It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Monday, January 01, 2024
ENCHANTMENTRemote Woodland – Home to Scotland’s Oldest Wild Pine – Saved as Part of Rewilding Initiative
The oldest pine has been dated to at least 1458 by St Andrews Tree-Ring Laboratory, and is believed to be even older.
A remote ancient woodland – home to Scotland’s oldest wild Scots pine, which is at least 565-years-old – has been saved from being lost forever and given a chance of regeneration thanks to Trees for Life, as part of the charity’s vast Affric Highlands rewilding initiative.
The pinewood remnant of some 57 pines, all several centuries old and scattered through Glen Loyne in the northwest Highlands, was at risk from overgrazing by excessive numbers of deer – a key threat to surviving Caledonian pinewoods that prevents them from naturally regenerating.
The oldest pine has been dated to at least 1458 by St Andrews Tree-Ring Laboratory, and is believed to be even older. The ancestry of such pines stretches back to the last ice age.
In cooperation with the landowner, whose love of the pinewoods made the project possible, Trees for Life has created a new deer-proof ‘exclosure’ of fencing to protect the woodland, including the most ancient pines, and to allow young seedlings to grow without being eaten.
“Glen Loyne’s wild pines and other Caledonian pinewoods are globally unique, and a special part of Scotland’s character and culture. Saving and restoring them offers a major opportunity for tackling the nature and climate crises,” said James Rainey, senior ecologist at Trees for Life.
Trees for Life surveyed the site as part of its four-year Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project, one of the most comprehensive surveys of the health of Scotland’s pinewoods. The team found that some of the oldest pines were outside an area of fencing which had been erected in the 1990s to protect the trees from grazing pressure. Deer had also breached the fenced area.
Trees for Life has now erected 1.5 kilometres of new fencing, and has connected up, extended and repaired existing sections, with the heavy-duty materials having to be transported into the remote glen by helicopter. The pinewood will now be able to naturally regenerate for the first time in decades.
“Fencing is only a temporary fix, but for now it’s a vital way of giving these precious pinewoods a fighting chance of recovery until effective landscape-scale deer management can be properly established,” said James Rainey.
Historically part of the royal hunting grounds of Cluanie, the Glen Loyne woodlands would once have been home to capercaillie, wildcat, and lynx. Ordnance Survey maps from 1874 show a more extensive woodland in the glen, but by the 1990s there were only 85 ancient pines left – a number that has since been reduced further to just 57.
The nature recovery project has been funded by the family of Harry Steven, who with Jock Carlise wrote The Native Pinewoods of Scotland, published in 1959. This pioneering book recognised the special status of the pinewoods, and documented 35 wild pine populations that had managed to survive centuries of deforestation.
In the 1990s, the work of Steven and Carlisle led to the then Forestry Commission Scotland compiling Scotland’s official Caledonian Pinewood Inventory, which today recognises 84 sites.
Glen Loyne, on East Glen Quoich estate, lies within Affric Highlands – the UK’s largest rewilding landscape. Led by Trees for Life and Rewilding Europe, this 30-year community-focused initiative will restore woodland, peatland and riverside habitats over half a million acres from Loch Ness to the west coast, supporting re-peopling and nature-based economic opportunities.
The Caledonian forest once covered much of the Highlands, but today less than 2% survives. The pinewoods are one of Scotland’s richest habitats, and offer refuge to declining wildlife such as red squirrels, capercaillie and crossbills. Trees for Life is dedicated to rewilding the Highlands, including by restoring the Caledonian forest. See treesforlife.org.uk
Ends
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Trees for Life, on Tuesday 12 December, 2023.
Lost rainforest dubbed ‘jewel’ of UK wildlife could be brought back to life
An ‘incredibly rare’ and ‘special’ habitat in the UK could be revived (Picture: Andrew Michael/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The last remaining fragments of once-thriving temperate rainforests in the UK could be brought back to life.
Known as Atlantic woodland or Celtic rainforest, what was ‘one of the jewels of Britain’s nature crown’ used to cover a vast expanse of the west of the UK and Ireland.
It previously stretched all the way from Cornwall to the west of Scotland.
The archipelago’s wet, mild conditions meant it was rife with wildlife including lichens, mosses and liverworts.
But only small, isolated pockets have survived to this day because of destruction through the centuries.
In England, just 72 square miles of the ecosystem still remain – and what little is left is under threat from overgrazing sheep, invasive species and nitrogen pollution.
