Maritime Law & Regulations News

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…

The United States' Federal Maritime Commission on Monday published its final rule concerning “Definition of Unreasonable Refusal to Deal or Negotiate with Respect to Vessel Space Accommodations”.The rule establishes the necessary elements for the Commission to apply 46 U.S.C. 41104(a)(3) with respect to refusals of cargo space accommodations when available, and 46 U.S.C. 41104(a)(10) with respect to refusals of vessel space accommodations.Where an alleged refusal by an ocean common carrier takes place during the “negotiation” phase of a transaction, 46 U.S.C. 41104(a)(10) would apply.

Paying claims for ships involved in accidents or collisions with other vessels covered by sanctions-hit Russian insurer Ingosstrakh will prove difficult, UK ship insurer West said, in another sign of complications with Moscow's oil trade.In June, Russia's Ingosstrakh, which provides services to Russian oil exporters including ship insurance cover, was added to the UK's list of Russian entities under sanctions in what the British government said was part of efforts to "ramp up economic pressure on Moscow".West is among 12 clubs offering protection and indemnity insurance to ships…

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has intercepted a Togo-flagged, UAE-managed products tanker carrying 1,500 tons of marine gas oil, the IRGC and British security firm Ambrey said on Monday.The vessel had loaded marine gas oil off the coast of Iraq and was destined for UAE's Sharjah when it was intercepted on Sunday, 61 nautical miles southwest of Iran's port of Bushehr, Ambrey said.Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Navy confirmed seizure of the tanker in a statement quoted by Iran's state news agency, saying "the tanker was systematically engaged in fuel smuggling ...

Russia and China are increasingly cooperating in the Arctic region, which could impact regional stability, the U.S. military said as it released its strategy for the Arctic region on Monday.Russia has reopened hundreds of Soviet-era military sites in the Arctic, the report said. China, which describes itself as a "near-Arctic" state, also has ambitions there and has said it intended to build a "Polar Silk Road." China has its eye on mineral resources and new shipping routes as ice packs recede with rising temperatures."Increasingly…

Spanish authorities have detained a German-operated cargo ship for causing a spill during a refueling operation near the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Spain's Merchant Fleet said on Monday.The Antigua & Barbuda-flagged Tony Stark ship cannot leave the port on Africa's north coast until the owners pay bail of 120,000 euros ($130,524), it added.The Tony Stark's German-based operator NautiCore Shipping did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Last week, trails of fuel oil were detected in front of Benitez beach…

A U.S.-Canadian anti-whaling activist has been detained in Greenland and faces possible extradition to Japan which has issued an international warrant for his arrest, the Arctic island's police said in a statement.Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd activist group and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, was apprehended on Sunday when his ship docked at the port of Nuuk, police in the Danish autonomous territory added.Japan, which says eating whale meat is part of its culture, resumed commercial whaling in 2019 and has since modernised its fleet and expanded its catch list, drawing condemn

A tanker that fled the scene of a fiery Friday collision off Singapore entered the area of Malaysia's Bertam floating oil terminal on Monday after being tracked down and intercepted by Malaysian authorities, shipping data from LSEG and Kpler showed.The Sao Tome and Principe-flagged supertanker Ceres I had left the scene of the collision with the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile about 55 km (35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca without explanation.The Ceres I…

Norden has entered into an agreement to acquire Norwegian dry bulk operator Norlat Shipping, which specializes in the shipment of forest products and other bulk commodities.The acquisition, whose value was not disclosed, is subject to merger clearance.The acquisition will be Norden's second, following the mid-2023 acquisition of the activities of Thorco Projects, which is today fully integrated into Norden's Freight Services & Trading business unit.Norlat Shipping’s main trading…

Trafigura Group has completed the acquisition of Gearbulk Holding 50% share in joint venture company High Heat Tankers (HHT) for an undisclosed sum.Aside from the acquisition, Trafigura has committed to a newbuild 17,500 dwt IMO II specialized high heat tanker to be delivered in the third quarter of 2026 from Chengxi Shipyard China to support the expansion of HHT’s services.HHT was established in 2018 between Gearbulk and Trafigura Group company Puma Energy Supply and Trading to provide access to the largest pool of modern IMO II high heat tankers in the world.Today…

The Philippines and China have "reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement" for resupply missions to a beached Filipino naval ship in the South China Sea, Manila's foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) did not provide details on the arrangement for the Philippines' resupply missions to the Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal.But it said it followed "frank and constructive discussions" between the two sides at the…

Russian warships conducted training drills in the White Sea to convoy and defend a caravan of ships, state-run TASS news agency reported on Sunday, citing the Russian Defence Ministry, in what it said was routine combat training.During the drills two small anti-submarine ships, the Onega and the Naryan-Mar, practised organising combat usage of weapons and radio-electronic warfare equipment in a scenario of a simultaneous attack from air and sea."The day before, the small anti-submarine ships Onega and Naryan-Mar carried out training and combat missions to repel an air attack by a conditional e

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has informed that the Singapore-flagged container vessel LOBIVIA had been struck by unidentified projectiles while transiting the Gulf of Aden.The impact caused the fire onboard, which has been extinguished by the crew.According to MPA, all crew are accounted for and are safe and there are no Singaporeans onboard.LOBIVIA is moving under her own propulsion and has arrived at Berbera Port, Somalia to assess the damage and repairs needed.“MPA is in contact with the vessel manager to provide any assistance required.

