Boxship Departing Taiwan Clips Docked Ship Sending Containers Into Harbor
Operations at Taiwan’s Port of Kaohsiung were briefly halted on April 1 after the 158,097‑dwt containership Zeal Lumos clipped the docked feeder vessel Haian Opus during departure. The impact caused four containers to fall into the harbor, damaging cargo on both ships. Port authorities secured the floating containers, ordered Zeal Lumos back to its berth, and resumed operations after the cleanup. An investigation into pilot and tug coordination has been launched.
Laborde Products Powers Newbuild M/V Beth Williams for Maritime Partners
Laborde Products supplied propulsion and auxiliary power for the new‑build M/V Beth Williams, a twin‑screw towboat constructed for Maritime Partners at FMT Shipyard in Harvey, Louisiana. The vessel is equipped with two Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2 engines, each delivering 803 horsepower at...
Tug Captain Charged With Manslaughter for Tragic Sailboat Collision
A Miami mini‑tug captain, Yusiel Lopez Insua, has been charged with seaman's manslaughter after his tug and a construction barge struck a youth sail‑training catamaran in Biscayne Bay, killing three girls. Prosecutors allege Insula used his cellphone during the voyage...
French Court Sentences Shadow Fleet Tanker's Captain to One Year in Prison
A French court sentenced Chinese captain Chen Zhangjie to one year in prison and a $170,000 fine for refusing a military boarding order on the shadow‑fleet tanker Boracay, suspected of launching drones that disrupted Copenhagen Airport. The vessel, linked to...
Damen & Polidano Group Sign Contract for 2 Combi Freighters 3850
Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Malta’s Polidano Group for two CF 3850 combi freighters, Denise P and Julia P, to replace a single vessel and double its aggregate transport capacity. The ships, already under construction in China, will be delivered...
Diego Garcia Is Proving Its Value and Is Key to Future Operations
The United Kingdom is providing passive support for U.S. operations by allowing long‑range bombers and joint‑force missions to launch from Diego Garcia, a British Indian Ocean Territory base. Recent CENTCOM releases show the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and its 3,500‑strong...
Russian Oil Tanker Arrives Off Cuba Despite U.S. Ordered Embargo
After three weeks at sea, the Russian‑flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, loaded with about 730,000 barrels of crude (roughly $62 million), arrived off Cuba on March 31. Despite a Trump‑era embargo, the U.S. administration quietly permitted the ship to dock, ending Cuba’s oil...
Architecture of Adaptability: Designing Vessels to Stand the Test of Time
Marine operators face mounting pressure to design vessels that remain viable for 30‑plus years amid tightening emissions rules, alternative‑fuel mandates, and the rise of autonomous systems. The article argues that true longevity stems from a holistic, customized design process rather...
China Merchants Is the Latest to Withdraw From China’s Cruise Market
China Merchants, a major state‑linked maritime firm, has exited the Chinese luxury cruise market by putting its flagship vessel, the former Viking Sun renamed Zhao Shang Yi Dun (China Merchants Eden), up for sale at a minimum price of RMB 2.9 billion (about $420 million). The...
Alaska Seeks Interested Buyer to Save 63-Year Old Historic Ferry
The Alaska Marine Highway System announced a Request for Information to sell the historic ferry Matanuska, a 1963‑built 408‑foot vessel that can carry 450 passengers and 83 vehicles. The state estimates that restoring the ship would cost between $45 million and...
Stena RoRo Takes Delivery of the 13th E-Flexer From the China Merchants
Stena RoRo has taken delivery of the 13th vessel in its 15‑ship E‑Flexer RoPax series, the Capu Rossu, built by China Merchants Industry in Weihai. The ferry, capable of carrying 1,000 passengers and 2,500 lane‑metres of freight, will start service on...
UCL and RAD Publish Study on Quiet Electric Marine Technology
University College London and electric marine propulsion firm RAD have released a peer‑reviewed study demonstrating that RAD’s 40 kW electric outboard reduces underwater noise by up to 43 dB compared with a comparable internal combustion engine. Tests on the River Hamble and...
