Off the Radar Maritime Security Watch - Week 21

 

Maritime Security 

Watch Week 21

India: From Mumbai to Goa, via sea: 15 hrs aboard ANGRIYA
23.05.2018: The final approval to operate Mumbai-Goa passenger ship services is in and the ship started its sea trial on Wednesday evening. The sea trial involves sailing the ship from Mumbai to Goa and back. On Wednesday, the sea trial commenced at 5 pm, off the spruced up Domestic Cruise Terminal near Ferry Wharf. The ship is likely to return to Mumbai either on Friday or Sunday depending upon the weather situation generated by the cyclonic storm ‘Mekunu’ in the Arabian Sea. The vessel, Angriya, will start its sail at 5pm from Mumbai and take 15 hours to reach Panaji in Goa. Similar will be the schedule to sail from Goa to Mumbai. The ship, which can accommodate 400 people, will be operated on alternate days from either port. “The Directorate General of Shipping” has giving its final nod to commence revenue service between Mumbai and Goa.

Pakistan: Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) seize smuggled goods in a 40-feet container loaded with smuggled betel nut, cigarettes, in Karachi
21.05.2018: Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of MCC Preventive Karachi has foiled another attempt of smuggling and seized goods worth Rs10 million. Information was received through Collector Dr. Iftikhar to the effect that a 40-feet container loaded with smuggled betel nut, cigarettes and miscellaneous goods such as adults’ creams, lotions, lubricants, sprays as well as naswar etc. was being unloaded near Mauripur area. On the directives of Additional Collector Amir Thaim, Deputy Collector ASO Mohammad Faisal mobilized the team and swiftly intercepted the said container after tumultuous situation created by smugglers and seized smuggled goods of more than Rs 10 million in value. Investigations are underway.

Mayotte: 97 repressed Mayotte arrived Monday at the port of Mutsamudu aboard the Gombessa
23.05.2018: The military and civilian leaders of the port of Mutsamudu in Anjouan sought to have from Moroni "an authorization to re-admit the evicted from the Comorian island of Mayotte". The boat was blocked for several hours. The Director of the National Agency of Maritime Affairs, Said Salim, took over the operation and ordered the port authorities to accept the 97 people asserting with them with orders from the president's chief of staff. Mission accomplished. Lambassadnce de France in Moroni was quick to confide his joy in speaking of a resumption of expulsions. It must be said that the detention center of Pamandzi is currently archi-saturated, expulsions may resume again with the complicity of Moroni. Visa deposits of Comorian citizens are systematically rejected.

2 Cruise ships in port at the time of the Barcelona terror attack

No doubt all readers have seen the horrendous scenes on mainstream media, whereby at least 13 people were killed and a further 100+ injured, following an act of terror caused by a van which targeted pedestrians at speed in the the popular tourist area Las Ramblas, close to Barcelona port.

There were actually 2 cruise ships berthed at the port of Barcelona during the time of the terror attack, which were P&O Britannia and TUI Discovery 2. According to reports coming from a passenger on board P&O Britannia, the Captain announced that he would sail close to the Spanish coastline to enable passengers to phone let their families know of their safe. Moreover, has informed head office at Carnival UK in Southampton that all passengers and crew were back on board safe and sound.

At this juncture, there is no news about the passengers and crew on board the TUI Discovery 2 operated by Thomson Cruises.

While Spain has been on terror alert since 2015, the country has not witnessed any terrorist attacks since the coordinated explosion of bombs on the commuter train in Madrid on 11th March 2004, which resulted in 192 dead and more than 2,000 wounded. In the past year, there have been 8 attacks around Europe, which is alarming.

Our hearts and minds go out to all the victims and their families in Barcelona.

World's Biggest Ship goes through Suez Canal for First Time

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, on its way to Northern Europe, made its very first transit through the Suez Canal on August 9th . 

A few days afterwards, the first Triple-E vessel which is the world's largest ship, passed through Gibraltar and got closer to its final destination, Rotterdam.

The ship is scheduled to reach the port Rotterdam today, August 16th.

