Costa Cruises will dispose of the 'Costa Fortuna', which will become the third ship to join the fleet of the US operator Margaritaville at Sea. The operator already has two ships from the Costa Cruises in its fleet, the former 'Costa Classica', now sailing as 'Paradise', and the former 'Costa Atlanica', now serving as 'Margaritaville at Sea Islander'. The 'Costa Fortuna' will become the largest ship of the cruise line Margaritaville at Sea. The operator emerged from Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line in 2022 and offers Margaritaville-style party cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico. The operations of the 'Costa Fortuna' from a new homeport wiill be starting in 2026.
News
SALVAMAR REGULUS
On May 14, 2025, at 6.15 a.m., the Spanish fishing vessel 'Nuevo Mariña', measuring 8.76 meters in length, caught fire more than three nautical miles off Monte Louro with two crew members on board. The twin brothers, Santiago (vice-captain of the Fisterra guild) and Alberto Castro Romero.were rescued by anoteher fishing vessel, the 'La Chainza' from Porto do Son, and transferred onto the 'Salvamar Régulus', which had been mobilized by the CCS Finisterre of Salvamento Marítimo, and which coordinated the response. It took them to Porto do Son. Alberto suffered burns to his face and hands and was transported by helicopter to the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC), where he remained in the Burns Unit. Santiago, the vessel's owner, was taken to Barbanza Hospital but has since been released with minor injuries. According to the owner, everything went very quickly. He was in bed and his brother saw a puff of smoke coming out of the engine. They barely had time to launch the liferaft, because the fire was already spreading all over the ship. The patrol boat 'Mar de Galicia' (MMSI: 9905045) of the Coastguard carried out fire extinguishing operations, but finally reported that the fiberglass boat had sunk. Besides the Galician Health Emergency Service-061, Salvamento Marítimo, the Galician Coast Guard Service and agents from the Civil Guard participated in the rescue operation. The cause of the fire was unknown, but the hypothesis of a short circuit was being considered. Reports with photos: https://www.elcorreogallego.es/barbanza-muros-noia/2025/05/14/rescatan-tripulantes-pesquero-nueva-marina-117374886.html https://cadenaser.com/galicia/2025/05/14/naufragio-en-muros-rescatados-los-dos-tripulantes-del-nueva-marina-radio-galicia/
Kerch
The Crimean Bridge across Kerch Strait suffered an explosion and fire in the morning of Oct 8, 2022. Two spans of the motorway bridge collapsed and fell into the water, the railway bridge above the motorway witha cargo train including railway car tanks with fuel, was on fire. All bridge traffic was suspended. The Crimean Bridge was more than a Bridge, both for Russia and Ukraine. For Russia it was a symbol of the Russian “victory” and historical justice. For the Ukraine, it was a symbol of the Russian aggression and Crimea occupation. The navigation span of the Bridge is yet undamaged, and therefore, the Kerch Strait Channel remained navigable. The Kerch Strait Transit is from now on, however, a risky undertaking, so all ship owners are advised to calculate risks and probably, change their ships voyages, avoiding Azov sea calls.
Felixstowe
Workers at Felixstowe have decided to go on a strike for the first time since 1989. Shipping firms and union leaders have warned that the actions could heavily impact the supply chains and also leave buyers waiting for their necessary goods and other commodities. Nearly 1,900 members of the Unite at Felixstowe have walked out in a dispute regarding pay in the most recent outbreak of industrial action to hit some sectors of the economy. Workers, including machine operators, crane drivers, and stevedores will take action after voting by more than nine to one in favor of strikes. The union said that the eight-day halt is likely to have a significant impact on the port that typically handles almost 4m containers in one year from about 2,000 ships. Felixstowe handles about half of the containerized freight that enters the country and the actions could indicate that vessels have to be diverted to ports in other places in Europe or the UK. Haulage majors have warned that the strike could have a serious impact on business, while trade organizations have said that the consumers could be affected by price increases. All through Suffolk, the bill could run into millions and all over the country a lot more. It is not going to impact the food supply chains as all fresh produces are in stock, but it will impact the supply chain in terms of fences, furniture, and bits and bobs. Maersk, one of the largest container shippers in the world, has said that the strike may cause delays and force it to make changes to its vessel lineup. In the meantime, consumers may be hit with price hikes and shortages of some products. Consumer prices are already rising owing to the increases in the shipping rates experienced since the middle of 2020. Further disruptions in the UK are going to add to the cost pressures, even though the temporary unavailability of some commodities may be the first noticeable impact on the consumers.
RIGHT
The 'Celestyal Crystal' has been renamed 'Right' on its final voyage to Alang breakers and set off from Duqm on May 10, 2025. On May 13 it arrived off Bhavnagar, and on May 14 it dropped anchor in pos. 21° 22' N 072° 13' E.
