Maritime Law & Regulations News

The families of the six workers who died in the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore filed lawsuits on Friday against the owner and operator of the cargo ship that struck the bridge.The lawsuits filed in Maryland federal court by the families of Carlos Daniel Hernandez Estrella, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Miguel Angel Luna, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval and Jose Mynor Lopez seek unspecified damages from the registered owner of the ship…

HavocAI Inc., a Providence, R.I. based developer of autonomous uncrewed surface vessel (USV) technology, announced it has closed an $11 million Seed round of funding.The round was led by Scout Ventures, co-led by Trousdale Ventures, and saw additional participation from Outlander VC, The Veteran Fund, BV.VC, Decisive Point, Alumni Ventures, and New North Ventures.HavocAI develops low-cost USVs and software intended to allow a single operator to command and control thousands of…

Spliethoff Group announced it has acquired a majority interest in ForestWave, making the fellow Dutch shipping company its seventh business unit effective September 30. With this expansion, Spliethoff Group's fleet of commercially operated vessels grows to more than 140.On behalf of the Executive Board of Spliethoff Group, CFO Ingmar Bras and CCO Michael van den Heuvel emphasized the importance of this step: "After so many years of constructive and pleasant cooperation with ForestWave, formalizing this cooperation is a logical step.

Broker Marsh and Lloyd's underwriter Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK) have set up business interruption insurance for ports to provide cover against growing trade disruption risks such as threats to shipping in the Red Sea, executives involved said.Ports across the globe are dealing with multiple issues that are disrupting flows of goods, including attacks by Yemen's Houthis on commercial shipping as well as the risk of strikes at terminals in the United States."Recent geopolitical turmoil has exposed a clear gap in the standard cover available to ports and other cargo facilities.

A Russian missile strike has damaged infrastructure and an Antigua-flagged civilian vessel in the Ukrainian port of Odesa, the regional governor said on Friday.Four people were wounded in the airstrike, Governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app."Debris from, according to preliminary assessment, an Iskander-M missile, damaged port and civilian infrastructure, as well as a civilian ship flying the flag of Antigua," Kiper said.The Iskander-M is a ballistic missile which flies at several times the speed of sound and has a stated range of up to 500 km (310 miles).A market source, speak

The cost of insuring a ship through the Red Sea has more than doubled since the start of September and some underwriters are pausing cover as the risk of attack from Yemen's Houthis on commercial vessels increases, industry sources said.The Iran-backed Houthis first launched aerial drone and missile strikes on the waterway in November. They say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians under assault in Israel's war on Gaza. In more than 70 attacks, the Houthis have sunk two vessels…

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) on Thursday announced it has struck a deal with Rolls-Royce to acquire its naval propulsors and handling business. The acquisition will include a range of propellers and waterjets for naval applications, as well as marine handling systems, which enable the deployment and recovery of manned and unmanned craft, and other cargo, from naval vessels.“When you look at the 150-year history of Fairbanks Morse Defense, you will find a handful of distinctive moments that completely transformed this company.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy offloaded $44.2 million worth of cocaine in San Diego, last week.The crew aboard Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Yellowknife (HMCS-706) and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment team interdicted more than 3,100 lbs. of cocaine approximately 430 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, September 5.Capt. Tim Lavier, Eleventh Coast Guard District chief of response, said, “Deploying a Coast Guard law enforcement team aboard a Canadian…

The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday filed a civil claim seeking $103 million from the two Singaporean companies that owned and operated the container ship that in March toppled the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, killing six people and paralyzing a major transportation artery for the U.S. Northeast.The department is seeking to recover from Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited the money the U.S. government spent in responding to the disaster…

A Greek appeals court on Friday reduced the prison sentences of 11 men involved in trafficking 1.2 metric tons of cocaine from the Caribbean into Europe and Africa, in one of the biggest drug busts in Greece's history.Greek police said in 2020 it had dismantled the criminal group after a months-long investigation with assistance from the United States' Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Albanian and Spanish police.A court in 2021 had handed the defendants, nationals of Albania, the Netherlands and Greece, multi-year sentences including life imprisonment.

Canada is in discussions about joining an expanded AUKUS deal between the U.S., Britain, and Australia formed to counter China's growing military influence in the Asia Pacific region, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said.Canada has said it wants to join a second pillar of AUKUS that will collaborate on new military technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, but has not so far revealed any details of those talks."There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nations…

The Philippines will continuously deploy vessels in the contested Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, its coast guard said on Monday after a Philippine ship returned to port after a five-month deployment there."We will sustain presence over these waters," Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson Jay Tarriela told a press conference.The PCG's vessel, Teresa Magbanua, was deployed to Sabina Shoal in April to monitor what Manila suspects to be China's small-scale land reclamation activities in the area.

