Marine Link
Friday, December 5, 2025

Government & Military News

04 Dec 2025

IMO Assembly Adopts New Capacity Development Strategy

Source: IMO

The 34th session of the Assembly of the IMO concluded in London with the adoption of a new strategy to strengthen Member State compliance with IMO rules, by expanding capacity-development support.The Capacity Development Strategy was among 22 resolutions adopted by the Assembly, including decisions on the Organization’s budget, financial statements, work program and strategic plan, among others. The Assembly also elected a new Council to serve for the 2026–2027 biennium.The IMO…

04 Dec 2025

China Massing Military Ships in East Asia

© zapper / Adobe Stock

China is deploying a large number of naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters, at one point more than 100, in the largest maritime show of force to date, according to four sources and intelligence reports reviewed by Reuters.China is in the middle of what is traditionally a busy season for military exercises, though the People's Liberation Army has not made any announcements of large-scale officially named drills.Still, the rise in activity is happening as China…

04 Dec 2025

China Massing Military Ships in East Asia

China is deploying a large number of naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters, at one point more than 100, in the largest maritime show of force to date, according to four sources and intelligence reports reviewed by Reuters.China is in the middle of what is traditionally a busy season for military exercises, though the People's Liberation Army has not made any announcements of large-scale officially named drills.Still, the rise in activity is happening as China and Japan are in a diplomatic crisis after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said last month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically-ruled Taiwan…

03 Dec 2025

Australia Intercepts Cocaine Hidden in Reefer

Source: Australian Border Force

Almost A$9 million ($6 million) worth of cocaine hidden inside a refrigerated shipping container (reefer) has been seized after Australian authorities intercepted the cargo on its arrival into Port Botany in New South Wales.Australian Border Force officers identified the consignment and conducted an x-ray examination which identified anomalies in the rear of the container.Further examination located 22 individually wrapped plastic blocks, with an estimated total weight of 27kg. Presumptive testing of the consignment returned a positive reading for cocaine.

03 Dec 2025

Houthis Release Eternity C Crew

Credit: X/ Armée française - Opérations militaires

The crew of the Greek-operated cargo ship Eternity C, which sank in the Red Sea in July after being attacked by Yemen's Houthis, have been released, an official with the ship's operator and a maritime security source told Reuters on Wednesday.The crew of the Liberia-flagged Eternity C abandoned the ship before it sank following repeated strikes by the Iran-aligned militants with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades.Rescuers pulled crew members alive from the Red Sea and Houthis later said they were holding a group of the seafarers…

03 Dec 2025

Romania Destroys Drone in Black Sea

© Peter Hermes Furian / Adobe Stock

The Romanian military blew up a maritime drone that was endangering navigation in the Black Sea, the Ministry of National Defence said on Wednesday, amid rising concerns about risks to shipping in the area linked to the war in Ukraine.The ministry said that the drone, which was found in an area 36 nautical miles (66 km) east of Constanta, was a Sea Baby. The Sea Baby is a maritime drone developed by Ukraine.A Romanian Defence Ministry spokesperson declined to specify the country that the drone came from, but confirmed it was a Sea Baby.

03 Dec 2025

Hunt for MH370 to Resume

© atulvermabhai / Adobe Stock

The search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 will resume on December 30, Malaysia's transport ministry said on Wednesday, more than a decade after the Beijing-bound flight disappeared in one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.Flight MH370, a Boeing 777, was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew when it vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014. Multiple search operations for the plane have been conducted since then but all proved fruitless.More than…

03 Dec 2025

Taiwan Says China Sometimes Stages Mock Attacks in Strait

© atdr / Adobe Stock

China's military sometimes simulates attacks on foreign naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan shares intelligence with international partners when they operate in those waters, a senior Taiwan security official said on Wednesday.China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own, says it alone exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over the strait, a major trade route for about half of global container ships.Both the United States and Taiwan say the strait is an international waterway, however.U.S.