Now, after three years of campaigning, a new government strategy has been launched to revive the ‘incredibly rare’ and ‘special’ habitat.
Only 72 square miles of temperate rainforest remains in England, but conservationists want to see that figure doubled by 2050 (Picture: FLPA/Bob Gibbons/REX/Shutterstock)
Conservationists have praised the plans to protect and recover England’s temperate rainforests with £750,000 being committed to research and development.
The government has said it will work alongside farmers and landowners to protect the rainforest areas.
‘Before 2021, no politician had even mentioned temperate rainforests in the UK parliament,’ said Guy Shrubsole, who leads the Lost Rainforests of Britain campaign.
He told The Guardian the plans are exciting but wants the target to be to double the area of rainforests in Britain by 2050.
The Wildlife Trusts head of policy said it’s ‘really cool’ to see the plans coming together (Picture: FLPA/REX/Shutterstock)
‘’Now, the government themselves have not only mentioned it,’ he said. ‘They’ve actually devoted entire official policy documents to this habitat. That’s really cool to see.’
Joan Edwards, director of policy for the Wildlife Trusts, said: ‘Temperate rainforest is a globally rare habitat that was once one of the jewels of Britain’s nature crown.
‘The remnants that still exist contain some of the highest floral diversity in the world, including a vast array of mosses, lichens, liverworts and ferns.
‘We welcome the government’s intention to invest in temperate rainforest restoration and management, as part of protecting 30% of land by 2030, and look forward to a more detailed strategy in the coming months.’
Britain’s temperate rainforests are thought to be ‘more threatened than the tropical rainforest’ accoeding to The Woodland Trust (Picture: Christopher Jones/REX/Shutterstock)
The Woodland Trust says of Britain’s temperate rainforests: ‘Also known as Atlantic or Celtic rainforest, this special habitat is incredibly rare.
‘In fact, it’s thought to be more threatened than tropical rainforest.
‘Its lush conditions are perfect for scarce plants, lichens and fungi, as well as remarkable birds and mammals.’
Suspected tornado splits ancient oak tree
31st December 2023 BBC
The tree which has stood for 150 years is now being assessed for safety
A 150-year-old tree has been "split in half" by what was believed to have been a tornado in east Devon.
Simon West, the tree's owner, said he was inside his house in Tipton St John, near Sidmouth, when he heard rain followed by an "enormous cracking sound" on Saturday evening.
Part of the tree fell on a driveway and knocked down a telegraph pole, which was replaced on Sunday.
A yellow wind warning was put in place by the Met Office for Devon and the wider south west region until 23:59 (GMT) on Sunday.
Simon West
The tree was hit while it was dark
Several other trees reportedly fell in the area at Tipton St John near Sidmouth following the weather event.
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) posted on X on Sunday: "Whilst the maximum intensity is still being assessed TORRO can confirm based on a site investigation that Venn Ottery & Tipton St John were hit by a tornado yesterday afternoon."
Mr West told the BBC: "It was extremely strong wind... Sufficient to rip a 150-year-old oak tree in half."
He added: "We heard the enormous creaking and cracking sound of the tree falling apart, followed by taking out all of our electricity."
Part of the tree fell on a driveway and had to be chopped up and cleared
Mr West, who set up a reforestation charity with his wife in Kenya seven years ago, said the tree supports "over 200 species of animals directly and over 2,000 species indirectly".
He added: "I understand quite a few have come down, smaller ones, bigger ones, and it's quite devastating when we lose trees like that."
The pair vowed to replace the tree and said the charity would also continue to plant more in Kenya.\
Can Forest Expansion Balance Climate Change, Economic Growth and Ecological Health?
When it comes to managing woodlands to meet multiple needs, Irish activists underscore the importance of considering the forest as well as the trees.
When it comes to managing woodlands to meet multiple needs, Irish activists underscore the importance of considering the forest as well as the trees.
December 19, 2023 — Thousands of years ago, oak, ash and hazel trees blanketed with moss and ivy grew from a teeming understory of fern, willow and scattered mushrooms, nearly completely covering Ireland in lush green layers. That was before Vikings began pillaging Irish monasteries and chopping down trees to build their notorious raiding fleet. It was before the English felled Ireland’s forests to construct vessels bound for distant shores. Centuries of deforestation for lumber and agriculture reduced Ireland’s forest cover from 80% to around 1%.
