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The story of the 'Khatanga' is coming to an end in Esbjerg, where Smedegaarden A/S will soon start scrapping the tanker, which arrived on June 26 after having been detained in the port of Gdynia since Oct 2017 after a failed inspection. The authorities found both serious structural problems and raised doubts about the training and skills of the crew. The owner, the Russian Murmansk Shipping Company, promised repairs, but instead ended up filing for bankruptcy in 2020. In Jan 2025, the Polish radio station Radio ZET reported that the country's military counterintelligence service (SKW) and the internal security service (ABW) were investigating the circumstances surrounding the abandoned Russian tanker. Security was also an issue. Twice during the winter, the 'Khatanga' broke its moorings, first on Dec 15, 2024, and again on Jan 12, 2025, underlining the risk of leaving the ship in port. After a long tug of war, the necessary approvals were obtained, and on June 19, the ''Khatanga' finally left Gdynia, heading for Esbjerg. Before its departure, the tanker was emptied of oil and chemicals, and the hull was welded.

On Aug 21, 2025, the 'Ventura' requestsed the medical evacuation of a British crew member. The cruise ship was sailing 22 nautical miles west of Fisterra. The CCS Fisterra of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 402, which hoisted the patient and transferred him to the Alvedro airport (A Coruña), where an ambulance was waiting for the further transport to a local hospital for medical care on a higher level.

After the oil leakage from the 'River Drone 4', ship traffic on the Albert Canal was resumed on Aug 21 at 2 p.m. between Kwaadmechelen and Olen. The oil was contained in five zones, where thsludge could be vacuumed. There was a film of oil spill on the water from the Olen lock to the Olen-Hoogbuul bridge, which was about two to three kilometers. The Brabo Maritime Services, were conducting the cleanup. The polluted water was filterred with machines and the oil extracted. The work has now been completed. The food company Mars Food has halted production as a precaution. The company is located at the site where the leaking ship is moored. The accident had immediately caused a strong odor. To protect the employees and products from the odor, all production was halted preemptively, The Olen factory primarily cleans, precooks, and packages unprocessed, dry rice for the Ben's Original brand. The rice comes primarily from Spain and Italy and is transported by barge. The 'River Drone 4' remained stationary in Olen as of Aug 22. Reports with photos: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/08/20/10-000-liter-stookolie-gelekt-in-albertkanaal-in-olen/ https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/08/21/nederlands-schipperskoppel-ligt-al-vast-sinds-gisterenavond-aan/

The 'Wolfe Islander IV' will be out of service for the remainder of the summer season 2025, while undergoing repairs to the vessel's diesel generator in Marysville. The shut down of the ferry will also allow to proceed with work on charging infrastructure at the Marysville dock. The 'Wolfe Islander IV' was being expected to remain out of service until Oct. 10. The ferry has been experiencing mechanical issues since it was put back in service earlier this year causing service disruptions. The 'Wolfe Islander III' was put back in service on Aug. 2 running an hourly service between Kingston and Dawson Point. A shuttle bus service was being provided to transport pedestrian passengers between Dawson Point and Marysville.

