The Russian-flagged Ro-Ro vessel Lady Mariia was attacked by several drones while sailing through the central Mediterranean, Maritime Executive reports. The ship left Oran, Algeria, on September 1 and was later tracked east of Malta. The attack reportedly took place between Crete and Libya.
Norway will provide assistance to Russian citizens left in a difficult situation in Svalbard after the seizure of the Professor Molchanov. The vessel was detained in the Arctic archipelago following a Norwegian court order linked to a legal claim by Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz, Reuters reports.
APM Terminals, part of Maersk, is in talks to help develop Nigeria’s planned Badagry deepsea port. The project could become a new major container gateway for Nigeria and West Africa. APM Terminals has signed an agreement to start exclusive negotiations with the project developers, Splash 247 reports.
Ilya Espino de Marotta has taken over as Administrator of the Panama Canal, becoming the first woman to lead the waterway. She will serve a seven-year term through 2033 as the Canal faces growing water concerns and plans major infrastructure projects, GCaptain reports.
Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming has ordered six 13,650-TEU LNG dual-fuel containerships from South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean. The $1.14 billion order is part of Yang Ming’s plan to renew and improve its fleet, The Maritime Telegraph reports.
Ten crew members are missing after the Turkish-flagged general cargo ship Tugberk Imamoglu sank following a collision with the product tanker Alsu in the Sea of Marmara on September 2, The Maritime Telegraph reports.
Maersk plans to test wind-assisted propulsion on an 8,700-TEU containership, The Maritime Telegraph reports. The vessel will receive a large rotor sail in mid-2027 to assess whether wind-assisted propulsion can help reduce fuel use and emissions.
CSSC Shipping is expanding its dry bulk portfolio with 10 new 80,000 dwt bulk carriers in China, Splash 247 reports. The deal is worth around $481 million and will add a large block of new tonnage to the company’s fleet.
DP World has named its first methanol dual-fuel vessel, DP World London, during a ceremony in Aarhus, Denmark. The new container ship is part of the company’s fleet modernisation strategy and its move toward lower-emission shipping solutions, Marine Insight reports.
The Panama Canal is changing its booking system to give shipping companies more flexibility as water conditions put pressure on available transit capacity, Splash 247 reports. The temporary changes will apply to Neopanamax vessels and are designed to make better use of the canal’s limited capacity.
Greek shipowner Enesel is expanding its return to the dry bulk market with a new 210,000-dwt Newcastlemax at a Chinese shipyard. Splash 247 reports that the latest deal brings Enesel’s dry bulk newbuilding programme to nine vessels, little more than a year after the company exited the sector.
Seaspan has reached investment grade status after Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) upgraded its issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings to BBB- from BB+, Seaspan announced on August 27. KBRA also affirmed Seaspan’s senior secured debt rating at BBB.