03 Dec 2025

Taiwan Says China Sometimes Stages Mock Attacks in Strait

China's military sometimes simulates attacks on foreign naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan shares intelligence with international partners when they operate in those waters, a senior Taiwan security official said on Wednesday.China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own, says it alone exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over the strait, a major trade route for about half of global container ships.Both the United States and Taiwan say the strait is an international waterway, however.U.S. warships sail through the strait every few months, provoking Beijing, and some U.S. allies, such as Britain and Canada, have also made occasional transits.

02 Dec 2025

New Zealand's Offshore Patrol Vessel Otago to Resume Operations in 2026

Source: Royal New Zealand Navy

The New Zealand Navy will return to service in the third quarter of 2026 one of two offshore patrol vessels idle since 2021, the chief of the defence force said on Tuesday, at a cost running into millions of dollars.Tony Davies told a select committee of parliament the decision to bring HMNZS Otago out of care and custody arrangements followed the sinking of a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, the Manawanui."Before you put it back to sea, it has to have quite a bit of work and money spent on it," Davies added.

02 Dec 2025

New Zealand's Offshore Patrol Vessel Otago to Resume Operations in 2026

The New Zealand Navy will return to service in the third quarter of 2026 one of two offshore patrol vessels idle since 2021, the chief of the defence force said on Tuesday, at a cost running into millions of dollars.Tony Davies told a select committee of parliament the decision to bring HMNZS Otago out of care and custody arrangements followed the sinking of a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, the Manawanui."Before you put it back to sea, it has to have quite a bit of work and money spent on it," Davies added.

02 Dec 2025

Russian-Flagged Tanker Reports Drone Attack off Turkey

© olinchuk / Adobe Stock

A Russian-flagged tanker loaded with sunflower oil reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast on Tuesday, but its 13 crew members were unharmed, Turkey's maritime authority and the Tribeca shipping agency said.Ukrainian naval drones last week hit two tankers sanctioned by Kyiv and some of its Western allies in the Black Sea as they headed to a Russian port to load oil destined for foreign markets, as the country attempts to pile pressure on Russia's oil sector.Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Ukraine was not involved in Tuesday's attack…

02 Dec 2025

New $60m U.S. Defense Shipbuilding Facility Set to Open in 2027

Rendering of the planned defense shipbuilding facility across from Master Boat’s existing facility on Bayou Coden. Image Courtesy Master Boat Builders

Facility will include 150,000 square feet of covered manufacturing space optimized for serial productionNew yard will support 200 new jobs and expands shipbuilding capacity Master Boat Builders announced plans to build a new $60 million, 150,000 sq ft manufacturing facility dedicated exclusively to government and defense shipbuilding programs. The new 20-acre site is located directly across Bayou Coden from the company’s existing yard.“This new facility is about building more capability here at home,” said Garrett Rice, President, Master Boat Builders.

02 Dec 2025

UK Backs Development of 145-ft Uncrewed Offshore Support Vessel

(Credit: ACUA Ocean)

A consortium led by UK unmanned vessel developer ACUA Ocean has secured government support to develop a new 145-foot uncrewed offshore support vessel, aiming to scale up autonomous operations for offshore energy, logistics and surveillance.The Project MROS consortium, which includes Houlder, Ad Hoc Marine Designs, Trident Marine and the University of Southampton, received funding earlier this year under the UK Department for Transport’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.