The extraction of fuel from the 'MSC Elsa 3' 14.6 nautical miles off the Alappuzha coast, has reached an advanced stage and the task was expected to be completed by Sep 25. The fuel extraction from the sunken vessel commenced on Aug 20 with saturation diving operations using advanced 'Diving Support Vessel (DSV) Southern Nova'. Specialized divers have been mobilized and preliminary activities have begun, marking a significant step in the process of fuel extraction and wreck management. The operation was suspended on July 12 due to adverse weather conditions experienced at the site due to South West Monsoon. The support vessel 'Offshore Monarch is assisting the Diving Support vessel in the fuel extraction at the site. Additionally, the tug 'Canara Megh' has been deployed to monitor the operations and enforce a one nautical mile exclusion zone around the wreck site to ensure safe diving activities. Entry of fishermen has been banned in the one nautical mile radius around the site of operation. Despite challenging underwater conditions in a water depth of 51 metres, the salvage team has successfully initiated the diving phase, which will continue in a phased manner, subject to weather and sea currents. As per the plan submitted by the SMIT Salvage firm engaged by the ship owners and the Protection and Indemnity insurer North Standard, the tentative timeline for oil removal and associated activities was set for completion by Sep 25, weather-dependent. Environmental surveillance of the area was also being maintained through aerial, coastal and satellite monitoring in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard and State pollution control authorities. While no oil spills have occurred so far from the vessel, precautionary measures remained in place, with response equipment on standby to address any eventuality. 66 containers and other debris of the 'MSC Elsa 3' have washed ashore the Kerala Coast as of Aug 21, which have been safely removed by the Marine Emergency Response Centre (MERC) team appointed by the owners. No other containers or debris have been sighted along the coast at present. The shore-side cleanup efforts by the MERC team to remove the plastic nurdles along the Kerala and Southern Tamil Nadu Coast progressed very well with the help of more than 500 volunteers per day. So far, 655 tons of plastic nurdles have been collected from the coastal areas and kept segregated for disposal.

On the afternoon of Aug 19, 2025, a passenger aboard the Marella Voyage died as the ship was on a call in Naples. The man from Scotland was 83 years old. He was found unresponsive in the swimming pool, having passed away of natural causes. Despite attempts by fellow holidaymakers and crew members to revive him, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Italian officials boarded the ship, briefly detaining it while they carried out their investigation. The UK Foreign Office was supporting the family of a British man. The 'Marella Voyager' was on a Mediterranean round trip voyage from Mallorca with calls to Rome, Ajaccio, Corsica, and Palamos.

The USS 'San Diego (LPD-22)' assisted in combating a fire that burned for 12 hours aboard the amphibious warship USS 'New Orleans (LPD-18)' (MMSI: 200700018) off Okinawa on Aug 20, 2025. It was declared extinguished on the early morning of Aug 21. The warship was now anchored near the White Beach Naval Facility on Okinawa. The fire began at approximately 4 p.m. The firefighting efforts were supported by the crew of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, which was moored at White Beach Naval Facility Two sailors suffered minor injuries and were treated aboard the 'New Orleans'. The crew will remain aboard the 'New Orleans' with additional accommodations available on the 'San Diego' and ashore. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Coast Guard assets assisted with the firefighting effort. Two tugs were using water cannons on the bow of the amphibious ship. The 'New Orleans' is part of the Navy’s forward-deployed amphibious force based in Sasebo. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force; Japan Coast Guard; and U.S. Navy commands from across Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa also provided critical support to the firefighting efforts. Reports with photos and video: https://news.usni.org/2025/08/20/breaking-amphib-uss-new-orleans-suffers-fire-off-okinawa https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/20/asia/japan-uss-new-orleans-intl-hnk https://www.twz.com/sea/amphibious-warship-uss-new-orleans-catches-fire-off-the-coast-of-japan https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/us-navy-ship-fire-japan-uss-new-orleans-video-b2811153.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqYXQ6UVLa4

