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Denmark Sets Restrictions for Transit of Ammonium Nitrate Laden Vessel
The saga of the bulker Ruby, laden with a potentially explosive cargo, continues with the authorities in Northern Europe closely tracking the vessel’s movements. The resolution of the situation remains unclear as the ship continues to hold 20,000 tons of ammonium...
Report: Unsafe Crane Training Cost Second Officer His Left Leg
A ship-wide practice of using the emergency controls on a deck crane led to an officer losing his leg aboard a survey vessel in 2022, according to the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch. On August 16, 2022, the Kommandor Orca - formerly the...
Greece Sends Tugs as Salvage of Sounion is Believed to Have Started
Details about the salvage efforts for the burning Greek tanker Sounion in the Red Sea remain clouded in secrecy due to safety concerns, but indications are that the second effort got underway on Friday, September 13. Multiple clues point to an effort to...
Loose Cable Found During NTSB Dali Investigation Could Cause Blackouts
Without comment, the NTSB posted a 41-page document summarizing the findings of the Engineering Group formed to inspect the systems aboard the containership Dali which blacked out in March and destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge. The report lists...
EU and Turkish Shipping Company in Standoff Over Weapons Inspections
The EUNAVFOR went public with its concerns regarding a Turkish shipping company as it remains at odds with Arkas Line over requests for vessel inspections. One of the line’s Turkish-registered containerships refused a request from EUNAVFOR IRINI for an inspection on...
Rules Proposed to Manage Cruise Passenger Overtourism in Greece
The association representing cruise ship operators in Greece is proposing a set of actions that will help to manage the flow of cruise tourists. It comes after the Prime Minister earlier in the year said the time had come for restrictions, especially in the most...
Cargo Ship Lost in WWI Found During UK Wind Farm Survey
Teams working on the geological surveys for a planned floating offshore wind farm to be located off the northeast coast of Scotland are reporting an “added bonus” from their work. They believe they located the wreck of a WWI-era cargo ship in remarkably good condition...
Tentative Contract After Longshore Union Stops Hamburg Port Operations
Germany’s labor union Ver.di and the employers of longshore workers reported today they have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract after months of disputes and “warning strikes.” Today’s agreement after the fifth round of talks came as the union had staged...
New England Selects 2.9 GW of Offshore Wind for Massachusetts/Rhode Island
After what they are calling a rigorous selection process, Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced the results of the first multistate wind power solicitation selecting a total of nearly 2.9 GW offshore wind power. The states are reporting it as a key step in New...
60-Year-Old Ferry Losses Prop as BC Ferries Struggles with Aging Fleet
Canada’s BC Ferries is increasingly feeling the pressure of operating an aging fleet after one of its flagship vessels lost its propeller, leading to service cancelations coming at the end of a busy summer season. The ferry operator that bills itself as one of the...
UK Warns of Impostors Seeking Information from Vessels in the Red Sea
UK authorities overnight issued a warning to all vessels transiting the Red Sea of impostors seeking information from ships and demanding that they begin AIS transmissions. Vessels are being cautioned to use security protocols to confirm the identity of any contacts....
New Concept Ocean Energy Support Vessel to be Built in Spain
Norwegian offshore support company Østensjø has ordered a new concept offshore support vessel to be built in Spain at the Astilleros Gondan shipyard. Called an Ocean Energy Support Vessel (OESV), the company reports it is a more versatile design for a broad range of...
Canadian Shipbuilders Calls for 100 Percent Tariff on Chinese-Built Ships
The Canadian Marine Industries and Shipbuilding Association (CMISA) this week issued a call for the Canadian government to impose a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-built ships as a step to protect domestic capabilities and national security. The move comes after Canada...
Salvage Plan Prepared as Greece Warns of Oil Leak from Sounion
The salvage plan is being prepared with a salvage team organized as they race against time to prevent an environmental disaster in the Red Sea from the burning Greek tanker Sounion. After contradictory statements and images from the various authorities regarding...
