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In the port of Büsum, about 500 liters of marine diesel spilled into the water while refueling the "Funny Girl" on the morning of Aug 6. Emergency personnel from the volunteer fire departments in Büsum and Hennstedt deployed oil booms and began removing the oil film. A total of more than 35 firefighters were involved in the operation, which continued into the early evening. Crews were rotated once. The neighbouring Warwerort fire department also helped with a drone. The scheduled departure to Heligoland island had to be cancelled. The port was closed. Those who were originally planning to travel from Heligoland back to Büsum were taken to Cuxhaven on the ferry "Helgoland" and then transported by coach. Services from Büsum were scheduled to resume on Aug 7.

On July 14 the operation to refloat the 'Sea Lady II' in Saint-Tropez has started. Following the oil spill cleanup near the fire site. employees from the YDGS shipping company worked all day to raise the wreck. On the morning, several dozen lifting balloons were installed by divers around the vessel, and the water was being pumped out of the ship, which had a weight of 400 tons. The efforts were called off without success. REport with photo: https://www.varmatin.com/faits-divers/l-operation-de-renflouage-du-sea-lady-ii-a-commence-994260

The motor boat 'Jeff One', with 12 people on board, went adrift on Aug 5 ar the port of Ibiza. The 'Guardamar Concepción Arenal', mobilized by the Coordination Center of Salvamento Marítimo in Palma, took the boat in tow and pulled it to the port. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1953167091881689136

The Tallink Grupp's subsidiary, Tallink–Helsinki Line Limited, has sold the 'Regal Star' to the Turkish shipping company Ams Line Shipping Co. The ship was officially handed over to its new owner on Aug 6, 2025. The 'Regal Star' had previously operated the Paldiski–Kapellskär route. In Febr 2025, the m/v 'Star I' commenced operations on the route, and was later replaced by the 'Superfast IX', which provides transport services for both freight and car passengers. The sale of the 'Regal Star' was part of the work to adapt the size of the fleet to current market conditions, according to Paavo Nõgene, CEO of Tallink Grupp. The 'Regal Star' has remained docked in Tallinn since June 25.

On Aug 5, 2025, at 6.50 p.m., the 'Panaghia Paravouniotissa' ran aground in Nea Stira, Evia, in the Euboean Gulf off Mikro Kouneli Island, en route from Styra to Agia Marina with 105 passengers and nine crew members on board. The ferry remained firmly stuck on the reef in pos. 38° 11.10' N 024° 10.50' E and developed a slight list to port side, The Greek Coast Guard deployed two ships to the scene. The local emergency plan was activated at 6:58 p.m., and the transfer of passengers began at 7:10 p.m., using private boats, as well as the tender of the patrol boat 'Gavdos' (IMO: 9768356), which arrived at 8 p.m., and the ferry 'Kanaris' (IMO: 7824493). A total of five private boat were mobilized. All passengers were safely transferred back to Nea Stira. There were no reports of injuries. Due to a lack of accommodation in the Nea Stiri area, the authorities organized the transport of 47 passengers by coach to Marmari and Karystos, where they spent the night with the care of the ferry company. Four passengers chose to spend the night in the lounge of the ferry "Apostolis", which had a scheduled morning itinerary, while others chose alternative ways of returning by boat or taxi. The 'Panaghia Paravouniotissa' suffered a small leak with ensuing water ingress, which could be controlled by pumps. A diver was called to inspect the hull. The Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy informed the competent Prosecutor about the non-response of the ship-owning company regarding salvage operations more than 14 hours after the incident. The Captain did not inform the competent authorities about the grounding either. The Unified SAR Coordination Center (EKSED), which was notified at 6.51 p.m., only managed to contact him after repeated attempts by phone, Passengers complained that there was no information from the ship's loudspeakers after the grounding. The captain has been brought to the port department that has undertaken the investigation of the case and was expected to be brought to the competent prosecutor. Reports with photos and video: https://www.hcg.gr/el/drasthriothtes/anakoinwsh-ypoyrgeioy-naytilias-kai-nhsiwtikhs-politikhs-gia-peristatiko-prosara3hs-eg-dr-ploioy-sta-nea-styra/ https://www.tanea.gr/2025/08/06/greece/prosaraksi-feri-mpot-sta-nea-styra-to-yp-naytilias-stelnei-ston-eisaggelea-tin-ploioktitria-etaireia/ https://www.tanea.gr/2025/08/05/greece/to-ypourgeio-naytilias-kaiei-ton-ploiarxo-gia-tin-prosaraksi-sta-nea-styra-den-enimerose-os-ofeile-tis-arxes/ https://www.skai.gr/news/greece/eyvoia-ploio-pou-ektelouse-dromologio-nea-styra-agia-marina-epese-se-ksera https://www.koutipandoras.gr/article/nea-styra-paramenei-kollimeno-to-feri-bot-panagia-paravouniotissa-ti-katangelloun-epivates/ https://govnews.gr/ellada/296588/ston-eisangelea-i-ploioktitria-tou-feri-pou-prosaraxe-sta-nea-styra-kamia-energeia-gia-apokollisi-14-ores-meta/ https://en.protothema.gr/2025/08/06/the-ferry-that-ran-aground-on-a-reef-in-styra-remains-stuck-questions-about-the-captain-that-demand-answers/

