The 'Caledonian Isles' will not return to service by July 7, the date when the 'Alfred' comes off-service for essential maintenance until July 21. Last week, deployment plans were shared for the whole network based on having thf 'Caledonian Isles' and on the basis of not having her. Now CalMac will be implementing the deployment plan which accounts for not having the vessel in service. This plan covers the two-week period July 7-21, when the 'Alfred' is off service, taking into account the 'Lord of the Isles' being off service for between July 9-11 for cylinder head works on her main engines. These works are essential to reducing the risk of a serious failure in the engines which would take the vessel out of service for much longer than three days and cause further disruption. Potential deployment from July 22 onwards will be shared at a later date and are subject to further developments with the 'Caledonian Isles'.
News
MORNING MIDAS
The sinking of the 'Morning Midas', carrying 3,048 Chinese vehicles, including 750 electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, is costing the industry an estimated $560 million, according to the Anderson Economic Group. This incident, the third major EV-carrying ship loss in three years, highlights growing risks in EV shipping. The 'Morning Midas' was transporting vehicles from Chinese automakers like Chery Automobile Co. and Great Wall Motor Co. Combined with the sinking of the 'Felicity Ace' in 2022 and the fire aboard the 'Fremantle Highway' in 2023, these incidents have racked up an estimated $1.8 billion in losses, highlighting the risks of shipping EVs in closed containers. These figures excluded the additional expenses like environmental cleanup, medical costs, or replacing the ship itself, meaning the true impact could be even higher. For EV manufacturers, these losses strain budgets and disrupt supply chains, potentially delaying deliveries to markets like Mexico, where demand for affordable EVs is growing. Ship crews, often limited in size, lack the specialized training needed to handle EV fires. Most crews receive only basic firefighting training and may not even know where EVs are stored on board. This gap in expertise and resources complicates emergency responses. Better fire monitoring systems and increased spacing between EVs” could help control fires. Spacing EVs farther apart could slow fire spread, though it would reduce the number of vehicles per ship. These changes could raise shipping costs, as fewer vehicles per trip mean higher per-unit expenses. Automakers and shippers must balance efficiency with safety. Enhanced monitoring, better crew training, and revised cargo layouts are regarded as critical steps towards preventing future disasters.
FV BELENOS
The "Belenos" was surprised by the surfacing of a Russian submarine off the coast of Brittany on June 28, 2025.T he Breton fishing vessel had left Roscoff in Finistère the same morning and was sailing off the coast of Côtes-d'Armor. The incident occurred not far from the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey. The submarine had been tracked for some time by the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture. The French frigate 'Normandie' escorted it during its southbound transit. The escort was then entrusted to the British Navy. Report with photo: https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/defense/au-large-de-la-bretagne-le-chalutier-belenos-surpris-par-la-remontee-dun-sous-marin-russe-24faa928-5590-11f0-8d7d-49e18ac65051
INDEPENDENCE OTS
The 'Independence of the Seas' had to skip the call at Alesund on July 1, 2025, during the current Norway voyage from June 29 to July 6, due to ongoing maintenance work, making the ship currently unable to reach the necessary cruising speed to dock in the western Norwegian coastal town on time at 4 p.m. The ship required a second day at sea en route from Southampton to Norway. The first Norwegian port of call will therefore be Molde, which will be reached on July 2. Calls in Olden and Haugesund are then planned, before returning to Southampton for a third day at sea on the North Sea. Already in recent weeks, there have been slight itinerary changes due to maintenance work on the 'Independence of the Seas'. Royal Caribbean International is was working hard to complete the maintenance so that the ship can return to full cruising speed and operate its upcoming cruises as scheduled. Original itinerary for the Independence of the Seas from June 29 to July 6, 2025: Southampton – Sea Day – Sea Day & Ålesund – Molde – Olden – Haugesund – Sea Day – Southampton Adjusted itinerary for the Independence of the Seas from June 29 to July 6, 2025: Southampton – Sea Day – Sea Day – Molde – Olden – Haugesund – Sea Day – Southampton
ISLE OF ISLAY
