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On Oct 20, 2026, the 'Olympic 1' requested the immediate medical evacuation of a crew member 25 nautical miles south of Málaga. The CCS Tarifa of Salvamento Marítimo deployed the SAR boat 'Salvamar Alnitak' and the helicopter Helimer 222 to the tanker. The patient was hoisted aboard the helicopter, which transferred him to Málaga airport, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to the hospital for further medical care.

On Oct 18, 2026, the 'Aquacharm' allided with an under-construction wharf, while berthing at the port of Dung Quat. The impact tore an approximately five-metre section of the bow above the waterline. No pollution has been reported. The bulk carrier had arrived at Dung Quat on Oct 14, loaded with 170,856 tonnes of iron ore from Port Hedland and 22 crew members, among them five South Koreans, one Japanese national and 16 Filipinos, on board. On Oct 18 at 4:45 p.m., the pilot contacted the officer on duty at the Dung Quat VTS to instruct him to board the vessel and assist with navigation to dock at Pier 10 as planned. At approximately 5:45 p.m., while the 'Aquacharm' was manoeuvring towards berth 10, it struck a 50-metre extension being constructed between berths 10 and 11. A large section of the new berth extension was heavily damaged. While berth 10 was affected, the port’s other 11 berths remained operational, with production continuing without disruption. The extent of the wharf damage was still awaiting formal assessment. The ship suffered a large breach on both sides of the bow above the waterline and more damage at the port side foreship. An investigation has been opened into the incident. Preliminary accounts stated that the captain had ailed to control its speed due to communication errors. However, the Dung Quat border guard station stated that the speed had been communicated to the pilot multiple times. The Quang Ngai Maritime Administration required an enhanced emergency readiness to protect the vessel, while it remained at its berth. A tug has been directed to remain on standby with the vessel around the clock, with the authorities requesting a plan for securing the vessel before the onset of heavy weather. Operations were focused on offloading the ore from the vessel. Reports with photos: https://baomoi.com/tau-cho-hon-170-000-tan-quang-sat-va-vao-cau-cang-o-dung-quat-mui-tau-rach-khoang-5m-c56314139.epi https://vantage-logistics.com/port-maritime-accidents-managing-risks-and-maintaining-port-operations https://www.vietnam.vn/de/tau-cho-hon-170-500-tan-quang-sat-va-cham-cang-chuyen-dung-o-dung-quat https://www.vietnam.vn/de/kip-thoi-xu-ly-vu-tau-hang-va-cham-cau-cang-dung-quat-quang-ngai https://yuenan.com/news-185377/

The Sarter Marine Towing Company has asked a court to dismiss a Wisconsin lawsuit, which was seeking removal of the 'Donny S' from Baileys Harbor, denying the state’s allegation that it owned the tug. The company filed its response on Oct. 14 in a case brought by the state and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Other defendants included Jeremy Schultz, identified in the lawsuit as the tug’s owner; Michael Cole; and Iron Works Construction, where the vessel was initially moored. The complaint, filed at the Door County Circuit Court, asked the court to declare the grounded ship a public nuisance and order its removal. If the defendants failed to remove it, the state was seeking authorisation for the DNR to undertake the work at their expense. The Sarter Marine denied knowledge of DNR violations and previous efforts to have the tug removed, and also disputed the allegation, that the defendants failed to remove the vessel despite years of notice. Its response argued that any alleged damages resulted wholly or partly from third parties outside its control. According to the complaint, Schultz acquired the steel tug in 2021, after it had been permanently laid up. A previous survey described the vessel as being in unsatisfactory condition, because hull repairs had not been completed, with its remaining value largely tied to scrap, deck equipment and fittings. The complaint stated that the Sarter Marine contacted the Coast Guard in March 2021 about towing the vessel from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, to Baileys Harbor. The Coast Guard had approved the tow the following month under specified weather conditions. The tug was subsequently brought to a dock associated with Cole and Iron Works Construction. Possible plans cited in the complaint included taking the vessel to a scrapyard or converting it into a floating restaurant and kayak-rental operation. Between November 2021 and May 2022, the vessel broke free from its mooring and ran aground about 580 feet fromthe shore in approximately four feet of water. The state alleged that Schultz failed to move the tug despite repeated DNR requests. The agency began issuing citations for unlawful obstruction of navigable waters in Oct 2022. According to the complaint, at least 33 citations were issued through Feb 2024, totaling more than $20,000. The complaint also identified potential environmental hazards aboard the vessel, including residual fuel and grease, asbestos-coated piping, lead- or cadmium-based paint, polychlorinated biphenyls and tributyltin-based antifouling agents. It did not establish that those materials were leaking from the tug. The DNR began holding stakeholder meetings in 2025 to discuss a solution. The town of Baileys Harbor and Door County passed resolutions, seeking action on the vessel, with county officials calling for inspections to evaluate hazardous materials and structural and environmental risks. The Schultz, Cole and Iron Works Construction had not responded to the lawsuit as of Oct 15. No hearings were scheduled.