The mayor of the Russian Black Sea port city of Novorossiisk issued a sea drone alert on Thursday morning, he said on the Telegram messaging app.Mayor Andrei Kravchenko urged locals to stay away from the shoreline. Ukrainian sea drones have in the past attacked Russian ships near the port, disrupting traffic.Novorossiisk is Russia's largest Black Sea port and a key outlet for crude oil and oil product exports in Russia's south.

The Philippines and China have agreed to set up new lines of communication to improve their handling of maritime disputes, according to a document and a Philippine diplomatic source, as ties sour over clashes about territory in the South China Sea.The two countries have traded barbs repeatedly over jurisdiction in the contested South China Sea as the Philippines, emboldened by support of defence ally the United States, challenges China's permanent presence around strategic features…

China and Russia have begun live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, Russian and Chinese state media reported, with the two countries having strengthened military and trade ties in recent years following U.S. sanctions on both.The opening ceremony of the Russian-Chinese naval exercise 'Maritime Cooperation - 2024' took place in the Chinese port of Zhanjiang, the Russian defence ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.During their sea manoeuvres, the crews of ships…

Recent research into the impact of an Emissions Control Area (ECA) in the North Atlantic Ocean confirms that there would be significant emissions reductions benefits if such an area were to be established, says environmental organization Opportunity Green.The North Atlantic Emissions Control Area would mean stricter regulations on ships in designated areas, aimed at reducing and controlling their emissions of SOx, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and NOx.The International Council…

Liberia-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion was assessing damage and investigating a potential oil spill after it was attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said on Tuesday.An unmanned watercraft inflicted minor damage to Chios Lion's port side on Monday as part of a swarm of attacks by the Houthis on the vessel and another ship sailing around 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah."While originally headed south, following the attack the vessel turned around and back north out of the threat area to furt

In recent weeks the U.S. Supreme Court has fundamentally changed the ways that laws are interpreted and enforced by federal agencies. These decisions will have far-reaching impacts on heavily-regulated sectors, such as the U.S. maritime industry, potentially altering the balance of power between stakeholders and federal regulators.Civil penalties require 7th Amendment protectionsOn June 27, 2024, in SEC v. Jarkesy, the Supreme Court held that under the Seventh Amendment, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must bring civil-penalty actions for securities fraud in federal court…

Yemen's Houthis targeted three vessels, including an oil tanker, in the Red and Mediterranean seas with ballistic missiles, drones and booby-trapped boats, they said on Monday.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the latest Houthi military operations were a response to the Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Saturday, an attack that killed at least 90 Palestinians and wounded 300 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.In dozens of attacks since November…

Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday they had conducted two military operations, one in the Gulf of Aden and one in Eilat at the southern tip of Israel.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had targeted the Israeli ship MSC UNIFIC in the Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles and drones in addition to attacking military targets in Eilat with drones.The spokesperson said that the latest Houthi military operations came in response to the Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis on Saturday…

A global operational alliance between two of the world’s largest container shipping companies will not go into effect next week as planned following a move by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission to study the potential competitive impacts of the arrangement.The FMC said on Friday it is seeking more information to determine the potential competitive impacts of the proposed Gemini Cooperation Agreement, which would allow ocean carriers Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to share vessels in the trades between the United States and Asia…

British security firm Ambrey said early on Friday that a merchant vessel reported two explosions about 21 nautical miles (39 km) west of Yemen's Mocha.One "missile" impacted the water and another exploded in the air, the vessel reported to Ambrey, adding that both explosions occurred within 0.5 nautical miles of the vessel."The vessel was withholding its automatic identification system transmissions at the time.

A Chevron-chartered oil tanker that was seized by Iran more than a year ago was heading for international waters on Thursday, LSEG ship tracking data showed.The Marshall Islands-flagged Advantage Sweet was boarded by Iran's military in the Gulf of Oman in April 2023 after an alleged collision with an Iranian boat.There was no immediate comment from Chevron or Iranian officials on Thursday on whether the vessel had been released or what discussions may have been involved.The movement…

Ukraine seized a foreign cargo ship in the Black Sea off its Odesa region and detained the captain on suspicion of helping Moscow export Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied Crimea, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Thursday.The vessel, which it did not identify, was travelling under the flag of a central African country and repeatedly docked at the Crimean sea port of Sevastopol to pick up "looted" agricultural products in 2023-24, the SBU said.Russian forces occupied…

