Part 1 of the pivotal Port to Port Killer Arc.
In the opening scene, when the seaman is killed, the killer uses his right hand, from behind, to inflict the kill wound from left to right. When Abby shows Gibbs her computer generated recreation, the image shows the wound being inflicted right to left.
1st appearance of Enrico Murcaino as Ray Cruz, Ziva David well mentioned love interest from previous episodes.