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Haiti News

15 Mar 2024

CMA CGM to Halt Calls at Haiti's Port au Prince

© Yellow Boat / Adobe Stock

French shipping group CMA CGM said on Friday it was suspending its calls at Port au Prince due to the worsening security situation in the Haitian capital.The group, one of the world's largest container lines, will call at Lafito, 20 km from Port au Prince, as an alternative, while also continuing to call at Cap Haitien as usual, CMA CGM said in a customer advisory.(Reuters - Reporting by Gus Trompiz, Editing by Ingrid Melander)

14 Mar 2024

Royal Caribbean Suspends Cruise Visits to Haiti's Labadee

© NAN / Adobe Stock

Royal Caribbean Group has suspended cruise visits to Labadee, a secluded peninsula in Haiti, for the next seven days following months of escalating gang violence in the country, a senior company executive said in a Facebook post on Thursday.The company will continue the suspension as required with three days advance notice to guests sailing on impacted itineraries, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said.Violence by powerful armed gangs had gripped Haiti, causing thousands to flee their homes, after anti-government protests broke out early in February.The violent cl

14 Dec 2022

Nineteen Fall Overboard During Transfer to US Navy Hospital Ship

(Photo: U.S. Navy)

Nineteen personnel fell overboard, and two of them were hurt, during a transfer from a small boat to the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) off the coast of Haiti on Monday, the Navy said.All were safely recovered and returned to Comfort with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harold Miller (WPC 1138). The two injured sailors were treated aboard Comfort and are expected to make a full recovery, the Navy said.The hospital ship arrived off the coast of Jeremie, Haiti, in support of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S.

25 Jul 2022

USS Whidbey Island Decommissioned

USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) (Photo: Rachael L. Leslie / U.S. Navy)

Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship namesake, USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) held a decommissioning ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. on July 22 before its inactivation next month.The ship’s decommissioning ceremony was held on the quay wall, alongside the moored USS Whidbey Island. The ceremony was attended by nine of her previous Commanding Officers and over 50 plankowners. “The last crew of Whidbey Island performed with great dignity and resiliency,” said Cmdr. Matt Phillips, the ship’s final commanding officer.

25 Jul 2022

17 dead after boat carrying migrants capsizes in The Bahamas

Seventeen people died after a boat carrying dozens of Haitian migrants capsized off the coast of The Bahamas, authorities said on Sunday, as more Haitians attempt to reach the United States to flee gang violence and poverty at home.Rescue teams recovered the bodies of 17 people, including an infant, and 25 people were rescued, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis told a news conference. Davis said authorities believe they were on a speedboat heading for Miami."It is believed that the vessel capsized in rough seas," he said.Up to 60 people may have been on board and more people were presumed missing, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said.Bahamian authorities said that two people were taken into custody, both from Bahamas, over the suspected human smuggling operation.

26 May 2022

Boat Carrying 800 Haitians to US Washes Ashore in Cuba Instead

Illustration only - Credit: davide bonaldo/AdobeStock

A boat carrying 842 Haitian migrants bound for the United States strayed off course and washed ashore along the north coast of Cuba instead, according to Cuban state media reports on Wednesday, leaving island authorities scrambling to provide the group with humanitarian aid.State broadcaster Telecubanacan showed images of a single large gray ship crowded with Haitians lining the decks from bow to stern, and even on the rooftop, as it swayed in rough, windswept seas.The boat was found early on Tuesday near Caibarien…

21 Feb 2022

World's Largest Cruise Ship Makes US Debut

Wonder of the Seas (Photo: Port Everglades)

Port Everglades once again welcomes the largest cruise ship in the world. Royal Caribbean International's Wonder of the Seas docked at her homeport, Port Everglades, this weekend for her inaugural season beginning March 4. This is the fourth Oasis-Class ship to make its U.S. debut at Port Everglades.Built by French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the new 236,857 GT cruise ship takes the title of world's largest from its 228,081 GT sister ship Symphony of the Seas, in service since 2018.

19 Aug 2021

UK Sends Navy Ship for Haiti Earthquake Relief

RFA Wave Knight (Photo: LPhot Belinda Alker / UK MOD) © Crown copyright 2021

The U.K. has sent one of its Royal Navy ships to support relief efforts in Haiti as the Caribbean country recovers from the recent devastating earthquake.The Wave-class fast fleet tanker RFA Wave Knight, deployed to the Caribbean as part of the Royal Navy’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), arrived off the west coast of Haiti in the early hours of Wednesday and will serve as a landing pad for U.S. military helicopters responding to the 7.2-magnitude quake that struck the impoverished country earlier this month, killing and injuring thousands. The U.K. vessel will allow U.S.

