25/07/2008
ATHENS, Greece -- A tanker exploded at the Perama shipyard near Athens, killing at least eight people and injuring four on Thursday (July 24th), the merchant marine ministry said. Three others were reported missing in the fire that erupted onboard after the blast. Rescue teams are still searching the Panamanian-flagged tanker Friendshipgas for survivors. Police arrested two people Friday for allegedly failing to maintain safety standards. (In.news, ANA-MPA, SKAI, Naftemporiki, ERT, Kathimerini, Express, AP, International Herald Tribune - 25/07/08, Hurriyet, Anadolu news agency, NTV - 24/07/08)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Ship-barge crash closes Miss. River at New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A stretch of the Mississippi River at New Orleans could be closed for days as crews clean a 12-mile oil slick caused Wednesday when a tanker and barge collided, officials said.
Heavy, almost tar-like fuel oil spilled from the barge, forming the slick and closing about 29 miles of the river, the Coast Guard said.
The barge "was T-boned and split in half," Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Cdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau said.
It held more than 419,000 gallons of fuel oil in three tanks. Investigators don't know whether all three tanks broke but "are assuming the worst-case discharge of all 9,980 barrels," said Capt. Lincoln Stroh, Coast Guard captain of the port of New Orleans.
The double-hulled tanker Tintomara was loaded with about 4.2 million gallons of biodiesel and nearly 1.3 million gallons of styrene, but did not leak, said Michael Wilson, president of ship management company Laurin Maritime (America) Inc. in Houston. Styrene is used to make plastics and rubber such as in automobile parts, shoes, drinking cups and other food containers
American Commercial Lines Inc. of Jeffersonville, Ind., which owns the barge, brought in four oil spill cleanup companies with about 200 people and 10,000 feet of boom to keep oil away from water intakes and environmentally fragile areas, said Paul Book, vice president of operations facilities.
Tugs held the two halves of the barge against the river's swift current.
It had just been filled at Stone Oil Co. in Gretna, across the river from the accident site, and was on its way to Memphis, said W. Norbert Whitlock, executive vice president of American Commercial Lines.
The tanker was fully manned with a crew of 22 and was heading downriver, said Wilson, who heads the U.S. subsidiary of Laurin Maritime AB of Goteborg, Sweden. The tanker is owned by Whitefin Shipping Co. Ltd. of Gibraltar, he said.
Neither company nor Coast Guard officials would comment about the investigation.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Heavy, almost tar-like fuel oil spilled from the barge, forming the slick and closing about 29 miles of the river, the Coast Guard said.
The barge "was T-boned and split in half," Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Cdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau said.
It held more than 419,000 gallons of fuel oil in three tanks. Investigators don't know whether all three tanks broke but "are assuming the worst-case discharge of all 9,980 barrels," said Capt. Lincoln Stroh, Coast Guard captain of the port of New Orleans.
The double-hulled tanker Tintomara was loaded with about 4.2 million gallons of biodiesel and nearly 1.3 million gallons of styrene, but did not leak, said Michael Wilson, president of ship management company Laurin Maritime (America) Inc. in Houston. Styrene is used to make plastics and rubber such as in automobile parts, shoes, drinking cups and other food containers
American Commercial Lines Inc. of Jeffersonville, Ind., which owns the barge, brought in four oil spill cleanup companies with about 200 people and 10,000 feet of boom to keep oil away from water intakes and environmentally fragile areas, said Paul Book, vice president of operations facilities.
Tugs held the two halves of the barge against the river's swift current.
It had just been filled at Stone Oil Co. in Gretna, across the river from the accident site, and was on its way to Memphis, said W. Norbert Whitlock, executive vice president of American Commercial Lines.
The tanker was fully manned with a crew of 22 and was heading downriver, said Wilson, who heads the U.S. subsidiary of Laurin Maritime AB of Goteborg, Sweden. The tanker is owned by Whitefin Shipping Co. Ltd. of Gibraltar, he said.
Neither company nor Coast Guard officials would comment about the investigation.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Ferry collision injures three in Greece
24/07/2008
ATHENS, Greece -- Two ferries carrying more than 1,500 passengers collided near the port of the island of Andros on Wednesday (July 23rd), injuring three people, the merchant marine ministry said. The Super Ferry II, travelling from the port of Rafina to the islands of Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, hit the anchored ferry Theologos during docking manoeuvres. Two men and a woman needed medical treatment.
In other news, authorities evacuated hundreds of local residents and factory workers from homes and businesses Wednesday, as a wildfire approached the northern Athens suburb of Kryoneri. The fire broke out in the pine forests of Varybobi and spread rapidly, forcing authorities to suspend northbound trains from Athens. They also closed a section of Greece's main highway. Another forest fire still rages on the island of Rhodes. Police arrested two elderly people for unintentional arson, according to local media reports. (ERT, ANA-MPA, Kathimerini, Naftemporiki, AP, Reuters, CNN - 23/07/08)
24/07/2008
ATHENS, Greece -- Two ferries carrying more than 1,500 passengers collided near the port of the island of Andros on Wednesday (July 23rd), injuring three people, the merchant marine ministry said. The Super Ferry II, travelling from the port of Rafina to the islands of Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, hit the anchored ferry Theologos during docking manoeuvres. Two men and a woman needed medical treatment.
In other news, authorities evacuated hundreds of local residents and factory workers from homes and businesses Wednesday, as a wildfire approached the northern Athens suburb of Kryoneri. The fire broke out in the pine forests of Varybobi and spread rapidly, forcing authorities to suspend northbound trains from Athens. They also closed a section of Greece's main highway. Another forest fire still rages on the island of Rhodes. Police arrested two elderly people for unintentional arson, according to local media reports. (ERT, ANA-MPA, Kathimerini, Naftemporiki, AP, Reuters, CNN - 23/07/08)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Cruiseship grounded east of Spitsbergen
A cruiseship ran aground off the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on Wednesday, just east of the island of Spitsbergen.
The expedition vessel Antarctic Dream, with about 130 passengers on board, called for help around 11am. The grounding occurred near Alkefjellet in the Hinlopen Straits east of the Arctic islands, reports Svalbardposten.no
Petter Braaten of the local sheriff's office said there was no damage to ship and that neither the vessel nor its passengers and crew were in danger.
Any grounding, however, sparks environmental concerns. A rescue vessel was trying to free the vessel Wednesday afternoon.
The Antarctic Dream has been operated by Antarctic Shipping SA of Santiago, Chile, and makes trips from South America to the Antarctic during the winter season. The vessel, formerly known as the Piloto Pardo, has been sailing around Svalbard this summer, and had an expected return to Longyearbyen on Monday.
Aftenposten English Web Desk/NTB
The expedition vessel Antarctic Dream, with about 130 passengers on board, called for help around 11am. The grounding occurred near Alkefjellet in the Hinlopen Straits east of the Arctic islands, reports Svalbardposten.no
Petter Braaten of the local sheriff's office said there was no damage to ship and that neither the vessel nor its passengers and crew were in danger.
Any grounding, however, sparks environmental concerns. A rescue vessel was trying to free the vessel Wednesday afternoon.
The Antarctic Dream has been operated by Antarctic Shipping SA of Santiago, Chile, and makes trips from South America to the Antarctic during the winter season. The vessel, formerly known as the Piloto Pardo, has been sailing around Svalbard this summer, and had an expected return to Longyearbyen on Monday.
Aftenposten English Web Desk/NTB
Friday, July 18, 2008
Naval Base San Diego Assists Mariner in Distress
Story Number: NNS080718-05
Release Date: 7/18/2008 3:40:00 PM
By Walter T. Ham IV, Naval Base San Diego Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) assisted a civilian mariner July 17 when his 30-foot cabin cruiser caught fire south of the Coronado Bridge in the San Diego Bay.
Working together with the San Diego Harbor Police who rescued the lone mariner but had difficulties containing the fire, the base allowed the engulfed vessel to be towed to Pier 2 and the Department of the Navy's firefighters helped extinguish the fire.