Seattle-headquartered Saltchuk on Wednesday announced it has completed its acquisition of Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), a New York-listed marine transportation company based in Tampa, Fla.Privately-held Saltchuk—previously OSG’s largest shareholder—said it completed a $950 million transaction to purchase all outstanding shares of OSG common stock at $8.50 per share in cash, making OSG a wholly owned subsidiary. OSG common stock is now delisted and deregistered from the from New York Stock Exchange.OSG…

Vessels in the passenger/cruise, container, RoPax, bulker and tanker segments will have significant cost exposure from the FuelEU Maritime regulation due to be implemented from January 1 next year, despite a relatively modest initial target of a 2% cut in GHG intensity, according to OceanScore.The Hamburg-based maritime technology firm’s data analytics team has calculated that shipping will rack up total FuelEU penalties of €1.345 billion in 2025 through analysis of the 13,000 vessels over 5,000gt trading within and into the EU/EEA that are subject to the regulation.

The skipper of a U.K. fishing trawler has been been fined and given an eight-month prison sentence after falling asleep during his watch, causing the vessel to collide with another and injuring two crew membersOn January 15, 2022, Maurice Reid of Fraserburgh, Scotland was in charge of the fishing vessel Margaret Anne’s journey when he started to fall asleep. Moments later the vessel collided with anchored fishing vessel Blackbird in the Shoreham area, off the south coast of Sussex…

U.S. ocean carrier Matson is doing its part to limit whale strikes, including rerouting vessels to avoid protected areas and helping to develop cutting-edge technology that detects whales and alerts crew members of their presence.In August of last year, Matson made route adjustments to its weekly triangulating Oakland-Long Beach-Honolulu voyage to minimize the time our vessels spend inside whale protection zones of the northern and southern California coasts. Fleet Operations…

Royal Boskalis B.V. on Monday announced it has reached a deal to take full ownership of marine services and towage provider Smit Lamnalco, after another deal for the company to be acquired by Spain’s Boluda Group fell through.Dutch dredging contractor and marine services firm Boskalis, which has held a 50% stake in Smit Lamnalco alongside joint owner Saudi Arabia's the Rezayat Group since 1964, said it signed an agreement to acquire all remaining shares in the company. The companies…

Shipping giant Maersk said one of its vessels, the Maersk Sentosa, reported being targeted by a flying object in the north of the Gulf of Aden early on Tuesday.Maersk told Reuters that no injuries to the crew or damage to the ship or cargo were reported.A spokesperson for the Copenhagen-based company said the ship was one of its U.S.-flagged vessels sailing for the subsidiary Maersk Line, Limited.The captain of an unnamed merchant ship reported an explosion close to the vessel some 180 nautical miles (333 km) east of Yemen's Nishtun…

Ethical Farming Ireland (EFI) has raised concerns that the livestock carrier Shorthorn Express is currently sailing to Israel from Greenore despite having previously been subject to a Houthi attack in the Red Sea region in June. The Shorthorn Express was travelling to Haifa port from Portugal with 12,000 sheep on board at the time.EFI continues to raise other concerns about the trade. The organisation is calling for an immediate end to live export to countries outside the EU that do not share Ireland’s animal welfare standards.

The Russian navy's Black Sea Fleet has been forced to rebase nearly all its combat-ready warships from occupied Crimea to other locations, and its main naval hub is becoming ineffectual because of attacks by Kyiv, Ukraine's navy chief said.Vice-Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa said Ukrainian missile and naval drone strikes had caused heavy damage to the Sevastopol base, a logistics hub for repairs, maintenance, training and ammunition storage among other important functions for Russia."They were established over many decades, possibly centuries.

Electric marine technology companies Vita and Evoy announced they are merging to consolidate their positions in high-power electric marine propulsion in both commercial and recreational markets.In coming together, the companies said they plan to leverage scale to drive down prices for the end user, fast tracking development, and providing immediate access to territories across Europe and North America with active operations in the U.K., Norway, France, Italy, Monaco and California.Evoy’s high-output inboard and outboard systems are currently in operation in 19 countries…

A strike planned for Monday by ship and dock foremen at west Canadian ports has been called off after the country's industrial relations board found the union's strike notice was in violation of the labor code, the board said in an order."The Board directs the union to rescind its strike notice," Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) said in the order, adding that the strike violated the Canada Labour Code.It said that the union - International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship and Dock Foremen Local 514 - failed to bargain in good faith.The union did not immediately respond to a request f

The United States added six companies to its trade restriction list on Tuesday, including four for their links to the training of China's military forces, according to a government posting.Two of the companies are in China, one in South Africa, two in the United Arab Emirates and one in Britain.Global Training Solutions Limited and Smartech Future Limited, both in China, as well as Grace Air (Pty) Ltd and Livingston Aerospace Limited of the United Kingdom, were added over their…

