News

Beached at Aliaga 22.07.25

The captain of the 'Tiger has appealed the community service order imposed on him by the court for the fatal collision in the Wadden Sea. Whether the appeal will proceed will be decided at a later date. The ferry had collided with the water taxi 'Stormloper' in the Schuitengat near Terschelling in the early morning of Oct 21, 2022. Four people on board the water taxi were killed. The body of one of them, a 12-year-old boy, was never found. The court in Leeuwarden sentenced both the captain of the speedboat and the skipper of the water taxi to 240 hours of community service and a three-month suspended prison sentence. According to the court, both boats were speeding. The skippers also failed to communicate effectively via radio about how they would pass each other. The Public Prosecution Service had demanded 180 hours of community service for both, in addition to three-month suspended prison sentences. The defense has already filed an appeal to meet the statutory two-week deadline, attorney Tjalling van der Goot announced on the website of the law firm Anker en Anker on July 31, 2025- The captain's lawyer stated that he intends to "carefully advise his client regarding the possibilities of an appeal" after the summer holidays.

Beached at Aliaga 31.07.25

Beached at Alang 31.07.25

During a ceremony in Singapore, Stena Bulk has officially registered the 'Stena Sunrise' under the Swedish flag. According to the shipping company, this is the first time in modern times that a Suezmax tanker is operated with a Swedish registration. The ceremony on board was attended by Sweden's ambassador to Singapore, Anders Sjöberg, together with Johan Zander, head of Stena Bulk Singapore. Together they carried out the formal handover of the Swedish flag to the crew. Erik Hånell, CEO of Stena Bulk stated; " We are proud that Stena Sunrise is now officially sailing under the Swedish flag and that we were able to celebrate this in Singapore. This milestone has been made possible thanks to strong cooperation with Swedish authorities and unions". Swedish shipyards have built several large crude oil tankers during the 1970s and 1980s, but that these were usually delivered under foreign flags. In recent decades, Sweden has been virtually invisible in the largest tanker segments. Exceptions such as TT 'Nanny' (ULCC, 1978–1984) and 'Vanadis' (VLCC, early 1990s) have been few and temporary. With the 'Stena Sunrise', Sweden is once again represented in the Suezmax segment. The 'Stena Sunrise' is the first of five Suezmax vessels that Stena Bulk plans to register in the Swedish ship register. In the coming months, the 'Stena Superior', 'Stena Suede', 'Stena Surprise' and 'Stena Sunshine' are also expected to be reflagged, as commercial and operational schedules allow. Report with photos: https://www.sjofartstidningen.se/stena-sunrise-fick-svensk-flagg-i-singapore/

On July 7, 2023, the Coast Guard’s Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis published a report of investigation (ROI) to Marine Casualty Reports regarding the demasting of the 'Grace Bailey' in Penobscot Bay, Rockland, Maine resulting in the loss of life of one passenger and injuries to five other passengers on Oct 9, 2023. The Coast Guard Northeast District Commander convened a formal investigation into this tragedy. The investigation team compiled and issued nine safety recommendations and two administrative recommendations. A Commandant’s final action memorandum (FAM) detailing the Coast Guard response and actions on each recommendation is included with the ROI.

Early on July 30, the 'Sefens', loaded with gasoline likely refined from Russian stock, has docked at the Kwinana terminal, approximately 25 miles south of Perth, to offload its cargo. The tanker had departed from the Jamnagar refinery on July 11. Protestors called for the vessel to be turned away, but it was pointed out that the vessel was not in violation of the sanctions. It provided legitimate documentation that it had been loaded in India, and it was admitted that it was nearly impossible to determine the source of the stock. Australia has imposed broad sanctions on Russia since the start of its war against Ukraine. For the first time, it also recently imposed sanctions on shadow fleet tankers, pouncing on reports that nearly 50 % of the feedstock going into Jamnagar was coming from Russia., and said that Australia must move immediately to stop these imports. Australia has imported approximately US$650 million of oil products from India in the first four months of 2025. Most of it was likely made from Russian stock. About 90 % of Australia’s imports from India come from the Jamnagar refinery. Under the pressure building on intermediaries, India’s state refineries have all suspended purchases of Russian oil this week, scrambling to find alternative sources, primarily in the Middle East. However, the state refineries are not the largest buyers, which remain the private companies in India, including Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy. After the EU sanctions against Nayara, there have been multiple reports of tankers diverting and companies demanding that their contracts be canceled due to the sanctions.