Acting on these ambitions, Coillte, a government-private organization that manages 440,000 hectares (1 million acres) of woodland and other land, including 50% of Ireland’s forests, has partnered with UK investment firm Gresham house in a US$37 million (€35 million) forestry initiative. The partnership promises to address the needs of a changing climate while enhancing socioeconomic development. However, the initiative has been met with resistance from some.
“They’re addicted to profit,” said Andrew St. Ledger, the founder of the not-for-profit organization The Woodland League, while discussing Coillte’s forestry expansion approach. (St. Ledger, who spent his life advocating for the restoration of native Irish forests and promoting the healing power of trees for both people and the environment, passed away not long after speaking with Ensia about his beloved “Inis na Bhfiodhadh,” an ancient Celtic-Bardic term for Ireland meaning “Island of the sacred trees.”)
Resistance to Coillte’s initiative was seen earlier this year when farmers and environmentalists joined forces in an unlikely alliance to express outrage over the deal. “We had protests on the street with … people assembled at Coillte headquarters for a celebration of public ownership,” said St. Ledger.
The Coillte–Gresham House deal aims to fuel the expansion of Irish woodland by funding the purchase and conversion of rural land to forestry. Opponents of the deal argue that the influx of private money will lead to a land grab, driving up the cost of land and pricing out locals.
Many also worry that the investment might continue to support the aspects of Coillte’s forestry management practices that emphasize timber harvesting by planting fast-growing tree species like Sitka spruce, which can be harvested sooner rather than later, leading to monoculture plantations and short-cycle clear-cutting.
Ecological Concerns
“They’re not forests,” said St. Ledger of nonnative Sitka spruce plantations, which account for close to half of Ireland’s tree cover. The monoculture method, where trees stand in tight rows and allow little sunlight to reach the ground, discouraging growth in the understory, is not unique to Ireland. Timber companies worldwide pack spruce, firs, pines and other fast-growing species into uniform farms to maximize profit, often at the expense of ecological health.
The dense uniformity of such plantations can cause biodiversity to suffer — creating habitat less capable of supporting varied species of flora, insects and animals; altering protection from pests; and fostering poor soil composition.
Adding to the ecological concerns is the plantation model’s reliance on chemical inputs. Seeking faster, more reliable returns on investment, timber companies apply fertilizers to accelerate growth and pesticides to defend against disease. However, without diverse ground cover or a strong root system, erosion and runoff are common problems, potentially contaminating freshwater with those chemicals.
Carbon Sequestration
Despite the ecological effects, monoculture is an effective model for rapidly planting trees at scale. Coupled with the lure of economic gains from timber, it is an attractive choice for countries pursuing ambitious climate goals, such as Ireland’s target of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (a target the country is currently not on track to achieve). Proponents of fast-growing tree species with short life cycles often point to the higher carbon sequestration rate the trees experience in their early years. However, the reality of a forest’s carbon storage potential is complex.
“Young trees can sequester more carbon in a plantation because they’re forced to grow with fertilizer,” said St. Ledger. Proponents of monoculture plantations “really cling onto that argument. The problem is that these trees are so immature that carbon isn’t given a chance to accumulate. And it’s not just the carbon in the tree. The root and soil carbon are ignored in the debate.”
A carbon sequestration study published in 2016 supports the value of mixed-species stands for carbon sequestration, stating, “Our results suggest that local species composition plays an important role on [soil organic carbon] stock.” The research found that a diverse leaf litter, in addition to higher root turnover rates in mixed species stands, contributed to greater carbon storage than observed in single-species stands.
Additionally, a 2022 study conducted in Spain highlights the benefits of the complementary effect in mixed-species forests. The study, using a 100-year simulation period, suggests that ecological diversity allows mixed forests to more efficiently use resources, and the researchers found “a clear tendency toward higher CO2 stocks in mixed stands emerged over long simulation periods, which is consistent with previous studies.”
Balancing Economics and Ecology
Forestry management strategies play a pivotal role in determining the ultimate value of a forest. Strategies can range from pure conservation prioritizing ecological health to intensive forest management (IFM) focusing on economic outcomes. Seeking a balance between these two ends of the management spectrum, extensive forest management (EFM) uses less intensive, nature-based silviculture practices to achieve diverse forestry values.