Two corvettes of the Russian navy's Pacific Fleet left the port of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East to carry out training missions in the Asia-Pacific region, the Interfax news agency cited the fleet's press service as saying on Monday."When leaving the main base of the fleet, the crews of the ships practiced emergency preparations for battle and sailing, and when passing through a narrow area, they conducted training in repelling a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) raid of a mock enemy," the agency reported, citing the press service.The corvettes, the Rezky and the Gromky, will conduct a number o

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday that China's largest coastguard vessel has anchored in Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, and is meant to intimidate its smaller Asian neighbour.The China coastguard's 165-meter 'monster ship' entered Manila's 200-nautical mile EEZ on July 2, spokesperson for the PCG Jay Tarriela told a news forum.The PCG warned the Chinese vessel it was in the Philippine's EEZ and asked about their intentions, he said."It's an intimidation on the part of the China Coast Guard," Tarriela said.

The EU naval mission protecting ships crossing the Red Sea said its frigate Psara had destroyed two unmanned aerial vehicles in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday.The Aspides mission began in February in response to drone and missile attacks on vessels by Iranian-aligned Houthi militants. The Houthis describe the attacks as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza.Other countries, including the United States, also have naval forces operating in the area.(Reuters - Reporting by Renee Maltezou and Lefteris Papadimas; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

Hornblower Group has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy under new ownership following the completion of its court-approved financial restructuring plan, the marine transportation and experiences company announced on Friday.Under the plan approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, majority ownership of San Francisco-based Hornblower has transitioned to funds managed by investment firm Strategic Value Partners (SVP), while private equity firm Crestview…

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has ordered his armed forces to defuse tensions in the South China Sea, his military chief said on Thursday, after a flare-up with China over missions to resupply Filipino troops on a contested shoal.Marcos' instructions came after Manila and Beijing agreed on the need to restore trust and confidence to better manage maritime disputes during a round of talks which Manila hosted on Tuesday.But that did not stop the Philippine military from…

The German government is considering support for Meyer Werft, one of the world's biggest cruise ship builders, an economy ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, as the cash-strapped company mapped out hundreds of planned job cuts to stem costs.The government is considering federal assistance for Meyer Werft together with the state of Lower Saxony, home of the shipyard in Papenburg where the over 200-year-old company is based.Meyer Werft needs to raise around 2.7 billion euros ($2.91 billion) in the coming years, according to restructuring chief Ralf Schmitz.

A rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy has been grounded at port for 20 days for ignoring migrant disembarkation orders from Italian authorities, the charity running the vessel said on Wednesday.The Louise Michel ship had been told to take 37 people rescued at sea to Pozzallo in Sicily, but instead took them to the island of Lampedusa, saying the sea was too rough to reach its prescribed destination."Our rescue ship MV Louise Michel has been detained for 20 days in the port of Lampedusa," the Louise Michel charity wrote on X.

Yemen's Houthis are sending drone boats packed with explosives into the Red Sea as they intensify their attacks on merchant ships that have little defense against the "sophisticated shift" in tactic, maritime security sources say.Iran-aligned Houthi militants first launched aerial drone and missile strikes on the trade route 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 recent weeks…

An abandoned tanker that was drifting off Yemen's coast in June has disappeared and is believed to have sunk, three navy and security sources said, the latest vessel lost in the strategically important Red Sea.The area, on the main shipping route from Europe to Asia, is considered high risk as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched more than 70 attacks on merchant vessels since October in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.Maritime security sources said last week the abandoned tanker, the Lavant, was unlikely however to have been targeted by the Houthis.

Norway-based technology group Nekkar has entered into an agreement to acquire the majority of the maritime connectivity and digital service provider Globetech.Globetech provides ICT (information and communication technology) infrastructure, connectivity and support services to the global maritime sector.Serving a fleet of 150 vessels, the company offers complete solutions for onboard network infrastructure including hardware, tailored solution architecture and system integration for satellite communications…

Chinese officials boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating near China's coast close to a Taiwan-controlled island and took it to a Chinese port, the Taiwan coast guard said late on Tuesday in a further escalation of tensions.China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up pressure on Taipei since President Lai Ching-te took office in May, a man Beijing accuses of being a "separatist".The fishing boat was operating near the Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands, which sit next to the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou, on Tuesday night when it

U.S.-based family-owned private equity firm the Hoffmann Family of Companies (HF Companies) announced it has acquired Mackinac Island Ferry Company in Michigan.Jenny Gezella, President of Hoffmann Marine, said, “We are thrilled to acquire the Mackinac Island Ferry Company, further expanding our presence in the Mackinac community and marine industry. Our commitment to providing first-class, efficient transportation remains steadfast, and we look forward to continuing to serve both residents and visitors to this special island.”“To ensure a seamless transition…

The Netherlands-based subsea services company N-Sea announced it has finalized a deal to acquire Geo Plus based in Groningen, The Netherlands.Geo Plus operates a fleet of five specialized survey vessels—Geo Ranger, Geo Focus, Geo Explorer, Geo Motion, and Geo Connection—which are currently operating on long-term projects in Europe and the Middle East. The vessels are well equipped for all types of geophysical surveys and inspection activities.By acquiring Geo Plus, N-Sea increases its capacity and capabilities in the field of shallow water hydrographic surveys…

