Aethra

Following a call for rallying launched at the start of the week on social networks, several fishing vessels converged on June 24, 2021, shortly before 10 a.m. towards the 'Aethra', which is currently carrying out work necessary for the electrical connection of wind turbines. The maritime prefect of the Atlantic had mobilized the surveillance boat VCSM 'Trieux' of the maritime gendarmerie and the 'Lion' of the French Navy, taking on board judicial police officers. The latter quickly noted many offenses of different kinds, including a failure to comply with the order of the maritime prefect governing the work of the wind farm: penetration into the area of ​​the site prohibited to navigation, approaching within 500 meters of the vessel, but also non-compliance with the international regulations to prevent collisions at sea (RIPAM) by dangerous maneuvers in proximity, firing of distress rockets and the docking of the 'Aethra' and finally, verbal threats of boarding and propulsion sabotage made on VHF against the master of Aethra. Surrounded and approached by several fishing vessels, the captain of the 'Aethr'a then decided to leave the work area in order to lower the level of tension and to ensure the safety of crew and ship. The gathering of protest ships broke up shortly before noon. On their return to the quay, the offending fishermen were expected by the officers of the maritime gendarmerie who carried out the first hearings in the framework of the judicial investigation conducted by the Brest maritime prosecutor's office. Report with photo: https://www.premar-atlantique.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/les-travaux-du-chantier-eolien-de-saint-brieuc-fortement-perturbes-par-les-pecheurs

GC Rieber Shipping has said that it has entered into an agreement to sell construction support vessel Polar Prince (4,500 dwt, built 1999). The vessel was designed in-house and built at Flekkefjord Verft. It came off a time charter contract with Reef Subsea at the end of 2014, and has been without employment since.