The United States is amassing an arsenal of abundant and easily made anti-ship weapons as part of American efforts to deter China in the Indo-Pacific region and gear up U.S. forces there.Russia's invasion of Ukraine has pushed U.S. thinking toward a new philosophy - "affordable mass," as one missile industry CEO put it, speaking on condition of anonymity, referring to having plenty of relatively cheap weapons at the ready."It's a natural counter to what China has been doing," said Euan Graham…

Harland & Wolff said on Monday it plans to appoint administrators in the coming days as the company known for building the Titanic struggles with a debt crisis.The Belfast-based shipbuilder, which survived closure once in 2019, said it would cut jobs in its non-core and certain central support areas, without specifying the number of roles affected.It will also either dispose of or wind down its non-core assets.Harland & Wolff's non-core operations include its Marine Services business, the Scilly Ferries business, and its U.S.

A Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)-led consortium has conducted ship-to-ship transfers of ammonia at anchorages within the Port of Dampier in Australia’s Pilbara region.Two transfers took place between the Green Pioneer, owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), a 35,000 cubic meters (cbm) ammonia carrier, and the Navigator Global, owned by Navigator Gas, a 22,500 cbm ammonia carrier. Yara Clean Ammonia (YCA) provided the ammonia used in the transfers.The first transfer involved 4…

The Philippines said it was sending a vessel to Sabina Shoal to replace a coast guard ship that returned to port on Sunday after a five-month deployment at the contested feature in the South China Sea, in a swap that would likely irk China.Beijing had demanded the Philippines withdraw the 97-metre (318-foot) coast guard vessel Teresa Magbanua it claimed was "illegally stranded" at the atoll, which it asserts it owns as part of its broader claim to nearly the entire South China Sea."The Philippine side's actions have seriously infringed on China's territorial sovereignty…

The outcome of over a year’s consultation with underwriters, owners, Lloyd’s and other interested parties including P&I Clubs, brokers and salvors is a new clause for incorporation in marine hull policies. The shipping community has recognized the necessity of maintaining Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) as a contract with pre-agreed terms that can be easily used in the event of an emergency, said the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). The…

Investigators have placed a Cyprus-registered containership in their crosshairs as the possible source of an oil spill in Algoa Bay off South Africa's East Coast.The spill, which has spread at sea and is impacting the region's wildlife, is believed to have originated from the MSC Apollo, a container vessel anchored in the bay, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).MSC Apollo is scheduled to dock at the Port of Ngqura as soon as a berth is available for a thorough inspection to identify the source of the oil leak…

Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of using strategic bombers to hit a civilian grain vessel with a missile in the Black Sea in NATO member Romania's maritime economic zone, in what it described as a "brazen attack" on freedom of navigation.President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the vessel carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt had been hit by a Russian missile just after it exited Ukrainian territorial waters, and that there were no casualties according to a preliminary assessment.There was no immediate comment from Russia.If confirmed…

Experts will this week resume a risky operation to salvage the Sounion tanker which was attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea last month and still holds about one million barrels of crude oil, maritime sources said on Thursday.The towing of the Greek-registered vessel - which was struck, lost power and caught fire on Aug. 21 - was paused after it was deemed unsafe by the companies initially involved in the project.Officials have said the towing operation will be particularly delicate…

The U.S. Coast Guard worked alongside international partners to seize tens of millions of dollars worth of cocaine from drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea.The Coast Guard said its cutter Diligence offloaded more than 4,125 pounds of cocaine, worth an assessed street value of approximately $54 million, in Port Everglades, Fla. on Monday.The illegal narcotics were seized in international waters during three separate interdictions, involving U.K. Royal Navy ship HMS Trent (P 244), U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific (PAC-TACLET), U.S.

Offshore drilling contractor Seadrill is looking to buy more assets or create a larger player by merging with peers, the company's CEO said on Wednesday.Norwegian-born billionaire John Fredriksen lost the control of the company, once the world's largest driller by market cap, to its creditors over two debt restructurings since 2014.Now a much leaner and smaller company, New York-listed Seadrill itself is looking to buy distressed assets or players with "distressed balance sheets"…

Britain has slapped sanctions on 10 further ships in Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels which it says use illicit practices to avoid Western restrictions on Russian oil.Russia rejects Western pressure to limit its oil exports, and in the past year there has been a growth in the number of tankers transporting cargoes that are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers."Today’s sanctions further undermine Russia’s ability to trade in oil via its shadow fleet," British foreign minister David Lammy said in a statement on Wednesday.The foreign ministry said the action take

The international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders - MSF) on Wednesday obtained the release of its migrant rescue ship, which had been grounded two weeks ago by Italy's right-wing government.MSF's Geo Barents vessel was handed a 60-day detention order, the longest on record, for allegedly failing to properly coordinate with Italian and Libyan authorities as it picked up migrants off Libya on Aug. 23.A court in Salerno, the southern Italian port where the vessel had been blocked…

Canada and Norway have signed a deal to expand cooperation between the two allied nations' coast guards, in a move to boost marine safety and environmental protection in high latitudes.The Canadian Coast Guard this week announced it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Norwegian Coast Guard "formalizing joint efforts in data analysis, education and training, decarbonization, and Arctic scientific research, and setting the stage for enhanced capabilities in marine security…

