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On Sep 9, 2026, the Kalymnos Port Authority was notified that the passenger ferry 'Kalymnos Dolphin' (MMSI: 239625600), which was scheduled to operate a route from Kalymnos to Pserimos and Kos, suffered a malfunction of its starboard side main engine. The Kalymnos Port Authority banned the vessel from sailing until the fault was repaired and a certificate of class maintenance was submitted by the monitoring classification society.

A fire broke out in late August 2026, during the construction of the cruise ship 'Norwegian Aura' (IMO: 9862580) at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera near Venice. A waste container on the outer decks caught fire, sending a column of black smoke rising along the ship's side. Shipyard personnel and emergency responders intervened quickly, preventing any significant damage to the vessel. There were no reports of injuries. The shipyard investigated the cause of the fire and potentially implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The construction of the 'Norwegian Aura' was able to continue without major disruptions or delays. The ship is set to begin passenger operations on May 21, 2027, in Trieste. Its maiden voyage will be a seven-day Mediterranean cruise to Tarragona, Spain, followed by a 13-day transatlantic crossing to the ship's US homeport of Miami. Video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/piccoloditrieste/?ref=embed_video

The Ukraine carried out a drone strike on Russia’s Ust-Luga port area on Sep 1, damaging the Novatek-Ust-Luga energy complex and causing a major fire. The facility, located in Russia’s Leningrad region on the Baltic Sea, is part of one of the country’s main energy export hubs. Leningrad's regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed damage and a fire in the port area. He said Russian air defenses intercepted dozens of drones during the attack and that emergency crews were deployed. Authorities later reported that the fire had been extinguished and no casualties were recorded at Ust-Luga. Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence confirmed that key components of an oil-processing unit and other equipment at the Novatek-Ust-Luga complex were damaged. The full extent of the damage and its effect on operations could not immediately be independently verified. The latest incident followed previous Ukrainian attacks on the port and came amid increasing strikes by both sides against energy, transport and other infrastructure linked to the continuing conflict.

A unified command has been established to respond to the 58-foot fishing vessel 'Lake Bay', that ran aground on the morning of Aug 20, 2026, in Point Reyes National Seashore. The unified command comprised of the U.S. Coast Guard and National Park Service with support and technical specialists from Marin County Fire, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response. No injuries, active fuel leaks, or wildlife impacts have been reported at this time. The North Beach was temporarily closed to the public to allow responders to operate safely and without interference. The fishing vessel had a maximum fuel capacity of 2,800 gallons and wass reported to have approximately 1,000 gallons of diesel onboard. The unified command was coordinating with the responsible party and a contracted salvage company to safely remove all fuel from the vessel. Tge 'Lake Bay' was pulled out of the active surf zone on Aug 26. The unified command shifted the incident from an active emergency pollution response to salvage and recovery operations after confirming all fuel and oil were extracted from the vessel. On Aug 25, response crews completed removal of approximately 1400 gallons of diesel fuel and 175 gallons of hydraulic and lube oil. All petroleum products were transferred to containers for proper disposal. The unified command coordinated with response crews to arrange the extraction and safe off-site disposal of 30-50 tons of deceased squid from the catch tank aboard the vessel. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4580835/unified-command-responds-to-grounded-vessel-in-point-reyes-national-seashore/

Several damaged vessels belonging to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet have been spotted sheltering in bays around the temporarily occupied Sevastopol, including a damaged missile boat, concealed beneath camouflage netting. Among the vessels identified was the rescue ship 'Epron' (built 1959), moored near an empty dry dock. A damaged Project 1241 Molniya-class missile boat was also observed in Sevastopol Bay. The vessel, built in the late 1980s, appeared to be missing part of its superstructure, with the damaged section covered by camouflage nets. Another damaged Russian warship was located in Sukharnaya Bay, where a Project 775 large landing ship built around 1988-1990 was seen moored. The vessel has reportedly sustained damage on multiple occasions. Also a Project 1171 Tapir-class landing ship was identified in the same area. The Soviet-era vessel, built either in 1968 or 1975, was damaged during a Ukrainian missile strike in 2023. As of July, Russian naval losses in the Black Sea included 19 destroyed and 18 damaged vessels. By class, the Russian Black Sea Fleet lost: - main combat ships: 33 total—four destroyed, eight damaged; - landing ships: 34 total—15 destroyed, ten damaged; - auxiliary vessels: 23 total—three destroyed, nine damaged. Earlier, reports had emerged that the two Russian Black Sea Fleet frigates 'Admiral Makarov' and 'Admiral Essen' had sustained serious damage during an August 12 strike on the Novorossiysk naval base. Satellite imagery appeared to show damage to the frigates’ missile launch systems, raising the possibility that both vessels may have lost their ability to launch Kalibr cruise missiles. The exact extent of the damage has not been officially disclosed.