Bahamas Formalized Agreement to Create Global Leader in Ship Repair
The government of the Bahamas highlights that it signed a Heads of Agreement with the Grand Bahamas Shipyard to formalize the ongoing work to revitalize the repair facility and expand its capacity. The yard which is owned by Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean...
Third Collision Incident Between Chinese Coast Guard and Philippines
For the third time over the last two weeks, Chinese and Philippine forces have faced down each other’s vessels resulting in a collision and accusations from both sides. The Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 and the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa...
USCG Clears Regent’s Wing-in-Ground Craft for Full-Scale Human Testing
he application of wing-in-ground technology is a step closer to reality as the U.S. Coast Guard approved the application from Regent, a manufacturer of the craft, to test its full-scale prototype including with humans on board. This comes just two years ago Regent...
Cargo Ship Blacks Out and Becomes Wedged Across St. Lawrence Seaway
A Dutch general cargo ship outbound from Canada blacked out Thursday evening in one of the channels of the St. Lawrence Seaway south of Montreal, Canada. The vessel is currently wedged at a 45-degree angle across the waterway blocking navigation. The...
China Launches New Generation of Energy-Efficient Inland Cargo Ships
Chinese officials are highlighting the launch of the first of a new generation of highly energy-efficient inland cargo ships. The vessels feature a standardized design for mass production and will be the leaders in the modernization of China’s inland operations. The...
US Launches Sweeping Sanctions on Russian Economy Including Arctic LNG 2
Timed to coincide with tomorrow’s celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day and to support the G7 initiatives, the United States today announced one of its broadest and most comprehensive sanction packages targeting the Russian economy and companies ranging from China...
Mozambique Leases a Port Terminal to Landlocked Malawi
In a rare move, Mozambique is planning to lease part of its northern port of Nacala to neighboring landlocked Malawi. The deal seeks to boost trade ties between the two countries. To formalize the initiative, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and his Malawian...
Indian Dockworkers Set Date for Strike After Three Years of Negotiations
Globally port workers have expressed their frustrations during contract negotiations and called for significant wage increases after working through the pandemic to keep global commerce functioning. The latest problems emerged in India where the six labor unions that...
Volumes Soar at SoCal Ports Setting Records as Shippers Accelerate Pace
Defying forecasts of a potentially slowing U.S. economy, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach each had record volumes in July in part as imports accelerated to avoid potential disruptions due to the Red Sea as well as a possible fall port strike on the U.S. East...
German LNG Terminal Operator Sues EU Over Competitor’s Subsidy
Two years after Germany rushed to launch its first onshore LNG import terminals, the operators are struggling to gain the upper hand in the market as they move from temporary operations toward the future energy markets. The operator of the first terminal opened at...
South Africa Commissions New Tugs and Launches in Port Renewal Plan
Transnet National Ports Authority, the government operator of South Africa’s ports, celebrated the commissioning of five new tugboats for the port of Durban on Thursday, August 15. The vessels, along with two launches received last week, are part of the renewal plan...
USCG Polar Icebreaker Healy Returns to Seattle After Fire Suspends Mission
The U.S. Coast Guard’s polar icebreaker Healy returned to Seattle prematurely on August 16, approximately two months into her 2024 mission after having suffered a fire. The Coast Guard's statement is downplaying the incident saying that no one was injured,...
Giant Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Delivered to Cadeler
Cadeler, which already attests to being the world’s largest operator in offshore wind installation, operations, and maintenance services, took delivery today, August 16, on the first of its new larger installation vessels. It comes just three months after the company...
Volumes and Freight Costs Surge as Retailers Accelerate U.S. Imports
Retailers are rushing to get inventories into the United States reports the National Retail Federation in part due to the fears of a U.S. East Coast dockworkers strike and to guard against the ongoing disruptions due to the diversions away from the Red Sea. The result...
