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On Aug 22, 2026, Rafael Cayetano Blanco, a 38-year-old lifeguard aboard the 'MSC World America', was arrested at Port Miami for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old passenger. MSC Cruises immediately dismissed him, and law enforcement detained him following an investigation by local and federal authorities into the incidents, which took place inside the crew member's cabin during an ongoing voyage. He was held at the Metro West Detention Center in Miami-Dade County with an immigration hold in place. Blanco and the teenage passenger first met on the ship and exchanged phone numbers on Aug 16. The affidavit alleged that the minor visited Blanco's cabin later that night and again onAug 19, during which sexual encounters occurred. Following the ship's arrival at Port Miami, law enforcement officers boarded the vessel and questioned the suspect. After receiving his Miranda warnings, Blanco allegedly admitted to the encounters. The vessel had departed from Miami on Aug 15 for a 15-day round-trip itinerary, returning briefly to port on Aug 22, before continuing its journey toward Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.

The 'Bosphorus Queen' was detained on Nov 3, 2026, in Rijeka with 18 deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Safety of navigation - Charts Missing 2) Life saving appliances - Rescue boats Not ready for use 3) Emergency system - Emergency source of power - emergency generator Inoperative 4) Emergency system - Fire drills Lack of control 5) Emergency system - Enclosed space entry and rescue drills Insufficient pressure 6) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Nov 6 and left the port enroute to Brindisi with an ETA as of Nov 8. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GYZVqgwgj/

On Nov 7, the 'Dodekanisos Express' was scheduled to depart from the port of Leros to carry out an approved itinerary covering the route Kos – Symi – Kalymnos – Symi – Kos – Leros – Symi – Kalymnos. During an inspection by Port Authority officials, it was discovered that no provision had been made for a double or alternative crew, even though the voyage—lasting a total of 13 hours and 30 minutes—exceeded the maximum daily working hours permitted for the crew. Consequently, the Leros Port Authority suspended the vessel's departure. The Leros Port Authority is initiating the process for imposing the prescribed administrative sanctions. Meanwhile, the vessel has been granted authorisation for a single, one-off voyage—without passengers or cargo—to the port of Rhodes.

A significant Russian military sealift operation is currently underway, involving the 'Lady R' (IMO: 9161003), 'Lady D' (IMO: 9349289) and 'Maia 1' (IMO: 9358010) A second cargo convoy has been tracked navigating in formation, recently crossing the southern Baltic Sea just north of the Polish coast. Following military loading activities at Baltiysk throughout late October, involving other vessels like the 'Ascalon' and 'Anastasiia', this group was now sailing outbound. The 'Lady R' has been operating with intermittent AIS signals. There were three highly probable destinations, Tobruk with an ETA as of Nov 8-9, 2026, Tartus or Lomé with an ETA as of Nov 13-14. On Nov 7 at 5.32 a.m., the convoy split south of Gedser, with the 'Lady R' and 'Maia 1' having aborted their transit through the Danish Straits. The ' Lady R' executed a circular U-turn maneuver in the Fehmarn Belt and was sailing eastbound at a reduced speed of just 3.4 knots. Also the 'Maia 1' turned back east. Both vessels were under joint US and EU sanctions, likely restricting their transit through European territorial waters and the Danish Straits. The Lady D' was meanwhile continuing its northbound trajectory. The vessel was under US sanctions only, lacking the EU restrictions that halted the rest of the convoy. A fourth, unacknowledged vessel sailing in the center of the convoy, a vessel of approximately 110 meters transmitting no AIS data. The signature was highly consistent with a Russian Navy frigate or corvette providing an armed, dark escort. The Danish patrol boats 'P 523' and 'P 524' conducted a tactical handover at 12:40 a.m. UTC to maintain continuous surface tracking. The 'P 524' was shadowing the northbound 'Lady D'. The German patrol ships 'Bamberg' and 'Neustadt' have taken over the eastbound tracking of the 'Lady R' and 'Maia 1' . The German patrol aircraft PCT636 also conducted close passes over the formation. Swedish Coast Guard aircraft were actively monitoring the operational area from above.

A collision took place in early November 2026 off the coast of Cebu, involving the 'Rasalas' and the 'TB Taiyuan' near the Lauis Ledge Lighthouse (a significant lighthouse located in the channel off Talisay City, Cebu). The busy entrance to the port of Cebu was temporarily blocked and rendered impassable. Other vessels in the area had to be diverted via a wide detour through the Hilutangan Channel into the northern channel of Cebu, resulting in significant delays to regional maritime traffic.