"It was a great team effort by everyone involved," said NBSD Command Duty Officer Senior Chief Engineman (SW) Thomas E. Shider, who first took the dispatch call.
After the fire was extinguished, the vessel was dewatered and inspected to ensure it was seaworthy before being towed away from the base. No fuel or hazardous material was discharged during dewatering, but an oil boom was placed around the vessel as a precaution.
"This is a great example of how we come together in San Diego to help each other," said NBSD Commanding Officer Rear Adm. (Sel.) Dixon Smith. "While our main mission is to support the fleet, the fighter and the family, we are always ready to assist a mariner in distress. Saving lives and property is part of our Navy ethos – at sea or ashore."
Supporting 53 ships, more than 120 tenant commands and more than 35,000 Sailors, Soldiers, Department of Defense civilian employees and contracts, NBSD is home to the majority of the Pacific Fleet's surface combatants, all of the Navy's west coast amphibious ships and a variety of Coast Guard and Military Sealift Command vessels.
Release Date: 7/18/2008 3:40:00 PM
By Walter T. Ham IV, Naval Base San Diego Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) assisted a civilian mariner July 17 when his 30-foot cabin cruiser caught fire south of the Coronado Bridge in the San Diego Bay.
Working together with the San Diego Harbor Police who rescued the lone mariner but had difficulties containing the fire, the base allowed the engulfed vessel to be towed to Pier 2 and the Department of the Navy's firefighters helped extinguish the fire.
"It was a great team effort by everyone involved," said NBSD Command Duty Officer Senior Chief Engineman (SW) Thomas E. Shider, who first took the dispatch call.
After the fire was extinguished, the vessel was dewatered and inspected to ensure it was seaworthy before being towed away from the base. No fuel or hazardous material was discharged during dewatering, but an oil boom was placed around the vessel as a precaution.
"This is a great example of how we come together in San Diego to help each other," said NBSD Commanding Officer Rear Adm. (Sel.) Dixon Smith. "While our main mission is to support the fleet, the fighter and the family, we are always ready to assist a mariner in distress. Saving lives and property is part of our Navy ethos – at sea or ashore."
Supporting 53 ships, more than 120 tenant commands and more than 35,000 Sailors, Soldiers, Department of Defense civilian employees and contracts, NBSD is home to the majority of the Pacific Fleet's surface combatants, all of the Navy's west coast amphibious ships and a variety of Coast Guard and Military Sealift Command vessels.
Guard Unit Fights Fires One Day, Conducts Rescue at Sea the Next
By Air Force Capt. Alyson Teeter
Special to American Forces Press Service
MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif., July 18, 2008 - Air National Guardsmen from 129th Rescue Wing launched a search-and rescue-mission from here the afternoon of July 16 to save a fisherman experiencing a medical emergency aboard a Canadian fishing boat off the coast of California.
Responding to a call from the Coast Guard District 11 Alameda, an MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker met the 85-foot Ocean Marauder fishing boat about 500 miles from Eureka, Calif.
During this initial phase of the rescue operation, four specially trained pararescuemen parachuted from the MC-130P to provide emergency medical treatment to stabilize the patient. The four pararescuemen remained with the patient overnight, while the MC-130P returned to Moffett.
At 10 a.m. yesterday, the 129th launched the second phase of the rescue operation. Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two MC-130P tankers departed here to pick up the patient and pararescuemen from the Ocean Marauder. After locating the fishing boat, the HH-60Gs hovered over the vessel to allow the pararescuemen and patient to be hoisted safely into the helicopters.
The two HH-60G helicopters and crews were recalled yesterday from firefighting operations in Chico and Ukiah. The 129th maintainers worked diligently to convert the aircraft from firefighting to rescue-ready.
While also being on search-and-rescue alert, helicopter crews performed water-bucket suppression operations in Northern California, dropping more than 150,000 gallons of water since July 3. The 129th Rescue Wing is the only rescue unit in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard qualified to fight fires.
"The 129th is the 'go-to' unit due to its specialized capabilities in a wide range of environments, such as fires, floods, earthquakes, combat, and civilian search and rescue," said Air Force Lt. Col. Steve Butow, 129th Operations Group deputy commander. "Seamlessly transitioning from firefighting duty yesterday to the search-and-rescue mission today demonstrates our keen ability to adapt, respond and save lives."
The rescue helicopter landed at the Regional Medical Center of San Jose's heliport at about 5:20 p.m. yesterday. The 129th personnel then transferred the patient to awaiting hospital staff.
This rescue brings the total number of people saved by 129th Rescue Wing to 560.
The unit's primary mission is to train and be prepared to perform its federal mission of combat search and rescue anywhere in the world. In addition, the unit also works closely with the Coast Guard and various civil agencies on state missions.
"The crews of the 129th Rescue Wing have done an outstanding job," said Rear Adm. Craig Bone, commander of 11th Coast Guard District in Alameda.
"When our rescue coordination center asked them to fly this mission, the response was immediate and, as usual, effective. Amid an already busy operational tempo supporting wildfire fighting and other operations the 129th mounted a complex rescue operation extending hundreds of miles offshore."
Special to American Forces Press Service
MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif., July 18, 2008 - Air National Guardsmen from 129th Rescue Wing launched a search-and rescue-mission from here the afternoon of July 16 to save a fisherman experiencing a medical emergency aboard a Canadian fishing boat off the coast of California.
Responding to a call from the Coast Guard District 11 Alameda, an MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker met the 85-foot Ocean Marauder fishing boat about 500 miles from Eureka, Calif.
During this initial phase of the rescue operation, four specially trained pararescuemen parachuted from the MC-130P to provide emergency medical treatment to stabilize the patient. The four pararescuemen remained with the patient overnight, while the MC-130P returned to Moffett.
At 10 a.m. yesterday, the 129th launched the second phase of the rescue operation. Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two MC-130P tankers departed here to pick up the patient and pararescuemen from the Ocean Marauder. After locating the fishing boat, the HH-60Gs hovered over the vessel to allow the pararescuemen and patient to be hoisted safely into the helicopters.
The two HH-60G helicopters and crews were recalled yesterday from firefighting operations in Chico and Ukiah. The 129th maintainers worked diligently to convert the aircraft from firefighting to rescue-ready.
While also being on search-and-rescue alert, helicopter crews performed water-bucket suppression operations in Northern California, dropping more than 150,000 gallons of water since July 3. The 129th Rescue Wing is the only rescue unit in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard qualified to fight fires.
"The 129th is the 'go-to' unit due to its specialized capabilities in a wide range of environments, such as fires, floods, earthquakes, combat, and civilian search and rescue," said Air Force Lt. Col. Steve Butow, 129th Operations Group deputy commander. "Seamlessly transitioning from firefighting duty yesterday to the search-and-rescue mission today demonstrates our keen ability to adapt, respond and save lives."
The rescue helicopter landed at the Regional Medical Center of San Jose's heliport at about 5:20 p.m. yesterday. The 129th personnel then transferred the patient to awaiting hospital staff.
This rescue brings the total number of people saved by 129th Rescue Wing to 560.
The unit's primary mission is to train and be prepared to perform its federal mission of combat search and rescue anywhere in the world. In addition, the unit also works closely with the Coast Guard and various civil agencies on state missions.
"The crews of the 129th Rescue Wing have done an outstanding job," said Rear Adm. Craig Bone, commander of 11th Coast Guard District in Alameda.
"When our rescue coordination center asked them to fly this mission, the response was immediate and, as usual, effective. Amid an already busy operational tempo supporting wildfire fighting and other operations the 129th mounted a complex rescue operation extending hundreds of miles offshore."
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Unmanned yacht prompts search for man overboard
At 11am this morning Thames Coastguard were alerted to an unmanned yacht off the Red Sands Towers by the motor vessel El Bravo II. The yacht, named Serendipity, had her engine running but there was no-one aboard.
There was little initial information to suggest where the yacht had come from or what had occurred to leave the vessel unmanned. Further investigation revealed that the yacht with one person aboard had set out from the Pyefleet Channel near Colchester at 6am that morning bound for the river Medway in Kent.
