News

The 'NS Spirit' was detained again on Sep 25, 2026, this time in Kocaeli, following the engine failure in the open waters off Darıca during its exit from the İzmit Bay, with 29 deficiencies, 12 of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Unattended Machinery Spaces Evidence Missing 2) Safety of navigation - Charts Expired 3) Life saving appliances - Rescue boats Not ready for sue 4) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion main engine Not as required 5) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Not as required 6) Fire safety - Remote Means of control (Machinery spaces) Inoperative 7) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm system Inoperative 8)) Fire safety - Other (Fire safety) Other 9) Water/Weathertight - Freeboard marks Not properly marked 10) Structural conditions - Bulkheads, operational damage Holed 11) Structural conditions - Closing devices/Watertight doors Damaged 12) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Oct 10 and left the port enroute to Tuzla, where it berthed at the Desan Yardgem United Shipyards on Oct 11 for repairs. The last detentions were on Aug 13, 2025, in Karadeniz Ereğli with 18 deficiencies and on Jan 3 in Kocaeli for one week. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GyTexbTVX/

Iran claimed on Oct 12, 2026, an attack on the 'Al Maqam' of the Adnoc Logistics & Services, one of the biggest companies challenging Tehran’s ambition to control the Strait of Hormuz, and setting a third Western supertanker ablaze in the southern part of the strait within a 48-hour period. The tanker, which had been sailing with AIS switched off, moving oil for the USA and its allies, for 52 days, was in flames around its engine room and funnel with extinguishing efforts by a firefighting tug underway. Video: https://x.com/MenchOsint/status/2109670093189771522/video/1

On Oct 11, 2026, at 7.10 p.m. the 'Ivyan', en route from Varna to Monopoli, carrying 6,000 tons of vegetable oil, began drifting shortly after passing Kanlıca in the Bosphorus due to an engine failure. Following the incident, vessel traffic in the Bosphorus was suspended in both directions, and Coastal Safety teams were dispatched to the area. The lifeboats 'Kiyem 4' (MMSI: (MMSI: 271042658), 'Tahlisiye 2' (MMSI: 271047153) and 'Tahlisiye 9' (MMSI: 271047160), along with the tugs 'Kurtarma 7' (IMO: 9598608) and 'Kurtarma 11' (IMO: 9854399) were sent to assist. The tanker had initially made a u-turn after the failure, thereby coming very close to residential buildings and the historic Kanlıca ferry terminal. It then dropped both bow anchors and was then towed by the ' Kurtarma 7' to the Küçükçekmece Anchorage Area, where it was safely moored in pos. 40° 56' N 028° 45' E and remained stationary as of Oct 12. Reports with photos and video: https://www.birgun.net/haber/istanbul-bogazi-nda-kimyasal-tanker-arizasi-gemi-trafigi-cift-yonlu-askiya-alindi-739899 https://www.haberturk.com/gundem/istanbul-bogazi-nda-gemi-arizasi-trafik-cift-yonlu-durduruldu-3918932 https://operativmm.az/en/post/ship-traffic-halted-in-istanbul-strait-after-tanker-engine-failure/82003 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F2tXb6gbJ/ https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/2109372251812548738/video/1

Two Indian sailors were missing and nine Indian crew members were rescued by the Omani authorities from the 'Petro Dolphin', after it was targeted by a drone at the Sohar Port anchorage in Oman on Oct 11, 2026, and caught fire. The crew abandoned the blazing vessel onto a rescue boat. The search operations for the missing were ongoing amidst growing concern for the sailors' fate, given the escalating risks threatening the safety of vessels and their crews in the region. The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) identified the missing seafarers as Bir Bahadur Yadav and Amit Singh and sought an urgent status update on them on Oct 12, urging authorities to confirm their whereabouts and provide support to their families. The Embassy of India in Oman was closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the concerned authorities. In a separate incident on the same day, the tanker 'Valthera' (IMO: 9296389) was struck by a drone, while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was crewed by 11 Indian crew members too. The drone strike caused a fire on board, but all seafarers were reportedly safe in this case. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has called for an immediate cessation of attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers, and civilian infrastructure. Indian authorities have described the attacks on commercial vessels as deeply concerning and have warned that such actions risk further aggravating an already volatile situation. Video: https://x.com/muscat_daily/status/2109517452455354786/video/1