Walid Gomaa, 467, a failed asylum seeker drowned on April 28, 2025, after he attempted to jump onto the ramp of the 'Tannhauser' at the Southampton docks in a bid to get to Canada, an inquest heard. The man was denied asylum status when he arrived in the UK in 2021. He told a friend that he intended to travel across the Atlantic, having lived illegally in the UK for four years. The Egyptian national was spotted by members of the crew of the 'Tannhauser', attempting to reach the ramp's articulated extensions at the end of the vessel, as it was being raised ahead of sailing, the Winchester inquest was told. The operator paused the raising and saw Gomaa walk away, but as they started lifting up the ramp again, he ran and jumped towards the ramp despite a crew member of the ship, which was due to set sail to Halifax, shouting at him to stop. Gomaa then hit his head and fell into the sea at the Empress Dock at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal, where he drowned before a rescue boat could reach him. Gomaa came to the UK in 2021 and was not given status in this country and disappeared for a period of time. He initially claimed asylum, but that was denied in 2021, and it was not until April 2025 that Gomaa was heard of again.

The "Aurora," operated by the German aid organization Sea-Watch, has been allowed to leave the port of Lampedusa. A court in the Sicilian city of Agrigento suspended the administrative detention that had been in effect since July 14. The boat had rescued 70 people in distress and had sailed to Lampedusa, even though the authorities had assigned them the more distant port of Pozzallo in Sicily. However, due to poor weather conditions, continuing the journey would have been irresponsible. Accordingly, the authorities had been informed of the change of course, and the "Aurora" had docked in Lampedusa with their express consent. The court found that the captain had acted in compliance with international law, and the detention was a political attempt to hinder civilian sea rescue.

on Aug 6, an operation was in progress to dislodge the 'Panagia Paravouniotissa', which ran aground on a reef near the coast of Evia island. The tug 'Vernicos Scafi II (IMO: 9314349) tried tp pull the vessel off, while divers are conducting underwater inspections and support operations. Technicians have boarded the ferry to assess the extent of the damage. An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The captain of the ship that ran aground off the coast of Nea Styra appeared before the Chalkida prosecutor.to give his statement regarding the incident. During his testimony, he said he did not see the reef and that the ship’s rudders jammed. The captain remains in custody by order of the investigating judge at the Chalkida Port Authority, facing charges of causing a shipwreck through negligence. He has been granted a deadline to give a formal statement on Aug 8. Passengers noted a general lack of direction from the captain and its crew, saying that they helped themselves to life jackets and self-organized while waiting to be rescued. Reportss with photos: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1277370/operation-underway-to-dislodge-ferry-grounded-off-evia-coast/ https://www.thenationalherald.com/captain-of-greek-ferry-that-ran-aground-faces-port-authority/

