crescent yacht position

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CRESCENT Yacht, IMO 9785108

Where is the current position of crescent presently vessel crescent is a yacht ship sailing under the flag of cayman islands . her imo number is 9785108 and mmsi number is 319136700. main ship particulars are length of 135 m and beam of 21 m. maps show the following voyage data - present location, next port, estimated (eta) and predicted time of arrival (pta), speed, course, draught, photos, videos, local time, utc time..

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CRESCENT current position is received by AIS. Ship info reports, fleet analysis, company analyses, address analyses, technical specifications, tonnages, management details, addresses, classification society data and all other relevant statistics are derived from Marine Vessel Traffic database. The data is for informational purposes only and Marine Vessel Traffic is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of data reported above herein.

Yacht, IMO 9785108

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The vessel CRESCENT (IMO 9785108) is a Yacht built in 2018 (6 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Unknown .

Vessel Particulars

CRESCENT current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of CRESCENT data.

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Crescent Specifications

• Name Crescent
• Model Custom
• Hull Colour -
• Naval Architect Lurssen Yachts
• Exterior Designer Espen Oeino
• Interior Designer
• Length Overall 135.0m
• Length at Waterline -
• Draft (min) -
• Draft (max) -
• Gross Tonnage -
• Cabins Total -
• Hull Configuration Displacement
• Hull Material Steel
• Superstructure -
• Deck Material -
• Fuel Type -
• Manufacturer -
• Total Power -
• Propulsion -
• Max Speed -
• Cruising Speed -
• Fuel Capacity -
• Water Capacity -
• Generator -
• Stabilizers -
• Thrusters -
• Amenities -
• Yacht Builder Lurssen Yachts View profile
• Naval Architect Lurssen Yachts View profile
• Exterior Designer Espen Oeino View profile

Yacht Specs

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CRESCENT (IMO 9785108 ) - Yacht

What are crescent ship details.

CRESCENT (IMO: 9785108) is a Yacht registered and sailing under the flag of Cayman Islands . Her gross tonnage is 9034 and deadweight is 1031 . CRESCENT was built in 2018 . CRESCENT length overall (LOA) is 135.61 m, beam is 21 m. Her container capacity is 0 TEU. The ship is operated by DOHLE PRIVATE MARINE CLIENTS .

Where is CRESCENT current position?

CRESCENT current position is received by AIS and displayed on next chart by using of VesselFinder services.

Vessel details for CRESCENT

All details and current position are for informational purposes and VesselTracking is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of CRESCENT data values.

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• Member since Nov 2013
• Free Territory of Trieste in Italy
• Latest Event ●●●●●● All Events
• AIS Name CRESCENT
• IMO 9785108
• MMSI 319136700
• Callsign ZGHT9
• Year Built 2018
• Length 135 m
• Draught 5.1 m / 5.0 m / 5.3 m Avg/Min/Max
• Speed 12.4 kn / 21.1 kn Avg/Max
• Deadweight ●●●●●●
• Gross Tonnage ●●●●●●
• AIS Class —

Current Voyage & ETA Changes

Current location, position received, navigation status, eta sent by vessel ais, eta calculated by fleetmon, vessel and fleetmon eta difference, actual time of arrival, 9 photos for yacht crescent.

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Last Update: 8 Nov 2021, 09:37:52 UTC The following users contributed to this datasheet: bassheiner , UrbanBatic , kl@us , U-kasz , mbanberg , Noorderlicht , congratulationsmjjosephsen ,

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CRESCENT Yacht – Stunning $600 Million Superyacht

CRESCENT yacht is a 135.50 meter (445 ft) superyacht built by Luerssen in Germany and launched in 2018. She can accommodate up to 18 guests and 40 crew members and cost a rumored US $600 Million.

Despite her considerable price, the owner is unknown and his identity has not been released to the public after her purchase.

CRESCENT is currently considered 19th on the list of largest yachts in the world and the 11th largest ever built by Luerrsen.

CRESCENT yacht interior

The nature of the interior and the exact layout are unknown, and only speculations and estimates are available.

It is assumed that CRESCENT includes a sizable gym, several swimming pools, a movie theatre, spa facilities, a beauty salon with several rooms, and an outdoor barbecue.

Wifi and air conditioning as well as a large elevator are also available aboard the superyacht. 

The renowned French design house Zuretti was responsible for developing an extravagant interior design for the motor yacht CRESCENT.

They specialize in custom projects and have worked on a variety of luxury vessels in the past. 

Their trademark style combines classic elements with contemporary features which is what CRESCENT’s interior most likely looks like as well.

Luerssen has described the interior as “traditionally styled” which suggests high-quality wooden elements, luxurious upholstery, and natural tones combined with opulent light fixtures.

According to the renowned manufacturer this style was chosen in accordance with the owner’s wishes. 

Due to her size, she is estimated to have at least three major salons and most likely very spacious cabins.

CRESCENT has a distinct absence of open-air space since most of her decks are permanently covered.

Her pools and jacuzzis are all located in shaded areas and not visible from passing boats or from the air.

The only exception is a medium-sized pool located in a somewhat hidden spot on the aft deck. At least one of her pools is said to feature a custom-made glass bottom.

The exact layout of her cabins isn’t known, however, CRESCENT features a sizable master suite with panoramic views.

She can host up to 18 guests in an estimated 9 cabins and has space for a crew of 40 members. 

One of the few publicly known features is her large glass atrium which spans three separate floors.

This impressive structure has a tinted glass front and can be seen from both her starboard and port side.

These large window fronts let in additional natural light giving the interior a more modern and innovative design. Across the entire yacht, a state-of-the-art entertainment system has been installed, including large tv screens in all bedrooms and salons as well as a modern audio system.

Specifications

CRESCENT displaces an incredible 9.194 tons making her one of the largest yachts in the world by weight. Even for her length of 135.50 m (445 ft) this is impressive.

Her top speed lies somewhere around 18 knots, although she tends to cruise at 12 knots which is reasonably fast considering her gross tonnage.

She is powered by twin MTU 16V4000 diesel engines and has a beam of 22.04 meters (72.4 ft) and a draft of 5.2 meters (17.1 ft).

CRESCENT sails under the Cayman Islands flag, which is one of the most popular in the world for superyachts.

Although the exact details of her sale from Luerssen are unknown, she is rumored to have cost US $600 Million with average running costs of US $25 to $50 Million every year.

She was constructed at the Lemwerder shipyard, which lies close to the city of Bremen in Germany. Since CRESCENT is currently in private ownership, she is not available for charter or for sale.

The Norwegian naval architect and designer Espen Oeino worked on CRESCENT and developed her eye-catching exterior.

Unlike the majority of large yachts, she is not white, which makes her stand out even more, especially when docked in popular harbors across Europe.

The secrecy surrounding her owner and interior has made her a popular target for yacht spotters, although there are still very few photos available of this magnificent vessel.

The exterior of CRESCENT is a dark navy blue, and the upper stories feature a silvery chrome color.

Her design has been described as masculine and muscular in the past, with a modern approach to traditional yacht layout that appears especially striking.

She has a large aluminum superstructure and a total of four decks. Guests have their choice of two helicopter landing pads, one located on the bow of the vessel and the other on the top deck.

The latter is equipped with a retractable helicopter hangar which can be extended to cover a small aircraft if needed.

This is a unique feature that cannot be found in very many other superyachts. It’s yet another example of the high levels of privacy that this yacht offers for its anonymous owners.

It goes without saying that a modern yacht such as CRESCENT is equipped with state-of-the-art zero-speed stabilizers.

On the lower aft deck, she has a generous beach club area with a large swimming platform and an adjacent pool.

However, unlike many other superyachts, this area cannot be closed off when the vessel is underway. 

At night CRESCENT is illuminated by an advanced underwater lighting system that was tailor-made for the yacht. She carries at least three tenders, although their make and type are not known. 

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clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

Spain impounds a third superyacht amid E.U. crackdown on Russian oligarchs

Spanish authorities have impounded a third superyacht believed to belong to a Russian oligarch, a seizure that is part of a global crackdown on those seen to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Crescent, a yacht registered in the Cayman Islands, had requested to depart the Spanish Port of Tarragona on March 4, authorities said, but it did not set sail. The 443-foot yacht has an estimated value of about $600 million, according to SuperyachtFan , a website tracking luxury yachts, which cited its owner as an “unknown billionaire.”

Governments all over the world are working to identify and freeze the assets of Russian elites and their family members, including luxury apartments, money and yachts. Online sleuths are watching their moves, tweeting names, locations, ownership and the latest status of yachts owned by Russian oligarchs.

The Crescent is supersized even by global elite benchmarks — few of the world’s biggest yachts measure more than 400 feet . It was built by the German shipyard Lürssen , which constructs many of the largest yachts, and reportedly features a retractable helicopter hangar and a big glass-bottomed pool.

Schadenfreude at sea: The Internet is watching with glee as Russian oligarchs’ yachts are seized

Spain’s Transportation Ministry said it was collecting information “to confirm the real ownership” of the vessel and whether control of the ship corresponds to an individual on the list of people and entities sanctioned by the European Council over the war in Ukraine. If it turns out to belong to someone on the sanctions list, it will be “immobilized,” officials said.

Spanish authorities said that so far this week, they have seized the Valerie, in the Port of Barcelona, ​​and the Lady Anastasia in Majorca’s Port Adriano. The former is suspected to be owned by Sergey Chemezov, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a subject of Western sanctions. Chemezov is the head of Rostec, a Russian industrial and military conglomerate.

