Sea warnings

URGENT: MAYDAY! A PLB has emitted a distress signal at 17°01'N - 060°41'W. All ships in the area, please be on the lookout and proceed to the position. Contact MRCC Fort de France on VHF channel 16. #SOS #emergency #sea #help

UPDATE 12/07/2024: Norfolk, Virginia – July 11, 2024 – The Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) Norfolk has confirmed that the distress alert issued earlier today for the sailing vessel Casablanca (MMSI 227121980) was a false alarm. The initial 406 MHz EPIRB activation triggered an urgent search and rescue operation. However, subsequent communications revealed that the distress signal originated from the sailing vessel Akory. The master of the Akory has confirmed that there was no emergency.  

  MAYDAY - A sailing vessel named Ocean Kid has reported a fire onboard and is currently in a life raft near the position 47°00.45'N 006°19.41'W. There is one person on board the life raft. All ships in the vicinity are requested to keep a sharp lookout and report any information to MRCC ETEL. Meteo conditions: Clouds with a high probability of rain Wave height: 1.1 meters Wind: 3 knots from the East, increasing to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots in the coming hours Additional Information: The EPIRB signal was reported at 406 MHz. There is one person on board the life raft. Please share this information widely to help us locate and assist the Ocean Kid.

 UPDATE 11/07/2024: from Facebook: Henry Dames on Sailing vessel Ataraxia a 31ft Catamaran was anchored in Fort de France during Hurricane Beryl on monday. After the wind started calming down in the afternoon a lot of swell started coming into the bay and the anchorage became untenable. We believe he dropped his anchored between 19h00 and 20h00 and left the bay. His mobile has been offline since this time and last AIS data, position and speed are worrying. He's inreach is also not on which is very unusual. If anyone has seen him or the his boat please get in touch ASAP. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fort-de-France, Martinique – July 9, 2024 – The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Fort-de-France has issued a Mayday relay for the sailing catamaran "Ataraxia". The 10-meter vessel, flying the Namibian flag, departed from Fort-de-France, Martinique, on July 1st at 9:00 PM local ti

Cape Town, South Africa – July 8, 2024 – A distress signal has been picked up from the cargo ship Ultra Galaxy with the MMSI number 3E3578, currently located at position 31° 27.93’S, 017° 11.80’E. The vessel, a Panamanian-flagged general cargo ship measuring 124.56 meters in length and 21.2 meters wide, is facing an emergency situation. Cape Town Radio issued a Mayday relay earlier today, requesting all vessels in the area to attempt contact with the Ultra Galaxy and immediately report any information to the relevant authorities. The ship is experiencing challenging weather conditions with winds from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting up to 20 knots, and waves reaching heights of up to 6 meters. The sky is cloudy. Emergency Contacts: Cape Town Radio: [email address removed], +27 215510700 MRCC Cape Town: mrcc.ct@samsa.org.za, +27 219383300 The South African maritime authorities have activated emergency response protocols and are coordinating rescue efforts. Updates will be pr

Fort-de-France, Martinique – July 8, 2024 – The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Fort-de-France has issued a Mayday Relay for the supply vessel "Guidance II." The vessel, measuring 39.5 meters in length with a blue hull and flying the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is reported overdue. The vessel departed Saint Vincent before the arrival of Hurricane Beryl on June 30th, seeking shelter in Canouan Island. With five people on board, its current whereabouts are unknown. All ships operating in the vicinity are urged to maintain a vigilant watch and report any information related to the "Guidance II" to the MRCC Fort-de-France.

UPDATE : the boat appears to have arrived at the port of Madeira. Funchal, Madeira – A distress call has been issued for the sailing vessel Allegra (MMSI 235071981, call sign 2CEC4), overdue from a voyage to Madeira. The vessel, a 13-meter aluminum cutter rigged with two headsails, was last reported on June 21st, approximately 450 nautical miles southwest of Madeira, making slow progress towards the island at a speed of 3.2 knots. There is one person onboard. The vessel is described as having a distinctive UV yellow mainsail cover and a white aluminum arch. Urgent Appeal to Mariners All vessels in the vicinity are urged to maintain a sharp lookout for the Allegra. If sighted, please contact the nearest coastal station or the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Tenerife immediately via radio or by email at controltenerife@sasemar.es or phone +34922597551. Weather Conditions The weather in the area is deteriorating with a northeast wind increasing to 11 knots with gusts up to 15

  This is a tropical weather outlook for the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. The outlook is valid from 0600 UTC on Friday, July 5 to 0600 UTC on Sunday, July 7. There is a hurricane warning in effect for the area near 20.1N 86.9W, which is currently being affected by Hurricane Beryl. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 95 kt (110 mph) with gusts up to 115 kt (130 mph). Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 90 nm (100 miles) from the center, and seas are expected to be 12 ft or greater within 60 nm of the storm's northeast semicircle. The forecast for Hurricane Beryl calls for it to move west-northwest at a speed of 13 kt (15 mph) over the next 12 hours, with maximum sustained winds decreasing to 60 kt (70 mph). Over the next 24 hours, the storm is expected to move back over water near 21.7N 91.0W, with maximum sustained winds of 50 kt (60 mph). Tropical storm force winds will extend outward up to 80 nm (90 mile

  Rome, Italy – July 3, 2024 – An urgent search and rescue (SAR) operation is underway near Capraia Island after a distress call was received by the Italian Coast Guard. The boat in distress, believed to be named "Antalia" or "Altalaia," has reportedly suffered engine failure. The Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (IMRCC Rome) has issued a distress alert to all vessels transiting the area, which is defined as a 30 nautical mile radius centered at 43.0N, 10.0E. The alert urges mariners to maintain a sharp lookout and report any possible sightings to IMRCC Rome immediately. Weather conditions in the area are reported as winds up to 14 knots from the North with gusts up to 21 knots, and a wave height of 0.8 meters. The Italian Coast Guard is coordinating the search and rescue efforts in accordance with the SOLAS and SAR conventions. The Italian Coast Guard is urging all mariners in the area to assist in the search and rescue efforts.

  The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has updated its advisory for the Gulf of Guinea due to a rise in kidnappings for ransom in the region. According to EOS Risk Group, there have been three reported incidents over the past year, with two occurring in just the last six months. In addition to these kidnappings, there were also three suspicious approaches made towards vessels in the Gulf of Guinea between May and June. Two of these approaches occurred offshore Gabon, while the third took place near Ghana. These incidents highlight the need for increased vigilance and security measures for ships traveling through the Gulf of Guinea. The updated MARAD advisory serves as a reminder to all maritime operators and crews to remain cautious and aware of potential threats in the region.