Authorities were preparing to salvage the 'Sea Lady II', with the crane ship 'Hebo-Lift 2' (IMO: 9829019) having arrived in St Tropez on Aug 5, en route from Civitavecchia. The 'Sea Lady II' was badly damaged in a fire and has been partially sunk ever since. The fire began in her bow before spreading to the lower decks, alongside billows of black smoke. Authorities had difficulties boarding the yacht but did manage to bring the flames under control. Two crew members were evacuated and have been treated for minor smoke inhalation.

Beached at Alang 06.08.25

On the night of Aug 5, the sailing yacht 'Redón' with one crew member on board, ran aground on the rocks at Seiramar beach in Covas (Viveiro). The hull was breached, causing water leaking, and the boat had a broken mast. The CCS Fisterra of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Alioth' to assist. The SAR boatmanaged to free the yacht and tow it to Celeiro.

The 'Aya 1', carrying hundreds of military armoured vehicles en route from Jebel Ali, was detained in Astakos on July 27, 2025, before being allowed to continue its journey to the port of Misurata. On its way to Libya, it was initially stopped by a Dutch frigate operating under the European Union’s Operation IRINI. The EU’s Operation has previously intercepted similar shipments, including vessels transporting armoured vehicles and other weaponry to Libyan ports.The control of the 'Aya 1' was later transferred to the Italian navy frigate ITS 'Morosini', which escorted it to the port of Astakos, where the vessel was detained and searched. Although the cargo manifest listed cosmetics, cigarettes and electronic goods, initial inspections reportedly uncovered over 350 armoured vehicles and other military equipment on board. The ship was initially destined for territories controlled by General Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya. However, after a diplomatic intervention by Greece’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and following the personal involvement of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotaki, the vessel was eventually cleared to sail. It arrived in Misrata on Aug 3. While the exact details of the cargo remained undisclosed, the incident raised fresh concerns about ongoing violations of the arms embargo and the role of international actors in Libya’s conflict.

A 29-year-old man has been convicted of attempted sabotage after starting a fire aboard the 'Viking Glory' in Dec 2024, when the ferry was at sea with over 1000 people on board. The man set fire to a garbage can inside a closed restaurant. The incident was caught on surveillance video and discovered by staff after it began to smell burnt. The fire went out on its own before it could spread, but the Åland District Courtcourt found that the act was likely to cause a general danger to life and health. “It was more likely a coincidence that there was not so much flammable material in the garbage can that the fire went out on its own. Despite the fact that fire surveillance rounds are carried out on a regular basis, a fire could have taken hold between rounds,” thecourt wrote in the verdict. The man was arrested later that night by staff on board. During the trial, he admitted the crime but said he did not remember the incident because he was heavily intoxicated. He was on board the ship for a Christmas party. The Åland District Court sentenced the man to six months of suspended imprisonment. He must also pay a victim surcharge and reimburse the state for the costs of a witness examination.

More than three years after the "Amadea," was seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch, the yacht, valued at over $300 million (around €260 million), was put on auction on Aug 5. Bidders can submit offers until Sep 10. Bidders must make a deposit of $10 million. The Florida-based company National Maritime Services is in charge of the auction. The "Amadea" was seized in Fiji in April 2022 and is currently moored in San Diego, California. A US judge dismissed a claim for ownership by former head of the oil and gas company Rosneft, Eduard Khudainatov, in March. According to prosecutors, Khudainatov acted merely as a "front man," while the true owner is Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov. Sanctions were imposed on the close ally of Vladimir Putin because of the war in Ukraine.

