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As the summer maintenance season has started, the first Arc7 ice-class gas carriers in service of the Yamal LNG project have arrived at the Fayard A/S shipyard in Odense. The 'Nikolay Urvantsev', chartered to Novatek’s Yamal LNG project, arrived at the drydock on June 26, 2025, and sailed around a week later. The Arc7 LNG carrier 'Fedor Litke (IMO: 9768370)', operated by Dynagas, arrived at the Fayard A/S yard on July 17, following a delivery at Dunkerque, and remained in drydock as of July 24. Repairs and maintenance schedules have been significantly condensed for the Arctic LNG carriers due to their harsh operating conditions along Russia’s Northern Sea Route. The Damen ship repair focuses on hull maintenance, which the LNG carriers regularly require breaking a path through thick Arctic sea ice. The Damen Shiprepair stated that the company was in compliance with all international sanctions legislation against Russia. As the vessels have not been directly sanctioned by the U.S. or the EU the yards’ activities do not violate international law. Though procuring spare parts has become increasingly difficult, suppliers of gas chromatographs and flow meters used on LNG carriers have placed restrictions on the end user and no longer deliver parts to the vessels of the Yamal fleet, related to the fear of sanctions. A number of sanctioned LNG carriers, including an Arc7 and several Arc4 ice-class vessels, have recently resorted to receiving maintenance at Chinese yards. The Arc7 LNG carrier 'Christophe de Margerie' spent months at a Zhoushan Island yard east of Shanghai in summer 2024. Currently two additional sanctioned Russian gas carriers, the 'Sputnik Energy' (IMO: 9256602) and the 'Nova Energy' (IMO: 9324277), remained at Zhoushan yards.

The 'Lochinvar', serving on the route Lochaline-Fishnish, suffered a technical issue that requires further investigation on July 23. As a consequence, the scheduled departures from iLochaline at 9.40 a.m. and from Fishnish at 10 a.m. had to be cancelled. After the issue was resolved, the 'Lochinvar'operated the previously cancelled crossings.

The Sri Lankan government on Friday said it has begun a massive development project to further modernize its ports across the country in order to transform Sri Lanka into a maritime hub in the region. The government information department said in a statement that under this mega development project, the Port of Colombo will continue to develop its facilities for container handling by continuous addition of capacity, advanced handling and processing technology. “The development of the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Port of Colombo will be followed by the West Container Terminal (WCT 1 and 2) ahead of demand. The ECT and the South Asia Gateway Terminal will be expanded to create an ultra large container terminal, expanding the total capacity to 35 million TEUs in the coming years,” Sirimevan Ranasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and Western Development said. Last year, the Port of Colombo handled a record breaking seven million TEUs(twenty-foot equivalent units).

Saras announces that from 1st September 2019 it will starts direct supply of shipping fuels (bunkering) at specific dedicated areas of the ports of Sarroch and Cagliari. Saras will be able to offer the complete range of marine fuels: in addition to MDO (marine diesel oil) and traditional fuel oils, in fact, it will be supplied the new ecological fuel oil with a very low sulfur content (max 0.5% as per the latest specifications IMO 2020). All products are produced locally at the Sarlux refinery. The service is offered to meet the needs of ships arriving and departing from the above mentioned ports as well as to offer further supply options to the several ships that pass along the Sicilian Channel and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Refueling will be offered with a modern ship, the “M/T Atlantic”, equipped with all the most advanced safety tools and with a specifically trained crew, in order to offer the maximum guarantees to operate in full respect of the environment.