Marlink closed the 100% acquisition of Diverto, a pioneer in the provision of advanced IT and OT security solutions for enterprise and critical infrastructure.Based in Zagreb, Croatia, Diverto is an expert in the delivery of cybersecurity services and solutions. Its portfolio covers professional services including penetration testing, red and purple teaming, security audit, risk management, compliance and other cybersecurity services. Agnostic to the technologies deployed by its customers…

The Paris MoU has published its 2023 Annual Report, highlighting that the overall detention rate for 2023 (3.81%) is lower than that for 2022 (4.25%).However, the detention rate has not returned to pre-pandemic levels of 2.98% during 2019.Analysis of the deficiencies indicates that, compared to previous years, there is no specific convention or part of a convention that is indicating more areas of non-compliance. Instead, there are recurring areas of concern:• SOLAS Chapter II-2 (Construction-Fire Protection…

Yemen's Houthis said on Monday that they conducted four military operations targeting four ships in the Red, Arabian and Mediterranean Seas as well as the Indian Ocean "linked to the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel."In the first operation, "Israeli ship MSC Unific was targeted in the Arabian Sea," Yahya Sarea, the Yemeni group's spokesperson said."A U.S. oil tanker Delonix" was also targeted in a second operation that was carried out in the Red Sea "for the second time this week," he added.The third operation targeted "U.K.

Louisiana-based maritime financing company Maritime Partners on Monday announced it has completed its acquisition of e1 Marine, a company that produces hydrogen generation technology for the marine sector.Originally formed as a partnership between Maritime Partners, Element 1 and Ardmore Shipping, e1 Marine provides clean energy technologies, including advanced methanol-to-hydrogen generation products, which provide an alternative, cleaner fuel source for marine vessels. The technology comes from Element 1.…

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a major blow to federal regulatory power on Friday by overturning a 1984 precedent that had given deference to government agencies in interpreting laws they administer, handing a defeat to President Joe Biden's administration.The justices ruled 6-3 to set aside lower court decisions against fishing companies that challenged a government-run program partly funded by industry that monitored overfishing of herring off New England's coast. It marked the…

Singapore headquartered dry bulk shipping company Centurion Bulk announce it has acquired Danish handysize operator Integrity Bulk.The takeover will be effective from July 31, 2024, subject to the finalization of the transaction, Centurion Bulk said.Centurion Bulk charters and operates more than 80 vessels worldwide, spanning the handysize to ultramax markets.The Integrity Bulk website currently lists a fleet of 12 vessels built from 2012 through this year, ranging from 28,227 dwt to 39,970 dwt.

Interferry Director of Regulatory Affairs Johan Roos has announced that the organization has drafted an alternative compliance mechanism to the CII that will be submitted to MEPC 82, to be held September 30 - October 4.CII is a shipping industry-specific operational efficiency requirement that dictates how much fuel is allowed to be burned per nautical mile in relation to ship type and ship size. “It follows the same illogical statistical approach as IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships and the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI)…

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday it had received a report of an incident 13 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's Al Mukha, but that the vessel and its crew were safe.An UKMTO advisory note said a merchant vessel had reported being approached by 12 small craft which remained in the vicinity of the vessel for about an hour before leaving the area.The vessel and crew were reported safe, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call, the advisory note added.Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes sin

A ship's captain reported that five missiles had landed close to his vessel in the Red Sea, 150 nautical miles (172 miles) northwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) monitor said on Friday.UKMTO said the ship had reported no damage and was heading northward.

Cleveland, Ohio based welding and cutting equipment company Lincoln Electric earlier this month announced it has acquired automation system integration and technology firm Inrotech A/S, headquartered in Odense, Denmark. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Privately held Inrotech specializes in automated welding systems that are differentiated by proprietary adaptive intelligence software and computer vision which guides and optimizes the welding process without the need for programming or the use of CAD files.

A merchant vessel reported being hit by a projectile in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on Thursday, British security firm Ambrey said.No injuries or damage were reported in the incident, which occurred 84 nautical miles west of Yemen's port of Hodeidah, Ambrey added.The vessel was headed for city of Dammam in Saudi Arabia.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations also said it had received a report of the incident.UKMTO added that the vessel and crew were reported to be safe and the vessel was proceeding to its next port of call."The nature of the attack is reported as a waterborne impro

Greek coastguard officers will testify as suspects as part of a disciplinary investigation into their role in a deadly migrant shipwreck off Greece, three sources told Reuters on Thursday.Hundreds are feared to have died when a vessel, monitored by the Greek coastguard for several hours, capsized and sank in international waters off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos on June 14, 2023.Up to 700 people were in the trawler which left Libya heading for Italy. Some 104 survivors were rescued but only 82 bodies were recovered.

