A salvage company has been appointed by the Harbour Master of Iskenderun, Turkey, to refloat passenger ship Aqua Hercules (IMO 7822861): An underwater inspection has been carried out by divers, and a salvage plan was prepared by attending technical teams.
1980-built, 33,163 gt Aqua Hercules has an unknown owner, manager and flag.
The body of the captain of tug Varaprada has been identified after it was found on the shore of Gujarat’s Valsad district. Five other bodies have been recovered in Valsad but their identities were yet to be confirmed. There were a total of 13 crew members on the tug when it sank during cyclone Tauktae on May 17th. 1984-built, India-flagged, 747 gt Varaprada is owned and managed by Glory Shipmanagement Ltd of Mumbai, India.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) undertook survey work on May 22nd with research vessel Severn Sea (IMO 8652043) at the sinking site of fishing vessel Nicola Faith off North Wales, ahead of a planned salvage. The Nicola Faith will be raised using a specially designed barge crane to carry out an in-depth examination into the cause of the sinking. The MAIB was undertaking underwater survey operations, further evidence gathering and work to prepare for the vessel being raised, when the weather permits. The Nicola Faith vanished on January 27th with the loss of skipper Carl McGrath, 34, and crewmates Ross Ballantine, 39 and Alan Minard, 20. The bodies of all three men were later discovered. The location of the wreck was found on April 13th, 1.9nm off Rhos Point – just 177 metres away from its last known position.
1947-built, UK-flagged, 147 gt Severn Sea is owned by Severn Subsea Ltd care of manager Keynvor Morlift Ltd of Bideford, UK.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/statement-issued-nicola-faith-survey-20656318
South African dockworkers boycotted the offloading of container ship Zim Shanghai (IMO 9231822) after it docked at Durban on May 19th. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) said the decision came after calls by the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) to refuse to unload Israeli ships and goods from seas and airports. 2002-built, Hong Kong-flagged, 53,453 gt Zim Shanghai is owned by Fastsailing Maritime Co care of manager Shanghai Costamare ShipManagement Co Ltd of Shanghai, China. It is entered with Swedish Club (Piraeus Team) on behalf of Fastsailing Maritime Co