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Two drug runners whose attempts to deliver at least £9m cannabis across the Caribbean were thwarted by RFA Wave Knight face life behind bars in the USA. Yugool Persaud and Desmond Wilson – both from Guyana – were both found guilty of trafficking offences at a court in Florida following their arrest in September.Two drug runners whose £9m cargo of cannabis was intercepted by sailors on tanker RFA Wave Knight have been convicted in Florida. Yugool Persaud and Desmond Wilson – both from Guyana – face a maximum punishment of life behind bars in a US jail when sentenced in February after they were found guilty of two counts of violating America’s Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. The pair had been sailing a known trafficking route in the Caribbean in the fishing vessel Miss Tiffany. When the tanker – on a 16-month deployment to the region – came across the small boat, Wilson and Persaud began tossing bales over the side. Some 55 of those bales were recovered by sailors in one Wave Knight’s sea boats and brought aboard the auxiliary. At the same time, a US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment used the tanker’s other boat to board Miss Tiffany and detained the two crew. In all 1.2 tons (1276 Kg) of cannabis with a street value of around £6.4m were recovered during the bust back in September. An estimated further 1,200lbs (540kg) of drugs are believed to have sunk before the sailors could haul the bales out of the Caribbean. While the trial before a federal jury in Tampa was taking place, Wave Knight has been paying a short visit to Barbados before continuing her counter-narcotics patrol of the Caribbean region. Despite being one of the larger vessels in the Naval Service – 196 metres (643ft) long and 31,500 tonnes – the tanker has been demonstrating her deft manoeuvrability with some sharp turns at high speed (about 18knots) in rough(ish) seas, captured by amateur photographer LH(C) Steve Gill in Wave Knight’s sea boat. His ship has been away from the UK since January on the Atlantic Patrol North mission – joined since high summer by HMS Lancaster, although the frigate is turning for home shortly – and won’t be returning to Britain until the spring. Follow Naval Today via:           
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Irish Ferries Launches Dublin-Cherbourg Ferry Route
MarineLink.com
Wednesday, November 27, 2013, 9:18 AM
A new direct passenger car ferry service linking Dublin with the French port of Cherbourg is being introduced by Irish Ferries with the first sailing departing from Dublin on January 18.
The once-weekly, year-round service – which the company’s head of passenger sales Dermot Merrigan said “will bring the European motorways directly into the heart of our capital city” – will depart from Dublin every Saturday (15.30) arriving into Cherbourg next morning (11.30). Return sailings will depart Cherbourg each Sunday (17.00) with early arrival back in Dublin on Monday morning (11.00).
The new route will be operated by the passenger car and freight ferry vessel mv Epsilon which Irish Ferries has recently secured under a charter arrangement.
On its new Dublin to Cherbourg route, Irish Ferries will provide a third route option, augmenting the company’s long-established services from Rosslare to Cherbourg and Rosslare to Roscoff. Sure to be popular with families and holidaymakers alike, this new direct service from Dublin is timed to arrive in Cherbourg early enough to facilitate easy onward travel to campsites and holiday centers throughout France.
With the introduction of the Epsilon and their new route from Dublin to Cherbourg, the intention on the part of Irish Ferries is to provide an economy-style service distinctly different from that operated by their cruise ferry Oscar Wilde which will continue to service routes from Rosslare to Cherbourg and Rosslare to Roscoff as before.
Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar, said a new direct ferry route from Cherbourg to Dublin is good news for Irish tourism and will build on the success of The Gathering: “This weekly ferry route from Cherbourg to Dublin will provide tourists from France and mainland Europe with a direct car link into the capital. It will help us to build on the success of The Gathering in promoting Ireland as a visitor destination.”
Varadkar continued, “Ireland is well catered for in terms of aviation access, and new aviation routes are announced on a regular basis. But as an island it’s important that we give visitors plenty of options to bring their cars as well. Tourists on driving holidays tend to stay longer than those who fly, and are more likely to travel around the country.”
