A Spanish trawler alleged to have been fishing illegally in Irish waters has been detained by patrol boat Lé Róisín 95 miles south of Mizen Head. The as yet unnamed vessel was being escorted to port, where on arrival it will be handed over to An Garda Síochána. On May 28th the Punta Candieira (IMO 9362683) was involved in a confrontation with an Irish fishermen, allegedly operating illegally within the waters of Bantry Bay, which is within Ireland’s 12nm limit. However, it was not clear if the detained vessel was the same one involved in the incident involving the Lours De Mers and the Punta Candieira, which was repeatedly warned to stay away. The Spanish vessel appeared to steam at the Irish vessel before suddenly changing course. Analysis was being conducted in relation to satellite-based tracking data and potential infringements of fishing regulations. The Naval Service proceeded to the location to gather information as part of their analysis into the matter. The area was searched by the Navy for fishing gear in alleged locations, with nothing found.
2006-built, Spain-flagged, 274 gt Punta Candieira is owned and managed by Garcia Yanez of Cedeira (A Coruna), Spain. As of June 2nd it remained in Cork.
Video at https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40303160.html
Crude oil tanker Freya (IMO 9180164) has also been released by Indonesian authorities some four months after being detained in Indonesia for various infringements. It was announced late last week that crude oil tanker Horse (IMO 9362061) had been released, but there had been no official confirmation as to the fate of the Freya (IMN, January 29th 2021). Both vessels were released and expelled from Indonesian waters over the weekend of May 28th/29th. At the time of the detention on January 24th Indonesia’s Coast Guard had reported that the two vessels were operating with their AIS signal turned off, no display of national flag while at anchor, and failing to respond to radio calls from coast guard vessels. Iranian authorities admitted the ships were in Indonesian waters, but said that the ship-to-ship transfer was a legal one between its tanker and the Chinese buyers.
The Batam District Court found the vessels and their captains guilty on May 25th of not complying with international shipping regulations and the rules of the shipping channel where the vessels were discovered. Both captains were sentenced to a year in jail, suspended on the condition that the vessels left Indonesian waters and that they did not carry out the same violations in the next two years. In addition, the court also found them guilty of spilling oil into the sea. The Freya was fined about $140,000 for the pollution offence.
2008-built, Iran-flagged, 163,660 gt Horse is owned and managed by NITC of Tehran, Iran.
2000-built, Panama-flagged, 160,216 gt Freya is owned by Freya Ltd care of manager Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd of Shanghai, China.
https://insurancemarinenews.com/insurance-marine-news/indonesia-escorts-seized-tankers-to-dock-for-investigation/ (January 29th)
The port of Castellón reopened to commercial traffic on May 30th while the search for a missing stevedore continued. Feeder container ship Nazmiye Ana (IMO 8516598), which was transporting containers along the coast of Spain, capsized in the port of Castellón, Spain over the weekend. Three crew members were injured and on Sunday May 30th a search was ongoing for two people, including a stevedore, who remained missing. The port initially was closed for the search and rescue operation. . Currently, the diving plan by the Underwater Activities Group of the Civil Guard and Salvamento Marítimo is focusing on the water near to the Nazmiye Ana. A Civil Guard helicopter was deployed to inspect the water surface, and an underwater robot from the Jaume I University of Castellón and another of Salvamento Marítimo have been sent from La Coruña.
1986-built, Panama-flagged, 1,416 gt Nazmiye Ana is owned by Huris Shipping Corp care of manager Sinop Shipping Corp of Istanbul, Turkey.