The Wai Hai Lines, the owners of the 'Wan Hai 503', have failed in a bid to secure port of refuge in Hambantota in Sri Lanka. While the China Merchant’s run port had agreed to take the 'Wan Hai 503', sources indicated that agreement with government authorities over conditions to bring the vessel into the country’s waters for salvage operations could not be reached. The Sri Lankan authorities did not outright reject the application for the 'Wan Hai 503', however, asked for a Letter of Undertaking (LoU) on the salvage operation to the value of $3.25 billion, a figure which massively exceeded normal limits of liability. As a result, the application for port of refuge has not proceeded. With the failure to agree port of refuge in Hambantota it leaves the 'Wan Hai 503' with the salvors onboard offshore India and Sri Lanka and adrift on the high seas. Other potential options for a port of refuge in Southeast Asia and the Middle East continued to be explored, with Penang ibeing the most promising at present. With Hambantota in Sri Lanka the port operator in Penang has agreed to take the vessel, but again approval from government authorities will be required. There are concerns over the safety of the damaged vessel in a lengthy towage operation across the Indian Ocean that would coincide with the monsoon season.

On July 9, 2025, the 'Odyssey' was inspected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and received a score of 81, the lowest inspection score of the year so far. A passing grade is 86. The inspection report revealed numerous issues, with the most serious concerns centered on the ship’s potable water system. The report indicated that during water bunkering operations, chlorine levels in the drinking water were consistently below the required minimum and that no corrective action was taken. A major safety hazard was also identified: a drain line from the water purification system was hard-piped to a gray water tank, creating a risk of cross-contamination. Other issues were found throughout the ship, including: - Food Safety and Equipment: Inspectors found a greasy waffle iron stored with clean items, along with several refrigerators and other food-holding units that were out of service. One note stated that some food was held at unsafe temperatures (like cream at 56°F). - General Maintenance: Problems with poor deck conditions, dusty overhead areas, and standing water were noted. Even the swimming pools were cited for not having proper safety signs and depth markers. - Pest Control: The presence of fruit flies in a pantry pointed to a pest control problem. Villa Vie Residences purchased the ship in late 2023 with the goal of converting it into a residential cruise ship. The ship’s maiden voyage, which was supposed to start in May 2024, was delayed multiple times due to technical issues, including problems with the rudder stocks. The Odyssey is now out of U.S. waters, so a re-inspection won’t happen until it returns to a U.S. port. However, the company is required to fix all the problems found in the report. Many of the issues are a result of the ship’s age and design, as it wasn’t built to today’s U.S. public health standards. The ship has passed other health inspections since leaving Europe. The company states it is taking the feedback seriously and is confident a future inspection will result in a passing score.

On Aug 4, 2025, at 10.20 p.m. the container m/v 'Maersk Gironde' (IMO: 9235555), en route from Wilhelmshaven to Gdansk, was in collision with the 'SFL Composer', which was coming from Emden, at the entrance to the deep-water route at Hatter Barn. Both ships sustained damage above the waterline. Diving investigations were carried out to determine whether there was also damage below the waterline. Both ships have been detained by the Danish Maritime Authority. The 'SFL Composer' was anchored just northwest of Sejerø, close to the position where the collision occurred, while the 'Maersk Gironde' dropped anchor north of Fyns Hoved in pos. 55° 42' N 010° 45' E, where it remained stationary as of Aug 6 . The Danish Maritime Authority has inspected the damage during the night and again on the morning of Aug 5. The 'SFL Composer' was taken in tow by the two Svitzer tugs 'Svitzer Edda' (IMO: 9898929) and 'Trym' (IMO: 9342724) to the Fayard Shipyard (the former Lindø Skibsværft) in the Odense Fjord for an inspections. On the foremidday of Aug 6, it dropped anchor in pos. 55° 35' N 010° 33' E. Reports with photos: https://fyens.dk/112/kollision-mellem-skibe-i-fynsk-farvand-vi-har-vaeret-forbi https://tv-kalundborg.dk/nyheder/maersk-skib-i-kollision-ved-hatter-barn/

Harbour Cruises, the owner of a long-running Vancouver cruise company doesn’t know why the 'Harbour Princess' ran aground on a dining cruise and sightseeing tour east of the Point Atkinson lighthouse near the Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver on Aug 3 at around 11:30 a.m. Transport Canada will to look into the reason why the ship struck a charted rock,.The officer in charge of the vessel was highly experienced. The ship was to be lifted out of the water tod make sure that the damage is repaired if there is any. The vessel will be out of service for up to 10 days, and undergo inspection by a third party. The Transportation Safety Board continued to investigate.All passengers had their fares refunded.

