The CG 'John McCormick' and the ferry 'Hubbard '(IMO: 9812808) participated in the search for the 43-foot commercial geoduck clam dive boat 'Canis Majoris', which went missing on Feb 20, 2025, just north of Thorne Bay on Prince of Wales Island. The US Coast Guard had picked up an emergency radio transmission from the vessel at around 6:30 p.m. The 'John McCormick' was dispatched from Ketchikan along with a Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Sitka. The Coast Guard also alerted the Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferry 'Hubbard', which was nearby in the Clarence Strait en route to Juneau without passengers aboard, in order to resume service after an overhaul at Ketchikan’s Vigor shipyard. The ferry crew deployed a speedboat to the site of the distress call. They found a life raft and floating debris but no survivors. The weather got worse and the ferry crew had to return to safety. The Coastguard units continued to search the area for approximately 25 hours before calling it off on Feb 21. The Coast Guard believed only the owner/operator David Klein was aboard the boat when it disappeared. All other possible or suggested crew members and deckhands for the vessel were contacted and they were confirmed to not be on the vessel. The Alaska State Troopers listed Klein as a missing person on Feb 22. The Coast Guard urged anyone with information on Klein or the Canis Majoris to contact Ketchikan Troopers at 907-225-5118 or the regional Coast Guard Southeast Alaska Command Center at 907-463-2980.
News
STENA NORDICA
The woman whose death on the 'Stena Nordica' was at the centre of a major Garda probe has been named as Mary Cash, an irish national living in the UK, aged 39 years. She was among a group of family and friends who were heading to a funeral in County Kildare, when she was found dead in a bathroom in a cabin of the ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare. The find occurred around 35 miles off the coast of Wexford. The captain radioed an emergency distress call and a large number of gardai – including officers from the Armed Support Unit as well as from the Public order Unit boarded the vessel when it docked. A man was arrested by gardai and was still in custody on Feb 26. A post mortem is taking place this day. At this stage gardai did not believe Ms Cash suffered a violent death. Instead, officers suspected her death was a personal tragedy. Officers are officially treating her death as unexplained.
CMA CGM SHANGHAI
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed on Feb 25, 2025, that a data entry error led to the loss of 23 containers and damage to 10 others aboard the 'President Eisenhower', now sailing as 'CMA CGM Shanghai', on Feb 6, 2024, while the vessel was drifting approximately 94 miles south of Oakland, California, awaiting berth assignment. The total value of lost cargo and vessel damage exceeded $735,000. The ship was operating its regular route between Southeast Asia and the U.S. West Coast when the incident occurred. Despite regular inspections showing no apparent issues during the voyage, the situation deteriorated rapidly when the vessel began drifting while awaiting port entry. At approximately 9.35 p.m., crew members noticed what appeared to be smoke on the port side of the vessel. Investigation revealed it was actually powder in the air from collapsed containers, with multiple units missing from bay 42. According to the NTSB investigation, the root cause was traced to incorrect cargo weight data entered during the booking process. A booking agent manually entered erroneous weights of 2,500 kilograms (5,511 pounds) for 39 containers, significantly underreporting their actual weights, which ranged between 24.5 and 28.6 metric tons (54,000-63,000 lbs). The cargo loading plan included inaccurate VGMs [verified gross mass], causing the container stack weights to exceed the maximum weight limit. The error resulted in containers being stacked in a dangerous reverse stratification arrangement, where heavier containers were placed above lighter ones, creating an unstable high center of gravity. This configuration, combined with the vessel’s 18-degree rolling motion in deteriorating weather conditions, ultimately led to the failure of cargo-securing equipment. The vessel would not have sailed with that configuration, had it been known, stated the operating company. In response to the incident, the booking agent has implemented new safety measures, including automatic VGM capture from original bookings when modifications are made and mandatory verification of reported VGMs less than 10 metric tons. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2506.pdf
ARKOS ICHIAPAS
