News

The 'Ever Calm' was detained in Shenzhen on Oct 23, 2026, with two detainable defiencies: 24.10.2026 07106 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire detection and alarm system (no responsibility of RO) 07115 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire-dampers (no responsibility of RO).

The 'Lira' has been banned from European ports for failing to call at a repair yard, as previously agreed. The Paris MoU said that the vessel would not be allowed into any port in the bloc after failing to call at a repair yard in Greece. It had been detained at the Port of Olbia, but sailed on Oct 3. While one of the conditions for the ship's release from Olbia was that she headed straight to a yard in Piraeus, the Paris MoU received a communication from the coordinator of the Piraeus Port State Control office on Oct 15 indicating that the vessel had not arrived at the port and had also failed to give any updates regarding its arrival. Although the Paris MoU did not reveal the deficiencies that led to the vessel's detention in Olbia, the fact that the vessel was sailing under the flag of Tansania meant it was considered very high-risk under the Paris MoU's inspection priority scheme. The vessel was sailing under the Panamanian flag before changing to the flag of Tansania.

The 'Takapuna' was detained in Shanghai on Oct 23, 2026, with four detainable defiencies: 06104 - CARGO OPERATIONS INCLUDING EQUIPMENT - Lashing material (no responsibility of RO) 06107 - CARGO OPERATIONS INCLUDING EQUIPMENT - Cargo operation (no responsibility of RO) 07114 - FIRE SAFETY - Remote Means of control (opening,pumps,ventilation,etc.) Machinery spaces (no responsibility of RO) 07115 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire-dampers (no responsibility of RO).

The sanctioned Russian 'Maia 1' has been spotted off the coast of Norway on Oct 22, 2026. The ship was linked to arms shipments from North Korea. It departed on Oct 21 near Kildin Island, north of the Russian city of Murmansk. A day later, it sailed southwards along the Norwegian coast. Its destination and cargo were unknown. Satellite images from Oct 17 showed a ship near Kildin that strongly resembled the 'Maia 1', but could not be definitively identified based on the images. In the fall of 2023, the ship was transporting containers between North Korea and Russia. International observers suspected the containers held weapons and ammunition. Moscow was believed to have later used the shipment in the war against Ukraine. The ship was also suspected of having repeatedly picked up alleged ammunition shipments at the North Korean port of Rason in recent years. The vessel was reportedly there again in May 2026. It was also allegedly seen in India in 2022 with weapons on board. The EU, the US, and other countries have the 'Maia 1' on their sanctions lists. The EU imposed sanctions on the ship in June 2024. The EU justified the move by stating that the ship transported goods and technology for the Russian defense and security sector. The owner and operator is the Russian shipping company MG-Flot, formerly known as Transmorflot. This company is also subject to sanctions by the EU, the US, and the UK. The shipping company is accused of having ties to the Russian Ministry of Defense and of supplying weapons from Iran and North Korea. The freighter has already been in Norwegian waters several times. On Sep 29, 2026, it was sighted on the Northeast Passage, sailing west from Russia's Pacific coast. In August 2025, the ship sailed along the Norwegian coast toward Arkhangelsk and later continued its journey along the Siberian coast. It may have last crossed the maritime border between Norway and Russia on Aug 24, 2025.

The 'Tan Binh 257' was detained in Zhanjiang on Oct 23, 2026, with four detainable defiencies: 10109 - SAFETY OF NAVIGATION - Lights, shapes, sound-signals (no responsibility of RO) 04113 - EMERGENCY SYSTEMS - Water level indicator (no responsibility of RO) 07109 - FIRE SAFETY - Fixed fire extinguishing installation (no responsibility of RO) 10127 - SAFETY OF NAVIGATION - Voyage or passage plan (no responsibility of RO).