SALVAMAR ACHERNAR
On May 14, 2025, the sailing yacht 'Argonaut' caught fire in the dry dock area of Marina Sant Carles de la Ràpita. The 'Salvamar Achernar' was mobilized by the CCS Tarragona of Salvamento Marítimo to assist the firefighters, who worked to extinguish the blaze. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1922592077914775657
Odessa
For the fourth day in a row, Iranian-made drones attacked Odesa on Sep 26 in the morning, this time against military targets and without civilian casualties. On Sep 23, two civilians were killed during Russian drone attacks on the port city. On Sep 25, Odesa was attacked by three drones, one of which was reportedly shot down by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine has not officially identified the drones, but from the video footage below it appears, according to experts, that they are Iranian-produced Shakhed 136 drones.
Odessa
Russian missiles struck the port of Odessa on July 23, 2022, violating a deal signed a day earlier to curb grain exports from Black Sea ports and ease global food shortages caused by the war. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the strike as blatant "barbarism" and that Moscow could not be trusted to implement the agreement. The Ukrainian military said that the missiles had not caused any significant damage and that preparations were underway to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports. The deal, signed by Moscow and Kyiv on July 22 and brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, has been hailed as a breakthrough after nearly five months of punitive fighting since Russia invaded its neighbor. By allowing grain exports from Black Sea ports, including Odessa, it is seen as crucial in curbing rising global food prices.
MAR DE GALICIA
On May 14, 2025, at 6.15 a.m., the Spanish fishing vessel 'Nuevo Mariña', measuring 8.76 meters in length, caught fire more than three nautical miles off Monte Louro with two crew members on board. The twin brothers, Santiago (vice-captain of the Fisterra guild) and Alberto Castro Romero.were rescued by anoteher fishing vessel, the 'La Chainza' from Porto do Son, and transferred onto the 'Salvamar Régulus', which had been mobilized by the CCS Finisterre of Salvamento Marítimo, and which coordinated the response. It took them to Porto do Son. Alberto suffered burns to his face and hands and was transported by helicopter to the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC), where he remained in the Burns Unit. Santiago, the vessel's owner, was taken to Barbanza Hospital but has since been released with minor injuries. According to the owner, everything went very quickly. He was in bed and his brother saw a puff of smoke coming out of the engine. They barely had time to launch the liferaft, because the fire was already spreading all over the ship. The 'Mar de Galicia' carried out fire extinguishing operations, but finally reported that the fiberglass boat had sunk. Besides the Galician Health Emergency Service-061, Salvamento Marítimo, the Galician Coast Guard Service and agents from the Civil Guard participated in the rescue operation. The cause of the fire was unknown, but the hypothesis of a short circuit was being considered. The Xunta (Galician Regional Government) has activated the Territorial Contingency Plan for Accidental Marine Pollution in Galicia (Camgal), at its medium level, due tothe considerable" diesel spill caused by sinking of the 'Nueva Mariña'. The Regional Minister of the Sea, Alfonso Villares, has written to the Government Delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, requesting the activation of the National Maritime Plan, which has indeed been implemented "in the alert phase." Reports with photos: https://www.elcorreogallego.es/barbanza-muros-noia/2025/05/14/rescatan-tripulantes-pesquero-nueva-marina-117374886.html https://cadenaser.com/galicia/2025/05/14/naufragio-en-muros-rescatados-los-dos-tripulantes-del-nueva-marina-radio-galicia/ https://www.laopinioncoruna.es/galicia/2025/05/14/vertido-hundimiento-pesquero-nueva-marina-117406139.html
SALVAMAR NAVIA
On May 14, 2025, a cayuco was located by the Guardia Civil about 1.3 miles from La Restinga (El Hierro). The CCS Tenerife of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Navia' to assist. The cayuco entered the port under its own power, and 55 people, among them three women, disembarked. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1922698998676148483
Yaizu
Yaizu Port is one of the leading fishing ports in Japan. In August 2022, the VesselTracker AIS receiving station opened at Yaizu Port.
Chittagong
A fire at a container depot in the town of Sitakunda about 40 km from Chittagong led to a chemical explosion in containers that killed at least 49 and injured more than 300 people on June 4, 2022. Among those killed in the blast that could be heard several miles away were several firefighters. Dozens of dead were scattered among the burnt-out containers and many of the wounded were in critical condition after the huge explosion in the depot containing about 4,000 containers. Hundreds of firefighters, police and volunteers quickly arrived at the depot as the fire broke out around 6 p.m. LT. The extinguishing work had started when the violent explosion threw parts from containers and people into the air. At least five firefighters were killed and even more injured. Many were still missing on June 5. The container depot serves as a staging post for the goods - primarily clothing - to be exported via Chittagong, and contained millions of dollars worth of clothing that was to be passed on to businesses in Western countries. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLiyBU7RKIc&feature=emb_title