Thames Coastguard scrambled fixed Coastguard wing aircraft Echo November and RAF rescue Helicopter 125, and requested the launch of Sheerness and Whitstable RNLI Lifeboats. Four Police vessels also assisted in the search.
Less than an hour from the initial call the man was spotted floating in a dinghy by the rescue helicopter. He was found to be cold but otherwise uninjured and was later reunited with his yacht which was towed into Queensborough by Sheerness RNLI lifeboat.
Watch Officer Steve Labouchardiere said:
"The gentleman was attempting to re-secure the dinghy to his yacht when a line broke, leaving the man left behind in his dinghy and the yacht traveling away from him with all communications equipment on board.
The man was located extremely quickly by the rescue helicopter. By then he had been adrift in his dinghy for two hours, but although extremely cold he was found to be otherwise safe and well."
There was little initial information to suggest where the yacht had come from or what had occurred to leave the vessel unmanned. Further investigation revealed that the yacht with one person aboard had set out from the Pyefleet Channel near Colchester at 6am that morning bound for the river Medway in Kent.
Thames Coastguard scrambled fixed Coastguard wing aircraft Echo November and RAF rescue Helicopter 125, and requested the launch of Sheerness and Whitstable RNLI Lifeboats. Four Police vessels also assisted in the search.
Less than an hour from the initial call the man was spotted floating in a dinghy by the rescue helicopter. He was found to be cold but otherwise uninjured and was later reunited with his yacht which was towed into Queensborough by Sheerness RNLI lifeboat.
Watch Officer Steve Labouchardiere said:
"The gentleman was attempting to re-secure the dinghy to his yacht when a line broke, leaving the man left behind in his dinghy and the yacht traveling away from him with all communications equipment on board.
The man was located extremely quickly by the rescue helicopter. By then he had been adrift in his dinghy for two hours, but although extremely cold he was found to be otherwise safe and well."
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Man airlifted ashore after boat overturns
Wednesday 16 July 2008 17:27
Maritime And Coastguard Agency (National)
A little before 3.00 p.m. this afternoon Portland Coastguard were alerted by a mayday call from the warship 'Severn' to an incident that was unfolding offshore, where a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) had overturned tipping five individuals into the sea.
Officers on board the vessel were undertaking a Fisheries Protection inspection and were approaching the fishing vessel `Lady Maureen' when, due to the sea swell, it interacted with the fishing vessel tipping its occupants into the water.
The individuals were quickly recovered from the sea by occupants of a further rigid inflatable boat which was on scene as well as the crew of the 'Lady Maureen'. Portland Coastguard immediately scrambled the Portland Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.
Some crew members were returned to the 'Severn' by RIB whilst the remainder stayed on board the fishing vessel. They were medically assessed by trained personnel on board the warship and a winchman from the helicopter, and it was decided to airlift one injured man back to Poole General Hospital. His condition is not thought to be life threatening.
The weather has remained good this afternoon throughout the area with north westerly winds of force 3 and good visibility. The Marine Accident Information Branch has been informed.
Maritime And Coastguard Agency (National)
A little before 3.00 p.m. this afternoon Portland Coastguard were alerted by a mayday call from the warship 'Severn' to an incident that was unfolding offshore, where a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) had overturned tipping five individuals into the sea.
Officers on board the vessel were undertaking a Fisheries Protection inspection and were approaching the fishing vessel `Lady Maureen' when, due to the sea swell, it interacted with the fishing vessel tipping its occupants into the water.
The individuals were quickly recovered from the sea by occupants of a further rigid inflatable boat which was on scene as well as the crew of the 'Lady Maureen'. Portland Coastguard immediately scrambled the Portland Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.
Some crew members were returned to the 'Severn' by RIB whilst the remainder stayed on board the fishing vessel. They were medically assessed by trained personnel on board the warship and a winchman from the helicopter, and it was decided to airlift one injured man back to Poole General Hospital. His condition is not thought to be life threatening.
The weather has remained good this afternoon throughout the area with north westerly winds of force 3 and good visibility. The Marine Accident Information Branch has been informed.
Norwegian freighter attacked off Nigeria
July 16 2008 at 02:55PM
Oslo - A Norwegian freighter was attacked by pirates off Nigeria early on Wednesday, reports said.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre for southern Norway was alerted about the attack against the Spar Gemini off Port Harcourt.
A rescue centre spokesperson said eight of the ten pirates were armed but there were no reports of serious injuries during the roughly two-hour long attack, the online edition of the Bergens Tidende newspaper reported.
The attackers tied up the crew and roughed up some of them, and stole equipment and money from the vessel.
All of the 22-strong crew were said to be Indian nationals. The ship is operated by a Bergen-based company.
The Norwegian rescue centre said the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia had been informed about the incident.
Last week the international piracy watchdog warned of increasingly violent attacks on seafarers, particularly in waters off Nigeria and Somalia. - Sapa-dpa
Oslo - A Norwegian freighter was attacked by pirates off Nigeria early on Wednesday, reports said.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre for southern Norway was alerted about the attack against the Spar Gemini off Port Harcourt.
A rescue centre spokesperson said eight of the ten pirates were armed but there were no reports of serious injuries during the roughly two-hour long attack, the online edition of the Bergens Tidende newspaper reported.
The attackers tied up the crew and roughed up some of them, and stole equipment and money from the vessel.
All of the 22-strong crew were said to be Indian nationals. The ship is operated by a Bergen-based company.
The Norwegian rescue centre said the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia had been informed about the incident.
Last week the international piracy watchdog warned of increasingly violent attacks on seafarers, particularly in waters off Nigeria and Somalia. - Sapa-dpa
Six reported dead in Bolivian boat collision
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- A Bolivian navy captain says a boat has sunk after hitting another vessel during the night on Lake Titicaca. Six people are reported dead.
Navy Capt. Fernando Enriquez told The Associated Press Wednesday all of the dead are Bolivian.
Survivors include five Brazilian tourists and one from Japan. One person is missing.
Enriquez said the two boats held a total of 48 people when they collided Tuesday night.
Navy Capt. Fernando Enriquez told The Associated Press Wednesday all of the dead are Bolivian.
Survivors include five Brazilian tourists and one from Japan. One person is missing.
Enriquez said the two boats held a total of 48 people when they collided Tuesday night.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Coast Guard cutter towing disabled fishing boat
Date: July 14, 2008
BOSTON - A Coast Guard cutter is towing a Portland, Maine, fishing vessel with four people aboard that became disabled and adrift about 60 miles southeast of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, around 12 a.m., Sunday.
The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable, from Cape May, N.J., is currently towing the 44-foot vessel, Maria and Dorothy, and is planning to pass the tow to a boat from Coast Guard Station South Portland when they arrive outside of Portland Harbor later tonight.
From there, the station boat is planning to tow the Maria and Dorothy to a pier in South Portland.
BOSTON - A Coast Guard cutter is towing a Portland, Maine, fishing vessel with four people aboard that became disabled and adrift about 60 miles southeast of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, around 12 a.m., Sunday.
The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable, from Cape May, N.J., is currently towing the 44-foot vessel, Maria and Dorothy, and is planning to pass the tow to a boat from Coast Guard Station South Portland when they arrive outside of Portland Harbor later tonight.
From there, the station boat is planning to tow the Maria and Dorothy to a pier in South Portland.
Coast Guard responds to fire aboard Plymouth charter boat
Date: July 14, 2008
BOSTON - Five Coast Guard boats responded when a charter whale-watching vessel carrying 36 people reported an engine fire while they were six miles off Gurnet Lighthouse in Plymouth, Mass., about 8:30 a.m., today.
The 77-foot Capt. John & Son is no longer on fire and the smoke had dissipated. There are no reports of injuries, and the boat does not appear to be taking on water.
Coast Guard boats from Station Cape Cod Canal, Mass., Station Point Allerton, Mass., Station Provincetown, Mass., and Station Scituate, Mass., responded. Additionally, several good Samaritan vessels stood by to help, if needed.