Data from the International Chamber of Shipping’s Barometer Report 2023-2024 indicates that improved clarity from governmental bodies such as the IMO has had a positive impact on the industry.Following a formal agreement at the IMO’s MEPC 80 to reach net zero GHG emissions by or around 2050, confidence is on the up. Almost 50% of C-suite maritime stakeholders responding to the ICS Barometer in 2023-2024 indicated improved willingness to invest in low and zero-carbon solutions following IMO agreement…

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday warned the United States against trying to outgun Moscow in Asia as Russian and Chinese warships held joint drills as part of the biggest Russian naval exercises since the Soviet era.Putin said the wider "Ocean-2024" strategic exercise would be conducted from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and would test units' combat-readiness and the use of high-precision weapons, including promising new types.It would also incorporate lessons learned from…

The U.S. government signaled in a court filing on Wednesday for the first time that it may file a claim against the owner of the ship that caused the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.U.S. Justice Department attorney Laine Goodhue submitted a letter, opens new tab notifying U.S. District Judge James Bredar that the government is among the "claimants and prospective claimants” that have negotiated with the registered owner of the ship Grace Ocean and its…

More than a dozen former U.S. Coast Guard Academy students who say they were victims of sexual assault filed complaints on Thursday seeking $130 million in damages, accusing the school of allowing sexual violence to go unchecked.The former students filed administrative claims with the U.S. Coast Guard, claiming the academy in New London, Connecticut, for nearly four decades enabled sexual abusers and failed to protect victims or provide them recourse.The group comprises 12 women and one man, said Christine Dunn, an attorney representing the former students.

A rare cruise by two German warships in the Indo-Pacific region will demonstrate a commitment to open navigation, the admiral in charge of the naval task force said on Friday, but he declined to confirm if they would transit the contested Taiwan Strait."Safe and secure sea lanes, especially from Southeast Asia as well as to Europe and America, are a prerequisite for a prosperous economy of all our countries," Rear Admiral Axel Schulz said in a speech to a reception held on the…

U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro violated a law limiting political activity by federal employees when he publicly advocated voting for President Joe Biden and criticized former President Donald Trump, the Office of Special Counsel said on Thursday.U.S. federal employees are subject to the Hatch Act, a law limiting some political activities to keep the government free from partisan influence. It prohibits using official authority to influence the results of an election.During a speech in London in January 2024 while on official travel…

The U.S. on Thursday imposed sanctions on two companies and two vessels linked to Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project, Washington's latest step to add costs on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.The Arctic 2 project, 60% owned by Russia's Novatek had been due to become Russia's largest liquefied natural gas plant with eventual output of 19.8 million metric tons per year of LNG from three trains.Novatek may be forced to scale back the project following a a raft of U.S. sanctions including ones imposed in August.The U.S.

The negative impact on maritime shipping and global supply chains from attacks in the Red Sea continues to intensify as traffic is rerouted away from the Suez Canal, Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday.Attacks in the Red Sea by Iran-aligned Houthi militants have disrupted a route vital to east-west trade, with prolonged rerouting of shipments, pushing freight rates higher and causing congestion in Asian and European ports.Maersk said recent data showed…

Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson will remain in detention in the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland where he has been held since July, while Denmark decides whether to extradite him to Japan, a local court ruled on Wednesday.U.S.-Canadian Watson, 73, founder of the Sea Shepherd conservationist group and of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, was apprehended by police when his ship docked at the port of Nuuk on July 21.Watson will remain in detention until Oct.

U.S.-based offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation on Wednesday announced it has completed its acquisition of peer Diamond Offshore Drilling. The merger creates the industry's largest fleet of 7th generation dual-BOP drillships and adds 4.8 rig years and approximately $2 billion to the Noble backlog, which now stands at $6.7 billion.Noble's board of directors has appointed Patrice Douglas from the Diamond board of directors to serve as a new director of Noble.Robert W.

The United States is aware of reports that a Navy sailor was detained by Venezuelan authorities on or about Aug. 30 while on personal travel to Venezuela, a U.S. defense official said on Wednesday.The U.S. Navy is looking into the matter and working closely with the State Department, the official said.(Reuters - Reporting by Phillip Stewart; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Caitlin Webber)

Sweden-based fire, flame and gas safety solutions company Consilium Safety Group on Tuesday announced it has acquired Daspos, a Danish fire safety company specialized in detection of gas, oil mist and fuel vapors. Daspos has developed a unique and patented detection sensor technology, that can predict the risk of fire in the engine room of all types of vessels. The acquisition follows a multi-year collaboration between Daspos and Consilium and marks a significant milestone in bringing increased fire safety in the marine industry."I am pleased and excited that Daspos is joining Consilium.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked two crude oil tankers - the Saudi-flagged Amjad and the Panama-flagged Blue Lagoon I - in the Red Sea on Monday, the U.S. military said, calling the assaults "reckless acts of terrorism".The Houthis late on Monday claimed responsibility for targeting the Blue Lagoon with multiple missiles and drones but did not make any mention of the Saudi tanker.The U.S. Central Command said the Houthis attacked the two tankers with two ballistic missiles and a one-way attack uncrewed aerial system…

