THE MARITIME IRELAND RADIO SHOW & PODCAST WEEKLY NEWSLETTER MARCH 19
There can be no doubt that P&O treated its 800 seafarers in a disgraceful, callous and brutal manner by sacking them in a video message without any prior advice or negotiation. DP World is owned by the government of the UAE. It said that because of losses, changes had to be made to survive and it would replace staff by cheaper agency workers. All ships were ordered to remain in port, suspending operation. It hired private security to remove seafarers from the vessels. During duty periods seafarers lived aboard. The UK Labour Party and seafaring unions have called for the suspension of all industrial and business licences held by P&O parent company, DP World for operating in Britain and the halting of the company’s involvement in development of freeports. The UK government, which gave it stg£10m, in support during the Covid pandemic, said it would review contracts with P&O Ferries. The Irish Government is demanding an explanation from P&O Ferries about its plans for the Dublin-Liverpool route. It also operated from Larne in Antrim to Cairnryan in Scotland. One of the most shameful acts in the history of British industrial relations,” said RMT seafarers’ trade union. “A dark day for the shipping industry, a new low,” said Mark Dickinson, General Secretary of Nautilus International seafaring union. Port protests have taken place in Dover, Liverpool, Hull and Larne.
Russian cargo vessels arrived at Foynes Port in Co. Limerick. The Russian-flagged general cargo vessel, Pola Anatolia, arrived on Tuesday after a seven-day voyage from Kaliningrad. The Baltic port of Kaliningrad is the only ice-free port of Russia. It is home to the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy. Pola Anatolia was built in 2018 and sails under the flag of Russia. Its carrying capacity is 7678 tonnes DWT. The Sandettie followed with a cargo from Russia and the Russian ship Aleksandr Ivanov was due on Saturday.
Another of the Evergreen Line of containerships is proving difficult to refloat after it ran aground in Chesapeake Bay as it left the port of Baltimore. The Ever Forward is 1,095-foot (334-meter) long and operated by Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine Corp. US Coast Guard officials have not yet determined what caused the Ever Forward to ground. It is not blocking any navigation, unlike its sister vessel, the Ever Given, which blocked traffic for days in the Suez Canal nearly a year ago. The 127,000 dwt ship’s hull was not damaged and there is no fuel leakage, the ship’s operator said
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia suffered a major ‘bleaching’ event, photographed ‘from the air by the authority in charge of the UNESCO World Heritage site which showed described as ranging from minor to severe across the coral reef, It is reported to have been caused by “higher-than-usual ocean temperatures” off Queensland in Australia’s northeast territory Coral ‘bleaching’ is when vibrant coral turns white after expelling algae that live inside its tissue.
What is claimed to be the world’s largest sport fishing boat is being built in Holland.Called Project 406, designed by Vripack it is being built by Royal Huisman’ in Vollenhove. it is 52 metres long and has six decks. Royal Huisman photo.
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