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A judge in Svendborg gave a reduction in sentence in a case about a master's incorrect reporting of two berthing incidents of the 'Ærøxpressen ' in 2022, at the quays in Marstal and Rudkøbing on June 18 and 30, 2022. The master immediately reported the berthing incidents at the berths in Marstal and Rudkøbing to the shipping company - which, however, reported to the Danish Maritime Authority instead of the Joint Defence Command (VFK), as required by law. The 59-year-old man has been found guilty of two violations of the Danish Nature Agency's executive order no. 874 because she did not immediately report berthing incidents to the Joint Defence Command. According to the court records, the master reported the incidents to the ferry's management a few minutes after each allision, as prescribed by the company's internal procedures. The ferry company then reported the incidents further, but to the Danish Maritime Authority instead of the Defence Command, as required by the rules. In determining the fine, the Court in Svendborg took into account the long case processing time and imposed a significantly lower fine than the prosecution had demanded. The master was fined a total of DKK 2,500. as well as legal costs, where the prosecutor had demanded DKK 20,000.

On July 1, 2025, the 'Admarine 12' of Egypt’s Offshore Shukheir Oil Company (Osoco) has capsized in the Gulf of Suez, about 130 nautical miles from the southern entrance of the Suez Canal, with 31 people on board, including 18 ADES personnel. . There were multiple deaths and dozens feared missing. The jack up rigf, which is also listed as 'Zahraa', overturned in the Jabal Zeyt area while being towed by three offshore tugs to a new worksite near the Ashrafi platform. The Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company received a distress call, after which rescue services were deployed from Gabal El-Zeit. The incident took the lives of fourworkers, three of them employed by ADES and one among personnel contracted by third parties. So far, 23 crew members have been rescued. The survivors suffered various injuries, including fractures, abrasions and bruises- Three workers remained missing. SAR operations were ongoing with ships from the Egyptian navy joining the effort to locate them. The survivors were taken to hospitals for treatment. The platform was operating in a concession owned by offshore drilling service provider ADES, in which it was drilling several wells. It assigned Osoco for drilling operations. Report with video: https://splash247.com/jackup-barge-sinks-in-gulf-of-suez-four-dead/

Dutch dredging and offshore outfit Royal Boskalis Westminster has been awarded contracts in the United Kingdom and Romania worth a combined €85m ($94m). Portsmouth City Council has contracted Boskalis to construct new sea defenses in Southsea, near Portsmouth, in a joint venture with VolkerStevin. Boskalis will deploy a large trailing suction hopper dredger to replenish the beach and will construct revetments using rock barges. Project execution is expected to start early 2020 and is estimated to take five years.

The port in Northern Ireland has committed GB£254m of investment to deliver new marine and estate infrastructure. Belfast Harbour’s investment is part of a 2019-2023 Strategic Plan to boost Northern Ireland’s economy. The plan focuses on increased collaboration and partnerships with key city stakeholders to drive growth and regeneration in Belfast’s waterfront area and has been unveiled alongside an outlook through to 2035. Belfast Harbour’s chairman, David Dobbin, said: “Over the next five years Belfast Harbour intends to invest £254 million in new Port and estate infrastructure and facilities. This major investment programme is really only possible because of our Trust Port status which allows us to reinvest every penny of our net earnings back into the business.” Belfast Harbour will upgrade its cranes and material handling equipment, install new ramps to accommodate larger vessels and build new storage facilities. Work will also begin on digital ‘Smart Port’ initiatives to provide greater automation and a new unified system to coordinate cargo and shipping communications.

The Police judge L. Louwerse has acquitted a 52-year-old Belgian pilot of a bow wave incident on the Western Scheldt. On Aug 30, 2022, the Belgian was a pilot on board the container ship 'MSC Geneva' (IMO: 9320427), now sailing as 'Jolly Bianco', which was underway towards the North Sea. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the pilot was sailing at too high a speed, causing a dangerous bow wave. As a result, the 'Ludovica' was damaged when it was struck. The Public Prosecutor M. Nieuwenhuis found the pilot guilty of the incident, not taking sufficient account of the situation and not taking measures to adjust the speed, despite a warning from the Hansweert traffic post and a report from a skipper. The officer determined that the pilot had not acted adequately. ‘The speed was already too high in the bend at Hansweert, causing damage to the 'Ludovica' due to the bow wave, which was not good seamanship.’ The officer demanded a fine of 500 euros. This amount was the settlement proposal. The pilot had objected to this, so the case came before the court. During the hearing, the police judge wondered whether the suspect should have reduced speed as a precaution. The experienced pilot said he had seen no reason to do so. ‘He did not slow down, because there was no shipping in the area. Other ships had already passed. The 'Ludovica' was already next to the waterway, but was not immediately visible. The radar on board was different. The warning from Hansweert did not mention the name of the ship. Counsel M. van der Bent came to the conclusion that there was no concrete reason to reduce speed. The ship was not sailing too fast. The 'Ludovica' was loaded with steel and was apparently sensitive to waves. When it came into view, the container ship slowed down. The lawyer also questioned the condition of the inland vessel. Van der Bent wanted to demonstrate the vulnerability of the 'Ludovica'' by stating that the ship was very deeply loaded, causing the gangway to be flooded. He pleaded for acquittal and pointed out the excellent service record of his client, who has been a river pilot for 15 years. The 'Ludovica' had suffered water damage to the cargo and to a printer. The injured skipper did not file a claim for damages. In his final statement, the pilot indicated that the qualification of ‘bad seamanship’ had been hanging over his head like a dark cloud all this time. The police judge agreed with the defense counsel’s defense that no information was known about the inland vessel, such as its draft. That made him doubt. ‘Other ships did not suffer any damage in that bend. The acquittal was a relief for the pilot, who was supported by colleagues in court. The Russian captain of the 'MSC Geneva' settled by paying a fine of 500 euros.