The crew members of a yacht accused of starting a forest fire last week on the Greek island of Hydra are expected to deny arson charges when they appear before a judge on Wednesday, a legal source said.Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean country but they have become more frequent and devastating due to hotter, drier and windier weather, which scientists link to climate change. Greece has in recent years beefed up penalties for arson.The fire, which is believed to have been sparked by fireworks…

Yemen's Houthis said on Wednesday they targeted a ship in Israel's Haifa port with a number of drones in a joint military operation with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.The operation targeted the Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC Manzanillo, the Iran-aligned Houthi group's military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a televised speech on Wednesday.The Israeli military is not aware of any such incident, a spokesperson said, and there was no indication of anything unusual at Haifa port.The Houthi group has been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes since November…

Congestion at Singapore's container port is at its worst since the COVID-19 pandemic, a sign of how prolonged vessel re-routing to avoid Red Sea attacks has disrupted global ocean shipping - with bottlenecks also appearing in other Asian and European ports.Retailers, manufacturers and other industries that rely on massive box ships are again battling surging rates, port backups and shortages of empty containers, even as many consumer-oriented firms look to build inventories heading into the peak year-end shopping season.Global port congestion has reached an 18-month high…

Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA has begun using tankers that navigate off radar to supply its closest political ally, Cuba, as a fleet of state-owned vessels that have historically covered the route dwindles, according to documents and ship monitoring services.Cuba and its main oil supplier, Venezuela, for over a decade had exclusively used their own tankers to navigate between the two countries.Delayed maintenance, however, has taken some ships out of service and the emergence…

Sanctions on shipping companies are undermining safety at sea and pose dangers for trade as ship standards are impacted, the chief executive of sanctioned Russian shipping group Sovcomflot said.The European Union imposed sanctions on Russia's state-owned and top tanker company Sovcomflot (SCF) and its CEO Igor Tonkovidov, according to the measures published in the EU's Official Journal on Monday.Earlier this year, the U.S.

Carnival Corp raised its annual profit forecast on Tuesday for the second time this year, banking on higher prices for its itineraries and sustained demand for cruise holidays to destinations such as the Caribbean and Alaska.The company's U.S.-listed shares, which have fallen more than 11% this year, rose 4.3% to $17.05 in premarket trading.2024 has been a record year for cruise operators, with booking volumes hitting an all-time high as travelers continue to seek out newer experiences and fun activities at affordable rates…

New research from SRI, the international pan-industry body researching maritime and seafarers’ law, concludes that the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) is not being strictly and evenly enforced on a global basis. The findings identify substantial achievements in the enforcement of the MLC but also identify significant gaps - very approximately estimated to indicate that implementation and enforcement of the MLC is achieving a success rate of around 65%.Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of SRI…

The National Transportation Safety Board said on Monday it is inspecting key electrical components that were removed from the cargo ship Dali that crashed into a Maryland bridge in March, killing six people and destroying the Patapsco River crossing.In May, the NTSB said the Dali lost electrical power several times before the crash into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, including experiencing a blackout during in-port maintenance and shortly before the crash.The NTSB said it is continuing…

U.S. forces destroyed three Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels in the Red Sea in the past 24 hours, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday.Separately, the Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Gulf of Aden but there were no injuries or significant damage reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels, CENTCOM added.The U.S. military's Central Command also dismissed as "categorically false" recent claims about a successful attack by Houthi forces on the aircraft carrier Dwight D.

The European Union will add 27 vessels, including oil and liquefied natural gas tankers, to its list of entities under sanctions as part of its latest measures against Russia, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.EU countries adopted the 14th package of sanctions against Russia earlier on Monday. These included a ban on trans-shipments of Russian LNG off EU ports that will take effect after 9-month transition period. The full details will be published later in the EU's Official Journal.The latest list…

A claim by Yemen's Houthi group on Saturday that its forces had attacked the U.S. aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea is false, two U.S. officials told Reuters."That is incorrect," one of the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.The Iran-aligned Houthis first launched drone and missile strikes in the key waterway for trade in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinian militants in Gaza, where Israel has waged a more than eight-month war.In more than 70 attacks, the Houthis have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three seafarers.

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday that the captain and crew of a vessel 96 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Nishtun were forced to abandon ship after it suffered flooding that could not be contained.The crew has been recovered by an assisting ship while the abandoned ship remains adrift, it added.UKMTO earlier reported that it had received a report of a distress call from the vessel and that it was investigating the incident.Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes since November, saying that it acts in so

The Yemeni Houthi group said on Sunday its forces had attacked two ships in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.The first ship, Transworld Navigator, had been targeted in the Red Sea using "an uncrewed surface boat" which led to a direct hit against the ship, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said.The second vessel, Stolt Sequoia, was attacked in the Indian Ocean with a number of cruise missiles, he said.It was not clear when the attacks took place.He said the ships belonged to companies that "violated the ban on entering the ports of occupied Palestine."Yemen's militant Houthi group has been

