Chinese Captain in Baltic Sea Cable Damage Case Appears in Court
The captain of a Hong Kong-registered ship alleged to have damaged undersea cables in the Baltic Sea was assigned a lawyer in a Hong Kong court on Friday, with the case adjourned until September to allow the prosecution to gather more evidence.Wan Wenguo, the captain of the container ship NewNew Polar Bear, appeared in Hong Kong's Eastern magistrates' court without legal representation so was assigned…
Greek Police Arrest Cocaine Gang
Greek police have dismantled a gang that had been hiding cocaine in sheets of leather that were smuggled from Bolivia to Greece on container ships, police officials said on Friday.They said the method used by the gang signalled a shift in methods for smuggling the drug from South America to Europe.Eleven people have been arrested so far, including nationals form Bolivia and Spain, after police monitored the suspects for months following a tip-off by the U.S.
Low Water Levels on Danube Disrupt Shipping
Unusually low water levels on the Danube River in Hungary are affecting shipping, agriculture, and local ecosystems along Europe's second-longest river, which is a major transport route across the continent.Temperatures peaked at 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in Budapest this week as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people.As a result of the low water levels, cargo ships must leave behind more than half of their cargo and can onl
Japan to Export Used Destroyers to Philippines
Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, as the two U.S. allies increase cooperation to counter Beijing.The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing…
Crew Rescued After Attack Near Yemen
The crew of a ship set on fire in an attack in the Red Sea on Sunday abandoned the vessel and were rescued as it took on water, a British maritime agency said, in an assault that private security firm Ambrey said resembles that of the Houthi militant group.The attack, off the southwest coast of Yemen, was the first such incident reported in the vital shipping corridor since mid-April.Maritime security sources said the vessel…
ONGC Inks Deal with MOL to Build Two Very Large Ethane Carriers
India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has signed an agreement with Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to build, own and operate two very large ethane carriers (VLECs).The ‘mega vessels’ will deliver imported ethane to ONGC Petro Additions Limited, a unit of ONGC, ensuring a steady, self-reliant supply of feedstock for cutting-edge petrochemical production.“This global partnership marks a bold step in ONGC’s downstream expansion…
Industry Consortium to Asses Floating Nuclear Plants for Mediterranean Sea
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), CORE POWER and Athlos Energy have formed a consortium to evaluate the potential of positioning the floating nuclear power (FNPP) platforms to meet the energy demands of islands, ports and coastal communities in the Mediterranean Sea.The group will research how FNPPs can potentially unlock a range of applications including the establishment of grid-scale electricity to remote locations…
NYK’s Bulk Carrier Saves Stranded Sailors in Pacific Ocean
Medi Giannutri, a bulk carrier operated by NYK, has rescued two sailors from a disabled sailboat in the Pacific Ocean. on June 19 (local time).While en route to the U.S. port of Long Beach, the bulk carrier received a search and rescue request from the U.S. Coast Guard on June 19, and immediately headed to the scene.The two individuals rescued are reported to be in good health and disembarked at the port of Long Beach following the rescue operation.