01 Dec 2025

Some US Republicans Demand Answers on Venezuela Strikes

© Austin / Adobe Stock

Some congressional Republicans expressed concern about U.S. military actions off Venezuela's coast and joined Democrats in pledging to look into multiple strikes on one boat, although there was no word on Monday of any briefings or hearings.White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Monday confirmed there had been two strikes on one boat in early September, saying they were within the law and authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, days after some members of Congress said…

30 Nov 2025

2026-2027 IMO Council Elected

Source: IMO

The IMO Assembly has elected the following Member States to serve on three categories of the IMO Council.The UK successfully campaigned to keep Russia off the Council by working closely with international partners and lobbying other Assembly Members. This underscores the international community’s unified and resolute stance against Russia’s continued violations of international law, including at sea, said the UK Department of Transport in a statement.Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China…

30 Nov 2025

Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers

Source: social media

Ukrainian naval drones hit two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea as they headed to a Russian port to load up with oil destined for foreign markets, an official said on Saturday, as Kyiv tries to pile pressure on Russia's vast oil industry.The two oil tankers, identified as the Kairos and Virat, were empty and sailing to Novorossiysk, a major Russian Black Sea oil terminal, the official at the Security Service of Ukraine told Reuters.Naval drones could be seen speeding towards hulking tankers followed by powerful explosions that caused fires on the vessels…

27 Nov 2025

Carney Changes Climate Requirements in Energy Deal with Alberta

© JT Fisherman / Adobe Stock

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney signed an agreement with Alberta's premier on Thursday that rolls back certain climate rules to spur investment in energy production, while encouraging construction of a new oil pipeline to the West Coast.Under the agreement, the federal government will scrap a planned emissions cap on the oil and gas sector and drop rules on clean electricity in exchange for a commitment by Canada's top oil-producing province to strengthen industrial carbon…

26 Nov 2025

Poland Picks Saab to Supply Three Submarines

© Adobe Stock/razihusin

Poland said on Wednesday it had chosen Sweden's Saab to supply it with three submarines, in a multi-billion-dollar deal that forms a key element of Warsaw's efforts to bolster its defences in the Baltic Sea.Warsaw has been ramping up investments in the armed forces to counter what it sees as a growing threat from Russia after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.The deal with Sweden under the "Orka" programme to boost Poland's military exemplifies Warsaw's efforts to build a Baltic alliance…

26 Nov 2025

Kongsberg Discovery Welcomes Joint Declaration of Baltic Sea Security for Critical Infrastructure

Kongsberg Discovery's Oslofjord Test Bed - integrating subsea autonomy, land-based and satellite sensor surveillance, traffic monitoring, real-time advanced analytics and decision support into one scalable system. © Kongsberg Discovery

The 2022 sabotage of gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea marked a turning point: maritime infrastructure is no longer seen as a passive utility, but as a strategic asset at risk of disruption. The Joint Baltic Declaration on Security in the Baltic Sea was signed on November 20 by the Norwegian State Secretary Marte Gerhardsen, in the presence of the Polish Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.According to an official statement by the Norwegian State Secretary…

26 Nov 2025

US Navy Cancels Four Constellation Frigates, Keeps First Two Under New Deal

Fincantieri Marinette Marine rendering with completed construction and FFG-62 on shiplift (Credit: FMG/Archive

Fincantieri and the U.S. Navy have reached an agreement to redefine the future of the Constellation-class frigate program, ensuring work continues on the first two ships while cancelling four later units as part of a wider fleet review.The shift follows the Navy’s overhaul of its force-structure plans and aligns with new priorities aimed at accelerating next-generation ship designs and revitalizing segments such as icebreakers, amphibious platforms and special-mission vessels.Fincantieri…

26 Nov 2025

US Navy Cancels Four Constellation Frigates, Keeps First Two Under New Deal

Fincantieri and the U.S. Navy have reached an agreement to redefine the future of the Constellation-class frigate program, ensuring work continues on the first two ships while cancelling four later units as part of a wider fleet review.The shift follows the Navy’s overhaul of its force-structure plans and aligns with new priorities aimed at accelerating next-generation ship designs and revitalizing segments such as icebreakers, amphibious platforms and special-mission vessels.Fincantieri is expected to receive future orders in these areas in coordination with the Navy.The agreement preserves the ongoing construction of two Constellation-class frigates at Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) in Wisconsin.