Yemen's Houthis said early on Sunday that they had conducted a joint military operation with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq militant group, targeting four ships at Israel's northern Haifa port.The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a televised statement that the two groups launched a drone attack on two cement tankers and two cargo ships at the Haifa port on Saturday.He said the ships belonged to companies that "violated the ban on entering the ports of occupied Palestine".The Israeli military did not immediately comment…

European Union countries agreed on a 14th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, diplomats said on Thursday, including their first restrictions on Russian gas.The package bans re-exports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in EU waters but stops short of banning imports as the bloc did in 2022 for Russian seaborne oil. Some EU countries still import pipeline gas from Russia via Ukraine.However, gas market experts say the measure will have little impact…

The first liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker since January is sailing through the Red Sea, just days after Yemen-based Houthi militants sank their second vessel in attacks begun last November.The vessel, Asya Energy, passed Yemen, travelling through the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Tuesday, shiptracking data from LSEG and Kpler showed, the same week that the second ship believed to have been hit by the militants sank."Asya Energy is the first LNG tanker to sail through the Strait since January…

South Korea's Hanwha Group has agreed to acquire U.S. shipbuilder Philly Shipyard in a $100 million cash deal, the companies announced on Thursday.Under the deal, which is expected to close in Q4 2024, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean will purchase purchase of Philly Shipyard, Inc., the sole operating subsidy of Aker-owned Philly Shipyard ASA, based in Oslo.Kristian Røkke, Chairman of Philly Shipyard ASA, said, “After two decades of stewardship, it is with great honor that we transition the ownership from Aker to Hanwha.

Singapore will seek compensation for the costs incurred in an oil spill last week from the owners of the stationary vessel that discharged the oil, local media CNA reported on Thursday.The Maritime and Port Authority told CNA that the shipowner of Singapore-flagged Marine Honour - which was hit by Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima - is liable for costs incurred in containing and cleaning the oil spill and damage to infrastructure.Reuters has reached out to the port authority for comment.Earlier…

Fratelli Cosulich Group, via its subsidiary Link Industries S.p.A., acquired Schiavetti Enzo S.r.l., with Enzo Schiavetti remaining as a partner and CEO. The company, based in Genoa and operational since 1870, produces and sells of hardware products for the naval and nautical industries. Over the years, it has focused on the design and trade of hardware products for the naval and nautical sectors. The portfolio includes a wide range of solutions related to the world of doors and naval furnishings…

The Philippines urged China on Wednesday to avoid actions that endanger sailors and vessels in the South China Sea, saying peace could not be achieved if China's words did not match its behaviour in the disputed waters.The Philippine foreign ministry denounced as "illegal and aggressive" China's actions during a routine resupply mission on June 17, which the Philippine military said had severely injured a navy sailor and damaged Manila's vessels."The department has been exerting efforts to rebuild a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation with China on the South China Sea…

As digital technologies continue to permeate the international shipping industry, a newly launched organization aims to raise the standard of cybersecurity risk assessment across the maritime sector.The International Maritime Cyber Security Organization (IMCSO) will recognize appropriate cybersecurity professional certifications as well as offer certification for maritime specific knowledge. In addition, the body will maintain a register of maritime cyber security service suppliers, detailing the qualifications and expertise of those working for them.

Urgent action must be taken in the Red Sea to stop attacks on merchant shipping by Yemen's Houthis, leading industry groups said on Wednesday, after the sinking of a second ship.Iran-aligned Houthi militants first launched drone and missile strikes on the important trade route in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In more than 70 attacks, they have also seized one vessel and its crew and killed at least three seafarers."It is deplorable that innocent seafarers are being attacked while simply performing their jobs…

Yemen's Houthi militants are believed to have sunk a second ship, the Tutor, in the Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday.The Greek-owned Tutor coal carrier was struck by missiles and an explosive-laden remote-controlled boat on June 12 and had been taking on water, according to previous reports from UKMTO, the Houthis and other sources."Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted in the (Tutor's) last reported location," UKMTO said in a security update.The Tutor's manager could not immediately be reached for comment.One crew member…

Managers of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship on Tuesday renewed calls for the release of the vessel's 25 crew being held by Yemen's Houthi militants for seven months.The militants used helicopters to attack the Bahamas-flagged ship on Nov. 19. They captured the Bulgarian ship master and chief officer, along with 17 Filipinos and other sailors from Ukraine, Mexico and Romania, the ship managers said."There is nothing to be gained by the Houthis in keeping the 25 crew members," said the ship managers…

Shell has reached an agreement with Carne Investments, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek, to acquire 100% of the shares in Pavilion Energy, a Singapore-based global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading business.Pavilion Energy is an LNG business with a contracted supply volume comprising about 6.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).Headquartered in Singapore, Pavilion Energy’s global energy business encompasses LNG trading, shipping, natural gas supply and marketing activities in Asia and Europe.“The acquisition of Pavilion Energy will strengthen Shell’s leadership position in LNG…

