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The 'Isle of Islay' has reached an advance state of completion and on course to be finished by the Cemre shipyard before the end of September, provided all goes well with installing her battery system, the last haul of installation and most importantly endurance testing activities. The other three ships being built at the same yard, the 'Loch Indaal', 'Lochmor' and 'Claymore', were anticipated to follow a delivery schedule of six-month intervals from the handover of the 'Isle of Islay', which was due to be delivered in October 2024 and is running about nine months behind schedule. The Russian war in Ukraine impacting steel supplies, Houthi terrorist attacks on vessels heading for the Suez Canal through the Red Sea, and the earthquake in Turkey have contributed to the delay. Last minute hitches cannot be ruled out and engineering, mechanical and performance issues may emerge during a second series of endurance sea trials in a few weeks, which will take place a few miles off Yalova in the southern waters of the inland Marmara Sea, The first set of sea trials - called builders’ trials - over nine days at the end of May were successful. The vessel is still owned by the shipyard but representatives from CMAL and CalMac attended. This involved the set-up of the propulsion systems, generators, thrusters, stabilisers and associated electrical systems. These were then tested, trialled and measured with Lloyd’s Register and the Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) in attendance. The vessel’s performance at full load was evaluated, including speed, stability, manoeuvrability, anchor deployment/recovery and endurance. The ship achieved the specified speed requirements. The trials also established the effectiveness of the vessel’s propulsion plant, automation and navigational systems.

On June 30 at 1:30 a.m., the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted to the departure of a migrant boat in the Malo-les-Bains area. The 'Minck' was deployed to locate the boat. Once on site,the crew launched its RHIB and discovered that the boat had suffered an engine failure. A total of 81 people were rescued at sea and taken aboard the 'Minck', which dropped them off on the early morning in the port of Calais, where they were treated by shore based rescue services.

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The trial transshipment of goods from India to its northeast, via the sea route, started on Tuesday after four containers bound for the region were unloaded from a merchant vessel at Bangladesh's Chittagong port, officials said on Tuesday. India and Bangladesh had signed an MOU for goods for northeast India transiting via Bangladesh's ports - a small but significant opening up of both Bangladesh's ports under the broader economic relationship between the two countries. Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk told on Tuesday: "The first ship under the trial run of transshipment of Indian goods to its northeastern states through Bangladesh arrived at Chattogram (Chittagong) port on Tuesday morning. "MV Shejyoti, carrying back to Chattogam 4 TEUs (20-feet equivalent unit) with 221 containers full of transhipment goods from India's Haldia port, reached the NCT-1 Berth, the outer anchorage of Chattogram port at around 1.25 a.m. But as night navigation is restricted in the port, that is why we started the navigation at morning," he said. MV Shejyoti had left the Syama Prasad Mukherjee port of Kolkata on July 17. Handling of the containers was completed before midnight and the container trailers started for Akhaura with an escort provided by Bangladesh's customs security. Shipping agent sources said the four containers under the trial transshipment contain iron rods and pulses. Those will head to Agartala through the Akhaura Land Port. The consignment of rods will be brought to West Tripura's Jirania from Agartala, while the pulses will go to Assam's Karimganj. Habibur Rahman of Mango Lines, the agent for the merchant vessel, had said that offloading may begin also on Tuesday after completing the formalities. Indian transshipment goods would enjoy a 28-day free-stay after offloading at the port as per the international transshipment agreement. Bangladesh will earn 254 takas from the scanning of each container loaded with transshipment goods. Bangladeshi importers also pay the same charge. Similarly, 30 takas document processing fee for each consignment of Indian goods will be levied, the same amount charged on Bangladeshi importers. Joint Commissioner of the Customs House S.M. Shamsuzzaman said the transshipped goods will have to pay police 50 takas per tonne as escort charge to reach the Indian border in Tripura from the port by road. Usually a 20 feet container carries a maximum of 30 tons of goods. According to this estimation, Bangladesh will realise around 1, 500 takas as escort charge for accompanying goods of a container to the border. Akhaura Customs Officer Harunur Rashid said they have taken necessary preparations for the transportation of the Indian goods, under the trial run. India is transporting goods to its northeastern states, using Bangladeshi ports, as per the agreement on "The Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of Goods to and from India" signed between Dhaka and Delhi in 2018 and a standard operating procedure (SoP) signed in October 2019. Earlier, the Indian government used the Ashuganj river port to transport goods for the Palatana Power Plant in Tripura through the Akhaura land port. On the new chapter in connectivity with Bangladesh via container shipping, India's Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the transit route will open new opportunities for both countries. He said that it will provide an alternative and shorter route to connect the northeast region through Bangladesh, reducing distance and time taken in transportation of goods for India and is a win-win for both the economies. On the other hand, job creation, investment in the logistical sector, enhanced business services and revenue generation are advantages that will accrue to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi vessels and trucks will be utilised to move the Indian cargo, the Indian government said. India and Bangladesh have enhanced cooperation in shipping and inland water trade in recent years. Under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, in addition to the six existing Ports of Call, five more in each country have been added recently. Dredging of inland waterway routes is ongoing under an MoU, signed by the two countries on development of selected stretches of Bangladesh waterways. The trial transportation of goods to the northeastern states by road, via Bangladesh, had started earlier.

