The 'STL Qianjiang,', that loaded in Port Neches headed to Dahej on June 11, 2025,, after Washington required US exporters to seek licenses to ship the shale gas to top buyer China. Around half of all US ethane exports head to China, where it is used by the petrochemical industry. The vessel's change in destination underscores how the fallout from trade tensions between the United States and China is shifting ethane flows. The 'STL Qianjiang', had loaded at Energy Transfer's Nederland terminal for China's Satellite Chemical, signaled Dahej. The final buyer of the cargo is India's Reliance Industries. The ship has traversed only between the United States and Satellite Chemical's Lianyungang petrochemical facility since July 2022. Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners, two of the top US ethane producers and exporters, have received letters from the US Commerce Department requiring the companies to apply for a license to ship ethane to China.
News
GOLDY SEVEN
On May 26, 2025, the 'Goldy Seven' Goldy Seven' was detained in Southampton, UK with 20 deficienciev, four of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Fire safety - Evaluation of crew performance Lack of training 2) Labour conditions - Sanitary facilities Not as required 3) Radio communications - Reservce source of energy Not as required 4) Pollution Prevention - Garbage shipboard handling Not as required The vessel was released again on June 10 and left the port en route to Tangier with an ETA as of June 15. The inspection led to a refusal of access to Paris MOU ports. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
LORD OF THE ISLES
Repairs to the 'Lord of the Isles', serving on the route Mallaig-Oban-Lochboisdale, have been successful on June 11. The vessel will depart Kennacraig and reposition to Lochboisdale, ready to pick up the service from June 12 .All sailings for that day and June 13 will now be reinstated.
WAN HAI 503
The Indian Coast Guard has largely contained the fire on he 'Wan Hai 503 ', using air and sea assets, though inner decks continued to burn 42 nautical miles off Beypore. Salvors have been winched aboard to aid in towing operations, but unfavourable sea conditions continued to hamper salvage efforts. Thick plumes of smoke continue to billow from the ship, complicating efforts to douse the flames. Attempts were being made to control the fire. Visible flames have reduced, and thick smoke continued to emanate Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in India expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue of its crew members The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has coordinated additional support, with two fire-fighting vessels deployed by Indian authorities and the vessel owner. The Indian Coast Guard has mobilized four Coast Guard ships and aircraft to assist in the ongoing operations. Environmental protection measures were being implemented as authorities monitor the vessel’s structural integrity. The cause of the explosions and the nature of the cargo in the affected containers remained undisclosed. Report iwth photo and video: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coast-guard-battles-blaze-on-cargo-ship-off-kerala-coast-8644736 https://x.com/i/status/1932834194108923929 https://x.com/i/status/1932834194108923929 https://x.com/i/status/1932834194108923929
HON JAMES L OBERSTAR
On June 10 the US Coast Guard has announced the formation of a Unified Command to manage the ongoing response and salvage efforts following the grounding of the 'Honorable James L. Oberstar'. The Unified Command consists of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Chippewa County, and Interlake Steamship Company while multiple federal, state, local and partner organizations are also helping with the response. Representatives from the Northern Michigan Area Committee including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Bay Mills Tribe, and the City of Sault Ste Marie (Ontario) are participating and advising the UC throughout the response. The priorities of the US are ensuring the safety of the public and responders, protecting wildlife and the environment, ensuring economic activities in the area are minimally affected, and the safe transit of the vessel. The vessel was anchored down in the St. Marys River about 10 miles downriver of the Soo Locks. The Unified Command (UC) has been established to continue the response. The ship notified the Coast Guard opn June 8 shortly before 3 p.m. of vibrations while underway east of Neebish Island in the St. Marys River. There were no reports of pollution in the water or surrounding area, and there were no injuries on board- Reports with photos: https://www.sooleader.com/local-news/response-to-honorable-james-l-oberstar-vessel-issue-continues-10791432 https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9101299/unified-command-established-hay-lake-marine-casualty-sault-sainte-marie-michigan
HEIN