Oman Suspends Operations at Key Arabian Sea Port After Drone Strike
On March 29, Iranian drones struck Oman's Port of Salalah, damaging a large container crane and injuring a foreign worker. The attack forced the port, which handled over 3.3 million TEU in 2024, to suspend operations for an estimated 48 hours....
Panama Canal Announces Enhanced Long-Term Slot Allocation Program
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) unveiled LoTSA 2.5, an upgraded Long‑Term Slot Allocation program designed to give shippers more certainty and flexibility. The new system introduces slot redistribution by package type and transit direction, sequential competitions, and expanded options for date...
Op-Ed: Who Speaks for America’s Maritime Workforce?
Aaron Smith’s op‑ed argues that the U.S. maritime sector is hamstrung by high labor costs versus cheaper foreign crews and shipyard workers. He cites Filipino mariners earning $30‑$50 a day versus U.S. mariners’ $200‑$450, and U.S. shipyard wages of $42k‑$49k...
Iran Launches Assault on Kuwait’s Ports During Regional Escalation
Iran launched coordinated drone and missile strikes on Kuwait’s two main ports, Shuwaikh and the under‑construction Mubarak Al‑Kabeer, causing material damage but no casualties. The attacks coincided with regional siren alerts in Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, reflecting a broader...
Greenpeace Activists Confront FPSO Heading to Scotland's Rosebank Oil Field
Greenpeace activists boarded the PetroJarl Rosebank FPSO as it sailed from Namibia toward Scotland, spray‑painting a "they profit, we pay" slogan on its hull. The 95,000‑ton vessel, recently refitted and re‑flagged for the Rosebank oil field, is central to a...
River Cruise Ship Hits Amsterdam Bridge After Failing to Lower Wheelhouse
A‑Rosa Sena, a 135‑metre luxury river cruise ship, struck Amsterdam’s historic Amsterdamsebrug bridge on March 25 after its hydraulically retractable wheelhouse failed to lower. The collision crushed the wheelhouse, bent a radar mast, and caused significant hull damage, forcing the vessel...
Iranian Smuggling to the Houthis Continues
Iranian dhows continue to transport dual‑use goods and drugs to Yemen’s Houthis despite heightened naval conflict. The Southern Giants Forces, now under IRGC direction, intercepted a dhow from Bandar Abbas carrying medical supplies and drone‑manufacturing components, and also seized 623 kg...
Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Hit By Drone Attack in Black Sea
A Sierra Leone‑flagged Suezmax tanker, the Altura, was struck by drones near the Bosporus, damaging its bridge and engine room but causing no crew injuries. Turkish officials say the attack likely involved an unmanned underwater vehicle, a rare method in...
Two Bulkers Collide on Mississippi Near New Orleans
Two bulk carriers collided on the Mississippi River near Hahnville, Louisiana, on March 23. The geared bulker African Buzzard’s anchor became embedded in the bow of the downbound freighter Pac Dubhe, leaving both vessels entangled and the African Buzzard aground. No injuries or pollution...
Video: German Authorities Respond to Inland Vessel Wedged Under a Bridge
On March 24, the fire department in Neuss, Germany, responded to an inland cargo ship that became wedged under a railway bridge on the Rhine River after striking the structure. Several containers fell into the water and others teetered on...
Somali Pirates Hijack Iranian Dhow and Could Be Targeting Ships Warns MSCIO
Somali pirate groups hijacked the Iranian-registered dhow Al Waseemi 786 about 400 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, likely converting it into a mothership to mask their activities. The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) warned that pirates are now operating up...
KR Publishes Guidance to Support Industry Ahead of 2028 IGC Code Amendments
Korean Register (KR) has finished assessing the upcoming International Code of the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) amendments and released technical guidance for the maritime sector. The IMO plans to approve the revisions...
Updates to Guidelines on the Application of ILO Maritime Labour Convention
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has released the fifth edition of its Guidelines on the Application of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, consolidating all recent amendments into a single reference. The guide emphasizes new rights such as visa‑free shore...