Nine workers were killed due to a suspected toxic gas leak at the Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard in Chattogram’s Sitakunda, while several others were injured, on the morning of Aug 13, 2026. Two more bodies were found at the yard and sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital around 2:30 p.m., after six deaths had already been confirmed. Another injured worker's death was reported later in the day at a private hospital in Chattogram. Some of the injured were taken to other hospitals before officers of the Sitakunda Police Station arrived. Efforts were underway to airlift at least two critically injured workers to Dhaka by helicopter for advanced treatment. Efforts were underway to airlift at least two critically injured workers to Dhaka by helicopter for advanced treatment. The Bangladeshi government has formed a committee to investigate the incident, while operations at the ship-breaking yard have been suspended until further notice.The Bangladeshi government has formed a committee to investigate the incident. The workers were engaged in cleaning and maintenance work aboard the vessel at the yard when they noticed gas leaking from a tank, and several collapsed before being rushed to hospital. The bodies showed signs of blast injuries alongside effects consistent with gas inhalation. Aug 13 was a weekly holiday and no ship-cutting work should have been under way, but workers had been cutting the ship, when gas stored in a tank exploded.. After it was learnt that a gas leak occurred, a shift in-charge and two other officers went to investigate and fell ill. Four more workers who went closer also lost consciousness. The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) received reports of ten workers being injured after toxic gas leaked from the ship. The Sitakunda Fire Service and Civil Defence wasinside the shipbreaking yard with rescue operations being under way.

Yemen’s Houthi terrorists attacked the government-held port of Mokha on the Red Sea with missiles and drones on Aug 9, 2026, killing at least seven people and injuring 15 civilians. They allegedly also targeted an Aramco refinery facility in Saudi Arabia with a drone, after which a fire was reported. The Houthis used missiles and drones that badly damaged port buildings and piers and sank at least one ship. Commercial goods and food supplies were also damaged. https://icibeyrouth.com/articles/1341007/un-navire-cible-en-mer-rouge-au-moins-quatre-morts

The local company B.K International Incorporated, was among three companies that have submitted bids for the salvaging of the 'Barima'. The bids range from approximately $1 billion to more than $2 billion. According to the bid documents opened on Sep 8 by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Industrial Fabrication Inc. submitted a bid of $1.895 billion, BK International submitted a bid of $1.034 billion, and KMS B.V out of the Netherlands sent in a bit of just over $2 billion. The Bid security amounts ranged from $15.6 million to as much as US$136,691. In early August, the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation through the Maritime Administration (MARAD) invited qualified and experienced marine salvage contractors to submit Expressions of Interest to salvage the sunken vessel off Essequibo. The MARAD had explained that visibility at the wreck site was poor, and strong currents and tidal streams may be encountered at times, necessitating suitably robust procedures and equipment for safe operations. As part of the tender, the companies were expected to propose methods for the salvaging of the vessel. The bids wer eto be evaluated before a final decision is made on the award of the contract. A Commission of Inquiry into the ferry sinking was expected to begin its work in Septempber with public hearings. The salvage of the vessel was expected to be key to the work of the Commission of Inquiry. The vessel’s captain and two crew members were ordered to remain jailed on murder charges tied to the disaster on Sep 7. Captain Kevin Price, Chief Mate Rondell Roberts and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson were further remanded to prison, after state prosecutors confirmed full disclosure of evidence had been handed to the defense. The men appeared had virtually before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Charity Magistrate’s Court, which granted the defense until Sep 14 to review the evidence, with formal committal proceedings now scheduled to start on Nov 16. The three were jointly charged with 72 counts of murder in connection with the sinking that killed at least 72 people, with more than 30 others still missing and presumed dead. Price and Granderson were represented by attorney Dexter Smartt, alongside a legal team that includes Dexter Todd. Attorney Everton Lammy-Singh represents Roberts.