On June 11, 2025, the 'Hein', en route from Port of Spain to St Vincent and the Grenadines, became unstable due to shifting cargo and developed a list to port side, prompting the crew to beach it to prevent it from capsizing. The ship was partially submerged, at the stern, after it was run aground on the southern side of Monas Island in Chaguaramas (Lat. 10.6809 Lng.-61.6887). The vessel was eaking hydrocarbons into the Gulf of Paria, which has raised serious concerns regarding environmental safety and creating a national emergency. The 'Hein' was carrying a shipment of bricks. Efforts were underway to refloat the ship, Report with photo and video: https://associatestimes.com/news/guyanese-cargo-vessel-hein-grounds-in-chaguaramas-leaks-hydrocarbons https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1050188550006765 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKvnATdsj0Y/
PROTUG 87
The 'Protug 87' left Portsmouth, UK, on June 11, towing the destroyer HMS 'Bristol' (IMO: 4907828) to Aliaga, ETA 2.7. HMS Bristol is the only Type 82 ship still in existence and saw nearly 48 years of active service. Having been decommissioned in October 2020, she is now enroute for recycling at an EU-approved yard. Veterans and members of the public gathered to give a “respectful farewell” to the ship as it was towed out of the harbour. Construction on the HMS 'Bristol' began in 1967 and she was commissioned into the Royal Navy on March 31, 1973. She fought in the 1982 Falklands War and then used as a training ship for the Dartmouth Training Squadron from 1987. Since 2011, she has lived adjacent to Navy Command Headquarters on Whale Island, Portsmouth. During this time, she provided accommodation for multiple youth organisations including the Sea Cadets, Combined Cadet Forces and the Sea Scouts. The ship was sold by experts from the DRDT, on the behalf of the Royal Navy. HMS 'Bristol' is the second decommissioned ship to be towed for recycling this calendar year, with HMS 'Monmouth' having departed in April. Reports with photos: https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/falklands-war-ship-sent-to-turkiye-for-recycling/ https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/royal-navy-hms-bristol-falklands-ship-scrapped-5171418
SUNMI
The "Sumni" was detained in Drogheda on June 6, 2025, with two deficiencies, both of which being regarded as serious 1) Fire safety - Fire prevention structural integrity Not as required 2) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on June 10. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
ISLE OF LEWIS
Due to a technical issue with the 'Isle of Lewis', serving on the route Oban-Castlebay, on June 11, the scheduled departure from Oban at 1:10 p.m. was delayed, while further investigations took place. After the repairs have been successfully completed, the vessel finally departed from Oban at 5:50 p.m. The 'Loch Alainn' delayed the following sailings in order to provide onward connections: Departure Barra - 11:15 p.m. (late 7:20 p.m.) Departure Eriskay - 1:05 a.m. (late 08:15 p.m.).
GRINNA2
Residents of Manihiki, Cook Island,were relieved, after the long-awaited Coral Bay barge from Fiji arrived on June 7, 2025,, with a crew of 11 on board, to begin dismantling the wreck of the 'Grinna II'. The vessel had run aground on Manihiki’s reef on March 21, 2022, near Tukao Harbour and was resting on a shallow on its starboard side since. The National Environment Service (NES) had completed its environmental assessment for removing the vessel MV Grinna from the Manihiki reef after multiple failed attempts om January 2024. The due diligence included consultations with the Island Government of Manihiki to remove any hazardous items. In May 2023, the NES reissued a notice specifying the environmental requirements for the vessel’s removal. Additionally, a SPREP (Pacific Regional Environment Programme) marine hazardous substance expert advised an onsite evaluation by a qualified professional to address salvage and spill responses. In June 2023, the Taio Shipping Ltd. provided a full management plan for the removal of the wreck from the Manihiki reef. The report submitted to Parliament in December stated that the NES finalised the assessment of the plan with technical advice from the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR), aiming to begin the removal process in the last quarter of 2023. Failed attempts to remove the ship from the reef were made on March 24 by two fishing vessels. Plans were made to drag the 'Grinna II'out to sea by two foreign fishing boats and sink the damaged vessel off the west side of the island. However, the passenger/cargo vessel could not be dislodged off the reef. Reports with photos: https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/local/outer-islands/manihiki-residents-relieved-as-barge-arrives-to-dismantle-mv-grinna-ii-wreck/ https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/local/environment/outer-islands/environment-agency-approves-plan-to-remove-grounded-ship/
POLARIS
The investigation of the US Coast Guard into the circumstances surrounding the death of a crew member of the 'Polaris', which occurred about 27 miles from New York Harbour, was continued. The vessel was carrying out installation work on Equinor’s Empire Wind I offshore wind farm on June 2, when he had been electrocuted. The New York command centre of the Coast Guard was notified of a medical evacuation aboard the 'Polaris' involving a crew member unconscious from being electrocuted.
SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS
On June 8, a cracked glass panel installed above the pool deck of the 'Symphony of the Seas' gave way, raining down shards on the lounge chairs of the deck below. Luckily, the seats were empty thanks to one of the ship's crew members who saw what was about to unfold. The ship had departed Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, en route to its first stop in Florida, docking in Port Canaveral, when the incident occurred. The guests praised one of the ship’s waiters, Nitin Kumar, for jumping into action, warning passengers just in time for them to get out of the way. Nitin saw it cracking and sprinted down to the pool deck and told the people in deck chairs to move. No reason for the accident has been confirmed, but it occurred while the ship was turning 180 [degrees] to dock in Port Canaveral, causing significant vibrations. Report with photos: https://people.com/cruise-waiter-saves-passengers-from-glass-broken-window-royal-caribbean-symphony-seas-11752493
SEFA
The "Sefa" was detained in Olbia on June 5, 2025, with 16 deficiencies , six being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Endorsement by flagstate Missing 2) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats Inoperative 3) Fire safety - Fire doors/openings in fire resisting division Not as required 4) Emergency system - Crew familiarization with emergency system Lack of familiarity 5) Pollution Prevention - 15 PPM Alarm Arrangements Inoperative 6) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on June 10 and left the port en route to Marsaxlokk with an ETA as of June 13. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
GREEN CRYSTAL
On June 11, 2025, the 'Green Crystal', anchored in the southern harbour of the Port of Las Palmas, required the medical evacuation of a crew member. The CCS Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 202, which hoisted the patient and transported him to the helipad of the Doctor Negrín Hospital.
PROTUG 87
Towed HMS Bristol to Aliaga Breakers https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1285921803533252&set=pcb.1285922276866538
VOYAGER
Japan has received a shipment of Russian crude oil for the first time in more than two years, and it arrived on the 'Voyager', which has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union. The Taiyo Oil Co., a Japanese refiner based in Tokyo, has taken delivery of 600,000 barrels of Sakhalin Blend crude from the tanker. The oil was loaded from the Prigorodnoye terminal, located at the southern tip of Russia’s Sakhalin Island, on May 25, 2025. The 'Voyager' docked at the port of Kikuma on June 9 to unload the cargo. The 'Voyager', previously sailing as the 'Vernadsky Prospect', is one of 161 tankers that were sanctioned by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in Jan 2024 under then-President Joe Biden. The European Union blacklisted the vessel in February as part of its sanctions on Russia. Despite the sanctions, Japan has continued to receive waivers allowing the import of Sakhalin Blend crude on the grounds of national energy security. This waiver was extended in the EU’s 17th sanctions package on May 21 and remains valid until late June 2026. A separate US waiver, which permits similar activity, is set to expire on June 28, though it is generally extended as a matter of policy. The purchase was made at the request of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). A liquefied natural gas (LNG) project backed by Japan would have been impacted if the crude oil could not be transported, as both LNG and crude are extracted together in the same process.
HEBRIDEAN ISLES
The 'Hebridean Isles', due to be scrapped has been given a stay of execution due to the Brexit. After the final sailing to Islay, the ferry has been anchored at King George V dock on the Clyde, awaiting transfer to Denmark to be scrapped. That was first mooted for April, but the ship has been unable to enter the European Union due to regulations over hazardous waste. The issue is believed to be related to the freezer compartments on board, and in particular the insulation used in their construction. From salvaging engine parts to removing hazardous material, The project has been closely managed to ensure compliance with all partners, such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Danish equivalent. It was in the final stages of completing the required paperwork, and Calmac hoped to see her start the journey to Denmark as soon as all necessary permissions are granted. The rules have changed since Brexit and it takes more time to obtain approvals on paperwork. When paired with the complexity of decommissioning work to retain important parts of the vessel, the project has taken slightly longer than originally planned.