The latest effort to get a meaningful amount of aid into Gaza for residents aboard the 'Henke' appeared to have been slowed as the vessel was circling off the coast near the port of Ashdod as of Aug 22. The ship had been scheduled to dock on the night of Aug 19, 2025. The Republic of Cyprus took a leading role in organizing the aid shipment. It contributed over 700 tons of food and material, along with 500 tons from the Government of Malta. The aid from Cyprus was purchased with money donated by the United Arab Emirates to the so-called Amalthea Fund, set up last year for donors to help with seaborne aid. The rest was coming from Italy, the Maltese government, a Catholic religious order in Malta and the Kuwaiti nongovernmental organisation Al Salam Association. The 'Henke' was loaded at the port of Lemesos and sailed on Aug 18. It was screened by Israeli officials at the port of Limassol before departing. The ship was loaded with a total of 52 containers holding 1,200 tons of relief aid. Among the supplies provided were pasta, rice, baby food, canned goods, and other vital supplies, which were to be handed over to the charitable organization World Central Kitchen as the final contractor and distributor. Once offloaded at Ashdod, U.N. employees will arrange for the aid to be trucked to storage areas and food stations operated by the World Central Kitchen. The charity, which was behind the first aid shipment to Gaza from Cyprus last year aboard a tug-towed barge, is widely trusted in the battered territory. The 'Henkre', however, has a spotty record, including 16 deficiencies identified during a Port State inspection in May, which caused it to be detained for eight days. Reports with photos: https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/19/ship-with-hundreds-of-tonnes-of-food-aid-for-gaza-nears-israeli-port-after-leaving-cyprus https://www.timesofisrael.com/ship-ferrying-1200-tons-of-food-aid-for-gaza-nears-israel-after-departing-from-cyprus/ https://corrierediarezzo.it/news/cronaca/379688/sbloccati-dopo-mesi-gli-aiuti-umanitari-della-misericordia-per-la-striscia-di-gaza-salpata-la-nave.html

On the afternoon of Aug 21, the Port Authority of Zakynthos was informed by the Captain of the 'Fior di Levante',that the ship had suffered a mechanical failure in the port side main engine, ahead of its arrival at the port of Zakynthos, en route from the port of Kyllini with 428 passengers on board. The ship sailed unassisted to the port of Kyllini and safely disembarked the passengers. The Zakynthos Port Authority banned the ferry from sailing until a certificate of seaworthiness was presented by the monitoring classification society. The passengers destined for Kyllini were forwarded to their destination on another ship of the company.

The "Ciudad de Sóller" will be out of service for seven to ten days following the fire in an auxiliary engine that occurred in the port of Valencia, according to Trasmed CEO Ettore Morace. Provisionally, the Valencia-Palma line will be served during this time by the ferry "Ciudad de Palma." Meanwhile, passengers and cargo on the Barcelona-Palma line will travel on Balearia, thanks to an agreement between the two companies. The "Ciudad de Sóller" remained stationary at the passenger terminal in Valencia for the time being.

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 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

On Aug 15, 2025, two passengers of the 'Carnival Elation' and 'Mardi Gras' have died in separate incidents in the lagoon and at the beach of a private island in the Bahamas. One tourist, 79, became unresponsive while snorkelling at a beach on Celebration Key. Attempts to revive him failed. A woman, 74, was found unresponsive while swimming in a pool. Both were believed to be US citizens. They had been travelling on the Carnival Cruise ships which had been docked at the cruise line’s private resort Celebration Key, on Grand Bahama Island. Celebration Key opened in July at a cost of US$600 million.

The 'Finnmerchant', now sailing as 'Jabal Ali 9', was identified by the Swedish Accident Investigation Board as one of the ships, besides the ferry 'Finnjet' (IMO: 7359632), that were included in the International Investigation Commission's report from 1997 on the position of various ships in the area in connection with the sinking of the ferry 'Estonia' (IMO: 7921033) on Dec 8, 1994, and were stated to be unknown. The two merchant ships had also participated in the rescue operation. It appeared to be an administrative error by the old commission, says Jonas Bäckstrand at a press conference onm Aug 20, 2025, in which the Board presented the results of three investigations into the sinking of the 'Estonia'. The investigations have been carried out in parallel with the work of completing the final report, which is expected in December. One of the investigations concerned a classified document from the Swedish Maritime Administration with alternative explanations for the sinking of the 'Estonia', including mention of an explosion or collision. According to Jörgen Zachau, this has probably been important for the many conspiracy theories that have flourished regarding the sinking. Now the authority has concluded that it is a forgery. The document, which was submitted to the authority in its entirety by a journalist this spring, has not, for example, been archived or registered with the Swedish Maritime Administration and does not match the authority's template. In addition, the secret stamp does not look authentic. It appears to be computer-generated and not stamped. The conclusion is that it is fake, said the chairman of the investigation, Jonas Bäckstrand. The third review concerned the circumstances surrounding an exercise in port state control that took place on the 'Estonia' the day before the sinking, and the minutes from there. The protocols exist in different versions, which has given rise to speculation, but now the investigation believes it has been able to trace all versions back to the original. The exercise has been discussed following statements that attempts were made by Swedish inspectors to prevent the ship from departing due to serious deficiencies. However, based on testimony and the extent of the deficiencies, no such attempts were made, according to the Swedish Accident Investigation Board. A final report from the Swedish Accident Investigation Board is expected before the end of the year. The results of the reviews now being presented will not be included in the final report because they are not considered relevant. Report with photos: https://www.dn.se/sverige/haverikommissionen-forsoker-sla-hal-pa-konspirationsteorier-om-estonia/

