News

Three migrant boats were escorted to the port of La Restinga (El Hierro) by the 'Salvamar Diphda' and 'Salvamar Navia' on the afternoon of Oct 22, from positions about ten, 15, and 21 nautical miles from the port respectively. On board were 190 in one, 33 in the second and between 130-150 people in the third boat. Two boats were detected by the SIVE and the third sighted by the SAR helicopter Helimer 204. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/2113316967834615949

A hazardous leakage occurred on board the 'Ventumar' at the pier of the former Lindenau-Yard in Kiel-Friedrichsort during routine handling of the cargo on Oct 3, 2026. The fire department was alerted, after dangerous substances were released, while handling a pesticide. Wearing breathing apparatus, the fire crews were only able to detect residual amounts and concentrations below the permissible limits. In addition to ventilating the ship and taking measurements, the crew members were also examined by doctors as a precaution, but no treatment became necessary, as no one was injured. Approximately 20 emergency personnel were on site for several hours. The water police have launched an investigation into the cause. The extent of the damage was still unclear. Ventilation measures were going on to reduce the concentration of pollutants in the cargo hold. The ship had arrived from Szczecin in Kiel on Oct 2 and remained stationary until Oct 19, when it sailed, next headed to Greenore, with an ETA as of Oct 24.

On Oct 17, 2026, the 'High Roller lll', with more than 5,400 kg of cod, about 10,000 litres of diesel fuel, as well as engine and hydraulic oil, on board, has drifted up onto the rocky shoreline near Bay de Verde, NL. The vessel had got in trouble after it had started to take on water in the Trinity Bay. The Coast Guard was notified of the ship taking on water near English Harbour, and the CCGS Sacred Bay (MMSI: 316039713), based in Old Perlican, was sent to respond and took it in tow towards Harbour Grace. Pumps were transferred onto the vessel in order to dewater it. After these ran into issues, the towline had to be cut, and the five crew members took to the life raft. They were rescued by the crew of the 'Sacred Bay', and brought to shore. The unmanned vessel then drifted onto the breakwater. During the afternoon, an initial assessment of the vessel was carried out by the Coast Guard vessel 'John Cabot' (IMO: 9781853). More crew arrived that evening, who conducted an on-scene assessment. The tug 'Nauti Buoy' (MMSI: 316017218) was deployed to assist with an ETA as of 09:30 p.m. and try to start salvage operations depending on the weather conditions. A Coast Guard response team was on site too. The Coast Guard along with the 'Nauti Buoy' in vain attempted to get the vessel clear from the rocks on Oct 18. It turned out that the vessel was badly jammed up on the rocks, and it looked like one of the stabilising fins was stuck in the rocks. To make things worse, the 'Nauti Buoy' got a rope entangled in the propeller and had to be taken in tow to Bay de Verde by a Coastguard boat. In the run of the afternoon, the fuel removal from the fishing vessel onto a shore based tanker truck was commenced. The vessel was grounded close enough to a seawater intake system for the Quinlan Brothers seafood plant that operations at the plant were put on hold at least for the day out of caution. The tug 'Dalton Warrior' (IMO: 9187253) has departed from St. John’s and was heading to the Bay de Verde to assist the salvage of the 'High Roller lll'. She arrived at around 10 p.m. The 'High Roller III' was prepared for an attempt to tow her off the rock on Oct 19 at around 1 p.m., but the wind started to pick up out of the south, which was pushing the 'High Roller lll' towards the shore, creating conditions that were not ideal. On the evening, the salvage efforts were stopped without success and resumed on Oct 20. Water was pumped out, and flotation bags were fixed to the bow. At 7:10 p.m. the vessel was pulled free, but started to sink in the bow. The airbags were helping keep the bow somewhat afloat, the tug had the vessel winched up close and pulled the vessel to the harbour of Bay de Verde. Reports with photos and video: https://ntv.ca/local-news/fishing-crew-rescued-after-vessel-drifts-onto-rocky-shore-near-bay-de-verde/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/high-roller-iii-9.7387051 https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7389694

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stepped up enforcement of Nigeria’s coastal shipping regulations, arresting the tankers 'Holmes', 'Fujairah Energy', 'JS Gratitude' and 'Bora' in Lagos over alleged violations of the Cabotage Act and other maritime rules, on Oct 21, 2026. The agency said that some of the vessels had been released after regularising their alleged infractions, while enforcement measures were aimed at ensuring compliance with indigenous participation requirements in coastal and inland shipping. The arrests were carried out under Operation Sea Guardian, an intelligence-led initiative designed to identify vessels suspected of defaulting on their Cabotage obligations, including applicable surcharges and levies. The operation involved Deep Blue assets and collaboration among its enforcement personnel, the Nigerian Navy, the Maritime Guard Command and C4i intelligence personnel. The exercise relied on intelligence reports, surveillance and compliance assessments to identify high-risk vessels for inspection and further scrutiny. The agency had issued a marine notice on Aug 26, outlining the requirements for participation in Cabotage trade and warning vessel owners, companies, operators and charterers against violations. The renewed enforcement drive was part of efforts to strengthen indigenous capacity in coastal and inland shipping and ensure compliance with applicable maritime regulations.