16 Sep 2020

US Authorities Find Drugs on Cargo Ship in Miami

Law enforcement teams interdicted about 33 pounds of cocaine on board the general cargo vessel La Temperance in Miami, on September 14. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

Law enforcement teams interdicted about 33 pounds of cocaine on board a Togo-flagged cargo ship in Miami on Monday.U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations law enforcement teams boarded the 55-meter general cargo vessel La Temperance on the Miami River due to suspected fraudulent mariner credentials. The 55-meter ship has sailed to Miami from Port-de-Paix, Haiti.While on board, the law enforcement teams inspected common spaces on the vessel…

27 Mar 2020

USNS Mercy Arrives in Los Angeles

USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrives in Los Angeles March 27. (U.S. Navy photo by David Mora Jr.)

U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived in Los Angeles, Friday to support the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts.While in Los Angeles, the ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, and will provide a full spectrum of medical care to include general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults. This will allow local health professionals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their Intensive Care Units and ventilators for those patients.Operated by Military Sealift Command…

18 Feb 2020

"Ghost Ship" Washes Up in Ireland

The 250-foot Tanzanian-flagged merchant ship Alta had been abandoned and adrift at sea for more than a year before running aground in Ireland earlier this week. (Photo: Irish Coast Guard)

An abandoned cargo ship landed on the coast of Ireland this week after more than a year drifting alone at sea.The Irish Coast Guard said it responded to a merchant vessel aground near Ballycotton, Cork on Sunday, only to discover there was no one was on board.It turns out that the mysterious vessel is the 250-foot Tanzanian-flagged Alta, which had been left crewless and adrift on the other side of the Atlantic when the U.S. Coast Guard rescued all 10 crew members on board after the vessel lost power while en route from Greece to Haiti in September 2018.At the time of the rescue, the U.S.

24 Jun 2019

17.5 Tons of Cocaine found on Containership

Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led multi-agency examination of shipping containers at the Philadelphia seaport netted a historic load of cocaine, the largest cocaine seizure in the 230-year history of U.S. Customs and CBP, with an estimated weight of over 17.5 tons and a street value of about $1.1 billion.During a midstream joint boarding Sunday night, CBP, HSI, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities detected anomalies while examining seven shipping containers aboard the MSC Gayane…

01 Mar 2019

Caribbean Commits to IMO Standards

Caribbean States and Territories have re-affirmed their commitment to implementing International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards for safe, secure and sustainable shipping.According to the UN body, this is part of wider efforts to intensify investments and harness the full potential of the oceans, rivers and lakes to accelerate economic growth, create jobs and fight poverty.Ministers responsible for maritime transport and other participants representing the Governments in the region met at a High Level Symposium (27 February) in Montego Bay, Jamaica, under the theme, “Maritime Transportation: Harnessing the Blue Economy for the Sustainable Development of the Caribbean”.The participating countries are Anguilla…

07 Jan 2019

U.S. Coast Guard Assists Haitian Coast Guard Stop Illegal Migrant Voyage

Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Murray

The U.S. Coast Guard assisted the Haitian Coast Guard stop approximately 70 Haitian migrants Sunday approximately 26 miles north of Cap Haïtien, Haiti.At approximately 1:30 a.m., the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC-617) crew sighted a roughly 40-foot Haitian freighter. The cutter Vigilant crew launched a smallboat crew to question the people aboard. Upon detection, the freighter changed course back south to Haiti. The cutter Vigilant crew continued to shadow the vessel while Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders contacted the Haitian Coast Guard.