Bureau Veritas Verifies Emissions Performance of Brittany Ferries' Vessels
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore has independently verified methane emissions on four LNG‑fueled Brittany Ferries vessels, delivering measured slip rates that sit well below the EU’s default ceiling of 3.1 %. The verification, performed with French authorities, satisfies IMO Resolution MEPC.402(83)...
Coast Guard Investigates Fatal Confined-Space Accident on Alaskan Barge
The U.S. Coast Guard identified two tugboat crew members who died in a confined‑space incident aboard the deck barge Waynehoe near Ketchikan on March 15. The tug Chukchi Sea issued a mayday after losing contact with four crew members inside the...
Maersk’s APM Becomes Minority Shareholder in North Vietnam Terminal
A.P.M. Terminals, the Maersk subsidiary, has taken a 49% minority stake and operating partner role in the Hai Phong International Container Terminal in northern Vietnam. The terminal, built in just 30 months within the Lach Huyen port, boasts the highest berth...
North Korean Shipments of Shells to Russia Tail Off
Analysis by the Open Source Centre traced four sanctioned vessels that have moved between 8 million and 11 million North Korean artillery rounds to Russia since September 2023. The ships—Angara, Maia‑1, Maria and Lady R—used deceptive AIS filings that listed South Korean ports while...
Shared Radar: Maritime Supply Chain Visibility in a Weaponized World
The article presents the Virtual Watch Tower (VWT) as a new, federated model for maritime and intermodal supply‑chain visibility, positioning it against proprietary control towers, state‑run platforms, and defence‑only networks. VWT treats situational awareness as a public good, using the...
Indian Register (IRS) Takes One of India’s Largest Crude Tankers Into Class
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) has classed the 298,997‑DWT Very Large Crude Carrier Lila Jamnagar, one of the biggest vessels to fly the Indian flag. The VLCC is owned by RFK Shipping IFSC Private Limited and registered in Gujarat International Finance...
Institut Maritime Du Québec Trainees Repatriated From the Persian Gulf
Desgagnés confirmed that three Institut Maritime du Québec trainees stranded on the vessels N/M Rosaire A. Desgagnés and N/M Miena Desgagnés in the Persian Gulf have been safely repatriated to Quebec. The trainees were trapped since February 28 due to security...
PSA Zeebrugge Powers 50% of Electricity Needs With Over 1,800 Solar Panels
PSA Zeebrugge has installed nearly 1,900 vertical solar panels on its warehouse façades, delivering an annual output of 770 MWh—enough to power half of the terminal’s electricity demand. The project, executed by Insaver of the Luminus Group, saves 101.43 tons of CO₂,...
Waste-to-Biochar Process Could Reduce Cruise Ships' Costs and Emissions
Evac Group’s HydroTreat system turns onboard wet waste—food scraps and sludge—into sterile biochar, a carbon‑rich solid that can be stored and disposed of without discharge. The technology lets cruise ships avoid costly port fees and route changes imposed by tightening...
China Floats Second Cruise Ship and Orders Ships for International Market
China floated its second domestically built cruise liner, the Adora Flower City, marking a milestone for the nation’s emerging cruise sector. The 141,900‑gross‑ton vessel expands passenger capacity to 2,130 cabins and 5,232 guests, featuring upgraded amenities and interactive cabin technology. Adora Cruises...
All American Marine Begins Construction on Univ. Of Texas Research Vessel
All American Marine has begun constructing a 78‑foot by 26.7‑foot aluminum catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. The ship uses Teknicraft’s hydrofoil‑assisted hull, twin 803 hp CAT C18 Tier 3 diesel engines, and a modular laboratory layout....
Avondale Global Gateway Named Recipient of Louisiana FastSites Investment
Avondale Global Gateway (AGG) has been named an inaugural recipient of Louisiana Economic Development’s FastSites investment, earmarked for a major rail‑capacity expansion. Since acquiring the former Avondale Shipyard, AGG’s parent T. Parker Host has turned the 275‑acre site into a...
