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The 'Nadir' of the German aid organization Resqship has arrived at Lampedusa on May 11, 2025, with three dead migrants on board. The victims were two toddlers, around two years old, and a man around 30 years old. 57 migrants who had set out from Libya to cross the Mediterranean to Europe have been rescued. The crew of the "Nadir" was alerted by a radio message to an overcrowded dinghy in distress near the island of Malta. The two children were already dead when the "Nadir" reached the dinghy. The man died despite resuscitation attempts. The boat's engine had failed on the high seas. Since then, the people on board have been exposed to the wind and weather. It was suspected that the children and the man died of thirst. The migrants were coming from African countries such as Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an accident report on April 29, 2025, which determined that a piece of O-ring-type material debris caused a steering system failure that led to the allision of the 'American Mariner' with the Munuscong Channel Junction Light in the St. Marys River near Sault Ste. Marie on March 28, 2024, resulting in the vessel taking on water, though crews successfully stabilized it using pumps. The accident caused approximately $800,750 in damage to the vessel and $1.25 million in damage to the navigation structure. The 'American Mariner' was on its maiden voyage of the season after completing winter maintenance, which included the installation of a new steering control system. During the voyage, the crew noticed intermittent steering system alarms but could not identify their cause, as the rudder appeared to be responding correctly to commands. The incident investigation revealed that the vessel’s No. 1 control motor, responsible for controlling the main hydraulic pump’s stroke, had failed. Upon disassembly, technicians discovered black, pliable debris lodged between the control motor’s rotating gears, preventing proper operation. The steering system returned to normal functionality after the installation of a replacement control motor. Electronic technicians later recalibrated the steering control system, which resolved the alarm issues, suggesting there were also problems with the calibration parameters of the newly installed control system. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2518.pdf

The US Coast Guard informed that it reopened the Houston Ship Channel, on September 13, after a protest demonstration near Baytown, Texas. Namely, on September 12, 22 Greenpeace US climbers created a blockade from the Fred Hartman Bridge in Baytown. The closure on the ship channel started on September 12, after Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received notification that about 11 individuals were suspended from the Fred Hartman Bridge. A US Coast Guard Station Houston 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew, a US Coast Guard Station Galveston 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew and the crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Tiger Shark were launched to the scene.

Last week, the Dutch multimodal operator Multi Modal Rail B.V. launched a new container rail service between Rotterdam and the French town of Ottmarsheim, Port of Rotterdam said in its release. Starting with one round trip per week, the shuttle connection is expected to swiftly expand to two round trips per week. The train calls on each of Rotterdam’s major terminals. After being loaded in Rotterdam on Thursday, the shuttle departs from the sea port on Friday and arrives/departs in Ottmarsheim on Saturday. The train is back at Maasvlakte for unloading on Sunday morning. The shuttle service is offered as a complement to the two existing container rail services between Rotterdam and Strasbourg.

Two Italian officers have been sentenced to daily fines after releasing large amounts of heavy fuel oil into the sea off Utö in 2019 from the 'Princess Anastasia', now sailing as 'Moby Orli'. The case was heard again by the Helsinki Court of Appeal, which upheld the district court's verdict. The spill was estimated to be between nine and 39 cubic meters, and the oil had time to spread over 40 kilometers all the way to Utö. The ship was en route from Stockholm to Helsinki, when the spill occurred near the Finland Lion lighthouse. The two defendants were sentenced to 100 daily fines each.