Danish shipping company Norden said on Tuesday that it has closed its acquisition of Nordic dry bulk operator Norlat Shipping.The deal was announced in July but remained subject to regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed. “We are delighted to have received the green light for the acquisition last week and with the closing of the acquisition today we look forward to welcoming the Norlat Shipping team and customers,” said Norden CEO Jan Rindbo. “Norlat is a skilled niche operator and a great addition to our growing projects and parceling activities…

The Philippines and China exchanged accusations of intentionally ramming coast guard vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea on Saturday, the latest in an escalating series of clashes in the vital waterway.The collision near the Sabina Shoal was their fifth maritime confrontation in a month in a longstanding rivalry.Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Portions of the waterway…

Japan lodged a protest with China after one of its naval survey vessels entered Japanese waters on Saturday, the second incursion into its territory by the Chinese military in less than a week.An uptick in Chinese military activity near Japan and around Taiwan in recent years has stoked concerns in Tokyo. Japan has responded with a defence buildup that it says aims to deter Beijing from using military force to push its territorial claims in the region.The ship was detected off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture, in Japan's southwest, at around 6 a.m.

Yemen's Houthi militants said on Saturday that they attacked a Liberia-flagged container vessel for a second time in the latest action against commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden.Yemeni military spokesperson Yahya Saree's televised statement did not specify when the latest attack on the MV Groton took place.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in an advisory note that two missiles exploded on Friday in close proximity to the vessel, 130 nautical miles east of Yemen's Aden. It said the crew was safe.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone said on Friday it will buy a majority stake in an offshore support vessel operator for $185 million, expanding its fleet and diversifying beyond port operations.Astro Offshore, in which Adani Ports will buy an 80% stake, owns a fleet of 26 vessels including barges and workboats, counting miner NMDC and construction bellwether Larsen and Toubro as its customers."Astro will add... to our current fleet of 142 tugs and dredgers...

As two U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups patrolled the Indian Ocean this week in an explicit effort to deter Iran from striking Israel and sparking a major regional conflict, a very different military messaging effort was underway in a luxury conference centre in Manila.The 35th annual Military Law and Operations Conference organised by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command – running from Aug. 27-30 – is held every year in a different country in the region – but its presence in the capital of the Philippines this week was likely far from a coincidence.Since late 2023…

As salvage operations began on an abandoned Greek-flagged oil tanker with deck fires still burning from Houthi rebel attacks, the EU's Red Sea naval mission Aspides said on Thursday that no oil spill has been detected.Yemen's Houthi militants carried out multiple assaults, including planting bombs on the already disabled 900-foot (274.2-meter) Sounion that is laden with about 1 million barrels of oil. On Wednesday, the Iran-aligned militants said they would allow salvage crews to tow the ship - which has been on fire since Aug.

Italian prosecutors are investigating two more crew members from British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's yacht, along with its captain, in connection with the vessel's sinking over a week ago, a judicial source said on Wednesday.Being investigated does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will follow.Lynch and six other people were killed when the British-flagged Bayesian, a 56-metre-long (184-foot) yacht, capsized and went down on Aug. 19 within minutes of being hit by a pre-dawn storm while anchored off northern Sicily.On Monday…

Yemen's Houthi group has agreed to allow tugboats and rescue ships to reach a damaged crude oil tanker in the Red Sea, Iran's mission to the United Nations said on Wednesday, after the Iran-aligned militants attacked the Greek-flagged vessel last week.The Sounion tanker is carrying 150,000 tonnes, or 1 million barrels, of crude oil and poses an environmental hazard, shipping officials said. Any spill has the potential to be among the largest from a ship in recorded history."Several countries have reached out to ask Ansarullah (the Houthis)…

The cost of insurance for ships sailing through the Red Sea has nearly doubled after Yemen's Houthis attacked a tanker that appears to be leaking oil, with environmental fears growing for trade route, industry sources said on Wednesday.Iran-aligned Houthi militants first launched aerial drone and missile strikes on the waterway in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In over 70 attacks, they have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three seafarers.In the latest escalation…

The European Union's mission in the Red Sea, known as Aspides, said on Wednesday there was no oil spill in the area of the MV Sounion tanker that was targeted recently off Yemen's coast.Aspides added that the Greek-flagged oil tanker was still anchored and not drifting.The Pentagon said on Tuesday the tanker was still on fire in the Red Sea and appeared to be leaking oil.Reuters couldn't immediately confirm that a spill or a leak had occurred.Asked about the Pentagon statement…

Austal USA LLC has pled guilty and has agreed to pay $24 million to resolve an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department related to an accounting fraud scheme and efforts to obstruct the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) during a financial capability audit.The Justice Department’s criminal resolution was coordinated with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Separately, Austal USA also entered into a False Claims Act settlement with the department’s Civil Division to resolve claims that it knowingly provided non-compliant parts to the U.S. Navy.

