Following the two suspected attacks against tankers transiting the Gulf of Oman Thursday, INTERTANKO and OCIMF noted that these attacks appears to have been well-planned and coordinated and recommended operators to review associated BMP5 guidance.
The product tanker ‘Kokuka Courageous’, one of the two ships that became subject of attacks on Thursday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, is now safely under tow in the Gulf of Oman heading towards Khor Fakkan, UAE, the ship’s manager Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said in an official update Friday.
Following the tanker attacks on Thursday, 13 June in the Gulf of Oman, the IMO Secretary General, the International Chamber of Shipping and INTERTANKO expressed their concerns, noting that this is an intolerable situation threatening the lives of seafarers, the environment and the world economy.
ReCAAP ISC issued its monthly piracy report, informing of seven incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in May 2019, which is an increase compared to the past six preceding months. During January-May 2019, a total of 21 incidents were reported, which are the lowest among a 13-year period.
Two oil tankers were hit in a suspected attack in the Gulf of Oman Thursday morning, increasing alarmingly oil prices, amid an ongoing tension in the Middle East. The incident comes only a month after a similar incident in which four tankers in the region were struck.
A record number of migrants and asylum-seekers were picked up from small boats attempting to make the perilous crossing of the English Channel to reach Britain within just one day. Only on 1st June, there were 13 incidents off the Kent coast, with 74 people rescued.
In its latest Safety Scenario, the Swedish Club focuses on a case regarding three stowaways. Namely, the crew of a container ship that had left from Lagos discovered three people sitting on the rudder. The stowaways had used a small rowing boat to reach the vessel and had managed to climb up the rudder and then into the rudder trunk.
The Israeli Navy has proceeded to the arrest of a stowaway on board a container ship that was moored outside the port of Haifa. Reports mention that the man was attempting to set the vessel on fire. The unidentified people tried to take control of the ship, while the fire began during the argument.
Members of the shipping community, Flag States and Agencies from Gulf of Guinea gathered at the IMO Headquarters for a day-long symposium on Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea. The shipping industry, as well as seafarer groups, organized the event aiming to give emphasis to the continuing danger to seafarers that are sailing in the Gulf of Guinea.
On June 6 in port Everglades, Florida, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloaded about 26,000 pounds of seized cocaine and 1,500 pounds of seized marijuana. The cocaine is worth approximately $348 million, whereas the marijuana $1.6 million.