The United States and its allies have said they will not fight the Russian military directly or support Ukraine’s request for a no-fly zone , which U.S. officials fear could lead to broader war with a nuclear-armed superpower. But they are waging an economic war against the Putin-connected Russian super-elite .

Russian superyachts and aircraft barred from New Zealand under new sanctions

Protesters this week broke into a white stucco mansion in central London belonging to the family of a Russian oligarch, unfurled a Ukrainian flag, and declared the property “liberated” and ready for refugees. Even countries as far as New Zealand have said Russian superyachts and aircraft would be barred from entering its waters and airspace under new sanctions legislation passed in response to the Kremlin invasion.

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Crescent 117: On board the new 35.6 metre motor yacht

Canadian shipyard Crescent Custom Yachts has delivered a new and enticing superyacht. Arnie Hammerman checks out the 35.6 metre Crescent 117 .

A new yacht, made in Canada, was one of the star attractions of the Vancouver International Boat Show. The Crescent 117, based on an existing hull, created a positive buzz with its attractive styling and quality finishes. It had been a while since a new build of this size made in British Columbia debuted at the show.

For many years, local yards produced quality yachts, many of them sold to US owners. However, the 2008 financial crisis put that on hold. The recession hit the US hard while Canada’s currency was bolstered by the country’s natural resources. The client pool all but dried up. Resourceful yards, such as Crescent Custom Yachts, turned to commercial and refit work to survive. With the exchange rate favorable to Canadian exports again, Crescent’s owner, Tim Charles, decided to build a new yacht on spec.

Charles, the owner of Crescent Custom Yachts, based in Vancouver, has long made the argument that the exchange rate makes Canadian shipyards competitive. His yard has done new-builds – most notably 44.2 metre Muchos Mas delivered in 2017 – and refits, and Charles, who has an enterprising streak, also launched a brand of sturdy, smaller boats called Tactical Custom Boats.

Combining his refit experience with his knowledge and passion for building new boats, Charles wanted to streamline the completion of a new yacht by starting with a quality existing hull. His investigation led him to Florida, where an existing project that had been put on hold caught his attention. The fiberglass hull had been built in Italy to ABS standards for Destiny Yachts and featured a solid bottom with foam core in the partially completed decking and superstructure. A pair of MTU 12V 4000 M90 engines came with it.

Charles carefully researched the history of the 32 metre hull, analyzed its current condition and noted the track record and performance of previous boats built on this hull design before he decided it could serve as the base for a quality new build his team could complete at a competitive price. He also negotiated with MTU, which approved a new warranty on the unused engines.

“By purchasing an existing hull, we shaved a year or more off the build time,” Charles says. “We knew the design was solid, so we had a good foundation to work from. The goal was to produce a new boat that is ready to go and can compete boat to boat, apples to apples, with other similar-sized new vessels.

“Many buyers simply don’t want to wait, so we are delivering a completed boat that we think will have universal appeal. If an owner wants to fine-tune and further customize the boat, we can accommodate that too as our yard is fully capable.”

Gregory C Marshall Naval Architect , based in neighboring Victoria, was brought in to ensure the quality of the existing structures and to redesign and modernize the superstructure and interior. “Of all the different transformational projects we have been involved with, this is one of the most extreme examples,” Gregory Marshall says. “The end result is a brand-new product in nearly every sense. There were structural and logistical improvements made to the hull, deck and superstructure, and the interior decor and design is completely new.”

Marshall and Charles had the same vision for the project, which was to target a wider and perhaps younger audience by building a yacht with a contemporary look and feel. “We wanted to get away from older style mahogany, walnut or American cherry interiors that have become commonplace and find more unique materials to work with. We decided to use black oak and stone surfaces complemented by high-end fabrics, textured wall and ceiling panels with Di-Noc wrapping to create additional contrast,” Charles says.

The design team reconfigured the pilothouse and upper deck to create more useable space with different zones for operating the boat and entertaining. The split-level upper deck has a lower open section for loose deck lounges, a four-person jetted hot tub, wet bar and barbecue. A Steelhead Marine 2,500lb davit is available to launch a five metre Carbon Craft custom tender or PWCs. The flybridge, five steps up, has a center helm seat and twin wing stations with great visibility for docking. It is also a wonderful open-air spot to frolic with seating and tables on both sides. Special touches include a hardtop with a large opening sunroof activated at the push of a button. Below is hidden storage for deck furniture and water toys.

Marshall did a nice job of creating pleasant yacht- like lines while maximizing these spaces. The hardtop and electronics array held aloft with vertical masts and pillars create a stylish contrast to the angular black strip of windows of the decks below.

The interior decor of the Crescent 117 features cool colors with stone surfaces showcasing gray, black and white that provide a contemporary feel. An app for smartphones and tablets connects to the Crestron system controlling the recessed indirect lighting used throughout the cabin, the blinds and the state-of-the- art La Scala audiovisual entertainment system. Above the glass dining table, overhead lights from the Gorve collection by Elan, composed of cubic zirconia embedded in acrylic, deliver sparkle and flare. In the salon area, a custom varnished teak burled stump coffee table with integrated lights provides a sculptured highlight distinct from both the darker wood cabinets and the plush gray fabric sofas that surround it.

“The black oak millwork cabinets that line the salon were chosen for their subtle and consistent grain profile. Black oak is used throughout the vessel and creates a nice contrast with the lighter white and gray quartz stone surfaces. Hard surfaces follow the patterns created by alternating fabrics, wall coverings and Di-Noc wrapping used throughout the vessel,” says Geoff Harrington, senior designer at Gregory C Marshall Naval Architect.

The galley features stainless appliances and distinctive gray and white flowing quartz. The wavy patterned stone is used as a backsplash by the stove and on the countertops, and it cascades down the side of the cabinets creating a gentle waterfall effect. A section of the galley is in a corridor that connects to the dining table in the salon. Lined with countertops, this transition area can be used as a butler’s pantry or a staging center for more formal table service.

The galley itself, complete with a cozy breakfast nook, is an inviting spot for owners and guests to gather for more informal meals or to watch chef preparations. Unusually, it provides access to a double cabin with en suite, separate from other accommodation, which could prove ideal for celebrity chefs.

All other cabins are below. A full-beam master features large hull windows that were carefully added to the original hull design. They not only bring light into the cabin but also give the boat a more modern profile when viewed from the outside.

Powered blinds provide instant privacy. “The hull windows are an important part of the design, allowing maximum scenic views from the interior of the master, guest and crew quarters,” Charles says. “All windows and the FRP structure supporting them are designed and built to class standards. Most things we do are a minimum of ABS or Lloyd’s classification standards even if the total project is not required or desired to be classed.”

The master has a walk-in cedar-lined closet complete with built-in drawers and cubbies. The master head is finished with intricate stone tiles from Ames’ Luxe Marble Labrinto series and patterned Di-Noc film on the walls and cabinet faces. A lounge and vanity add convenience and comfort to the master cabin.

The look is consistently fresh and modern throughout the cabin deck, which can sleep eight in an athwartships VIP and two other guest cabins, all with en suites. Headroom is consistent at nearly two metres throughout. With the additional double cabin adjacent to the galley, the boat sleeps 10, plus crew – sensible accommodations for a 35 metre yacht.

The raised pilothouse has a single gray Stidd helm seat in front of a stylized black lacquered wheel. Drawers and space for paper charts are adjacent to the helm and its triple Garmin multifunction displays. All controls are easily accessed, and the rake of the windshield provides ample visibility around six large carbon fiber wrapped mullions. The helm is purposeful and direct to allow the captain to handle the yacht’s top speed of around 26 knots and a cruise speed of 20 knots but is also welcoming to guests. There is seating for eight or more on a raised mezzanine with silver Majilite cushions around a black Cambria quartz table and 6ft 1in headroom even on the elevated step.

“There is getting there and being there,” Charles says. “We built spaces both inside and out with forward-facing views so that guest and owners can be part of what is going on while underway. We expect this to be a captain-operated boat, so we kept the helm and controls separated from guest seating for safer operation. There are also separate crew quarters aft with room for five crew in three cabins, a crew mess and laundry.”

The Crescent 117 is a refreshingly modern yacht with amenities that showcase the experience that the Charles family has amassed over the years. Owners ready to begin their voyage will appreciate this boat, priced at $13.5 million .

This feature is taken from the May 2020 issue of BOAT International US. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

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Private YACHT

NOT FOR CHARTER*

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Crescent (ex: Project Thunder)

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CRESCENT yacht NOT for charter*

135.61m  /  444'11 | lurssen | 2018.

Owner & Guests

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Guest elevator
• State-of-the-art cinema
• Inviting pool
• DNV (Det Norske Veritas) (VL) (IACS) classification
• Interior design from Zuretti

The 135.61m/444'11" motor yacht 'Crescent' was built by Lurssen in Germany at their Lemwerder shipyard. Her interior is styled by French designer design house Zuretti and she was delivered to her owner in August 2018. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Espen Oeino.

Guest Accommodation

Crescent has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 18 guests in 9 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 40 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include a movie theatre, beauty salon, elevator, underwater lights, beach club and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Crescent is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel MTU (20V 1163 M84) 20-cylinder 8,837hp engines running at 1280rpm, she comfortably cruises at 11 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 15 knots. Crescent features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. Her water tanks store around 110,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to DNV (Det Norske Veritas) (VL) (IACS) classification society rules.