The captain of the luxury yacht owned by the family of British tech magnate Mike Lynch that sank off Sicily last week declined to respond to prosecutors during questioning on Tuesday, one of his lawyers said.James Cutfield, a 51-year old New Zealand national, was put under investigation on Monday by Italian prosecutors."The captain exercised his right to remain silent for two fundamental reasons," lawyer Giovanni Rizzuti told reporters."First, he's very worn out. Second, we were…

The Greek-flagged ship Sounion has been on fire since Aug. 23 after an attack by Yemen's Houthis with no obvious signs of an oil spill, EU Red Sea naval mission Aspides said in a post on X on Monday.The EU mission published photos dated Sunday showing fire and smoke coming out of the vessel's main deck.Houthis, who control Yemen's most populous regions, said on Thursday that they attacked the Sounion oil tanker in the Red Sea. The Iran-aligned group has been attacking ships in…

Italian prosecutors will investigate the captain of the superyacht belonging to British tech magnate Mike Lynch that sank off Sicily last week during an intense storm, killing Lynch and six other people, Italian media reports said on Monday.Reuters was not able to independently verify the decision. Being placed under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will necessarily follow.James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck…

This year’s multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise, an annual event conducted by the United States Navy which took place from August 12 to 23, 2024, focused on strengthening regional responses to maritime security threats.The participants were Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Palau, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.This year’s SEACAT included a five-day shore-based program featuring a Senior Leaders’ Forum…

The Philippines and China clashed in disputed waters of the South China Sea on Sunday over what Manila said was a resupply mission for fishermen, the latest in a series of sea and air confrontations in the strategic waterway.The incident overshadows efforts by both nations to rebuild trust and better manage disputes after months of confrontations, including a violent clash in June, in which a Filipino sailor lost a finger.The Philippines on Sunday accused China of "aggressive and dangerous manoeuvres" to block the resupply mission.

Three fires have been observed on board a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Friday, one day after it was evacuatedby its crew after being attacked by Yemeni Houthi militants.The Houthis, who control Yemen's most populous regions, said on Thursday that they attacked the Sounion oil tanker in the Red Sea, as the Iran-aligned group has been attacking ships in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel…

Ukraine's Navy confirmed on Friday that it had destroyed a ferry in the Russian port of Kavkaz that was used to deliver fuel and weapons to occupied Crimea.Local authorities had earlier said the ferry was set ablaze and damaged in Thursday's attack on the port in Russia's southern Krasnodar region."Another undoubtedly military objective has been destroyed. Its purpose was to provide fuel for the invaders. The ferry sank and this port (Kavkaz) is not usable until the ferry is removed…

Australia will assume command of the Combined Maritime Force’s Combined Task Force (CTF) 153 for six months from October.CTF 153 was established in April 2022 and focuses on international maritime security and capacity-building efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.Australia has been conducting maritime security operations in the Middle East under Operation MANITOU since 1990 and has previously commanded CTFs 150 and 152. This will be its first time for CTF 153.Chief of Joint Operations…

A Greek-flagged oil tanker carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude that was evacuated by its crew after being attacked in the Red Sea now poses an environmental hazard, the EU's Red Sea naval mission "Aspides" said on Thursday.Houthis, who control Yemen's most populous regions, said on Thursday that they attacked the Sounion oil tanker in the Red Sea, as the Iran-aligned group has been attacking ships in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.Sounion…

A Greek-flagged tanker was adrift in the Red Sea on Wednesday after repeated attacks that started a fire on the vessel and caused the ship to lose power, the UK maritime agency said.Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas. They did not immediately claim responsibility for Wednesday's attacks.Passengers on two small boats attacked the Sounion, hitting…

Marsh launched a $50 million port blockage insurance facility, covering shipping ports and terminals around the world.Created by Marsh following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and subsequent disruption at the Port of Baltimore, the insurance facility can be purchased independently or used to supplement existing cover. Available to Marsh clients globally, it is specifically designed to provide clients with cover for loss of revenue caused by third-party accidents such as a vessel sinking in a channel…

Argentine authorities have quarantined a cargo ship in the Parana River over a suspected case of mpox onboard, the government said on Tuesday, as global public health authorities remain on alert for a new faster-spreading variant of the virus.The quarantined Liberian-flagged ship was sailing from Santos, Brazil - also a major commodities hub - to pick up soy cargo, according to the health ministry and industry body the Argentine Naval League.The World Health Organization (WHO)…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. completed the purchase on the market of 89,500 shares of common stock of MODEC, Inc. and along with the 10,162,300 shares already acquired in June 2023, MOL now holds a 15% stake in MODEC and will make it an equity-method affiliate.MODEC is a leading company in the offshore oil and gas development industry, engaging in the entire process from Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation (EPCI) of Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) systems to long-term leases and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) for more than 20 years.