As of July 21, the 'Wan Hai 503' remained in a stable condition. Grey smoke was last observed in the vicinity of cargo holds no. 3 and 4 on the afternoon of July 2ß, consistent with previously reported patterns of residual combustion due to unextinguished smouldering cargo. The vessel continued to weather rough conditions with gusting winds over 30 knots and swells. The ship was currently located approximately 238 nautical miles southeast of the Indian EEZ boundary and has been drifting along with prevailing ocean currents in the absence of active tow. The connection with the 'Offshore Warrior' was scheduled to be re-established upon its return from Cochin, where it had proceeded for replenishment of bunkers, stores, and freshwater. Salvage operations continued on board with a 16-member team having boarded the casualty. The salvage team now intended to remain on board continuously to maintain operation tempo and stability. Essential amenities such as cooling appliances and food supplies have already been provided to support extended stays. Dewatering of the engine room, cargo holds, and duct keel continued, with improved control achieved in most spaces. Notably, cargo holds no. 2 and 3 appeaedr dry, while the engine room water level was being maintained at approximately 50 cm. Pumping in hold no. 6 was ongoing. The 'Offshore Warrior wass expected to arrive back on July 22. Once reconnected, it was to re-establish tow and return the vessel toward the Indian EEZ as previously committed to Sri Lankan authorities. The salvage team has also mobilized an additional tug, the 'Advantage Libra', which departed from Khor Fakkan on July 20 with an ETA as of July 27 to augment the operational fleet and provide greater redundancy for towage and salvage work, particularly in the light of an upcoming potential port entry. The 'Advantis Virgo', having suffered propeller issues during prior maneuvers, was planned to return to Colombo for underwater inspections and repair after the 'Offshore Warrior' took over towing duties. Until then, it remainned on standby. Meanwhile, the 'Saksham' was actively engaged in fire watch and boundary cooling as required. The 'Water Lily' continued to serve as the primary platform for safe personnel transfer to and from the casualty. The overall salvage and stabilization picture was cautiously optimistic. The 'Wan Hai 503' has shown structural resilience. The recurrence of grey smoke emissions was anticipated and attributed to residual combustion within affected cargo holds. Given the limitations of safe access to these areas, boundary cooling remained the feasible mitigation approach at present. The emergency towline that parted earlier was recovered and stored aboard the vessel as a precaution. A backup towline was also being prepared. The salvage team’s ability to remain on board continuously marked a positive shift in operations, reducing reliance on the single transfer ship 'Water Lily', and allowing uninterrupted oversight. Planning was also progressing for final stages of casualty removal. The Wan Hai Lines has communicated its decision, based on inputs from ITOPF and shoreline drift modelling, to discontinue contractual ties with SpillTech and MERC for shoreline clean-up, citing minimal ongoing risk. However, MERC remains on standby should future response be necessary. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has taken note and will revert formally upon review.

The 'Lord of the Isles', serving on the route Kennacraig-Islay, suffered a technical issue impacting the' steering system on July 23. As a consequence, the scheduled departure from Port Askaig to Kennacraig at 8.45 p.m. was delayed.

The Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) is the only container port in Jordan and the primary trade gateway for the Jordanian market, bordering five countries and three continents. The port handles capacities of 1.2 million TEUs and 1km of berthing. Under a joint Development Agreement between APM Terminals and the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC), BAM International, a subsidiary of the European BAM Group, built the container terminal in 2013 and the Aqaba New Port in 2014. APM Terminals has invested USD 284 million in developing the terminal’s infrastructure and expanding its capacity.

Celebrity Cruises will offer new and longer European voyages onboard the new Celebrity Apex when she launches in 2020. Passengers onboard the Edge Class ship will visit Greece, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Spain and more when she launches next year.

The 'Bute', operating on the route Wemyss Bay-Rothesay suffered a fuel issue on July 22. The departures from Rothesay at 10:000 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and from Wemyss Bay at 11:15 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. had to be cancelled with more crossings at the risk uf disruption. After the issues were successfully resolved, the following sailings, which were initially cancelled, were reinstated: Departure Rothesay - 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Departure Wemyss Bay -3:05 p.m., 5:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m.

The 'Isle of Cumbrae', serving on the route Largs-Cumbrae, suffered a technical issue with its ramp on July 21. As a consequence, the scheduled 09:30 a.m.sailing from Largs and the 09:45 a.m. sailing from Cumbrae had to be cancelled, which were later extended until the evening. The 'Loch Shira' continued accodring to timetable, The sailings departed from Largs at a quarter to and a quarter past the hour. Sailings from Cumbrae departed on the hour and half past the hour. Afer the 'Ilse of Cumbrae' was back on service a 15 minute timetable was resumed. On July 22 all sailings operated by 'Isle of Cumbrae' wer liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice due to the ongoing issues with the vessel’s ramp. To expedite the repair on the 'Isle Of Cumbrae's ramp, the vessel was to be relocated to Colintraive. were are expected to be completed by the afternoon of July 23.

The implementation of a range of simple measures to streamline shift changes at APM Terminals Pipavav has reduced vessel idle times, added capacity and reduced impact on crane moves per hour due to shift change by around 16%. At the same time, it has also improved trailer driver and crane operator safety. The Pipavav team has introduced clearly marked parking bays for terminal trailers, which provide a safe distance between each trailer. This provides drivers with a safe area to conduct pre-operation checks and protects them from other vehicles when exiting their trailers.

Global Ports Holdings (GPH) is to operate Prince George Wharf and related areas at Nassau Cruise Port in The Bahamas for the next 25 years. According to an agreement with the Government of The Bahamas, GPH has joined forces with the Bahamas Investment Fund and the Yes Foundation to create the Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. (NCP) consortium. GPH will use its global expertise and operating model to manage Nassau Cruise Port. “I am delighted that NCP has signed a port operation and lease agreement for Prince George Wharf at Nassau Cruise Port,” said Mehmet Kutman, chairman and co-founder of GPH.