Daily Archives: June 1, 2024

I was not going to blog but do a trip report upon conclusion. Sailing June 7, 2024 and there are so many good trip report strands happening.

But this is in the Royal Suite 1620 so I thought if I could provide any insight it would serve our amazing community some entertainment.

No RUB because none were offered, this is the highest category of cabin.

I am packed, no one else even thought about it.

Celebrating my kiddos High School graduation as well as she turns 18 during the sail week.

I'm enjoying @SweetPeaand @OCSC Mikeblogs right now. I'm looking forward to finally saying hello in person to @smokeybanditand family as well as @TheoneandonlyMICAH. I am inviting them to please add some experiences here as well.

I'll be quiet for now as I have nothing else for now. Here is the reason for the 1620 splurge! See ya real soon!

Original post:

Milestone "Adventure" on the High Seas - Live Blogs - Royal Caribbean Blog

On 29 May 2024, we signed an amendment updating the covenant with the State of the Netherlands relating to the deployment of our cleanup system on the high seas, beyond national jurisdiction. This amendment demonstrates the Dutch governments support for The Ocean Cleanups activities and its wish to follow international rules and regulations.

In 2018, the State of the Netherlands and The Ocean Cleanup signed a tailor-made agreement (covenant) relating to the deployment of the cleanup system on the high seas. Due to the novel nature of our work in the GPGP, there was a lack of applicable legislation relating to the system itself, and no ready-made legal framework for our operations.

The covenant embodies the determination of The Ocean Cleanup to deploy its system in line with international rules and regulations with respect to the environment, maritime safety and other users of the high seas.

Since the signing of the covenant in 2018, the system has been further developed, tested and validated, with hundreds of thousands of kilograms removed from the GPGP to date. We have shown that The Ocean Cleanups method is effective in cleaning floating plastic from the ocean. Having done this, the covenant needed to be amended to reflect the current and future activities of The Ocean Cleanup in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also taking into account the developments in international legislation such as the BBNJ Treaty.

We express our gratitude for the support of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and its continuous efforts to protect the worlds oceans against plastic pollution.

We would also like to thank the legal team from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek who helped us shape this future-proof amendment.

To see our 2018 update on the original Covenant with the Dutch State, click here.

Read more here:

Updated Covenant: Dutch State To Provide Continuous Support To The Ocean Cleanup's High Seas Activities | Updates - The Ocean Cleanup

The Defense Department is working to recover three of four vessels associated with its temporary humanitarian aid pier in Gaza after rough seas caused the motorized sections to run aground May 25, the Pentagon announced today.

The vessels, which are part of U.S. Central Command's Joint Logistics, Over-the-Shore capability and which are used to stabilize the trident pier broke free from their anchors and beached ashore after suffering a loss of power, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters.

"As of today, one of the Army vessels that was beached on the coast of Israel near Ashkelon has been recovered. The second vessel that was also beached near Ashkelon will be recovered in the next 24 hours, and the remaining two vessels that were beached near the Trident pier are expected to be recovered in the next 48 hours," Singh said, adding that the Israeli Navy is assisting in the recovery efforts.

The U.S is not authorizing any American boots on the ground in Gaza, and that is not hindering efforts to recover the three vessels, Singh said.

In addition to the JLOTS vessels running aground, high sea states and a North African weather system caused a portion of the trident pier to detach from the pier that is currently anchored into the Gaza coastline earlier today, resulting in damage to the trident pier and necessitating a need to rebuild and repair it, Singh said.

Over the next 48 hours, U.S. forces will remove the pier from its anchored position on the coast and tow it back to the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod to begin repairs.

"The pier proved highly valuable in delivering aid to the people of Gaza. Thus, upon completion of the pier repair and reassembly, the intention is to re-anchor the temporary pier to the coast of Gaza and resume humanitarian aid to the people who need it most," Singh told reporters, noting that, to date, over 1,000 metric tons of aid has been delivered to the pier for humanitarian organizations to distribute to Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Singh said, U.S. forces are currently loading humanitarian aid into vessels in Cyprus for transport to Gaza so that it can roll out immediately once the repaired pier is reattached to the shoreline in the coming days.

First announced March 8 of this year after President Joe Biden called on the military to lead the temporary humanitarian aid operation, the JLOTS pier became operational May 17.

When questioned as to whether the pier is durable enough to complete its mission, Singh said DOD is optimistic.

"I think, unfortunately, we had a perfect storm of high sea states and this North African weather system also came in at the same time, creating not an optimal environment to operate the JLOTS," Singh said.