10 Filipino seafarers of the 'Yamilah III' returned safely to the Philippines on Oct 10, after their vessel was attacked and damaged while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz. The seafarers arrived aboard Emirates flight EK332, which landed at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City. Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) National Capital Region Assistant Regional Director Maria Theresa Sanz, representatives of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Manila International Airport Authority’s (MIAA) medical team welcomed the returning seafarers, who received airport assistance and financial aid from the DMW and OWWA as a safety net, while the MIAA medical team conducted initial medical examinations. Representatives from BSM Crew Service Center Philippines Inc., the manning agency that deployed the seafarers, also went to the airport to personally welcome them and provide additional assistance for their immediate needs. Report with photo: https://tribune.net.ph/2026/10/11/liberian-ships-crew-okay-after-me-attack

No new operations were planned to investigate the 'Alfa Watan', the Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on Oct 12. Bulgaria would again like the NATO to assist with radar equipment in the defense of the Black Sea for increased surveillance of the airspace in order to have situational awareness. On Oct 9, two paratroopers were dropped off on the 'Able' in a 30-minute operation, following which no drone debris had been found. Bulgaria’s government has declined to apportion blame for the attack on the vessels, in spite of the widespread belief that the only likely culprit was Russia. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said on Oct 12 that Bulgaria was doing everything necessary and possible so that its maritime border was reliably protected and serving as a benchmark as the external border of the European Union and the Eastern Flank of the NATO. The Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said that the Black Sea should be considered not only as a regional issue, but also as a concern for all EU and NATO countries.

On Oct 9, 2026, smoke development occurred from a battery compartment of the 'Fjon M', serving on the route Duesund - Masfjordnes, while the ferry was docked in Duesund. There were no cars or passengers on board, as the ship was out of service for maintenance works on board. The battery compartment could be closed, and the extinguishing system was activated. The fire department responded to the incident. Report with photo: https://www.bt.no/nyheter/direkte/i/BR649v/nyheter-direkte?pinnedEntry=341848

After temporary repairs in Samsun, the 'Yaşar' was towed through the Bosphorus on Oct 12 by several tugs. The ship was enroute to Yalova, where the damage, which the ship had suffered on the evening of Aug 3 in the superstructure in the port of Novorossiysk, was to undergo permanent repairs. The ship was berthed at the Mardas Terminal in Istanbul after the transit. Report with photo: https://www.yenisafak.com/gundem/karadenizde-vurulan-iki-gemi-istanbul-bogazindan-gecti-4863698

Wallenius SOL has chartered the 'Lakeway Express' of Lakeway Link to add it to its Baltic schedule. She will serve a new long-term contract with Holmen Board & Paper that started on Oct 1, 2026, to carry Holmen’s board exports from Iggesund, north of Gävle which have been shipped by RoRo for many decades. She will sail weekly to Kiel, where Holmen’s board exports have an established logistics network. The first call at Kiel enroute from Iggesund was on Oct 12. Last winter, the ship underwent an extensive conversion to reduce her environmental footprint. The work included de-rating her main engine and fitting new propeller blades and a new bow bulb. The vessel is strengthened to ice class 1A. Holmen previously used the SCA RoRo service calling at the Kiel forest products terminal. The high-value coated board will be carried mainly on cassettes.

The 'Omorfi' was targeted by a drone, while transiting the Black Sea on July 18, 2026, damaging the ship. There was a ten member crew on board, including three Indian nationals. Indian Chief Officer Sagar Gupta lost his life in the attack. Captain Mohammed Fahd suffered the amputation of one of his legs.