Marine Salvage and Wind Farms
Marine salvage is a risky business financially and physically and is governed by complex legal systems, frameworks, and conventions. Over the past two decades the industry has contracted and has consolidated in response to changes which have meant there are fewer marine casualties. That has not been easy for commercial salvors - the members of the International Salvage Union - but improvements in maritime safety that prevent loss of life…
NAVTOR Sets Up Shop in United Arab Emirates
NAVTOR, an e-Navigation and performance technology provider to the maritime industry, has opened a new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in a strategic move aimed at supporting regional growth.NAVTOR has launched NAVTOR Middle East, the company’s 13th dedicated regional office.After less than a month following the creation of NAVTOR Türkiye, the new Dubai center will help local shipping companies take advantage of the latest smart shipping solutions…
US Navy: Big or Small, Boats are Indispensable to the USN
For the U.S. Navy, boats perform missions from mundane maintenance chores such as hull scraping and cleaning overboard discharges to clandestine special forces insertion and extraction. Some boats are about as basic as you can imagine, and some are equipped with sophisticated combat systems and weapons. Big or small, they all perform indispensable tasks for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.Boats that are carried on and launched from ships are referred to as “shipboard boats…
Workforce Development and the Rise of the Blue-Collar Worker
For nearly 200 years, metal casting foundries have served as the backbone of American manufacturing. Though only 1,750 foundries remain today, compared to more than 6,000 in 1955, they are responsible for more than $110 billion in economic output and support nearly half a million jobs. With President Trump’s tariff negotiations underway, a renewed mandate for reshoring manufacturing efforts, and the looming decisions around the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act…
Training Tips for Ships: Cold Starts and Rare Scenarios - Preparing for the Unlikely at Sea
Some emergencies are so rare that they’re easy to overlook during regular training cycles, until they happen. Engine room fires. Rudder failure during storm conditions. Total power loss at sea. These low-frequency, high-impact scenarios are not just the stuff of tabletop exercises; they’re the events that test a crew’s true readiness. Yet because they’re unlikely, they often don’t get the attention they deserve.
Fincantieri’s US Subsidiary Names New CEO
Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), the U.S. subsidiary of Fincantieri, has appointed George A. Moutafis as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).The leadership transition of the U.S. company of the group led by CEO and General Manager Pierroberto Folgiero comes at a pivotal moment for the U.S. shipbuilding industry, as the new U.S. administration places renewed strategic emphasis on strengthening domestic naval capabilities.In this context…
Ferry Sinks off Bali, Killing Four as 30 Go Missing
Four people died, 30 were missing and 31 survived after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the Indonesian island of Bali, the country's Search and Rescue agency said on Thursday, as rescuers raced to find victims in the rough sea.The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank almost half an hour after leaving East Java province's Banyuwangi port on its way to Bali late on Wednesday, the agency said on Thursday.The boat was carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members, as well as 22 vehicles, the agency said.A s
Susesea’s Bulk Carrier Fleet Gets Efficiency Boost from Chevron Cylinder Oils
Turkish shipowner Susesea has streamlined its vessels operation by upgraded the cylinder lubrication strategy across its fleet of six bulk carriers with Chevron’s Taro Ultra Advanced 40 (TUA 40).Working with Chevron Marine Lubricants and its regional distributor, Petrol Ofisi, Susesea has reduced cylinder oil feed rates by approximately 33%, delivering both technical and commercial benefits.The six Japanese- and Chinese-built vessels…
Bonaparte CCS Project Awarded Major Project Status
The Bonaparte CCS project has been awarded Major Project Status by the Australian Government. It is the first offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) project to receive the status in Australia.The Bonaparte CCS Assessment Joint Venture is operated by Inpex subsidiary Inpex Browse E&P (53%) and also involves TotalEnergies CCS Australia (26%) and Woodside Energy (21%).The awarding highlights the project’s…
Seatrium Secures FSRU Conversion Contract from Kinetics
Seatrium has been awarded a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) conversion contract from Kinetics, an energy transition initiative by global floating power company Karpowership.This award follows Kinetics’ confirmation of the option for a fourth FSRU conversion project with Seatrium, announced in April 2024, the award of three LNG carrier (LNGC) conversions into FSRUs for the company, with…
S-100 has Value Beyond ECDIS
The S-100 framework is a new global standard created by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), in collaboration with other hydrographic offices around the world, that enables the integration of diverse datasets within a single Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).Mariners will be able to combine various data layers with Electronic Navigational Charts including detailed…
Ship Design, Maritime Accidents and There’s a Master on the Run
There’s a master on the run right now.It was 4am, about 10 years ago. Two crewmembers died, 15 others were hospitalized. The master didn’t receive prior notification of the cargo fumigation that occurred, yet it is the master who is being held accountable.Captain Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General of InterManager, recounts the story as he explains why he is pleased about some of the outcomes of MSC…