"But we believe that given the time of year we will be able to re-anchor this pier; and it will be able to be operational; and, hopefully, weather conditions won't hinder it anymore."

When further pressed as to whether the pier, which is budgeted at roughly $300 million, is worth the cost, Singh reiterated how much aid the pier was able to get into Gaza in just a short period of time.

" [I]t's pretty important for the people that are suffering right now that are in a dire humanitarian situation to get whatever aid they can, by whatever means," Singh said.

"We want to do everything possible to help; and it is our forces our men and women who are running toward the problem and doing everything they can to find a solution."

Centcom anticipates repairs to the pier to take approximately one week.

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Defense Department Conducts Recover, Repair Mission for Temporary Pier After Heavy Sea Sta - Department of Defense

The Pentagon will temporarily suspend aid deliveries to Gaza via an American-built, $320 million temporary pier that was damaged by rough weather and seas in recent days.

Due to high sea states and a North African weather system, earlier today, a portion of the Trident pier separated from the pier that is currently anchored into the coast of Gaza, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, Sabrina Singh, told reporters on Tuesday. As a result, the Trident pier was damaged and sections of the pier need rebuilding and repairing.

In its less than two weeks of operations, the pier has faced setbacks including three injured American service members, including one who remains in critical condition. The Pentagon said it is working to recover several vessels that were beached near the pier.

Over the next 48 hours, the Trident pier will be removed from its anchored position on the coast and towed back to Ashdod where U.S. Central Command will conduct repairs, Ms. Singh added, noting that the repairs will take more than a week and then the pier will need to be re-anchored to the Gaza coast.

The Pentagon said the pier proved highly valuable in delivering aid and thus is intended to be re-anchored so that aid to Gaza can resume.

To date, over 1,000 metric tons have been delivered from the pier to the marshaling area for onward delivery by humanitarian organizations and into the hands of Palestinians, Ms. Singh added while noting that the Pentagon hopes to get aid to Gaza as quickly as it can.

When asked about aid that hasnt yet been delivered through the pier but was intended to be over the next week, Ms. Singh said some of it is being loaded into vessels so that it is in position to move through once the pier is re-anchored, while some of the aids future will be determined in conversations with USAID about how to get it into Gaza. While the pier has been effective, she said, land routes are the most efficient way to move aid.

You guys put a lot of money into this and then it didnt last, it lasted for less than two weeks, one attendee at the press conference said, asking whether poor planning and poor quality materials could have contributed.

Over 1,000 metric tons of aid got to the people in Gaza, so I dont think thats a total loss, Ms. Singh responded, adding that it was important to get aid in by whatever means.

Last week, however, a Pentagon official stated that hundreds of tons of aid meant to be delivered to Gazans via the pier never reached its intended recipients. Much of it, a Pentagon spokesman said, was looted from food trucks leaving the staging area or commandeered by Hamas terrorists.

If you want to characterize it as a failure, I leave it to you, what I can tell you is that we dont control the weather, she said, adding that an unfortunate, unique pattern of events with high seas and another storm that came in caused it to be inoperable.

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Pentagon Suspends Gaza Aid Efforts After Rocky Rollout of Gaza Pier as 'High Seas' Disrupt Operations - The New York Sun

Photo Credit: Omi Tanchanok

As the Founder and Chairwoman of Blue Voyage Group, Omi Tanchanok has championed innovation in the luxury yacht charter industry since 2015. Serving as both owner and CEO of Southfleet Boatyard, she has tirelessly merged the highest standards of luxury hospitality with the yachting experience, propelling Thailand to the forefront of global destinations for yacht enthusiasts.

Driven by a relentless desire to redefine the essence of luxury yachting, Omi Tanchanok has dedicated herself to creating the ultimate vacation experience. Inspired by Thailands stunning seascapes and driven by her passionate vision, she founded Blue Voyage Group to address an unmet market need, focusing on quality, safety, service, and innovation, leading the company to significant growth and profitability.

Starting with modest beginnings and a single small cruiser, Blue Voyage Group rapidly expanded its fleet in response to growing client demand and its burgeoning reputation. This strategic expansion established the company as Thailands leading authority on immersive yacht charters that exceed expectations.

Southfleet Boatyard was established to meet the high standards of Thailands luxury resorts, enhancing the quality and customization of sea excursions and cementing its status as a top provider of luxury yacht experiences. The exceptional quality of the vessels it operates and the rigorous training provided to its dedicated team ensure that every department within the organization exceeds industry standards.