All 22 Indian crew members of the 'Gem No. 2' were rescued following the incident off Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, the Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed on Oct 11. The consulate was coordinating with UAE authorities to provide assistance to the seafarers. On the evening of Oct 10, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said several vessels near Ras Al Khaimah had received radio instructions to leave their anchorages. The agency classified the incident as suspicious activity. No connection between the advisory and the tanker incident has been confirmed. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has previously warned that shipping companies complying with US instructions could face sanctions and threatened to pursue vessels using routes Tehran considers unauthorised, including those beyond the Strait of Hormuz. Report with photos: https://www.latestly.com/india/news/indian-consulate-in-dubai-says-22-indian-crew-members-rescued-from-a-vessel-off-ras-al-khaimah-coast-7640729.html

Three Indian nationals rescued from the 'Royad Mammadov', have departed for India on Oct 10. The Embassy of India in Bucharest had provided all necessary support and assistance to facilitate their return, expressing its sincere gratitude to the Romanian authorities, Constanța County Hospital, and the Romanian rescue teams for their assistance, cooperation and support. On Oct 7, the Embassy representative had visited the three Indian nationals. Two were accommodated at a hotel, while the third man was undergoing treatment at the County Hospital in Constanta. The Embassy facilitated essential items, including mobile phones, through the shipping company’s local agent, while arranging Indian food through a local Indian restaurant.

No new operations were planned to investigate the 'Alfa Watan', the Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on Oct 12. Bulgaria would again like the NATO to assist with radar equipment in the defense of the Black Sea for increased surveillance of the airspace in order to have situational awareness. On Oct 9, two paratroopers were dropped off on the 'Able' in a 30-minute operation, following which no drone debris had been found. Bulgaria’s government has declined to apportion blame for the attack on the vessels, in spite of the widespread belief that the only likely culprit was Russia. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said on Oct 12 that Bulgaria was doing everything necessary and possible so that its maritime border was reliably protected and serving as a benchmark as the external border of the European Union and the Eastern Flank of the NATO. The Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said that the Black Sea should be considered not only as a regional issue, but also as a concern for all EU and NATO countries.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it targeted the 'NV Sunshine' in the Strait of Hormuz late on Oct 8 or earlyon Oct 9, 2026, as it was transiting the Persian Gulf, causing severe damage to critical sections of the vessel. Official Iranian statements indicated that the strike ignited a massive fire in the ship's engine room and propulsion system. The decision to carry out the operation was described as the tanker's "attempt to take an illegal navigation route", while passing through the area. The vessel’s AIS signal shows it anchored off Ras Laffan, Qatar, in pos. in 25° 48' N 051° 46' E. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Inland Waterways stated that the reports were incorrect and dod not reflect the actual condition of the ship. The United Kingdom Maritime ⁠Trade Operations ⁠separately reported a ⁠vessel ⁠was struck at 10 a.m. by an unknown projectile ⁠13 nautical miles west ⁠of Al Jazeera in the United Arab Emirates, causing a fire that has since been extinguished.

The 'Génesis', which ran aground on Oct 1, has broken apart due to the heavy swell and the rugged terrain of Old Man of Hoy. Local authorities started organising the removal of the numerous pieces of wreckage left behind by the longliner, which has broken up into three sections, the stern, the wheelhouse section and the foreship. After the rescue of the 17 crew members, among them two Galicians, one Portuguese, one Argentinian, and 13 Indonesians, the initial intention of the authorities and the shipowner had been to refloat it and prevent potential pollution. However, the ship remained in the same position at the mercy of the rough seas, until it broke up on Oct 11. Orkney Nautical Charters filled the deck of their inflatable boat with the debris they found. If any remains have been found and recovered, an email should be sent to recycling@orkney.gov.uk so that an accurate record coulld be submitted to the Maritime Coastguard Agency. The captain Alejandro Abuín Prado believed that the accident occurred due to a communication failure on board. Report with photos and video: https://www.farodevigo.es/mar/2026/10/12/buque-gallego-genesis-deshace-parte-tres-rocas-encallar-escocia-135242058.html https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv8ez7nwee50o

