Tanker Volante (IMO 9391141) and LPG Tanker Celanova (IMO 9268394), which were reported detained by Yemeni Houthi rebels in Hodeidah for several weeks, have been reported released. Both were under way with armed guards on board by April 29th and were still at sea on May 2nd, with both heading in an easterly direction.
2008-built, Liberia-flagged, 12,560 gt Volante is owned by Viento Shipping care of manager Evalend Shipping Tankers Co SA of Athens, Greece. It is entered with West Of England Club (Claims contact, Greece, General) on behalf of Viento Shipping SA.
2003-built, Spain-flagged, 7,666 gt Celanova is owned and managed by Global Gas SA of Madrid, Spain. It is entered with American Club on behalf of Global Gas SA.
Bulk carrier Federal Tweed (IMO 9658898) lost power in the Southwest Pass at the Gulf of Mexico mouth of the Mississippi and ran aground at the jetty end of the channel on April 26th, while en route from St Petersburg to New Orleans. Because of the vessel’s position the bar pilots temporarily reduced their draft recommendation to 36ft. Tugs were deployed to the scene to assist in refloating the vessel. After she was refloated she proceeded to the Southwest Pass Anchorage. Normal traffic patterns resumed shortly after. 2013-built, Marshall Islands-flagged, 31,590 gt Federal Tweed is owned by Baffin Investments Ltd care of manager Fednav Ltd of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ISM manager is Anglo-Eastern Ship Management of Hong Kong, China. It is entered with UK P&I Club (Americas G7 group) on behalf of Baffin Investments Ltd. For Hull and machinery it is entered with The Channel Syndicate 2015, with Gard having a subscription position.
Container ship Max Producer (IMO 9433444) reported a thermal oil system failure in its main engine on April 29th. There were 14 crew members on board and she was loaded with 1991 metric tonnes of containers The vessel was en route from Piraeus and continued under its own power, mooring off Thessaloniki during the afternoon of April 30th. 2008-built, Malta-flagged, 7,464 gt Max Producer is owned by BMax Shipping 5203 Ltd care of manager Vroon BV of Breda, Netherlands. ISM manager is OSM Ship Management of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with North of England Club on behalf of BMax Shipping 5203 Ltd.
Seven suspected illegal immigrants were discovered in a trailer at Tyne Port, north-east England. The men were believed to be from Albania and were found by Border Force officers on April 25th aboard passenger/cargo RoRo Princess Seaways (IMO 8502391). Six of them were returned to the Netherlands, while the seventh was currently being investigated by the Home Office. The men reportedly travelled across on an unaccompanied trailer. 1986-built, Denmark-flagged, 31,356 gt Princess Seaways is owned and managed by DFDS AS of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is entered with West Of England Club (Claims Team 3) on behalf of DFDS AS. It is entered for loss of hire with Gard as claims leader, on behalf of Det Forenede Danske Selskab (Dfds).