Day Sixteen

Yesterday was pretty easy. I got lucky finding that larger image right away that gave us all the clues we needed for the two questions. Let’s hope that today goes a similar way!

Question one

During the autumn of 2025, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning regarding a maritime incident that occurred near the following coordinates: 12.381162, 46.468557.
The cause of the incident, however, could not be determined with certainty.
What is the IMO number of the vessel involved?

First step is to look at where those coordinates point us to. It’s unlikely, but not impossible, that any media reports will directly mention GPS coordinates in their posts. A news report would say something like ‘Off the coast of…’ or ‘In the ____ River’. So let’s take a look at the map!

The friendly name of this body of water would be the Gulf of Aden. So let’s search for gulf of aden incident 2025. I found this report which mentions a fire onboard a ship, either the MV FALCON or MV MEDA. Using Vesselfinder.com I found the IMO number for the MV MEDA first, which was incorrect, but the MV FALCON gives us the correct IMO number!

Question two

In response to the vessel’s distress situation, several assets were deployed to provide assistance, including an aircraft from the French armed forces.
Which officer was in command of the rescue operation?

This Reuters article mentions there being an operation underway but doesn’t mention who was in command of the rescue operation.

Going back to those helpful EU reports, this release mentions that the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES was dispatched to assist, with ‘Rear Admiral Andrea Quondamatteo, Force Commander of ASPIDES’ commanding. That’s the answer!

Conclusion

Not quite as quick as yesterday. Those EU releases were very useful though!