News

On May 14, 2025,, the new Russian corvette "Merkuriy" was shadowed by the 'Echwege' as she left the Baltic Sea. Apparently, there is a connection to the ongoing negotiations on a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The "Merkuriy" had completed a maintenance break in the Baltic Sea and is said to be on its way to the Mediterranean. The "Merkuriy" was delivered just two years ago by the Severnaya Shipyard in St. Petersburg as the first of two "Steregutchichiy"-class corvettes for the Black Sea Fleet. 12 units have been laid down since 2006 at shipyards in St. Petersburg and on the Amur River. Following the initial delivery of four units each to the Baltic Fleet and the Pacific Fleet, two new ships are now being built for the Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Sevastopol on the temporary Russian occupied Crimea. The "Merkuriy" has not yet been able to be transferred to its home port of Sevastopol, as Turkey denied the ship the passage through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus in 2024 due to Russia's war against the Ukraine. The 'Merkuriy's' passage into the Mediterranean can also be interpreted as a sign that Russia is counting on being able to pass through the Bosphorus again soon. Russia currently has several frigates and support vessels in the Mediterranean, including the Black Sea Fleet frigate "Admiral Grigorovich," which was spotted near the Syrian coast in early May. The corvette "Soobraztelniy," a sister of the "Merkuriy," is also currently in the Mediterranean off the Algerian coast along with the Russian naval tanker "Kola," which serves as a floating refueling station. The military convoy that left the Baltic Sea on May 2 was also seen in the area this week. This convoy consists of the corvette "Boikiy" and three freighters carrying military supplies for Africa. The Russian Navy's activities along German waters were shadowed by Federal Police patrol vessels. The "Eschwege" from Neustadt, originally deployed as a training ship, was also in the Baltic Sea. It had to track the "Merkuriy" in the Fehmarn Belt at high speed. The Danish and Polish navies also deployed patrol units. The "Merkuriy" passed through the German economic zone and the Fehmarn Belt without any incidents in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Report with photos: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/russische-fregatte-der-schwarzmeerflotte-auf-dem-weg-ins-mittelmeer-MSR526U7U5HKZDFPNHYZC5NIKI.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawKTHb5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHqCurDXw_54pAunaU3kUAbeu_DkjYJo5pwLPJMnDjf8TQOQG4HN1s6hEN4m6_aem_QqRLlA1FFjlU3pma181lqw#Echobox=1747317849

The 'Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139)' was involved in an SAR operation by the U.S. Coast Guard, with the U.S. Navy, Saipan Department of Public Safety (DPS), and civilian partners, which has been iintensified on May 15, 2025, for the 47-foot f/v 'Lucky Harvest' with two crew members on board, which has been missing since departing Alamagan Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, on May 12, 2025, en route to Saipan. The search efforts have been focused west of Saipan. The 'Myrtle Hazard' was patrolling the area. The DPS Saipan boat crew searched eight hours west of Saipan Harbor, and the 'Mama Loling', a sister vessel to the 'Lucky Harvest', searched 15 hours before returning to port around midnight on May 15. Both DPS and the 'Mama Loling' crews were back out searching after daybreak. To strengthen the search, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Hawai’i and a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Japan are joining midday May 15, taking over aerial searches from the U.S. Navy MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter (HSC-25), which conducted multiple search patterns on May 14. The 'Lucky Harvest' is reportedly equipped with a VHF radio, orange life jackets, flares, an emergency beacon, fuel, and provisions. Current weather: east winds 10 to 15 knots, gusts to 20 knots, seas 4 to 6 feet. Urgent Marine Information Broadcasts and SafetyNet alerts are active. Have information related to the case? Please contact our Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam team at (671) 355-4826.

Ocean Residences, based in Malta, will have their residence ship called NJORD constructed by Meyer. The ship is to be 290 meters long and equipped with 118 apartments. An oceanographic and atmospheric laboratory with high-quality technical equipment is also to be set up on board the M / Y NJORD. These include drones and a telescope. Scientists and experts are supposed to collect data on environmental, marine and air conditions and create new maps of the ocean floor while traveling around the globe. All collected data should be made available to the general public. Ocean Residences originally planned to have this ship built by Brodosplit and the Norwegian Kleven shipyard Images: https://www.cruisedeck.de/meyer-werft-sichert-sich-neubau-auftrag-von-ocean-residences/

The Israel-Palestine conflict has crept into the maritime sector. The two Israeli ports Ashdod and Ashkelon had to be closed after rocket attacks on port infrastructure as well as other port complexes in the region. Vital Israeli port infrastructures in the Ashdod and Ashkelon area were hit in spite of the air defense system iron dome. The port of Ashdod siffered widespread damage. The cargo ships 'Mona' (IMO: 9101534) and 'Ahmet Onel' (IMO: 8420361), were nearly hit by rockets. In a separate incident, the military wing of Hamas - the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigade - has declared that they have bombed an Israeli Gas Platform off Gaza, which has been continuing to burn ever since.