24 Nov 2025

Sweden to Choose Frigate Supplier Early 2026

© Lefteris Papaulakis - stock.adobe.com

Sweden will choose a supplier for its multi-billion Swedish crown acquisition of four new frigates early next year, the defence minister said on Monday.Sweden is in an intense buildup of its forces in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is looking to increase its navy fleet with bigger ships."I think and I hope that we can make a decision by early next year in regards to our new frigates program," Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a news conference with the French…

24 Nov 2025

UK and Indonesia Strike $5.23B Maritime Deal

(Credit: Babcock International)

The U.K. and Indonesia have agreed a $5.23 billion (£4 billion) maritime deal that will secure around 1,000 jobs in Britain and strengthen defense and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.The new Maritime Partnership Programme, led by British defense firm Babcock, will see both countries jointly develop maritime capability for Indonesia’s navy and build more than 1,000 vessels for its fishing fleet to support food security.The vessels will be built in Indonesia using British shipbuilding expertise…

20 Nov 2025

U.S. Court of Appeals Issues Decision in Case on Demurrage, Detention Billing Practices

© Adobe Stock/EvrenKalinbacak

On February 23, 2024, the FMC issued its Final Rule on Detention and Demurrage Billing Practices, as required by Congress under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. The rule went into effect on May 28, 2024. After the Final Rule was issued, the World Shipping Council, a trade association for vessel-operating common carriers organized under an FMC-filed agreement, appealed the Rule to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, seeking to have it overturned.On September 23, 2025, the court issued its decision in that case, setting aside just one section of the Rule – 46 C.F.R.

19 Nov 2025

Secretary of State for Wales Hosts Roundtable to Realize Tidal, Wave Energy Potential

© Marine Energy Council

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, this week hosted the marine energy sector to discuss how industry and government can work together to realize Wales’ 6GW of tidal stream and wave energy potential. The discussion covered industry progress, the role of the Marine Energy Taskforce, and the upcoming renewable auction.Wales’ 870 miles of coastline has significant renewable potential. The Marine Energy Council (MEC), the representative body of the UK’s tidal stream and wave energy sectors…

19 Nov 2025

As China, Japan Tensions Rise, Japanese Fish are Caught in the Middle

Copyright GT

China has indicated it will ban all imports of Japanese seafood, two government officials in Tokyo said on Wednesday, in what appears to be the latest salvo in an escalating diplomatic dispute between Asia's top two economies.Tensions between the two countries ignited after new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said this month that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could trigger a military response.China has demanded she retract the remarks and urged its citizens not to travel to Japan…

19 Nov 2025

Rescue Ops Underway for 267 on Grounded Ferry

Korea Coast Guard Screen Shot | Copyright GT

A South Korean passenger ferry carrying 267 passengers and crew got stranded on Wednesday after running aground off the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula and a rescue operation was underway to bring them to land, the coast guard said.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who is currently travelling in the Middle East, ordered a swift rescue of all on board to prevent casualties and details of the operation to be made public as they occur, the Yonhap News Agency reported.Authorities were deploying all possible resources in the rescue operation…

18 Nov 2025

FMC Collects $1,350,000 in Penalty Payments

Credit: Adobe Stock/moofushi

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or Commission) investigates and negotiates settlements and informal compromises of civil penalties in relation to potential violations of the Shipping Act and Commission regulations. Recently, the Commission completed two compromise agreements recovering a total of $1,350,000 in civil penalties. The agreements were reached with a vessel-operating common carrier (VOCC) and a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC).One compromise agreement was reached with Hyundai Glovis, Co. Ltd.

