Ships aged 25 years or more must now pass a full inspection and sea trials before they can use the Suez Canal. Owners must pay the required fees in advance. The new rules aim to improve safety, but they may also raise costs and cause delays for shipping companies, Splash 247 reports.
HMS Protector, the Royal Navy’s only ice patrol ship, was towed back to Devonport on October 13 after a technical problem at sea. According to Maritime Executive, the Navy has started an investigation, but it has not yet said what caused the problem. It reports that both engines had defects.
Malaysia’s Lianson Fleet Group has added another bulk carrier to its fleet as it expands beyond offshore support vessels. The 61,446 dwt ship was built in Japan in 2013 and is named LFG Cengal. The company acquired the vessel for $23m, using its own funds, Splash 247 reported.
Malaysia has introduced new rules for ships in a sensitive sea area near the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The rules ban bunkering, limit ship speeds to 12 knots and generally prohibit anchoring.
Cargo ships and oil tankers longer than 300 metres and wider than 40 metres cannot enter the zone. Cargo transfers also require written permission from the authorities. Reported by The Maritime Telegraph.
CMB.TECH, a Belgian shipping company, has launched MV Mineral Europa on its maiden voyage to Australia. The 210,000-ton dry bulk carrier is the first commercial bulk carrier to operate with an ammonia dual-fuel engine already on board, according to Splash 247. Built this year in China, it marks a turning point for the shipping industry's climate ambitions.
Tanker crews are being offered record pay to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. Some tanker masters can earn up to $100,000 a month, plus a $50,000 bonus for every transit. As NextShip claims, Other crew members can also receive several times their normal wages for work in the high-risk area.
Twelve seafarers were injured when the Panama-flagged tanker On Peace was hit by a projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on 6 October. The ship had 19 crew members on board, including 17 Indian nationals. Eleven of the injured seafarers were Indian. Omani authorities helped evacuate them to Khasab for medical treatment, The Maritime Telegraph reported.
Seaspan Corporation, a company known for containerships, is entering the dry bulk market. It has ordered two 210,000 dwt Newcastlemax ore carriers from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, The Maritime Telegraph reports, citing Lloyd's List.
Taiwanese shipowner U-Ming Marine Transport is ready to spend up to $312m on six new bulk carriers in China. The deal covers two 211,000 dwt Newcastlemaxes and four 64,000 dwt ultramaxes as the company works towards a fleet of more than 100 ships. Splash 247 reported the orders.
The Seafarers’ Charity has released the final three films about the risks of seafarer abandonment. The videos explain how to spot warning signs, protect yourself before taking a job and find help when an employer fails to provide support. Marine Insight reports.
Four commercial vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on September 28 and 29. The reports appeared only later, making it difficult to get a full picture of the incidents. No seafarers were reported injured, while the extent of damage to the vessels was not immediately clear. The Maritime Telegraph reports.
Ukraine has introduced new certification requirements for ratings under Ministry for Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport Order No. 1624, which entered into force on 22 September 2026.
