The Polish 'Gryf' has left the Baltic Sea in spring 2026. After the delivery of the newbuild 'Jantar Unity' in December 2025, the Unity Line laid up the ropax ferry in Swinoujscie. On March 16, the ship left the port for Skagen, where it berthed on March 21, and continued on to the Mediterranean on March 27. After a short stay in Istanbul from April 11-17, the ship started operating under the name 'Mert L' on the Contanta - Poti route on April 18.
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AL JAFZIA
The Mumbai High Court of India ordered the detained 'Stellar Ruby', 'Asphalt Star' and 'Chiltern', formerly known as the 'Al Jafzia', all having been intercepted off the Mumbai Coast on Feb 6, to be shifted to the Alang ship recycling yard in Gujarat. The owners of the vesselsfiled a petition seeking release of the vessels and permission to sail while investigations continue. However, the court on May 6 ordered to shift the vessels from Mumbai to Alang, citing maritime safety concerns and navigational risks posed by keeping the vessels anchored offshore for a longer period of time. The tankers were detained by the Indian Coast Guard approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. The Indian authorities alleged that the vessels were engaged in unauthorized STS transfer operations involving Iranian bitumen and fuel, using deceptive practices, including switching off their location-tracking systems. During the hearing on May 6, an advocate representing the Coast Guard and the Director General of Shipping informed the Mumbai High court that another bench of the same court had, on May 5 ordered the release of 50 stranded seafarers, who were confined under severe humanitarian conditions aboard the vessels for approximately three months. The crew members of the tankers had allegedly survived on only 300 ml of potable water per day with no electricity or essential supplies on board. The owners requested additional time for replacement of crew but was rejected the plea to delay the release of crew members. The advocate further argued that the vessels with no crew members posed high risks to maritime security and vessel traffic. He submitted that the ships could be moved to Alang ship recycling yard, as legal proceedings and dispute resolution may take considerable time. Following the submissions, the court declined the owners' request to sail their vessels freely and instead directed them to be moved to Alang, where they would remain under the authorities' legal custody pending resolution of the case.
ECKERO LINK
The Eckerö Group is purchasing the 'Stena Nautica'. The vessel will be put into service for the group's subsidiary Eckerö Link Ab and will replace the 'Fjärdvägen' on the route between Långnäs and Naantali. The Eckerö Group will officially take over the vessel from Stena Line in Aug 2026. In the meantime, the ramp facilities in Naantali (Satamatie 13) and Långnäs (Långnäsvägen 638) would have to be adapted accordingly. Following the takeover and the necessary technical preparations, the vessel is scheduled to begin regular service between Långnäs and Naantali in the autumn of 2026. It was deemed likely that the vessel will undergo a brief shipyard stay before the autumn launch to be painted in Eckerö colors and any necessary internal modifications. Until the “Stena Nautica” (then operating under its new name) is ready for service, the “Fjärdvägen” will continue to operate the Eckerö Link timetable as usual. With the 'Stena Nautica', Eckerö Link will receive a more suitable vessel that enables smoother cargo handling, improved energy efficiency and good conditions for future development of both freight and passenger traffic," the shipping company wrote on May 11, 2926. The Eckerö Group already had the 'Stena Nautica' as an alternative at the time of the acquisition of the 'Fjärdvägen' because she is better suited in terms of size for the current traffic and offers through-haul.
ASPHALT STAR
The Mumbai High Court of India ordered the detained 'Stellar Ruby', 'Asphalt Star' and 'Chiltern', formerly known as the 'Al Jafzia', all having been intercepted off the Mumbai Coast on Feb 6, to be shifted to the Alang ship recycling yard in Gujarat. The owners of the vesselsfiled a petition seeking release of the vessels and permission to sail while investigations continue. However, the court on May 6 ordered to shift the vessels from Mumbai to Alang, citing maritime safety concerns and navigational risks posed by keeping the vessels anchored offshore for a longer period of time. The tankers were detained by the Indian Coast Guard approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. The Indian authorities alleged that the vessels were engaged in unauthorized STS transfer operations involving Iranian bitumen and fuel, using deceptive practices, including switching off their location-tracking systems. During the hearing on May 6, an advocate representing the Coast Guard and the Director General of Shipping informed the Mumbai High court that another bench of the same court had, on May 5 ordered the release of 50 stranded seafarers, who were confined under severe humanitarian conditions aboard the vessels for approximately three months. The crew members of the tankers had allegedly survived on only 300 ml of potable water per day with no electricity or essential supplies on board. The owners requested additional time for replacement of crew but was rejected the plea to delay the release of crew members. The advocate further argued that the vessels with no crew members posed high risks to maritime security and vessel traffic. He submitted that the ships could be moved to Alang ship recycling yard, as legal proceedings and dispute resolution may take considerable time. Following the submissions, the court declined the owners' request to sail their vessels freely and instead directed them to be moved to Alang, where they would remain under the authorities' legal custody pending resolution of the case.
KORU
The Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is selling the $500 million 'Koru', because the vessel has become too recognisable for the multibillionaire tech executive. The 'Koru' is among the world's most distinctive and largest vessels operating under sail, and has a massive sail plan. She is normally attended by the support vessel 'Abeona', itself valued at $75 million., which provides a helipad. It was unclear whether the 'Abeona' was also for sale, either separately or as a package with the 'Koru'. Annual upkeep of the yacht is in the eight digits, and the ship is too large to fit into many of the specialised port terminals that cater to yachts. For this reason, the 'Koru' has often been spotted at less glamorous parts of the working waterfront, near warehouses and merchant ships. The 'Koru' was built at one of Oceanco's yards upriver from Rotterdam. To reach the sea, it needed to fit under the historic Koningshaven Bridge. With masts stepped, the yacht's air draft was too high to pass. When the yard proposed that the bridge be partially dismantled to permit passage, some residents arranged plans to throw eggs at the vessel as it passed. Instead, the yacht quietly departed the yard in the night, without masts, and the passage was completed without altering the bridge. The masts were stepped afterwards at another site.

