News

On Oct 22 and Oct 24, the German army attacked the decommissioned "Karlsruhe" with explosives in the Baltic Sea to test how vulnerable the navy's ships are. Early on the afternoon, the frigate was again blown up about four kilometers off the coast of Schönhagen (Rendsburg-Eckernförde district). This time, a much larger explosive charge was used. On Oct 22, about 50 kilograms of explosives were used, this time it was 175 kilograms. The explosive charge was intended to imitate a sea mine. The explosion went according to plan. It was the last explosives test for this year. The ship was deliberately damaged with explosives in order to find out how explosions affect the ship and the crew, in this case crash test dummies. The findings are to be incorporated into new ship construction projects. The two explosions and their evaluation were technically carried out by the Military Technical Office 71 (WTD 71) in Eckernförde, which reports to the Koblenz Federal Armed Forces Procurement Office, which will draw conclusions about the consequences of such explosions on the existing fleet and take them into account when building new ships. The 'Karlsruhe' was taken back to Kiel. Report with video: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/Fregatte-Karlsruhe-mit-175-Kilogramm-Sprengstoff-angegriffen,marine1496.html

The first of two explosive tests was actually supposed to be carried out on Oct 21, 2024, in the restricted area of ​​Schönhagen in front of Port Olpenitz (Schleswig-Flensburg district) and Damp (Rendsburg-Eckernförde district). A navy tug towed the decommissioned frigate from Kiel on Oct 18. The current weather conditions, however, did not allow the planned test on the frigate. It has therefore been postponed until Oct 22 and Oct 24. The ship is to be attacked with mines to to find out how much damage this causes. In advance, the German Navy had developed new safety measures together with environmental associations, among others. The two explosions and their evaluation are being technically carried out by the Military Technical Office 71 (WTD 71) in Eckernförde, which reports to the German Armed Forces Procurement Office in Koblenz. The experts from Eckernförde are also creating a so-called double bubble curtain around the former frigate in order to intercept the pressure wave of the explosions and reduce the impact on the environment, for example on porpoises. According to the Federal Office, the aim of the two demolition tests is to investigate the effects of explosions on the ship's hull and crew. With the results of the demolitions, conclusions can be drawn about the consequences of such explosions on the existing fleet and take them into account when building new ships.

On the morning of Oct 28, the 'Kalliste' requested the medical evacuation of a passenger and a companion. Salvamento Marítimo deployed the SAR boat 'Salvamar Spica' (MMSI: 225987262), which took the two off and transported them to the port of Almería, from where the patient was transferred to the hospital for further medical care.

The US Coast Guard medevaced a 66-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman on Oct 20, 2024, from the 'Carnival Liberty'. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a report on Oct 19 from the cruise ship of the man with stroke-like symptoms while the ship was sailing approximately 55 miles southeast of Southwest Pass, Louisiana. On Oct 20, watchstanders received a report from the cruise ship of a 30-year-old woman with appendicitis-like symptoms while transiting near Port Sulphur, Louisiana. Watchstanders coordinated the launches of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to conduct the medevacs for both people. The aircrews arrived on-scene for each report respectively and transported them to University Medical Center to awaiting emergency medical services personnel. The man and woman were both last reported in stable condition. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3940776/coast-guard-medevacs-two-off-louisiana-coast/

The 'Duhail', en route from Rovigon to Ras Laffan, requested the urgent evacuation of a sick crew member on the morning of Oct 26, 2024, about 20 nautical miles away from Las Palmas port. The MRCC of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 204 that hoisted the patient, who was transferred directly to the Negrín hospital for further medical treatment.