18 Nov 2025

From SEAL Team Six to Silicon Valley, Inside Saronic's Shipbuilding Mission

Design work is under way for Port Alpha, a greenfield “next-generation shipyard”.
Image courtesy Saronic Technologies

In a shipbuilding industry defined by tradition, one new entrant is seeking to rewrite the rules of how naval vessels are designed, built and delivered. Saronic Technologies, founded just three years ago, is racing to create what CEO Dino Mavrookas calls “a next-generation shipbuilding ecosystem” — one capable of delivering unmanned surface vessels (USVs) at the speed and scale the U.S. and its allies will need to compete on tomorrow’s seas.Saronic Technology’s ambition is staggering: a vertically integrated…

18 Nov 2025

Navantia, Thales to Upgrade Royal Thai Navy Fleet

(Credit: Thales)

Navantia and Thales have signed a partnership agreement to support the modernization of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), including the supply of three Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems for two Pattani-class offshore patrol vessels and the HTMS Chang landing platform dock.The upgrade work will be carried out by Navantia and marks the first cooperation between the Spanish shipbuilder and Thales in Thailand. The IFF equipment will integrate with existing surveillance radars and…

17 Nov 2025

Waterborne Technology Platform Welcomes EU STIP

© misu / Adobe Stock

The Waterborne Technology Platform has welcomed the EU’s Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) which it says is key in facilitating the uptake of sustainable alternative fuels.The European Commission published the STIP on November 5, setting out a roadmap to accelerate the energy transition of aviation and waterborne transport sectors. The STIP identifies investment needs and outlines measures to make better use of existing EU financing programmes in support of the required investments. It also introduces measures to support the implementation of the facilitating regulatory framework.

17 Nov 2025

Infrastructure Insights: Executive Action Needed to Amend Antiquated Executive Order

The Author: Jen Armstrong, VP, Government Relations, Waterways Council.
Image courtesy WCI

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works mission began in 1824 when our Nation’s fifth President, James Monroe, signed into law a bill to improve navigation on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. While Corps projects have always been large and complex, the Civil Works missions have evolved over time to incorporate new regulations, policies, shifts from political pressures, and unfortunately, cumbersome bureaucracy. Today’s Corps’ Civil Works mission is critical to America’s economy and global competitiveness and provides a true return on investment to move the country forward.

17 Nov 2025

ATDM Program Delivers Skilled Workers to the Maritime Industrial Base

Image courtesy Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program

The U.S. Navy needs to dramatically increase the fleet, especially submarines, but the available pool of skilled workers is not keeping pace.Submarine construction is ramping up. The Navy continues to build Virginia-class submarines, striving for two per year, and is gearing up build the new Columbia-class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. At the same time, the industry needs to support the ambitious Australia-U.S.-U.K. AUKUS program to make the Royal Australian Navy a nuclear submarine navy.Qualified workers are not only needed to build submarines…

17 Nov 2025

Looking Beyond Maritime’s “Moment”

Copyright knelson20/AdobeStock

It’s been said that American maritime is “having a moment” in Washington, DC.From President Trump’s Executive Order on Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance, to introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral SHIPS for America Act in Congress, the U.S. maritime industry has been a subject of focused attention at the highest levels of government, and rightfully so. At their core, these initiatives are driven by recognition that a strong maritime industry is not only vital to the American economy…

16 Nov 2025

Ninety Newborn Calves Unaccounted for on Livestock Carrier

Source: AWF

The 52-year-old livestock carrier Spiridon II rejected by Turkey has now left the area after its cargo of over 2,800 cows was rejected by local authorities.Court transcripts translated by Animal Welfare Foundation indicate that 58 cows died in transit to Turkey, 140 cows had miscarriages in transit, 50 newborn calves were present on board, but another 90 are unaccounted for.Having departed from Montevideo (Uruguay) bound for Turkey on September 19 with 2,901 heifers, the court’s…

16 Nov 2025

Iran Seizes Tanker Headed for Singapore

© Faraways / Adobe Stock

Iran confirmed on Saturday that its Revolutionary Guards had seized a tanker in Gulf waters carrying a cargo of petrochemicals bound for Singapore over alleged violations, Iranian state media reported.A U.S. official and maritime security sources had said on Friday that Iranian forces intercepted the oil products tanker and diverted it into Iranian territorial waters. It was the first report of Tehran seizing a tanker since Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran in June.Iranian state-run…