Nature-based silviculture utilizes natural regeneration and promotes mixed species through planting techniques such as incorporation of mosaic patterns that create clusters of diverse tree species with varied spacing and ages to mimic a natural forest structure. The approach also integrates these planting techniques with sustainable harvesting practices, eliminating clear-cutting in favor of selective tree cutting that maintains a multilayered, continuous cover forest.
“Suggesting any potential commercial use from native forests on private land, particularly harvesting timber, can be met with strong opposition from some environmentalists,” says Paul Quinlan, a trustee at the nonprofit Tāne’s Tree Trust in New Zealand. “Naturally, they fear it might erode the hard-won gains of the conservation movement.”
Quinlan’s background as a landscape architect informs his work with forestry projects that strive to balance ecological health, carbon sequestration and economic incentives. He worries that a pure preservationist approach to conservation segregates land use between commercial production and natural restoration, often marginalizing ecological priorities.
The trust’s projects implement nature-based silviculture management methods that encourage active forest management that replicates natural conditions, promotes biodiversity and balances diverse forest functions such as habitat creation, watershed regulation, timber production, carbon sequestration and public recreation. The trust also emphasizes planting, maintenance and harvesting decisions influenced by site-specific conditions.
“While there is a preference for indigenous species, stands can include exotic species or involve managing a transition from exotic monocultures to mixed species or native forest,” explains Quinlan.
“Silvicultural practices and systems could be used to convert existing stands to more suitable stand structures,” reads a 2021 study on forest carbon management, “which may increase [carbon] sequestration as well as mitigate and adapt ecosystems to the effects of global change.”
Examining the carbon sequestration differences across three strategies — pure conservation, IFM and EFM — the research finds that EFM “is a compromise between conservation and IFM and is more effective in the long term.”
As an alternative diversification strategy, integrated farming systems such as agroforestry and silvopasture aim to blend forestry and traditional agriculture, while fostering biodiversity, mitigating climate change and preserving rural cultural heritage. A 2020 study details the ecological and agricultural advantages of agroforestry systems. These benefits include enhanced productivity through improved soil health, reduced soil erosion, less need for chemical inputs, increased water retention, diversified farm income and overall resilience to pests and diseases. The study also acknowledges agroforestry’s role in combating climate change through the carbon sequestration potential of planted trees and improved soil carbon storage.
Institutional Change
“We always place emphasis on scientific data,” says Joe Gowran, the CEO of Woodlands of Ireland (WOI), in reference to their strategies for influencing policy. The charity organization advances native woodland conservation and nature-based silviculture in Ireland by, among other things, lobbying for institutional change.They collaborate with other entities, including Coillte, offering constructive, research-based feedback informed by a panel of industry, academic and landowner stakeholders.
In their 2022 Strategic Vision for Our Future Forest Estates, Coillte emphasizes a commitment to delivering multiple benefits from forests, with a renewed focus on climate action, biodiversity and recreation, while also delivering timber products. (Efforts to contact Coillte went unmet by the time of publication.)
But, says Gowran, “Coillte presents challenges because their main focus is perpetuating and expanding softwood timber supplies.” Even so, he points to entities such as Coillte Nature and The Nature Trust supported by Coillite that carry out native woodland restoration projects across Ireland.
“A main driver for these projects is the availability of native woodland scheme grants, which WOI had a key role in developing,” says Gowran. These government grants provide funding for projects that protect, enhance and establish native forests across Ireland. Gowran also highlights that the absence of institutional education in sustainable forestry management is a major obstacle in shifting toward silvicultural systems of continuous cover forest in Ireland. “There is no forestry education and training strategy here currently,” he says.
Working to fix this shortcoming, WOI collaborates with Ireland’s National Parks Wildlife Service and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, helping identify missing elements in woodland management courses as well as reviewing the requirements for establishing a silviculture apprenticeship.
Community Forestry
“We’re seeing people come together and have conversations. And the conversations are more robust than ever,” says Daniel Wear, forest program manager at Sustainable Northwest in the U.S. At this Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit, Wear empowers local groups to take the lead on land use projects through community forestry.
“Community forestry helps to create a conversation between community members, timber companies and government agencies where they feel like their voice is being heard and their perspectives are being represented,” he says, while emphasizing that community forestry doesn’t operate by specific standards but on a case-by-case basis to meet community needs.
Gowran believes community forestry can provide the Irish public with a voice as well. “It would be useful to have committees linked to a local authority,” he says, “so that all forest owners must engage with the public and community involvement in forest management is strengthened.”
