News

While the overall trend continues to show improvement in the number of containers going overboard, the World Shipping Council reports that in 2024, rerouting of vessels to avoid the hostilities in the Red Sea directly contributed to an increase in boxes lost at sea.

When President Donald Trump revealed that he is in negotiations with Finland's president to buy an "old" icebreaker, many observers assumed that he was considering the powerful and capable Polaris.

Weather concerns and the inability to stop the smoldering fire prompted the Indian authorities working with the private salvage team to move the Wan Hai 503 containership further away from the coastline.

Rotterdam, June 26, 2025 – Econowind has successfully installed four 16-metre VentoFoils on board the chemical tanker M/T JUTLANDIA SWAN, owned and operated by Danish shipping company Uni-Tankers. The ATEX-proof Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion units were installed in just four days in the port of Rotterdam.

The long-awaited Hong Kong International Convention setting standards for the industry to dismantle end-of-life vessels has gone into force. It comes, however, amidst criticism that the agreement fails to address many key issues in safety and sustainability, and the concerns of beaching in ship recycling.

Denmark’s Cleanship project is moving into its operational stage as it begins to test the real effect of wind sails on an in-service product tanker. The goal of the project is to provide insights into the actual performance using a 12,500 dwt tanker, Jutlandia Swan operated by Uni-Tankers.

Transits of Russia’s Northern Sea Route through the Arctic are resuming with the first container and cargo shipment, followed by the loading of the first LNG gas carrier of the season. It comes as Rosatom, which oversees the operations, is calling for more coordination to accelerate growth along the sea lane.

Polish officials were on hand to witness a Russian-registered product tanker towed from the Port of Gdynia after languishing for eight years and becoming a political liability. After months of efforts, the tanker Khatanga was towed away on Thursday, June 19, with Poland’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka on hand to highlight the occasion announcing the vessel would be “cut into razor blades.”

The industry tries to promote gas power as a clean alternative to coal and a helpful partner to renewable energy. However, gas has struggled to find a solid footing in these roles due to high costs and supply uncertainties.

As the war between Israel and Iran continues, speculation continues to mount over whether Iran will seek to close the Strait of Hormuz. If the strait were to be effectively closed, the consequences could be huge. Jebel Ali, on the western side of the strait, is the largest port in the Middle East and the ninth largest in the world.

The defense and security contractor building the next-generation nuclear submarines for the Royal Navy has been ordered to improve its safety measures after a fire broke out at its Barrow-in-Furness shipyard in October last year.

The global shipping industry is holding its breath anxiously watching the emerging conflict between Israel and Iran as is the world. Analysts are scrambling to predict the potential impact on shipping while security services are issuing cautions and some nations are already issuing advice to shipping.

Despite uncertainties in the North American market, the global commissioned capacity of offshore wind is on course to surpass the 100 GW mark by mid-2026 as countries in Europe and Asia ramp up projects. 

Indian authorities have opened a criminal inquiry against the master and crew of the boxship Wan Hai 503, which suffered a cargo fire off the coast of Kerala last week and continues to smolder at a position off the coast. 

Investigators working for Finland’s national police announced they have completed their criminal investigation into the damage to the subsea cables. They reported they officially suspect the master and two officers from the tanker Eagle S who have been detained in Finland since January 2025.

As the offshore wind sector across the world witnesses growth, there is a rise in safety concerns for personnel and vessels involved. Last week, the G+ Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organization released its 2024 incident report, revealing rising safety risks in the offshore wind industry.

Having made its way south through the Suez Canal on May 25, ships of the Royal Navy-led Prince of Wales carrier strike group (CSG) appear to be maintaining their original deployment program, and have not diverted from plan to linger in the Arabian Sea area adjacent to the Iranian conflict zone.

The firefighting efforts for the Wan Hai 503 containership which are now being undertaken jointly by India’s Coast Guard and Air Force are reporting progress, while India’s shipping authorities are demanding more action by the vessel’s owners and the appointed salvage team.

The crew of a Chinese cargo ship is thankful for a Korean bulker that came to their aid. The Run Fun 3 (32,115 dwt) was taking on water in a remote part of the Indian Ocean when it issued a distress call early on Wednesday, June 11.

Hapag-Lloyd is reporting it has taken the delivery of the new Wilhelmshaven Express (229,350 dwt) container vessel the twelfth in its new ultra large Hamburg Express class and its first dual-fuel LNG class of vessels.