10 Oct 2018

Coast Guard Rescues 10 from Disabled Cargo Ship

The crew of the disabled cargo ship Alta welcomes the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence's small boat crew as they arrive on scene on October 7. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Samantha Penate)

The U.S. Coast Guard picked up 10 crewmembers who had been stranded at sea for nearly three weeks after their cargo ship became disabled approximately 1,380 miles southeast of Bermuda."We were conducting a law enforcement patrol near Puerto Rico when we were assigned to assist the crew of the motor vessel Alta,” said Cmdr. Travis Emge, the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence. “We traveled over 1,300 nautical miles to get to the disabled ship ahead of Hurricane…

03 Oct 2018

Coast Guard Airdrops Food to Disabled Cargo Ship

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Elizabeth City)

The U.S. Coast Guard airdropped a large supply of food to the crew of a cargo ship that is adrift approximately 1,380 miles southeast of Bermuda after the vessel became disabled while transiting from Greece to Haiti.The Coast Guard was notified Sunday morning that the 250-foot Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, Alta, with 10 people onboard, was disabled and unable to make repairs. The crew reported that they had enough food for two days and water for 15 days, and that there were no…

12 Sep 2018

USMMA Names Academic Dean and Provost

John R. Ballard, Ph.D., is the new Academic Dean and Provost of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Photo: USMMA)

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) announced today that John R. Ballard, Ph.D., has been named the new Academic Dean and Provost at the federal service academy. In this position, Dr. Ballard will serve as the chief academic officer and principal advisor to the Superintendent in all matters relating to the academic program and faculty. He will also co-chair the educational priority working group for the recently released USMMA strategic plan.Dr. Ballard served as a Marine Infantry officer immediately following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy.

18 Jul 2018

The Jones Act is Good for Puerto Rico -Report

(File photo courtesy Crowley)

After Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico with devastating force on September 20, 2017, a number of news reports claimed that the Jones Act had severely damaged the Puerto Rican economy, both over time and in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Now a new report examining the role of the Jones Act shipping industry before, in the immediate aftermath of and in the months that followed the hurricane asserts that the Jones Act fleet delivers a dedicated and reliable flow of goods…

21 Jun 2018

IMO Workshop Addresses Impacts of Fouling

The build-up of aquatic organisms on a ship’s underwater hull and structures is known as biofouling. This can introduce potentially invasive non-native aquatic species to a new area. Fouling can also slow down a ship and impact on its energy efficiency. An International Maritime Organization (IMO) regional workshop in  Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (20-22 June) aims to provide participants with a greater understanding of the requirements and implications of ratifying, implementing and enforcing the anti-fouling systems (AFS) convention and implementing biofouling guidelines. The AFS convention regulates anti-fouling systems in order to prevent adverse impacts from their use and from the biocides they may contain.

10 May 2018

Scrapping Risks

© Gudellaphoto / Adobe Stock

Traditionally, when a ship reached the end of its economic life, the owner sold it, often to a cash buyer, for scrapping with little consideration of the next step. Many ships ended up on a beach in south Asia (India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh) where they were cut apart and the metal was sold for scrap. The working conditions were sometimes dangerous and hazardous to the workers’ health. In addition, little was sometimes done to protect the environment. For many ship owners these days…

16 Mar 2018

Coast Guard Repatriates 202 Haitian Migrants

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Murray (Photo: USCG)

The Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma crew repatriated 202 Haitian migrants Wednesday to Cap Haitian, Haiti. The repatriation is a combination of two separate interdiction cases, which Coast Guard aircrews and cutter crews located and rescued these migrants. A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew located an overloaded 50-foot freighter Sunday approximately 30 miles east of Great Inagua Island, Bahamas. The cutter Tahoma crew was diverted to the scene, and safely interdicted and embarked 86 migrants.

22 Jan 2018

Coast Guard Cutter Elm Heads to Baltimore for Overhaul

File photo: USCG photo by John Edwards

The 20-year-old U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Elm is scheduled to make its way to the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore this month for a planned major dry dock overhaul. The cutter’s departure from Atlantic Beach, N.C. will mark its last from its current homeport. After the overhaul work is completed, the Elm will report to a new homeport in Astoria, Oregon. Coast Guard Cutter Maple, which is presently undergoing a midlife overhaul of its own, will replace the Elm in Atlantic Beach this April.

18 Dec 2017

Perez Joins Hepburn and Sons

Hepburn and Sons has hired Rear Admiral Sam Perez as Chief, Advisory Services. Rear Admiral, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, earned his Masters of Art degree in Strategic Planning from Naval Postgraduate School and completed a year-long tour of the Federal Executive Fellowship (FEF) Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Perez served in the U.S. Navy for 36 years, following commissioning from the United States Naval Academy in 1980. His at-sea commands included command of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and command of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1. During his tour as the Deputy Director Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS), Perez was assigned to Operation Unified Response as part of the U.S. response to the Haiti earthquake in 2010.

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