An extensive damage to the"Ecofive" has led to new months of delays. On July 27, 2025, the shipping company has announced financial claims to cover lost expenses. The shipyard is threatened with warranty liability. The delivery of the "Ecofive" has previously been postponed several times, but on Feb 26, 2025, the Ålesund shipping company Bluewild announced that they could finally take over their newly built factory trawler from the Westcon Yards shipyard in Ølensvåg in Rogaland. The vessel was to go through the final phase of completion in Ålesund before a trial. But during the test run in April, something went wrong. When the crew was to maneuver the boarding equipment, the A-frame, it was severely twisted, and steel structures were deformed. The skippper of the "Ecofive", Fridtjof Køhn, wrote to the shipping company on April 22 that the ship had to return to Ålesund after the damage: "The A-frame was to be driven from the upper to the rear position. [...] moved little or nothing. [...] Both legs of the A-frame are twisted with significant damage. It is not possible to continue fishing. Setting course for Ålesund," Køhn wrote. The equipment was purchased from a subcontractor. Report with photos: https://www.kystens.no/nyheter/prestisjebat-alvorlig-skadet-veldig-uheldig-sier-verftet-som-trues-med-garantiansvar/2-1-1850564

Sold to Breakers 29.07.25

Beached at Aliaga 17.06.25 towed by Fram Prince https://www.instagram.com/p/DMzI0IwoSBS/

On July 30, 2025, at around 3.45 p.m., the 'Wilson Gdynia', en route from Rotterdam, allided with dolphin 46 off the small locks of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel upon approaching the waterway from the Elbe for the eastbound transit, due to strong gusts of wind and currents. The allision caused parts of the wooden dolphins to break. A floating crane recovered the damaged dolphins. No one was injured, and there was no water pollution. The ship's bulbous bow was damaged too, and the hull was dented approximately two meters above the waterline. Approximately 40 tons of water leaked into the forepeak of the ship. The BG Verkehr (German Traffic Safety Authority) issued a sailing ban. The vessel was moored at the railway station pilings in Brunsbüttel, where it remained stationary as of Aug . On Feb 24, the ship was subjected to a Port State Control in Stord, during which five deficiencies were remarked.

It has now become clear what went wrong on July 17, when the 'Betelgeuze' tilted in drydock. It is a round-hulled ship and has an S-shaped keel. The floating dock at the shipyard is air-operated. When lifting, the ship has to list slightly to port side or starboard side. When the 'Betelgeuze' hit the support in the dock on the port side, the support broke due to a material failure, and the ship tipped over. However, the guide pole that centers the dock prevented the ship from tipping further. There were seven people aboard, who were all able to disembark safely. The 'Betelgeuze 'is now upright again at the quay in the Waalhaven, awaiting dock repairs, so that the 'Betelgeuze' can finally be brought up for a thickness survey. During the waiting time everything gets back upright on the ship. Report with photos: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/08/01/opluchting-bij-zeekadetkorps-rotterdam-na-kantelmoment-betelgeuze-in-dok-holland-ship-repair/

The 'Joseph Doyle' and a boat crew of the USCG Station San Juan assisted four mariners aboard the disabled 75-ft-m/v 'Sueño I', with four crew members on board, off Carolina, Puerto Rico, on July 30. The Dominican Republic nationals were on a voyage from Tortola to Saman, when the vessel suffered electrical problems and was disabled. Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan received a distress communication reporting the 'Sueño I', which was adrift approximately 12 nautical miles northeast of Carolina, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders issued an UMIB to alert vessel traffic in the vicinity of the ongoing distress situation. They also diverted the 'Joseph Doyle' to render assistance. Once on scene, the cutte crew established a tow of the 'Sueño I' to San Juan Harbor, where the boat crew took over the tow and brought the vessel to the safety of the Coast Guard Base San Juan, where it was moored. T crew made arrangements for repairs. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4260824/coast-guard-surface-units-assist-4-mariners-aboard-disabled-vessel-sueo-i-off-c/

