Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Kiel-Express

On May 7, 2022, the NGO rescue ship, 'Sea-Eye 4', was activated to assist a group of 34 migrants who had been stranded in the Mediterranean Sea for an arduous four days. The distressed boat was initially discovered by the 'Berlin Express,' which was navigating a route from Marsaxlokk to Damietta. Unfortunately, due to precarious weather conditions and the vessel's high freeboard, a direct rescue was deemed too perilous. Nonetheless, the crew of the 'Berlin Express' acted swiftly by supplying food and drinking water, deploying a life raft, and remaining in a supportive standby role. A crew member of the 'Berlin Express' suffered an injury during the assistance operation, necessitating medical attention upon their return to the container ship. On the morning of May 8, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Bremen reached out to Sea-Eye’s operations management seeking solutions to the critical situation. At this point, the 'Sea Eye 4', positioned approximately 40 sailing hours away from the incident, redirected from its operational area east of Tripoli to lend support. Before the arrival of the 'Sea Eye 4', several other merchant vessels responded to the distress call, including the 'BSG Bahamas', managed by Hamburg's CPO Containerschiffreederei GmbH & Co. KG. By the afternoon of May 8, the crew aboard the 'BSG Bahamas' successfully rescued the 34 individuals after their long nights adrift. The request for assistance had reached the ship while it was en route from Alexandria to Tanger Med, navigating west of Malta, but the rescue operation hit a snag due to the increasing risk of stormy seas, featuring a freeboard of 7.20 meters and swells of two meters. A rescue attempt at night was assessed as too dangerous. With daylight, the captain, backed by the shipping company and in close collaboration with MRCC Bremen, opted to proceed with the rescue, ensuring the well-being of the migrants. Remarkably, except for two cases of evident seasickness, all rescued individuals were in good condition. The 'Berlin Express' was then able to continue its voyage. Silke Muschitz, the Head of Fleet Management at Hapag-Lloyd, praised her crew’s dedication, stating, “Our captain and his crew performed commendably, and from the outset, there was no doubt about our commitment to assist those in danger.” She emphasized the vital importance of collaboration in rescue missions, expressing gratitude towards Sea-Eye for their responsive support. Later that afternoon, 'Sea Eye 4' met up with 'BSG Bahamas' for a coordinated transfer. A joint medical team from Sea-Eye and German Doctors assessed the 34 survivors' conditions and agreed that their medical needs could be better addressed aboard the 'Sea Eye 4.' Consequently, all individuals were transferred early in the evening to the NGO ship, which boasts a trained medical team, onboard hospital facilities, ample provisions, and sleeping arrangements for the weary survivors.

In the early hours of September 16, 2020, a crew member aboard the 'Berlin Express' suffered a serious hand injury while docked at the port of Genoa. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m., but due to a language barrier, the injured man was unable to communicate the specifics of the accident to the emergency responders. Following the injury, he was swiftly transported to the San Paolo Hospital in Savona, renowned for its specialized hand surgery. Meanwhile, the 'Berlin Express' departed from Genoa at 6:20 a.m., setting sail for Valencia, while the injured crew member remained hospitalized for further treatment.

We are seeking confirmation regarding the estimated time of arrival (ETA) for the BERLIN EXPRESS, vessel number 2008E, at Karachi port. Stay tuned for updates on its progress as it approaches this key maritime hub.