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The Genco Provence, a handymax bulk carrier operated by Genco Shipping & Trading, has been detained by the US Coast Guard in Jacksonville, Florida, marking a significant incident on the agency's latest port detention list. This 55,300-dwt vessel, constructed in 2004, was held after the onboard crew did not conduct an adequate fire drill. Coast Guard officials reported that the fire team failed to adhere to the ship’s approved fire training manual, particularly regarding space entry and fire cooling boundaries. Furthermore, subsequent drills did not meet the minimum standards for crew familiarization with critical safety procedures related to nautical operations. Interestingly, Equasis database records indicate that the Genco Provence was inspected again in Savannah, Georgia shortly after the Jacksonville incident. Although it was not detained this time, it did receive a citation related to an operational deficiency unrelated to the safety drills. This suggests a potential improvement in crew readiness and adherence to the fire-fighting manual during that inspection.

A significant discovery unfolded on December 5, 2011, at Navlakhi port near Morbi when customs officials boarded the 'Genco Provence', a vessel that had just arrived from Indonesia carrying a shipment of coal intended for Hindustan Zinc. During the inspection, authorities uncovered self-loading rifles and a substantial number of live ammunition—392 cartridges—marked from foreign manufacturers. Notably, the shipping company had only declared 320 cartridges prior to the vessel's arrival. Onboard the 'Genco Provence', there were 21 crew members of Ukrainian nationality and two Irish security personnel. The recovered arms included four self-loading rifles (SLRs) allegedly sourced from the Sri Lankan naval armory, found in possession of the security guards. In response to the alarming find, representatives from the Coastguard, the Navy, and local police promptly visited the port. Customs officials are set to reach out to Sri Lankan authorities to authenticate the vessel's legitimacy and the claims made by its crew, who reportedly stated that the rifles were necessary for defending against potential pirate attacks. However, until the necessary documentation proving the legality of these weapons is submitted, further clearance for the ship remains pending.