The 'Arkos 1' caught fire on Feb 21, 2025, during tuna fishing off the port of Chiapas with 25 crew members on board. The fire started in the fishing net and spread rapidly. The crew was forced to abandon ship in auxiliary boats. The Coast Guard ship "Nair" came to the rescue of the fishermen and disembarked them in Puerto Chiapas. They were treated by Naval Health personnel who confirmed that the men were in good health. Nothing was reported on the exact causes of the fire or the precise location of the incident. The ship later sank. Reports with photos and video: https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2025/02/25/estados/rescatan-a-25-pescadores-en-chiapas-tras-incendio-de-embarcacion-3083 https://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/se-incendia-barco-frente-a-la-costa-de-chiapas-pescadores-huyen-en-lanchas/1701926 https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/nacional/2025/2/25/incendio-provoca-hundimiento-de-barco-atunero-rescatan-25-personas-en-chiapas-678926.html https://diariodechiapas.com/ultima-hora/naufraga-barco-atunero-en-costas-de-chiapas/
US GOV VESSEL 75
The USS 'Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)' wass underway conducting routine flight operations agaom in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations on Feb. 24, after departing from Souda Bay on Feb. 23, following the completion of an emergent repair availability (ERAV). The ship remained operationally ready to complete deployment with mission and purpose on full display by the entire crew. Led by a Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC), the creew completed the five-day ERAV at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, working with FDRMC personnel, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and the local industry partner Theodoropoulos Group to assess the damage, develop a repair plan, and restore weathertight integrity to the ship. The 'Besiktas M' meanwhile arrived in the port of Constanta on Feb 26. Report with photo: https://news.usni.org/2025/02/24/uss-harry-s-truman-back-underway-after-repairs-following-collision
KBV 047
The work of identifying and preparing equipment for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is ongoing. The Swedish Coast Guard has also initiated cooperation with its Ukrainian counterpart on civil maritime security. Initially,the two environmental protection vessels 'KBV 047' and 'KBV 048', as well as vehicles, are included in the assignment to donate equipment. The vessels and vehicles have already been decommissioned. Earlier in 2024, the Coast Guard donated jet skis. Additional equipment may be donated on more occasions in the future. A second part of the assignment from the government involves strengthening and deepening cooperation with Ukraine in the areas of civil protection and national resilience. In the government's supplementary budget amendment of Jan 30, 2025, the Coast Guard has received an increase in the appropriation for 2025 by 24 million to cover the costs that arise.
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
On the early morning of Feb 25, the Dunkirk semaphore informed the CROSS Gris-Nez of a migrant boat leaving the Dunkirk/Malo-les-Bains sector. The CROSS engaged the patrol boat 'Oyapock' to locate the boat. After several hours of monitoring, the boat suffered an engine failure, and several of its occupants requested assistance. The CROSS then engaged the 'Abeille Normandie' to support the 'Oyapock', which then recovered 38 people from the boat before it continued on its way with the rest of the migrants on board. Given the risks of falling overboard or of injuries incurred by people in the event of forced intervention by French rescue resources, the decision was made to let them continue their voyage, while ensuring that the crossing was firther monitored. The 38 people rescued by thepatrol boat were taken back to the port of Dunkirk to be taken care of by the rescue services on land.
BIRGIT G.
On the evening of Feb 21, 2025, the 'Birgit G', en route from Husum to Rostock, suffered engine problems and was anchored a few nautical miles off Westerhever. The crew wanted to continue to Büsum after repairs. To be on the safe side, however, they asked the MRCC in Bremen for assistance, them so that if the engine failed again, the ship could be prevented from running aground on a shallow area next to the narrow fairway. The DGzRS lifeboat 'Theodor Storm', stationed in Büsum, was called to the scene. After the repairs were finished, the escort started on Feb 22 at around 1.15 a.m. At around 3.30 a.m., the engine failed again 5.4 nautical miles off Büsum at the height of the Tertiussand. However, the captain of the "Birgit G." was able to steer into the wind on his own and anchor safely. The 'Theodor Storm' then took on a pilot as well as technicians and inspectors from the cargo ship and brought them to Büsum. The "Birgit G."weighed anchor at 3.40 p.m. UTC and was brought into the port by a commercial tug at around 6 p.m. After repairs, the ship left Büsum again on Feb 25 and finally arrived in Rostock on Feb 26.
