVICES: - Provision & Ship Chandler - Crew change -Medical assistance -Bilingual assistance, Interpreter / translator for all related maritime services -Ship spares & parcel deliveries -Surveys, inspector, and certificates -Local repairs and technical services Riohacha | Puerto Brisa Calle 14 G # 21A-05 Barrio Cooperativo Phone: +57 315 8984080 E-mail: opz2@lbhcolombia.com https://www.lbhcolombia.com/ __________________________________
DALI
The 'Dali' had electrical problems the day before it left the Port of Baltimore when it was docked, according to a preliminary report released on May 14 by investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board. The 'Dali' experienced a blackout during in-port maintenance on March 25, the NTSB wrote in its report, when a crew member mistakenly closed an inline engine exhaust damper. The NTSB says it's still not clear how that incident relates to what happened early the following morning, when the 'Dali' lost power twice in the minutes before it crashed into one of the bridge's supports. The NTSB is still investigating the electrical configuration following the first in-port blackout and potential impacts on the events during the accident voyage. Investigators at the NTSB have analyzed samples of the fuel that was being burned at the time of the accident, as well as other fuel tanks on the vessel. But those results did not identify any concerns relating to the quality of the fuel. The NTSB is working with the Maryland Transportation Authority to assess its other bridges and to determine whether pier protection measures need to be improved. The MDTA is studying options for upgrades to the existing protection system around both spans of the Bay Bridge that connect Annapolis to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The NTSB investigation of all aspects of the accident is ongoing. Link to the report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Documents/DCA24MM031_PreliminaryReport%203.pdf
SKY PRINCESS
On May 14, 2024, a passenger of the 'Sky Princess', en route from Marseille to Gibraltar, needed to be medevaced 44 kilometers southeast of Alicante. The man had to be disembarked due to a heart attack. The CCS Valencia of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 203, which hoisted the patient and took him and his wife to the Alicante airport.
Odessa
Russian missiles struck the port of Odessa on July 23, 2022, violating a deal signed a day earlier to curb grain exports from Black Sea ports and ease global food shortages caused by the war. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the strike as blatant "barbarism" and that Moscow could not be trusted to implement the agreement. The Ukrainian military said that the missiles had not caused any significant damage and that preparations were underway to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports. The deal, signed by Moscow and Kyiv on July 22 and brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, has been hailed as a breakthrough after nearly five months of punitive fighting since Russia invaded its neighbor. By allowing grain exports from Black Sea ports, including Odessa, it is seen as crucial in curbing rising global food prices.
Pecem
One of the fastest growing ports in Brazil, having surpassed the mark of 22 million tons handled in 2021, Pecem Port is the newest regular member of the International Association of Ports (IAPH), a global alliance of 170 ports and 140 organizations related to the port sector. Entity of great international prestige, IAPH was founded in 1955 and currently handles more than 60% of the world's maritime trade and around 80% of the world's container traffic, through its members.