News

The Coast Guard repatriated 17 migrants to the Dominican Republic on Nov 9, following the interdiction of a migrant boat in the Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico. One of the interdicted migrants remained in U.S. custody to face federal prosecution by the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico attempting to illegally re-enter the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1326. The interdiction occurred the night of Nov. 5, after the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft sighted a grossly overloaded 40-foot makeshift vessel transiting southwest of Mona Island, Puerto Rico.  Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the 'Heriberto Hernandez' to assist.  Once on scene, the cutter deployed the Over the Horizon boat which stopped the compliant vessel and embarked the migrants, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals.  The repatriated migrants were transferred to Dominican Republic Navy authorities. The migrant awaiting prosecution was transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, on Nov 7. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3963594/coast-guard-repatriates-17-migrants-to-dominican-republic-following-vessel-inte/

The 'Sophia', which ran aground on Tainan's Little U.S. Army Beach due to Typhoon Kemi (Gaemi) in July 2024, will be dismantled on the spot. The ship unexpectedly became a photo spot and brought a wave of tourism. The Port Bureau will pay attention to the dismantling process, hoping to complete it before the end of the year. Many experts believed that towing the 'Sophia' away would cause less harm to the environment than dismantling it on site; because Typhoon Santor caused the ship to tilt at 45 degrees. The Environmental Protection Bureau said that for towing it to the open sea, a channel must be deep enough, and it would be difficult to tow the Sophia out. The existing work boats in Anping Port are not powerful enough, and it would take a long time to find a solution. The bidding process has been completed and construction should start in November. Report with photo: https://udn.com/news/story/7326/8322985

On Nov 13, the 12-meter f/v 'Petit Barranc', with two crew members on board, requested assistance because it was drifting towards the rocks in the Bay of Roses. The CCS Barcelona of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Alnilam' to assist the ship. It was taken in tow and safely pulled to Port de la Selva. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1856668802970173913

The New Zealand Defence Force has yet to finalise the contract for the removal of fuel from the HMNZS 'Manawanui', five weeks after its sinking after striking a reef off the Samoan island of Uplou. In an update issued on Nov 12, the NZDF said an updated methodology for the removal of fuel from the hydrographic vessel is being shared with Samoan authorities for their endorsement, following a familiarisation and site visit to Samoa by the salvors, as well as detailed discussions with authorities in Samoa and NZ. On return to New Zealand the [unnamed] salvors worked alongside local agencies, including Maritime New Zealand and NZDF to assess the information gathered and feed this into the updated fuel removal methodology. NZDF’s senior national representative Commodore Andrew Brown has now returned to Samoa after a short visit to New Zealand to progress strategic issues and challenges related to Operation Resolution. It is expected the recovery of 950 tonnes of fuel will be undertaken by a team utilising the Heron Constructions’ tug 'Kurutai' and the barge 'Cronus', which were undertaking preparatory work in the port of Whangarei and were expected in Apia, Samoa towards the end of November. There is urgency attached to the task given the approaching South Pacific cyclone season. A salvage plan was presented on Oct 31 and is awaiting approval by Samoa’s Marine Pollution Advisory Committee. The NZDF’s absolute priority remained the monitoring and surveillance of the vessel and surrounding coastlines, minimising any potential environmental impacts. Any decision about removing the wreck itself was a very complex decision process, given the potential cost, difficulties in removal considering proximity to the reef in a relatively exposed location; and the wishes of local people and the Samoan Government. Removing the wreck entirely would be extremely challenging given the lack of infrastructure to deal with the salvaged wreck in Samoa or anywhere nearby, and there was potential for the vessel to be left there as a dive site.

On the afternoon of Nov 13, the recreational boat'Sailaway' reported the sighting of a cayuco, which was adrift 35 nautical miles southsouthwest of Los Cristianos, Tenerife. The 'Salvamar Alpheratz' was mobilized to assist and rescued the 63 sub-Saharan people on board, among them 57 men, five women and one minor at 6:40 p.m. The castaways were disembarked in Los Cristianos, where a health and safety device was awaiting them. The response was coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Center of Salvamento MArítimo in Tenerife. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1856964296736985198