Capt. John & Son's sister ship, Tales of the Sea, picked up all of the passengers and continued on with the whale-watching trip. Another sister ship, Andy Lynn VI, is towing the Capt. John & Son to Plymouth. A 41-foot utility boat from Station Point Allerton is escorting them to the harbor.
BOSTON - Five Coast Guard boats responded when a charter whale-watching vessel carrying 36 people reported an engine fire while they were six miles off Gurnet Lighthouse in Plymouth, Mass., about 8:30 a.m., today.
The 77-foot Capt. John & Son is no longer on fire and the smoke had dissipated. There are no reports of injuries, and the boat does not appear to be taking on water.
Coast Guard boats from Station Cape Cod Canal, Mass., Station Point Allerton, Mass., Station Provincetown, Mass., and Station Scituate, Mass., responded. Additionally, several good Samaritan vessels stood by to help, if needed.
Capt. John & Son's sister ship, Tales of the Sea, picked up all of the passengers and continued on with the whale-watching trip. Another sister ship, Andy Lynn VI, is towing the Capt. John & Son to Plymouth. A 41-foot utility boat from Station Point Allerton is escorting them to the harbor.
Rescue operation at the Arctic SP-35 drifting research station underway
Russian authorities have been successfully carrying a rescue operation at the SP-35 drifting research station. An icebreaker arrived to save the researchers, who are under growing threat as their ice floe is melting. The rescue operation was started this week when the icebreaker “Mikhail Somov” sailed off from Arkhangelsk towards the Spitsbergen archipelago.
14.07.2008
14.07.2008
German cargo ship in trouble
German cargo ship in trouble
Lehmann Timber, German cargo ship with Russian captain and four Ukrainian sailors onboard is in trouble. It was released by pirates after receiving a ransom few days ago. The ship is in neutral waters in the Arabian Sea and its main engine is out of order. The situation is complicated by a storm and the absence of food and water. The ship was seized by Somali pirates on the 28th of May and was released on the 8th of July.
13.07.2008
Lehmann Timber, German cargo ship with Russian captain and four Ukrainian sailors onboard is in trouble. It was released by pirates after receiving a ransom few days ago. The ship is in neutral waters in the Arabian Sea and its main engine is out of order. The situation is complicated by a storm and the absence of food and water. The ship was seized by Somali pirates on the 28th of May and was released on the 8th of July.
13.07.2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Grim toll of African refugees mounts on Spanish beaches
Three new tragedies have raised fears that this summer could see a record number of would-be migrants killed in desperate bids to reach Europe
* Graham Keeley in Barcelona and John Hooper in Rome
* The Observer,
* Sunday July 13, 2008
* Article history
A series of tragedies involving migrants off the coast of Spain have raised fears that the summer could see a record-breaking death toll in the region, as refugees embark on increasingly perilous routes in smaller boats to avoid detection.
According to human rights agencies, there has been a sharp increase in the numbers of people attempting to make the sea crossing from North Africa to southern Europe, many of them from sub-Saharan conflict zones such as Eritrea and Somalia.
After a week of disasters and rescues at sea that has shocked Spaniards, authorities have identified the coastal port of Almería as the new favoured destination for human traffickers attempting to avoid increased police patrols and surveillance. A total of 51 migrant deaths at sea has been reported this year, but the actual mortality rate is certain to be far higher, since the bodies of many refugees are never recovered. The Red Cross estimates between 2,000 and 3,000 people die trying to reach Spain every year.
In the past few weeks there has also been a surge in the number of migrants landing on Lampedusa, Italy's southernmost island - only 120 kilometres from the African coast. One official from UNHCR, the United Nations' refugee agency, said that, since the start of the summer and the arrival of calmer seas, the number of arrivals on Lampedusa had doubled, and it is presumed that many more have been lost at sea.
The fate of the stream of refugees dominated Spanish media last week after a series of horrific episodes underlined the risks that migrants were prepared to take to reach Europe. One boat was spotted drifting off the port of Almería containing 33 survivors, weak with exhaustion. The group had set off a week earlier from the Moroccan port of Alhucema, but the boat's fragile motor broke down in rough seas. Fifteen of the boat's occupants, including nine children aged under four, had died from hunger or thirst during the journey. The bodies of the children, rotting in the sun, were thrown overboard by their parents. One Nigerian mother, whose two children died en route, repeatedly asked Red Cross workers in Almería: 'Where are my babies?'
The Spanish Prime Minister, José Zapatero, said the images of the stricken boat 'should be imprinted in the minds of each and every one of us'. Francisco Vicente, the head of the Red Cross in Almería, said: 'In five years, this is the worst I have ever seen.'
That tragedy was only one in a sequence of disasters. Last Monday, 14 Africans were declared missing, presumed dead, off Motril in Andalucía, after their boat capsized in rough seas. Crews pulled 23 people out of the water, including a pregnant woman. On Friday, a kayak with 59 migrants aboard, four of them dead, was intercepted off La Gomera in the Canary Islands. The kayak had drifted in the Mediterranean for two weeks after setting off from Guinea-Bissau. Ten more men were said to have died and been thrown overboard during the voyage; two more have since died in Spanish hospitals.
Police say African migrants pay on average £1,000 to trafficking gangs to reach the Moroccan coast. They are then packed into small boats, with poor satellite navigation systems and old motors.
Aid agencies claim that the recent crackdown on illegal immigration is worsening the crisis by encouraging migrants to make riskier and longer journeys. Angel Madero, president of the refugee aid group Acoge in Andalucía, said: 'They invest millions in security systems and the legal entry systems are more difficult. Necessity makes [migrants] carry on coming and the consequence is they take more dangerous routes.'
In 2005, border controls were toughened between Spain's north African enclaves, Melilla and Ceuta, after thousands of migrants repeatedly tried to gain access to Spanish territory. Trafficking gangs subsequently changed tack, channelling migrants through the Mauritanian port of Nouadhibou towards the Canary Islands.
But after hundreds of migrants in tiny kayaks were picked up by patrols, partly funded by Frontex, the EU border security agency, gangs started to target Almería and other Spanish Mediterranean areas like Granada, Murcia and Ibiza.
Almería is now seen as the weakest link along the costas. The gangs are exploiting this part of southern Spain, made famous by Sergio Leone as a location for filming spaghetti westerns, because of poor coastguard detection services. But the gruelling 100-mile journey between Morocco and Almería means an estimated one in three dinghies never arrives.
Laura Boldrini, of UNHCR's Rome office, said that refugees arriving in Lampedusa were making journeys of up to 180 nautical miles aboard 'very unsafe' inflatables put together in workshops on the north African coast. Historically, around 80 per cent of arrivals in Lampedusa have set off from Libya, with the remainder coming from Tunisia.
Typically, said Boldrini, the inflatables consisted of just two inflated chambers and a crudely made wooden deck. They would normally be expected to carry, at most, 10 people, but the standard human cargo reaching Lampedusa on an inflatable this year numbered between 40 and 50. Such boats are principally designed for inshore and inland waters. Coastguards and others who monitor the flow of migrants in the Mediterranean are convinced that entire groups whose boats capsize in rough weather perish without anyone knowing.
Crucially, the traffickers do not travel with their 'passengers'. Boats are equipped with a modest engine and take about a day and half to complete the journey. 'But some take a lot longer because they lose their way', said Boldrini. 'The migrants rarely have any experience of operating a boat. Sometimes the traffickers give them a compass. Sometimes they give them a satellite phone. Sometimes they give them nothing at all. In the past we've had people who have spent 15 or even 20 days adrift.'
This article appeared in the Observer on Sunday July 13 2008 on p35 of the World news section. It was last updated at 00:00 on July 13 2008.
* guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008
* Graham Keeley in Barcelona and John Hooper in Rome
* The Observer,
* Sunday July 13, 2008
* Article history
A series of tragedies involving migrants off the coast of Spain have raised fears that the summer could see a record-breaking death toll in the region, as refugees embark on increasingly perilous routes in smaller boats to avoid detection.