The Suez Canal, the oldest man-made canal in the world, has been open for traffic since 1869.

The canal is situated in a historically central and important area, considered the centre of global trade for thousands of years. 

Almost immediately after its opening, the Suez Canal had a significant impact on world trade as goods were moved around the world in record time. In 1875, debt forced Egypt to sell its shares in ownership of the Suez Canal to the United Kingdom. 

However, an international convention in 1888 made the canal available for all ships from any nation to use.

Conflicts immediately began to arise over use and control of the Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal, today operated by the Suez Canal Authority, is one of the world's most significant waterways as it supports 8% of the world's shipping traffic and almost 50 ships pass through the canal daily.

As the Suez Canal is too narrow, all ships must enter through convoys on fixed times.

Carnival Corp to Audit Safety and Emergency Response on All Ships

Following the tragic Costa Concordia accident, Carnival Corporation & plc, parent company of Costa Cruises and nine leading cruise lines around the world, today announced a comprehensive audit and review of all safety and emergency response procedures across all of the company’s cruise lines.

Carnival Corporation & plc and the cruise industry as a whole have maintained an excellent safety record over the years. “However, this tragedy has called into question our company’s safety and emergency response procedures and practices,” said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. “While I have every confidence in the safety of our vessels and the professionalism of our crews, this review will evaluate all practices and procedures to make sure that this kind of accident doesn’t happen again.”

The review is being led by Captain James Hunn, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and currently the company’s senior vice president of Maritime Policy & Compliance. Following a 32-year career in the Navy, Hunn has held senior positions at Carnival Corporation & plc for nearly a decade, focusing on corporate-wide efforts to establish maritime policy standards, while overseeing the company’s health, environmental, safety, and security practices.

Following the tragic Costa Concordia accident, Carnival Corporation & plc, parent company of Costa Cruises and nine leading cruise lines around the world, today announced a comprehensive audit and review of all safety and emergency response procedures across all of the company’s cruise lines.

Carnival Corporation & plc and the cruise industry as a whole have maintained an excellent safety record over the years. “However, this tragedy has called into question our company’s safety and emergency response procedures and practices,” said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. “While I have every confidence in the safety of our vessels and the professionalism of our crews, this review will evaluate all practices and procedures to make sure that this kind of accident doesn’t happen again.”

The review is being led by Captain James Hunn, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and currently the company’s senior vice president of Maritime Policy & Compliance. Following a 32-year career in the Navy, Hunn has held senior positions at Carnival Corporation & plc for nearly a decade, focusing on corporate-wide efforts to establish maritime policy standards, while overseeing the company’s health, environmental, safety, and security practices.

Hunn and senior health and safety executives from each of the lines will review all safety and emergency response policies and procedures, officer and crew training and evaluation, bridge management and company-wide response and support efforts. Hunn will report to the Health, Environment, Safety & Security Committee of the Board, and to Howard Frank, vice chairman and chief operations officer of Carnival Corporation & plc.

In addition, the Health, Environment, Safety & Security Committee is engaging outside industry-leading experts in the fields of emergency response organization, training and implementation to conduct an audit of all of the company’s emergency response and safety procedures and to conduct a thorough review of the Costa Concordia accident.

Frank said, “This company-wide initiative will identify lessons learned and best practices to further ensure the security and safety of all of our passengers and crew.”

Hunn and senior health and safety executives from each of the lines will review all safety and emergency response policies and procedures, officer and crew training and evaluation, bridge management and company-wide response and support efforts. Hunn will report to the Health, Environment, Safety & Security Committee of the Board, and to Howard Frank, vice chairman and chief operations officer of Carnival Corporation & plc.

In addition, the Health, Environment, Safety & Security Committee is engaging outside industry-leading experts in the fields of emergency response organization, training and implementation to conduct an audit of all of the company’s emergency response and safety procedures and to conduct a thorough review of the Costa Concordia accident.

Frank said, “This company-wide initiative will identify lessons learned and best practices to further ensure the security and safety of all of our passengers and crew.”