16 Nov 2025

China Coast Guard Sails in Formation Through Senkaku Islands

© vadimmmus / Adobe Stock

A China Coast Guard ship formation passed through the waters of the Senkaku Islands on Sunday on a "rights enforcement patrol", the China Coast Guard said in a statement, as Beijing ramps up tensions with Japan over its prime minister's remarks on Taiwan.A diplomatic spat between China and Japan has intensified since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on November 7 that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically-ruled Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.The remarks sparked an angry response from Beijing…

14 Nov 2025

Made in America: The U.S. Dredging Market, a Strategic Jones Act Industry

GLDD's recently delivered Amelia Island. Image courtesy GLDD

The United States dredging industry stands as one of the most competitive, efficient, and strategically vital sectors of the maritime economy. As part of the Jones Act fleet—the original Build America, Buy America industry — it not only strengthens our ports and waterways but also anchors thousands of middle-class jobs, spurs shipbuilding across the Gulf and East Coasts, and delivers exceptional value for taxpayers.The last several years have ushered in a quiet renaissance. Dredging firms large and small are modernizing their fleets, expanding capacity, and deepening critical U.S.

13 Nov 2025

Fincantieri, KAYO Form Naval JV to Build Vessels in Albania

Copyright bluebeat76/AdobeStock

Fincantieri has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KAYO, an Albanian company specializing in strategic industrial infrastructure, to establish a joint venture (JV) for the construction and maintenance of military vessels in Albania.The signing took place during the Italy–Albania Intergovernmental Summit in Rome, chaired by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, in the presence of Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero and KAYO CEO Ardi Veliu.Under the agreement…

12 Nov 2025

UK Set to Block Maritime Services for Russian LNG Exports

© Evgenii Bakhchev / Adobe Stock

Britain plans to ban companies from providing services such as shipping and insurance for Russian liquefied natural gas exports, in its latest attempt to help Ukraine in its war against Russia by trying to choke off Kremlin revenue.In October, the European Union approved new sanctions against Russia that ban Russian LNG imports from January 1, 2027, and Britain and the U.S.

11 Nov 2025

Australian Authorities Seize Cocaine from Shipping Container

Source: ABF

The Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) have seized almost 65kg of cocaine potentially worth more than A$21 million ($14 million) from a shipping container in Brisbane.The consignment came from Panama and was declared as 20 packages containing 2380 wooden slats.Officers x-rayed the shipping container and noticed anomalies within its flooring that turned out to be 108 bricks of a white substance wrapped in black plastic.ABF detector dogs attended and provided a positive indication of narcotics within the consignment.

11 Nov 2025

UK to Ban Maritime Services for Russian LNG Exports

© Deniz / Adobe Stock

Britain plans to ban companies from providing services such as shipping and insurance for Russian liquefied natural gas exports, in its latest attempt to help Ukraine in its war against Russia by trying to choke off Kremlin revenue.In October, the European Union approved new sanctions against Russia that ban Russian LNG imports from January 1, 2027, and Britain and the U.S.

11 Nov 2025

EUNAVFOR Atalanta Takes Control of Pirate Dhow

Source: Operation Atalanta

The Iranian-flagged dhow used as a mother ship in the piracy incident involving the Merchant Tanker Hellas Aphrodite has been captured by EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta.The dhow, abandoned by the alleged pirates on the North-Western coast of Somalia, was closely tracked and monitored by the Operation’s flagship, ESPS Victoria, and an Indian Navy warship.EUNAVFOR Atalanta has now checked the vessel, and a medical team has checked the crewmembers, who are in good condition, safe and…