According to human rights agencies, there has been a sharp increase in the numbers of people attempting to make the sea crossing from North Africa to southern Europe, many of them from sub-Saharan conflict zones such as Eritrea and Somalia.
After a week of disasters and rescues at sea that has shocked Spaniards, authorities have identified the coastal port of Almería as the new favoured destination for human traffickers attempting to avoid increased police patrols and surveillance. A total of 51 migrant deaths at sea has been reported this year, but the actual mortality rate is certain to be far higher, since the bodies of many refugees are never recovered. The Red Cross estimates between 2,000 and 3,000 people die trying to reach Spain every year.
In the past few weeks there has also been a surge in the number of migrants landing on Lampedusa, Italy's southernmost island - only 120 kilometres from the African coast. One official from UNHCR, the United Nations' refugee agency, said that, since the start of the summer and the arrival of calmer seas, the number of arrivals on Lampedusa had doubled, and it is presumed that many more have been lost at sea.
The fate of the stream of refugees dominated Spanish media last week after a series of horrific episodes underlined the risks that migrants were prepared to take to reach Europe. One boat was spotted drifting off the port of Almería containing 33 survivors, weak with exhaustion. The group had set off a week earlier from the Moroccan port of Alhucema, but the boat's fragile motor broke down in rough seas. Fifteen of the boat's occupants, including nine children aged under four, had died from hunger or thirst during the journey. The bodies of the children, rotting in the sun, were thrown overboard by their parents. One Nigerian mother, whose two children died en route, repeatedly asked Red Cross workers in Almería: 'Where are my babies?'
The Spanish Prime Minister, José Zapatero, said the images of the stricken boat 'should be imprinted in the minds of each and every one of us'. Francisco Vicente, the head of the Red Cross in Almería, said: 'In five years, this is the worst I have ever seen.'
That tragedy was only one in a sequence of disasters. Last Monday, 14 Africans were declared missing, presumed dead, off Motril in Andalucía, after their boat capsized in rough seas. Crews pulled 23 people out of the water, including a pregnant woman. On Friday, a kayak with 59 migrants aboard, four of them dead, was intercepted off La Gomera in the Canary Islands. The kayak had drifted in the Mediterranean for two weeks after setting off from Guinea-Bissau. Ten more men were said to have died and been thrown overboard during the voyage; two more have since died in Spanish hospitals.
Police say African migrants pay on average £1,000 to trafficking gangs to reach the Moroccan coast. They are then packed into small boats, with poor satellite navigation systems and old motors.
Aid agencies claim that the recent crackdown on illegal immigration is worsening the crisis by encouraging migrants to make riskier and longer journeys. Angel Madero, president of the refugee aid group Acoge in Andalucía, said: 'They invest millions in security systems and the legal entry systems are more difficult. Necessity makes [migrants] carry on coming and the consequence is they take more dangerous routes.'
In 2005, border controls were toughened between Spain's north African enclaves, Melilla and Ceuta, after thousands of migrants repeatedly tried to gain access to Spanish territory. Trafficking gangs subsequently changed tack, channelling migrants through the Mauritanian port of Nouadhibou towards the Canary Islands.
But after hundreds of migrants in tiny kayaks were picked up by patrols, partly funded by Frontex, the EU border security agency, gangs started to target Almería and other Spanish Mediterranean areas like Granada, Murcia and Ibiza.
Almería is now seen as the weakest link along the costas. The gangs are exploiting this part of southern Spain, made famous by Sergio Leone as a location for filming spaghetti westerns, because of poor coastguard detection services. But the gruelling 100-mile journey between Morocco and Almería means an estimated one in three dinghies never arrives.
Laura Boldrini, of UNHCR's Rome office, said that refugees arriving in Lampedusa were making journeys of up to 180 nautical miles aboard 'very unsafe' inflatables put together in workshops on the north African coast. Historically, around 80 per cent of arrivals in Lampedusa have set off from Libya, with the remainder coming from Tunisia.
Typically, said Boldrini, the inflatables consisted of just two inflated chambers and a crudely made wooden deck. They would normally be expected to carry, at most, 10 people, but the standard human cargo reaching Lampedusa on an inflatable this year numbered between 40 and 50. Such boats are principally designed for inshore and inland waters. Coastguards and others who monitor the flow of migrants in the Mediterranean are convinced that entire groups whose boats capsize in rough weather perish without anyone knowing.
Crucially, the traffickers do not travel with their 'passengers'. Boats are equipped with a modest engine and take about a day and half to complete the journey. 'But some take a lot longer because they lose their way', said Boldrini. 'The migrants rarely have any experience of operating a boat. Sometimes the traffickers give them a compass. Sometimes they give them a satellite phone. Sometimes they give them nothing at all. In the past we've had people who have spent 15 or even 20 days adrift.'
This article appeared in the Observer on Sunday July 13 2008 on p35 of the World news section. It was last updated at 00:00 on July 13 2008.
* guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008
Knife-wielding man confronts European tourists fishing on Fraser River
Last Updated: Friday, July 11, 2008 | 2:40 PM ET
CBC News
Four European tourists sport fishing on the Fraser River in Agassiz, B.C., got more than they bargained for this week when they were confronted by an angry man wielding a knife, CBC News learned through an online fishing forum.
The tourists — three from Germany and one from Denmark — were fishing with a river guide on the shore of Ferry Island on Wednesday afternoon, the first day of their vacation, when their fishing lines got tangled in a drift net that was coming down the river with a fishing boat.
Chilliwack RCMP Const. Leanne Dunlop said the man was intoxicated and took issue with the fact that the tourists were fishing on the river.
Originally police said in a written statement that "the male drifting down the river with a drift net engaged in a verbal altercation with the tourist," but Dunlop later clarified that the tourists did nothing to provoke the incident.
"That person in that boat beached his boat and an altercation [between] the tourist and the male escalated to the point where a knife was produced and threats were uttered."
The fishing guide eventually persuaded the angry fisherman to get back in his boat without hurting anyone.
A 34-year -old man from the Sto:lo Indian Tribe was later arrested and released by police. The unidentified man is scheduled to appear in Chilliwack Provincial Court at a later date to face charges of assault with a weapon and uttering threats.
The RCMP said incident does not appear to have anything to do with the ongoing tensions between native and non-native fishermen over access to the declining number of fish in the Fraser River.
"This particular incident doesn't appear early indications to be at all directly related to any of the history with the Fraser Valley region or with fishing. It appears at this time in our investigation … we're dealing with an individual who took exception to the fact that some fishing lines got tangled in his net," said Dunlop.
CBC News
Four European tourists sport fishing on the Fraser River in Agassiz, B.C., got more than they bargained for this week when they were confronted by an angry man wielding a knife, CBC News learned through an online fishing forum.
The tourists — three from Germany and one from Denmark — were fishing with a river guide on the shore of Ferry Island on Wednesday afternoon, the first day of their vacation, when their fishing lines got tangled in a drift net that was coming down the river with a fishing boat.
Chilliwack RCMP Const. Leanne Dunlop said the man was intoxicated and took issue with the fact that the tourists were fishing on the river.
Originally police said in a written statement that "the male drifting down the river with a drift net engaged in a verbal altercation with the tourist," but Dunlop later clarified that the tourists did nothing to provoke the incident.
"That person in that boat beached his boat and an altercation [between] the tourist and the male escalated to the point where a knife was produced and threats were uttered."
The fishing guide eventually persuaded the angry fisherman to get back in his boat without hurting anyone.
A 34-year -old man from the Sto:lo Indian Tribe was later arrested and released by police. The unidentified man is scheduled to appear in Chilliwack Provincial Court at a later date to face charges of assault with a weapon and uttering threats.
The RCMP said incident does not appear to have anything to do with the ongoing tensions between native and non-native fishermen over access to the declining number of fish in the Fraser River.