Amphib USS Boxer Deploys to Join Naval Buildup in Mideast
The U.S. Navy is dispatching the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer and its escort group from California to the Middle East, joining the already‑deployed USS Tripoli. Both big‑deck amphibians can embark Marine Corps F‑35B stealth fighters, adding a limited but hard‑to‑track air...
Could Earlier Warning Systems Be the Answer to Risk Reduction in Terminals?
Container terminals are adopting continuous reefer telemetry to replace labor‑intensive, snapshot monitoring. The cold‑chain market exceeds $400 billion, and high‑value pharma shipments demand real‑time temperature data to avoid spoilage and regulatory penalties. Net Feasa’s Agentic Control Tower™ (ACT) platform extends vessel‑level connectivity...
Marine Pilots: Coast Guard Funding Lapse Brings Safety Risks
The U.S. Coast Guard remains operational amid a federal shutdown, forcing roughly 40,000 enlisted members and civilian staff to work without pay. The American Pilots Association warns that the funding lapse jeopardizes navigation safety, staffing at vessel‑traffic‑service centers, and maintenance...
With Ferry Strikes, Ukraine Narrows Russia's Options at Kerch Strait
Ukraine struck two Russian ro‑ro rail ferries, the Slavyanin and Avangard, disabling both vessels in the Kerch Strait. The attacks leave Russia without any operational rail ferries on the Black Sea, forcing reliance on the Kerch Bridge for bulk rail...
Greek-Operated Tanker Hit by Unknown Assailants Near CPC Terminal
Greek‑operated tanker Maran Homer was struck by an unidentified object while awaiting Kazakh oil at the CPC single‑point mooring off Novorossiysk. The hit caused only minor deck damage, no pollution, and the vessel left under its own power. Although Ukraine...
South Africa Arrests and Fines Four Chinese Vessels for Illegal Fishing
South African authorities intercepted four Chinese‑flagged distant‑water fishing vessels that entered the country's Exclusive Economic Zone without permits and repeatedly switched off their AIS. The masters were charged under the Marine Living Resources Act and fined a total of $24,118,...
Philippine Coast Guard Rescues Engineer Trapped on Capsized Ship
The Philippine Coast Guard rescued the crew of the cargo vessel Theresa I after it capsized during a de‑ballasting operation at APO Cement Port in Naga City, Cebu, on March 11. Nineteen crew members were on board; one engineer was trapped...
World’s Largest Sail Yacht Cruise Ship Sets New Mark on Trials
The 25,200‑gross‑ton Orient Express Corinthian has completed sea trials, achieving a record 12 knots under sail alone – a first for a vessel of its size. Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the ship features a 4,500 m² Solid Sail system on three carbon‑fiber...
ATSB: Cruise Ship's Chief Mate Distracted by ECDIS Ahead of Grounding
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau reported that the cruise ship Coral Adventurer ran aground off Papua New Guinea after the chief mate’s attempt to modify the ECDIS route was rejected, forcing a mid‑transit safety check. The delay caused the vessel...
National Association of Waterfront Employers Joins USA-IT Coalition
The National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE) announced its formal entry into the United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA‑IT) coalition. USA‑IT unites public and private actors to counter a $2.2 trillion illicit‑trade economy that threatens U.S. ports and supply...
India Detains Tanker and Charges Captain After Fishing Boat Collision
Indian authorities detained the Panama‑flagged chemical tanker Solis after it collided with a fishing trawler off Kerala, leaving two fishermen missing and nine rescued. The incident occurred on March 7 near Vizhinjam, and the captain has been charged with negligent operation....
Coast Guard Icebreaker USCGC Polar Star Completes Antarctic Mission
The U.S. Coast Guard’s heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star completed its 50th commissioned year by executing the annual Deep Freeze mission in Antarctica. The vessel cleared a seven‑mile channel for the fuel‑laden tanker Stena Polaris and removed McMurdo’s iconic ice pier to accommodate...
UK Finds Fault in Planning and Medical Care on Cruise Ship in Severe Storm
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch released its report on the 2023 Spirit of Discovery incident, where a storm in the Bay of Biscay caused both propulsion pods to shut down, injuring over 100 passengers and leading to one death....
