A 48-year-old man form The Hague Netherlands, is among those arrested in connection with the 2.25 tonne drug seizure from the Matthew (IMO 9228150) off the coast of Ireland last week. He appeared in court on October 3rd with three others: two Ukrainians (30 and 31 years old) and a 37-year-old Iranian. The judge extended their detention for a week. Up to 20 crew members were still on board the Matthew in Cork harbour at Marino Point. The crew have not been detained and are free to leave the ship. All onboard have undergone preliminary questioning. Some might have to be questioned further as more evidence comes to light. Layers of Garda security are stationed around the vessel, with the perimeter sealed. There was reported to be a reluctance to move the vessel until it was thoroughly searched due to its important evidential value and the potential for contraband to have been flung overboard. The forensic search was still in its infancy, with the vessel’s interior still intact, although wall panels and floorboards might have to be removed later in the search which could take many weeks.
2001-built, Panama-flagged, 28,647 gt Matthew is reported by Equasis as owned by Matthew Maritime Inc of Majuro, Marshall Islands.
The US Coast Guard medevaced a 50-year-old man from 1978-built, 75,374 gt Panama-flagged platform crane vessel Balder (IMO 7710226) on October 2nd when it was about approximately 35 miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana. USCG Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a call just before 05:00 local time from the operating manager of the crane vessel, requesting assistance to medevac a man experiencing chest pain. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew was sent to assist. The aircrew arrived on scene, hoisted the man aboard the helicopter and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at the University Medical Centre in New Orleans. He was last reported to be in stable condition.
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Chemical/oil products tanker Sappho (IMO 9289738) suffered an engine malfunction in front of the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Monument en route from Istanbul to Kalamata on September 22nd. Two tugs assist ed in transferring the vessel to Bozcaada Anchorage for repairs.
2005-built, Liberia-flagged, 30,074 gt Sappho is owned by Geras Ship management of Gujarat, India. It is managed by Sapphist Shipping Inc of Majuro, Marshall Islands. As of October 7th the vessel was underway from the Lakonikos Gulf, Greece, to Kalamata, Greece.
All 120 workers on board a Nile cruise ship that partially sank after it collided with a bridge were rescued safely, according to local reports. The collision caused a hole in the lower right side of the Tivoli Nile ship in Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt, officials said. There were no guests on board the ship at the time. It was heading to Luxor Governorate in the south of Egypt. Authorities said they were working with the company that owns the floating hotel, while Mohammed Amer, head of the Department of Hotel Establishments, Shops, and Tourist Activities at the ministry, said the ship’s tourism operating license expired last May and had not been renewed. It was recently at a workshop in Helwan, south of Cairo, for necessary repairs and maintenance work to allow it to operate during the upcoming winter season. Amer said that, after completing all maintenance work, the management of the vessel obtained a passage permit from Cairo to Luxor for the necessary inspections by Ministry of Tourism officials to renew its licence in preparation for the start of October.