The 'Isle of Islay' has reached an advance state of completion and on course to be finished by the Cemre shipyard before the end of September, provided all goes well with installing her battery system, the last haul of installation and most importantly endurance testing activities. The other three ships being built at the same yard, the 'Loch Indaal', 'Lochmor' and 'Claymore', were anticipated to follow a delivery schedule of six-month intervals from the handover of the 'Isle of Islay', which was due to be delivered in October 2024 and is running about nine months behind schedule. The Russian war in Ukraine impacting steel supplies, Houthi terrorist attacks on vessels heading for the Suez Canal through the Red Sea, and the earthquake in Turkey have contributed to the delay. Last minute hitches cannot be ruled out and engineering, mechanical and performance issues may emerge during a second series of endurance sea trials in a few weeks, which will take place a few miles off Yalova in the southern waters of the inland Marmara Sea, The first set of sea trials - called builders’ trials - over nine days at the end of May were successful. The vessel is still owned by the shipyard but representatives from CMAL and CalMac attended. This involved the set-up of the propulsion systems, generators, thrusters, stabilisers and associated electrical systems. These were then tested, trialled and measured with Lloyd’s Register and the Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) in attendance. The vessel’s performance at full load was evaluated, including speed, stability, manoeuvrability, anchor deployment/recovery and endurance. The ship achieved the specified speed requirements. The trials also established the effectiveness of the vessel’s propulsion plant, automation and navigational systems.
MINCK
On June 30 at 1:30 a.m., the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted to the departure of a migrant boat in the Malo-les-Bains area. The 'Minck' was deployed to locate the boat. Once on site,the crew launched its RHIB and discovered that the boat had suffered an engine failure. A total of 81 people were rescued at sea and taken aboard the 'Minck', which dropped them off on the early morning in the port of Calais, where they were treated by shore based rescue services.
TB ISKA 1165
The 'Iska 1165' stranded amid stormy weather in Tanjung Goram waters off Lantagi Village in Southeast Sulawesi on June 27, 2025, at 2 a.m. LT. One crew member died, while seven others were rescued. The sailor, identified as Antonius Parantuan, 44, jumped into the sea in an attempt to reach the nearest shore and seek help, but was swept away by strong currents. His body was found on june 28 at 1 a.m. LT. Two other crew members had accompanied him, one managed to return to the grounded ship, the second reached the beach. At about 2:15 a.m. LT, rescuers from the Watakobi Office were dispatched to the reported last known position (LKP), which was about 32.78 miles from the Marina Wanci Pier, where the tug had departedm and arrived at about 5:40 a.m. During the rescue effort, they encountered high waves, making it difficult to reach the vessel. When the water receded at about 8:30 a.m. the vessel's master, 37, and six other sailors were found alive and received medical treatment at the Bine Rombo Public Health Center. The deceased was taken to Ereke Hospital after being recovered. Reports with photos and video: https://kendariinfo.com/kapal-tb-iska-1165-kandas-di-perairan-butur-1-abk-meninggal-dunia/ https://tirtamedia.id/read/kapal-tunda-tb-iska-1165-karam-dihantam-gelombang-di-tanjung-goram-buton-utara-1-meninggal-dunia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0CZT6XCqXE
ENERGOS FORCE
The commissioning of the LNG terminal in Stade continues to be delayed with the "Energos Force" chartered by the German government, having set course on June 24, 2025, en route to Gibraltar with an ETA as of July 1. Over the past few months, it has been waiting off Skagen, waiting to enter Stade. Nevertheless, there were initial signs that the two parties to the conflict are slowly moving closer together. The differences between the federally owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) GmbH and the project developer Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH (HEH) are about the construction of the superstructure. This jetty ensures that the cryogenic liquefied natural gas regasified from the ship can be transferred to land and distributed to the gas grids there. The superstructure could go into operation by the start of the heating season, as iit had previously been confirmed by the responsible approval authorities. First signs of rapprochement The DET has not yet considered the facilities to be operational. HEH has apparently also determined that the technical work on the superstructure facilities and the documentation to be handed over for the safe operation of the superstructure facilities in compliance with German and international safety standards are still outstanding. The plant could be put into operation once the outstanding issues named by Uniper have been resolved. The DET was currently "intensively examining a sub-charter of the 'Energos Force'. The ship would generate considerable costs even without active use, and subchartering would reduce the costs for the federal government. The sub-chartering must not impair the possibilities for a timely commissioning of the site, which are also currently being examined.
