News

The 'Newnew Polar Bear', known for damaging the Balticconnector pipeline and communication cables in the Gulf of Finland, was the first Chinese container ship to arrive in the port of Arkhangelsk in 2025. It arrived on Aug 15 and delivered 497 containers, marking the start of the season under the expanded Arctic Express N1 service. The service connects the ports of Shanghai and Ningbo to Arkhangelsk, offering a shorter shipping option compared with the Suez Canal route. Arkhangelsk is a federally significant transport hub managed under Russian jurisdiction, handling container, general, and bulk cargo. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is a Russian state-administered shipping lane that runs along the Arctic coast of Russia, from the Kara Sea to the Bering Strait. The route is regulated by Russian federal authorities, with access requiring official permits.

Iraqi authorities have released the 'Liliana', which was intercepted on July 6 in Iraqi waters of the Arabian Gulf at a side-loading platform of Basra’s oil terminal. The tanker, carrying 93,000 tonnes of fuel oil, failed to present sufficient documentation for the oil at the time of inspection. Iraq’s port authorities had granted the crew 48 hours to provide the required paperwork. A court ordered the vessel’s release, ruling that no violations had been committed. The 'Liliana' has resumed its voyage in the Persian Gulf, en route to Khor Fakkan.

The 'Runö', connecting Ruhnu island in the Gulf of Riga with Munalaid, Roomassaare on Saaremaa and the mainland in Pärnu, went out of service due to a technical malfunction on the evening of Aug 12. The operator Tuuleliinid announced that on Aug 14 a replacement service would depart Ruhnu for Roomassaare at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and Roomassaare for Ruhnu at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. It was not yet clear what caused the latest malfunction. Backup vessels ran four times a day between Ruhnu and Munalaid, based on earlier bookings. The 'Runö' most recently suffered another technical malfunction the previous week, which was repaired within a day.

A small number of passengers were hurt when the 'Manxman'aborted its entry into Heysham Port on Aug 11. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said some people suffered minor injuries when the Manxman rolled while turning sharply to starboard, resulting in the vessel heeling to port side. No emergency response was needed. The action was taken by the master during the 08:00 a.m. BST crossing of the vessel as it was out of optimum approach position, when preparing to enter the Lancashire port. The fery company would cooperate fully with any investigation deemed necessary. The rest of the day's sailings continued as planned.

En route from Tsawwassen to Salt Spring, the 'Salish Heron' suffered an unexpected release of one of its two anchors into the waters near the Triconmali Channel on the morning of Aug 12, 2025. An investigation into the cause, whether it was mechanical or human error, was launched. Passengers reported a massive shuddering of the vessel and a huge metallic screeching sound. There was a strong smell of smoke, caused by the brakes, throughout the vessel. The crew stopped propulsion right away and carried out checks. There was a brief announcement about 10 minutes later, informing pasengers that there had been a spontaneous release of the anchor and an anchor drop, and that the anchor was lost. The vessel’s second anchor was tested and was found to be fully operational, so it was safe to continue on to Salt Spring Island, where technicians carried out further testings to confirm the cause.

A 79-year-old man has died after falling overboard from the 'Norwegian Star' off the coast of Canada on the early morning of Aug 12, 2025. Guests onboard the ship reported hearing the ship's public address system announcing 'Code Oscar' which lets staff on the vessel know that someone has gone overboard. The ship changed course at 3.53 a.m. LT as rescue missions began. The search and rescue team covered roughly three nautical miles during the 29 minute search and recovered the body of the man, who had already passed away and was pronounced dead at the scene. The ship then rediverted to its next port in Nuuk, where it arrived on Aug 14. The incident took place on day six of a two week, one-way cruise from New York to Reykjavik, having departed from Corner Brook on Aug 11.

Six years after the 'MSC Zoe' accident, a group of volunteer divers in the Netherlands continues the arduous task of recovering debris from the bottom of the North Sea. The ship had lostf hundreds of containers carrying car parts, televisions, light bulbs, furniture, and toys. Despite initial efforts to clean up the area, debris still litters the seabed of the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO-protected area that stretches along the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. Divers have been recovering various objects from the seabed, from nets to electrical cables, possibly from the 'MSC Zoe'. The spill also released hydrogen peroxide, a toxic and highly flammable chemical used in the manufacture of plastics. The CleanUpXL initiative was launched in 2021 by four environmental organizations and operates with the support of rescue vessels and divers. It has set out to clean up the 800 tons of debris still lying on the seabed. Although the Dutch government led much of the initial cleanup effort, it has slowed in recent years. The task became more complicated because only objects traceable to the 'MSC Zoe' could be removed. In April 2024, the government published a confidential list revealing 6,000 locations where remains and debris could still be found.