11 Nov 2025

Nigeria, US, UK Agencies Investigate $235m Cocaine Seizure at Tincan Port

© Adobe Stock/georgeodinaka

Nigeria's anti-narcotics agency is working with its U.S. and British counterparts to investigate the origins of a $235 million cocaine shipment seized at Lagos' Tincan Port, in one of the country's largest drug hauls.The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said in a statement on Tuesday that 1,000 kg of cocaine was discovered in an empty container at a terminal over the weekend. Terminal operators alerted the NDLEA and other port security agencies, which jointly examined…

11 Nov 2025

US Aircraft Carrier Moves into Latin America

Credit: Adobe Stock/aerial-drone

The Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group has moved into the Latin America region, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, dramatically escalating a military buildup that has deepened tensions withVenezuela.President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the Ford last month, adding to the eight warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft already in the Caribbean.The Ford, which was commissioned in 2017, is the United States' newest aircraft carrier and the world's largest, with more than 5…

11 Nov 2025

ENFORCER Vessel to Strengthen Netherlands Coastguard Fleet

This image is an impression and may differ from reality. © Rijksrederij/Multraship

Earliest mid-2026, the Netherlands Coastguard will be strengthened with ENFORCER, a Damen FCS 5009 vessel. This vessel will be deployed to ensure the continuity of general coastguard duties in the North Sea. ENFORCER will provide additional support until the new generation of Coastguard ships goes into operation.The duties of the Coastguard have expanded in recent years. The Rijksrederij (the Government Fleet Agency, part of Rijkswaterstaat) has therefore issued instructions for the charter of  ENFORCER.

10 Nov 2025

Oil Prices Rise as US Shutdown Talks Advance, Oversupply Concerns Remain

© Adobe Stock/Grispb

Oil prices edged higher on Monday as investors assessed moves aimed at ending the U.S. government shutdown while concerns around oversupply in the crude market persisted.Brent crude futures rose 43 cents, or around 0.7%, to $64.06 a barrel by 1409 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $60.18 a barrel, also up about 43 cents or 0.7%.The U.S. Senate on Sunday moved forward on a measure aimed at reopening the federal government and ending a now 40-day shutdown that has sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid and snarled air travel.RISK APPETITE RETURNSU.S.

10 Nov 2025

China Pauses Port Fees on US-Linked Ships for One Year

© Adobe Stock/Kalyakan

China suspended for one year port fees levied on U.S.-linked vessels, its transport ministry said on Monday, after Washington announced a similar pause on punitive actions against China's shipping and shipbuilding sectors.The reciprocated pauses were in line with agreements reached by U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a summit in South Korea last month.The suspension kicked in from 13:01 local time (0501 GMT), according to the transport ministry's statement.Beijing welcomed a November 9 announcement made by the U.S.

10 Nov 2025

Death Toll Climbs to 21 as Malaysia Searches for Missing Rohingya

(Credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency)

Malaysian patrols searched coastal waters in the Andaman Sea on Monday for dozens of members of Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya minority, after a boat believed to be carrying them sank last week and another went missing.At least 21 bodies have been found since the vessel went down on Thursday - 12 in Malaysia and nine in neighbouring Thailand - the regional head of Malaysia's maritime agency, Romli Mustafa, told reporters.Without life jackets, it might be difficult for many to survive even 24 hours…

09 Nov 2025

Video: Resilience in a Fragmenting World

Source: Global Maritime Forum

Shipping is the lifeblood of global trade, but in a world of rising geopolitical tensions, climate risks, and economic fragmentation, resilience has never been more critical, says Global Maritime Forum.“From hybrid wars to environmental catastrophes, the industry faces unprecedented uncertainty. Yet, shipping has always navigated turbulent waters, and its long history, adaptability, and global nature are its greatest strengths.“Investing in governance, maritime security, and international collaboration is not optional; it’s essential.