"This particular incident doesn't appear early indications to be at all directly related to any of the history with the Fraser Valley region or with fishing. It appears at this time in our investigation … we're dealing with an individual who took exception to the fact that some fishing lines got tangled in his net," said Dunlop.
15 dead as migrants attempt to reach Spain
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Fifteen Africans died while trying to reach Spain's southern coast in a small, overcrowded boat, Spanish officials told CNN on Thursday.
Thousands of African migrants risk their lives trying to reach mainland Europe in small, overcrowded boats.
Rescue teams located the craft late Wednesday off the coast of Almeria province and helped it ashore. Aboard were 33 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and a dead woman.
They told authorities that 14 others, including nine young children, had died en route and were dropped overboard, officials told CNN.
The survivors included men, women and a months-old baby.It was the second incident in a week involving African migrants.
Authorities said a ship overturned off the coast of Motril, killing 14 people -- 23 others were rescued.
Spain is the preferred route to Europe for many Africans. Hopeful immigrants typically pay hundreds of dollars to illegal smugglers for a seat on a small boat.
The number of attempted crossings usually increases during the summer months when the seas are calmer, Paco Gil, government spokesman in Seville told CNN.
The Ministry of Interior said illegal crossings by boat from Africa declined 54 percent in 2007, from a year earlier. A total of 18,000 people were tallied.
The decline is due to increased sea patrols off West Africa, along with increased repatriations, officials said. More than 56,000 illegal immigrants were returned to their native countries last year -- a six percent increase compared with 2006.
Officials hope the large number of repatriated immigrants will send a message that the costly and perilous crossing could result in nothing more than a trip back home.
Immigrants from Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa make up 10 percent of Spain's population of 45 million. Morocco and Romania are the leading sources, with more than 500,000 immigrants from each nation. Ecuador has sent more than 400,000.
The total number of immigrants to Spain from sub-Saharan African countries is far less, but their plight on the boats has sparked a great deal of media attention.
Legal action considered after port death
10 July 2008 | 07:08
ACTION may be taken against a Suffolk port in the wake of an inquest into the death of a grandfather who was crushed by an articulated trailer.
A jury ruled yesterday that Brian Vince's accidental death came about as a result of “vulnerable working conditions” at Ipswich Port.
But the port's bosses last night said they had overhauled their procedures at the terminal as a result of the incident.
Cargo handler Mr Vince, 60, of Lanercost Way, Ipswich died on March 30 last year at the West Bank Terminal in Wherstead Road after suffering fatal injuries to his chest and pelvis after being hit by a vehicle, the inquest heard. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
He had been helping to load and unload a ferry which had arrived from Ostend, Belgium when the accident happened at 7.45pm.
Speaking immediately after the inquest, held at Ipswich Crown Court, Annette Hall, a spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive, said criminal proceedings against Associated British Ports, who operate the Ipswich port, were being considered.
“A thorough investigation has now been carried out into the circumstances of Mr Vince's death.
“Following the inquest we need to review the investigation and see whether criminal proceedings are appropriate in these circumstances.”
She added: “The family are now waiting for our decision.”
The inquest heard how Mr Vince was wearing a hi-visibility jacket that did not meet required standards and hearing protection that would have still left it difficult for him to hear oncoming vehicles.
It was also revealed that vehicles with large blind spots would have to move on and off a platform without the consent of a ramp man - the position Mr Vince held. The drivers were expected to look out for the workers moving about.
Greater Suffolk Coroner Peter Dean explained to the jury how the port's investigation had turned the system from a reactive to a proactive one following the accident.
An Associated British Port (ABP) spokesman told the EADT how they had learnt lessons from the accident.
“The health and safety of its workforce remains ABP's number one priority. Following this tragic accident, ABP reviewed all of its procedures at the Ipswich terminal and continues to aspire to having the best safety record in the industry.
“ABP will continue to assist the HSE with its investigations and would like once again to express its great sadness and deepest sympathy to the family of Brian Vince at the loss of a loyal and much valued member of the ABP team.”
A popular member of the East Anglian Caravanning Association and a local football referee, Mr Vince had worked at the port almost all his life and had been looking forward to going to New York to celebrate his 60th birthday with his family.
Last night the family declined to comment, but at the time of the accident his daughter Ronni-Louise Vince, said: “He was at the heart of our family. We can't believe he has gone.
“He loved his job, he loved being outside. It is unbelievable this has happened.”
She added the family also extended their sympathy to the vehicle's driver which struck Mr Vince.
Port staff also told jurors how the accident unfolded, before the verdict of accidental death carrying out work duties in a vulnerable environment was accepted by Mr Dean.
He told the court: “The verdict describes the situation, in a sense, almost as a slight narrative.
“Our thoughts are very much with the family at this time.”
Copyright © 2008 Archant Regional Ltd. All rights reserved.
ACTION may be taken against a Suffolk port in the wake of an inquest into the death of a grandfather who was crushed by an articulated trailer.
A jury ruled yesterday that Brian Vince's accidental death came about as a result of “vulnerable working conditions” at Ipswich Port.
But the port's bosses last night said they had overhauled their procedures at the terminal as a result of the incident.
Cargo handler Mr Vince, 60, of Lanercost Way, Ipswich died on March 30 last year at the West Bank Terminal in Wherstead Road after suffering fatal injuries to his chest and pelvis after being hit by a vehicle, the inquest heard. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
He had been helping to load and unload a ferry which had arrived from Ostend, Belgium when the accident happened at 7.45pm.
Speaking immediately after the inquest, held at Ipswich Crown Court, Annette Hall, a spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive, said criminal proceedings against Associated British Ports, who operate the Ipswich port, were being considered.
“A thorough investigation has now been carried out into the circumstances of Mr Vince's death.
“Following the inquest we need to review the investigation and see whether criminal proceedings are appropriate in these circumstances.”
She added: “The family are now waiting for our decision.”
The inquest heard how Mr Vince was wearing a hi-visibility jacket that did not meet required standards and hearing protection that would have still left it difficult for him to hear oncoming vehicles.
It was also revealed that vehicles with large blind spots would have to move on and off a platform without the consent of a ramp man - the position Mr Vince held. The drivers were expected to look out for the workers moving about.
Greater Suffolk Coroner Peter Dean explained to the jury how the port's investigation had turned the system from a reactive to a proactive one following the accident.
An Associated British Port (ABP) spokesman told the EADT how they had learnt lessons from the accident.
“The health and safety of its workforce remains ABP's number one priority. Following this tragic accident, ABP reviewed all of its procedures at the Ipswich terminal and continues to aspire to having the best safety record in the industry.
“ABP will continue to assist the HSE with its investigations and would like once again to express its great sadness and deepest sympathy to the family of Brian Vince at the loss of a loyal and much valued member of the ABP team.”
A popular member of the East Anglian Caravanning Association and a local football referee, Mr Vince had worked at the port almost all his life and had been looking forward to going to New York to celebrate his 60th birthday with his family.
Last night the family declined to comment, but at the time of the accident his daughter Ronni-Louise Vince, said: “He was at the heart of our family. We can't believe he has gone.
“He loved his job, he loved being outside. It is unbelievable this has happened.”
She added the family also extended their sympathy to the vehicle's driver which struck Mr Vince.
Port staff also told jurors how the accident unfolded, before the verdict of accidental death carrying out work duties in a vulnerable environment was accepted by Mr Dean.
He told the court: “The verdict describes the situation, in a sense, almost as a slight narrative.
“Our thoughts are very much with the family at this time.”
Copyright © 2008 Archant Regional Ltd. All rights reserved.
Russia fights fuel oil spill in Far East Amur river
09 Jul 2008 14:25:54 GMT
Source: Reuters
KHABAROVSK, Russia, July 9 (Reuters) - Russian rescue services were on Wednesday battling a fuel oil spill in the Amur River which forms part of Russia's border with China.
A major chemical spill from a Chinese plant into the same river network three years ago caused diplomatic tensions between Moscow and Beijing.
Russian border guards on Tuesday spotted the 2 km (1.2 mile) slick on a tributary of the Amur river, which is known in China as Heilong, before it flowed downstream.
