Stay updated with the latest global maritime news, including shipping industry trends, international port developments, crew updates, and key events affecting the world of shipping and seafaring. Your source for timely and reliable maritime industry information.
The Ro-Ro ship Spirit of Toulouse has completed the installation of six Norsepower rotor sails at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group’s facility in Shanghai. It now has the highest number of rotor sails fitted to a single vessel, marking an important step for wind-assisted propulsion in the Ro-Ro sector. Reported by The Maritime Telegraph.
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.
India’s Great Eastern Shipping is adding a new 157,000-dwt Suezmax tanker to its fleet. The vessel will be built by a major shipbuilder in the Far East and is expected to be delivered between October 2028 and March 2029. Splash 247 reports.
Puntland Maritime Police Force has rescued the tanker Sibu 1 after Somali pirates held it for more than a month, The Maritime Telegraph reports, citing Reuters.
Oil producers in the Gulf are using ship-to-ship (STS) transfers off Oman to keep oil exports moving while the Strait of Hormuz remains under pressure. Shuttle tankers carry crude from Gulf terminals to safer waters, where the oil is transferred to larger vessels for trips to Asia.
A Chinese Coast Guard ship rammed the Philippine fisheries vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat off Palawan on September 18, adding to growing tensions in the South China Sea. The Philippine vessel was carrying fuel for local fishermen when the Chinese ship made two close passes and hit it during the second one, damaging parts of the deck. No one was injured, Maritime Executive reported.
Two commercial ships heading to the United States were boarded by US Coast Guard and FBI teams after authorities received indications that their computer networks had been compromised, Reuters reported.
Celebrity Cruises has reached a major milestone in its move into European river cruising. The first hull of its new river fleet has been floated in the Netherlands and moved to another yard for interior work. The ship, Celebrity Compass, is scheduled to enter service in August 2027, Maritime Executive reports.
Turkey’s GSD Holding has ordered another Japanese-built bulker as part of its fleet renewal programme. The company has signed a contract for a 40,300 dwt handysize vessel, with delivery planned for 2030, Splash 247 reports.
Spanish authorities have seized 3.36 tonnes of cocaine after intercepting a high-speed boat south of Gran Canaria, Maritime Executive reports. The Guardia Civil found the drugs in 139 packages after officers chased the RIB and detained its five crew members.
The International Maritime Organization has ended four days of talks on its proposed Net-Zero Framework without reaching a final agreement. The discussions showed some progress, but key issues remain unresolved, Maritime Executive reports.
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.