The Smyril Line has sold the 'Akranes' to Fred Olsen Express. The ship will be handed over to its new owner in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria in June or July. Next year, Smyril Line will take delivery of 2 newbuildings from a Chinese shipyard, one of which will replace the 'Akranes'. Until the newbuilding is delivered, the shipping company will charter the necessary replacement tonnage. Fred Olsen Express will deploy the 'Akranes', which will change its name to 'Breñas Cargo', on a route connecting La Palma with the islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The route is currently served by two ships that the shipping company took over from Finnlines last year, but will be expanded with the 'Breñas Cargo' once it is delivered.

The 'Marvin Faith' (IMO: 9820300) and the 'Marvin Confidence' have been arrested on Sep 28/29, 2020, in Rotterdam and were scheduled to be auctioned off. The crew had requested this because of approximately $328,000 in back wages. The auction was scheduled for Sep 24, 2021, but was canceled at short notice because an unknown amount of money had been deposited. The ships were in the same position as of May 15, 2025.

Gypsies from the poorest country in the EU - Bulgaria, have attempted to board unnamed motor vessel at Port of Burgas outer anchorage, Maritime.bg reported. The information has been confirmed by the authorities in the country. The regional governor of Burgas has appointed an urgent investigation into the so-called first piracy act in the Bulgaria's European waters. According to Maritime.bg, the attackers were not caught after their approach to the ship was detected by local services. An unknown number of gypsies are said to have sailed in a speedboat and had a ladder to board the unnamed motor vessel, under cover of the night ten days ago. A few years ago, the Libyan GNMT accused Bulgaria of supporting a "purely pirate act" when, under unknown and highly dubious circumstances, the company lost control of motor tanker BADR. The case unfolded again near Burgas. Report in Bulgarian: https://www.maritime.bg/75948-2/

On May 6, 2021, at 10 a.m. a trawler newbuilding caught fire in Thyborøn. The 'L 120-Linette' was ablaze at the shipyard quay. The fire brigade, police and the lifeboat 'Martha Lerche' of the DSRS were on site. Bundles of flames shot out of the ship, and there was heavy smoke development. The fire had started in the cargo hold when insulation material went alight. Not until May 7 at 2 a.m. the emergency services managed to extinguish the flames on the vessel. The temperatures inside the ship were extremely high. The construction of the trawler began in 2020. Alfred Fisker Hansen and Tommy Svart had ordered the trawler in Vestværft design. The hull was built in Poland and then towed to Thyborøn where it was completed at the Thyborøn Skibs & Motor. The completion in June should now be obsolete. The predecessor ship of the same name is to go to Sweden. The new building is 28.6 meters long and 8.7 meters wide with a planned crew of eight with one trainee. Report with photo and video: https://www.tvmidtvest.dk/lemvig/skib-i-flammer-paa-havnen-i-thyboroen-politiet-opfordrer-til-at-lukke-vinduer-og-doere

On the late afternoon of May 15, 2025, a fire broke out on the 'Trade' in the Western Port Area of Amsterdam. The fire brigade was alerted around 5:00 p.m. because of the fire on the ship that is moored at the AST Amsterdam Scrap Terminal Vlothaven way, a recycling company that exports 'various types of iron' from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany to Turkey. The fire brigade was present with a large number of fire engines. At around 7:40, p.m. the fire brigade issued an NL-Alert to Amsterdam residents with a smartphone in West. This NL-Alert was sent to a relatively small area. It mainly concerns residents of West, because the smoke was blowing to the area between the Sloterplas, Plesmanlaan and Westlandgracht. All the scrap from the compartment where the fire is raging is removed with cranes and extinguished on the quay. In addition, the scrap that was still in the hold was extinguished from a fire boat and from ladder trucks. At the request of the fire department, a police helicopter used cameras to look at the source of the fire. After 6:00, p.m. more smoke came from the ship, Fire engines from Zaandam, Duivendrecht and Aalsmeer have also been called in. The fire brigade's diving team has also arrived as a precaution. Furthermore, the WTS-1000 water transport system was present, a type of container that can transport a lot of extinguishing water. This allows 4000 litres of extinguishing water to be used per minute. Finally, water is taken from the IJ to extinguish the fire. Report with photo and video: https://www.at5.nl/nieuws/232522/rookwolk-door-brand-in-vrachtschip-in-westelijk-havengebied-wordt-groter

The 'Ilse of Arran', serving on the route Kennacraig-Islay, suffered a hydraulic leak at the bow visor on May 13. As a consequence, the vessel operated to and from Port Askaig only. All other sailings were operated as scheduled. The service, however, was liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice. On May 15, the vessel operated to and from Port Askaig only, departing from Port Askaig at 07:00 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. and from Kennacraig at 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. All other sailings were operated as timetabled.

On June 8, 2021, the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC RESOLUTION (IMO 9880685) was docked out at the Norwegian Ulstein shipyard. Full article + photo gallery: https://www.cruisedeck.de/national-geographic-resolution-ausgedockt/

on 01.05.21 J.Müller celebrate the 200th anniversary of the company German report: https://jmueller.jp-labs.de/jubilaeum/