"More than 500 kg of fuel oil has entered the river," Russia's Natural Resources Ministry said in a statement.
The slick is expected to reach Khabarovsk, a city of 580,000, in mid-July. Local officials said there were no drinking water reservoirs along the route.
"We initially thought the fuel came from a ship of some sort but that was not confirmed and we are still searching for the source," Yuri Ivanov, deputy head of the local emergency ministry, told reporters in Khabarovsk.
Ivanov said rescuers had been unable to place oil spill booms across the river as the other bank is Chinese territory.
An explosion in November 2005 in China poured 100 tonnes of cancer-causing benzene compounds into the Songhua river, which flows into the Amur. (Writing by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Janet Lawrence)
09 Jul 2008 14:25:54 GMT
Source: Reuters
KHABAROVSK, Russia, July 9 (Reuters) - Russian rescue services were on Wednesday battling a fuel oil spill in the Amur River which forms part of Russia's border with China.
A major chemical spill from a Chinese plant into the same river network three years ago caused diplomatic tensions between Moscow and Beijing.
Russian border guards on Tuesday spotted the 2 km (1.2 mile) slick on a tributary of the Amur river, which is known in China as Heilong, before it flowed downstream.
"More than 500 kg of fuel oil has entered the river," Russia's Natural Resources Ministry said in a statement.
The slick is expected to reach Khabarovsk, a city of 580,000, in mid-July. Local officials said there were no drinking water reservoirs along the route.
"We initially thought the fuel came from a ship of some sort but that was not confirmed and we are still searching for the source," Yuri Ivanov, deputy head of the local emergency ministry, told reporters in Khabarovsk.
Ivanov said rescuers had been unable to place oil spill booms across the river as the other bank is Chinese territory.
An explosion in November 2005 in China poured 100 tonnes of cancer-causing benzene compounds into the Songhua river, which flows into the Amur. (Writing by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Ship Mona Lisa's costly evacuation
Jul 07, 2008
In cooperation with BNS
RIGA- The freeing of the stranded ship Mona Lisa and evacuation of passengers cost Latvia 135,000 lats (EUR 192,000).
Ieva Aile, head of the governmental press service, told the Baltic News Service that Latvian lawyers are still negotiating with the insurer two financial positions that will decide whether value added tax is included in the total sum to be paid to Latvia.
The estimate of the total cost for the rescue operation carried out by Latvian military services was sent to the insurer, who sent Latvia a 200,000 euros letter of indemnity.
On May 7, Latvian rescue services managed to free the cruise ship that had become stuck off Latvia's western coast for more than three days before the ship went on to the port of Ventspils.
The Mona Lisa, a cruise ship with 984 people on board, was stranded in the Irbe Straits, 18 kilometers off Latvia's coast, on May 4. Initial attempts to free the giant ship were unsuccessful, and more than 24 hours after the accident experts decided to evacuate the passengers who were then brought in by special train to Riga.
http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/20775/
In cooperation with BNS
RIGA- The freeing of the stranded ship Mona Lisa and evacuation of passengers cost Latvia 135,000 lats (EUR 192,000).
Ieva Aile, head of the governmental press service, told the Baltic News Service that Latvian lawyers are still negotiating with the insurer two financial positions that will decide whether value added tax is included in the total sum to be paid to Latvia.
The estimate of the total cost for the rescue operation carried out by Latvian military services was sent to the insurer, who sent Latvia a 200,000 euros letter of indemnity.
On May 7, Latvian rescue services managed to free the cruise ship that had become stuck off Latvia's western coast for more than three days before the ship went on to the port of Ventspils.
The Mona Lisa, a cruise ship with 984 people on board, was stranded in the Irbe Straits, 18 kilometers off Latvia's coast, on May 4. Initial attempts to free the giant ship were unsuccessful, and more than 24 hours after the accident experts decided to evacuate the passengers who were then brought in by special train to Riga.
http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/20775/
Seamen were 'unaware of dangers'
Three seamen who died because of a lack of oxygen in a ship's compartment had failed to appreciate the possible dangers they faced, a report said.
Finlay MacFadyen, Robert O'Brien and Robert Ebertowski were working in an enclosed space on the Viking Islay ship off the Yorkshire coast in 2007.
The men, from Scotland and Poland, had failed to recognise the atmosphere would slowly become oxygen deficient.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch experts recommended training changes.
The report said the men had gone into the chain locker on the ship to secure a rattling anchor chain.
Breathing device
But they had "failed to recognise the chain locker was a potentially dangerous enclosed or confined space or the likelihood that the atmosphere inside could become oxygen-deficient over time".
One of the men had put on an emergency escape breathing device but the hood was either removed or became dislodged, said the report.
The marine accident experts added that the training and subsequent drills in the use of such devices "had not been sufficient to ensure the limitations of the equipment were recognised in an emergency".
And the document added: "The ship manager's company policy on entry into enclosed spaces was not clear and did not take into account scenarios that could require crews to enter confined spaces while at sea".
Gas monitoring equipment supplied to the vessel was unsuitable for ensuring safe entry into enclosed spaces, the experts concluded.
'Deficiencies'
"The audit regime employed by the ship's managers to ensure compliance with its SMS (safety management system) failed to detect deficiencies in training, equipment and safety culture on board Viking Islay," the report said.
Those who died were Finlay MacFadyen, 46, from Aberdeen, Robert O'Brien, 59, from Leven in Fife, and Robert Ebertowski, 40, from Gdynia, Poland. They were in the Amethyst field when the accident happened.
The report's authors said two of the seamen had gone forward to secure the anchor chain. One entered the chain locker and collapsed. The other tried to enter the locker to help his companion and he, too, collapsed.
Accident investigators made various recommendations to the ship's operators, Aberdeen-based Vroon Offshore Ltd, and to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to ensure there was no repeat of the accident.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/humber/7496909.stm
Published: 2008/07/09 08:42:35 GMT
© BBC MMVIII
Another summer weekend: Another tombstoning casualty
London, 12 July/GNN/ --
MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Duty Notice 1) issued by The
Government News Network on 12 July 2008
Earlier this afternoon Brixham Coastguard were contacted by South Western
Ambulance Control concerning a boy of 15 who had suffered injuries near the
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Plymouth.
It was discovered that the local lad, along with a crowd of other youngsters,
had been `tombstoning' from the roof of the club, about sixty feet high,
into just three feet of water.
The boy was suffering from a broken left leg and possible spinal injuries at
Fishers Nose. He was moved gently and carefully by the Coastguard Rescue Team
from Plymouth along with the crew from the RNLI inshore lifeboat to Millbay
Marina where an ambulance met them. He was then taken on to Derriford Hospital.
Zoe Boyne, Watch Manager at Brixham Coastguard said
"This local lad should have known better. A lot of our local youngsters are
very aware of the dangers the sea can hold, and they can guide tourists as
to the `do's and don'ts' of local activity. It seems that there was a large
group of youngsters undertaking this activity and egging each other on to
take that extra bit of risk - and someone crossed the stupid line.
"We are appealing to parents to forewarn their youngsters of the real dangers
that exist by doing this. The sea falls and rises on the tide. That means
the depth changes. What was `safe' a few hours earlier may be the depth of
a damp flannel now. What looked great on `Youtube' might not look so cool
from the perspective of a wheelchair."
MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Duty Notice 1) issued by The
Government News Network on 12 July 2008
Earlier this afternoon Brixham Coastguard were contacted by South Western
Ambulance Control concerning a boy of 15 who had suffered injuries near the
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Plymouth.
It was discovered that the local lad, along with a crowd of other youngsters,
had been `tombstoning' from the roof of the club, about sixty feet high,
into just three feet of water.
The boy was suffering from a broken left leg and possible spinal injuries at
Fishers Nose. He was moved gently and carefully by the Coastguard Rescue Team
from Plymouth along with the crew from the RNLI inshore lifeboat to Millbay
Marina where an ambulance met them. He was then taken on to Derriford Hospital.