Firefighters were tackling a large blaze involving a number of cars at the scrap metal recycling facility Clearways Scrap Yard in Belfast's shipyard area on Sep 2, 2026. Five fire appliances and a number of specialist units were at the Clearway Disposals on thr East Twin Road. The tugs 'Laganman' and 'Masterman' were assisting with firefighting operations on the afternoon. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) was notified shortly after 12:00 p.m. BST on Wednesday. Nearby residents and businesses have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed, while people have been asked to avoid the area. Report with photos: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce304e9q4jeo

President Irfaan Ali said on Aug 31, that several companies have been shortlisted to salvage the 'Barima', while the procurement process was still continuing. The announcement marked the first concrete step toward recovering the vessel, which went down with 133 people aboard enroute from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, triggering a national reckoning over the safety of Guyana's riverine transport network. Defenders of the vessel's record point to its service history as evidence that it remained sound. Reporting on the ferry's condition before the sinking noted that the 'Barima' had been declared seaworthy and was due only for routine maintenance. Critics, however, have argued that the loss of an 87-year-old hull exposes deeper inequities in how Guyana equipped its hinterland communities compared with the capital.

Explosions were reported in Russian waters in Peter the Great Bay near Volchanets in Primorsky Krai, with a column of smoke rising from the sea in an area associated with operations of Russia's Pacific Fleet. The exact cause of the incident remained unknown, and neither the Russian government nor the Pacific Fleet has publicly commented on what happened or whether any military equipment was involved. The explosions came less than a week after Russia's Pacific Fleet conducted major live-fire exercises involving some of its most heavily armed naval assets. During the drills on Aug 20, the guided-missile cruiser 'Varyag', the nuclear-powered submarine 'Omsk' and a Bastion coastal missile system carried out missile launches against simulated maritime targets. The 'Omsk' is a Russian K-186 nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine belonging to the Project 949A Antey class, known to the NATO as the Oscar I class. It has served with Russia's Pacific Fleet submarine forces since 1994. During the recent exercise, the 'Omsk' remained in its original weapons configuration and conducted a salvo launch of P-700 Granit heavy anti-ship cruise missiles against a maritime target approximately 300 kilometers away.

The Guyana government has begun shortlisting companies to salvage the 'Barima'. The expressions of interest to refloat the vessel had closed and were now being reviewed, marking the latest step in efforts to recover the ferry, which sank on July 18 in the country’s worst maritime disaster with 73 dead. The interests were being shortlisted now by the agency, and then those shortlisted entities were to be invited to supply prices to have the vessel salvaged. In the aftermath of the sinking , the vessel’s captain, chief mate and the Transport and Harbours Department’s goods superintendent were charged with murder. The government’s immediate focus remained on supporting victims’ families, including relatives of those still missing. The government has established the Heart Initiative, a long-term support programme intended to provide legal, medical, psychological, spiritual and social assistance to affected families. Meanwhile, a commission of inquiry (COI) into the disaster was being finalised ahead of public hearings. Preparations were underway, and investigators were expected to begin substantive work on the ground in early September. The commission’s findings would determine any further government action.

One person was killed and at least six others were injured in an explosion at the Gunvor Energy facility on the Moezel Way in the Europoort section of the port of Rotterdam on the morning of Aug 13. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and initially there were broader concerns as there were also reports of power outages in parts of the Port of Rotterdam, including at the Exxon refinery, which were immediately raising concerns, especially with the constraints on energy due to the disruptions in the Middle East. Ambulances were responding to the site along with a trauma team that arrived by helicopter. Multiple fire crews were also dispatched. The area was closed off by the police, which believed that it was a workplace accident. A maintenance crew had been hired and was working at the site on the pipelines at the time of the explosion. Gunor released a statement also confirming the incident, which happened during maintenance work at one of its storage tanks. Video: https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/2087886898198892933/video/1