Source:  cruiseindustrynews.com

Coast Guard Rescue Ends for Celebrity Summit Cruise Member

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The Coast Guard suspended a search, pending further developments, for a missing Celebrity Summit cruise ship crewmember Monday night off the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico.

Missing is a 30-year-old woman, Filipino national, who worked as a bartender aboard the cruise ship and reportedly was last seen jumping overboard Sunday morning, approximately six and a half nautical miles off the northeastern coast of Culebra Island, Puerto Rico.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of the missing crewmember,” said Capt. Drew W. Pearson, Sector San Juan commander.

The Celebrity Summit was transiting from San Juan, Puerto Rico to the eastern-most Caribbean island of Barbados at the time the incident occurred.

Coast Guard Watchstanders received notification of the incident from the cruise ship at approximately 12:50 a.m. Sunday.

Since the search began Sunday, Coast Guard rescue crews conducted 10 aerial and seven surface searches, spanning out approximately 2,000 square nautical miles, covering a total search area approximately two thirds the size of Puerto Rico. Coast Guard rescue crews conducted the search aboard MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, an HC-130 aircraft from Clearwater Fla., a Coast Guard 45-foot response boat medium and the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing. A Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit also assisted with the search efforts.

Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Source: maritime-executive.com

Fake bomb threat against cruise ship leads to arrest

This item was written by Fran Golden, a cruise expert and Trip Coach for Budget Travel magazine. Golden is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.

The 2,052-passenger, 70,367-ton Carnival Fascination, which debuted in 1994.

CAPTION
By Andy Newman, Carnival Cruise LinesA Florida woman has been arrested for calling in a fake bomb threat against a cruise ship as the vessel was returning to port in Jacksonville.

The ship involved was the 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination, returning to the JAXPORT cruise terminal at the end of a Caribbean cruise, reports News 4-WJXT. The hoax took place in May 2010. Linda Wilson, 44, of Baldwin, Fla., was arrested yesterday by local law enforcement on a federal warrant, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney, Middle District of Florida.

ALSO ONLINE: A Cruise Log guide to new ships on order

She is charged with reporting false information to law enforcement. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison. According to the indictment, Wilson called the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office with the claim a bomb was going to explode on the ship. Participating in the investigation were the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and FBI.

Piracy fears keep cruise ships off Kenyan coast

Cruise tourism along the East Africa coast suffered a major blow this year despite a surge in the global scene this year.  Kenya, which lies on the western Indian ocean rim, suffered the most with only two calls by international cruise liners this year. Tourism industry players say aggressive marketing of the east Africa region and intensified security in the entire Indian ocean could help reverse the trend and ensure Kenya grabs a bigger share of the global cruise tourism pie.

Mr Auni Kanji, an executive at Abercrombie & Kent, told The Standard in Mombasa the country is poised to capture a greater market of the fast growing global cruise tourism should security in the Indian ocean be beefed up. "We have seen commendable efforts to market Kenya overseas by the Ministry of Tourism, but more needs to be done to sell Mombasa as a cruise tourism destination," Kanji said.

Cruise ships have given the Kenyan Coast a wide berth owing to escalating piracy incidents along the Horn of Africa and the western Indian ocean rim. Tuesday marked the end of a dull year for the local cruise tourism industry after a vessel, MV Silver Wind, docked at the port of Mombasa with 470 passengers on board.

End of dull year
Tourism Minister, Najib Balala led a government delegation to welcome the guests. "We are excited at the arrival of this ship when Kenyan tourism is on a rebound despite many obstacles like travel advisories and piracy," Balala said.

Balala, who was flanked by Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) Managing director Muriithi Ndegwa and Kenya Ports Authority acting managing director, Captain Twalib Khami, thanked Abercrombie & Kent for bringing the tourists to Mombasa.