Zoe Boyne, Watch Manager at Brixham Coastguard said
"This local lad should have known better. A lot of our local youngsters are
very aware of the dangers the sea can hold, and they can guide tourists as
to the `do's and don'ts' of local activity. It seems that there was a large
group of youngsters undertaking this activity and egging each other on to
take that extra bit of risk - and someone crossed the stupid line.
"We are appealing to parents to forewarn their youngsters of the real dangers
that exist by doing this. The sea falls and rises on the tide. That means
the depth changes. What was `safe' a few hours earlier may be the depth of
a damp flannel now. What looked great on `Youtube' might not look so cool
from the perspective of a wheelchair."
Friday, July 4, 2008
38 dead after ferry sinks in cyclone-battered Burmese delta
Last Updated: Friday, July 4, 2008 | 1:00 AM ET The Associated Press
A ferry sank in a river in Burma's cyclone-battered Irrawaddy delta, killing nearly 40 people, state media reported Friday.
The motorized ship sank in the Yway river in Burma, also known as Myanmar, Tuesday after water entered its stern section, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. The report did not give details about the cause of the accident.
The newspaper said 38 people were killed and 44 were rescued.
The ferry, named Myo Pa Pa Tun, was travelling from Pakeikkyi village to Myaungmya, about 150 kilometres west of Rangoon, the newspaper said. Myaungmya was not badly affected by Cyclone Nargis, which left a swath of death and devastation in much of the delta when it struck in early May. More than 84,000 people died in the storm.
People living in Burma's vast delta region often travel and transport goods by boat because of the lower cost and inaccessibility of many areas by road.
Boat accidents are common in Burma's river deltas and coastal regions. In May, a ferry collided with another passenger boat in Twantay canal near Rangoon, killing at least six people.
© The Canadian Press, 2008
A ferry sank in a river in Burma's cyclone-battered Irrawaddy delta, killing nearly 40 people, state media reported Friday.
The motorized ship sank in the Yway river in Burma, also known as Myanmar, Tuesday after water entered its stern section, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. The report did not give details about the cause of the accident.
The newspaper said 38 people were killed and 44 were rescued.
The ferry, named Myo Pa Pa Tun, was travelling from Pakeikkyi village to Myaungmya, about 150 kilometres west of Rangoon, the newspaper said. Myaungmya was not badly affected by Cyclone Nargis, which left a swath of death and devastation in much of the delta when it struck in early May. More than 84,000 people died in the storm.
People living in Burma's vast delta region often travel and transport goods by boat because of the lower cost and inaccessibility of many areas by road.
Boat accidents are common in Burma's river deltas and coastal regions. In May, a ferry collided with another passenger boat in Twantay canal near Rangoon, killing at least six people.
© The Canadian Press, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Belfast Coastguard co-ordinate medical evacuations from two passenger ships off the Co Down coast
Belfast Coastguard co-ordinate medical evacuations from two passenger ships off the Co Down coast
London, 2 July/GNN/ --
MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Duty Notice 3) issued by The
Government News Network on 2 July 2008
Belfast Coastguard yesterday received calls for medical assistance from two
passenger vessels operating between Belfast and Liverpool.
A pregnant women became ill on the Mersey Viking at around 12 o'clock yesterday
when the vessel was approximately 5 miles off the coast of Northern Ireland. A
radio medical link was established between the vessel and Royal Aberdeen
Infirmary. Doctors there recommended that the patient should transferred to
hospital as soon as possible. The Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R117 based
in Dublin was scrambled to the scene by Belfast Coastguard and the patient was
transferred by air to Daisy Hill hospital Newry Co Down for further treatment.
Later the same day at 1130 PM, a VHF call was received from the Mersey
Viking's sister ship the Lagan Viking, near the mouth of Belfast Lough
and also bound for Liverpool. The crew reported a passenger had taken ill
and required medical assistance. A medical link call was again established
between the vessel and hospital doctors and as a result of this Belfast
Coastguard tasked the RNLI Donaghadee lifeboat to the scene with a doctor
on board. The patient was examined on the vessel and allowed to continue his
journey to Liverpool, with further medical assistance to be offered on arrival.
Lawrence Cumming Watch Officer at Belfast Coastguard said
"Belfast is the busiest port in Ireland with an increasing number of passengers
being transported to and from mainland GB. These incidents should demonstrate
to passengers traveling on board vessels in the North Irish Sea that H M
Coastguard assistance is always available to them when they need it, even
if this involves co-ordination of resources based in different jurisdictions".
London, 2 July/GNN/ --
MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Duty Notice 3) issued by The
Government News Network on 2 July 2008
Belfast Coastguard yesterday received calls for medical assistance from two
passenger vessels operating between Belfast and Liverpool.
A pregnant women became ill on the Mersey Viking at around 12 o'clock yesterday
when the vessel was approximately 5 miles off the coast of Northern Ireland. A
radio medical link was established between the vessel and Royal Aberdeen
Infirmary. Doctors there recommended that the patient should transferred to
hospital as soon as possible. The Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R117 based
in Dublin was scrambled to the scene by Belfast Coastguard and the patient was
transferred by air to Daisy Hill hospital Newry Co Down for further treatment.
Later the same day at 1130 PM, a VHF call was received from the Mersey
Viking's sister ship the Lagan Viking, near the mouth of Belfast Lough
and also bound for Liverpool. The crew reported a passenger had taken ill
and required medical assistance. A medical link call was again established
between the vessel and hospital doctors and as a result of this Belfast
Coastguard tasked the RNLI Donaghadee lifeboat to the scene with a doctor
on board. The patient was examined on the vessel and allowed to continue his
journey to Liverpool, with further medical assistance to be offered on arrival.
Lawrence Cumming Watch Officer at Belfast Coastguard said
"Belfast is the busiest port in Ireland with an increasing number of passengers
being transported to and from mainland GB. These incidents should demonstrate
to passengers traveling on board vessels in the North Irish Sea that H M
Coastguard assistance is always available to them when they need it, even
if this involves co-ordination of resources based in different jurisdictions".
Diver dies despite the efforts of his rescuers
London, 2 July/GNN/ --
MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (191/08) issued by The Government
News Network on 2 July 2008
At midday today Stornoway Coastguard received an urgent call for medical
assistance from a dive boat off the north coast of the Isle of Skye.
A diver collapsed shortly after getting back on board the boat and complaining
of feeling unwell. The crew and other divers on the boat started resuscitation
while the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Stornoway was being scrambled. They
were also given medical advice from a doctor at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
via the radio.
The helicopter crew airlifted the man to the Western Isles Hospital in
Stornoway and continued resuscitation. Unfortunately he was pronounced
deceased shortly after his arrival at hospital.
Martin Collins, Coastguard Watch Manager says:
"The crew of the dive boat showed extraordinary dedication and stamina
to maintain the resuscitation efforts until the arrival of rescue
helicopter. These efforts were continued during the flight to the hospital
in order to give the man the best chance of survival. Sadly the outcome
was not what everyone had hoped for. Our thoughts are with his family &
friends at this difficult time."
London, 2 July/GNN/ --
MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (191/08) issued by The Government
News Network on 2 July 2008
At midday today Stornoway Coastguard received an urgent call for medical
assistance from a dive boat off the north coast of the Isle of Skye.
A diver collapsed shortly after getting back on board the boat and complaining
of feeling unwell. The crew and other divers on the boat started resuscitation
while the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Stornoway was being scrambled. They
were also given medical advice from a doctor at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
via the radio.
The helicopter crew airlifted the man to the Western Isles Hospital in
Stornoway and continued resuscitation. Unfortunately he was pronounced
deceased shortly after his arrival at hospital.
Martin Collins, Coastguard Watch Manager says:
"The crew of the dive boat showed extraordinary dedication and stamina
to maintain the resuscitation efforts until the arrival of rescue
helicopter. These efforts were continued during the flight to the hospital
in order to give the man the best chance of survival. Sadly the outcome
was not what everyone had hoped for. Our thoughts are with his family &
friends at this difficult time."
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