1. Drugs found on board of livestock carrier, Mauritius
Customs and drug enforcement officers found drugs on board of livestock carrier LSS SUCCESS on Jun 13 in Port Louis, Mauritius. The ship arrived at Port Louis on Jun 13 from South Africa. Quantity and the name of the drug found weren’t revealed, three crew reportedly were arrested. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/06/13/drugs-found-on-board-of-livestock-carrier-mauritius/
2. Passenger ro-ro ferry capsized while docking, Bali, Indonesia
Passenger ro-ro ferry DHARMA RUCITRA 3 developed a heavy list starboard and seemingly, capsized, while docking at Padang Bai port, eastern Bali, Lombok Strait, at around 2230 LT (UTC +7) Jun 12, on arrival from Lembar, Lombok island. Understood passengers managed to get to the pier, no casualties, no injures reported. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/06/12/passenger-ro-ro-ferry-capsized-while-docking-bali-indonesia-video/
3. German general cargo ship grounding in Bintan waters
General cargo ship MPV URANIA reportedly ran aground off Sasah, southwest Bintan Island, Riau Islands, Indonesia, at around 2000 LT (UTC +7) Jun 10. Ship is said to be under tow (track confirms it was towage) to Singatac Lobam. Understood unfavourable weather and strong current caused the accident. By 2230 LT, with high tide, the ship was refloated, no damages reported. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/06/12/german-general-cargo-ship-grounding-in-bintan-waters/
4. French nuclear submarine fire, Toulon
Fire broke out in fore compartments of French nuclear submarine PERLE in the morning Jun 12, at Toulon Naval Base, where PERLE is undergoing renovation. There are no nuclear fuel and arms on board, such as torpedoes and mines, all were removed prior to repairs. All who were on board, were safely evacuated. Understood as of 1300 UTC, firefighting was still continuing. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/06/12/french-nuclear-submarine-fire-toulon/
5. Bangladesh: Special flight ferries 45 Indian seafarers
With dozens of seafarers stranded for months due to air flight suspension following the COVID-19 spread, on 10 June 2020, commercial air carrier US-Bangla Airlines operated a special flight to ferry 45 Indian seafarers back home.
https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/bangladesh-special-flight-ferries-45-indian-seafarers/
6. Indian Navy repatriates 233 from Iran
The Indian nationals, mostly fishermen, sailed with the vessel on 8 June from the port of Bandar Abbas, Iran, under the operation known as “Samudra Setu”. According to Puneet Chadha, defence public relations officer for the state of Gujarat, pre-boarding health checks and social distancing was carried out onboard the naval vessel to avoid the spread of the disease. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/indian-navy-repatriates-233-from-iran/
7. U.N. Chief Calls for Key Worker Designation for Seafarers
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres called on all countries on Friday to designate seafarers and other marine personnel as key workers, warning that travel restrictions to combat the coronavirus had left hundreds of thousands stranded at sea for months.
“Unable to get off ships, the maximum sea time stipulated in international conventions is being ignored, with some seafarers marooned at sea for 15 months,” Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. https://gcaptain.com/u-n-chief-calls-for-key-worker-designation-for-seafarers/
8. Norway Opens Expansive Offshore Areas to Wind Development
The Norwegian government has announced the opening of more than 860,000 acres of the Norwegian Continental Shelf to offshore wind development.
The areas, known as “Utsira Nord” and “Sørlige Nordsjø II”, are located in Norwegian waters in the northern North Sea. Combined, the two areas allow for the development of 4,500 MW of wind power. https://gcaptain.com/norway-opens-expansive-offshore-areas-for-wind-development/
9. INTERCARGO: Consultation On A Dry Bulk Sector Quality Self-Assessment Scheme
INTERCARGO has long recognised the need for companies in the dry bulk sector to have a widely accepted and common quality benchmark. First considered five years ago, the issue was revisited in 2018 and since 2019 INTERCARGO has been developing with its Members and with external expert support DRY-SAS, a dry bulk sector quality Self-Assessment Scheme, which focuses on shore management. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/INTERCARGO%3A+Consultation+on+a+dry+bulk+sector+quality+self-assessment+scheme
10. Act On Seafarer Crew Changes To Avert Humanitarian Crisis
Governments need to urgently act to ensure ships’ crew changeovers can take place to keep world trade flowing and avert a humanitarian and ship safety crisis, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has told Member State representatives. “We are on the verge of a humanitarian crisis and a real safety issue – we cannot expect seafarers currently on ships to stay at sea forever. It is the responsibility of Governments to allow shipping to continue moving, and for seafarers to return to their homes, or get to their ships to begin work,” Mr. Lim said during a virtual meeting organized by IMO (9 June) to brief permanent representatives and liaison officers from IMO Member States. It is estimated that some 150,000 seafarers are urgently waiting to leave their ships since their contracts as well as any extensions have expired and they need to be replaced by a similar number, since travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have severely hampered crew changeovers. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Act+on+seafarer+crew+changes+to+avert+humanitarian+crisis