Port of Hueneme Partners to Introduce Stack Caps to Reduce Emissions
California’s Port of Hueneme, which is used by commercial shippers for cargo including fresh produce and vehicles as well as the military, is launching a new partnership to reduce at-berth emissions through the use of a capture and control technology. The port is...
Port of Virginia Expands Intermodal Rail to Reach Midwestern Markets
After two years of work, the Port of Virginia's central rail yard project is operational and in service at Norfolk International Terminals. The yard expands the port's ability to compete in Midwestern containerized freight markets, which are served in large part by...
New Research Gives Crews Insight Into Underwater Noise in Real Time
German propulsion company Schottel has completed a research project for Transport Canada and BC Ferries to investigate solutions for underwater noise. Ship noise is a major issue in the Salish Sea because of its effects on the region's endangered orca population. The...
Gearbox Failure, Pilot Error Caused V-22 Crash off Japan
A disintegrating metal gearbox was responsible for the crash of an Air Force CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft off Japan last November, which killed eight servicemembers and prompted a large-scale subsea salvage response, according to the Air Force. On the...
New Fears India’s Chabahar Port Deal Could Run Afoul of U.S. Iran Sanctions
Almost two months after India signed a 10-year agreement to develop and operate Iran’s Chabahar Port, details have emerged that parts of the deal are being kept confidential to avoid U.S. sanctions. This was revealed last week by the Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime...
New Strike Threats Loom in August Over Canada’s West Coast Ports and Rails
Labor disputes impacting both the operations of Canada’s West Coast ports and the two leading railroads are due to come to a head in August. Experts warn of the potential of more disruptions as Canada is already dealing with the impact of wildfires near the main rail...
Uniper First to Offer BioLNG from Rotterdam’s Gate Terminal
With demand continuing to grow for green solutions using biofuel options, German energy major Uniper reports it has become the first shipper at Rotterdam’s LNG hub to offer liquified biomethane. The company is calling it a critical step to fully integrate...
Philippine Coast Guard Brings Tanker Spill Under Control
The Philippine Coast Guard and its salvage response partners have been making progress on preventing pollution from the sunken tanker Terra Nova, which went down in rough weather from Typhoon Gaemi on July 25. Terra Nova has an estimated 370,000 gallons of petroleum...
Maryland Briefly Close Bridge as MARAD Reserve Vessel Losses Steering
It has happened again, or maybe officials have just become very sensitive to all reports of a vessel reporting momentary problems. Thursday midday Maryland officials according to a report in the Baltimore Sun suspended all vehicle traffic on the busy Chesapeake Bay...
Investigation Highlights Increasing Dangers to Crews of Heat Exhaustion
A newly released report into the death of a crewmember aboard a Maltese-registered bulk carrier and the hospitalization of three others in July 2023 points to the impact of climate change on crewmembers and the challenges due to their working schedule which does not...
New Fears India’s Chabahar Port Deal Could Run Afoul of U.S. Iran Sanctions
Almost two months after India signed a 10-year agreement to develop and operate Iran’s Chabahar Port, details have emerged that parts of the deal are being kept confidential to avoid U.S. sanctions. This was revealed last week by the Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime...
First Phase of Salvage of Capsized Bulker Completed Reports SAMSA
South African officials reported that the first phase of the recovery effort for the grounded bulker Ultra Galaxy has been completed. With a break in the harsh winter weather, they report progress is being made while cautioning that another cold front is due...
Study: Warming Waters Will Cause Serious Declines in Regional Fisheries
Global fish catches are likely to plunge if the planet warms by just a few degrees, according to one of the most comprehensive attempts to model this understudied topic. The projections are based on the quantity of fish in the sea, rather than focusing on...
Oil Spill Spreads as Second Tanker Sinks in Manila Bay
A second tanker has gone down off the coast of the Bataan Peninsula, threatening even more pollution in the Manila Bay area. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the tanker Jason Bradley sank off the municipality of Mariveles - at the bay's entrance - on the...