Operating in Thailands competitive market, the achievements and reputation of Blue Voyage Group have solidified its position as an essential player in the industry. Offering a diverse fleet that includes superyachts, sailing catamarans, luxurious speedboats, motor yachts, and traditional wooden boats, the company delivers luxury experiences tailored to the varied preferences and budgets of its distinguished clientele.

Blue Voyage is recognized as Thailands premier, government-praised, number-one yacht charter company, trusted by worldwide yacht associations, travel agencies, and luxury resorts across the globe. Additionally, the affiliated Southfleet Boatyard produces bespoke, high-quality yachts, each individually designed to meet the unique needs of each resort.

As it looks toward the future, Blue Voyage Group is strategically positioned to expand into world-class yacht marina operations, broadening its offerings to include yacht supplies, engineering services, and more. This expansion aims to enhance the companys comprehensive suite of maritime services, further establishing its leadership in the luxury yachting industry.

Written in partnershipwith Tom White

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Sailing Into Success: Omi Tanchanok's Visionary Leadership Crowned Queen Of The High Seas With Blue Voyage ... - Haute Living

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

The US-built floating pier near the Gaza Strip, according to observers, is anattempt by Washington to hoodwink the international community at a time when millions in the besieged territory are on the brink of starvation due to the Israeli-American genocidal war and blockade.

The pier has been coming up while food bound for Palestinians in the territory continues to rot outside the territory as the regime has shut the Rafah border crossing to aid supplies for weeks now.

In an interesting development reported on Saturday by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), four vessels connected to the floating pier in the Mediterranean Sea broke free from their moorings after the pier was disconnected from the small boat tugging it during the transportation of humanitarian aid.

Two of the vessels are now anchored on a Gaza beach near the pier, and the other two are beached further north, on a coast near the occupied city of Ashkelon, the statement said.

The incident drew reactions from social media users, who said the mission was bound to fail in the first place as the Biden administration continues to be deeply complicit in the genocidal war on Gaza.

Humanitarian theater

Construction of the floating pier began late last month following a directive by US President Joe Bidens administration, claiming that the initiative is meant to deliver aid to people in Gaza.

Many, however, scoffed at the claims, referring to the American supply of lethal arms to the Israeli regime used against the same people in the territory, which have already claimed close to 36,000 lives.

The construction of the $320 million pier project was criticized as an attempt to distract attention from Israels deliberate blockade of land crossings to Gaza, using starvation as a weapon against 2.3 million Palestinians trapped in the area, more than half of whom are children.

Human rights groups see the pier as a way for Biden to pretend that hes taking steps to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the mounting international pressure, while also sweeping under the rug Israels blunt refusal to open land borders to aid trucks.

The United Nations aid agencies, humanitarian and relief groups, as well as pro-Palestine rights activists have all warned that the aid delivery through the pier is not going to help starving Palestinians.

Jeremy Konydnyk, a former White House public health official who now runs Refugees International, an independent humanitarian organization, slammed the effort as a humanitarian theater.

The pier doesnt solve the major bottleneck in Gaza: aid access for last-mile delivery, said Konydnyk.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder also told reporters last week that he did not believe any of the aid transferred via the pier had reached people in Gaza.

It is not flowing at a rate that any of us are happy with, he was quoted as saying, admitting to the failure of the much-hyped project.

Asal Rad, a US-based pro-Palestine activist who holds a PhD in West Asia history, wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday that the pier was a predictable disaster.

Israel is deliberately starving people and the US is putting on a show to pretend thats not happening, she stated, calling out the American hypocrisy.

Medea Benjamin, a political activist and co-founder of the anti-war group CodePink, also slammed the initiative, calling on the US authorities to force the Israeli regime to open the Rafah crossing instead of wasting our tax money on such projects.

Humanitarian operations nearing collapse

On Friday, the UN said it had received the equivalent of 97 trucks of humanitarian supplies through the floating dock since it came into operation, which means that the pier capacity remains far below the 150 trucks a day that officials had hoped for.

Meanwhile, aid groups say Gaza needs a total of 600 trucks a day to meet its colossal humanitarian needs.

The UN keeps maintaining that land deliveries are the most viable, effective, and efficient way to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the narrow strip, where nearly 36,000 people have been killed since the genocidal war was launched on October 7, 2023.

On May 6, defying international warnings, Israel pressed on with its assault on Gazas southern city of Rafah and seized control of its border crossing, cutting off a vital route for humanitarian aid and potential sanctuary for thousands of civilians from a building offensive.

Last week on Tuesday, the UN announced it had suspended food distribution in Rafah due to a lack of supplies and insecurity caused by Israels expanding military offensive, warning that humanitarian operations across the territory were nearing collapse.