While the 'Yantian Exptess' was anchored southwest of Heligoland on May 12, 2025, a report of the possible fire reached the Maritime Situation Center of the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies on thr afternoon. However, a firefighting team on site could not detect any fire. Initially, the 'Sylt' of the Water Police, the 'Neustadt' of the Federal Police, and the emergency tug 'Nordic' of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration sailed to the vessel. Water Police officers boarded the ship and contacted the crew. No smoke was visible at that time. It was unclear why smoke had been reported from one of the loaded containers. Because the overall situation was unclear and the ship was also transporting hazardous materials, the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies assumed overall command of the operation. The Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) of the Cuxhaven Fire Department flew to the ship aboard a Federal Police helicopter. The six MIRG firefighters were lowered onto the freighter by cable winch. They examined the container in question and the surrounding area, taking temperature measurements, among other things. Since no abnormalities were found, the Maritime Incident Response Group terminated overall command of the operation and handed the situation over to the responsible traffic control center, "German Bight Traffic," in Wilhelmshaven. The ship weighed anchor and proceeded to Hamburg. It left the piort again on May 14 en route to Rotterdam with an ETA as of May 16.

Napier Port, the third largest port on New Zealand’s North Island, has placed an order with Damen Shipyards Group for an Azimuth Tractor Drive (ATD) Tug 2412 Twin Fin for delivery later this year. The contract was signed by Sjoerd de Bruin, sales manager Pacific for Damen and Napier Port CEO Todd Dawson at Napier Port main office. Napier Port is currently developing a sixth wharf which, at 350 metres long, will be capable of handling the larger vessels that are expected to access the port in the near future. As a key transport hub for the Hawke’s Bay region of the North Island, the port already hosts a wide range of vessels including container ships, cruise ships, cargo and timber carriers. The ATD Tug 2412 Kaweka will join two existing Voith-type tugs at the port; the Te Mata and Ahuriri. Tractor tugs work best at Napier Port due to their ability to operate effectively in a swell, to tow indirectly, and their manoeuvrability, the last particularly important due to the tight berthing arrangements in the harbour. Just 24-metres in length but with 72 tonnes of bollard pull, the ATD Tug 2412 delivers just the combination of power but compactness that the Napier Port management team is seeking.

ABP announces that it will be welcoming the Royal Navy’s HMS Grimsby, into the Port of Grimsby on Sunday 15th September. For one day only, HMS Grimsby will be lowering her gangway at ABP's port and allowing the public to come aboard to learn about the important work the Royal Navy does in protecting the UK, as well as the host of other roles it performs across the world. The vessel will open for public viewing between the hours of 12.00 – 16.00 for one day only, at The Port of Grimsby, Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby DN31 3LL.

The death of a Dutch diver during the salvage of the 'Bayesian' off the coast of Sicily may have been the result of a hydrogen explosion during the use of a cutting torch. Due to the depth at which the work was carried out, hydrogen was used. The victim and his colleagues were busy removing the boom from the sailing yacht. Initially, an attempt was made to dismantle it by loosening bolts. When that failed, it was decided to burn off the boom. This caused the explosion of probably hydrogen bubbles. It was suspected that the diver was hit by a piece of metal. An underwater camera used to film the work failed shortly before the explosion. An autopsy should now provide clarity about why the body was taken to the forensic medicine clinic in Palermo. In the meantime, the judicial authorities in Termini Imerese are preparing a lawsuit about the sinking of the 'Bayesian'. The judicial authorities hope to find out more once the yacht has been salvaged. Three suspects are named in the investigation: the New Zealand captain, the chief engineer and a sailor who was on watch during the night of the storm. They are accused of multiple manslaughter or culpable shipwreck. What they are heavily accused of is that the passengers were still in their cabins when the ship capsized and sank. There was a storm warning active for days, and the storm had already been visible on the weather radar hours before. A British court has reopened a judicial investigation, an interim report of which is expected in the next two months. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which is leading the investigation, plans to release findings on the stability and weather conditions at the time of the incident. Report with photo: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/05/14/dood-nederlandse-duiker-bij-berging-bayesian-mogelijk-gevolg-van-waterstofexplosie/