On the early morning of Aug 12, the port of Novorossiysk was hit by another Ukrainian drone strike on the strategic port facility. Inside the harbour, the Russian Navy has accumulated a large concentration of warships, many of which were previously stationed at Sevastopol. The threat of Ukrainian seaborne drones has forced the Black Sea Fleet to retreat to the relative safety of the northeastern Black Sea. Hundreds of Ukrainian drones descended upon the port during the night. Ukraine used the Palianytsia jet-powered drones, Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles, and naval drones in the attack and struck Russian air-defense positions, piers and port infrastructure. Despite intense air defense activity, a number of drones reached their targets. NASA FIRMS infrared remote sensing showed bright fires burning inside the naval yard at Novorossiysk, including some areas that were directly on the waterfront. In this area, Russian assets included nearly two dozen warships and auxiliaries, ranging from salvage tugs up to an improved Kilo-class submarine as well as tank landing ships of both the Ropucha-class and the Tapir-class and two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates. The Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) had at least four surface combatants damaged in the attack, including two out of three of its most capable ships in the form of two Project 11356R Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, the 'Admiral Essen' and the 'Admiral Makarov'. These vessels became the most capable surface combatants within the Black Sea Fleet’s roster following the sinking of the cruiser 'Moskva' in April of 2022. Satellite analysis confirmed moderate damage to both frigates, with hits concentrated near or on the forward Vertical Launch System (VLS) cell banks which lead to additional fire damage. It is likely that the damage is severe enough to disable the VLS systems, robbing each frigate of the ability to launch both surface to surface and surface to air missiles, crippling two thirds the Black Sea Fleet’s premier warships. In addition to the pair of Frigates, Ukraine claimed a Buyan-M type corvette, an enticing target given the vessel’s demonstrated capability to launch up to 8 Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles. Additionally, A Project 22160 large patrol ship represents the final vessel that had been targeted and damaged, rounding out the night’s total. Ukrainian droves also battered Novorossiysk’s on-shore facilities, damaging the port’s grain terminal, a 30N6E radar part of an S-300 air defense system, and a claimed strike on a tanker moored near the port’s oil terminal. Ukraine reportedly utilized a combination of jet powered drones, Neptune cruise missiles, and sea-based suicide drones in a coordinated hit. An unidentified 141-m-vessel sank near Novorossiysk on the night of Aug 7, the Exilenova+ project reported. However, official representatives of the Russian authorities have not commented on it. The ship may have been carrying military cargo. Based on its dimensions, its displacement could be estimated at around 10,000 tons. On July 8, it was reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces struck vessels in the Black Sea near Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik, reportedly as part of Operation MoLoChKa. According to a report by the Unmanned Systems Forces grouping, three vessels were struck in total on Aug 7. Six Russian shadow fleet vessels were struck in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov on Aug 5 and Aug 6. They included two tankers and four bulk carriers. It was possible that the capsized vessel near Novorossiysk was one of the struck ships. Reports with photos: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/08/ukrainian-drone-strike-russian-frigates-novorossiysk/ https://militarnyi.com/en/news/unknown-141-meter-vessel-sinks-near-novorossiysk-russian-government-stays-silent/

Units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces hit a Russian Mangust patrol boat in temporary occupied Crimea. At the time it was hit, the boat was located in Kozacha Bay, 15 kilometres from central Sevastopol. The strikes were carried out along with drone facilities, reconnaissance systems, and ammunition depots across several temporarily occupied regions on Sep 8 and overnight into Sep 9 against Russian military infrastructure in temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine. The Mangust (Project 12150) is a Russian high-speed coastal patrol boat. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Guard Service primarily uses these boats, while other Russian security and government agencies use some modifications. The boat is about 20 meters long, has a maximum speed of up to 50 knots (more than 90 km/h), and a crew of up to six. The standard armament for these boats is the MTPU-1 Zhalo 14.5 mm naval machine-gun mount. Various configurations have also been reported to support the installation of: 7.62 mm PKMB machine guns; AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers; DP-64 anti-sabotage grenade launchers; Igla-1M-type man-portable air defense systems.

A worker died at New Zealand’s CentrePort, Wellington, on the morning of Sep 2, 2026, following an accident. This was the first death at the major commercial port since 2022, when an accident occurred at the Lyttelton Port Company close to Christchurch. The deceased was employed by the Logistics Company C3, which later confirmed that one of its workers was killed during a tragic accident at the port and extended its condolences to his family, colleagues and friends. Maritime NZ, responsible for ensuring safety at the port, has launched an investigation into the accident. The was assisting the stevedore company, Maritime NZ and the police to ensure safety at the port so such accidents do not happen again.

