Discover the Roro-Lefke: Ratings & Maritime News

On October 24, 2022, the Civil Guard made a significant drug seizure in Ceuta by intercepting a truck loaded with an astonishing 413 kilos of hashish concealed within industrial oxygen cylinders. The operation began at approximately 5:30 PM when customs officials and local tax authorities initiated a thorough inspection of cargo designated for shipment aboard the vessel 'Festivo' bound for Algeciras. During the inspection, agents detected signs of possible tampering with several of the oxygen cylinders. Prompted by these findings, a specially trained drug detection dog was deployed, leading to the discovery of 27,000 grams of hashish within one of the cylinders. The meticulous inspection continued into the morning of October 26, revealing that 15 of the cylinders contained illicit drugs. Initially, authorities indicated that the truck driver would be arrested for the transportation of the drugs. However, it was later determined that the driver was unaware of the narcotics hidden inside the cargo, leading to no arrests at that time. The Civil Guard has since launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the drug smuggling operation, raising concerns over the increasing use of industrial materials for illicit drug transportation.

In a harrowing incident that unfolded aboard the cargo vessel 'Festivo,' three migrants were discovered concealed within a shipment of scrap metal. The ship was making its way from Ceuta to Malaga on December 4, 2020, when a vigilant crew member noticed something unusual during his routine checks on December 5. The trio, all young men, were found packed tightly amid scrap metal in a 14-meter by 2.5-meter cargo tank. Upon realizing the alarming situation, the crew member promptly alerted both the National Police and Guardia Civil, as the migrants were effectively trapped within the metal confines. The gravity of the situation escalated when, on December 6, a team from the fire department was dispatched. Utilizing ropes and levers, they worked tirelessly for an hour to successfully extricate the young men from their precarious position. Following their rescue, the migrants were swiftly transported to a local hospital, where they exhibited mild symptoms of hypothermia. Given the treacherous maritime conditions—three-meter waves and wind gusts reaching 35 knots—the danger they faced from shifting cargo could have led to catastrophic consequences. Their timely rescue ensured that these individuals were spared from what could have been a fatal outcome.

On July 4, 2010, the RORO vessel previously known as LEFKE, bearing the IMO number 7802067, was spotted at Cityvarvet in Gothenburg. The ship was observed sporting a striking blue hull and had undergone a name change to Lily-J, marking a new chapter in its maritime journey.