The danger of an environmental destaster caused by the 'MSC Baltic III' has decreased, as more than 70 percent of the fuel oil on board has been removed. The ship was difficult to reach for a long time due to winter weather. The snow has melted and there are no more storms, making the ship accessible by both water and land. There were 473 containers on board, 283 of which were empty. Some of the containers contained cargo that could be harmful to the environment. The 'Eems Dublin' has removed 43 containers from the ship. A total of 172 containers have been removed. Four frac tanks have been placed on the deck of the 'MSC Baltic III'. The oil in the tanks is heated, pumped over and then the frac tanks are removed. Four of the six main tanks have now been emptied. Oil booms have been placed around the ship, but small oil observations, such as tar spots and small tar balls, have been observed in Cedar Cove and the nearby coastline.

The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, reported a medical emergency on board on June 30. As a consequence, the ferry, which had left Troon as scheduled at 3:10 p.m., returned to the port to disembark the patient. The ferry departed Troon again at 3:50 p.m. and was due to arrive in Brodick at 5:10 p.m.

A powerful explosion rocked Beirut port on Aug 4, 2020, killing and injuring dozens of people, and causing widespread damage. There was no clarity yet with regards to the cause of explosions, and what triggered it. The talk was of a firework factory which blew up. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR88CECmTso&feature=emb_title

A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control The blazing fire at the Chittagong port was brought under control on Wednesday evening 15 July 2020. Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has formed a five-member probe body, headed by Zafar Alam, Member (Administration and Planning) of the CPA, to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage. The CPA Secretary Omark Faruk confirmed the matter. “Although the fire has been brought under control, smoke is still billowing from the gutted goods,” said the Secretary, The blazing fire originated at Shed No 3 of the maritime port at around 4pm on Wednesday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room in Agrabad, Chittagong city. A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control. According to the CPA, goods like foam, fabrics, machineries, papers, and soda meant for destruction were stockpiled at the No.3 shed of the port. AIS/Station/ BDCGP

The 'Jason' was among the assets mobilized for the wreck removal of the 'Show Boat', 337 gt (IMO 8822909) west of Capicciola Point, in the commune of Zonza, northeast of the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, where it is resting on a rocky bottom at a water depth of nine meters. The Maritime Prefect of the Mediterranean had sent two formal notices to the owner in recent months, which were followed by several reminders from the Corsican Sea and Coastal Directorate (DMLC), requesting him to take the necessary measures to stop the damage to the marine environment and restore maritime safety, before the Maritime Prefect decided to act ex officio using state resources, at the owner's expense and risk. The first phase of this operation, which will take place from July 2 to 10, 2025, aims to eliminate the danger posed by the wreck at the start of the summer season. Coordinated by the DMLC (French Maritime and Coastal Clearance Commission), under the authority of the Maritime Prefecture, the Mediterranean Mine Clearance Diving Group (GPD) and the Aspretto Naval Base Anti-Pollution Unit were mobilized along with the 'Jason'. During the operation, all activities will be prohibited within a 50-meter radius of the wreck; Swimming and diving will be prohibited within a 500-meter radius of the wreck. The work will involve the installation of blanking plates and cutting operations. These operations will require the use of low-explosive charges from sunrise to 9:00 a.m. Specific measures will be taken to ensure that this work is carried out with strict respect for the marine environment. The 35,5-meter-long 'Showboat', which was being dismantled in the port of Porto-Vecchio, had run aground on the night of Oct 23, 2024, due to a strong swell. The vessel was built in Paimboeuf in Loire-Atlantique at the Chauvet shipyard as a gastronomic and cruise ship in the Gulf of Morbihan and could accommodate 200 passengers. The shipowner obtained approval from the municipality and maritime affairs for its operation and thus in April 1986 the 'Georges-Cadoudal', as it was named, was delivered and docked at Port Saint Goustan. The ship only operated for one season in the Gulf of Morbihan. Later, the concept and the ship were adopted on the French Riviera, renamed the "Ville de Cannes' and moored in the old port of Cannes in front of the Palais des Festivals. It provided restaurant cruises in the Bay of Cannes in the early 2000s. It was later transferred to Porto Vecchio for karaoke restaurant evenings and renamed 'Show Boat'. 2016 its operation ended due to health issues, particularly related to the presence of asbestos in its structure. It was then squatted for a while before dismantled started.

On June 30, 2025, the 'El Paquera', with three crew members on board, suffered propulsion damage due to a snagged rope about 6.5 nautical miles southeast of Punta Sabinar, and requested assistance. The CCS Almería of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR boat 'Salvamar Spica' (MMSI: 225987262) to the position, which took the disabled fishing vessel in tow and safely pulled it to the port of Almería.

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