MOKSTRAFJORD
The 'Møkstrafjord', serving on the route Hufthamar–Krokeide, suffered a problem with the hydraulic systemson June 30, 2025, at 12.40 p.m., and was unable to dock in Austevoll. because the bow port could not be opened. As a consequence, the ferry service had to be cancelled at 12.41 p.m. by the operator Fjord 1. Fjord1. At 5.40 p.m. the ship was operating normal again.
TRONDENES
The 'Trondenes', serving on the route Nesna - Nesna Islands, had to cancel the scheduled departures from Tomma starting on July 1, 2025, at 08.45 a.m., and until further notice, The ferry had suffered technical issues.
MSC BALTIC III
The danger of an environmental destaster caused by the 'MSC Baltic III' has decreased, as more than 70 percent of the fuel oil on board has been removed. The ship was difficult to reach for a long time due to winter weather. The snow has melted and there are no more storms, making the ship accessible by both water and land. There were 473 containers on board, 283 of which were empty. Some of the containers contained cargo that could be harmful to the environment. The 'Eems Dublin' has removed 43 containers from the ship. A total of 172 containers have been removed. Four frac tanks have been placed on the deck of the 'MSC Baltic III'. The oil in the tanks is heated, pumped over and then the frac tanks are removed. Four of the six main tanks have now been emptied. Oil booms have been placed around the ship, but small oil observations, such as tar spots and small tar balls, have been observed in Cedar Cove and the nearby coastline.
GLEN SANNOX
The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, reported a medical emergency on board on June 30. As a consequence, the ferry, which had left Troon as scheduled at 3:10 p.m., returned to the port to disembark the patient. The ferry departed Troon again at 3:50 p.m. and was due to arrive in Brodick at 5:10 p.m.
VILAMOURA
The 'Vilamoura' has been crippled by an engine room explosion about 12 hours after leaving the port of Zueitina on June 27, 2025., having loaded one million barrels of crude oil, bound for Gibraltar. The tanker suffered a large breach in the explosion, and the engine room was flooded. The suezmax tanker intially was believed to have become the victim of a limpet mine attac, but photos showed several shrapnel holes in the deck, leaving doubts regarding the mine theory. The blast left the suezmax, operated by George Economou’s TMS Tankers taking on water and unable to manoeuvre 90 nautical miles off the Libyan coast. The tanker was last reported NUC on June 29 in pos. 33° 38' N 019° 40' E. On June 28 at around 09:17 a.m. UTC, the fire-fighting tug 'Boka Summit' (IMO: 9315575) arrived to provide assistance to the tanker, which could be stabilised. The two vessels were now underway in the Eastern Mediterranean at reduced speed, headed tothe Peloponnese region of Greece to remove the cargo in a ship-to-ship transfer with an ETA as of July 1-2. The tanker then will also become the subject of a forensic security investigation. The operator George Economou’s TMS Tankers confirmed the incident on June 30. Since April, the 'Vilamoura' had made at least two voyages to Russian oil terminals, including Ust-Luga on April 30, and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near Novorossiysk, to load Kazakh oil. Since the begining of this, year four other ships have exploded under similar circumstances. This concerned the Malta-flagged 'Seajewel' (IMO: 9388807), the Marshall Islands-flagged 'Seacharm' (IMO: 9773765), the Liberia-flagged 'Grace Ferrum' (IMO: 9667928), and the Antigua-Barbuda-flagged 'Koala' (IMO: 9234642). All these tankers had all called at Russian ports prior to being hit with an explosion. Report with photos: https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1154049/Fear-and-speculation-mount-after-another-tanker-is-hit-by-unexplained-blast
ALTAY
The investigation into the fire in the 3500 tons of scrap aboard the 'Altay' will continue the next few days, with the ship remaining stationary as of July 1. The fire fighters were looking at it as an accidental cause. The Humberside Fire and Rescue Service was called to Albert Dock in Hull on June 27 at about 10:20 a.m. BST. It took crews until June 28 at 05:00 a.m. BST to put the deep seated fire out. Report with photo: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/cargo-ship-fire-in-port-likely-to-be-an-accident/ar-AA1HHITz
CAPE SOUNIO
