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On June 3, 2025, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, a retired marine engineer who was captain of the 'Matthew' while it was carrying more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine claimed that he feared for his life and his family if he did not follow instructions, a court has heard. He said there was an element of fear on board the vessel, and admitted he was aware that the consignment on the ship was not “spare parts”.He said that he was captain in name but he had to follow orders like everyone else. The non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin was told that he was in fear of being killed and that his family, who were in Dubai, would also be killed and that a number of the crew were hired by a transnational organised crime group for the operation. Jelveh is one of seven men charged with offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than €157 million, which was on board the ship. Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 32; Iranians Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, 39; Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, all pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the 'Mathew' between Sep 24 and Sep 26, 2023. The Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between Sep 21 and Sep 25, 2023. Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, also pleaded guilty that on a date between September 21st and Sep 25, 2023, both dates inclusive, he attempted to have cocaine in his possession for the purpose of sale or supply, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Detective Superintendent Keith Halley told the court in Dublin that messages sent to crew members of the MV Matthew told them to consider moving the bags containing drugs on to a lifeboat and then release it into the sea as Irish authorities got closer to the vessel. Ozgen, who was described in court by his barrister Brendan Grehan as having a lack of sea experience, was to go into the lifeboat with 22 tonnes of drugs in “one of the worst storms”. Six men who were arrested on board ignored instructions from the patrol vessel 'LE William Butler Yeats' a number of times. Detective Halley, who was a Revenue Customs liaison for Irish police, gave evidence that the authorities received information about a fishing trawler being used to import drugs, which led to the formation of a joint task force between gardai, the Revenue Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service. Jelveh, a father of two, claimed he felt violated by people in the “head office” who were not present on the vessel, and that there was a threat over him that was not there in relation to his co-accused. Jelveh qualified as a maritime engineer in 1997 and worked as a marine engineer until 2008 and moved through the ranks to became first deck officer. He became captain in 2019. He had since retired and was working as a football coach. Prosecution barrister John Berry SC told the court that the crew had attempted to set the drugs on fire as they attempted to flee Irish authorities and head into the high seas. Messages discovered in a WhatsApp group, called The Deck Officers, revealed how the crew was instructed to be ready to burn the cargo and head towards Sierra Leone if a helicopter tried to intercept the ship. The crew were told to make sure everything was burnt and to use paint thinner to set the cargo alight. They were also ordered by people not on board the vessel not to communicate with Irish authorities. The crew had been ordered by authorities to steer the vessel towards the Irish coast and dock at Cork. The court heard that they were willing to comply with the instructions, however, they were going full steam ahead to the high seas and were planning on travelling to Sierra Leone. The crew had been making efforts to deter the arrival of the Army Ranger Wing to allow for the removal of the drugs. Footage and photographs shown to the court revealed there was smoke coming from the lifeboat after an attempt was made to set the drugs alight. Cans of paint, used to set it on fire, were also found on the life raft. Detective Halley told the court that the people instructing the crew had “immense capabilities, unlimited resources and a global reach”. It became apparent through the message groups that those who were controlling the vessel and sending instructions on what to do were based in Dubai. They had sent messages instructing the crew to keep going, including reassuring messages like “just relax and this will all be over soon”. They also gave the wrong information that Irish authorities could not board the vessel. The sentence hearing is taking place before Ms Justice Melanie Grealy Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone. The sentencing hearing continued on June 4.

The new shipping company Alma Cruceros lost its only ship just two weeks after launching operations and canceled all departures. The luxury cruise operator ran into financial difficulties due to outstanding creditors' claims. The 'Ocean Victory' was detained in Málaga after its rrival on May 11, 2025, and left the port on May 26, scheduled to be auctioned in Gibraltar, where it dropped anchor on May 27 in pos. 36° 07' N 005° 18' W. The shipping company's debut took place on April 18 with a first voyage from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Málaga. As early as May 9, the company informed travel agencies of the cancellation of the next departure, scheduled for May 11. The 'Ocean Victory' remained berthed in port since arriving in Málaga. On May 20, the ship was finally seized by the authorities. The reason for this is an outstanding claim by the port agent Lantimar Group, which has filed a lawsuit with the court. The court set a bail, which Alma Cruceros failed to post. As a result, the ship was ordered to set course for Gibraltar. It will now be auctioned there to meet the creditors' claims. Alma Cruceros was positioned as a premium brand and belonged to the Premium group of companies owned by Elisardo Sánchez, who previously worked in the hotel industry. Sánchez offered only brief comments on the ongoing proceedings. They said they were working on a solution and would provide information soon. It is currently unclear whether the company will still be able to realize its plans for the cruise market. Since the foreclosure auction, there have been no new public statements regarding future strategy or possible replacement ships.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the City of Dubrovnik have partnered to introduce sustainable tourism management practices that will preserve the Croatian city’s cultural heritage. CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead and Dubrovnik’s Mayor Mato Franković signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which outlines plans to make Dubrovnik a model of sustainable tourism for the Adriatic region. All plans focus on investment, collaboration and best practices that will benefit both Dubrovnik’s residents and visitors. “Today’s agreement validates the work we have already done with Mayor Franković and formalises the cruise industry’s continued commitment to the City of Dubrovnik and its people,” said Craighead.