The Russian flagged hydrofoil 'Voshkod 3' (MMSI: 273323990) ran aground in the waters of the Volga River in the Yaroslavl region on Aug 30, 2026. The incident occurred during a trip along the Uglich–Rybinsk–Tutaev–Yaroslavl route. There were no injuries, and no oil spills were reported. The vessel's owner, under the supervision of the prosecutor's office and in coordination with the regional Ministry of Transport, arranged for the passengers to be transported to their destinations by bus. The exact cause of the grounding remained unknown. The Northwestern Transport Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the incident. The Yaroslavl Transport Prosecutor's Office was also verifying compliance with regulations regarding navigation safety and passenger rights. As part of the inspection, authorities examined the crew's documentation and the condition of the navigation channel, as well as evaluate the actions taken by the crew and dispatch services. Residents of the Yaroslavl region had previously reported cancellations of "Voskhod-3" trips. In Rybinsk, passengers stated they were unable to reach the final destination. The company attributed these measures to technical issues or weather conditions.

On Aug 14, the tug 'SL Sual 1', 161 gt (IMO: 8415720), was run aground in the South China Sea near near the Bucao River, Zambales, Philippines. The ship had been at anchor off Botolan when the crew discovered a leak in the vessel’s engine room. Unable to contain the flooding, the crew decided to run the 'SL Sual 1' aground to avoid sinking. The crew alerted authorities with the Philippine Coast Guard responding aided by local fishermen. All crew members were rescued, and the Coast Guard monitored the tug for pollution. The tug remained aground, while repairs were made to the hull. A second tug arrived on site, and a towline was connected on Aug 24. On the morning, the 'SL Sual 1' was refloated and pulled a short distance, when a loud banging sound could be heard. The tug quickly developed a list to starboard and began rolling over. All ten crew members were forced to jump overboard into the sea as the vessel sank stern first in less than two minutes. It had about 15,000 liters of diesel fuel on board. The Philippine Coast Guard has staged pollution response gear nearby. Initial reports suggested the 'SL Sual 1' had struck an underwater object, possibly a shipwreck, resulting in a hull breach. As soon as weather conditions have improved, the Philippine Coast Guard planned to conduct an underwater inspection, followed by the refloating and siphoning of diesel from the fuel tank. The PCG was considering using floaters to help salvage the vessel, which was initially reported to have sunk 24 meters deep. A third-party underwater diving team has been tapped for the salvage operation. Members of the PCG along with personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were conducting water sampling to determine if an oil leak has occurred around the area where the boat capsized. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itV_3cYkzIQ&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fshipwrecklog.com%2F

An inland vessel struck a bunker station in Dordrecht on Aug 15, 2026, at around 8:00 p.m. near the Hooi Quay. Fire crews were deployed because diesel began leaking from the bunker station following the allision. The diesel was pumped out of the bunker station to prevent further leakage as much as possible. Shipping traffic was otherwise unaffected. Following the allision, oil-absorbent booms were placed in the water; these were being replaced as they became saturated. They remained in place on the morning of Aug 17. Part of the oil was also evaporating. The bunker station was operational on Aug 17. Although vessels could currently refuel at this location via bunker barges, the company is actively exploring other alternatives. An investigation into the circumstances of the accident was underway.No one was injured. Report with photos: https://www.zhzactueel.nl/2026/08/15/binnenvaartschip-botst-op-bunkerstation-in-dordrecht/#google_vignette https://dordtcentraal.nl/112-nieuws/bunkerstation-aangevaren-door-binnenvaartschip-bij-hooikade-in-dordrecht/ https://www.rtvdordrecht.nl/nieuws/olieworsten-in-het-water-vangen-gasolie-op-na-aanvaring-bunkerstation

Kyiv has proposed through a third party that Russia and Ukraine mutually suspend attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea,, following weeks of escalating strikes against merchant ships and port infrastructure. Moscow had yet to respond formally. The proposal came as the maritime conflict increasingly threatened agricultural trades. Many owners stopped calling at ports around Odesa following Russian attacks, while Ukrainian strikes forced all three grain terminals at Novorossiysk to suspend operations temporarily. Ukrainian grain exports were down 76% year-on-year so far in August. Turkey has separately been pushing both sides to agree to a Black Sea maritime moratorium. Any truce, however, would not signal an end to Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s wider seaborne economy. On the morning of Aug 14, 2026, firefighters were battling a blaze at Ust-Luga, following another major Ukrainian drone assault. The Leningrad governor Alexander Drozdenko said more than 50 drones had been shot down across the region, with the extent of damage at the port still being assessed. Ust-Luga as one of Russia’s largest petroleum export outlets has become a regular target, as Kyiv was attempting to throttle the energy revenues financing Moscow’s war effort.