One Knot at a Time
Seals are important for the role they play in containing pressure and eliminating leakage and contamination. Bearings reduce friction and are key components for transferring motion. When functioning properly, seals and bearings are the furthest thing on the chief...
Blaze on two tankers – all crew rescued or involved in firefighting
A total of 62 seafarers from a Hafnia product tanker and VLCC ablaze in the South China Sea have been either rescued or accounted for. Marcus Hand | Jul 19, 2024 The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it was alerted to a fire onboard both...
Advancing the maritime industry: the critical need for digital transformation
Ship repair and maintenance businesses have traditionally lagged in new technology deployment. However, the prism through which we view and solve the challenges of these complex physical assets needs updating, writes Peter Jackson, vice president, Business...
Barcelona first Med port to have shore power
The Port of Barcelona’s first phase of an offshore power system will enable two ships to be connected simultaneously at Hutchison’s BEST terminal. Marcus Hand | Jul 18, 2024 The first onshore power supply system (OPS) in the Port of Barcelona was opened on...
Container shipping market outlook for H2 2024
Spot container freight rates have surged to unexpected highs in the first half of 2024 due the Red Sea crisis, what will happen in the remaining months of the year. Marcus Hand | Jul 18, 2024 In a five-part series mid-year we take stock of shipping markets in the...
Hub and spoke versus direct services in container shipping: an analysis
The Red Sea crisis has prompted shipping lines to re-consider the hub and spoke strategy and increase their direct services allowing the carriers to absorb excess capacity and reduce their vulnerability to port congestion. Antonella Teodoro and Nick Savvides | Jul 17,...
US Imports Remain High With Signs of Softening of Container Spot Prices
Container import volumes remain strong at U.S. ports and significantly ahead of 2023 levels despite the first signs of softening in the spot market prices. Yet the outlook remains strong spurred on by the resiliency of the U.S. economy and consumers' willingness...
IMB: Violence Against Crew on the Rise Amidst Drop in Piracy
The safety of crews on merchant ships is increasingly becoming a major concern owing to the rise in violent attacks despite a notable decrease in maritime piracy incidents, according to the latest update from the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting...
Local News
Thailand Drafts Law To Speed Up $29 Billion Transport Link
Mar 22, 2025 (Bloomberg) –Thailand unveiled draft legislation to create a special economic zone in the south of the country that would pave the way for a multibillion-dollar transport project linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The bill would establish a commission...
Malaysia’s Aerodyne Group eyes drone production in Uzbekistan
Aerodyne’s CEO, Kamarul Muhamed, recently met with Uzbekistan's ambassador to Malaysia, Karomiddin Gadoev, to discuss potential cooperation. The talks focused on integrating drone technology into Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector. Initially, Aerodyne plans to introduce...
Malaysia emerging as key hub in Asean’s digital future
Driven by rapid digital adoption and increasing foreign investments, Asean is one of the world’s fastest-growing technology markets. The World Economic Forum projects that the region’s digital economy will grow from US$300 billion to an estimated US$1 trillion over...
Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone: Transformative or Tempting?
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone has a compelling argument. But it may not be as transformative as it is touted to be. Malaysia and Singapore launched the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) in January 2025. Located in the Malaysian state of Johor...
Malaysia builds Southeast Asia’s longest railway tunnel, a key milestone for ECRL project
MALAYSIA: Deep beneath Malaysia’s Titiwangsa mountain range, engineers are steadily progressing on what will become Southeast Asia’s longest railway tunnel. This tunnel, a critical part of the ambitious East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, will span 16.39 kilometres,...
SG’s logistics rents fall by 6.2% in H2 2024
Singapore’s logistics rents fell by 6.2% in the second half of the year 2024 (H2 2024) but remained unchanged year-on-year (YoY), according to a Knight Frank report. Despite this, Singapore is amongst the markets expected to see growth in the next 12 months,...