On Oct 11, 2026, the Portuguese authorities rescued three German nationals after their sailboat ran aground off the coast of Galicia, after the 'Hai Hamburg' became stuck on a sandbank in pos.41° 52' N 008° 52 W, while leaving the port of Caminha, which it had reached after departing from Vigo on Oct 9. The MRCC Lisbon dispatched members of the Caminha Local Maritime Police Command to the scene. Upon arrival, they evacuated two men and a woman, none of whom required medical attention, and transported them to the port of Caminha. The vessel ran aground in a sandy area that becomes exposed at low tide, near the Forte da Ínsua, a fortification belonging to the town of Caminha, situated on a small island right at the mouth of the Minho River. The Caminha Local Maritime Police Command oversaw the rwsue operation and informed the ship's owner that they must submit a removal plan, as well as arrange for an inspection to assess the vessel's damage and seaworthiness. Reports with photos and video: https://www.laopinioncoruna.es/galicia/2026/10/12/rescatan-tres-alemanes-embarrancar-velero-135252152.amp.html https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/amp/noticia/vigo/baiona/2026/10/12/dron-muestra-banco-arena-atrapo-velero-desembocadura-mino/00031791810576443667227.htm?utm_campaign=amp https://telemarinas.com/rescatan-a-tres-tripulantes-de-un-velero-aleman-encallado-en-la-desembocadura-del-mino/

Brittany Ferries announced to discontinue its direct Poole-Cherbourg service three weeks earlier than planned. The 'Barfleur', which has served the route since 1992, was reassigned to cover the Rosslare-Cherbourg route, starting on Oct 12, 2026, and made its final sailing from Poole on this day. At the end of June, Brittany Ferries had announced a series of measures to achieve savings of several million euros. Among them, the sale of the 'Cotentin', but also of the 'Barfleur', and the closure of the Cherbourg-Poole link on Nove 2, replaced by a route passing through Portsmouth, Guernsey and Cherbourg. Report with photos: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/26626702.live-barfleur-leave-poole-final-time/?afd_azwaf_tok=eyJraWQiOiIyQzI1RDVDRTVENEFCMTQzM0VBMDdBMTI4QjZBOUQ5MjBERkNGRkIyMEY2RkQ4MjY5MDU2OEU4RTlBRjY0QjFEIiwiYWxnIjoiUlMyNTYifQ.eyJhdWQiOiJ3d3cuYm91cm5lbW91dGhlY2hvLmNvLnVrIiwiZXhwIjoxNzkxODAzNjE5LCJpYXQiOjE3OTE4MDM2MDksImlzcyI6InRpZXIxLTU4Yzg5NTc4NzktZGJoNmMiLCJzdWIiOiIxMzQuMjQ1LjE2My4yNTIiLCJkYXRhIjp7InR5cGUiOiJpc3N1ZWQiLCJyZWYiOiIyMDI2MTAxMlQxMTEzMjlaLTE1OGM4OTU3ODc5ZGJoNmNoQzFDUEhtdmFzMDAwMDAwMGY1MDAwMDAwMDAwYmU2YiIsImIiOiJTZDNxb0hwamRja3g0dFZkRTVKdUNhTkpCMnROa3hXXzZ5UTdxYkxCUjBvIiwiaCI6ImxoMTJHaDlib3I1cnV1dDdkalF3NWVacWlxUkQ3TVlrOXdhNVhtMk5Da2cifX0.am45lM3HeH3txeh8j4cAIc8ChigyPAwE9jQ1qlEsxvWj2a-bssVLYfFhW6ptxfatBT4jDQ6C0MeUdW3lGRPh_vrGI8pHz1L2mj2gUI3om8QKF78vtE_Fi-TWKk0WRzqRjGi19LZiR5Iyizzov8F61xcevRTNKa4VwyxiRyT43M3osQfB2MJ1aWg_RvnHtiwX1RYkpl9H2iGW33rEZyx25iy_Qode9PFWXaVjLKlVZOZqBhnkgjNMykvJBNyTNzqylJf7SIRd1Cg2OTXXjXepE-aRm_WJQ-dZCSgP-Oqxdai554Ql4gpu2VixmWF2zI2M43Ynfrud5ZbjVXHc6f9pkg.WF3obl2IDtqgvMFRqVdYkD5s

sold to Breakers as is Istanbul

Beached at Alang 10.10.26 https://www.facebook.com/reel/2559422504535372

The 'Heilhorn', serving on the route Holm–Vennesund ferry, suffered technical issues on Oct 11, causing the cancellation of departures. At 10 a.m., the operator Torghatten reported that the ferry was back in operation.