An arbitration panel that will decide a high-profile clash between Exxon Mobil and Chevron will delve into the secret value of Hess' oil riches in Guyana, people familiar with the matter said.Chevron last October offered to pay $53 billion for Hess, one of the two biggest deals in the largest wave of consolidation in the oil industry in decades. The asset most coveted by Chevron in the takeover is Hess’s stake in a Guyana field operated by top U.S. rival Exxon.Exxon and China's CNOOC  have challenged the deal…

The Philippines and China accused each other on Monday of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea, the latest flare-up after the two nations had agreed to try to ease tensions and manage disagreements at sea.China's Coast Guard said in a statement a Philippine vessel which had ignored its repeated warnings "deliberately collided" with a Chinese vessel in an "unprofessional and dangerous" manner in the disputed waterway early on Monday.The Philippines…

A new study examined the climate effect of the mandated reduction of sulfur in ship exhaust emissions globally since 2020, and it suggests that the shipping regulation has reduced how much light is being reflected back into space, which has likely contributed towards the record warming over the last few years.International shipping, while invisible to most of us, has a large impact on climate and air quality. There are nearly 100,000 large ships within the global commercial fleet, accounting for over 90% of international trade.

Oman's Salalah port reported a 16% decline in container volumes in the first half of the year as ships reroute around the southern tip of Africa to avoid missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea.The port, which is Oman's closest to the border with Yemen, handled 1.679 million shipping containers in the six months to June 30, compared with 1.999 million a year earlier, Salalah Port Services Co said on Thursday.Shipping lines that are avoiding the Red Sea area bypass the route where Salalah is located…

Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson will remain in detention in Greenland after he was arrested in the Danish autonomous territory last month, while Denmark decides whether to extradite him to Japan, a local court ruled on Thursday.U.S.-Canadian Watson, 73, founder of the Sea Shepherd conservationist group and of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, was apprehended by police when his ship docked at the port of Nuuk on July 21.Watson will remain in detention until Sept.

A merchant vessel reported being approached with the use of small arms fire in waters 92 nautical miles northeast of Eritrea's Massawa port in Red Sea waters adjacent to Yemen's coast, British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Thursday.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said shortly after that it received a sighting report of a small boat with armed persons onboard, operating in close proximity to a small coastal freighter, approximately 95 nautical miles northeast of Massawa.Authorities are investigating, UKMTO's advisory note added.

Two crude oil tanker ships reported coming under attack in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on Tuesday, although neither reported damage, maritime security agencies said.The attempted assaults on those vessels, identified as the Liberia-flagged Delta Atlantica and the Panama-flagged On Phoenix, bear the hallmarks of Iran-aligned Houthi militant attacks on international cargo shipping in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas.The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attacks.

A U.S. federal court has charged three men, including two Iranian brothers and a Pakistani national, for an attempt to smuggle Iranian weapons that would be used by Houthi rebels for attacks on maritime shipping.According to the court documents, Shahab Mir’kazei and Yunus Mir’kazei work for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while Muhammad Pahlawan, is a Pakistani citizen who allegedly worked for the Mir’kazei brothers as the captain of a dhow used as a smuggling vessel.Pahlawan allegedly worked with Shahab to prepare the dhow for multiple smuggling voyages…

The Australian government said on Saturday it had for the first time test-fired a Raytheon SM-6 missile from a Navy ship, a major step in acquiring and integrating the air-defense weapon into its inventory.The HMAS Sydney conducted the test near the U.S. state of Hawaii as part of the Pacific Dragon 2024 exercise, Australia's defense ministry said, calling it a "significant milestone" in a deal first approved in 2021.The SM-6 is the most advanced naval air defense missile in the U.S.

A U.S. amphibious assault ship has docked in Cyprus as part of a pre-arranged visit, but could be used to support civilians if hostilities flare in the Middle East, the U.S. ambassador to Cyprus said.EU member Cyprus has offered to assist, if needed, in the evacuation of Europeans and third-country nationals should tensions spill over in the Middle East amid a standoff between Israel, Iran and Iran-affiliated groups."The visit comes at a time when the United States continues all efforts along with key partners to de-escalate regional tensions and to be prepared to support civilians in crisis…

A crude oil tanker has reported four attacks off Yemen's port of Mokha during the last 24 hours, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Friday, and the vessel's manager said the ship and its crew were safe.Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea region since November in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas.On Thursday, the captain of the Delta Blue tanker reported that…

The captain of the Delta Blue crude oil tanker reported an attack from two small craft 45 nautical miles south of Yemen's Mokha, with a rocket-propelled grenade exploding near the vessel, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Thursday.Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas.The Liberia-flagged Delta Blue and its crew are safe…

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement said on Wednesday that it had targeted a ship identified as the Contship Ono in the Red Sea as well as two U.S. destroyers in the adjacent Gulf of Aden.The Houthi air force targeted U.S. destroyer Cole with a number of drones and the U.S.

Early 2024 saw a group of financial deals that have implications, in a broad sense, for how offshore wind projects may be financed. While offshore wind projects might be thought of as being in the ‘utility finance’ basket, they are ultimately high-risk deals that might better suit the portfolios of ‘infrastructure investment’ which, in recent years, has taken a shift towards tolerating more uncertainty when it comes to cash flows.A 2022 article from consultants McKinsey, titled “Infrastructure investing will never be the same”…

The Philippines, Canada, United States and Australia kicked off their first joint military exercise on Wednesday in the South China Sea to enhance inter-operability among their forces, the four countries' military said.The two-day exercise, which will involve naval and air force units, is the first among the four countries, and follows the first Philippines-Japan joint exercise in the disputed South China Sea last week.The United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines, has held similar exercises with other countries in the disputed waterway, having carried out drills with Manila and Japan in

Greek authorities have confiscated cocaine valued at more than 1 million euros ($1.10 million) that was hidden in a sea container for bananas, the coast guard said.The drugs, seized from a vessel in Piraeus port on Monday, were found with the help of the Homeland Security Investigations unit of the U.S.