The 17,000-tonne vessel docked at the port for the second time year after docking in February. Kanji said there are 250 tourists and 220 crew on board. Most of the tourists who disembarked toured Ngorongoro, Masai Mara, Shimba Hills, Tsavo National Park and Mombasa city.  KPA reiterated that it would convert berths 1 and II into modern cruise ship handling terminals.

"We have not dropped the idea completely, the project is still on," Khamis said.


Source: standardmedia.co.ke

South Korean Ship Sinks

The 15,000 ton South Korean cargo vessel that was hijacked and then released by Somali pirates in 2008 has sunk in the South China Sea. Fourteen have been rescued and there are still seven crew members missing. Many ships and helicopters are still searching for the missing. The cause of the accident is unknown.

Source: planetdata.net

Piracy and Marine Insurance Coverage and Security.

Drawing on the topic in #4, this article highlights the growing concern of piracy and what it means to the traveling public on water; whether it is a passenger cruiser, a private cruiser or a working freighter and cargo ship, everyone is affected by a centuries-old profession who has been producing pirates since back in 258 AD by the Gothic-Herulic Fleet to 3rd century BC, then continued their travel through the Middle Ages and right into the 21st century. Every nationality participated in this profession whether from Greeks, Romans, Vikings, Dutchmen, Slavic tribes, Arabs , India, Asia to Eastern Europe, North Africa, Caribbean, North America, Great Lakes and more. Rewards have always been high and riches returned to the leaders of the pack, moreover, making several captains and seafarers very rich along the way. This business which has always brought about great fear in the public, too, brings in a relentless mystery.

Suspected Oil Thieves Arrested In Nigeria.

Once again, we read a story of pirates, bandits, thieves and robbers targeting any moving vessel along their borders, near or far in order to take what is not theirs. The stories are not myths, they are as real as our every waking day; however, they feel there is ability to pillage these vessels not only for the goods they can sell or use, but to take lives for monetary funds in kidnapping ransoms and put fear into the public. My only question through all this – how come they cannot capture more of these people? On land, I can assume they can get away, hide and be absorbed in society, but on a small boat of which cannot go all that fast compared to the state of the art boats most authorities and military personnel have? A thought to ponder on how deep the pay offs go.

Piracy and Marine Insurance Coverage and Security

An interesting article in the Insurance Journal about how London's marine insurance community is dealing with the growing threat of piracy and what tactics and strategies they are devising to effectively deal with it.
Recognized as a global problem and not just isolated to Somalia, the article looks at various kinds of insurance coverage offered, as well as discussing the recent move of providing armed guards on vessels sailing in dangerous waters.

Source: planetdata.net

Ship Sinks with 450 Tons of Diesel Onboard

An Iranian ship loaded with 450 tons of smuggled diesel has sunk 35 nautical miles off the coast of the UAE. Originally stopped and banned from entering the port of Khalid of Sharjah on Saturday (10/22) officials are now trying to figure out how to salvage the cargo and prevent an environmental disaster. UAE officials have arrested the nine Iranian crew members.

Source: planetdata.net

Suspected Oil Thieves Arrested In Nigeria

A Joint Nigerian Task Force reports the capture of 46 suspected oil thieves and fourteen vessels loaded with stolen petroleum products in the Akassa River. Part of the growing problem in the area of thieves stealing from ships and unguarded oil pipelines and then exporting the oil onto the black market, Nigerian officials say they arrested another 50 suspects over the past three-months and destroyed some 2000 illegal refineries. This black market is said to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year.

Source: planetdata.net

World Maritime Observance Day to Focus on Piracy

The North American World Maritime Day Observance and U.S. Coast Guard Missions Conference will feature piracy, stewardship, safety and security. Piracy will be the focus of this year's event being held in Tampa, Florida on October 27th followed by a U.S. Coast Guard Missions Conference on October 28th. Both events will be held at the Marriott Waterside in Tampa and are free and open to the public. 



Source: planetdata.net

Niche Cruise Group Changes Name to Specialty Cruise Collection

The Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance, a consortium of nine small-ship cruise lines, has changed its name to theSpecialty Cruise Collection. “We feel the name Specialty Cruise Collection better reflects the diverse type of products we offer,” said Executive Director Lawrence Dessler.

