Over-Correction Led to Failure of Tow Rope
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published an assessment of the February 2025 tow rope incident onboard the tug Svitzer Avon.At approximately 1954 on 4 February 2025, the UK registered tugs Svitzer Avon and Svitzer Brunel left the lock at Royal Portbury Dock, Bristol, England to meet the car carrier Auto Eco in the King Road approaches to the lock. Auto Eco had a pilot embarked…
U.S. Coast Guard Accepts Delivery of 63rd Fast Response Cutter
The U.S. Coast Guard has accepted delivery of the 63rd Fast Response Cutter (FRC), Jeffrey Palazzo (WPC 1163).Jeffrey Palazzo is the fifth FRC to be homeported in Guam, joining the recently commissioned Vincent Danz (WPC 1162).The Sentinel-class FRCs replaced the 1980s Island-class 110-foot patrol boats and possess 21st-century command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment, with improved habitability and seakeeping.The U.S.
Royal Caribbean Begins Construction on Seventh Oasis Class Vessel
Royal Caribbean has celebrated the keel-laying of its seventh Oasis Class vessel at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The soon-to-be-named ship will join the revolutionary Oasis Class lineup in 2028. The vessel follows Oasis of the Seas (2009), Allure of the Seas (2010), Harmony of the Seas (2016), Symphony of the Seas (2018), Wonder of the Seas (2022), and Utopia of the Seas (2024).
Petition Against Animal Transport to War Zones Submitted to EU Commission
While bombs are falling in the Middle East, EU Member States continue to export live animals to the region, with the European Commission (EC) refusing to be held accountable, says the Eurogroup for Animals, the French animal welfare organization Welfarm and the German NGO Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF).The organizations have submitted a joint petition to the EC calling for an immediate halt to these transports.
Spiridon II Hearing Adjourned
No settlement was reached on Friday at the Krems Regional Court in Austria regarding the civil proceedings concerning the animal transport of the Spiridon II livestock carrier. The hearing was adjourned.A new hearing, expected to last all day, has been scheduled for mid-November.Several witnesses from Turkey are also expected to be heard at that time.Turkish cattle importers are suing cattle dealer Christian Klinger and his company, Agro Breeding GmbH, based in Jagenbach, Austria.
Charterers and Shipowners Stabilize Climate Alignment Scores
Amidst a challenging year for the shipping industry, signatories of the Sea Cargo Charter (SCC), a voluntary global transparency initiative, continued their reporting and benchmarking of emission performance and kept average alignment with the IMO’s climate goals stable year-on-year.The 2026 Sea Cargo Charter Annual Disclosure Report reveals that the 32 charterers, shipowners, and operators behind the initiative…
Training Targets Lack of Legal Clarity Around Right to Life at Sea
A BlueRights training program held at the IMO International Maritime Law Institute in Malta has highlighted one of the most pressing challenges in international law: how to protect people at sea using the existing law of the sea, and maritime and human rights law when legal responsibilities are complex, fragmented and unclear.The two-day training, delivered in May, gave participants a practical understanding…
Indian Seafarer Dies from Medical Complications in Oman
An Indian national died from medical complications aboard the vessel MT Celestial while it was docked at Duqm Port in Oman, the Indian embassy in Muscat said late Saturday."Necessary arrangements are being made for the early repatriation of the mortal remains to India," the embassy said in a post on social media.India has more than 300,000 seafarers working across global shipping fleets, according to government data.
Video: British Commandos Intercept Russian Tanker
British commandos boarded and intercepted a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel on Sunday, leading for the first time an operation to disrupt the oil revenue that helps fund Russia's war in Ukraine.The vessel Smyrtos, sailing under a Cameroonian flag, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency (NCA) officials in the early hours on Sunday, with support from Chinook helicopters and other aircraft…
