Working Conditions Aboard the Talbot

In a significant maritime transaction, five vessels have been sold en bloc to Chinese investors BoComm Leasing for approximately $55 million. The fleet comprises the following sister ships: AS VALENTIA, AS VIRGINIA, AS VICTORIA, AS VINCENTIA, and AS VALDIVIA. This strategic acquisition highlights the growing interest of Chinese firms in expanding their shipping capacities.

In a dramatic rescue operation, a crew member aboard the 'AS Valentia' was successfully medevaced by the Indian Coast Guard approximately 80 kilometers from Sagar Island on the morning of May 17, 2018. Huayllaccahua Godoy Victor, a Peruvian national, had been experiencing severe abdominal pain and high fever since the previous afternoon, prompting urgent action. The master of the 'AS Valentia', which was navigating towards Haldia after loading coal from Indonesia with a stop at Paradip in Odisha, made a distress call to the Coast Guard headquarters in Calcutta around noon on that fateful day. In response, the Coast Guard dispatched the vessel 'Amogh', which was located 180 km south of the 'AS Valentia'. However, due to the shallow waters that the cargo ship was traversing, 'Amogh' faced limitations in direct navigation. After reaching the 'AS Valentia' in the evening, inclement weather conditions hindered the immediate transfer of Victor. As strong winds and rough seas prevailed, the crew had to wait until the morning to safely move him to their patrol boat. Thankfully, the operation was completed successfully, ensuring Victor received the medical attention he desperately needed.