The IMO has launched a new toolkit that will help the global maritime industry respond better to ever-evolving insider threats.Insider threat refers to the risk that arises from a maritime employee carrying out or enabling a security incident, either through a lack of awareness, complacency or maliciousness. For terrorists and organized crime groups who are constantly looking to exploit vulnerabilities in security controls of ports and ships, insiders can offer a tactical advantage…

A container vessel that was hit by Houthi militants off Yemen on Saturday in the first such attack in two weeks, has arrived safely in Djibouti and the strike caused no injuries or water ingress, its Greek manager said on Monday.Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Sunday that they targeted the Liberia-flagged MV Groton in the Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles, claiming their first attack on shipping lanes since Israel carried out a retaliatory airstrike in Hodeidah port on July 20.The MV Groton was hit by a missile 60 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen…

Australia’s Woodside Energy has signed an agreement with Dutch-based OCI Global to acquire its clean ammonia project for $2.35 billion, which is still under construction on the U.S. Gulf Coast in Texas.Woodside has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of OCI Clean Ammonia Holding, and its lower carbon ammonia project in Beaumont, in a move that strengthens the company’s transition to green energy.The Project is under construction and targets production of first ammonia from 2025 and lower carbon ammonia from 2026…

China's coast guard said it was monitoring Philippine patrol and fishing vessels that have gathered around the contested Sabina Shoal, citing China's "indisputable sovereignty" over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.China's coast guard had been monitoring the vessels since Saturday, spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement late on Sunday.Gan said patrol boats from the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau and multiple fishing boats have gathered in the waters near a Philippine ship which China has said was "illegally stranded" at the shoal.The stranded ship "violates" China

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement said on Sunday that it targeted a Liberia-flagged container vessel in the Gulf of Aden, claiming its first attack on shipping lanes since Israel carried out a retaliatory airstrike in Hodeidah port on July 20.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement that the MV Groton was attacked by ballistic missiles.British maritime agency UKMTO and British security firm Ambrey said on Saturday that the vessel was targeted by a missile 125 nautical miles east of Yemen's port of Aden.

Australian authorities last month located, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel illegally fishing and shark finning inside the Australian Territorial Sea near New Year Island, approximately 294 kilometers north-east of Darwin.Australian authorities seized the vessel along with 50 kilograms of shark fin, 80 kilograms of bait fish and a substantial quantity of fishing equipment. The crew was detained and transported to Darwin, with the vessel destroyed by Australian…

A collision between two tankers off Singapore in July raises questions over insurance claims, as one of the vessels previously shipped Iranian oil, potentially complicating payments due to Western sanctions, ship-trackers and industry sources say.What happened?The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Ceres I collided and caught fire about 55 km (35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca on July 19.No oil spill has been detected…

Australian authorities have made a major drug bust in Port Botany, uncovering a large shipment of methamphetamine in an inbound shipping container arriving from the United States.The discovery was made on July 22 when Australian Border Force (ABF) examining the container discovered about 896kg of the illicit powdered substance hidden inside packages tucked away in two separate computer numerical control (CNC) machines.The drugs were removed, and the consignment was delivered to its intended address in Warwick Farm on July 31.

Japan is seeking the extradition of a U.S.-Canadian anti-whaling activist, who has been held in custody in Greenland since July 21, Danish and Japanese authorities said on Thursday.Denmark has previously said Japan was seeking Paul Watson - founder of the Sea Shepherd activist group and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation - on charges of breaking into a Japanese vessel in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010, obstructing the boat's business and causing injury as well as property damage.Watson…

Shipping group Maersk raised its full-year earnings and market demand forecasts on Thursday, partly due to disruptions to Red Sea trading routes, but also said prospects for the fourth quarter were uncertain.The Danish group, seen as a barometer of world trade, said it now expected global container market volumes to increase 4-6% this year, up from its previous forecast of growth at the upper end of a 2.5-4% range.It added, however, that there was a lack of clarity around supply and demand in the fourth quarter of the year.Maersk's share price initially rose on the news…

Huntington Ingalls Industries on Thursday reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, as heightened global tensions drove up demand for aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and submarines.The Virginia-based company reported a profit of $4.38 per share for the quarter ended June 30, ahead of analysts' estimates of $3.62. Demand for submarines and aircraft carriers is surging, fueled by China's expanding naval footprint and high global tensions.Huntington Ingalls, the largest U.S.

Transport and logistics insurer TT Club announced Thursday that Kevin King has stepped into the role as CEO, succeeding Charles Fenton effective August 1.Originally based in the U.S., King has long held positions within Thomas Miller managed businesses, and transferred to London in 2015 to lead the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at TT. More recently he served as the insurer’s Chief Operating Officer and acted as deputy CEO to over the last year.Fenton said, “Kevin is well-positioned to lead TT into a challenging future.