US COAST GUARD 757
The CG 'Midgett', while crossing the Tasman Sea as part of maritime security cooperation with Australia and New Zealand knew Chinese naval ships were in the area but had no interaction with them, its commanding officer said on Feb 25, 2025. China's navy held live-fire exercises on Feb 21 and Feb 22 in international waters between Australia and New Zealand that Australian officials have described as unprecedented. It was the furthest south the Chinese navy had held exercises, and showed China did not need a naval base in the South Pacific to project power. A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said on Feb 21 the ship had been conducting exercises and training in distant waters and upheld safety standards in accordance with international laws and practices. The drills forced airlines to change the paths of 49 commercial flights for safety reasons. The movements of the People's Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser and refueling vessel involved were being monitored by Australian and New Zealand defence forces. The 'Midgett' arrived in port in Sydney on Feb 22 en route from New Zealand and will proceed to Papua New Guinea on an illegal fishing patrol.
MSC BALTIC III
According to the Canadian Coast Guard, no pollution has been observed from the 'MSC Baltic III' as of Feb 20. A preliminary report provided by the salvage team, however, indicated that there was an oily water mixture present in the engine room, as well as water in some of the cargo holds. A dive team has been on site and confirmed that 75% of the vessel's hull was resting on the seabed. Additionally, a deformation in the hull has been observed, raising concerns about the structural integrity of the vessel. The heavier stern being aground, which was, however, was reducing some of the pressures on the hull, and the fact that the ship was now firmly aground, was also reducing pressures. In the first days, movement os the stern were observed. The divers found significant breaches and holes in the hull. Tank soundings have revealed the ship was carrying approximately 1.700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, which will have to be heated ahead of being pumped out, and marine gas oil. Further tank soundings and inspections of cargo holds weree planned. The cargo is consisting of 473 containers, 283 of which were empty. Others contained cargo such as beans, peas, wood products and vehicles or vehicle parts. MSC has activated an arrangement with Eastern Canada Response Corp, which has booms and skimmers that can handle oil spill contamination if needed. The ship had been at sea since departing Montreal on Feb 5. The concern was for an oil leak or pollution, but so far none have been observed.The Texas-based T&T Salvage has been appointed to devise a salvage plan and prevent the vessel from breaking apart. The CCGS 'Jean Goodwill' has arrived on scene with additional response equipment. The offshore tug 'Avalon Sea' has left the scene and sailed back to St. Johns. The tug '360 Handler' (IMO: 9950454) was near the grounding site as well as the Coast Guard vessel 'Jean Godwill' with anti pollution equipment on board as of Feb 25. On Feb 21 salvage teams have been working onboard the vessel throughout the day, anf they have deployed an ROV to assess hull damage. Water ingress has occurred in multiple cargo holds due to punctures. Thr Eastern Canada Response Corporation has assembled a large amount of oil spill containment and recovery equipment at Lark Harbour, ready for deployment if needed. Reports with photos: https://www.worldcargonews.com/shipping-logistics/2025/02/divers-confirm-hull-deformation-as-bad-weather-hampers-msc-baltic-iii-salvage/?gdpr=accept https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/water-ingress-and-hull-deformation-seen-on-stranded-msc-baltic-iii https://vocm.com/2025/02/25/263707/
FV GALAPAGOS
On Feb 25, 2025, at around 2:30 p.m. the skipper of the 'Galapagos-CH.642969' (IMO: 8543096) requested assistance from the CROSS Jobourg after a fishermen had been injured on board. The trawler was then engaged in shellfish fishing approximately 12 miles east of the port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. After a telephone conference between health specialists and the CROSS Jobourg, it was recommended that the fisherman be disembarked in the nearest port as quickly as possible, but he could not wait for the Calvados port gates would open at around 7 p.m. due to his pain. The semi-rigid 'Jacques Armengaud' was deployed from the SNSM station in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue to take the victim off. To avoid a transfer on board with the swell, the 'Galapagos' came within 1.5 miles (2.8 km) of the coast. The rescuers handled him carefully because of his back pain. He had hurt himself moving stones on the deck. Back at the port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, the fisherman was taken care of by the firefighters and transported to the Pasteur hospital in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.