Crew members of the 'Chelsea 3' have been questioned before a judge, while Bulgaria’s Specialised Counter-Terrorism Unit has collected swab samples from the damaged areas of the ship. A forensic explosives examination has been ordered to establish the type and magnitude of the explosion and whether it had any specific characteristics. The debris found on Oct 20 should not yet be described as drone parts, as it remained to be established whether the fragments came from the ship or from a maritime drone, according to the supervising prosecutor Kiril Peychinov on Oct 21. The pieces have been submitted for expert examination to determine whether they bear serial numbers or other markings that could provide information about the drone’s origin. During the initial inspection, these did not appear to be components of the ship, but the examination has been ordered to make sure. The results would not be ready within a week or two. The investigation involved the cooperation with all operational services and foreign partners, who were providing assistance as specialists in the relevant field rather than acting as investigators. Obtaining an additional expert opinion was particularly valuable, given that Bulgarian authorities had not faced a similar situation before. There was only one investigation, conducted by Bulgarian authorities under the supervision of the Sofia Regional Prosecutor’s Office.On Oct 20, the Sofia Military Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had opened pre-trial proceedings following a report alleging a criminal offence in Bulgaria’s EEZ in the Black Sea involving the 'Chelsea 3'.

On Sep 17, the Danish shipping company Maersk informed its customers that the 'Maersk Lanco', which caught fire on its voyage 634N, has moved to the inner anchorage off Salvador, where the next phase of its recovery operation was commenced. According to a customer advisory, the technical assessments have been completed, and the vessel was undergoing repairs at the anchorage in pos. 12° 57' N 038° 34' W. Under the current repair plan, the work was expected to take approximately two weeks; however, Maersk noted that this timeframe could change based on ongoing technical assessments and operational conditions, and would be reviewed as the work progresses. Maersk Brasil Brasmar Ltda., acting as agent for Maersk A/S, stated that it would keep affected customers informed of significant developments and issue a further update, once additional information becomes available. The company thanked its customers for their understanding and directed them to contact local customer service representatives with any inquiries.

On the morning of Oct 20, 2026, the San Juan Bay Pilots received an emergency call from the 'Silver Valerie', alerting them to a ship's movement towards a vessel of the logistics company Crowley, while the tanker was anchored in the port of San Juan in the mooring area "E" after having shifted there from the Puerto Rico Energy Dock. Strong winds caused the vessel to drag its anchor. The harbour pilots immediately requested tug assistance. A pilot on duty boarded the 'Silver Valerie' to secure the situation. Despite this, the drift could not be stopped in time, and the 'Silver Valerie' allided with the Crowley vessel, hitting its bow with the starboard side. The incident was reported to the U.S. Coast Guard, which has launched an official investigation. The tanker was moored in pos. 18° 27' 'N 066° 06' W. Report with photos: https://www.elvocero.com/actualidad/pr-cticos-de-la-bah-a-de-san-juan-explican-su-intervenci-n-en-incidente/article_709ede4e-935c-4e2c-bf57-ffe8524afb24.html https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2026/10/21/embarcacion-de-combustible-choca-con-otro-barco-en-el-muelle-de-san-juan/

Salvage operations were underway for the 'KMAX Emperor' on Sep 24. All vessels transiting the area wre advised to navigate with extreme caution and maintain a safe distance to the bulk carrier in the Gulf of Kachchh, off Kandla Coord, in pos. 22° 43.76' N 069° 53.61' E. As of Oct 16, it was NUC in pos. 22° 44' N 069° 54' E with patching works underway in the open waters. One month after the collision it was safely floating again. Photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ya3sYp7p8/

The 'Caledonian Isles', serving on the route Ardrossan - Brodick, suffered a technical issue with the port side mezzanine deck. As aconsequence, the vehicle capacity had to be reduced. The ferry was to be removed from service for one day on Nov 4 to allow repairs to be carried out on the mezzanine deck. As a result, the service would be operating to and from Troon. As a consequence, the maintenance period of the 'Alfred' was to be carried out in Brodick that day, allowing the vessel to provide the following additional sailing: Departure Brodick - 08:10 a.m. All other sailings operated by the 'Alfred' would be operated as per published timetable. The ship would be required to operate a repositioning sailing back to Brodick on Nov 3, on which no passengers or vehicles would be carried to allow the vessel to proceed straight onto the concrete berth to begin its maintenance.