On June 27, 2025, at 12.32 a.m., the 'Tulip' was boarded by four perpetrators, armed with gun like objects, in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme, about 3.9 nautical miles off Pulau Cula, Indonesia in pos. 1° 5.7' N 103° 43.85' E. The intruders stole engine spares, no crew member was reported injured.

The American port of Brunswick has reopened on a “case by case” basis after Sunday’s capsizing of a car carrier in a nearby channel. The Golden Ray overturned with 24 crew members inside sparking a dramatic, successful rescue mission over the weekend. Authorities are still assessing how to remove the vessel, which is stuck on St Simons Sound. A half-mile perimeter has been established around the Golden Ray, which sits half in the water with its starboard side pointing skyward. An oil boom has been placed around the ship. Salvage teams are likely to start taking the bunker fuel from the ship this weekend.

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.

The Police judge L. Louwerse has acquitted a 52-year-old Belgian pilot of a bow wave incident on the Western Scheldt. On Aug 30, 2022, the Belgian was a pilot on board the 'MSC Geneva', now sailing as 'Jolly Bianco', which was underway towards the North Sea. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the pilot was sailing at too high a speed, causing a dangerous bow wave. As a result, the inland vessel 'Ludovica' (MMSI: 244690902) was damaged when it was struck. Public Prosecutor M. Nieuwenhuis found the pilot guilty of the incident, not taking sufficient account of the situation and not taking measures to adjust the speed, despite a warning from the Hansweert traffic post and a report from a skipper. The officer determined that the pilot had not acted adequately. ‘The speed was already too high in the bend at Hansweert, causing damage to the 'Ludovica' due to the bow wave, which was not good seamanship.’ The officer demanded a fine of 500 euros. This amount was the settlement proposal. The pilot had objected to this, so the case came before the court. During the hearing, the police judge wondered whether the suspect should have reduced speed as a precaution. The experienced pilot said he had seen no reason to do so. ‘He did not slow down, because there was no shipping in the area. Other ships had already passed. The 'Ludovica' was already next to the waterway, but was not immediately visible. The radar on board was different. The warning from Hansweert did not mention the name of the ship. Counsel M. van der Bent came to the conclusion that there was no concrete reason to reduce speed. The ship was not sailing too fast. The 'Ludovica' was loaded with steel and was apparently sensitive to waves. When it came into view, the container ship slowed down. The lawyer also questioned the condition of the inland vessel. Van der Bent wanted to demonstrate the vulnerability of the 'Ludovica'' by stating that the ship was very deeply loaded, causing the gangway to be flooded. He pleaded for acquittal and pointed out the excellent service record of his client, who has been a river pilot for 15 years. The 'Ludovica' had suffered water damage to the cargo and to a printer. The injured skipper did not file a claim for damages. In his final statement, the pilot indicated that the qualification of ‘bad seamanship’ had been hanging over his head like a dark cloud all this time. The police judge agreed with the defense counsel’s defense that no information was known about the inland vessel, such as its draft. That made him doubt. ‘Other ships did not suffer any damage in that bend. The acquittal was a relief for the pilot, who was supported by colleagues in court. The Russian captain of the 'MSC Geneva' settled by paying a fine of 500 euros.

On June 19, 2025, at 5.10 p.m. the 'GH Pathfinder' was boarded by 12 perpetrators at the Kakinada Anchorage, where it was anchored in pos. 17° 0.3' N 082° 19.51' E. No one was injured, and nothing was reported stolen.

Cyprus continues to address every facet of its maritime offering to lure more shipowners to the island. The country’s deputy minister for shipping Natasa Pilides has revealed plans to abolish initial ship registration fees to boost one of Europe’s fastest growing flags. Members of parliament will vote on the issue later this month with a view to making the regulation official in time for Cyprus’s shipping week, which kicks off on October 6. The Cypriot register today is the 11th largest in the world with 24.4m gt on its books.

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.