Helping empower community forestry through grassroots education, The Woodland League in Ireland has facilitated government-sponsored Forest Knowledge Transfer Groups to educate small-scale landowners on sustainable forestry practices. “Our objective is to create cooperatives to join the woodland owners together,” St. Ledger said of The Woodland League. He hoped these cooperatives would allow group participants to establish community support systems and share information.
“Ireland is a small country and could actually lead the way in natural forest restoration,” said St. Ledger. “It has a rich cultural woodland history, the tragic loss of it and now a revival. I firmly believe Ireland could be a beacon.”
‘World’s Oldest Chicken,’ Peanut, Dies at 21: ‘She Will Be Forever Missed’
A cared-for chicken’s average lifespan is about 10 to 12 years, so Peanut’s longevity is truly remarkable
Published 12/30/23
Peanut was the oldest living chicken at 21. Guinness World Records/X
Peanut, who was named the “World’s Oldest Chicken” this year, has sadly passed away at the age of 21. She was born in May 2002 and lived with a retired librarian on a 37-acre farm in Michigan.
Marsi Parker Darwin, Peanut’s owner, announced that the beloved chicken had passed away on Christmas Day in a SubStack blog post on Wednesday. Darwin says that, to her, Peanut was a “close family member” and that she is now “grieving her loss.”
“We bonded 21 and a half years ago when I peeled her out of an egg, and although I realize she had a phenomenally long life for a chicken, I’m heartbroken nonetheless,” Darwin writes. "I know brighter days will come in time. But she will be forever missed."
Darwin adds that Peanut had taken her family “on a wild ride this past year and a half” after she gained “worldwide attention” for her Guinness Book of World Records title: “World’s Oldest Living Chicken.” A cared-for chicken’s average lifespan is about 10 to 12 years, so Peanut’s longevity is truly remarkable.
In her blog, Darwin sweetly reminisces her fond memories of Peanut’s life. She recalls how delighted some people were to hear Peanut's story and how they had reached out in gratitude. She thinks back to having reporters “interview” Peanut and how Michigan state Senator Sue Chrink visited to deliver an official Tribute to Peanut signed by the governor.
Peanut was popular, but Darwin recalls having to guard her beloved chicken more and more and she became increasingly concerned about her health. Some filmmakers had to be turned away, and hopeful visitors had to be declined.
“Her popularity seemed to spring from her story of hope, help, and love in a harsh world. That’s a message that I hope will continue to spread in her memory.” Darwin writes.
Peanut lost her 15-year-old daughter “Millie” on Halloween night this year. Shortly after Thanksgiving, Peanut’s lifelong boyfriend “Benny” also passed away. Darwin says that Peanut showed signs that the losses hurt her deeply. She began to not eat and was increasingly inactive.
“I believe Peanut was grieving the loss of her friends, old age was catching up with her, and she too simply checked out,” Darwin writes.
“I spent the night of the 23rd holding Peanut, and on Christmas Eve, exhausted, I took her to bed with me, wrapped in a soft blanket, and held her close to my chest,” Darwin recalls. “I could feel her little head resting on my shoulder as she had done for years, and around 5 a.m. her neck relaxed into mine, and I knew she had died peacefully in her sleep, her final gift to me.”
While Peanut was the oldest chicken to be alive for a time, the Guinness World Record for oldest chicken ever belongs to Muffy, who lived to be 23 years and 152 days old before she died in 2011.
A NASA Spacecraft Just Had A Close Encounter With A Volcanic Moon—See The Stunning First Image
NASA’s spacecraft Juno just had a super-close encounter with the most volcanic world in the solar system—but its stunning first image could be among its last after 56 orbits of Jupiter.
On December 30, the bus-sized spacecraft—orbiting Jupiter since 2016—got very close to Io, the giant moon of Jupiter. It reached a mere 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) from the moon’s surface. However, the spacecraft’s camera has suffered radiation damage and may not last much longer.
The first image to come back from this, the closest pass since NASA’s Galileo probe imaged the volcanic moon in October 2001, was published on social media by NASA on December 31. “The JunoCam instrument aboard our Juno Mission acquired six images of Jupiter's moon Io during its close encounter today," read the tweet. "This black-and-white view was taken at an altitude of about 1,500 miles (2,500 kilometers).”
If you look carefully, the dark side of Io is also visible. It's lit up by "Jupitershine"—sunlight reflecting from Jupiter onto Io.