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The UK government confirmed on October 19, 2026, that the three masts, that have been removed from the SS 'Richard Montgomery' in the Thames Estuary in 1944, have been transferred to the Historic Dockyard Chatham by the 'NP 562' for conservation. The wreck, located near Sheerness in Kent, still contained an estimated 1,400 tonnes of explosive. The removal project was completed ahead of schedule and below forecast costs of estimated at £9.5 million, although the department has not yet disclosed the final expenditure. The operation formed part of a long-term effort to manage the deteriorating vessel, whose masts had remained visible above the water for decades. Officials said removing the structures reduced the load on the aging wreck and lowered the risk of them falling onto the decks containing the remaining munitions. An expert advisory group had recommended removing the masts as part of the site's long-term management. Reports with photos: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sheerness/news/pictures-show-complex-operation-behind-masts-removal-from-b-346420/ https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/26649575.ss-richard-montgomery-mast-removal-project-completed/

On Oct 12, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has indefinitely suspended the operations of six vessels of the Atienza Interisland Ferries after the fire that gutted the 'June Aster' off the coast of Coron, Palawan. The order was issued to the 'Star San Carlos' (IMO: 9168128), 'September Tulips' (MMSI: 457900394), 'December Poinsettia', 'October Lavender' (IMO: 9969259), 'May Lillies' (IMO: 7900388) and 'Cattleya Express' (IMO: 8804086). Dole officials had inspected the vessels on Oct 10 in Navotas. The work for Atienza Shipping Lines has been suspended. Dole instructed the company to pay the wages of all affected employees during the period covered by this WSO, the issuance of this Order having resulted from violations attributable to the employer. 63 of the 77 people killed in the fire have been identified, while eight people remained missing. The ship had 128 passengers and crew members on board, and 43 of them survived. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had filed a complaint of alleged falsification of public documents against the Captain Roel Sarmiento. He was found liable for discrepancies in the Master’s Declaration of Safe Departure (MDSD), which contained the vessel’s passenger and crew manifest. The MDSD declared that the vessel complied with safety regulations and had the proper placement of cargo and the correct number of passengers and crew members. The PCG initially tallied 134 occupants. This meant that six passengers listed in the ticket manifest did not board the vessel. Some passengers listed in the manifest reportedly failed to arrive or decided to take other means of transportation, before the 'June Aster' left Baseco Port in Manila on the night of Sep 9.

On Oct 20, a merchant ship sighted a rubber boat, which was requesting assistance, about 80 nautical miles west of Cape Bojador. The CCS Las Palmas of Salvamento Marítimo mobilised the 'Guardamar Polimnia', which rescues 27 Maghrebi and sub-Saharan males, among them five minors, from the inflatable. The migrants were then transferred to Arguineguín. Video: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/2112586760069005401/video/1

The 'Damkerort-SC 12' was disabled by a propulsion damage about seven nautical miles north-northeast of Heligoland on Oct 20, 2026, at around 9:30 a.m., with four crew members on board. At that time, there were southeasterly winds of force 6, gusting to force 7 and a sea state of 1.5 to 2 meters. The fishermen notified the MRCC in Bremen, which alerted the lifeboat 'Theo Fischer' of the DGzRS, which had just docked in the port of Heligoland to temporarily replace the 'Hermann Marwede', which is usually stationed there. At approximately 10:45 a.m., the 'Theo Fischer' managed to take the cutter in tow and pulled it against the wind and waves towards the island. To make it easier to navigate into Heligoland's southern harbour, the sea rescuers took the fishing cutter alongside for the final leg. By 1:00 p.m., the 'Damkerort' was safely secured in the harbour.

The 'Sulina' was detained for the third time within less than a year, this time on Oct 13 in Damietta Egypt with 14 deficiencies, 13 of which being regarded as serioulsy and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - International Air Pollution Certificate Missing 2) Certificate & Doc - Internatiinal Ship Security certificate Entries missing 3) Certificate & Doc - International Anti-douling system certificate Missing 4) Certificate & Doc - International Sewage Pollution Prevention Missing 5) Certificate & Doc - Internation Oil Pollution Prevention Missing 6) Certificate & Doc - Cargo Ship Safety Radio Missing 7) Certificate & Doc - Cargo Ship Safety equipment Missing 8)) Certificate & DOc - Cargo Ship Safety contruction Missing 9) Certificate & Doc - Ballast Water Management Certificate Missing 10) Certificate & Doc - Document of compliance Missing 11) Certificate & Doc - MaritimeLabour certificate Entries missing 12) Certificate & Doc - Safety management Certificate Entries missing 13) Certificate & Doc Other (Certificates) Other The vessel was released again on Oct 19 and sailed for Lebanon. The last detentions were on May 12 in Burgas with 16 deficiencies for four days with a ban to Paris MoU ports, on Feb 27, 2026, in Aliaga with 24 deficiencies for five days and on Nov 3, 2025, in Heraklion with 41 deficiencies for 102 days. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HBmGBaWFK/