On May 8, 2025, at 9.52 a.m. UTC, the barge combination 'Carisma I/Carisma II', enroute from Dordrecht to Emmerich, ran aground on the Rhine in Cologne at river kilometre 688 on a shallow at the Deutzer Plate. The ship was trying to safely make way due to several downstream vessels and temporarily waited on the left bank. Upon resuming its voyage and crossing to the other side of the Rhine, the bow of the vessel encountered a shallow area, causing the vessel to run aground. As a result, the starboard rope jumped from the drum, and the coupled barge began to move to starboard on its own. The crew reacted quickly by attaching an emergency rope between the vessel and the starboard side of the barge. The vessel then reversed at full speed, with the rear barge heading toward a bridge pier. As the barge continued to drift to starboard, the port anchor was dropped to contain the movement. These measures prevented major damage. Nevertheless the 'Carisma' struck two stationary vessels. Their mooring lines were torn loose by the impact. These ships, in turn, collided with an anchored day-trip boat, whose mooring also broke loose and collided with another day-trip boat. A total of five vessels were involved in the accident, besides the 'Rhein Magie' (MMSI: 211876920) and 'Rhein Vision' (MMSI: 211876680), two moored Viking Cruise ships. All vessels were manned and were quickly brought under control, so no one was injured. Two boats each from the Cologne Water Police and the Water Protection Authority, as well as a fire department and a rescue boat, responded. A radio warning was issued to the shipping traffic. Several restrictions were in place for traffic sailing downstream. The container ship 'Cugini' (MMSI: 244710139) immediately provided assistance. The coupled convoy 'Johanna' also tried to assist, but was unable to approach sufficiently. The water police and the Waterways and Shipping Authority did not grant permission to transfer a rope, While transferring a rope to another bollard, a sailor from the 'Cugini' fell overboard. Thanks to his life jacket and a rope, he was able to save himself and was brought aboard the 'Carisma." The damage is estimated to be in the high six-figure range. Reports with photo and video: https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/50510/6030451 https://www.express.de/koeln/massenkarambolage-auf-dem-koelner-rhein-riesenschaden-1020181?fbclid=IwY2xjawKKrohleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBRaU5WUlB1QmtuMEQ4OWViAR5hZQN01fyFyJTk0Jn8-11fAfsHdU2Y_nGDaI0OMCUAF6-LkfsCTcSM5jGQeA_aem_QJT6spokde4-tgOPlaOT3g https://www.instagram.com/p/DJZEPFaS-BX/

On the 9th of September 2019 the work for the contract “Dredging Het Nieuwe Diep”, commissioned by the Port of Den Helder, has started. Dutch Dredging is expected to carry out the remediation of 200,000 m3 of partially contaminated spoil until mid-December. The survey vessel “Hydrograaf” started the pre-dredge survey on the 9th of September, a so-called “baseline measurement” of the work. The work will then be carried out in 3 phases. In Phase 1, a bed leveller equipped with a so called dirt-plough will be employed. This is due to the fact that the top layer of silt contains a considerable amount of soil-foreign material. The specifically developed dirt-plough consists of long thin spikes that sink through the layer of silt and rake the dirt from the soil. The dirt will be ploughed to free locations where it can be dredged by means of a grab dredger and will be discharged into skips on the quay for removal and disposal. In the Phase 2, a bed leveller, trailing suction hopper dredger and a grab dredger will subsequently commence with the dredging works to the north and south of the Moorman bridge. They will restore the required depth. During Phase 3 the contaminated sediment will be removed. This phase is carried out by a grab dredger and several hopperbarges. The dredged material will be loaded in to the barges, which will transport the sediment to a depository for polluted sediment.

The fire in the engine room of the crude oil tanker Dubai Harmony moored at the Sture terminal in Øygarden municipality has now been extinguished, Equinor said in its release. At 1102 this morning, Equinor's alarm centre received reports of a fire in the engine room on board Dubai Harmony, which was loading at the quay at the Sture terminal. The fire has now been extinguished and the fire service is continuing to cool the area where the fire took place. The 102 people who were at the Sture terminal were evacuated from the terminal when the incident occurred as a precaution, while only personnel with emergency tasks remained at the terminal. The emergency organisation in Equinor will maintain dialogue with the public rescue service and other relevant authorities.