Kerry Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On December 29, 2019, the Santander Port Authority teamed up with Brittany Ferries to investigate a notable oil spill that occurred in Admiral's Dock. The incident stemmed from a start failure of one of the engines of the ferry 'Kerry', which was preparing to embark on a journey to Cork. Approximately 75 meters of oil slick has been successfully removed from the dock area. In response to the spill, authorities conducted thorough inspections to ensure no residual oil remained beneath the dock structure. Although low tide allowed the oil stain to reach the Embarcadero Palace, prompt action from the anti-pollution vessel 'Urgarbi II' prevented further spread. The Seprona (Nature Protection Service) of the Civil Guard was involved in taking waste samples for analysis. In just over three and a half hours, the cleanup operation was completed, leading to the effective deactivation of the anti-pollution plan.

China and South Korea are set to enhance their connectivity with the introduction of a new roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) passenger ferry, the Stena Egeria, which is expected to begin operations in early July. Announced by Yu Xinjian, chairman of Yantai Bohai International Ferry Co., Ltd. (YBIFC), the ferry will provide direct service from Yantai, located in the Shandong Province of eastern China, to Pyeongtaek, a significant port city just 70 kilometers south of Seoul. The Stena Egeria, measuring 186.5 meters in length and boasting a gross tonnage of 24,418 tonnes, will operate three sailings per week, making the 273 nautical mile (506 km) journey in approximately 15 hours. Designed to accommodate both passengers and freight, the ferry offers 518 passenger spaces and has the capacity to transport 300 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of container cargo, along with vehicles including cars and tourist buses. Wang Jianbo, a representative from Bohai Ferry Co., Ltd., the parent company of YBIFC, highlighted the ferry's versatile capabilities, stating, 'In addition to passengers and containers, the ferry can also transport cars and tourist buses between the two cities.' This new service comes at a time of strengthening trade relations between China and South Korea, with the two nations experiencing significant commercial growth over the past decade. In 2013, trade volume between China and South Korea reached an impressive $274.25 billion, reaffirming China's position as South Korea's largest trading partner, according to the General Administration of Customs.