Following positive response and encouraging conversations with IMO member nations and other stakeholders, the World Shipping Council (WSC) has further developed the Green Balance Mechanism, a regulatory measure designed to ensure that shipping meets its net-zero goal by 2050 in an efficient, just and equitable way.A detailed proposal, including design updates and regulatory text for the Green Balance Mechanism, has been submitted to support the timely development of effective…

Rand Logistics, a dry bulk shipping group operating on the Great Lakes, announced on Wednesday that it has reached a deal to acquire Andrie from Auxo Investment Partners, marking the company's expansion into liquid bulk shipping. Financial terms were not disclosed.Andrie, based in Muskegon, Mich., transports specialty liquid products such as asphalt, cement, refined oil products and calcium chloride, connecting North American production assets with distribution networks throughout the Great Lakes region.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings on Wednesday raised its annual profit forecast for a third time this year, riding on sustained demand for luxury voyages and higher ticket prices.With people continuing to splurge on experiences and services over discretionary goods, operators have seen record booking rates for affordable cruise vacations, giving them enough opportunity to increase ticket prices."We are witnessing robust demand with strong pricing and booking volumes leading to record-breaking advanced ticket sales…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri reported a 16% jump in first-half earnings to 214 million euros ($231.31 million) and a six-fold increase in its order book to 7.6 billion euros, mainly driven by the cruise and defense sectors.Revenues remained stable at 3.68 billion euros, as shipbuilding revenue, amounting to 69% of the total, decreased due to changes made to the production schedule for some ships.($1 = 0.9252 euros)(Reuters - Reporting by Philippe Leroy, Editing by Louise Heavens)

One of the United States' largest fleeting and shifting companies, Turn Services, headquartered in New Orleans, announced it has reached a deal to acquire Marine Fueling Service, a Texas-based provider of marine support services.Owned by the Bean family for over six decades, MFS provides fleeting, shifting, towing, boat charter, fuel, and lube services, both dockside and midstream in the Golden Triangle area and the Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW) in Texas.Located at the intersection of the ICWW…

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised Beijing's "escalating and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea at a summit on Saturday, while his Russian counterpart said Washington has stoked anxiety with its plan for a nuclear deterrence with ally Seoul for the Korean peninsula.Blinken singled out China over its coast guard's hostile actions against U.S. defence treaty ally the Philippines in the South China Sea.But he also lauded the two countries for their diplomacy after Manila completed a resupply mission earlier on Saturday to troops at a disputed shoal…

Spanish police said on Friday they had seized four metric tons of cocaine hidden in rice sacks at Barcelona's port, breaking up a crime ring that operated in Spain, Paraguay and Britain.The drug smugglers processed the drugs into powder in Asuncion, Paraguay, and then put them plastic bags which were hidden inside sacks of rice sewn by hand before shipping them to Europe, the statement said.The containers arrived at Barcelona's port earlier this year but the haul of cocaine was only discovered in July when the smugglers moved the containers, police said.Authorities in Paraguay and Britain seiz

Despite stating that the transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to France is in breach of EU law, the European Commission has so far failed to take action against it, says Ethical Farming Ireland.In an audit report published in December 2023, the Commission claimed the journey was in breach of Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, as the calves are not being fed during the long ferry crossing to France. In most cases, these animals are left unfed for up to 30 hours…

Three ships from Russia’s Baltic Fleet will arrive in Cuba on Saturday, official media said on Thursday, the second visit by Russian naval vessels since June.A brief statement by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces said the visit was routine, but back-to-back naval visits by any country to Cuba have not occurred in decades.Russian news agencies earlier reported on the planned visit, citing Cuba's Defense Ministry.(Reuters - Reporting by Marc Frank, Writing by Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Christian Plumb)

Iran has released the oil cargo of a Greek-owned, Marshall-Islands-flagged tanker it seized in the Gulf of Oman earlier this year, a shipping source told Reuters on Thursday.The vessel, M/T St. Nikolas, is still being held by Iran, the source added. It was laden with 1 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil destined for Turkey when it was seized."The cargo was released earlier this week after negotiations," the source said.Turkish refiner Tupras said in a statement that the St. Nikolas…

A Palau-flagged general cargo vessel has been detained in Israel after "inhumane" crew conditions were discovered during an onboard inspection. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said the vessel Serafina is the worst its inspector Assaf Hadar has ever seen in four years of inspecting ships in Israel.When Hader boarded the ship, he found food storage freezers all at above 0°c, the stench of rotten meat, a bug infestation, broken sanitation facilities, among other inhuman conditions.

Prosecutors in the Italian city of Crotone said on Tuesday they have informed six police and coastguard officers that they may face trial over alleged failures to avoid amigrant shipwreck that killed at least 94 people.The move was denounced by Italy's right-wing government who defended the two coastguards and four police officers."Not only do they risk their lives every day to save others, but they even run the risk of being arrested in the event of a disaster," said Matteo Salvini…