News

During an inspection of the"Aura Seaways" after its arrival from Klaipeda on Oct 15, 2024, the federal police in Kiel arrested a 45-year-old Latvian. He was wanted on an arrest warrant from Berlin because he had been convicted of forgery. As the 45-year-old could not pay the 1500 euros demanded to avoid a prison sentence, he was taken to a correctional facility. During the inspection, the man presented his passport and a Latvian driver's license. The officers recognized features that indicated a forgery, the police said. A check in the European registration system for driver's licenses revealed that the man did not actually have a valid Latvian driver's license. He then admitted to having bought the fake driver's license in Riga. In addition to being in prison, he now faces criminal charges for forgery.

On the morning of Oct 16, the 'Libra' with 16 migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt on board, has reached the Albanian port of Shengjin after a 36-hour voyage,. They will be housed in a reception camp made of containers while their asylum applications are processed in Albania. Italy and Albania agreed a year ago to set up reception camps in Albania run by Italy. The agreement concerns male adults who are picked up by ships of the Italian Navy or Coast Guard in international waters, but within the Italian SAR zone. The men are to remain in the reception centers while their asylum applications are processed. The first center is in the northern Albanian port city of Shengjin, where the migrants are to be registered. In a second facility on a former military base in Gjader, around 20 kilometers away, the people are then to wait for their asylum decision. Only if an application is approved will entry into Italy be possible. Reports with photo and video: https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article254029566/Asylverfahren-Erstes-italienisches-Schiff-mit-Migranten-erreicht-Albanien.html https://ansabrasil.com.br/english/news/2024/10/16/italian-navy-ship-with-16-migrants-arrives-in-albania_d1321baf-f657-476b-97fa-a7ef334894a7.html

The Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team, a lifeboat from Plymouth RNLI and the Coastguard helicopter from Newquay were scrambled on Oct 15 at 10 a.m. to deal with a medical emergency on the 'Artania' in Plymouth Sound. A person on board had to be taken off the vessel while it was at anchor during its one-day stop. The Coastguard helicopter hoisted the patient and then landed on Plymouth Hoe. A lifeboat from the nearby RNLI station at West Hoe attended during the incident. Report with photo': https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/local-news/major-medical-incident-massive-cruise-9634415

The Cap-à-l'Aigle Coast Guard ended its operational season on Oct 14, 2024, with the evacuation of a passenger from the 'Zuiderdam' at the request of the Canadian Coast Guard. Rescue boats of the cruise ship carried out the transfer. Three members of the unit were deployed in 15 minutes. Docking at the ship’s platform was very challenging due to the currents and waves created by the cruise ship. Once the passenger was on board,, the SAR boat 'auxiliary 1276' returned to the port to allow paramedics to take over. Report with photos: https://www.lecharlevoisien.com/2024/10/15/evacuation-dune-passagere-dun-bateau-de-croisiere-au-large-de-la-malbaie/

The Ukrainian refugees who are being received in Urk will be given a new accommodation. They have been staying on the 'Poseidon' for two years now. This ship now has a new owner, and the municipality of Urk had to look for a new reception location for the Ukrainians. As a result, the 'Rotterdam' will replace the current ship. This vessel can accommodate up to 109 people. The size is comparable to that of the ship that is currently being used to accommodate the refugees. The move will take place in November 2024. The preparations for this were being in full swing. The government will reimburse the costs for the reception.