Campaigners have warned that the 'Seferis', destined for the port of Kwinana, was carrying Russian oil despite sanctions put in place because of the Ukraine war. The 'Seferis' left Sitka two weeks ago full of oil from the Jamnagar refinery, and it is due to arrive in the outer-Perth suburb of Kwinana on July 27 at 4 a.m. The Jamnagar refinery is notoriously fed by Russian crude oil, with as much as 55 per cent of their 2025 stock coming from the European pariah. The alarm has been raised about a “loophole” that allows Russian oil to be bought and sold in Australia, with local campaigners and parliamentarians calling for immediate action. The Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie raised the issue in Question Time on July 25: “In July, two vessels reportedly docked in Botany Bay, with some 175,000 tonnes of petrol from the Jamnagar refinery in India, which uses up to 55 per cent Russian oil. So these vessels effectively carry some 90,000 tonnes of Russian-sourced petrol, paid for by Australians, which will help fund Putin’s war in Ukraine.” The loophole has recently been closed in the European Union, which has banned the importation of petroleum products refined form Russian crude oil in its 18th sanctions package against Russia. The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations has urged Australia to take similar action. Since February 2023, Australia has imported an estimated $3.7bn worth of Russian crude, as a component in refined petroleum products from Indian refineries – sending around $1.8bn in tax revenue to the Kremlin.

The bill for the clean-up of 60 tons oil, after the 'Marco Polo'ran aground off the Blekinge coast is growing. So far, the MSB has paid out SEK 64 million to the municipalities affected. The most money has been paid to the municipality of Sölvesborg, where the hardest-hit stretch of coast is located. There are also claims for an additional SEK 2 million from Sölvesborg, Karlshamn and Kristianstad that have not yet been paid. The starting point of MSB was to get back all the money it has spent from the shipping company's insurance company, since the assessment was that the compensation claims from the municipalities were reasonable. Clean-up costs could rise further if new oil were discovered.

Beached at Gadani 31.07.25 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=727480256587583&set=a.155050113830603

arrived Alang anchorage 31.07.25

Sold to Alang Breakers

The 'Betelgeuze' has tilted at the Holland Ship Repair dock in Rotterdam on July 17, 2025, when it was docked for an inspection. The entire floating dock with the ship started to list to port side. Part of the scaffolding was broken off. The ship was originally scheduled to enter the dock in August, but could now be brought in sooner because all theequipment of the sister ship 'Castor', which had been drydocked before, was already ready. This saved costs and time. The crew did hear a bang at one point while the dock was lowered, but at least it was afloat again.'By the end of the afternoon, the 'Betelgeuze' was upright and in the water again. It has suffered no damage, and there were no injuries. Report with photo: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/07/25/zeekadettenschip-betelgeuze-valt-scheef-bij-dok-in-rotterdam/

The US-sanctioned 'Bluebell' was now spoofing its position in Indonesia’s territorial waters. The tanker sailed into the area on July 16, 2025, indicating the navigational status as “at anchor” and then began location (GNSS) manipulation to obfuscate its true location. It then went dark on July 22, and stopped AIS transmittings in one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints, underscoring the escalating safety and maritime security risks to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia from sanctioned and high-risk tankers loitering in waters near the Riau archipelago. The real location of the tanker was unknown. The 'Bluebell', formerly known as 'Cross Ocean', had spent a month in this area, where about 80 Iran and Russia-trading tankers assemble for floating storage and unregulated STS transfers of Western-sanctioned oil, often under dangerous conditions. The ships form part of an inefficient logistics network of dark fleet tankers that ship crude cargoes from Russia, Iran and Venezuela via multiple STS transfers in international waters to obscure the destination and origin. Dozens are falsely flagged like the 'Bluebell', thus invalidating insurance and certificates of safety and seaworthiness. The 'Bluebell' is one of some 1900 ships identified as part of the dark fleet, and among hundreds of vessels now transmitting a false flag, with 40% of Iran-trading tankers and 30% of Russia trading tankers in the dark fleet now using fraudulent registries, signaling false flags such as Curaçao in this case, or whose flag status is unknown. Fraudulent registries linked to these trades by the IMO include Aruba, Benin, Curaçao, Guinea, Guyana, Eswatini, Malawi, Timor-Leste, and St Maarten. Other ships falsely transmit they are flagged with legitimate registries, posing a significant threat to the regulatory integrity of global seaborne trade and undermines the foundations of the world’s maritime economic system.