PRIVATE YACHT - "Crescent" IS NOT FOR CHARTER

Sorry, motor yacht "Crescent" is a strictly Private yacht and is NOT available for Charter. Click here to view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting another luxury charter yacht.

"Yacht Charter Fleet" is a free information service, if your vessel changes its status, and does become available for charter, please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Crescent Photos

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

NOTE TO U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION

Due to the international and fluid nature of the yachting business and the fact there is no global central industry listing service to which all charter yachts subscribe it is impossible to ascertain a truly up-to-date view of the market. We are a news and information service and not always informed when yachts leave the charter market, or when they are recently sold and renamed it is not clear if they are still for charter. Whilst we use our best endeavors to maintain accurate information, the existence of a listing on this website should in no way supersede official documentation supplied by representatives of a yacht.

Specification

M/Y Crescent

SIMILAR LUXURY YACHTS FOR CHARTER

Here are a selection of superyachts which are similar to Crescent yacht which are believed to be available for charter. To view all similar luxury charter yachts click on the button below.

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The Danzante Bay , a 50-metre-long Crescent 164, is currently under construction by Richmond-based Crescent Custom Yachts and the largest-ever yacht to be built in Canada.

Crescent Custom Yachts Comes Out of Hiding With Something to Prove

Top of the class.

• Writer Craig Ritchie

When we think about luxury yachts, most people quickly form a mental image of the Côte d’Azur. Or maybe the Seychelles. The Thai coast, perhaps. Not Richmond, B.C. And yet, the Vancouver suburb is very much ground zero for a growing number of yacht buyers worldwide. Not as a destination, mind you, but as the place where some of the most exciting luxury yachts being built today come to life and gain their first taste of the sea. Richmond is the home of Crescent Custom Yachts , a Canadian yacht builder that has been raising eyebrows with its designs and bold approach to making dreams a reality.

Owner Tim Charles has an extra bounce in his step these days as Crescent’s latest project—a 50-metre-long Crescent 164—begins to take shape in the shipyard. “No one here has done anything like this before,” he says. “It’s the biggest yacht anyone has built in Canada.”

It’s no exaggeration to say that the vessel represents a major milestone for Crescent, the boutique yacht builder established by Charles’ grandfather Jack. Crafted with an eye to include every imaginable luxury, the vessel—with exteriors designed by Gregory C. Marshall and interior by H2 Yacht Design—is being built on a composite hull for an American entrepreneur. When it finally launches in late 2021 or early 2022, the yacht will be christened  Danzante Bay  in a nod to the owner’s resort in Mexico. In many respects,  Danzante Bay  is both a climax for Crescent Custom Yachts and, at the same time, only the beginning of its story.

Crescent Custom Yachts originally opened its doors in the 1980s as Crescent Beach Boatbuilders, named for its location on Boundary Bay between Vancouver and the U.S. border. A successful businessman in the trucking industry, Jack Charles began producing yachts as a sideline after purchasing a custom yacht of his own. Initially sourcing hulls from American shipyards and completing the work on a custom basis, Crescent soon outgrew its original production space and moved to a state-of-the-art shipyard in Richmond, rebranding itself as Crescent Custom Yachts to better reflect the unique, high-end products it created.

Tim Charles joined the family business with the unglamorous responsibility of pushing a broom while still attending business school. Shortly after he graduated, financial pressures from a soft market led the family to close the business in 2004. “I really wanted to be in the yacht business,” Charles says, “so I started, specializing in yacht refits and transformational overhauls. I hired many of the former Crescent employees, and within a short period of time, I began leasing service bays from the new owner of the building that Crescent had formerly occupied.”

With the benefit of Charles’ business acumen, his new company Platinum Marine soon grew to more than 100 employees. As Charles established himself in the marine industry, the assets of Crescent Custom Yachts were sold to a Florida-based investment group whose intent was to buy up some additional marine businesses and resume building yachts under the Crescent nameplate, but with the arrival of the global recession, the venture went nowhere. In 2015, Charles bought back the Crescent brand and intellectual property. Today, Crescent Custom Yachts focuses on building new yachts, and Platinum Marine on the refit business.

“I saw an opportunity to bring Crescent Custom Yachts back to life by utilizing the capabilities of our exceptional craftsmen,” Charles explains. “Prospective yacht buyers come to see Crescent, and they’re not walking into a start-up operation, they’re meeting with an experienced company that has established capabilities and a history of managing major projects.”

Crescent 117 features a contemporary aesthetic and can accommodate up to 10 people in addition to four crew.

It also allows the company to leverage existing relationships with major yacht brokers, a key consideration in an industry where word-of-mouth endorsement remains critically important. “We were able to launch our first yacht, a Crescent 145, in a comparatively short time,” Charles says, first showing it at the 2016 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

That first Crescent 145—a 44-metre-long custom fibreglass yacht—made a major splash, in no small part due to the celebrity appeal of being designed by Jonathan Quinn Barnett and built on a hull design by Jack Sarin, two legendary names in the luxury yacht community. But more than that, the yacht raised the bar on fit, finish, and attention to detail.

“Prospective yacht buyers come to see Crescent, and they’re not walking into a start-up operation, they’re meeting with an experienced company that has established capabilities and a history of managing major projects.” —Tim Charles

It also helped to have an impeccable sense of timing. When Charles reacquired Crescent Custom Yachts, the U.S. economy was just beginning to climb back from recession. A completed 145 to show the world and a particularly attractive exchange rate between the Canadian and U.S. dollars meant that yacht buyers on both sides of the border found Crescent’s value proposition too good to resist. After all, when you’re talking about boats that sell for prices well north of $10 million U.S., the effect of a 75-cent Canadian dollar can’t be overstated. “We can offer our U.S. customers unbeatable value, while the exchange rate also encourages our domestic customers to buy Canadian and avoid the currency premium they would face otherwise,” Charles explains. “There is no down side to it.”

The success of the Crescent 145 launch did more than just re-establish Crescent Custom Yachts as a builder to watch, it led to firm orders for boats. First came a 33-metre Crescent 110, built with an unusual all-aluminum construction, followed by a 35-metre Crescent 117. Then came the Crescent 164 currently under construction, due to be followed by a Crescent 138 once there is space in the shipyard for work to begin. “The limiting factor for us right now is the capacity of our shipyard,” Charles says. “Depending on the scope and complexity of the boat, it could take two years or more to complete a large yacht.”

Compounding the building-space challenge is the added curveball represented by COVID-19, which has made it more difficult to show the yachts and the facility to prospective buyers. “Probably 75 per cent of our customers are located in the U.S.,” Charles notes. “Normally, they could just fly up for the day, take a tour, sea-trial a boat, and make a decision. But that’s just not been possible.”

Even so, through the summer of 2020, sales of all boats went through the roof. Superyachts were no different. “We saw a lot of people looking to move up in the size and scale of their yacht,” Charles observes. “Or to perform upgrades to the one they already have, with a view to spending more time aboard.”

Crescent’s success in a highly competitive industry speaks to a happy combination of good fortune and good management. But a lot of factors outside of the company have also contributed to British Columbia’s ascent as a global yachting hub. One of the biggest was the opening of the Victoria International Marina in 2019. Years in planning and development, Victoria’s $42-million, 28-slip eco-friendly superyacht marina happened to finally begin construction just as Crescent Custom Yachts began stepping out in the world. Global news coverage of the construction of the new world-class marina in one of the most beautiful yacht-cruising regions on Earth couldn’t help but focus even closer attention on Crescent.

Crescent-145 pre-launch.

“Victoria Harbour is a natural starting and ending point for yachters exploring the beauty of the Gulf Islands and north to Alaska,” says Victoria International Marina CEO Craig Norris. “The Pacific Northwest is a tremendously beautiful yachting paradise, with more than 25,000 kilometres of coastline to explore between Victoria and Alaska. The marina is a critical step toward putting the region on the global yachting map.”

In line with its long-term goal of developing Canada’s Pacific coast as a superyacht cruising route, the Victoria International Marina had been scheduled to host the Pacific Superyacht Forum in June 2020, an event that has now been rescheduled for later this year in response to the pandemic. “That will be a major boon for us and the entire region,” Norris says. The event will also serve as an official launch pad for the newly created Canadian Superyacht Association, which aims, in partnership with its American counterpart, to develop luxury yacht cruising on the West Coast.

It’s all music to Tim Charles’ ears. From zero new builds in over 10 years to multiple new yachts on the go at once, including the largest luxury yacht ever to be built in Canada, Crescent Custom Yachts today finds itself with the wind solidly at its back.

Photos provided by Crescent Custom Yachts.

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NAUTI NICKEL

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The current position of NAUTI NICKEL is in North Atlantic Ocean with coordinates 27.45794° / -80.32376° as reported on 2024-03-12 13:08 by AIS to our vessel tracker app. The vessel's current speed is 0 Knots

The vessel NAUTI NICKEL (IMO: 9258193, MMSI: 368596000) is a General Cargo that was built in 2002 ( 22 years old ) . It's sailing under the flag of [US] USA .