07 Nov 2025

Six Illegal Foreign Fishers in Australian Waters Plead Guilty

© Australian Border Forces

Six Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in three separate cases at Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.The first matter arose from an incident on September 27, 2025, where Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Cassini Island, Western Australia. ABF seized 500 kg of sea cucumber, 90 kg of salt used to process and preserve catch and a quantity of fishing equipment. The crew were detained and transported to Darwin for further investigation by AFMA.

07 Nov 2025

Defense Leaders Unite to Deliver Combat System Capability for SSN-AUKUS

© General Dynamics Mission Systems

Four major defense companies have proposed the establishment of an AUKUS Combat Systems Collaborative Team in contemplation of a potential role for Australia’s SSN-AUKUS conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed Wednesday, November 5.BAE Systems, Raytheon Australia, General Dynamics Mission Systems and Thales propose to lead the design and lay the foundations for manufacture and integration of combat systems for SSN-AUKUS under agreements to be negotiated with the Commonwealth of Australia and United Kingdom government.

07 Nov 2025

China Commissions First Domestically Built Aircraft Carrier

(Credit: Screenshot/Video by China’s Armed Force)

The commissioning of China's latest aircraft carrier this week marks a new chapter in its military modernisation effort but security analysts and regional diplomats say tough challenges lie ahead before it can be made fully operational.President Xi Jinping attended the commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony of the Fujian in Hainan province on Wednesday, and boarded the vessel for an inspection tour, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.The Fujian is China's third aircraft carrier…

06 Nov 2025

US Kills Three in Suspected Drug Vessel Strike

file photo (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky)

The U.S. military killed three men in a strike on a suspected drug vessel in international waters in the Caribbean on Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.Hegseth, said in a post on social media website X that the vessel was operated by a "Designated Terrorist Organization" but provided no further evidence. His post included a 20-second video clip, marked unclassified, of a boat in the water that gets struck by a munition and explodes.The military action was the latest of more than a dozen U.S.

06 Nov 2025

Trump Administration Seeks to Negotiate with China on Shipping

© eyewave / Adobe Stock

The Trump administration said on Thursday it would pursue negotiations with China over its dominance of shipbuilding and ocean logistics as it formalized plans for a one-year pause on U.S. port fees on China-linked vessels as part of a broader deal to reduce trade tensions.The U.S. Trade Representative's office said in a Federal Register notice that it would pause for a year starting November 10 all punitive actions against China resulting from its "Section 301" unfair trade practices investigation.

06 Nov 2025

Keel Laid for Canada’s Final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship

Source: Irving Shipbuilding

At a ceremony at Halifax Shipyard, the Canadian Coast Guard and Irving Shipbuilding have marked the official keel laying of the eighth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) – the future CCGS Sermilik.Today’s ceremony included the tradition of welding a coin to the hull of the ship to bring luck to the captain and crew during the life of the ship.The future CCGS Sermilik is named after the Sermilik Glacier, located in Sirmilik National Park in Nunavut.Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS)…

06 Nov 2025

Greek Court Charges More Coast Guard Officers Over Migrant Shipwreck

© Trygve / Adobe Stock

A Greek prosecutor has extended charges to four more senior coast guard officers over one of the Mediterranean's deadliest accidents, a 2023 shipwreck in which hundreds drowned off the southwestern town of Pylos, legal sources said on Thursday.The charges follow an appeal by lawyers representing the victims, the sources told Reuters.The shipwreck of the overloaded migrant boat Adriana in international waters on June 14, 2023, sent shockwaves across Europe. A Greek naval court…

05 Nov 2025

CCAMLR Talks End Without Consensus on Krill Fishing

Source: WWF

After two weeks of negotiations in Hobart, the 44th annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has closed with little progress toward long-delayed goals to protect the Southern Ocean.Yet a growing group of members are standing strong for the protection of Antarctica, refusing to bow to pressure to expand industrial fishing in one of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems.“This year, conservation-minded countries showed that the future of Antarctica cannot be dictated by those who put fishing before protection…