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The US Coast Guard suspended its search for three missing crew members of the 'RC Creppel' on Jan 27 after the tug sank on the the Mississippi River at mile marker 123, near Luling, Louisiana, on Jan 26. Coast Guard crews searched over 835 nautical miles for approximately 67 hours but were unable to find the missing mariners. Air monitoring was ongoing in the area surrounding the incident. The air in the immediate vicinity of the affected barge has now been cleared of any traces of sulfuric acid. There were no immediate health issues or concerns to the surrounding communities. The Mississippi River was opened again at 9:30 p.m. to vessel traffic from mile marker 121 to 123. This area was still subject to restrictions put in place by Coast Guard Sector New Orleans’ Vessel Traffic Service. McKinney Salvage has been contracted to carry out salvage operations of the affected barge. Air monitoring in the area was to be continued until the salvage operations of the affected barge have been completed. The National Transportation Safety Board has joined the Coast Guard to investigate the cause of the incident.

Citing urgent guidelines from the Chinese goverment to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Costa Crociere, MSC, Royal Caribbean and Genting Cruise Lines have immediately suspended cruise operations in mainland China. Costa has cancelled sailings on the 'Costa Serena' for Jan. 25 and 31, 2020; the 'Costa Atlantica' on Jan. 27 and 31; the Costa Venezia' on Jan 26. and Feb. 2 and the Costa neoRomantica' on Jan. 25, 30 and Feb. 2. Costa Cruises said guests are eligible for a full refund; or can choose an alternative sailing date before the end of the year along with a $50 onboard credit. MSC cancelled its Jan. 28 departure aboard the 'MSC Splendida' from Shanghai, which was scheduled to sail four nights; while Royal Caribbean cancelled its Jan. 27 sailing on the 'Spectrum of the Seas', also scheduled to depart from Shanghai. Travel agencies have been instructed to stop group tours, which make up most of the Chinese cruise industry. In addition, China halting outbound group could have an effect on the industry's reliance of China as a source market for ships sailing in Europe, Alaska and North America. Genting's Dream Cruises brand has cancelled a turnaround call in Guangzhou for the 'World Dream', but will continue to operate from Hong Kong, according to a statement as the ship interports between both homeports. Other operators with a presence in China during the winter included the 'Astro Ocean', which has yet to issue any statements regarding close-in deployment, but could follow suit during the high-yielding weeks of Chinese New Year.

Shikoku Kyuko Ferry, also known as ‘Olive Line’, has announced that it will close the historic Uno-Takamatsu route on 16 December.

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and local natural gas producer FortisBC are currently studying options to develop a LNG marine bunkering terminal at the port to cater the growing demand for cleaner marine fuels in the coming years. The facility would be the first ship-to-ship LNG marine bunkering service facility on the west coast of North America.

The 'Mustafa Kemal 1' suffered an engine failure at Mersin on Jan 24. 2020. Subsequently, the vessel was shifted from Mersin to a shipyard in Iskenderun for repairs. Repairs have commenced by the shipyard team upon completion of detailed damage survey. The vessel remained stationary in the shipyard as of Jan 27.

Citing urgent guidelines from the Chinese goverment to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Costa Crociere, MSC, Royal Caribbean and Genting Cruise Lines have immediately suspended cruise operations in mainland China. Costa has cancelled sailings on the 'Costa Serena' for Jan. 25 and 31, 2020; the 'Costa Atlantica' on Jan. 27 and 31; the Costa Venezia' on Jan 26. and Feb. 2 and the Costa neoRomantica' on Jan. 25, 30 and Feb. 2. Costa Cruises said guests are eligible for a full refund; or can choose an alternative sailing date before the end of the year along with a $50 onboard credit. MSC cancelled its Jan. 28 departure aboard the 'MSC Splendida' from Shanghai, which was scheduled to sail four nights; while Royal Caribbean cancelled its Jan. 27 sailing on the 'Spectrum of the Seas', also scheduled to depart from Shanghai. Travel agencies have been instructed to stop group tours, which make up most of the Chinese cruise industry. In addition, China halting outbound group could have an effect on the industry's reliance of China as a source market for ships sailing in Europe, Alaska and North America. Genting's Dream Cruises brand has cancelled a turnaround call in Guangzhou for the 'World Dream', but will continue to operate from Hong Kong, according to a statement as the ship interports between both homeports. Other operators with a presence in China during the winter included the 'Astro Ocean', which has yet to issue any statements regarding close-in deployment, but could follow suit during the high-yielding weeks of Chinese New Year.

Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Germany's third-largest defence company and world market leader in conventional submarines, has recorded a pleasing development: by 2023, the company will be investing 250 million Euro in Kiel. Its objective is to develop the shipyard into an international competence centre for conventional submarine construction. Thanks to the currently good development with new orders, around 500 new employees will be hired throughout the company by the end of 2020, the majority of them in Kiel. The company is looking primarily for engineers and skilled workers, particularly in R&D, construction and manufacturing. https://www.thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com/en/press-releases/d/uid-26938af4-8f4e-e141-8c2d-54a1f4623b48.html https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/TKMS-will-250-Millionen-Euro-in-Kieler-Werft-investieren,thyssenkrupp126.html

A work accident with deadly outcome occurred at the container terminal in Copenhagen's North Port on Oct 4, 2019. A worker who was seriously injured when two straddle carriers collided at the terminal died of his injuries on Oct 6, 2019. The details of the accident were not disclosed. Authorities were investigating the accident. Since the accident, employees have been offered various types of emergency assistance.

2020 might be the final season of the 'Astoria'. The operator Cruise and Maritime Voyages said it will not renew its contract to use the ship and that this will be its farewell season. The 'Astoria' started 2020 with three brand-new Sea of Cortez sailings from Puerto Penasco, Mexico, and it will finish the year with trips from England in March, April, September and October.

Citing urgent guidelines from the Chinese goverment to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Costa Crociere, MSC, Royal Caribbean and Genting Cruise Lines have immediately suspended cruise operations in mainland China. Costa has cancelled sailings on the 'Costa Serena' for Jan. 25 and 31, 2020; the 'Costa Atlantica' on Jan. 27 and 31; the Costa Venezia' on Jan 26. and Feb. 2 and the Costa neoRomantica' on Jan. 25, 30 and Feb. 2. Costa Cruises said guests are eligible for a full refund; or can choose an alternative sailing date before the end of the year along with a $50 onboard credit. MSC cancelled its Jan. 28 departure aboard the 'MSC Splendida' from Shanghai, which was scheduled to sail four nights; while Royal Caribbean cancelled its Jan. 27 sailing on the 'Spectrum of the Seas', also scheduled to depart from Shanghai. Travel agencies have been instructed to stop group tours, which make up most of the Chinese cruise industry. In addition, China halting outbound group could have an effect on the industry's reliance of China as a source market for ships sailing in Europe, Alaska and North America. Genting's Dream Cruises brand has cancelled a turnaround call in Guangzhou for the 'World Dream', but will continue to operate from Hong Kong, according to a statement as the ship interports between both homeports. Other operators with a presence in China during the winter included the 'Astro Ocean', which has yet to issue any statements regarding close-in deployment, but could follow suit during the high-yielding weeks of Chinese New Year.

A joint venture featuring CMA CGM and DP World has been granted the contract to expand box facilities at the port of Le Havre in northern France. Générale de Manutention Portuaire (GMP), a joint venture held 50:50 by DP World and Terminal Link, a subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group, will build and operate the 1m teu container terminal for the Port 2000 berths 11 and 12 under a 34-year concession. The new terminal will include a 700 m long quay and 42 ha of land.

Hapag-Lloyd continues to develop its position in Africa and launches the new MIAX (Middle East-India-Africa Express) service – which will offer direct connections and fast transit times between South and West Africa, the Persian Gulf, India, Colombo (Sri Lanka) and La Réunion. Hapag-Lloyd has entered the African market about twelve years ago and has since then seen steady and significant growth in transported volumes to and from Africa."With the new MIAX service our customers will now benefit from an even wider range of fast and flexible direct connections," says Dheeraj Bhatia, Senior Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd's Region Middle East.The MIAX service will be connected to the Global Mainline Network via the key ports of Jebel Ali (Dubai) and Colombo. Hapag-Lloyd will jointly operate the MIAX service with it's THE Alliance partner Ocean Network Express. A total of nine ships with a capacity of 2,800 TEU each, including five provided by Hapag-Lloyd, will be deployed for the new service.