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Middle East crisis: Gaza aid ship from Cyprus begins offloading food; US stresses need for Rafah plan that protects civilians – as it happened

This blog is now closed. You can read our latest coverage on the Israel-Gaza war here

• 1d ago Summary
• 1d ago Gaza aid ship from Cyprus offloading first load of food
• 1d ago Biden: top US Democrat made 'good speech' when he called Netanyahu major obstacle to peace
• 1d ago Blinken stresses need for clear Rafah plan that gets civilians out of harm's way
• 1d ago Summary of the day so far
• 1d ago 'There is no alternative to the large-scale delivery of aid by land', says UN humanitarian agency
• 1d ago Netanyahu rejects Hamas truce proposal, saying its demands 'are still absurd'
• 1d ago Netanyahu's office approve plans for Rafah operation - Reuters report
• 1d ago Israel says 'Palestinians', not army, fired on Gaza crowd on Thursday
• 1d ago 149 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, says health ministry
• 1d ago Protests held in Dublin and Belfast urging US president to demand a permanent ceasefire in Middle East
• 1d ago Palestinian president appoints longtime economic adviser to be next prime minister
• 1d ago Denmark disburses planned contribution to Unrwa
• 1d ago Spanish aid vessel visible off Gaza coast – reports
• 2d ago Egypt is seeking to reach ceasefire in Gaza, president Sisi says
• 2d ago Hezbollah tells Iran it would fight alone in any war with Israel, sources tell Reuters
• 2d ago Australia resumes funding for UNRWA and pledges more Gaza aid
• 2d ago Hamas issues ceasefire proposal detailing exchange of hostages and prisoners
• 2d ago Opening summary

Gaza aid ship from Cyprus offloading first load of food

Images and videos have been coming through World Central Kitchen offloading food aid to Gaza on Thursday as part of WCK’s Operation Safeena (boat in Arabic).

In a post on X a few minutes ago, renowned Spanish-American chef José Andrés said that so two crates of have been delivered, with many more to go.

Today @WCKitchen is reaching 37 million meals in Gaza. On the same day that we hoped to finish our Jetty and download 200 tones on a pilot test before bad weather. So far 2 crates already delivered from the @openarms_fund barge.🙏But still more to do next few ours… #FeedTheNorth pic.twitter.com/3ECfsKalbR — José Andrés 🇺🇸🇪🇸🇺🇦 (@chefjoseandres) March 15, 2024

The WCK is expected to deliver 37 million meals to Gaza where about 2 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by Israeli attacks across the narrow strip. Since October, Israel has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians.

WCK is offloading desperately-needed food that arrived on our first maritime aid shipment to Gaza as part of Operation Safeena. This is our international effort to bring as much aid as possible to Palestinians by sea. Photo credit AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana. #ChefsForThePeople pic.twitter.com/psM65fbaV4 — World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) March 15, 2024

The ship set sail from Cyprus on Tuesday.

Here is a wrap-up of the day’s key events:

A Gaza aid ship from Lanarca, Cyprus offloaded its first load of food on Friday. Renowned Spanish-American chef José Andrés said that two crates have been delivered, with many more to go. The WCK is expected to deliver 37 million meals to Gaza where about 2 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by Israeli attacks across the narrow strip.

The US Central Command has conducted its 11th aid drop into Gaza. In a statement on Friday, CENTCOM said: “U.S. C-17 and C-130s dropped over 35,700 U.S. meals ready to eat and 31,800 bottles of water into Northern Gaza, an area of great need, allowing for civilian access to the critical aid.”

The International Court of Justice said it will hold hearings next month on Nicaragua’s case against Germany for providing weapons to Israel and defunding UNRWA, Reuters reports. According to Nicaragua, Germany is violating the 1948 Genocide conventions and the 1949 Geneva conventions surrounding the laws of war in Gaza where Israeli forces have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians since last October.

US president Joe Biden said that Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer made a “good speech” on Thursday when Schumer called for new Israeli elections and criticized Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “He made a good speech,” Biden said to reporters, adding, “He expressed serious concerns, shared not only by him but by many Americans.”

The US needs to see a clear and implementable plan in Rafah, including how to get civilians out of harm’s way, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Friday, Reuters reports. Blinken, whose comments came after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it approved plans for a Rafah invasion, also told reporters that the US has not yet seen such plans.

Netanyahu rejected the latest proposal by Hamas for a truce and release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, saying its demands “are still absurd.” However, he said he would send Israeli delegates to Qatar to continue truce efforts “once the security cabinet discusses the Israeli position”.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters that Israel’s rejection of its latest truce counter-proposal showed that Netanyahu was “determined to pursue the aggression against our people and undermine all efforts exerted to reach a ceasefire agreement”. It was up to Washington to push its ally Israel to accept a ceasefire, he said.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to travel to Jordan and Israel over the weekend to lobby for more aid to be delivered to Gaza , his spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said on Friday. The German leader will also reiterate his warning against a ground offensive in Rafah, said Hebestreit.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast urging US president Joe Biden to demand a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East. The Amnesty International demonstrations took place to coincide with Irish premier Leo Varadkar’s meeting with Biden at the White House as part of the traditional St Patrick’s Day visit on Friday.

The UN’s human rights office has issued a statement in which it “deplores the recent spate of killings” of Palestinians waiting to access aid deliveries across Gaza amid Israel’s bombardment of the strip.

Following the killings of at least 20 people and the injury of over 150 others who the Gaza health ministry said were targeted by Israeli forces while waiting for aid, the UN said:

“Israel, as the occupying power, has the duty, to the fullest extent of the means available to it, to ensure the provision of food and medical care for the population commensurate with their needs. If it is unable to provide these, Israel has the obligation to facilitate humanitarian relief activities, including by ensuring the conditions of safety required for such activities. Doing so is becoming even more urgent given the spread of starvation in Gaza, especially in Gaza City and north Gaza, where at least 27 people, mostly children, are already reported to have died from dehydration and malnutrition. OHCHR reiterates its resounding plea for an immediate ceasefire and to bring to an end the untold suffering of the innocent civilians of Gaza.”

“People should not have to die while trying to keep their families alive,” UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Friday.

Griffiths’ comment comes after 20 people were killed by Israeli forces while waiting for aid, the Gaza health ministry said. More than 150 people were wounded, the ministry added.

Distributing aid in Gaza should be done in a safe, dignified and predictable manner.   Anything less is unconscionable. pic.twitter.com/qDjn8zIqV9 — Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) March 15, 2024

A group of Palestinians in Gaza held their first Friday prayers of Ramadan amid the rubble of a mosque in Rafah destroyed by an Israeli airstrike last month:

Since October, in addition to killing over 30,000 Palestinians, Israel has destroyed at least 200 buildings of cultural and historical significance in Gaza, including mosques, cemeteries and museums.

“The destruction of heritage in Gaza is also the destruction of traditions, it’s also the destruction of their habits, of their culture,” Isber Sabrine, head of the NGO Heritage for Peace, told the Guardian.

“It’s a huge destruction of heritage to intentionally disconnect the people of Gaza from their land. It’s important to preserve and restore. When the war stops there will be a need to evaluate what is destroyed,” she added.

The US Central Command has conducted its 11th aid drop into Gaza.

In a statement on Friday, CENTCOM said:

“U.S. C-17 and C-130s dropped over 35,700 U.S. meals ready to eat and 31,800 bottles of water into Northern Gaza, an area of great need, allowing for civilian access to the critical aid.”

U.S. Central Command conducts 11th Humanitarian Airdrop into Gaza U.S. Central Command conducted the 11th air drop of humanitarian assistance into Northern Gaza on March 15, 2024, at 12:12 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing… pic.twitter.com/ZzwKOn24gy — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2024

The charity ship Open Arms is working alongside World Central Kitchen in delivering aid to surviving Palestinians in Gaza after sailing 72 hours from Larnaca, Cyprus.

In a post on X, the organization announced that they are the first ship to open the humanitarian maritime corridor that was set up by numerous countries including the US, Cyprus, the UAE and Qatar.

On board the boat was 200 tons of flour, rice, lentils, chickpeas and tuna, among other necessities “that will become 1 million meals,” Open Arms said.

🔴 #BREAKING 🔴 The #OpenArms boat in joint mission with @WCKitchen is already off the coast of #Gaza , after 72 hours of sailing from Larnaca, Cyprus. We are the first ship to open this humanitarian maritime corridor that will allow the entry of food to alleviate the extreme… https://t.co/A5o5cQurjI — Open Arms ENG (@openarms_found) March 15, 2024

The International Court of Justice said it will hold hearings next month on Nicaragua’s case against Germany for providing weapons to Israel and defunding UNRWA, Reuters reports.

According to Nicaragua, Germany is violating the 1948 Genocide conventions and the 1949 Geneva conventions surrounding the laws of war in Gaza where Israeli forces have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians since last October.

Earlier this month, Nicaragua asked the ICJ to issue emergency measures requiring Germany to halt its provision of weapons to Israel. It is also asking Germany to reverse its decision to stop funding UNRWA, which has been critical in providing aid to about 2 million Palestinians in Gaza.

In a February report reviewed by Reuters, UNRWA said that some of its employees released into Gaza from Israeli detention reported having been coerced by Israeli authorities into falsely stating that UNRWA has links to Hamas and took part in the 7 October attacks which killed 1,200 people.

Reuters reports that the ICJ’s emergency measures hearings can result in preliminary injuctions to ensure that a dispute does not get worse as a final conclusion gets decided, which can take several years.

