The U.S. Coast Guard detected and responded to the 'Xue Long 2' on the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) in the U.S. Arctic, approximately 290 NM north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, on July 25, 2025. A Coast Guard C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak responded to the Xue Long 2, an icebreaker operated by the Polar Research Institute of China and 130 NM inside the ECS boundary. The U.S. has exclusive rights to conserve and manage the living and non-living resources of its ECS. The C-130J aircraft was operating under Coast Guard Arctic District’s Operation Frontier Sentinel, which is designed to meet presence with presence in response to adversary activity in or near Alaskan waters.
News
TORM SPLENDID
On July 24, 2025, the 'Torm Splendid' has been detained in Fos-sur-Mèr following a port state control by the Ship Safety Center of the Mediterranean Interregional Directorate for Maritime Affairs (Dirm Med). The tanker had sailed from Bizerte on July 21 and arrived in Fos harbor on July 23.
TANTRUM NO 1
A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a man from the 'Tantrum No. 1' approximately 180 miles off Astoria, Oregon, on July 24, 2025. A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-295 Kingfisher crew from 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia, provided assistance overhead with weather reporting and communications. Watchstanders at the JRCC in Victoria, British Columbia, received a call shortly after 1 a.m. from the fishing vessel about a Canadian crew member experiencing a medical emergency. At the time, the vessel was approximately 300 miles west of Astoria. The watch officers in Victoria then notified personnel at the U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District Command Center in Seattle of the emergency. U.S. Coast Guard crews conferred with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac. The watchstanders established regular communications with the vessel’s crew to monitor the patient's status as the vessel proceeded east to get closer to shore. Once the vessel was in a safer area for a medevac, a helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria was dispatched aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk. The Jayhawk and Kingfisher crew arrived on scene around 2 p.m. The man was safely hoisted by the helicopter crew and brought to Air Station Astoria at 4 p.m. where he was transferred to EMS to receive a higher level of care. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4256269/us-coast-guard-royal-canadian-air-force-medevac-man-180-miles-west-of-astoria/
GIANT
Following the recent attack by the Houthi terrorists on the bulk carrier 'Eternity C' of the Cosmo Shipmanagement in Athens, the 'Giant' was mobilized to the Red Sea from Pieraeus on July 23, 2025, by the Hellenic Association of Towboat Owners, in cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs in Athens to assist in the event of attacks and accidents. It is intended to protect human life and the environment and support global shipping. The tug is manned by a qualified crew of 14 Greek sailors. It has four 16,000 hp engines and is capable of operating in the most adverse weather conditions. The vessel is equipped with an IACS navigator. Its main tasks are providing assistance to ships in distress, combating marine pollution, and protecting human life. The 'Giant' also has firefighting capabilities (Level 2, i.e., 7,200 cubic meters of water per hour at a distance of 200 meters) with a self-protection system throughout the ship. There are rescue zones and accommodations for 40 people, with the ability to accommodate a rescue team and rescued persons. There is also a hospital on board and the ability to supply electricity to damaged vessels. It can support salvage operations and offers space for helicopter operations (with winch only) as well as storage of rescue equipment. The ship will support, protect, and assist Greek-owned vessels and Greek seafarers, according to the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy supports the efforts and the cooperation between the public and private sectors.
ICON OF THE SEAS
According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), the unidentified male crew member who died after going overnoard, allegedly stabbed a female co-worker during a dispute. “Shortly before 7:30 p.m., a 28-year-old South African female crew member was allegedly stabbed multiple times by another crew member, a 35-year-old South African male. Following the incident, the male reportedly fled from the scene and jumped into the water. He was retrieved unresponsive and pronounced dead by onboard medical staff. Despite immediately launching a search and rescue mission and finding the crew member in less than an hour, he could not be saved. His alleged victim, despite receiving multiple stab wounds to her upper body, was in stable condition after being attended to by the onboard medical team. An investigation into the attack was underway, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the deceased crew member’s exact cause of death. Despite the circumstances, the up to 5,610 passengers onboard the world’s largest cruise ship were not in any danger. This was not a random attack, but rather the assault appears to be the result of a disagreement between two crew members. As the 'Icon of the Seas' only had to briefly backtrack to recover the crew member’s body, there was no significant impact to the itinerary.