Transport Ministry to offer incentives for cargo firms to switch to ECRL with new policy, easing heavy vehicle congestion
KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — The Transport Ministry (MOT) will introduce a policy to encourage cargo and transport companies to utilise the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) service as an alternative to heavy vehicles on roads. Its minister Anthony Loke said the policy would...
Malaysia My Second Home programme open to applications from any country, not just China, says Tiong
KUALA LUMPUR (March 8): Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sin has emphasised that the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme is not meant only for Chinese nationals but is open to applicants from any country worldwide. He said that through...
Most heavy vehicle licences suspended last year for violating safety, says Loke
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 247 heavy vehicle operation licences were suspended last year, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. For violating road safety standards, 23 vehicle permits were also suspended, Loke added. He noted that suspensions can be up to 90 days for...
Johor’s readiness in question as RTS Link nears completion: Infrastructure, traffic, rising land prices, and cost of living concerns grow
JOHOR BAHRU: Even before the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) deal was finalised, OCBC had already observed companies looking to establish a presence in Johor. Now, with the RTS Link nearing 50 per cent completion and...
Bintulu Port’s 6.4 pct growth cements its status as regional logistics powerhouse
KUCHING (Feb 24): Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad (BPHB) has achieved an impressive growth trajectory, recording a 6.4 per cent increase in total cargo throughput, reaching 52 million tonnes in 2024, up from 48 million tonnes in 2023. This milestone underscores BPHB’s...
Kale Malaysia Maritime Single Window launched at Port Klang
Kale Logistics Solutions's Malaysia Maritime Single Window (MMSW) was officially launched by Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport, Malaysia on February 17, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The implementation of Kale’s MMSW at Port Klang has meant an immediate...
MV Malaysia Star owners say can’t release vehicles stranded after fire due to legal, financial hurdles
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — The owners of the MV Malaysia Star have cited legal and financial obligations as the primary reasons why vehicles aboard the vessel have yet to be released following a recent fire. According to a statement issued their lawyers today, the...
Economy Ministry expects JS-SEZ blueprint completion by Q3 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — The much anticipated Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) blueprint is expected to be completed by the third quarter this year, the Economy Ministry said today. The ministry led by Rafizi Ramli said that funding for the economic zone’s...
Customs’ digitalisation efforts enhance efficiency, integrity, says industry expert
KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has been lauded for its efforts in enhancing efficiency and integrity through the digitalisation of customs processes, particularly with the implementation of the Import Export Support Document System (SDSIE)....
‘Heavy vehicle ban drives down logistics industry’
KUALA LUMPUR: Five trade associations representing around half of Malaysia’s heavy vehicle owners and operators are asking the government to reconsider the restricted hours for heavy vehicles on three major expressways. In a press conference here yesterday, they said...
Logistics sector must take advantage of govt support to adopt Industry 4.0 – Loke
SUBANG JAYA: The logistics sector must take advantage of government support, such as the income tax exemption for smart logistics complexes, to further uplift the sector and encourage the adoption of Industry 4.0 technology, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He...
Malaysia’s Industrial Transformation: 3000 Smart Factories by 2030
The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) has announced its goal to establish at least 3,000 smart factories by 2030 as part of Malaysia’s industrial transformation under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030). This ambitious initiative...
SG’s logistics rents fall by 6.2% in H2 2024
Singapore’s logistics rents fell by 6.2% in the second half of the year 2024 (H2 2024) but remained unchanged year-on-year (YoY), according to a Knight Frank report. Despite this, Singapore is amongst the markets expected to see growth in the next 12 months,...
More choices, more competition: Loke stands by Puspakom overhaul
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke has defended the government’s decision to open up the motor vehicle inspection industry to new players, ending Puspakom’s long-standing monopoly. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Exio Logistics Hub...