Congestion at Cambodia’s top port is creating supply chain disruptions. In a note to clients German containerline Hapag-Lloyd noted that terminal productivity at Sihanoukville port has deteriorated due to port and yard congestion. Feeder services and turnaround times are affected and feeder space is tight. In an effort for medium term improvement of this situation, the port is building an extended yard for additional storage space. “Before the new container yard is completed, port congestion may persist,” Hapag-Lloyd warned.

On the evening of June 2, 2025, a chemical accident occurred aboard the 'Gerda Maria', which was berthed in Bremerhaven's fishing port. Ammonia leaked from the trawler. No one was injured. At around 7:10 p.m., witnesses reported to the water police that a strong odor of ammonia was emanating from a vessel. Emergency services discovered a leak in a facility. Up to 100 liters of the toxic chemical had leaked into a room. The Bremerhaven Fire Department wason scene with several vehicles. Together with the water police, they initiated safety measures. The area around the ship was cordoned off. The hazardous materials team took pollutant measurements. There was no acute environmental hazard. A special team from the Netherlands was expected on Jund 3 in order to locate the leak and permanently seal it.

On the afternoon of June 3, prosecutors decided to cordon off the area around the sunken 'Ron Jeremy'. The cordon applied both above and below the water surface. The Coast Guard's patrol vessel 'KBV 181' was at the scene. Additional resources could be added as needed.The wreck is located at a water depth of almost 40 meters. The Coast Guard was working to stop a diesel spill. A collaboration was taking place with the Police Authority, on and below the surface. Divers from the Coast Guard and the Police are working together to seal the parts of the ship where diesel was leaking. There were approximately 5,000 liters of diesel on board the tig , of which a smaller amount has leaked into the water. There was currently no indication that the oil will reach land. At the same time the dovers searched for the crew member who was still missing. The Swedish Maritime Accident Investigation Board was investigating the accident. It is the shipping company's second accident since 2024 that the Swedish Maritime Accident Investigation Board had to deal with, but Per Jakobsson Per Jakobsson , the head of the investigation, saw no connection.

The Tanger Med port has emerged as the biggest port in Africa in terms of container capacity, surpassing Africa’s bigger ports like Durban (South Africa) and Mombasa (Kenya). The Tanger Med port now connects Morocco to 77 countries and 186 ports around the world. The Tanger Med II has two new container terminals – TC3 and TC4 – with an additional 6 million container capacity. The TC3, which is operated by Morocco’s main port operator Marsa Maroc, has a capacity of 1 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units). The TC4, which is operated by the Netherlands-based APM Terminals, has a capacity of 5 million TEUs. According to the Tanger Med Port Authority, with its new terminals, Tanger Med port will have a capacity of processing 9 million containers, 7 million passengers, 1 million vehicles and 700,000 trucks. Thanks to its extensions, Tanger Med port has now become the largest port in the Mediterranean region, surpassing some of the region’s top ports like Algeciras (Spain), Valencia (Spain) and Gioia (Italy). The port is located 40 kilometers east of the Moroccan town of Tangier, which is a gateway to both Europe and Africa. “Our aim is to develop an effective port platform integrated with transshipment activities, imports and exports,” Tanger Med Port Authority said on its website. The Tanger Med port has become vital for Morocco’s economy as it handled 317 billion Moroccan dirhams (US$33.14 billion) worth of exports and imports in 2018. It processed an overall tonnage of 52.24 tonnes last year.

French oil and gas giant Total SA has taken a 50 per cent stake in Dhamra LNG Terminal Pvt Ltd (DLTPL), a unit of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), which is constructing a 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) LNG regasification terminal at its port located at Dhamra in Odisha’s Bhadrak district.

On the early morning of June 3, 2025, a technical defect in the switchboard in the engine room of the 'MSC Orchestra' caused smoke development and a power outage for approximately one to two hours. The safety systems in the immediate vicinity were able to contain the disruption. Other areas of the ship, including guest areas, were not affected. No injuries were reported. The ship's passengers were immediately informed of the situation, and it was communicated via loudspeaker that the ship was in a safe position. There was, however, no oppen fire. After the situation was brought under control, the 'MSC Orchestra' was able to continue its voyage, but arrived in Genoa ten hours late. Although the technical problem has been resolved, boarding in Genoa and Marseille was canceled to allow further inspections for possible defects and repairs. The current cruise has been canceled. Guests have been contacted, support was being provided, and appropriate refunds were to be issued to affected passengers.