The member lines of the Specialty Cruise Collection have banded together to educate travel agents on the value of concentrating on the sale of specialty cruise products. The organization provides educational programs, seminar content and trade show exposure.

The Specialty Cruise Collection strives to get the message out to travel agents that there are profitable alternatives to the standard Caribbean cruise or the typical mass-market cruise, Dessler said. “Our products can offer the discriminating traveler such diverse experiences as exploring the Galapagos Islands, navigating the intercoastal waterways of the East Coast of the United States, traversing the Chilean fjords and navigating the Mediterranean on a sailing ship. Our member lines’ vessels are smaller ships, many of which can visit ports and traverse waterways that are inaccessible to larger ships. They are more port-intensive, and offer in-depth exploration of ports and destinations."

The Specialty Cruise Collection provides in-person and online travel agent training. On its website, consumers can locate a specialty cruise travel agent by city, ZIP or provincial code, or name. Travel agents can also log on to find out information about training opportunities.

The member lines of the Specialty Cruise Collection are Star Clippers, Hurtigruten, American Cruise Lines, Louis Cruises, Alaskan Dream Cruises, Galapagos Explorer II, Imperial River Cruises, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and Cruceros Australis.

Source:travelpulse.com

Compagnie Du Ponant Internationally Recognised as the ‘Green Ships’

Compagnie du Ponant is internationally recognised for increasing its effort to reduce the company’s seaeffect on the environment by implementing an array of eco friendly practices onboard its leading ships Le Boréal andL’Austral. Both were designed with the environment in mind earning them the international ‘Green Ship’ label.

Compagnie du Ponant has implemented a number of eco-friendly features within Le Boréal and L’Austral to ensure minimal environmental impact. These include:

-Dynamic positioning, so there is no need to drop anchor, thereby protecting the seabed
-Optical underwater detection system to avoid collisions with whales and other sea life
-Electric propulsion system: quiet and economic
-Diesel engines using MDO (Marine Diesel Oil): lighter and less polluting
-Waste and sewage treatment on board
-Low energy bulbs for lighting
-Reduced exhaust emissions

In addition to these eco-friendly features, Compagnie du Ponant’s is dedicated to raising awareness whilst discovering more about our world. They achieve this through enrichment programs, and inviting esteemed experts to speak on board such as the UNESCO spokesperson, Maud Fontenoy, whose passion is safeguarding oceans and coastlines.
Compagnie du Ponant respects the local residents of each community by ensuring that they cruise under sail, with eco-friendly hull coatings which reduce environmental impact to sea life.

Compagnie du Ponant is a member of Charte Bleue d’Armateurs de France and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, IAATO. Both are committed to improving the environment and to ensuring their vessels protect marine and coastal life whilst promoting responsible behaviour in safeguarding flora and fauna.

Source:etravelblackboard.com

2011 Kiel cruise season closes - Passenger totals up again by 10%

 The 2011 cruise shipping season in Kiel ended today with a visit by the “AIDAcara”. The port was visited 120 times this year by nineteen different ocean-going luxury liners. Some 375,000 cruise ship passengers embarked or disembarked in the port. Compared to last year, this is another 10% increase. Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co.KG) said “we are looking at a successful season. Although there were slightly fewer ship calls this year compared to last, the number of passengers continued to rise. The trend towards ever bigger cruise ships in the Baltic continues to grow.”

The average size of cruise ships calling at Kiel in the 2011 season was 65,000 GT for the first time - five times more than the average cruise ship size ten years ago.“We will adapt our terminal capacities to the rising demand and we will have a third berth ready for big cruise ships in Kiel by the 2013 season”, said Dirk Claus.

This year’s cruise shipping season can be seen as a particularly multi-faceted one. The high point was the naming of the “AIDAsol” at the start of April which attracted 50,000 enthusiastic onlookers. The most frequent guests on the Kiel Fiord this year have been the ships of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which berthed at the Ostseekai 36 times. The biggest ship to visit Kiel this year was the 114,500 GT “Costa Pacifica”, while the 7,500 GT “Vistamar” was the smallest of the ocean-going cruise ship visitors.