KBV 048
The work of identifying and preparing equipment for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is ongoing. The Swedish Coast Guard has also initiated cooperation with its Ukrainian counterpart on civil maritime security. Initially,the two environmental protection vessels 'KBV 047' and 'KBV 048', as well as vehicles, are included in the assignment to donate equipment. The vessels and vehicles have already been decommissioned. Earlier in 2024, the Coast Guard donated jet skis. Additional equipment may be donated on more occasions in the future. A second part of the assignment from the government involves strengthening and deepening cooperation with Ukraine in the areas of civil protection and national resilience. In the government's supplementary budget amendment of Jan 30, 2025, the Coast Guard has received an increase in the appropriation for 2025 by 24 million to cover the costs that arise.
OYAPOCK
On the early morning of Feb 25, 2025, the Dunkirk semaphore informed the CROSS Gris-Nez of a migrant boat leaving the Dunkirk/Malo-les-Bains sector. The CROSS engaged the VCSM 'Oyapock' to locate the boat. After several hours of monitoring, the boat suffered an engine failure, and several of its occupants requested assistance. The CROSS then engaged the emergency tug 'Abeille Normandie' to support the 'Oyapock', which then recovered 38 people from the boat before it continued on its way with the rest of the migrants on board. Given the risks of falling overboard or of injuries incurred by people in the event of forced intervention by French rescue resources, the decision was made to let them continue their voyage, while ensuring that the crossing was firther monitored. The 38 people rescued by thepatrol boat were taken back to the port of Dunkirk to be taken care of by the rescue services on land.
THOR MONADIC
On the early morning of Feb 27, 2025, a fire broke out aboard the 'Thor Monadic' at the Sako Port, Ceyhan, in the Yumurtalık Free Zone for yet unknown reasons. The ship was carrying plastic raw materials. Firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene and battling the fire, which had quickly spread in the affected cargo hold with dense smoke development, from the quay and the sea, involving the 'B. Baku' (IMO: 9360104), 'K.Burhanettinozbilen' (IMO: 9040297), 'Malcoclar' (IMO: 9040302 ) and the 'Kaptan Sureyya Guler' (IMO: 9633367). The authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze. No loss of life or injuries have been reported so far. Other ships in the port have been pulled to safe areas. The ship had arrived in the port on Feb 18 en route from Map Ta Phut. Reports with photos and video: https://www.7deniz.net/adanada-limanda-gemi-yangini https://www.medyayenigun.net/haber/23863724/antalyada-sahte-mit-gorevlisi-sucustu-yakalandi-25-milyon-lira-dolandiracakti https://www.denizhaber.com/adana-ceyhanda-bir-limanda-bulunan-yuk-gemisinde-yangin-cikti/123980
THEPA ROYAL BOAT
On the morning of Feb 25, 2025, the Vietnamese fishing boat 'KG.95541.TS' collided with the HTMS 'Thepa'in Thailand’s Exclusive Economic Zone after illegally entering Thai waters, leading to the arrest of the boat and its four crew members. At 5 p.m., the 'Thepa' and a patrol ship towed the fishing vessel to the multi-purpose port in Khlong Yai district, Trat province. The capture was a result of coordinated efforts between the Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre Region 1, the First Naval Area Command, the Border Defence Command of Chanthaburi and Trat, the Coastal Patrol Squadron, and the Naval Intelligence Department. They had been monitoring the presence of foreign fishing vessels in Thai waters since Feb 22, which led to the discovery of approximately ten foreign vessels conducting illegal fishing activities. On Feb 24, the Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre Region 1 was notified about the foreign fishing vessels’ presence, which included pair trawlers, purse seiners, and light luring boats. The vessels were operating in Thai waters between pos. 11°06’N to 10°58’N and 102°26’E to 102°25’E. They were fishing at night and retreating southwards during the day. Due to the situation, the Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre Region 1 requested support from the Border Defence Command and dispatched HTMS Thepa and the patrol ship 'T 264', along with aerial support from the First Naval Area Command. After the detention, several Vietnamese fishing boats attempted to flee, but one vessel turned and collided with the starboard side of the 'Thepa', causing minor damage. Report with photos: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/vietnamese-fishing-boat-collides-with-thai-patrol-ship-in-illegal-entry
EURODAM
The 'Euroda' has been allowed to dock in Curaçao on Feb 25, after a norovirus outbreak was brought under control. Health officials had initially blocked passengers from leaving the cruise ship due to the highly contagious stomach virus. The outbreak, had caused nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain among passengers and crew. An investigation by GMN and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the presence of the highly contagious virus. To stop the spread, the ship implemented strict cleaning and hygiene measures. Passengers who were sick were isolated. These actions significantly reduced the number of new cases. The 'Eurodam' now met all international sanitation standards. The number of people with symptoms was now low enough that the ship was no longer considered a public health risk. The authorities will keep a close watch to ensure the virus doesn't spread again.
