Romanian rescue teams are searching for three missing crew members of a cargo ship that sank off the Black Sea coast. The Tanzania-flagged Mohammad Z sank 26 nautical miles off the Romanian Danube village of Sfantu Gheorghe. Eight members were rescued, and efforts continue to locate the missing Syrian nationals.
A Panamanian-flagged crude oil tanker was attacked near the Yemeni Red Sea port of Mocha, British security firm Ambrey reported. The ship was hit by a missile, causing a fire on board. Other vessels were warned to be cautious in the area. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways celebrated International Women in Maritime Day in New Delhi, honoring women seafarers’ contributions. The theme for this year was “Safe Horizons: Women in Shaping the Future of.” The event recognized the vital role of women in the maritime industry.
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is constructing two national research vessels to enhance Indonesia’s deep-sea research capabilities. These vessels will focus on marine geoscience, oceanography, biodiversity, and seabed mapping. BRIN aims to support deep-sea research activities in Indonesia and collaborate with government and business entities for a national research vessel fleet.
To celebrate IMO’s International Day for Women in Maritime, Nautilus International and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure spoke to second engineer Marjan de Haas. She discussed the importance of women being valued and accepted in the maritime sector. Her niece, Marinde, also shared her aspirations for a career in the industry.
Hexagon Energy Materials (HXG) and Oceania Marine Energy have signed an MOU to develop a low-emission ammonia bunkering business in Dampier, Western Australia. The collaboration aims to create a new Australian company using locally produced ammonia to decarbonize iron ore exports. They will work on feasibility, demand confirmation, development plans, and stakeholder collaboration.
India is strategically enhancing its maritime presence and trade connectivity by signing a 10-year pact with Iran to operate Chabahar port, aiming to replicate the model in other key regions to boost economic integration and open new markets for Indian businesses. This move is seen as a response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Pakistan.
This year’s International Day for Women in Maritime (ID4WIM) will spotlight women’s vital role in ensuring global maritime safety and advocate for gender equality in the industry. The event will include the presentation of the first IMO Gender Equality Award to Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou for her outstanding contributions to women in shipping.
Step on board Swire Shipping’s multipurpose general cargo ship Apia Chief and you will immediately notice something very different about the vessel — nearly half the crew, from the master on down, are women. This intentional diversity is part of Swire Shipping’s commitment to welcoming women seafarers and contributing to the Global Maritime Forum’s All Aboard Alliance.
Norwegian ferry operator Torghatten and Kongsberg Maritime have partnered to develop self-driving ferries on the Flakk-Rørvik route. The system aims to improve safety, reduce fuel consumption, and optimize staffing. Kongsberg Maritime’s technologies, including auto docking and collision avoidance, will be installed. The collaboration will test new technologies and support maritime autonomy.
The Social Security System (SSS) committed to supporting Filipino seafarers’ social security benefits through the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council (MITC) formation. SSS President Macasaet emphasized financial assistance for emergencies and urged seafarers to maximize SSS benefits, including retirement pensions and investment programs. The MITC includes government agencies, labor groups, and ship owners.
A unified command was established to manage the response to the barge strike on the Pelican Island Causeway in Galveston, Texas. The collision resulted in a spill of vacuum gas oil into the water. The response team has contained the source, deployed boom, and is conducting aerial surveys to assess the extent of the spill. The Pelican Island Bridge was also damaged in the incident.
On Saturday, 18 May, the maritime industry will celebrate International Day for Women in Maritime 2024 with the theme “Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety”. Let’s highlight the incredible strain faced by seafarers, like Ann Tessa Joseph, a young cadet who recently experienced a harrowing ordeal on board the MSC Aries.
“Bloomberg reports that violent attacks in the Red Sea have halted LNG tanker crossings through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. As a result, global energy trade is disrupted, forcing ships to reroute around Africa and leading to a fragmented LNG market. Solutions include cargo swapping and increased storage efforts.”
Despite the increase in container ship capacity, Asia-Europe services face a 10% shortage of ships, impacting weekly service frequency. The Red Sea crisis and diversions around the Cape of Good Hope have led to a need for more ships, particularly in the Ocean Alliance. This has resulted in shifts in capacity and service routes.