Biden: top US Democrat made 'good speech' when he called Netanyahu major obstacle to peace

US president Joe Biden said that Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer made a “good speech” on Thursday when Schumer called for new Israeli elections and criticized Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“He made a good speech,” Biden said to reporters, adding, “He expressed serious concerns, shared not only by him but by many Americans.”

He added that his staff were notified about the speech in advance by Schumer, Reuters reports.

Blinken stresses need for clear Rafah plan that gets civilians out of harm's way

The US needs to see a clear and implementable plan in Rafah, including how to get civilians out of harm’s way, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Friday, Reuters reports.

Blinken, whose comments came after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it approved plans for a Rafah invasion, also told reporters that the US has not yet seen such plans.

Blinken added that the US will work as long and hard as it takes to get a plan for Rafah implemented.

There are over a million Palestinians sheltering in the southern city of Rafah as Israeli forces have killed over 30,000 Palestinians across the strip in the last five months.

Summary of the day so far

It has just gone 5.15pm in Gaza , Tel Aviv and Beirut, and 6.15pm in Sana’a. I am handing over the blog now to my colleague Maya Yang.

Here is a recap of the latest developments:

The NGO, Open Arms, said on Friday that its boat, in a joint mission with the US NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK), is “already off the coast of Gaza, after 72 hours of sailing from Larnaca, Cyprus”. The WCK said it was already loading another boat in Cyprus with food aid for Gaza.

According to a statement on Friday from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, “an IDF plan of operation to enter the southern Gaza city of Rafah” has been approved. The statement said: “The IDF is prepared for the operation and to evacuate the [civilian] population.”

Egypt is seeking to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, increase entry of aid, and allow for the displaced in the south to move to the north, president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday. Sisi, speaking in a recorded message, also warned against the danger of an Israeli incursion into the border city of Rafah.

Family members of Israeli hostages are protested outside the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv where the war cabinet met on Friday “urging them to accept a deal being mediated with Hamas”, according to the Times of Israel. “‘The time has come to bring them home,’ protesters chanted as they blocked Begin Road,” said the Israeli news publication.

The Israeli army said on Friday that “armed Palestinians” opened fire on civilians awaiting humanitarian aid in northern Gaza, rejecting claims by the Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry that Israeli soldiers were responsible. The Gaza health ministry had earlier said Israeli fire killed 20 people and wounded 155 at a roundabout, and an AFP journalist on the scene saw several bodies and people who had been shot.

Israeli checkpoint personnel denied entry to some Palestinians travelling from the West Bank to Jerusalem for prayers on the first Friday in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Thousands came to Qalandiya checkpoint, the largest crossing between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Despite the tight restrictions, about 40,000 worshippers were able to pray at al-Aqsa mosque, the Times of Israel reported, citing the Israeli police commissioner Kobi Shabtai.

The latest figures from the Gaza health ministry, which is run by Hamas, said 149 Palestinians were killed and 300 injured in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. According to the statement, at least 31,490 Palestinians have been killed and 73,439 have been injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants.

“There is no alternative to the large-scale delivery of aid by land,” said the UN humanitarian agency (Ocha) on Friday. It also said the Israeli military had a “responsibility to facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid into and across Gaza, safely, regularly and at the scale required”.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas appointed his longtime economic adviser, Mohammad Mustafa, to be the next prime minister in the face of US pressure to reform the Palestinian Authority as part of Washington’s postwar vision for Gaza.

Australia will restore funding to the United Nations relief agency for Palestinians (Unrwa) , weeks after the agency lost hundreds of millions of dollars in support following Israeli allegations that some of its Gaza-based staff participated in the 7 October attack. The Australian government also pledged on Friday to increase aid for Gaza, with foreign minister Penny Wong expressing horror at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of Unrwa, thanked Australia for resuming its funding of the UN agency.

Denmark’s foreign ministry announced that the country has disbursed its planned contribution to Unrwa . In a statement, the Danish foreign ministry said: “The DKK 105m contribution will primarily support Unrwa’s efforts to mitigate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The disbursement follows the initiation of a number of necessary UN measures, and decisions by like-minded such as Sweden and Canada, as well as the EU, to disburse aid to Unrwa.”

The EU is close to agreeing sanctions on Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank after Hungary signalled an end to its opposition, European diplomats said on Friday , reported Reuters. While much international attention has focused on Hamas’s cross-border assault from Gaza and Israel’s subsequent war there, European officials have also expressed increasing concern about rising violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Some diplomates said the sanctions could be approved by EU foreign ministers on Monday but others said more time would be needed.

A missile fired at a ship in the Red Sea caused no damage, marine security monitors have said after initially suspecting it had . The Royal Navy’s United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations and security firm Ambrey said the ship was hit west of the rebel-held Yemeni port of Hodeida in the early hours of Friday.

Hezbollah has told Iran it would fight alone in any war with Israel, sources have shared with Reuters. The head of Iran’s Quds force visited Beirut in February to discuss the risk posed if Israel next aims at Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

EU member states are expected to agree sanctions against Israeli extremist settlers after Hungary altered its position and said it would not block them.

A high ranking EU official said: “They have been blocking everything on Russia and Israel for the past three months. They have not said they are dropping their opposition but they have indicated they will not disagree.”

It is thought the way was paved by an agreement to impose a third, and separate, round of sanctions against Hamas amid increasing concern over sexual violence and rape during the conflict.

Hungary, a staunch ally of the Israeli government, had been the most vociferous opposing sanctions on settlers.

Foreign ministers will also hear from US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Monday for the US’s latest assessment of war in the Middle East and the “extremely dire” situation for civilian Palestinians in Gaza , officials said.

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Israel-Hamas war: Netanyahu approves plans for Rafah military operation

What we know.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved plans for a ground offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah , his office said in a statement today. The Israeli military is "preparing for the operational side and for the evacuation of the population," it said. More than 1 million people are sheltering in the city, many of them displaced after escaping Israeli military offensives in other parts of the enclave.
• The statement also discussed the latest cease-fire proposal put forward by Hamas , which it described as "unrealistic." An Israeli delegation will travel to Qatar to discuss their position. Hamas presented the proposal to mediators and the U.S., according to Reuters, which reported that it includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, including 100 who are serving life sentences.
• A private aid ship that has been chugging slowly across the Mediterranean Sea arrived in Gaza today. The Open Arms vessel is towing a barge containing flour, rice and protein to the enclave, where five months of war have left around a quarter of its 2.3 million residents “one step away” from famine, according to the United Nations.
• A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck a ship in the Red Sea, causing damage to the vessel, according to the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. It said the ship reported being "struck by a missile" off the port city of Hodeida. The Iran-backed rebel group did not immediately acknowledge the attack, although it typically takes hours to acknowledge its assaults.
• The Biden administration imposed sanctions on two Israeli outposts and three settlers it accused of undermining stability in the occupied West Bank yesterday, as it appealed to Israel to do more to prevent settler violence. Itamar Ben-Gvir , Israel's ultranationalist national security minister, said it was "proof that the U.S. administration does not understand who is an enemy and who it loves."
• The death toll in Gaza since Oct. 7 has surpassed 31,000 , according to the enclave's Health Ministry, which says more than 73,000 have been injured. The Israeli military said at least 247 soldiers have been killed since the ground invasion of Gaza began.

Israel weighing the use of private security contractors to protect aid shipments to Gaza, officials say

Courtney Kube

Carol E. Lee Carol E. Lee is the Washington managing editor.

Israel is exploring using international private security contractors to protect humanitarian aid deliveries in  Gaza , according to one former and two current U.S. officials. 

Israeli  officials have broached the idea in recent weeks with senior officials from the Biden administration, which is shipping the components of a floating dock to Gaza so it can deliver aid by sea. Some U.S. officials are reluctant, however, to have American troops or security contractors on the ground in Gaza, the officials said, and are especially wary of having Americans provide armed security. 

The officials said the Israeli government has approached several security companies already, but declined to specify which ones. The Israelis also brought up having other countries pay the hefty costs of the contractors, the officials said. 

Read the full story here.

Palestinian President Abbas appoints new prime minister of Palestinian Authority

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas named Mohammad Mustafa, an ally and leading business figure as prime minister with a mandate to help reform the Palestinian Authority (PA), the state-run WAFA news agency said Thursday.

Mustafa’s appointment  comes after mounting pressure to overhaul and revitalize the governing body of the occupied Palestinian territories and improve its governance in the occupied West Bank where it is based.

As president, Abbas remains by far the most powerful figure in the Palestinian Authority, but the appointment of a new government was a demonstration of his willingness to meet international demands for change in the administration.

Mustafa, who helped organize the reconstruction of Gaza following a previous conflict, was assigned to lead the relief and rebuilding of the area, which has been shattered by more than five months of war, and reform Palestinian Authority institutions, WAFA added.

Mustafa replaces former Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh who, along with his government, resigned in February.

23 million tons of debris created by destruction in Gaza, UNRWA says

Mirna Alsharif

The destruction in Gaza has created 23 million tons of debris, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

It will take years to clear the rubble, which includes homes, schools and other infrastructure that has been damaged or destroyed, the organization said.

Tens of thousands gather for evening prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Chantal Da Silva

JERUSALEM — Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Friday night for evening and Taraweeh prayers.

At least 90,000 people made their way to the compound, according to the Jerusalem Governorate.

Later in the evening, hundreds of people filled the plaza steps outside the Damascus Gate — something Palestinians have not been able to do throughout much of the war.