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A humpback whale has been struck by the 'Queen of Surrey', operating between the Vancouver-Horseshoe Bay terminal and the Sunshine Coast, on Oct 18 near Metro Vancouver. Fisheries and Oceans Canada were alerted after the collision near the Keats and Grace islands in the Howe Sound. Witnesses reported two humpback whales near the ferry at the time of the collision, and one was struck after it surfaced in front of the vessel. The whale was seen behind the vessel after the collision, thrashing in the water, with red visible around the animal. Investigators were working to identify it and assess its condition. Researchers believed the collision may have been fatal, given the vessel’s speed and the apparent severity of the impact,. The incident was immediately reported by BC FErries to the appropriate authorities, and the company was working with them to understand the circumstances and any impacts on the whale.

On Oct 12, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has indefinitely suspended the operations of six vessels of the Atienza Interisland Ferries after the fire that gutted the 'June Aster' off the coast of Coron, Palawan. The order was issued to the 'Star San Carlos' (IMO: 9168128), 'September Tulips' (MMSI: 457900394), 'December Poinsettia', 'October Lavender' (IMO: 9969259), 'May Lillies' (IMO: 7900388) and 'Cattleya Express' (IMO: 8804086). Dole officials had inspected the vessels on Oct 10 in Navotas. The work for Atienza Shipping Lines has been suspended. Dole instructed the company to pay the wages of all affected employees during the period covered by this WSO, the issuance of this Order having resulted from violations attributable to the employer. 63 of the 77 people killed in the fire have been identified, while eight people remained missing. The ship had 128 passengers and crew members on board, and 43 of them survived. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had filed a complaint of alleged falsification of public documents against the Captain Roel Sarmiento. He was found liable for discrepancies in the Master’s Declaration of Safe Departure (MDSD), which contained the vessel’s passenger and crew manifest. The MDSD declared that the vessel complied with safety regulations and had the proper placement of cargo and the correct number of passengers and crew members. The PCG initially tallied 134 occupants. This meant that six passengers listed in the ticket manifest did not board the vessel. Some passengers listed in the manifest reportedly failed to arrive or decided to take other means of transportation, before the 'June Aster' left Baseco Port in Manila on the night of Sep 9.

On the late night of Oct 19, the 'Able' disappeared from the radar, and it was believed that the ship has finally sunk, almost two weeks after the attack on Oct 6 in Bulgaria’s EEZ, about 70 nautical miles from Byala. Air Force and Navy teams had inspected the ship on Oct 9 and reported extensive damage from a fire and that the engine room was flooded. The ship was loaded with barley, bound from Romania bound for Turkey. The inspection had failed to find any drone fragments. Despite being down at the stern and listing, the Able continued to drift in the Black Sea. On Oct 14, at 1.10 a.m., the 'Able' drifted out the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone, when the ship was about 33 nautical miles east of Ahtopol.

The 'Inyalazi' (IMO: 8317679) partially sank at her tug basin mooring in the port of Durban on the night of Oct 20, 2026, with her stern submerged underwater, close to the SAS 'Durban-M 1499', a historic, wooden-hulled Ton-class minesweeper, which was built in 1958 for the South African Navy. After retiring in 1985, it had served as a floating museum exhibit at the Durban Maritime Museum moorings, before partially sinking on June 29, 2020. The cause of the latest sinking has not been announced by Transnet National Ports Authority. The Schottel-driven 'Inyalazi' was built at Southern African Shipyards in Durban in 1984 as 'Piet Aucamp' and was renamed in the mid 1990s. Report with photo: https://africaports.co.za/#12042

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Bulgarian law enforcement authorities have discovered drone debris aboard the 'Chelsea 3'. The Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgi Peev announced the discovery on Oct 20 in the village of Kaloyanovo, near Plovdiv: "As far as I know, some debris has already been found and is currently being analysed. Once the results are available, the public will, of course, be duly informed." He added that Bulgarian authorities would seek assistance from experienced partner organisations if they lacked the technical capabilities required to investigate the drone attack. The salvage operation cost Bulgaria approximately €200,000. The country may seek to recover these expenses through insurance payments or claim compensation from the vessel's owner. The Sofia Military District Prosecutor's Office launched pre-trial proceedings into a suspected crime committed in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea in connection with the attack.

A major search has been launched after a man from Johnstone went overboard from the 'Caledonian Isles', east of the Isle of Arran, on Oct 18 at 8.30 p.m. Two Coastguard helicopters and a Coastguard aeroplane were scrambled to the scene to search, as well as rescue teams from Arran, Ayr, Ardrossan and Greenock. RNLI lifeboats were also deployed from Girvan and Campbeltown. Following an extensive search, no one was found. The Coastguard response was stood down on Oct 19 at about 4.55 a.m. Officers from Police Scotland were called amid reports of the ongoing missing person enquiry. CalMac were assisting the police and Coastguard crews in the investigation. Enquiries have established that the man may have entered the water after boarding the ferry from Ardrossan.