Argentine authorities have made a significant breakthrough in organized crime with the largest drug seizure in Port San Lorenzo’s history. Investigations are ongoing after the ship’s cook confessed to involvement in smuggling. Authorities uncovered 469,500 kilos of cocaine, valued at nearly $6 million in Argentina, indicating professional gang involvement.
A recent project by the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center focused on converting Kamsarmax bulk carriers to dual-fuel methanol operations. The project aimed to assess the feasibility of retrofitting fuel oil-powered vessels to run on methanol, with Approval in Principle from Japan’s ClassNK. It highlights the potential for low-emission solutions in the maritime industry.
Last weekend, a tragic collision occurred near Ningbo port complex involving a containership and a dry bulk carrier. One seafarer lost their life, and three others were injured. The containership was departing with 934 TEU while the bulker sank in just five minutes. Investigations are ongoing as the company mourns the loss and focuses on growth.
The Philippines Coast Guard rescued six crewmembers and recovered two bodies, including the captain, after a bulker ran over a tugboat’s towline. The incident near Maasim, Sarangani Province, involved the Chinese-owned bulker Universe Kiza and the Philippine-registered tug Sadong 33. Charges are being prepared against the bulker’s master and crew.
Onomichi Dockyard and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding have collaborated to develop the innovative Bingo 42 dry bulk carrier design, aiming to enhance efficiency and sustainability. With a focus on productivity and fuel efficiency, the vessel incorporates the MT-Fast energy-saving device and dual-fuel capability. This partnership showcases a commitment to innovation in the shipbuilding industry.
The Eleen Armonia, a Bulgarian bulker, bravely rescued 34 seafarers from a burning fishing boat 500 miles southeast of Sri Lanka. The crew used hoses to control the flames and successfully evacuated the stranded seafarers after five hours of firefighting efforts. The rescued seafarers received care and supplies before being repatriated to Indonesia.
Fire crews in the Port of Aberdeen, Scotland, are working tirelessly to extinguish a cargo hold fire on a Panama-flagged bulker named Lowlands Diamond. Despite the intense efforts of several fire departments and specialist teams, the ship and port are not in immediate danger. The operation is described as complex and unusual.
The Canadian Coast Guard successfully freed the grounded bulker Maccoa after two weeks of being aground. The vessel, registered in Cyprus, had been delayed in refloating due to the holidays. Three tugs were used in the second attempt to refloat the vessel and reposition it back into the shipping channel.
A Cyprus-flagged bulker, the Maccoa, has been stuck in Canada’s St. Lawrence River since December 24. Plans to free the vessel involve lightering, the second time in a month a bulker in the river needed to remove cargo to become unstuck. Efforts to free the ship are underway, with a target date of January 5.
A dry bulk carrier named the Maccoa, flagged in Cyprus, is currently grounded in Canada’s St. Lawrence River. The vessel, with no signs of pollution or water ingress, departed Montreal on December 23 but became stuck outside the navigation channel on December 24. The Canadian Coast Guard is working on a plan to refloat the ship.
The Canadian-flagged M/V Tim S. Dool is undergoing cargo lightening and refloating operations after grounding near Massena, New York. No injuries or environmental pollution were reported from the incident on November 23, 2024. Authorities are working to minimize shipping delays. Multiple agencies are collaborating to ensure a safe and efficient recovery process.
The 21 crewmembers of the bulker Debi, detained for a year on charges of drug smuggling, have staged a protest to draw attention to their situation. Managed by Asia Pacific Shipping Co. of Hanoi, Vietnam, the vessel has been detained since December 2023 and officially placed under arrest in February 2024.
The Malta-flagged cargo ship, Ruby, carrying 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, caused controversy by briefly leaving port at Great Yarmouth in the UK. Concerns were raised about the safety of the cargo, which was seven times the amount that caused the Beirut explosion. The ship allegedly dumped some cargo offshore before returning.
Orix Corporation and Sumitomo Heavy Industries are collaborating on a new project to explore the feasibility of using soft sails for wind-assisted propulsion on a larger bulker ship. This innovative approach represents a departure from traditional methods, with North Sails Japan developing a furling sail made of UltraPE laminated cloth for testing.
The Panama-registered, Vietnamese-owned bulker seized in India for suspected cocaine smuggling has left its crew stranded for months. The owners have not paid fees or posted a bond, leading to a court-ordered sale of the vessel to cover expenses. The crew’s fate remains uncertain as the owners fail to comply with court orders.