On the afternoon of Aug 19, the Port Authority of Amorgos was informed by the Captain of the “Super Jet 2” about a strong vibration in the outer port side engine, due to the inflow of an obstruction, upon its arrival at the port of Katapola. The ship, coming from the port of Koufonisi, sailed safely to the port of Amorgos, disembarking the 35 passengers, who were then transported to their destinations by the ship-owning company, with the Cyprus-flagged “Express Jet. The “Super Jet 2” was initially banned from sailing from the Amorgos Port Station. After presenting a certificate of seaworthiness from the classification society that monitors it, it was allowed a single voyage, without passengers, to a shipyard in Salamina.

The Canadian Coast Guard has reached a milestone in the salvage operation for the 'MSC Baltic III'. The bulk of the oil has been removed from the internal tanks, and nearly three-quarters of the containers have been offloaded. Fuel has been and remained the largest concern for the vessel.. The weather and grounding caused cracks in the hull, and the vessel has been weeping small amounts of oil, with a few tar balls found along the shorelines. There were 1,600 metric tons of heavy fuel oil and Marine Gas Oil aboard as fuel and approximately 475 containers, more than half were empties. A total of 333 containers have been offloaded as of Auig 19, with a further 142 boxes remaining on the vessel. With the fuel tanks largely empty, the focus was now on the approximately 10 % of residual oil aboard. The Coast Guard considered the remaining fuel oil equally important because if it were to leak, it could still cause significant environmental damage. No plans have been announced for the hulk.

A passenger has been rescued after falling overboard from the 'Alfred' on Aug 16 shortly after 1.35 p.m. in the Firth of Clyde on the Troon to Brodrick route. CalMac had informed passengers that the ferry’s arrival would be delayed due to an emergency incident. The passenger was picked up by a rescue boat which was deployed by the ferry crew. The 'Alfred' was rerouted back to Troon harbour after the rescue operation. The passenger, who was understood to be conscious, was passed to the Scottish Ambulance Service. Sailings of the 'Alfred' were delayed for the remainder of the day.

On Aug 20, Coast Guard representatives discussed the salvage of the 'Discovery' on the afternoon of Aug 19, ten days after it ran aground 60 feet off the Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1125 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814. During the salvage operation, a Coast Guard Station Honolulu boat crew had enforced a safety zone around the tug 'Pilani' (IMO: 9369186) and the passenger vessel. Multiple DLNR divisions as well as the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) worked in coordination throughout the removal process. Divsion of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) marine unit officers secured the ocean waters in the immediate aftermath. During the salvage they helped create a waterside safety perimeter to keep the area clear of swimmers, surfers and boats. On shore, DOCARE officers secured a safety perimeter for over 24 hours on the day of the grounding and safeguarded the area again during the salvage. The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) worked closely with the owner of the grounded vessel and USCG to protect the public health and safety of all recreational users in the area. DOBOR and USCG reviewed the salvage plan to ensure minimal damage to natural resources during removal. Report with photo: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2025/08/19/nr25-109/

The 'Ventura' had to be evacuated after a man claimed to have an explosive device on Aug 9, 2025. Police were called to the Mayflower Cruise Ferry terminal in Southampton. A 200 metre cordon was put in place around the 'Ventura' and the terminal to allow specialist officers to search a lorry at the location. A man has been arrested on suspicion of communicating false information and a public order offence. Searches have concluded and no such device has been located. The forces of the Hampshire Police were stood down. Normal operations at the port were resumed. Report with photo: https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2025-08-09/cruise-ship-evacuated-after-suspicious-activity

The Belgian Navy announced on Aug 13, 2025, that it was monitoring the activity of the Russian research vessel 'Admiral Vladimirskiy' (IMO: 4616431) in the North Sea due to suspicions that it may be mapping critical European infrastructure. The "Pollux" has been deployed to the "Admiral Vladimirsky", which located in the exclusive economic zone of Belgium.

