Tag: drugs

UK MAIB published this accident report where a deckhand was carried away from a small potter by a 2kts tidal stream. The deckhand jumped into the water to cut the backline of a string of pots that had fouled the starboard propeller, despite the fact that the vessel’s skipper had arranged for a nearby fishing vessel to assist.

Officials from the US Navy have confirmed an ongoing investigation of 15 sailors over allegations of LSD abuse. Most of the sailors are reportedly working in the nuclear reactor department of the aircraft carrier 'Ronald Reagan'. Two sailors are already heading to court-martial accused of using, possessing and distributing the drug.

The Cannabis Act and its regulations came into force on October 17 2018, thus making Canada only the second country worldwide to legalise recreational cannabis. For this reason, Transport Canada issued a bulletin to ensure the proper use of recreational cannabis by seafarers.

The Shipowners Club issued a revised edition of its 'Drugs and Alcohol at Sea' booklet, to encourage healthy lifestyle onboard. The guide includes signs to assist operators in identifying drug and alcohol related issues onboard, legal implications, as well as loss prevention advice. 

Sub-Saharan Africa is about to face a large increase in illicit drug users globally. According to an an ENACT organized crime project, East Africa will see the most negative consequences, as in that region the number of people using drugs will be much more than other regions. African ports are key part of this trade, as many drugs are shipped from Africa to Europe.

USCG has conducted three operations in the Eastern Pacific, Puerto Rico and Caribbean, where it seized 1,300 pounds of cocaine, 2,324 pounds of cocaine and 3,516 pounds of cocaine along with 50 pounds of marijuana respectively. Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Basin, which are known drug transit zones.

At the last SAFETY4SEA Conference, Rod Lingard, Club Manager of the Hellenic Mutual War Risks Association (Bermuda) Limited, discussed ship detentions caused by smuggling. He particularly referred to a recent English Supreme Court decision, the insurance implications of the decision, as well as Loss Prevention measures.

Venezuelan national Guard confirmed the seizure of almost 150 kg of cocaine onboard the Panamanian-flagged tanker 'Jose Progress', during a routine inspection at the docks of José Antonio Anzoátegui Petrochemical Complex. The tanker and the 20 crewmen onboard are detained. 

In a recent paper, UNODC focused on different examples of fisheries crime to illustrate its various methods, its extent and its economic value. Fisheries crime relates to a range of illegal activities in fisheries, including illegal fishing, document fraud, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

44 countries and 52 seaports took part in a two-week maritime enforcement operation in the second quarter of 2018, in order to disrupt the flow of possible container shipments contaminated with drugs. The operation made 14 seizures and confiscated a total of 5,814 kilograms of cocaine.