It promised that more images of Io—and of Jupiter itself—will be available soon from the mission's image website. The space agency typically uploads a tranche of data from Juno via its Deep Space Network shortly after each close pass it makes of Jupiter.
This black-and-white view, taken through JunoCam's red filter, shows Io's high northern latitudes. The images are four times more detailed than those Juno took in October, which were the best for 22 years.
The moon's turbulent 42-day orbit of Jupiter produces immense heat, which scientists think creates an ocean of magma under its rocky surface. Io is the most volcanic world in the solar system, with eruptions orders of magnitude bigger than anything similar on Earth.
Since 2016, Juno has been exploring Jupiter and its four largest moons. It has flown very close to three of these moons—Europa, Ganymede and Io. The fourth moon, Callisto, will be visited by another spacecraft called JUICE multiple times between July 2031 and December 2034. JUICE will also visit Europa and Ganymede and stay in orbit around Ganymede.
Another spacecraft called Europa Clipper will focus on exploring Europa and will be touring Jupiter's moons starting in 2030. However, there are no plans to visit Io—so what Juno sends us later this week will be crucial.
Juno will be making another close pass by Io in February, so expect some incredible images from NASA in the next few months. At least, that’s the plan.
Radiation Damage
Accompanying this spectacular image is a strong hint from NASA that JunoCam may be coming towards the end of its life. Originally designed to last only a handful of orbits, it’s recently been suffering from overheating.
“After Juno’s last close pass by Jupiter in November, JunoCam's performance was severely degraded by radiation damage,” wrote NASA on Facebook. “Using its built-in heater, the camera was warmed to a temperature of about 65 degrees Celsius (150 degrees Fahrenheit) for several weeks in December, a process called ‘annealing,’ and this treatment has restored camera function, at least for this pass.”
It was Christmas Day and Costa Cruises’ 114,500 gross ton Costa Serna was on a leisurely day of ocean cruising on the Arabian Sea. The cruise ship, which is operating the first program of international cruises from India in years, was sailing between Mumbai and Cochin when it ended up adding another distinction to its record by rescuing a group of stranded fishermen lost far out to sea.
According to the report, the bridge of the cruise ship received a call from passengers who said they had been out on their balcony and they thought they saw several people in life jackets in the distance. Under the guidance of Captain Andrea Bardi, the Costa Serena immediately slowed down her speed and deviated her route to begin a search and rescue operation.
The massive 951-foot (290-meter) long cruise ship was maneuvered into position and found the group of people approximately one mile from their route. The captain brought the ship into position and they confirmed that the group was five fishermen who were stranded at sea.
The bridge of the cruise ship notified the Indian Coast Guard about the situation and the rescue. After a few hours, the Coast Guard met up with the cruise ship and took over the operation. The five individuals were transferred to the Indian Coast Guard which arranged for them to receive medical treatment at Mumbai Hospital.
When the Costa Serena arrived in Cochin the following day, December 26, she was met by representatives of the Indian Coast Guard. They presented the captain and crew of the cruise ship with an appreciation plaque, thanking all of them for the rescue efforts made under unusual circumstances that saved the shipwrecked fishermen. All the people are reported to be in good health.
The last of the Costa Cruises ships to return to service, the Costa Serena resumed sailing last year in a series of cruise programs around Asia, her first since the 2020 pause as a result of the pandemic. The ship arrived in India in November for a pioneering program of short cruises dedicated to the Indian market. As many as 450,000 people were expected to cruise on the ship between November and January 2024 in a program the Indian government believes will expand the domestic tourism industry.
Updated: “Ocean of Shoes” Cleaned Up as Mayview Maersk Resumes Sailing
Gdansk port webcam picture of the Mayview Maersk during the recovery operation (Gdansk)
(Story was updated on December 30 with comments from Maersk on the loss and clean up operation.)
The initial recovery efforts after one of Maersk’s largest containerships lost more than 40 boxes in the North Sea have taken a week. One of the volunteers overseeing the cleanup efforts described the situation to the media as an “ocean of shoes,” but Danish officials have said Maersk provided a “robust” plan for the cleanup.
The company has acknowledged the loss of 46 boxes from the Mayview Maersk (213,970 dwt with a capacity of 18,270 TEU) on the night of December 21-22 after the vessel departed Hamburg in a fierce North Sea storm known as Pia. The ship proceeded to Gdansk, Poland where she has been for a week, with local reports saying she is expected to depart over the weekend. Maersk reports her next port will be Bremerhaven, Germany where she is expected to arrive on January 4.
