Maritime news

5 board crew members of Costa Crociere have been placed under investigation as part of a new probe, which is related to the tragedy of January 2012, which led to the deaths of 32 people.

The executives are being probed for potential collusion in the crimes of dereliction of duty and manslaughter, which the captain of Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino, and other crew members are being accused of.

Top executives from parent company Carnival also sit on Costa Crociere's board.

The new investigation is a independent from the 1 involving Capt. Schettino that led to a preliminary hearing this week.

The 2nd probe has been opened after a group of lawyers representing some of the travelers on the Costa Concordia on its fateful journey, grouped together in the "Justice for Concordia" association, reported the company's management to authorities in April for their potential involvement in the incident.

Prosecutors are only investigating executives that were sitting on the board at the time of the accident of Costa Concordia, on 13th of January, 2012, sources reported. "It's an obligatory step," the Grosseto prosecutors reported when asked about the new investigation, without commenting further.

by VesselFinder

China insists North Korea to free a Chinese fishing boat and its crew. The owner of the boat informed that its property had been seized for more than 15 days. 2 days ago Yu Xuejun (the owner) revealed more information; armed North Koreans attacked the boat on 5 May despite the boat was in Chinese waters and the kidnappers asked a ransom of 600,000 yuan (£64,000).

The Chinese embassy had asked the foreign ministry of North Korea to release the boat and all crew members. North Korea informed that the boat was in North Korean waters.

Yu Xuejun explained that the North Korean side wanted money to be paid by noon on Sunday to a firm in Dandong or the boa would be confiscated and the crew released.
The attackers are not known but there is suspicion on North Korean armed forces and their desire to make money.

There was another case when 3 private Chinese ships with 29 crew members were attacked and captured by a North Korean gunboat demanding for $190,000 ransom. The crew members were released less than 14 days later. There are cases that were not reported because the owner paid the ransom, this time the ransom is higher.

These cases will rise the tension between the 2 countries. It is known that China is main ally of North Korea, providing most of its fuel and most of its trade but the relations have been often difficult because of such incidents and the weapons programmes of North Korea.

by VesselFinder

Oil Products Tanker Al Kabeer caught fire at 13NM off Sharjah, UAE, 2 days ago. The ship signaled for the bad situation at around 20:00 at May 15.
UAE Civil Defence quickly sent firefighting boats at the location where Al Kabeer was.
All 15 sailors were evacuated safely.

The fire was extinguished. It is not known for the moment what is the damage on the vessel.

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Name : AL KABEER
Type : Oil Products Tanker
IMO : 8989197
MMSI : 671194000
Call Sign : 5VBD2
Built : 1995
Flag : Togolese Rep
Port of registration : PANAMA
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by VesselFinder

Hapag-Lloyd (Germany) has the intention to increase the rates or westbound Asia-Europe trade by US$1,000 per TEU. The new rates are waited in July 1.

In the most active time between August 1 and September 30 there will be a surcharge of $500 per TEU for sailings from Asia to north Europe - according to carrier's announcement.

There will be increase at the peak of the season (from June 10 to August 31) and for Asia-Mediterranean routes - $650 per TEU.

by VesselFinder

According to Japan media, 6 victims, believed to be those of Russian crew members, were discovered aboard a cargo vessel, which caught fire while anchored in a Japanese port.

Fire took hold of the 497-ton Cambodian-registered freighter, Taigan that has been in the port of Wakkanai in Hokkaid, reported an official at the local coast guard office.

A total of 23 Russian and Ukrainian crew members were on the freighter vessel that had transported crabs from a Sakhalin port. Six of them-all Russian-had been unaccounted for, the coast guard said.

by VesselFinder