Indonesian authorities have seized 1.16 tonnes of ketamine aboard the 'Global 168' and another 1.2 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine from a suspected drug laboratory in two operations. The tanker was intercepted in waters off North Sumatra earlier this week and directed to Belawan on Oct 22, 2026. Police and customs officers found the ketamine in 58 sacks and valued the shipment at about $192 million. Eight crew members were arrested, among them seven Indonesian nationals and one Taiwanese national. The detained included the captain, engineers and an oiler. A separate raid on a laboratory in Aceh province led to the arrest of 11 people. Investigators were examining possible links to international drug trafficking networks operating across Southeast Asia. Indonesian intelligence officers began tracking the tanker in August, after receiving information that it might be involved in suspicious activity. Tuthorities also detected irregularities in the vessel’s AIS. The tanker had departed from Pasir Gudang and was heading towards the Andaman Sea, where investigators suspected a ship-to-ship transfer took place.
News
SFUNITY
The Philippine Coast Guard and the Marine Environmental Protection Unit have deployed divers to inspect the damage the 'SF Unity' suffered when it ran aground on Feb 7, 2019, around 4 a.m. in the outskirts of Iloilo after discharging its iron cargo in the mouth of the Iloilo River. The ship was headed to Batangas Port after delivering cobbles in Iloilo City when it got stuck on a shallow in pos. 10° 41.85' N 122° 34.74' E. A tug was called in order to refloat the ship. The grounded vessel has caused disruptions to the operations of passenger motorbancas and fast craft. Reports with photos: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/02/07/19/cargo-vessel-sumadsad-sa-iloilo-river http://diaryobomba.com/probinsiya/cargo-vessel-ng-bakal-sumadsad/
HMM PLATINUM
Tve firefighting operations aboard the 'HMM Platinum' have reached the final cooling and monitoring stage. All 24 crew members were reported safe. The vessel, carrying approximately 2,300 TEUs, remained offshore near South Africa after adverse weather conditions prevented it from proceeding to a port. Tugs were standing by as a precaution while authorities and salvage personnel assess the situation.
COMMODORE CLIPPER
The 'Commodore Clipper', which had been berthed in the port of Le Havre since coming from Portsmouth on Sep 6, 2026, broke lose from its moorings in the Canal du Havre à Tancarville in the storm Austen, which was raging on Oct 23 and went adrift broadside at around 10:15 a.m. in the Bellot dock. A mooring line at the bow of the ship snapped under the force of the wind, causing the vessel to swing around. Its stern then struck the quay. Haropa Port teams quickly mobilised and deployed a rescue operation. The ship was eventually secured by a tug and brought to safety at the back of the dock in pos. 49° 29' N 000° 08' E. The tugs 'VB Longchamp' (IMO: 9876311) and 'VB Guardian 19' (IMO: 9876323) secured the ferry. Reports with photos: https://www.islandfm.com/news/guernsey/commodore-clipper-breaks-mooring-ropes-in-storm-austen/ https://www.paris-normandie.fr/id754485/article/2026-10-23/tempete-austen-au-havre-le-commodore-clipper-rompt-ses-amarres-dans-le-port
MV.UNIORDER
Beached at Chittagong 24.10.26 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122201533766471366&set=gm.10167670845408943&idorvanity=6884293942
CAPE HATTERAS
The 'Cape Hatteras' will get new life as an artificial reef. The CFCC was planning to donate the longtime research vessel to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, where it will begin its next chapter underwater as a habitat for marine life and a destination for recreational fishing and diving, according to a news release published on Oct 23, 2026. The vessel is expected to be sunk approximately 18 miles off Wrightsville Beach. The preparation was expected to take three to four months, with deployment set tentatively for spring, according to the release. The process includes preparing the vessel to meet environmental requirements for use as an artificial reef. The vessel, which CFCC purchased in 2013, is currently on its final student training voyage, with students scheduled to return on Oct 25. On Oct 27, the 'Cape Hatteras' will depart CFCC’s dock for the final time as it begins the transition to its new role. The CFCC Foundation wass planning to offer alumni, former crew members and the general public an opportunity to honor someone with a lasting tribute aboard the ship. Additional details were to be be shared as plans got finalised.
PVT AZURA
The ' PVT Azura', carrying Russian diesel, was scheduled to arrive in Norfolk, Virginia, on Nov 2, marking a potential return of such shipments to the United States after more than three years. The vessel was expected to provide an early test of the government's decision to reopen the domestic market to Russian diesel supplies. The arrival serves as an indicator to other market participants that the United States is open for commercial engagement regarding Russian fuel. However, questions remained regarding the exact volume of additional supply that Moscow could deliver and whether these shipments would result in a meaningful reduction in domestic fuel prices. The tqbker was not scheduled to dock at the commercial terminals of the Port of Virginia in Norfolk, at a facility linked to United States military operations. The exact discharge location and the specific intended use of the cargo have not been independently confirmed by official maritime authorities. The upcoming arrival followed earlier logistical challenges faced by the tanker earlier in the year.
ORIS HELGA
On the night of Oct 23, 2026, the 'Oris Helga' experienced an engine failure off the coast of Zincirbozan in the Çanakkale Strait, en route from Eleusis to Giurgiulesti. Assisted by a pilot captain, the tugs ' Kurtarma 17' and 'Kurtarma 19' took the chemical tanker in tow and pulled it to the Şevketiye Anchorage Area under the coordination of the Çanakkale Ship Traffic Services Center, where it was safely moored in pos. 40° 25' N 026° 51' E. Video: https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/2113863322017898529/video/1
UGLICH
On the morning of Oct 19, 2026, the 'Uglich' went adrift in stormy weather off Anapa and ended up grounded on the beach in the surf line near Dzhemete Beach, Krasnodar Territory. A storm warning had been in effect in the area since Oct 15, with wave heights reaching up to 3,5 metres and wind gusts of up to 25 meters per second. Reports with photos and video: https://life.ru/p/priplyli-v-anape-spasatelnoe-sudno-vybrosilo-na-mel-posle-razgula-stihii https://172.ru/entertainment/v-anape-posle-shtorma-sudno-uglich-okazalos-na-meli-id76710320/
PROSPECTOR 5
Lost Stability and sank off the Coast of Gabon 24.10.26 https://www.instagram.com/p/De6Kq_DIv-x/
AVEL MAD
In Damgan (Morbihan) the chain securing the 'Avel Mad' snapped in a storm on Oct 23, 2026, at around 3 a.m. With winds exceeding 120 km/h, the vessel went adrift, before running aground in the Penerf River. It would not be possible to refloat the boat until the weekend of Oct 24/25. Report with photo: https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/damgan-56750/la-vedette-de-la-snsm-de-damgan-sest-echouee-lors-du-passage-de-la-tempete-austen-c231c5f8-cec2-11f1-a953-ed5fcc297d72
GEM NO.2
Windward AI had detected an oil spill on Oct 20, saying they believed it was coming from one of the VLCCs, which was about 16 nautical miles off Umm Al Quwain. The slick has spread more than 22 miles and was covering an area of more than 60 square miles. The spill was linked to the 'Gem No. 2', which was struck on Oct 9. The VLCC was 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera when it was struck.