Despite the heaviness that has hung in the air this Ramadan, there was also a sense of jubilance here in East Jerusalem, as children ran through the streets and friends and families gathered to enjoy sweets and snacks just outside the Old City.

Gaza hospital overwhelmed after another attack on aid truck crowds

An NBC News camera crew was at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City as staff struggled to deal with the number of casualties from a deadly shooting attack on crowds waiting for an overnight aid delivery. Hamas and the Israeli military are blaming each other for the incident.

U.S. CENTCOM conducts 11th humanitarian airdrop into Gaza

Mosheh Gains

U.S. Central Command conducted its eleventh humanitarian airdrop into Gaza on Friday.

Over 35,000 meals and 31,800 bottles of water were dropped into northern Gaza in a U.S. Air Force and Army joint operation. The aid was delivered by a C-17 and C-130s, according to U.S. CENTCOM.

National security adviser stands by Biden’s praise for Schumer’s unprecedented criticism of Netanyahu

Andrea Mitchell

President Biden’s praise for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s controversial speech about the Israeli prime minister was deliberate, as his National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, told NBC News' Andrea Mitchell that he stands by them. Kirby also said the U.S. has not seen Israel’s plans for an invasion of Rafah.

Hamas presents cease-fire proposal detailing exchange of hostages, prisoners

Hamas has presented a Gaza cease-fire proposal to mediators and the U.S. that includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences, according to a proposal seen by Reuters.

Hamas said the initial release of Israelis would include women, children, elderly and ill hostages in return for the release of 700-1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, according to the proposal. The release of Israeli “female recruits” is included.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Thursday a new Gaza truce proposal presented by Hamas to mediators was still based on “unrealistic demands."

His office said an update on the issue would be handed to the war cabinet and extended security cabinet on Friday.

Egypt and Qatar have been trying to narrow differences between Israel and Hamas over what a ceasefire should look like as a  deepening humanitarian crisis  has one quarter of the population in the battered Gaza Strip facing famine.

Acute malnutrition doubled in one month in northern Gaza, UNICEF says

Ian Sherwood

Acute malnutrition has doubled in one month in northern Gaza, according to UNICEF.

Around 31% of children under 2 years old are now suffering from acute malnourishment in the north of the enclave, as opposed to 15.6% in January, the organization said. At least 23 children in the north have died of malnutrition as the impacts of war and restrictions on aid continue in Gaza.

UNICEF conducted nutrition screenings in February that determined 4.5% of children in shelters and health centers are suffering from "severe wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition," which can lead to death unless they receive treatment, which isn't readily available.

Nutrition screenings in Khan Younis in central Gaza determined that 28% of children under 2 years old are acutely malnourished, more than 10% of them having severe wasting, according to UNICEF. In Rafah, the amount of children under 2 suffering from acute malnutrition doubled from 5% in January to 10% at the end of February.

“The speed at which this catastrophic child malnutrition crisis in Gaza has unfolded is shocking, especially when desperately needed assistance has been at the ready just a few miles away,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF's executive director. “We have repeatedly attempted to deliver additional aid and we have repeatedly called for the access challenges we have faced for months to be addressed. Instead, the situation for children is getting worse by each passing day. Our efforts in providing life-saving aid are being hampered by unnecessary restrictions, and those are costing children their lives.”

U.N. organizations have warned of imminent famine in Gaza for months. In January, emergency thresholds for children with acute malnutrition were exceeded, per UNICEF. The organization has treated some children who have the condition and say more supplies to aid in their treatment will arrive this week, but it's still not enough.

“We are doing everything we can to avert a worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but it is not enough,” Russell said. “An immediate humanitarian ceasefire continues to provide the only chance to save children’s lives and end their suffering. We also need multiple land border crossings that allow aid to be reliably delivered at scale, including to northern Gaza, along with the security assurances and unimpeded passage needed to distribute that aid, without delays or access impediments.”

VIDEO: José Andrés charity begins delivering aid to Gaza

Jay Marques

World Central Kitchen has begun delivering 37 million meals to Gaza from the ship Open Arms, according to chef José Andrés, who founded the charity.

The aid is being delivered as work continues on a jetty along the coast.

So far, two crates of aid have been delivered to northern Gaza, according to Andrés.

The Israel Defense Forces said that Open Arms contains 115 tons of food and water, which have been transferred to 12 World Central Kitchen trucks and will be distributed around northern Gaza. The aid "underwent comprehensive security inspection," according to the IDF.

Almost 150 killed in past 24 hours, Gaza Health Ministry says

Henry Austin

Almost 150 people have been killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 31,490 since Oct. 7, the enclave's Health Ministry said in a Telegram post today.

The ministry said more than 73,000 people had been injured.

NBC News cannot independently verify those numbers. The United Nations and other aid agencies have estimated that many more are dead and remain buried under the rubble of the enclave's destroyed buildings.

White House has not seen Netanyahu's military plan for Rafah, Blinken and NSC spokesperson say

Monica Alba

Abigail Williams

The White House has not seen the plan for a military action in Rafah announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office today, Biden administration officials said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at a news conference in Vienna with the foreign minister of Austria, said today, "The answer is no, we have not seen it."

A National Security Council spokesperson told NBC News the council also has not seen the plan, and reiterated White House conditions that any military action in the city focuses on civilian safety.

"We have been clear about the need to prioritize civilian protection," the spokesperson said. "We have not seen a plan from Israel related to Rafah."

1 staffer killed, 22 injured after Israel hits food distribution center in Rafah, UNRWA says

At least one staff member was killed and 22 were injured after Israel hit a food distribution center in Rafah belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the aid organization said.

The distribution center in eastern Rafah was hit despite its coordinates having been shared with Israel’s military, according to Director-General Philippe Lazzarini, who is calling for an independent investigation into the attack.

“Today’s attack on one of the very few remaining UNRWA distribution centres in the Gaza Strip comes as food supplies are running out, hunger is widespread and, in some areas, turning into famine," Lazzarini said in a statement . "Every day, we share the coordinates of all our facilities across the Gaza Strip with parties to the conflict. The Israeli Army received the coordinates including of this facility yesterday."

Video of the distribution center shows blood on the floors and on aid items, which include diapers for babies.

"Look, what is this?" a UNRWA employee told NBC News as he pointed to the damage and blood. "We take this all to the elderly and children. What is this?"

"This is wrong."

The IDF did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment on the incident.

Aid ship is welcome, but maritime route ultimately a 'distraction,' International Rescue Committee says

JERUSALEM — The International Rescue Committee has welcomed the arrival of a ship hauling some 200 tons of much-needed aid off Gaza's coast, but it said the establishment of a maritime aid route is ultimately a "distraction."

"Any aid that can be provided is helpful and good given the overwhelming levels of need on the ground," Ciaran Donelly, IRC vice president of crisis response, said in a phone interview with NBC News today. "At the same time, the reality is that, you know, the most direct distance between two points is a straight line and there are cheaper and more effective and easier ways to get aid to Gaza than relying on planes and boats from airdrops and maritime routes."

Donelly noted that there are "roads and access routes that can bring in significantly more volumes of aid significantly cheaper and lend themselves to significantly more efficient and safer and more dignified distributions than relying on the maritime route."

"While I welcome any small amounts of aid that are able to be delivered via maritime routes and via airdrops," he said, "these shouldn't be a distraction and ... the U.S. and the U.K. and other governments that have leverage over Israel should be using every possible ounce of diplomatic and political leverage to bring about conditions under which aid can be scaled up at a much more significant material and cost-effective and dignified way."

‘Zone of Interest’ producer refutes Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech: ‘Fundamentally disagree’

“The Zone of Interest” executive producer Danny Cohen has become the first member of the film’s production team to publicly address  director Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech , saying “I just fundamentally disagree with Jonathan.”

While accepting  the Academy Award on Sunday  evening for best international film, Glazer delivered a set of pre-written remarks in which he compared his Holocaust film to the current conflict in Gaza. He was accompanied on stage by producer James Wilson and executive producer Len Blavatnik.

Speaking on the Unholy podcast, Cohen, president of Access Entertainment and former director of BBC television, said: “It’s really important to recognize it’s upset a lot of people and a lot of people feel upset and angry about it. And I understand that anger frankly.”

Hamas cease-fire plans 'unrealistic,' Netanyahu's office says

Hamas' latest proposals for a cease-fire deal "are still unrealistic," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement today.

But it said an Israeli delegation would leave for Qatar after the country's security Cabinet had discussed the country's position.

Netanyahu's office says he has approved plans for military operation in Rafah

Netanyahu has approved plans for a military operation in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, his office said in a statement today.

The Israel Defense Forces are "preparing for the operational side and for the evacuation of the population," the statement said.

More than 1 million people are estimated to be sheltering in the city, most of them displaced after escaping IDF hostilities in other parts of the enclave.

American recovering after missile strike on her Gaza apartment

American Deborah (Huda) Droll has been living in the Gaza Strip for more than a decade. Her home was destroyed in an airstrike.

As she spoke with an NBC News crew from her hospital bed, she wondered why Israel had targeted a building that housed an American.

Worshippers make their way through Jerusalem's Old City

Raf Sanchez

Shira Pinson

JERUSALEM — Noon prayers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque have now ended on this first Friday of Ramadan.

Worshippers are streaming out of the mosque through the winding streets of the Old City.