On Aug 8, 2025, the Customs Surveillance Service of the Spanish Tax Agency and the Civil Guard intercepted the 'Sky White', with the collaboration of Morocco, about 900 nautical miles west of the Canary Islands. The vessel was carrying around 3,000 kilos of cocaine, divided into 80 bales of different sizes. The operation benefited from an international collaboration between the police services of Morocco, France, the USA, the United Kingdom, and Portugal, as well as the Intelligence Center on Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO) and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N). Since the summer of 2024, the vessel had been suspected of being used for large-scale international drug trafficking, The five crew members were arrested .The operation was carried out as part of a case investigated by the Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (DNRED), in collaboration with Moroccan authorities, into the criminal group operating with the vessel.The case was linked to the investigation conducted in Spain by the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency and the Civil Guard, which was investigating the “Sky White” as a supply vessel responsible for delivering narcotics to other, smaller vessels in areas near the Canary Islands or the Iberian Peninsula. The investigation was supported by the police services of the United Kingdom (NCA), the USA (DEA), and Portugal (Polícia Judiciária), coordinated by CITCO and the Atlantic Drug Trafficking Analysis Centre. With the support of the Spanish Armed Forces, a boarding operation was set up on the vessel in international waters west of the Canary Islands. The operation was carried out from a navy vessel by members of the Civil Guard’s Special Intervention Unit. About 3,000 kilos of cocaine were discovered, hidden inside the ship's structure. The vessel was in a deplorable condition for navigation, with serious safety deficiencies that posed a major risk to the crew, made up of four people from Bangladesh and one from Venezuela. The operation concluded with the arrival of the Navy vessel in Tenerife to unload the drugs and place the arrested in pretrial detention. Reports with photos: https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/shipping/trois-tonnes-de-cocaine-saisies-sur-un-remorqueur-africain-au-large-de-lespagne-065f9028-785e-11f0-86b5-962552fd955f https://elpais.com/espana/2025-08-13/interceptado-con-3-toneladas-de-cocaina-un-barco-fantasma-que-surtia-a-las-narcolanchas-en-alta-mar.html https://www.elblogoferoz.com/2025/08/13/sucesos-interceptado-al-oeste-de-canarias-un-remolcador-con-tres-toneladas-de-cocaina/

on the afternoon of Aug 19, 2025, the captain of a charter yacht informed the Sassnitz Water Police that his boat had been hit by the 'Binz' near the Sellin pier. While departing from the pier, the passenger ship backed too close to the anchored charter yacht, causing damage to both vessels. Both ships were later able to dock at the port of Sassnitz, where the Water Police began their investigation. They subsequently informed the relevant authorities of the incident and initiated criminal proceedings against the captain of the 'Binz'.

One year after the sinking of the 'Bayesian' in the night of August 19, 2024, at around 4 a.m., in the waters of Porticello between Casteldaccia and Bagheria, in the province of Palermo, the investigations were ongoing. Most likely, a downburst – a sudden, violent downdraft – struck the anchorage at Porticello. At 03:50 a.m. the 'Bayesian’s anchor began to drag. At 04:00 a.m., a blackout occurred: water had reached the generator. Three minutes later, the yacht disappeared from local radars and cameras. At 04:10, after drifting 358 meters, the vessel heeled beyond its Angle of Vanishing Stability (AVS) and sank. The stark contrast with the fate of the nearby vessel, the Dutch schooner 'Sir Robert Baden Powell', anchored just 100 meters away and left unharmed, remained one of the most debated points. Among the still-open hypotheses is the possibility of water ingress through the yacht’s stern doors, never definitively confirmed. The Prosecutor’s Office of Termini Imerese immediately opened a case for shipwreck and multiple counts of manslaughter, placing three crew members under investigation: The Italian Coast Guard compiled a 42-page report reconstructing the events, confirming that the combination of extreme weather and insufficient countermeasures proved decisive. A controversial element remained the captain’s decision to stay in Porticello, despite advice to seek shelter in the port of Marina di Villa Igiea. In parallel, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) launched its own technical investigation. The preliminary report, published in May 2025, revealed that the yacht’s AVS that night was only 70.6° in the given configuration (sails down, engine on, keel retracted). This meant that a lateral gust exceeding 63 knots could trigger irreversible capsize. Crucially, this information was missing from the vessel’s Stability Information Book, leaving the crew unaware of its vulnerability in those conditions. On the financial front, the sinking triggered a dispute of enormous proportions. Two insurance policies have been involved: Hull & Machinery, covering material damage, and Protection & Indemnity (P&I), covering civil and environmental liability. While the yacht’s estimated value was around €30 million, total compensation could exceed €400 million, with some sources suggesting coverage as high as €2 billion. However, the outcome will largely depend on the investigations: potential design flaws or documentation gaps could shift liability from the captain to the shipyards involved.

