Fisheries Research Ship Al-Awam (IMO 9152442) was reported to have sunk on October 9th or earlier in Nouadhibou harbour, Mauritania. The ship capsized and rested starboard side on bottom, remaining partially above the waterline. The Al-Awam was acquired in 1997 from Japan, specifically for fishery research works. For about a year prior to its sinking it had been in lay-up, waiting for repairs.
1997-built, Mauritania-flagged, 309 gt Al-Awam is owned and managed by Mauritania Govt MPEM of Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Officers at the port of Rotterdam found 1,200 kg of cocaine in a container that had come from Panama to Rotterdam and Antwerp. The container was diverted to a shed in Wilrijk, after which the police were able to arrest five suspects. The container arrived in Rotterdam aboard cargo ship MSC Sasha (IMO 9720500) on September 21st. The investigative services had been tipped off that there was a container on board with cocaine inside and that the container was destined for Antwerp. The customs services in Rotterdam checked the container, removed the cocaine and filled the black sports bags with fake blocks, replacing them in position. The container was returned to the MSC Sasha, which continued its journey to Antwerp, where it arrived on September 26th. At quay 1742, the black sports bags were switched to another container, which was picked up a little later by a driver allegedly working for a criminal organization. The container was taken to a warehouse on the Oudebaan in Wilrijk. Federal police officers then entered the warehouse. A man of Albanian origin and a Dutch private detective were arrested. The public prosecutor of Antwerp confirmed that five men have now been arrested.
As of October 11th the vessel was en route form Marsaxlokk, Malta, to the Suez Canal, ETA October 13th
2016-built, Portugal-flagged, 95,514 gt MSC Sasha is owned by Hai Kuo Shipping 1306 Ltd care of manager MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co SA of Geneva, Switzerland. ISM manager is MSC Shipmanagement Ltd of Limassol, Cyprus.
A crew member of vehicles carrier SFL Composer (IMO 9293583) suffered a cardiac arrest in the engine control room on September 4th when the ship was in the outer port of Emden, Germany. The local fire brigade, supported by volunteer forces from Larrelt and Twixlum, assisted in a difficult recovery. The man was then taken to hospital. No AIS since October 7th, when the vessel in the Celtic Sea, en route from Emden to the USA, no specified ETA.
2005-built, Liberia-flagged, 58,631 gt SFL Composer is owned y Solt Holding Liberia 26 SA care of manager Sunship Schiffahrtskontor KG of Emden-Ostfriesland, Germany. It is entered with Skuld (Skuld Oslo 2) on behalf of Frontline Management AS.
A medical evacuation was carried out from vehicles carrier Viking Diamond (IMO 9481075) on October 4th when it was 100 miles north of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, , en route from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Tanger Med. An SAR helicopter hoisted the sick crew member and transported him to the airport, where an ambulance was waiting to transfer him to a hospital for further care. As of October 11th the vessel was at the port of Montoir, France, due to leave for Zeebrugge, Belgium ETA October 14th.
2011-built, Marshall Islands-flagged, 39,362 gt Viking Diamond is owned by Gram Car Carriers Shipowning of Oslo, Norway. It is managed by OSM Ship Management Pre Ltd of Singapore. ISM manager is Gram Car Carriers AS of Oslo, Norway. It is entered with Gard P&I on behalf of Gram Car Carriers Shipowning AS. Gard AS is claims leader for Loss of Hire and Hull, on behalf of Gram Car Carriers AS.
Polish-flagged speedboat Bossa sank during the early afternoon of October 8th in the port of Cádiz, Spain following a fire. A burning boat was reported in front of the port facilities. SAR vessel Salvamar Suhail was mobilized to the scene and the Capitan Capo picked up the two crew members and transferred them to Puerto Sherry. The crew of the Salvamar Suhail extinguished the fire on the boat, although it ended up sinking.