- Dutch freighter mon desir develops leak during unloading in Germany
The Netherlands-flagged inland motor freighter Mon Desir, loaded with road salt, developed leaks alongside in Andernach harbour, Germany, on 23 February, prompting multiple emergency responses.
At approximately 11:50 a.m. local time, the Andernach Water Police were alerted after the 105-metre vessel began taking on water in the aft cargo hold during unloading operations. The ingress reportedly occurred while cargo was being discharged by a port operator, allowing water to enter the hold.
Emergency services from across the region responded to the incident, with additional standby support provided by the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) and the German Red Cross.
Divers were tasked to seal the leak and prevent the vessel from sinking, while crews pumped out the water-salt mixture and transferred it into containers. Port activities continued with minor restrictions during the response.
After the repairs, Mon Desir was cleared to depart Andernach on 24 February and is expected to arrive at Tiel, Netherlands, by 25 February.
- Four Killed in Firefight Between American Speedboat and Cuban Patrol Boat
Cuba’s ministry of the interior has reported a firefight between a patrol boat and an American-registered speedboat near the island’s northern coastline. Four foreign nationals were killed in the exchange, the ministry said in a brief statement.
According to the Cuban account, a border guard patrol boat with five servicemembers aboard spotted a speedboat near Cayo Falcones, a reef just off the town of Corallilo. The patrol boat approached to request identification. As the distance closed, the “illegal” speedboat opened fire, injuring the patrol commander, the ministry claimed.
The Cuban forces returned fire, killing four of the personnel on the speedboat and injuring six more. The wounded were medevaced for care; the ministry did not give further information about their medical status or identities. An investigation into the nature of the boat’s activities is currently under way.
The vessel in question was a Florida-registered speedboat with the license number FL7726SH, the agency said. U.S. records show that the number corresponds to a 1981-built Pro-Line speedboat, hull serial number 00916. The Cuban agency did not describe the model further, but most boats built during this timeframe by this manufacturer are small outboard-powered pleasure craft in the range of 21-23 feet.
- Salvors successfully refloat wrecked barge at San Juan’s harbor entrance
Salvors from Donjon-SMIT have successfully refloated and removed the fuel barge that went aground at the entrance to San Juan’s harbor earlier this month, the Coast Guard reported Wednesday.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, as the tide was coming in, salvors pumped out the barge’s tanks and prepared to tow it away using a large tug, the Lobo Grande. Just before high tide, the Defiant came free and floated off.
The Coast Guard and the salvage team evaluated the barge’s condition and stability, and ensured that the pressure of the compressed air blowing out the tanks was steady. When all was ready, the captain of the port gave the green light for the transit to proceed.
The salvors repositioned the barge inside San Juan’s harbor at Pier 16 and tied it up to await further developments.
