From Canada to Ireland: Cocaine Bust
Aboard Arriving Bulker
A bulker arriving in Ireland from Canada is part of an ongoing operation as the Irish police and
revenue service search the vessel for illegal drugs. The first phase of the search turned up at
least 300 KG of cocaine in bundles aboard the ship and starting on Wednesday morning the
authorities were planning to undertake a more thorough sweep of the vessel.
The Verila, a 32,000 dwt bulker arrived in the Irish port of Foynes on the West Coast near the
city of Limerick early on Tuesday. Owned by Bulgaria’s Navigation Maritime Bulgare
(Navibulgar), the ship which is registered in Malta is reported to be carrying a load of grain from
Canada. She departed Montreal on December 9. Navibulgar lists her grain capacity at 41,000 cbm.
She also visited the Great Lakes in mid-September 2023.
After docking yesterday, December 19, the search of the vessel began using specially trained
dogs and turning up large bundles which preliminary estimates set at 300 kg. Each was wrapped
with life preservers as flotation devices and a GPS beacon. The police suspect the cocaine was
to be tossed overboard at some point to be recovered by a smaller boat coming from shore.
The Irish Times is reporting that the drugs still need to be tested for purity. They are quoting
sources that said the final amount might be around 500 kg. Also, the newspaper says the drugs
are thought likely to be high purity with the smugglers planning to mix them before distributing
the cocaine.
The police are estimating the current value of the seizure at least $23 million. The newspaper is
saying that it could rise to as much as $38 million when the final amount is determined. The
crew of the vessel is currently being held for questioning. Navibulgar confirmed to the Bulgarian
media that the vessel is currently the subject of an investigation. So far, no arrests have been made.
It is the second major seizure the Irish have made in recent months. In September, another
bulker, the Matthew, was found to be smuggling approximately 2,000 kg of cocaine. The vessel
was seized and a prosecution is ongoing in that case.
The Maritime Executive
Chamber Wall Monoliths Option 1B
Awarded for New Lock at the Soo
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo
project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, awards $213.8 million contract Option 1B (Chamber Wall
Monoliths) to Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) of Westerville, Ohio.
Contract Option 1B includes construction of the lock wall monoliths, very large concrete wall
portions that make up the sides of the chamber along the north and south side of the lock
chamber. The chamber monoliths span between the upstream wide wall monoliths and
downstream wide wall monoliths.
“There are 21 chamber monoliths that make up the north wall and 21 chamber monoliths that
make up the south wall,” Jeremy Nichols, Inland Navigation Design Center, New Lock at the Soo
Design Engineer said. “The chamber monoliths are approximately 44 feet wide and 70 feet tall.
Each monolith will be constructed by placing mass concrete in roughly five-foot-high lifts, with a
total of 14 lifts per monolith.”
The New Lock at the Soo project is being built in 3 phases. Phase 1 (Upstream Channel
Deepening) was completed in 2022, and Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) is expected to be
completed in summer 2024. The Phase 3 contract was awarded to KAT in July 2022 as a base
contract at $1.068 billion. Awarding the base contract allowed the contractor to begin work in
2022 with the remaining work (contract options), to be awarded over the next three years.
“The remaining options are required for a complete lock,” said Kevin McDaniels, Deputy District
Engineer.
“To date, Options 1A (Upstream Wide Wall Monoliths), 1C (New Power Plant Bridge Ramp), 2
(New Pump Well Completion) and 7 (Alligator’s Mouth Mooring Area) have been awarded,
totaling $281.3 million,” said McDaniels. “The leadership team throughout the Corps of
Engineers has made the New Lock at the Soo project a national priority and we have continued
to see strong support every step along the way.”
Four contract options, totaling $320 million, await to be awarded. These options are Option 3
(Lock Operational), Option 4 (Downstream Work), Option 5 (Hands-Free Mooring), and Option 6
(Downstream Ship Arrestors). The Corps of Engineers aims to award these options over the next
two years.
Phase 3 construction began in late 2022, and is expected to last seven years, given efficient
funding and favorable weather. The New Lock at the Soo will be constructed in the footprint of
the Sabin Lock and will be the same size as the Poe Lock (1,200 feet long, 110 feet wide and 32
feet deep).
As of Dec. 4, 2023, KAT has completed over $240 million worth of work. Work to date includes
Upstream cofferdam construction, cells are set and fill is being placed; Downstream cofferdam
construction, cells are being set; abatement of hazardous materials; demolition of existing
structures; partial construction of a new bridge to the hydropower plant; adding stability
structures for the existing monoliths in preparation for dewatering and excavation; installing a
grout curtain for upcoming dewatering and blasting/excavation for a new utility shaft.
“Construction will continue over the winter season, to include hazardous waste abatement,
concrete demolition, utility shaft excavation and electrical work,” said Mollie Mahoney, New
Lock at the Soo Senior Project Manager.
The Soo Locks are essential to U.S. manufacturing and National Security, the New Lock at the
Soo project will provide resiliency for this critical node in the Great Lakes Navigation System. A
2015 Department of Homeland Security study estimates a six-month Poe Lock closure would
temporarily reduce the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by $1.1 trillion, resulting in the loss
of 11 million jobs.
For more information about the New Lock at the Soo project,
visit: https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/About/Highlighted-Projects/New_Soo_Lock/ or contact
Detroit District Public Affairs Specialist Brandon Hubbard, 313-500-3251.
Post Your Christmas Cards on Boatnerd
Information Search Page
Share your Christmas cards with others (attachments must be under 2 MB.) A gallery has been
created here: https://newsearch.boatnerd.com/viewtopic.php?t=166227
‘Tis the Season for the Winter Lay-up List
Although no vessels have officials entered winter lay-up, you can monitor our annual lay-up
listing page here: https://www.boatnerd.com/winter-lay-up-list-2023-2024/
That page will be updated throughout the winter as people send lay-up reports to the
news@boatnerd.net.
How to Watch Special About Life on Lee A. Tregurtha
A reporter from Marquette’s TV6 recently road aboard the Lee A. Tregurtha. See how to watch
it at this link: https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/12/20/how-watch-tv6s-elizabeth-
petersons-hour-long-special-about-life-lee-tregur-tha/?fbclid=IwAR1oQNI8oIBEGsqVIvb80baVr0fezxwHl7lkWjXa5Um_4M0C6ihCrkdQQzc#lqehr3i
m7axeew1jwf
