News

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company confirmed the earlier reports that the world’s largest container carrier has committed to reflag vessels into the Indian registry. The move follows CMA CGM and Maersk, which have also moved ships to the Indian flag in response to new regulations and the Indian government’s desire to increase the amount of trade carried on domestic ships.

A product tanker operated by Stolt Tankers sailing near the coast of Somalia is reporting shots fired and a possible boarding attempt. It is the latest in a series of suspicious activities being reported in the past few days, increasing fears of renewed piracy in the region.

Iran appears to have accelerated the import of sodium perchlorate, the primary material used to manufacture ammonium perchlorate, which in turn makes up 70 percent of the standard fuel load of most of Iran’s solid-fueled ballistic missiles.

South Africa has temporarily shelved plans for establishing a shipping line to allow for further consultations. Early last month, the Cabinet approved the withdrawal of the Merchant Shipping Bill, which was tabled in parliament in May 2023.

The nautical publication and training company Witherby Group that has been equipping the shipping industry with nautical and navigational materials has acquired a new oceanographic research vessel to carry out coastal survey work in the strategic Sunda and Lombok Straits, on contract to the government of Indonesia. 

The U.S. Coast Guard has recommended criminal charges of seaman's manslaughter in connection with the barge collision that killed three young girls in Miami's inner harbor earlier this year. 

The Australian group Rising Tide, which calls itself “climate justice activists, staged another protest at the Port of Newcastle to call attention to its campaign against coal exports ahead of a larger event planned for the end of November, where they plan to blockade the port.

What started as a successful maritime rescue has turned into a mystery for Sri Lankan officials. The ship is now drifting eastward into the Bay of Bengal and toward the Andaman Sea, while Sri Lanka attempts to unravel its ownership, determine if it has insurance, and figure out exactly what is aboard.

The conversion of ships to dual-fuel methanol capabilities continues to gain momentum with COSCO Shipping Lines, the China Classification Society, and Everllence (formerly MAN), working together to undertake the first methanol conversion of a large two-stroke engine.

A report published in the Financial Times, quoting investigations carried out by TankerTrackers.com, a maritime intelligence company, has shown clear evidence of transshipments of sanctioned Russian oil at transfer locations in the Gulf of Oman.

The Trump administration has reached an unexpected agreement with the government of South Korea on sharing one of America's most closely-held capabilities - nuclear-powered submarine technology.

South Korea's shipbuilding industry is taking another swing at a domestically-designed LNG containment tank system, hoping to circumvent the steep licensing fees charged by French engineering firm GTT.  

More than a month after the fire-damaged containership Wan Hai 503 was granted permission for entry into its port of refuge, the owners, Wan Hai, report slow progress in the operation. The company highlighted some of the operational challenges for the salvage operation in its latest update.

A car carrier transiting the English Channel reported a fire and subsequently requested a tow. Unlike other recent incidents, however, the fire appears to have been limited to the engine room and not involving the cargo aboard the vessel.

The Indian Coast completed a successful search and rescue mission in the Arabian Sea that saved 31 fishermen who had been adrift for 11 days. The Coast Guard says that locating the fishermen was complicated by bad weather, causing rough seas and strong winds across the region.

Chinese officials in Guangzhou report that a search and rescue mission was underway for two missing seafarers after a small Chinese bulker sank. The vessel had collided with the Wan Hai A17 containership (144,572 dwt) in the Pearl River Estuary on the evening of October 25.

The joint venture company formed between BP and JERA announced that it has decided not to proceed at this time with the development of its Beacon Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts.

Chinese officials are continuing to promote the benefits of Russia’s Northern Sea Route, which they have taken to calling the “Polar Silk Road. This comes as their containership Istanbul Bridge is completing its first round of port calls in Northern Europe ahead of the launch of full service in 2026.

The Trump administration launched its first significant package of sanctions on Russia's energy industry, followed today by the EU’s adoption of its 19th package of sanctions. Trump and leaders in the EU expressed their frustration at the lack of progress on peace talks for Ukraine and Russia’s escalation of attacks, saying the time had come for increased pressure and to degrade Russia’s ability to raise revenues.

Norway has decided that the construction of the world’s first ship tunnel would be too expensive to be practical. After receiving construction bids, the government will tell its parliament (Storting) that it has decided to shelve the project due to cost, leaving its future uncertain.