The Älfred' was removed from service on July 6 for essential maintenance, and for this purpose the ship was sent to Ayr, where it berthed on July 7. The works were expected to take until July 25. The ferry 'Glen Sannox' will operate the route Troon-Brodick, and the 'Isle of Arran' will operate the Ardrossan-Brodick service during this period.

The 'Discovery' ran aground approximately 60 feet outside the Kewalo Basin Harbor in Honolulu with the captain and one crew member aboard, on Aug 9, 2025. The on-scene weather at the time of the grounding was 5 mph winds and 8 to 10-foot seas with a building south swell resulting in 10 to 12-foot breaking waves on Oahu’s south shore. Two large waves disrupted the course, and the vessel lost propulsion once it was pushed aground. There were reportedly no mechanical failures prior to the vessel running aground. The on-scene weather at the time of the grounding consisted of 5 mph winds and 8 to 10-foot seas with a building south swell resulting in 10 to 12-foot breaking waves on Oahu’s south shore. Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders received a report at 8:25 a.m. Watchstanders directed the launch of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Station Honolulu, but due to shallow water depth and sea state, the boat crew was unable to reach the 'Discovery'. Honolulu Ocean Safety Department jet ski crews arrived and confirmed that the two people aboard were uninjured. The passenger vessel that operates as a shuttle for Atlantis Adventures, could be secured to the seawall at Kewalo Basin awaiting commercial salvage. At 11 p.m, personnel with the Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO) removed all accessible petroleum products and eight marine batteries from the vessel. In total, PENCO removed 2,275 gallons of diesel fuel and 36 gallons of hydraulic oil. No pollution or sheening has been reported. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation were overseeing the vessel’s salvage. At about 6:25 p.m. Saturday, Cates Marine Services and the tug 'Miki’oi' arrived on scene and secured lines to the 'Discovery'. During efforts to tow the vessel off the reef, the cleats failed to hold, requiring the towing operation to halt. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4270750/coast-guard-monitors-aground-passenger-vessel-in-honolulu/

The 'Sada Maru No. 38' was in collision with a yacht on Aug 13, 2025, at 8.15 a.m., about two kilometers northeast of Hodojima Island, Tsukumi City, Oita Prefecture. The captain of the vessel has been arrested by the Japanese authorities after the fatal accident. The aggregate carrier transporting gravel struck the yacht amid poor visibility. The captain of the vessel notified the Japanese Coast Guard, stating that the yacht had disappeared and was believed to have sunk. The Coast Guard responded with six patrol boats and one airplane in an SAR operation. Around 10 a.m., the body of a 70-year-old man was recovered. He was reported to be in cardiac arrest and pronounced deceased at a hospital. After identifying the deceased person as Dr. Makoto Yamamoto, age 70, they were able to interview witnesses and determined that he was alone on the boat. Captain Yuki Mochizuki, age 28, was suspected of failing to take proper precautions. The Oita Coast Guard did not believe the 'Sada Maru No. 38' had slowed or stopped after the incident. The four other crew members aboard the vessel were interviewed to investigate the cause of the accident further. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzVrcT5LYBw

A fire broke out in an auxiliary engine on Aug 18, 2025, in the engine room of the "Ciudad de Sóller" on its voyage between Palma and València. There were no crew members in the engine room at the time of the incident. Eight fire fighters boarded the ship at the Terminal Transmediterránea. The Port's Special Emergency Plan (PEE) was activated by the Emergency Coordination Center of the Valencian Government. The fire was quickly extinguished, and the damage could be limited to the affected engine area. The vessel, however, was banned from sailing at the berth in the port of València, awaiting inspections to determine the extent of the incident and its return to service. There were no personal injuries reported, Both passengers and cargo from last night's Palma-bound ferry have been relocated to other vessels serving the València-Palma route. Meanwhile, the ferry "Ciudad de Barcelona," which last night served on the Valencia-Ibiza-Palma route, operated the reverse route on the Palma-Ibiza-València route, seeking to minimize the inconvenience caused by the incident on the "Ciudad de Sóller." Report with photo: https://www.europapress.es/comunitat-valenciana/noticia-extinguen-incendio-sala-maquinas-buque-puerto-valencia-20250818192841.html