The Afar-Star: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

A daring attempt by pirates to seize the 'African Halcyon' was successfully intercepted by the Indonesian Navy on February 29, 2024. The vessel was securely anchored in the Dumai waters of the Malacca Strait when four assailants attempted to board. Quick-thinking crew members raised the alarm, prompting the Dumai Naval Base's first fleet rapid response team to swiftly deploy via a sea rider boat. Upon arrival, the swift action led the pirates to dive overboard and flee in a nearby speedboat. Following this thwarted robbery, the Indonesian Navy has initiated an investigation into the incident, and several naval personnel have maintained a vigilant presence in the waters surrounding the anchored ship to deter any further threats.

Brunsbüttel, Germany – On October 15, 2014, at 15:30, the Hamburg Harbor Water Police conducted a port state control inspection on the Bahamian-flagged vessel 'African Halcyon' (IMO 1234567, length 169.00 m, width 28.00 m, 20,236 GT). During this inspection, authorities uncovered multiple regulatory violations, including suspicious entries in the ship's Oil Record Book. These discrepancies raised concerns that the 57-year-old Ukrainian engineer might have discharged around 2,000 liters of bilge water into the Elbe River unlawfully. Following this discovery, the Itzehoe prosecutor imposed a security deposit of 1,053 euros on the engineer due to the alleged water pollution. Additionally, further investigations onboard the 'African Halcyon' revealed that approximately 53,000 liters of wash water had also been discharged illegally into the North Sea. Consequently, both the 58-year-old Indian captain and his 37-year-old nautical officer now face preventive measures amounting to a total of 1,056 euros, under international maritime regulations. The case highlights ongoing challenges faced by authorities in combating marine pollution and enforcing compliance with environmental standards.