From Aug 6, the Ukraine officially has restored trhe passage through the Bystre Canal for vessels with a draft of up to 4.5 m., about two weeks after the 'Ingulskyj', with 11 people on board, exploded on the evening of July 23, during scheduled work at the mouth of the Danube. Three employees of the Sea Ports Administration of Ukraine died as a result of the explosion. Other crew members were injured and hospitalized. This decision opens up new opportunities for shipowners who previously faced restrictions due to the temporary closure of the canal. During the closure of the Bystre Canal, many shipowners were forced to increase their freight rates to compensate for the additional costs. However, the prices offered by the carriers turned out to be unacceptable to charterers. After the resumption of the Bystre Canal, market participants predict a partial revival of freight traffic on the Danube due to more balanced conditions for negotiations between sellers and buyers.

An international research team aboard the 'Nautilus' has located the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer 'Teruzuki', which was sunk in 1942 during one of the most decisive naval battles of World War II. The wreck, over 2,600 feet beneath the surface in the waters of the Solomon Islands, was located and explored using ROVs, during the Maritime Archaeology of Guadalcanal expedition aboard the research vessel. The 'Teruzuki' was a 440-foot Akizuki-class destroyer commissioned in 1942. The fate of the ship was sealed in the early morning of Dec 12, 1942, while escorting supply vessels off Cape Esperance on the north coast of Guadalcanal. In a nighttime attack, two small U.S. Navy PT boats, PT-37 and PT-40, fired torpedoes, one of which struck the 'Teruzuki' in the stern, disabling the vessel and igniting a fire. Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka was knocked unconscious by the blast. The fire eventually reached the magazines and caused an enormous explosion. The destroyer sank around 4:40 a.m., taking nine crew members with it. The majority of the crew, Tanaka included, were saved. The discovery was made possible through a collaborative effort spearheaded by Ocean Exploration Trust and supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration, the University of New Hampshire, the Solomon Islands government, and other academic and maritime heritage organizations. Researchers used sonar mapping from the University of New Hampshire’s uncrewed surface vessel DriX to determine the location where the wreck was most likely to be. The ROVs 'Hercules' and 'Atalanta' were then deployed to explore the site. When it arrived at the bottom of the ocean, the team found the 'Teruzuki' in two sections. The stern, 656 feet away from the main hull, was depth-charged, disproving the previous theory that internal explosions of these weapons caused the final explosion. Hiroshi Ishii of Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Area Studies, who was part of the expedition, helped confirm the ship’s identity. In a statement to the Ocean Exploration Trust, he discussed the poignancy of the find: “Beyond the discovery, witnessing Teruzuki shows a real sadness about war. It was very emotional to see this ship’s turrets pointed skyward. The ship was designed for an anti-aircraft purpose, but found itself facing an entirely different type of conflict.” The site is also a reminder of the brutal naval battles that took place in the surrounding Iron Bottom Sound. The location was the site of five major sea battles in late 1942 at a cost of over 20,000 casualties and the sinking of over 100 warships and 1,450 aircraft. Less than 100 of those ships have been located to date. This discovery is the 12th wreck that has been mapped during the expedition, all part of a continuing project to document sunken military vessels and aircraft in the Pacific. Teruzuki is particularly historically valuable because there were no known photos or blueprints of the ship, due to wartime secrecy. The expedition is broadcasting its dives live at NautilusLive.org Report with photos: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/08/japanese-wwii-destroyer-teruzuki-wreck-found/