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The 'Spirit of Tasmania IV' will sail into Tasmanian waters on the afternoon of Aug 22, after a six-week journey that has taken it past France, Africa and across the Indian Ocean, The vessel will first make a ceremonial stop in Devonport, after passing Cape Wickham at 5:20 a.m., Rocky Cape at 12:30 p.m. and Burnie at 2:10 p.m. The welcome event will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and feature a Rotary sausage sizzle and children’s entertainment. From there, the ferry will head south to Hobart, where it is scheduled to dock at Macquarie Wharf on Aug 23 at 10 a.m. The new vessel is the first of two designed to boost capacity on the busy Bass Strait route between the mainland and Tasmania. Report with photos: https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/new-spirit-of-tasmania-ferry-to-dock-in-hobart-on-saturday/

The "Sea Star Lindos" was detained on Aug 19, 2025, in Fethiye with 18 deficiencies, four of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Safety of navigation - Signalling lamp Inoperative 2) Pollution Prevention - Oil and oily mixtures from machinery spaces Lack of familiarity 3) Emergency system - Emergency fire pump and its pipes Inoperative 4) Fire safety - Fire fighting equipment and Appliances Not as required The vessel was released again on Aug 20 and resumed its service between Fethiye and Rhodes. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

The 'Henry Alex' and the 'Belle Reynolds' will be deployed off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast as part of the county's five-year reef plan.The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved contracts totaling $820,000 on Aug 19, 2025, to purchase and deploy the two vessels as artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast.The board approved single-source contracts with Tri-Native Contractors for $250,000 for the'Belle Reynolds' and $450,000 for the 'Henry Alex'. An additional $60,000 per vessel will cover deployment costs. The 'Belle Reynolds' is a 156-foot custom vessel with multiple decks that was originally being converted to a hunting or fishing camp in the Louisiana bayou before that project was abandoned about 10 years ago. The 'Henry Alex' is similar to the 'Deep STIM III', that the county deployed in 2023 as part of a tri-county project. Both vessels are currently located in Louisiana. The purchases are part of the county’s five-year artificial reef plan that was passed five years ago, designed to expand fish habitat and create destinations for diving and fishing, making the county the leader in artificial reef construction in the state. The county has worked with Tri-Native Contractors on four previous large deployments. Since 2020, 20 vessels have been deployed, with three more scheduled for deployment by December 2025. Four similar vessels have previously been purchased by the military from the county for use as artificial reefs after exercises. Report with photos: https://www.getthecoast.com/okaloosa-purchases-156-foot-224-foot-vessels-for-artificial-reef-program-off-destin-fort-walton-beach/

The "Helen H" was detained on Aug 4, 2025, in Marseille with 22 deficiencies, four of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Safety of navigation - Charts Missing 2) Safety of navigation - Nautical publication Missing 3) Emergency system - Emergency source of power - emergency generator Not as required 4) Water/Weathertight - Scuppers, inlets and discharges Not as required The vessel was released again on Aug 20 and left the port enroute to Gemlik with an ETA as of Aug 27. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

The HMS 'Trent' and a Wildcat helicopter have shadowed Russian vessels in UK waters during a five-day operation in mid-August 2025. The Portsmouth-based Offshore Patrol Vessel shadowed the Russian destroyer 'Vice Admiral Kulakov (Вице-адмирал Кулаков' and two tankers on their transit through the English Channel. The operation was part of the government’s ongoing commitment to safeguard the integrity of UK waters and protecting national security through the government’s Plan for Change. The 'Trent' started shadowing the 'Vice Admiral Kulakov' off Great Yarmouth, watching her every move westward through the Channel towards Ushant. Simultaneously, a NATO ally shadowed the two tankers as they made their transit from the west to join the Russian destroyer. They met off the island of Ushant, off the tip of the Brittany peninsula, with the three Russian vessels turning to sail eastwards through the Channel, followed all the way by HMS 'Trent'. A Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron, based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, later joined the operation to provide air support and monitor the Russians’ movements with its impressive suite of sensors. The operation was multi-national and had the 'Trent' operating with several of our European NATO allies demonstrating our interoperability with other nations and providing a deterrence inside UK waters. The 'Trent' and the Yeovilton-based Wildcat were also supported by warships, patrol aircraft and helicopters from other NATO allies. Report with photo: https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/hms-trent-shadows-russian-vessels-in-the-english-channel-5282070