Palestinian males ages 10 to 55 were barred by Israel’s government from traveling to the site, which is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Al-Aqsa is the third-holiest site in Islam and the spot, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is also the holiest site in Judaism.

There is a heavy Israeli security presence in the Old City but, so far at least, few signs of serious incidents.

Australia resumes UNRWA funding

Andee Capellan

Australia will lift its suspension on funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the country's foreign minister said in a statement today.

“Only UNRWA has the infrastructure to receive and distribute aid on the scale needed right now in Gaza,” Penny Wong said. The 6 million Australian dollars ($3.9 million) of pause funding will be disbursed immediately, she added.

The decision comes two months after Australia and several other nations including the U.S. paused funding for the agency after Israel alleged that that some of its employees took part in Hamas Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

Australia has worked with a group of donors and UNRWA to ensure the integrity of its operations and has added new safeguards to guarantee the protection of the money, Wong said.

Charity says it's 'loading another boat' with food for Gaza

The World Central Kitchen charity, which arranged for the first nautical delivery of aid to Gaza, is "loading another boat with hundreds of tons of food," for the enclave, it said today on X.

In a separate statement shared with NBC News, the charity said the vessel was being loaded with 300 tons of canned goods and bulk product, including beans, carrots, canned tuna, canned corn, chickpeas, parboiled rice, flour, oil and salt.

It said a crane was also loaded to assist with future maritime deliveries to Gaza.

First Friday prayer of Ramadan

JERUSALEM — Thousands of worshippers arrived at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the first Friday prayer of Ramadan today.

Worshippers could be seen entering through the gates of Jerusalem’s Old City into the compound as Israeli authorities watched.

The Israeli police said officers were deployed “throughout Jerusalem” for the first Friday of Ramadan to “continue maintaining public order and security for everyone.”

Wounded children treated in hospital after deadly Israeli strike in Rafah

Amid the concrete rubble and bent steel reinforcements of buildings in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, an NBC News crew filmed the desperate hunt for survivors after an Israeli strike.

Later, the crew followed bloodied children who were injured in what officials in the enclave said was a strike on a family home.

Egypt is striving to secure a cease-fire in Gaza, president says

Egypt is seeking to reach a deal for a cease-fire in Gaza, increase entry of aid and to allow displaced people in the south of the enclave to move to the north, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said today.

El-Sissi also warned against the danger of an Israeli incursion into Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, where an estimated 1.5 million people have sought shelter next to the enclave's border with Egypt.

“We are talking about reaching a cease-fire in Gaza, meaning a truce, providing the biggest quantity of aid,” he said in a message recorded during a visit to the police academy.

This would include “curbing the impact of this famine on people, and also allowing for the people in the center and the south to move towards the north, with a very strong warning against incursion into Rafah,” he said.

Aid ship arrives off the coast of Gaza, organizers say

Gabe Joselow

JERUSALEM — The Open Arms, a private aid ship, arrived off the coast of Gaza today carrying the first nautical aid delivery for starving Palestinians.

World Central Kitchen, the charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, that played a central role in organizing the delivery, said efforts were underway to move toward a jetty that has been specially constructed to bring the food to land.

The Open Arms, named after the Spanish charity transporting the supplies, departed the Larnaca port in Cyprus on Tuesday, towing a barge containing flour, rice and protein.

The United Nations has warned that at least a quarter of Gaza’s population is “one step away” from famine and the enclave's health ministry has reported more than two dozen deaths caused by malnutrition and dehydration.

Airstrikes leave a scarred landscape in Khan Younis

Max Butterworth

Buildings leveled by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis, yesterday.

Catch up with our latest coverage of the war

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An effort to get aid to Gaza by sea is moving ahead. But the first ship is still waiting in Cyprus

A ship belonging to Spanish aid group Open Arms was expected to make a pilot voyage to Gaza from nearby Cyprus “as soon as possible.” Efforts to deliver aid to Gaza by sea have moved ahead, but the ship still remained in Larnaca, a Cyprus port on Sunday, Mar. 10. The ship is carrying 200 tons of food aid and will be the first to test Gaza’s sea corridor, which is backed by the European Union together with the United States, the United Arab Emirates and other countries. (AP Video: Marcos Andronicou)

Staffers of port, left, stand on the aid platform and Open Arms aid group, as it prepares to ferry some 200 tons of rice and flour directly to Gaza, at the port in Larnaca, Cyprus, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The European Commission president said Friday the Open Arms ship will make a pilot voyage as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

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Staffers of port, left, stand on the aid platform and Open Arms aid group on the ship as it prepares to ferry some 200 tons of rice and flour directly to Gaza, at the port in Larnaca, Cyprus, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The European Commission president said Friday the Open Arms ship will make a pilot voyage as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

The Open Arms aid group ship is seen inside the port as it prepares to ferry some 200 tons of rice and flour directly to Gaza, at the port in Larnaca, Cyprus, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The European Commission president said Friday the Open Arms ship will make a pilot voyage as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A port marine boat pushs the platform of aid as it prepares to ferry some 200 tons of rice and flour directly to Gaza, at the port in Larnaca, Cyprus, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The European Commission president said Friday the Open Arms ship will make a pilot voyage as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Aid packages are seen left, on a platform near to the docked ship belonging to the Open Arms aid group, as it prepares to ferry some 200 tonnes of rice and flour directly to Gaza, at the port in Larnaca, Cyprus, Sunday, March 10, 2024. The European Commission president said Friday the Open Arms ship will make a pilot voyage as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Muslims walk next to the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Sunday, March 10, 2024. Officials in Saudi Arabia have declared the start of the fasting month of Ramadan after sighting the crescent moon Sunday night. The announcement marks the beginning of Ramadan for many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Parachutes drop supplies into the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel , Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

In this photo provided by U.S. military’s Central Command, U.S. Army Vessel (USAV) General Frank S. Besson (LSV-1) from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, prepare to departs Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Saturday, March 9, 2024, en route to the Eastern Mediterranean less than 36 hours after President Biden announced the U.S. would provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza by sea. (U.S. Central Command via AP)

An Israeli soldier on top a tank on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Sunday, March 10, 2024. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Smoke rises in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Port staffers prepare the aid on a platform near to the docked ship belonging to the Open Arms aid group, as it prepares to ferry some 200 tonnes of rice and flour directly to Gaza, at the port in Larnaca, Cyprus, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The European Commission president said Friday the Open Arms ship will make a pilot voyage as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

In this photo provided by U.S. military’s Central Command, U.S. Army Vessel (USAV) General Frank S. Besson (LSV-1) from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, departs Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Saturday, March 9, 2024, en route to the Eastern Mediterranean less than 36 hours after President Biden announced the U.S. would provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza by sea. (U.S. Central Command via AP)

Israeli soldiers drive an APC near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A U.S. Army vessel carrying equipment to build a temporary pier in Gaza was heading to the Mediterranean on Sunday, after U.S. President Joe Biden announced plans to increase aid deliveries by sea to the besieged enclave where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are going hungry.

The new push for aid came as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was set to begin Monday in much of the world after officials in Saudi Arabia saw the crescent moon . Hopes for a new cease-fire by Ramadan faded days ago with negotiations apparently stalled.

The opening of the sea corridor , along with airdrops by the U.S., Jordan and others, reflected growing alarm over Gaza’s deadly humanitarian crisis and a new willingness to bypass Israeli control over land shipments. But aid officials say that air and sea deliveries can’t make up for a shortage of land routes. Aid trucks entering Gaza daily are far below the 500 entering before the war.

A ship belonging to Spanish aid group Open Arms and carrying 200 tons of food aid was expected to make a pilot voyage to Gaza from nearby Cyprus “as soon as possible,” but not Sunday, said Linda Roth, a spokesperson for partner organization World Central Kitchen. There was no explanation after Cyprus’ president had said it would leave then.

Israel says it welcomes the sea deliveries and would inspect Gaza-bound cargo before it leaves Cyprus. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reviewed preparatory work off Gaza’s coast on Sunday.

Biden has stepped up public criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he believes that Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in his approach to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, now in its sixth month.

Speaking on Saturday to MSNBC, the U.S. president expressed support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas after the militants’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. But Biden said that Netanyahu “must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost.” He added that “you cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead.”

The Health Ministry in Gaza said that at least 31,045 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says that women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and its figures from previous wars have largely matched those of U.N. and independent experts.

Palestinian casualties continued to rise. The Civil Defense Department said 10 people were killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a house of the Ashour family in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City. Dust-covered bodies were placed onto blankets.

Elsewhere, the bodies of 15 people, including women and children, were taken to the main hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah, according to an Associated Press journalist. Relatives said they were killed by Israeli artillery fire toward a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in the coastal area near the southern city of Khan Younis.

Israel rarely comments on specific incidents during the war. It maintains that Hamas is responsible for civilian casualties, because the militant group operates from within civilian areas.

Meanwhile, U.S. efforts began to set up the temporary pier in Gaza for sea deliveries. U.S. Central Command said that a first U.S. Army vessel, the General Frank S. Besson, left a base in Virginia on Saturday and was on its way to the Eastern Mediterranean with equipment for construction.

U.S. officials said that it would likely be weeks before the pier is operational.

The sea corridor is backed by the European Union together with the United States, the United Arab Emirates and other countries. The European Commission has said that U.N. agencies and the Red Cross will play a role.

The ship in Cyprus is expected to take two to three days to arrive at an undisclosed location in Gaza. The World Central Kitchen spokesperson said that construction work began Sunday on the jetty for it.

