News

The containership ONE Henry Hudson continues to be held about one mile from shore outside the breakwater at the Port of Los Angeles after the fire aboard the vessel. The Unified Command reports the salvage master has declared the fire fully contained, with the focus now on hot spots or the potential for re-ignition from smoldering cargo in the containers.

Container shipper Zim, which ranks at number 10 by global capacity, confirmed that its board is undertaking a “strategic review of alternatives.” It has been underway for the “past several months,” the company said in a statement confirming that it has multiple proposals in addition to a proposed management-led buyout.

Reporting that LNG supply conditions in France and Europe have stabilized, TotalEnergies announced that it is demobilizing the floating LNG storage and regasification unit (FSRU) it established at Le Havre.

The U.S. Navy has decided to terminate the last four ships of the Constellation-class frigate program, which has been delayed amidst reports of extensive Navy-instigated design changes. The decision is a major pivot away from past policy: as recently as last year, top officials had talked about doubling down by tapping a second shipyard to speed up Constellation-class construction. 

The Suez Canal Authority announced during a joint press conference with Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc that the two organizations had signed a new strategic partnership agreement and that Maersk would be returned to the Suez Canal routes.

The Government Accountability Office has issued a new report on the U.S. Coast Guard’s program to build the Offshore Patrol Cutters and once again has criticized the approach and ballooning costs of the program.

Animal advocacy groups are again sounding the alarm about a livestock carrier that appears to be roaming the Mediterranean seeking ports to unload its cargo after it was turned away from Turkey.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence reported details on additional sightings of Russian vessels in its waters after reporting a recent incident with a Russian spy ship. It says the UK has seen a 30 percent increase in Russian vessels in UK waters in the past two years.

The Mokpo Coast Guard has sought an arrest warrant for the master of the vessel after it arrested the first officer who was on watch, as well as the helmsman, each on charges of gross negligence causing harm to the passengers, and the investigation is widening.

The United States expanded its sanctions against Iran’s energy trade with coordinated actions by both the State Department and the Treasury. The efforts continue to increase the reach beyond Iranian operations to target the front companies and enablers of the energy trade, as well as tankers being used for the shipments.

Maritime investigators are yet again highlighting the dangers associated with free-fall lifeboats on commercial vessels after an inadvertent release sent a lifeboat flying into the water and caused serious injuries to a crewmember.

Fire crews from Los Angeles and Long Beach responded to a fire aboard an Ocean Network Express (ONE) container ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday evening. As of 1330 hours on Saturday, the fire was isolated to a single cargo hold aboard the ship, and a fire boat from the Port of Los Angeles was on scene to provide cooling water.

The Chinese Embassy in Greece has unleashed strong criticism on the United States and its new ambassador to the Hellenic Republic after comments calling COSCO’s ownership of a Greek port “unfortunate,” and suggesting there were ways around it, including the sale of Piraeus.

European leaders continue to work to increase the pressure on Russia with the shadow fleet and cutting Russia’s revenues from oil remaining a high priority. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, told reporters the EU’s plan is to continue to weaken Russia, saying the sanctions are working.

The total count came mostly from HD Hyundai's main yard (HHI), but HD Hyundai Mipo and HD Hyundai Samho together account for a bit less than half. Stacked bow-to-stern, the line of HD Hyundai's delivered ships would extend from Seoul all the way to Tokyo, the yard said. 

A U.S.-bound cargo barge being towed by a U.S. tug reported that it was taking on water north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, while traveling along the Inside Passage. Officials said that the vessels were moved into a more secure location and that the situation remains stable while the operators prepare to lighten the cargo load on the barge.

Fincantieri has completed the last of a series of agreements with the Central Adriatic Sea Port Authority for the expansion of the shipbuilding yard in Ancona, Italy. The Italian shipbuilder reports that the agreements confirm the joint commitment to enhancing the strategic role of the port and the shipyard, strengthening their contribution to the economic development of the region and the Italian naval sector.

The use of a generic safety management system and a lack of adequate controls to manage risk led to a potentially dangerous blackout and loss of control as a vessel was maneuvering at the Port of Brisbane earlier this year, reports the Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB).

China looks to resume expansion of its domestic cruise market after a long hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic. In the latest reports online, Tianjin Orient International Cruises, which was launched two years ago to restart the market from Tianjin, is now poised to acquire a second, larger cruise ship.

Philippine officials told the Associated Press that they completed a mostly peaceful resupply mission to their outpost on the beached vessel BRP Sierra Madre in the South China Sea after previous confrontations with the Chinese.