On June 29, 2025, at around 11 a.m. the tug 'Cala Gullo' (IMO: 9791509 sank in the Port of Barcelona after the collision with the 'Cape Sounio'. The three crew members were rescued unharmed by the port pilots with a pilot boat. The accident happened during a turnaround maneuver alongside the container ship, while the tug was supporting it, when leaving the Hutchison Port Best terminal. The 'Cala Gullo' then started to list and went down stern first, with the bow tip sill protruding from the water. The container ship left the port again on July 1, next headed to La Spezia with an ETA as of July 2. The incident prompted the activation of the Maritime Interior Plan (PIM) in the alert phase to assess any oil spill in the water, which was later ruled out. Work was commenced to refloat the tug. Report with photo: https://infopuertos.com/un-remolcador-se-hunde-en-el-puerto-de-barcelona-tras-una-colision-con-un-buque-de-msc/ https://portalportuario.cl/remolcador-termina-hundido-tras-impacto-con-portacontenedores-en-puerto-de-barcelona/
BAYESIAN
The mast of the 'Bayesian' was salvaged using inflatable lifting balloons and delivered to the port of Termini Imerese in Palermo on June 25, along with loose items that may have moved away from the vessel during the 10 months since the sinking. Remote-controlled submersible equipment was used to locate the debris in the vicinity of the sinking site. The salvage was thus concluded two days after the wreck itself was lifted into heavy steel supports on the quayside, which had tarpaulin underneath to prevent pollution. The materials have been delivered to the Italian authorities, and salvage personnel and equipment have subsequently left Sicily. About 70 salvors had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. Report with photos: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14861579/New-photos-enormous-mast-Mike-Lynchs-doomed-Bayesian.html
WAN HAI 503
The 'Wan Hai 503' continued to be towed on June 28, exiting the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). At noon the vessel was located in pos 08° 34.86'N, 074° 22.43'E, approximately 129 nautical miles from the Indian coastline, proceeding on a southerly course at a speed of 2.9 knots. The 'Offshore Warrior' remained engaged in towing the vessel with approximately 54 nautical miles remaining to exit the Indian EEZ. The vessel continued to experience moderate to rough sea conditions with winds ranging from 25 to 28 knots, gusting up to 42 knots during squalls. On-board conditions remained challenging. The cargo hold No. 4 continued to emit mixed smoke, with intermittent flare-ups observed. Thermal imaging conducted by the 'Saksham' indicated persistent elevated temperatures within hold No. 4, particularly in areas affected by collapsed containers and compromised deck hatches. Direct access to the casualty by salvage personnel remains limited due to heavy rolling, pitching, and prevailing swells. A salvage team transfer attempt by the 'Saksham' was aborted earlier the dday due to unsafe conditions. Firefighting operations were ongoing with the 'Saroja Blessing's maintaining boundary cooling and fire watch. The salvage team has confirmed that approximately 500 to 800 cubic metres of water have been pumped out of the flooded engine room using portable equipment. Further dewatering was subject to improved weather and safe boarding conditions. Two soft towlines remained in place for the casualty, with replacement by wire towlines pending a suitable weather window. The vessel’s draft remained largely unchanged, with portions of the port midship markings obscured, likely due to paint peeling in the fire-affected areas. The salvage team on site remainedequipped with FiFi systems, portable pumps, and firefighting resources. The 'Atlantis Virgo', carrying Pyrocool fire suppressant, was expected to arrive on site by June 30 to support targeted firefighting efforts. The 'Water Lily' has been tasked with logistical runs for fresh water, bunkers, and was also transporting the ship’s VDR to port for handover to the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) Kochi. The Indian Coast Guard has been actively supporting the operation with aerial surveillance from Kochi and has mobilised the ICGS 'Sujit' to assist with medical evacuation for salvage divers suffering from seasickness and exhaustion. The salvage logistics base was being shifted to Trivandrum to facilitate easier support as the vessel progressed southward. The vessel remained in a structurally compromised but stable condition, with primary risks