A member of the charity said on X, formerly Twitter, that once the ship’s barge reaches Gaza, aid would be offloaded by a crane, placed on trucks and driven to northern Gaza, which has been largely cut off from aid shipments and was the first focus of Israel’s military offensive.

Israel declared war on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 hostages. Israel’s air and ground offensive has devastated large parts of Gaza and displaced about 80% of the population of 2.3 million.

The U.S. and regional mediators Egypt and Qatar had hoped to have a six-week cease-fire in place by Ramadan. A deal would have seen Hamas release some Israeli hostages, Israel release some Palestinian prisoners and aid groups be given access for a major influx of aid.

In a speech broadcast Sunday, Hamas’ top leader Ismail Haniyeh blamed Israel for the failure to reach a deal before Ramadan and said that the militant group is keen to resume negotiations in any framework as long as it guarantees a permanent cease-fire.

Samy Magdy reported from Cairo. Menelaos Hadjicostis contributed to this report from Nicosia, Cyprus.

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Turkish Red Crescent sends its biggest Gaza aid shipment yet

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India to hold world's largest elections between April and June

Nearly a billion people will be eligible to vote in India's general elections, to be held over almost seven weeks from April 19, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a record-equalling third straight term.

Incumbent Kevin Davidson and Tim Greenwood to vie for Kaukauna city attorney position

KAUKAUNA - City attorney Kevin Davidson will face challenger Tim Greenwood in the April 2 election.

Davidson has been Kaukauna's city attorney since 2012 and is seeking another four-year term. Greenwood is currently an assistant district attorney for Brown County.

The Post-Crescent asked each candidate to fill out a questionnaire explaining why they are running. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name and answers have been lighted edited for clarity. 

Here are important dates for voters to remember for the upcoming election:

• March 13:  Deadline to register to vote online via myvote.wi.gov or by mail
• March 28: Deadline to request an absentee ballot
• March 29:  Deadline to register to vote in-person at your local clerk's office for early voting
• April 2:  Spring election and presidential primary

Kevin Davidson

• Occupation: City attorney for the Kaukauna and senior counsel for The Estate Planning Group, LLC
• Highest level of education attained: Juris Doctorate
• Relevant experience: Prior to entering the field of law I had built and sold a successful construction business. While putting myself through law school and continuing to support my family, I worked for a Fortune 500 Insurance Company. Entering the practice of law, I served as a litigation attorney for a national firm with offices in 17 states. I later founded The Estate Planning Group, a private estate and asset protection planning law firm based in Kaukauna. I am proud to have served the city and constituents of Kaukauna since 2012. While 12 years of experience in the role of city attorney is certainly relevant, it is my broader background in roles as a business owner being the sole decision maker and ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the organization, and working within the hierarchies of larger private sector companies, that has provided the skillsets, competencies, confidence and resolve to deal with the varying and complex responsibilities of overseeing all legal matters for a municipality of Kaukauna’s size.

Tim Greenwood

• Occupation: Brown County assistant district attorney
• Highest level of education attained: Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School
• Relevant experience: While working in private practice in Sauk County, I was able to work with the city attorney for Wisconsin Dells and reviewed and researched for municipal ordinances to be drafted, violations of municipal ordinances, and land use issues that arose. Additionally, through my current work as an assistant district attorney for Brown County, I am continually working with different government agencies within Brown County. My job requires me to be able to take in information from many different sources and apply that information to each unique case that comes across my desk and to argue for the most appropriate outcome in each matter, even if it is disagreeing with those same agencies.

Why are you running for city attorney?

Davidson: I am running to continue the important work for the city and for the citizens and stakeholders of Kaukauna. While some of the work of the city attorney is routine, there are many significant initiatives and improvements underway, and there is more work to be done. I intend to leave a positive and lasting legacy when I retire from the city attorney role. I hope part of that legacy to be a succession plan where the city of Kaukauna can be confident that a qualified and capable attorney will be overseeing the city’s legal matters. 

Greenwood: As a fourth-generation Greenwood, I grew up in Kaukauna and was always proud of where I came from. While I left for schooling and work for several years, my roots will always be in Kaukauna. When my wife and I decided to move back to the area I saw the opportunity to help shape the community into a better place for the people and the right place to begin a family.

What makes you the better candidate in this race?

Davidson: Demonstrated leadership, maturity, and professional experience. The work of a city attorney is senior management level at all times. There is no boss to make the hard decisions. The work is not political and it is not personal. It requires the ability to be personable and work across diverse groups and experiences while maintaining unwavering fidelity to the law and the ethical obligations of representing the municipality. I’ve worked quietly in this role through challenging times and challenging situations, helping keep Kaukauna in compliance with law, off the shoals in narrow straights, and out of the news.

Greenwood: When given an opportunity right out of law school to build a successful family law practice in Sauk County, not only did I meet that goal, but I sought out additional work in estate planning and guardian ad litem work. When I began as an assistant district attorney I did not have any criminal law background, but I volunteered to take an entire portion of our practice and was able to successfully manage and prosecute it. When presented with a new challenge, I put in the time needed to succeed.

How would you approach the role of city attorney?

Davidson: As legal work, the most appropriate answer is “according to the law, and the ethical rules governing lawyer conduct.” Being an effective and accomplished attorney is not a matter of popularity or cute campaign slogans. As I did in the construction business, I’ve built my law career by diligent and deliberate application of the core principles of hard work, honesty, and accountability.  As a result, I have received several professional achievement awards and recognition over the years, as well as been rewarded with a modest level of personal success. I’m proud to have been able to apply those principles and all of my background and experiences to public service for the city of Kaukauna, and I will continue to apply all of the same in the years ahead.

Greenwood: I would approach this position similar to my role as assistant district attorney. While not a totally foreign area of law to me, the people, agencies, and issues will be completely new. It will demand that I am able to form good relationships and hear and understand the issues going on in our community so I am able to appropriately advise and recommend to our other elected officials the best legal course of action. I look forward to that opportunity.

Sophia Voight covers local government and politics in the Fox Valley for The Post-Crescent.com. She can be reached with feedback and story tips at [email protected].

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Why Does Ramadan Start at Different Times in Different Places?

The exact start date of Islam’s holiest month depends on when local Islamic authorities declare the sighting of the new moon.

By Mike Ives

Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, starts on Monday in some countries but on Tuesday in others. How is that possible?

The exact timing depends on when local Islamic authorities around the world declare the sighting of the new moon, the astronomical event that marks the start of the observance.

Here’s why there’s so much variation from place to place.

Islamic countries, and Muslims around the world, use the traditional Hijri calendar to mark religious events. Each month of that calendar begins with the sighting of the early crescent moon, and the holy month of Ramadan begins at the start of the ninth month.

These customs go back centuries. But the exact start time of Ramadan varies from place to place because it depends on a range of factors, including who observes the moon and how, and whether the sky is clear or cloudy at the time.

That explains why Saudi Arabia declared that Ramadan would start on Monday after reporting a sighting of the crescent moon on Sunday, but also why neighboring Oman reported the same day that the moon was not yet visible. As a result, the two countries will begin their Ramadan celebrations about 24 hours apart. The authorities in Iran, like Oman, have also declared Tuesday to be the official start of the holy month.

In Southeast Asia, Islamic authorities in several countries said over the weekend that they, too, would observe Ramadan from Tuesday , not Monday, after unsuccessful moon sightings. That gave millions of people across the region, including in Indonesia, the nation with the world’s largest Muslim population , an extra day to prepare.

‘A challenging mission’

Astronomers have argued for centuries about what constitutes a crescent moon sighting, according to a recent study in the journal Scientific Reports , which explored how artificial intelligence and machine learning could help predict the moon’s visibility.

New technologies make moon readings more accurate, but they can also make the process more complex, the study said. For instance, does it count as an official sighting if a new crescent moon can be seen by an optical aid but not by the naked eye?

“Deciding on the start of Ramadan has always been a challenging mission, and, as a result, not all Muslims start Ramadan synchronously,” the study’s authors wrote.

In Islamic countries, national guidance helps ensure that Muslims are on the same Ramadan timetable. In other places, the timing can depend on which religious guidance residents follow. This year, for example, the Fiqh Council of North America chose Monday , while the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America chose Tuesday .

Other variables

It isn’t just the start date of Ramadan that varies from place to place. The exact amount of time that people hold their dawn-to-dusk fasts depends on which year it is, and where they live in relation to the Equator.

Because the Hijri calendar is about 11 days shorter than the 365-day-ish Gregorian calendar , the month of Ramadan moves around every year in Gregorian terms. That means the fasting day in the Northern Hemisphere will get shorter between now and 2031, when Ramadan coincides with the winter solstice, Al Jazeera reported . In the Southern Hemisphere, it will grow incrementally longer over the same period.

As for location, latitude matters because it determines the timing of local sunrise and sunset. Muslims who live close to the Equator, where the length of a day changes less from season to season, can expect a relatively consistent fasting schedule each year. For those living at extreme northern or southern latitudes, there is a lot more variation.

That helps explain why, in some parts of Scandinavia, Muslims observe Ramadan fasts based on the time in Mecca , thousands of miles away. If they didn’t, depending on when the holiday fell in a given year, they would either be fasting for most of the day, or barely at all .

Mike Ives is a reporter for The Times based in Seoul, covering breaking news around the world. More about Mike Ives