BESIKTAS-M
The USS 'Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)' wass underway conducting routine flight operations agaom in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations on Feb. 24, after departing from Souda Bay on Feb. 23, following the completion of an emergent repair availability (ERAV). The ship remained operationally ready to complete deployment with mission and purpose on full display by the entire crew. Led by a Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC), the creew completed the five-day ERAV at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, working with FDRMC personnel, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and the local industry partner Theodoropoulos Group to assess the damage, develop a repair plan, and restore weathertight integrity to the ship. The 'Besiktas M' meanwhile arrived in the port of Constanta on Feb 26. Report with photo: https://news.usni.org/2025/02/24/uss-harry-s-truman-back-underway-after-repairs-following-collision
STENA NORDICA
A woman was found dead in suspicious circumstances in the bathroom of the 'stena Nordica', when it arrived at Rosslare Europort on the evening of Feb 24, 2025. A violent brawl broke out on the ship, between a group of people, following the discovery. The captain had made an emergency call for assistance after the violent incident on board as the ferry approached Rosslare at 5.30 p.m., en route from Fishguard. Armed gardaí and the public order unit attended the scene when the ship docked. A man was discovered inside the toilets with the woman and was arrested at the scene under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The fight broke out as a reaction to the discovery, and that gardai were still questioning witnesses to ascertain what exactly had occurred last night. There were no public safety issues, but that a crime scene had been declared. The woman’s body remained at the scene which has been preserved for technical and forensic examination. The local councillor Ger Carthy attended the scene as an ambulance officer with the National Ambulance Service. A man has been arrested in connection with the investigation and was being held at a local garda station. The Gardaí continued to question a man in connection with the death of the woman and were investigating the circumstances around the death, awaiting the results of the post-mortem to determine the cause of death. A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation and a Family Liaison Officer has been assigned to provide support and information to the deceased’s family. The next scheduled sailings of the ferry have been cancelled. Affected were the 7.30 p.m. departure from Rosslare and the sailing on Feb 26 at 01:30 a.m. from Fishguard were cancelled as a result. The passengers were accommodated by Irish ferries on the 8:45 p.m. sailing from Rosslare to Pembroke. Report with photo: https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/man-arrested-following-death-of-woman-on-ferry-at-rosslare-brawl-erupts-causing-serious-incident-on-board/a1440679049.html
SHAYESTH
On Feb 18, 2025, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships rescued the seven crew members of the 'Shayesth', which started to develop a significant list to starboard side while sailing in the Persian Gulf. The USS 'Devastator (MCM-6)', a mine countermeasure ship, and the USCGC 'Clarence Sutphin Jr. (WPC-1147)' were mobilized to rescue the two Indian and five Iranian nationals. A team from the cutter USCGC 'Clarence Sutphin Jr.' rescued the seven mariners. after they abandoned the ship, which is owned by an Iranian company but flying a Qatari flag, when in territorial waters. The USS Devastator provided backup during the rescue operation. The castaways were taken aboard the 'Clarence Sutphin Jr.', where they received medical care. The 'Shayesteh' rolled over short time after the rescue operation, and subsequently sank. Reports with photo: https://news.usni.org/2025/02/18/u-s-navy-coast-guard-rescue-mariners-in-persian-gulf https://www.stripes.com/branches/coast_guard/2025-02-19/navy-coast-guard-rescue-mission-persian-gulf-16880294.html