Due to the propulsion unit defect of the 'Lochnevis' on Aug 17, while serving on the route Mallaig-Small Isles, which required repairs in dry dock in Greenock, an amended timetable continued to be operated to and from the Small Isles from Aug 22 until Aug 28 by the replacement ferry: The 'Loch Bhrusda' was operating the following timetable for booked traffic: Departure Mallaig 10:45 a.m.; Arrival Rum 12:35 p.m.; Departure Rum 12:50 p.m.: Arrival Eigg 2:05 p.m.; Departure Eigg 2:25 p.m.; Arrival Rum 3:40 p.m.; Departure Rum 3:55 p.m.; Arrival Mallaig 5:45 p.m. CalMac was now accepting new vehicle and passenger bookings through until Aug 28 by calling the Mallaig port office on 01687 310240​ (option 2) Space remained limited, and no day trips were accepted.

On the morning of April 4, 2025, the Port Authority of Poros, Kefalonia was informed by the Captain of the'Fior di Levante', that during the arrival at the port, a problem occurred in the port side main engine. The passengers and vehicles were safely disembarked, while the Port Department of Poros prohibited the departure of the ferry until the damage was repaired and a certificate of class maintenance was presented.

On the evening of Aug 20, 2025, the Port Authority of Chios was informed that a passenger of the 'Ariadne', which was operating a scheduled route from Mytilene to the port of Chios, experienced a fainting episode and required immediate hospital treatment. Upon the arrival of the ship at the port of Chios, the man was picked up by an ambulance and transferred to the General Hospital of Chios for the provision of medical treatment.

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 'Ben-My-Chree' suffered technical issues in Douglas on Aug 20, 2025. The backup vessel was only in service because the Steam Packet Company’s ferry 'Manxman' had developed a fault during an overnight crossing from Heysham. Smoke was detected in a machinery space on the morning of Aug 19, safety procedures were followed and the vessel was escorted into Douglas for checks. The 'Ben-my-Chree', which had been due to depart Douglas at 08:30 a.m., was first rescheduled to 09:45 a.m., but didn't depart Douglas until after 12.30 p.m. as the ferry was experiencing technical problems to essential firefighting equipment. During the repair time, free tea and coffee were offered.’the Steam Packet Company while dealing with ‘ongoing repairs of fire drencher pipework on the vehicle deck, which was damaged during freight loading operations at Heysham Port overnight.‘Permanent repairs in Douglas took longer than anticipated, leading to further effects on the day’s sailing schedule.

On Aug 15, 2025, two passengers of the 'Carnival Elation' and 'Mardi Gras' have died in separate incidents in the lagoon and at the beach of a private island in the Bahamas. One tourist, 79, became unresponsive while snorkelling at a beach on Celebration Key. Attempts to revive him failed. A woman, 74, was found unresponsive while swimming in a pool. Both were believed to be US citizens. They had been travelling on the Carnival Cruise ships which had been docked at the cruise line’s private resort Celebration Key, on Grand Bahama Island. Celebration Key opened in July at a cost of US$600 million.