Taiwan's defence minister said on Tuesday that they have a "grasp" of the situation after pictures appeared online of a Chinese nuclear submarine surfacing in the sensitive Taiwan Strait near Taiwanese fishermen.The narrow strait that separates Taiwan from China is a frequent source of tension. Taiwan reports Chinese warplanes and warships operating there on a daily basis, as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims against the democratically governed island.Taiwanese media published the pictures of the surfaced craft…

The IMO's Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) met from June 3 to 14 at IMO headquarters in London, covering a range of issues including maritime pilot safety, improving the security and integrity of AIS, and the dissemination of information over multiple recognized mobile satellite services under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).Pilot transfer arrangements and amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 agreedTo improve compliance and address inconsistencies and ambiguities in existing regulations…

The Canadian Liberal government, criticized by opposition legislators for sending a patrol ship to Havana while Russian vessels were there, on Monday said the visit was meant to send a message of deterrence to Moscow.The Canadian navy patrol ship sailed into the harbor early on Friday, two days after the arrival of a Russian nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate. Canada and the United States said they were closely monitoring the vessels."The deployment ... sends a very clear…

China and the Philippines traded accusations over a collision in the South China Sea on Monday, with Manila saying its armed forces would resist Beijing's actions in the disputed waters, the latest in an increasingly testy series of confrontations.U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson condemned China's "aggressive, dangerous" manoeuvres in a post on X, saying the collision had "caused bodily injury."The U.S. State Department condemned what it called "escalatory and…

The Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy will hold exercises June 18-28 in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, TASS state news agency reported on Tuesday.The drills involve about 40 ships, boats and support vessels, around 20 naval aircraft and helicopters, including long-range anti-submarine aircraft Tu-142M3, Il-38 and Il-38N, as well as anti-submarine and search and rescue helicopters, TASS reported, citing the fleet's press service.(Reuters - Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Denmark is considering ways to stop a so-called shadow fleet of tankers from carrying Russian oil through the Baltic Sea, the Nordic country said on Monday, triggering a sharp response from Moscow's diplomats who said any such move would be unacceptable.Russia sends about a third of its seaborne oil exports, or 1.5% of global supply, through the Danish straits that sit as a gateway to the Baltic Sea, so any attempt to halt supplies could send oil prices higher and hit the Kremlin's finances.Since Western nations imposed a price cap on Russia's oil in an attempt to curb vital funds for its war

A Philippine supply ship dangerously approached a Chinese ship resulting in a slight collision after it illegally intruded into waters adjacent to the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, the Chinese coast guard said on Monday.The Philippine transport and replenishment ship ignored China's repeated solemn warnings, the coast guard said in a statement.The guard said the vessel deliberately and dangerously approached the Chinese ship in an unprofessional manner, resulting in a collision.

Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday that they had attacked two civilian ships along with an American destroyer in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, their latest effort to disrupt shipping in what they say is support for Palestinians in Gaza.In a statement, the Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said the militant group fired ballistic missiles at the American destroyer, naval missiles at a ship called the Captain Paris, and drones at a ship called the Happy Condor. It was not clear…

The U.S. military said on Thursday it destroyed two Houthi patrol boats, one uncrewed surface vessel and one drone over the Red Sea in its latest effort to degrade the capabilities of the Iran-backed group.The Houthis, who control the most populous areas of Yemen, targeted the Verbena in the Arabian Sea as well as the Seaguardian and Athina in the Red Sea, the Iran-aligned group's military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a televised speech earlier on Thursday.The attack on the Palau-flagged Verbena cargo ship sparked a fire and severely injured one of her crew, U.S.

Russia said on Thursday that the United States should not be nervous about Russian warships in Cuba but that the West appeared deaf to any diplomatic signals from Moscow and only took notice when the army or navy took action.A Russian navy frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine churned into Havana harbor on Wednesday, a stopover the U.S. and Cuba said posed no threat but which was widely seen as a Russian show of force as tensions rise over the Ukraine war.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said there was no evidence of Russia transferring any missiles to Cuba…

Labor talks at U.S. ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico are a looming risk for retailers, manufacturers and other shippers already grappling with longer transit times and higher costs.The International Longshoremen's Association contract covering 45,000 dockworkers at three dozen ports stretching from Maine to Texas expires on Sept. 30. If there is no deal by then, the union could call a strike that would hit during the vital holiday container shipping season and labor-friendly U.S.

Norwegian-headquartered NAVTOR announced it has acquired specialist software development company Masterloop.“Masterloop provides another piece of the digital puzzle as we continue our mission to make life easier, safer and more profitable for shipping companies worldwide,” said Tor Svanes, NAVTOR Founder and CEO. “The team’s industrial IoT strength and maritime understanding, highlighted by their Bluekey vessel efficiency application, will feed into our drive to enhance our portfolio with intelligent…