A major search operation was underway on the morning of June 1, 2025, off Piteå after the 'Ron Jeremy' sank. One person was missing. After several hours of searching, the sea rescue operation was ended in the morning. At 04.49 a.m., the Swedish Maritime Administration's JRCC received an alarm from the tug that it was sinking south of the Rödkallen lighthouse at the height of Piteå. Four people were on board the vessel, that was towing a timber barge. The four crew members, who consisted of two men in their 30s from Kalmar and a man in his 40s from Stockholm, and a Latvian man in his 25s, decided to get to the barge together.Three of them managed to get out of the water and onto the barge that was being towed. From there they were able to call JRCC via 112. The Latvian engineer in his 25s disappeared in the water. The 'Rescue Albert Isakson' with four volunteers on board reached the scene after the tug had already sunk. After a few attempts, a good point was found to get the castaways on board. They were hypothermic, and after they had taken off their wet clothes, they were provided with blankets and water and then transported to waiting ambulances. All three, two men in their 30s and one man in his 40s, had suffered minor injuries, but were able to leave the hospital later in the day. After the lifeboat had dropped them off, it returned to the accident site to participate in the search for the fourth, missing crew member. The SAR oepration was carried out with the help of the patrol boat 'KBV 306' from the Swedish Coast Guard, the Swedish Maritime Rescue Society's 'Rescue Leif Johansson' from the station in Luleå and the 'Rescue Albert Isaksson' from the station in Piteå, two pilot boats from the Swedish Maritime Administration, which also had a helicopter in the air. The Coast Guard's aircraft also joined the search, as did a Finnish helicopter. Although the search conditions were good at the scene and the area where the person could be was limited, the search operation ended at 10.27 a.m. there were no signs of a major oil leak at the scene. The tug remained stuck to the barge. Thd Coastguard was on site and assisted the police divers. Its own divers wee also on their way to check the hull for leaks. The incident was being handled as a workplace accident by the police. A missing person report has been filed and the cause of the accidenwas t is being investigated When the lSAr operation was completed, the Coast Guard initiated an environmental response, as diesel had started leaking from the tanks. The Coast Guard aircraft searched for oil from the air, and the 'KBV 306' was on scene. The crew of the aircraft saw small streaks of oil. The Coast Guard and the Police are having a joint diving operation to seal the vent to the fuel tanks. The collaboration prevented a major release. The police are now conducting a criminal investigation and a workplace accident investigation into what caused the accident and started questioning the survivors. Reports with photos: https://www.sjofartstidningen.se/bogserbat-har-sjunkit-en-person-saknas/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwKpoVljbGNrAqmhUGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEe6kSKbSEgdheCFlcAVMrv_9Jf33OnlXsf7mGonOGNdtIu-Cga-g01lxgpYQ8_aem_ANj_MR5r6vwwzPLAVPoTSg https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/norrbotten/bogserbat-har-sjunkit?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwKpoZBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsBhXqt6nMczfYv1E4JYb4xNu91fMWQMqZ_6g1Q8cdXBv-bHJFBZyW6cnU_n_aem_Fd48AtrMkLeYj6Qrd2dpdw https://www.sjoraddning.se/larm/bogserbat-sjonk https://www.pt.se/nyheter/pitea/artikel/haverikommissionen-utreder-olyckan-tragiskt-for-rederiet/jo8qem8l

Phase one of the new Jurong Port Tank Terminals (JPTT) was officially opened on Monday (July 29), with Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat saying it will allow Singapore to strengthen its position as one of the world’s top bunkering ports for low-sulphur fuels. The $200 million, 16ha petrochemical terminal is a joint venture between port operator Jurong Port and German firm Oiltanking with 252,000 cubic m of clean petroleum storage capacity. From January next year, the International Maritime Organisation will prohibit ships from using fuels containing more than 0.5 per cent sulphur.

Moves are afoot for a new multi-billion-rand liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification terminal to be established at the port of Richards Bay by 2024, but state-owned Transnet wants the private sector to be the main investor and operator of the facility. The plan was revealed on Tuesday as Transnet announced the signing of a cost-sharing agreement with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to jointly fund a feasibility study into the terminal project. The IFC has committed $2 million (around R28 million) as part of the cost-sharing agreement. The move comes as Transnet looks to bolster South Africa’s LNG infrastructure, both at the country’s ports and within its pipelines business.