Maersk now also reports that 107 containers aboard the vessel were damaged during the incident. Online postings from Gdansk talked about the vessel arriving with boxes dangling over the side. The webcam for Gdansk harbor appeared to capture pictures of the ship with damaged boxes protruding overboard.
Claims consultant WK Webster confirms in its casualty report that there were an unspecified number of damaged boxes in addition to a total of 46 that have gone overboard.
“Loss and damage to containers appears to be limited to those containers stowed to Bay 74,” writes WK Webster. “We understand that normal discharge operations are expected to be completed by midday on December 28 whereafter it is the shipowners' intention to discharge damaged containers from Bay 74.”
(Click the link in the Tweet for additional photos)
The Danish maritime authorities continue to issue warnings about missing containers in the North Sea. The Danish media reports that planes and drones have been used to search the North Sea but that the location of possibly drifting containers or debris has not been identified.
Initial reports said that four of the containers washed ashore along miles of the North Jutland coast along the North Sea. By Thursday, the authorities were reporting that the debris had been collected from the beaches, but more items may still wash ashore. At least 10,000 pairs of shoes were recovered along with refrigerators, televisions, and syringes. The containers were believed to be holding consumer goods with Denmark’s Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke stating they had received assurances that there was no hazardous material in the containers.
The minister said in addition to a robust plan, Maersk had hired a cleanup company and was on standby should additional debris be located in the North Sea or wash ashore. Maersk is paying for the cleanup and said it will be compensating the volunteers who helped to clean Denmark’s beaches.
Maersk told The Maritime Executive on December 30 that it has engaged a company with expertise in salvage operations and locating lost containers. "A vessel searching for potential floating containers arrived in the area on December 25," reports Maersk, "and two vessels with scanning capabilities are expected to arrive on January 2 to search for containers on the seabed to inform subsequent salvage operations."
Release Maybe “Imminent” for Crew of Car Carrier Seized by Houthis
Photo released by Houthis last month showing a commander meeting the crew of the Galaxy Leader
Nearly six weeks after 25 seafarers were detained when heavily armed Houthi rebels stormed their vessel, the car carrier Galaxy Leader (17,000 dwt), there are hopeful signs of progress for the release of the crew. The ship’s registered owner Galaxy Maritime made its first public statement in weeks and is promising to meet repatriation costs for the crew.
Galaxy Maritime, a company managed by Ray Car Carriers, released a statement saying, “that it is encouraged by reports from the Philippines that release of their 17 seafarers held by the Houthis is imminent. Owners and ship managers had been hoping to secure the release of the crew members in time for return to their families for the Christmas holiday.”
The majority of the crew is from the Philippines along with other citizens of Bulgaria, Mexico, Romania, and Ukraine. Authorities in the Philippines have been working behind the scenes attempting to gain the release of the crewmembers from the Galaxy Leader. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. even deferred his trip to the UAE for the COP28 climate conference in order to give his full attention to negotiating the release of Filipino crewmembers of the car carrier Galaxy Leader.
“Despite all efforts and those of all the authorities represented by crew members from Bulgaria, Mexico, Romania, Ukraine, and the Philippines, our valued seafarers remain in the hands of the Houthis,” Galaxy Maritime said in its statement. The company further says, “Given the considerable costs in repatriation of the 25 seafarers, owners are committed to meet the expenses associated with repatriation and support any operational issues involved.”
The company has repeatedly appealed for the release of the crew saying the crewmembers are innocent parties caught in the fight. They previously said “there was nothing more to be achieved,” by continuing to hold the crew of the vessel. Israel has said none of its citizens were working aboard the vessel.
After the Galaxy Leader was seized and taken to Yemen, the Houthis released a video showing one of their commanders “welcoming” the crew as “guests” to Yemen and promising that they would be cared for while in the country. However, the families and the shipping company have said they have been given little access or communication with the crewmembers.
The ship has become a tourist attraction in Yemen with multiple videos released showing people photographing the ship or even boarding the vessel. While there have been several other attempts either with small boats or radio communications to divert merchant ships to Yemen, the Galaxy Leader remains the only vessel captured by the Houthis. The United States however reports that over 100 missiles and drones have been launched attacking commercial shipping in the southern Red Sea.