Because of the more limited range of cabins and passenger attractions on board the Epsilon when compared to the Oscar Wilde, Irish Ferries is seizing the opportunity to offer customers lower fares and an even broader choice of route options. In this way, the company is extending the appeal of a motoring holiday in France to an even wider segment of the market.
Built in 2011, the Epsilon has capacity for 500 passengers. Economy style facilities on board include a bar, cafeteria, self-service restaurant, two and four berth cabins, free wifi service and 2,860 lane meters of vehicle deck parking space.
Commenting further, Dermot Merrigan said, “Our new Dublin to Cherbourg direct service will appeal to those living within and beyond our capital city. Fast access straight through the city or via the Dublin Port Tunnel ensures that our new Ireland – France service will be more accessible to all.”
Fares for this new Dublin to Cherbourg car ferry service, from €99 Car & Driver, can be booked at irishferries.com.
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USS Mason’s MWR Creates Buoyant Ship Spirit
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Naval Today >> The industry’s seaborne news provider by Naval Today / 8h // keep unread // hide
Guided-missile destroyer USS Mason’s (DDG 87) Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) committee is helping Sailors stay entertained by sponsoring activities both in port and at sea during the command’s 2013-2014 deployment.Mason MWR President Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 2nd Class Ramona Ross said his goal is to keep the crew’s morale at a high level.
Mason’s MWR provides free and low-cost activities that include talent shows, picnics on Mason’s flight deck, and port tours.
Operations Specialist Seaman Apprentice Brandon Dalton said he enjoyed a tour of the Dead Sea.
Funds are raised by collecting a portion of every purchase in the ship store and vending machines. MWR also coordinates fundraisers like the popular ‘pie-in-the-face’ and event.
MWR regularly polls the crew for ideas which allows the Sailors to contribute to planning upcoming entertainment and events.
Mason is currently deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. Follow Naval Today via:
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Indian Navy Ship Arrives at Port of Colombo
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Naval Today >> The industry’s seaborne news provider by Naval Today / 8h // keep unread // hide
A Naval Ship of Indian Navy arrived at the Port of Colombo on 27th November 2013 on a goodwill visit. The ship was ceremonially welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on their arrival.INS Shivalik is a frigate, which is 143 meters in length. It has a displacement of 5300 tons and consists of a complement of 400 naval personnel that include 50 officers and 350 sailors. They were cordially welcomed by Commander Western Naval Area Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, under the guidance of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage. Commanding officer of INS Shivalik, Captain Satish Uniyal paid a courtesy call on Director Naval Operation, Commodore Niraja Attygalle at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo. They held discussions on a range of topics which were of mutual interest and bilateral importance for both navies and exchanged mementos as a gesture of goodwill. The visiting Indian ship will stay in Sri Lanka till 29th November 2013 and the crew members are scheduled to take part in a special programme arranged by the Sri Lanka Navy during their stay in Sri Lanka enhancing the friendly relations between two navies. Follow Naval Today via:
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Australian Navy show off sub rescue capability
The navy has shown it can rescue crew members from a sunken submarine in its latest rescue exercise. Source: AAP
THE navy has shown it can rescue crew members from a sunken submarine, should that ever be necessary.
The submarine escape and rescue exercise involved flying a special rescue submersible from Henderson, Western Australia to the east cast, where it was loaded onto Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Ocean Shield.
The 21.5 tonne LR5 submersible then docked with submarine HMAS Farncomb bottomed in 112 metres of water, “rescued” crew members and returned them to the surface where they were transferred into a decompression chamber.
Australian navy submarine force commander Captain Mark Potter said it was unlikely this equipment would ever be needed.
“Should the unthinkable happen, it is essential that we have established and well practiced procedures in place to rescue personnel,” he said in a statement.
During Exercise Black Carillon, the navy worked closely with contractor James Fisher Defence to test the equipment on the east coast.
This was the first time that ADV Ocean Shield was used as a mother ship.
Australia is a member of the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Organisation which would provide international support should one of the six Australian submarines be disabled.
– See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/navy-show-off-sub-rescue-capability/story-fn3dxiwe-1226769912247#sthash.hl3WymIL.dpuf