stemming from the persistent smouldering fire in cargo hold No. 4, the residual flooding within the engine room, and unpredictable weather patterns. High winds and swells have severely limited boarding operations, complicating firefighting and dewatering efforts. The exposed opening on the forward section of cargo hold No. 4 continued to channel airflow into the hold, exacerbating flare-ups and making containment difficult. The ongoing boundary cooling remained the primary fire mitigation strategy, with additional efforts to initiate dewatering of the engine room using available portable equipment. CO₂ has been release in hold No. 5 using 126 cylinders from the CO2 Bank. Efforts were underway to secure a Port of Refuge, pending formal clearance. The vessel was expected to exit the Indian EEZ within the next 24 hours, after which only routine updates to MPA Singapore will continue unless further Indian support is requested. The priority actions were focusing on continued towage beyond the EEZ, enhanced fire suppression upon the 'Virgo’s arrival, safe dewatering of the engine room, and securing approval for port shelter. All agencies remained on high alert to ensure the situation did not escalate further. Report with photos: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/wan-hai-503-is-structurally-compromised-and-moved-out-of-indian-eez
JASON
The 'Jason' was among the assets mobilized for the wreck removal of the 'Show Boat', 337 gt (IMO 8822909) west of Capicciola Point, in the commune of Zonza, northeast of the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, where it is resting on a rocky bottom at a water depth of nine meters. The Maritime Prefect of the Mediterranean had sent two formal notices to the owner in recent months, which were followed by several reminders from the Corsican Sea and Coastal Directorate (DMLC), requesting him to take the necessary measures to stop the damage to the marine environment and restore maritime safety, before the Maritime Prefect decided to act ex officio using state resources, at the owner's expense and risk. The first phase of this operation, which will take place from July 2 to 10, 2025, aims to eliminate the danger posed by the wreck at the start of the summer season. Coordinated by the DMLC (French Maritime and Coastal Clearance Commission), under the authority of the Maritime Prefecture, the Mediterranean Mine Clearance Diving Group (GPD) and the Aspretto Naval Base Anti-Pollution Unit were mobilized along with the 'Jason'. During the operation, all activities will be prohibited within a 50-meter radius of the wreck; Swimming and diving will be prohibited within a 500-meter radius of the wreck. The work will involve the installation of blanking plates and cutting operations. These operations will require the use of low-explosive charges from sunrise to 9:00 a.m. Specific measures will be taken to ensure that this work is carried out with strict respect for the marine environment. The 35,5-meter-long 'Showboat', which was being dismantled in the port of Porto-Vecchio, had run aground on the night of Oct 23, 2024, due to a strong swell. The vessel was built in Paimboeuf in Loire-Atlantique at the Chauvet shipyard as a gastronomic and cruise ship in the Gulf of Morbihan and could accommodate 200 passengers. The shipowner obtained approval from the municipality and maritime affairs for its operation and thus in April 1986 the 'Georges-Cadoudal', as it was named, was delivered and docked at Port Saint Goustan. The ship only operated for one season in the Gulf of Morbihan. Later, the concept and the ship were adopted on the French Riviera, renamed the "Ville de Cannes' and moored in the old port of Cannes in front of the Palais des Festivals. It provided restaurant cruises in the Bay of Cannes in the early 2000s. It was later transferred to Porto Vecchio for karaoke restaurant evenings and renamed 'Show Boat'. 2016 its operation ended due to health issues, particularly related to the presence of asbestos in its structure. It was then squatted for a while before dismantled started.
EL PAQUERA
On June 30, 2025, the 'El Paquera', with three crew members on board, suffered propulsion damage due to a snagged rope about 6.5 nautical miles southeast of Punta Sabinar, and requested assistance. The CCS Almería of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR boat 'Salvamar Spica' (MMSI: 225987262) to the position, which took the disabled fishing vessel in tow and safely pulled it to the port of Almería.