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PERU OIL SPILL ‘BIGGER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT’
KONA AGGRESSOR II CEASES OPERATION
Aggressor Adventures is saying goodbye to the Kona Aggressor II, which has been part of its extensive fleet of worldwide liveaboards for 33 years. In a statement released on social media, Aggressor Adventures’ CEO Wayne Brown explained that after extensive topside remodeling on the Kona Aggressor II, the remaining work was to be done in a shipyard to complete any hull repairs before putting the yacht back into service. Last week, the yacht duly traveled to a shipyard in Honolulu, which is where it is now. The aluminum inspection revealed the repairs would require removing the entire superstructure to repair the pontoons at an estimated cost in excess of $500,000. Due to the excessive costs to repair the vessel to Aggressor’s safety standards, the Kona Aggressor II yacht owner has made the decision to cease operations in Kona, Hawaii, effective 14 February 2022. www.aggressor.com
ANCIENT SHIPWRECK OFF ISRAEL YIELDS ‘GOOD SHEPHERD’ GOLD RING
A gold ring harking back to the Roman era has been found by marine archaeologists excavating two shallow-water shipwrecks off the Mediterranean coast of Israel. According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, the gold ring is set with a green gemstone carved with the figure of a shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders – early Christians symbolised Jesus in such a way, and in the Bible, he was described as the ‘Good Shepherd’. The gold ring was among several items found on the two shipwrecks, which were located in just 13ft near the ancient port of Caesarea. Other artefacts included hundreds of silver and bronze coins from the mid-3rd Century, a huge haul of silver coins from the early 14th Century, bronze bells, figurines in the form of an eagle and a theater performer, and another ring, this one set with a red gemstone carved with a lyre.
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The oil spill off the coast of Peru, which was blamed on waves from the volcanic eruption in Tonga, is ‘much bigger than previously thought’, according to the authorities. It was initially thought that around 6,000 barrels of oil had leaked into the sea, but Environment Minister Ruben Ramirez has now said that almost 12,000 barrels entered the sea on 15 January, causing an ecological disaster responsible for the deaths of fish and seabirds in the area. According to Repsol, which operates the refinery at La Pampilla, the Italian-flagged tanker Mare Doricum was hit by unusual waves caused by the volcanic eruption in Tonga, which is some 6,000 miles away. Repsol has said it is putting all of its efforts into cleaning up from the catastrophe, but Peru has demanded compensation from the company and prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident.
BUDDY DIVE LAUNCHES THRU THE LENS UWP EVENT
Popular Bonaire dive resort Buddy Dive has announced the date of its first-ever underwater photography event, Thru the Lens. The event will take place 20-27 August and is aimed at new underwater photographers, and helping them to develop their skills and techniques. During the week-long event, Buddy Dive’s resident photo pro Guillermo Alcorta Heyer will provide guests with a comprehensive program to develop their skills, including workshops on buoyancy, presentations, and more. The event is sponsored by SeaLife and is the perfect opportunity to get some hand’s-on experience with the latest offerings from the company. As well as a host of photography dives on dedicated underwater photography boats, there will also be presentations by world-famous underwater photographers, the opportunity to notch up the PADI Underwater Photography Specialty, plus much more. www.buddydive.com
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