It also warned that the pier project may fail unless Israel starts providing the conditions humanitarian groups need to operate safely.

Meanwhile, on Sunday night, days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) again called on the Israeli regime to immediately halt its offensive in Rafah, more than 30 Palestinians were massacred there.

No meaningful impact

Craig Mokhiber, a former top UN human rights official who resigned last year, in a post on X said the pier had failed to have any meaningful impact while Israel continues to block aid at all crossing points.

He described it as a fig leaf to cover US complicity in genocide and the destruction of UNRWA.

UNRWA, formally known as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, is the main agency in Gaza providing humanitarian aid and social services critical at a time when there are dire shortages of food, water and sanitary conditions because of Israels genocidal war against the besieged territory.

Israels attempts to dismantle UNRWA go back many years, however, since the regime began its new war against Gaza on October 7, it has also doubled its effort to target the aid agency by framing its workers as complicit in Hamas Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories.

Despite no evidence to back up those claims, several Western countries, led by the US, suspended their funding to the largest humanitarian relief body in Gaza.

This comes as according to the World Food Programme, about half of the total population of Gaza roughly 1.1 million Palestinians are at catastrophic levels of hunger, especially in northern Gaza, where fears of a famine have been strongest.

The Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said in a statement on Sunday that famine must be declared in the Gaza Strip due to Israels insistence on committing the crime of starvation and using it as a weapon of war against the Palestinian people in the Strip, which is part of a larger crime of genocide.

Food aid for Gaza rotting

Media reports on Friday revealed that some of the food supplies waiting to enter Gaza from Egypt have begun to rot as the Rafah border crossing remains shut to aid deliveries for a third week after Israel began its assault on Gazas southern city.

Mahmoud Hussein, a truck driver, was quoted by media as saying that his goods that had been loaded on his vehicle for a month were gradually spoiling in the sun. Some of the foodstuffs are being discarded, others are sold at cheap rates.

Apples, bananas, chicken and cheese, a lot of things have gone rotten, some stuff has been returned and is being sold for a quarter of its price, he was quoted as saying.

Im sorry to say that the onions were carrying will at best be eaten by animals because of the worms in them.

According to UN data, just over 900 truckloads have entered Gaza in total since May 7.

A UN document seen by media also shows that as of May 16, more than 2,000 UN and international NGO trucks were waiting to enter Gaza, including 1,574 carrying food supplies.

Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza government media office, has said that many of the goods that enter the Gaza Strip are unfit for human use and are unhealthy.

Settlers attack Gaza aid trucks

Meanwhile, Israeli settlers keep attacking and vandalizing trucks delivering aid to Gaza and preventing humanitarian supplies from reaching the territory where people grapple with starvation.

Videos emerged on social media showing Israeli settlers throwing boxes of much-needed supplies on the ground, stomping on them and setting ablaze the trucks.

Despite international condemnation, footage of the incident clearly showed that Israeli regime troops did nothing to stop the attacks on aid convoys.

Last week, the Guardian, quoting multiple sources, revealed that Israeli forces are tipping off settlers to the location of aid trucks delivering supplies to Gaza, enabling the groups to block and vandalize them.

Israeli war minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said last Sunday that settlers are allowed to demonstrate, but suggested the regime itself should be stopping aid trucks to Gaza instead of leaving it to the settlers.

Read more:

US-built $320m pier in Gaza, washed away in high seas, is doomed to fail - Press TV

In the face of rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), National Security Adviser Eduardo Ao has called on all Filipinos to proudly display the Philippine flag as a powerful expression of patriotism and a commitment to safeguarding the nations sovereignty.

Let the Philippine flag fly high in our homes, in the workplace, in schools, and in our hearts. Our flag is not just colored ink on cloth. It is a proud symbol of our heroic history and our iron determination to defend our nation, Ao declared.

Aos appeal coincides with the annual observance of National Flag Day, which began on May 28. All Filipinos are encouraged to display the flag in their cars, homes, offices, schools, and other establishments until Independence Day on June 12.

The former military chief and combat veteran emphasized the sacrifices made by countless men and women in uniform, who have protected the country from various threats to peace and security.

Ao also expressed optimism about ending the more than 50-year communist insurgency in the Philippines, while stressing the need to continue protecting citizens from lawless elements and violent extremism.

He highlighted the urgency of addressing other serious threats to national security, including disinformation, malign influence, and foreign intrusion into Philippine territory.

The display of the Philippine Flag from May 28 to June 12 is based on Executive Order No. 179 which was promulgated in 1994 by then-President Fidel Ramos.

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Ao urges Filipinos to honor Philippine flag amid high seas tensions - manilastandard.net