131 calls by 24 different cruise ships have been registered for the coming year to date. Dirk Claus said “the rising number of cruise ships is the first indication that our marketing efforts, particularly in the stop-over sector, are bearing fruit”. The 2012 season opens on March 31st and will run until the middle of October. In addition, a cruise ship will visit Kiel in December for the first time ever as part of an Advent cruise. In 2012 Kiel will also welcome a string of cruise ships which will be visiting the Kiel Fiord for the first time. Among them will be the “Queen Elizabeth”, making her Kiel debut on July 24th. During the Kieler Woche, being held from June 16th to 24th, Kiel will host twelve cruise ships as well as the elegant sailing ship “Star Flyer”. Current registration data indicates that on six occasions during the coming season three cruise ships will visit Kiel at the same time.

Source:.port-of-kiel.de

Grounded Ship Maritime Disaster in New Zealand

Since running aground last Wednesday (10/05) on Astrolabe Reef the container ship Rena has leaked some 350 tons of heavy fuel oil into New Zealand's Bay of Plenty. Some 1,500 tons of diesel remain onboard and with heavy seas and the ship listing 15 degrees, the remaining cargo is at great risk for spilling into the sea. New Zealand's Environment Minister is calling this event the worst maritime disaster in that nation's history.

Source: planetdata.net

Mekong Riverboat Fire

"In the early hours of Saturday the 8th of October RV Lan Diep incurred a serious fire which broke out in the gangway and spread into the gallery kitchen. We suspect an electrical problem was the cause of the fire although we still need to complete a full investigation. The fire was contained by CFM’s brave crew, who able to use their expert training to put the flames out and bring the situation under control. Thankfully passengers were unharmed, although some crew members suffered minor injuries. The most important thing is that nobody was killed or seriously injured, CFM’s skilled crew and excellent safety systems on board ensured that the fire was contained in the kitchen area and quickly extinguished. A full investigation will begin into the cause of the fire."

Source:expeditioncruising.com/

Jova, Now Major Hurricane, Affects More Cruises

Jova, which became a major hurricane in the Pacific on Monday, has maintained strength as a category three storm and is heading toward the western coast of Mexico, prompting a slew of watches and warnings, as well as the alteration of several cruise ship itineraries.

According to the National Hurricane Center's latest report, Jova is located about 150 miles southwest of Manzanillo, moving north-northeast at six miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 115 m.p.h.

A hurricane warning is now in effect from Punta San Telmo to Cabo Corrientes, a tropical storm warning has been issued from Lazaro Cardenas to south of Punta San Telmo, and a tropical storm watch is in effect from north of Cabo Corrientes to El Roblito.

Cruise Ship Itinerary Changes

Carnival Spirit will sail a revised itinerary for its current nine-night Mexican Riviera sailing from Los Angeles. The ship skipped a planned sea day Saturday for a call on Ensenada. Calls on Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, respectively, have been swapped with visits to Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. The ship will again stop at Cabo San Lucas on Wednesday, in accordance with the original itinerary, but instead of an overnight in Cabo, Spirit will depart Wednesday night and spend the day at Puerto Vallarta on Thursday. A call on Ensenada, which was originally slated for Saturday, will now be replaced with a sea day. The sailing will return to Los Angeles, as scheduled, on Sunday.

Holland America has also announced changes. Oosterdam will skip calls on Puerto Vallarta Tuesday and Wednesday in favor of a sea day and a stop at La Paz. The ship is currently in the middle of an 11-night Mexican Riviera sailing from Vancouver to San Diego.

Disney Wonder is also sailing a revised itinerary for its October 9 sailing, which means the ship will call on Cabo San Lucas on Tuesday and stay there through Wednesday, foregoing its originally scheduled call on Ensenada. Passengers will, instead, visit Ensenada on Saturday.

Source:cruisecritic.com