A total of 251 passengers along with their luggage and 10 crew members were evacuated with the assistance of security teams and relevant agencies, after the 'Express Bahagia 98', enroute from Langkawi, had run aground on a sandbank near the entrance to the Kuala Perlis Passenger Ferry Terminal on Oct 21, 2026, at 10.35 a.m. The ferry had departed Langkawi at 9.30 a.m. and got stuck near Buoy No 1 in Kuala Perlis, when the captain took evasive action to avoid a fishing net stretched across the inbound and outbound shipping channel at Kuala Perlis. When the manoeuvre was carried out, both main engines were stopped. Wind conditions then caused the vessel to drift onto the shallow.The evacuation was carried out in collaboration with the Kuala Perlis Marine Police, the Kuala Perlis Fishermen’s Association and Sea Splash Travel Sdn. Bhd., after two initial attempts to tow the ferry off with the 'Kenangan 6' (IMO: 9256004) and the 'Langkawi Auto Express 1' (MMSI: 533001840) had failed due to the falling water level, and was completed at 4.50 p.m. More efforts to refloat the ferry were scheduled for around 7 p.m. with the rising tide. The operation was planned with the assistance of fishing boats and depended on tidal conditions and the prevailing circumstances to ensure it could be carried out safely. Reports with photos: https://www.sinardaily.my/ampArticle/742466 https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/21/langkawi-ferry-runs-aground-off-kuala-perlis-all-251-passengers-evacuated/240073

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stepped up enforcement of Nigeria’s coastal shipping regulations, arresting the tankers 'Holmes', 'Fujairah Energy', 'JS Gratitude' and 'Bora' in Lagos over alleged violations of the Cabotage Act and other maritime rules, on Oct 21, 2026. The agency said that some of the vessels had been released after regularising their alleged infractions, while enforcement measures were aimed at ensuring compliance with indigenous participation requirements in coastal and inland shipping. The arrests were carried out under Operation Sea Guardian, an intelligence-led initiative designed to identify vessels suspected of defaulting on their Cabotage obligations, including applicable surcharges and levies. The operation involved Deep Blue assets and collaboration among its enforcement personnel, the Nigerian Navy, the Maritime Guard Command and C4i intelligence personnel. The exercise relied on intelligence reports, surveillance and compliance assessments to identify high-risk vessels for inspection and further scrutiny. The agency had issued a marine notice on Aug 26, outlining the requirements for participation in Cabotage trade and warning vessel owners, companies, operators and charterers against violations. The renewed enforcement drive was part of efforts to strengthen indigenous capacity in coastal and inland shipping and ensure compliance with applicable maritime regulations.

Eight crew members of the dhow 'Jesus Heart', carrying around 160–170 tonnes of cargowhich sank after colliding with an unidientified fishing vessel off the Beypore coast on Oct 20, 2026, at 10.30 p.m. were rescued in a joint operation of the 'Resco 4' and the Indian Coast Guard. The dhow, which had suffered hull damage and water ingress, sank about 20 nautical miles off Beypore. The tug, which was operating in the area in support of the seismic survey vessel 'Eagle Explorer', took the crew on board at 11.40 p.m. and transferrred them to the 'C 144' of the Indian Coast Guard, which had been deployed from Beypore on Oct 21 at 5.30 a.m. They were brought to Beypore the same morning. The ship then searched the area where the dhow hade sunk, covering a radius of about three nautical miles. However, no debris, wreckage or oil spill was found. The water depth at the sinking location was around 36 metres. The castaways underwent medical examinations and were found to be in good health. They were subsequently handed over to Beypore Coastal Police for further investigations. Report with photo: https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2026/10/21/tug-resco-4-coast-guard-rescue-eight-crew-members-of-sunken-dhow-off-beypore.amp.html

An investigation and structural assessments were taking place to assess the damage caused by the allision of the 'Independence of the Seas' with the Heritage Wharf Cruise Ship Terminal upon its arrival at Bermuda on Sep 14, 2026. A section of the wharf moved some inches, and damage was also caused to a pipe below the surface. The ship sailed again on Sep 15 and arrived in New York on Sep 17. The Ministry of Public Works was carrying out a structural assessment of the berth to determine the extent of the damage. There was no impact to shipping operations, and vessel movements could be continued as normal. Report with photo: https://www.royalgazette.com/general/news/article/20261021/investigation-after-cruise-ship-strikes-port/

On Oct 21, 2026, the 'Hillefjord', serving on the route Ranavik–Skjersholmane, suffered a technical problem, which has led to the cancelled departures, starting at 5.45 a.m. from Skjersholmane and at 06.35 from Ranavik. There was a problem with the gear, and a part needed to be replaced. A spare part was ordered and a repair carried out. The service was operated again as scheduled from 03.45 p.m.

The 'CMA CGM Pointe Noire' allided with a large Paceco quay crane at the Terminal Darsena Toscana in the Port of Livorno on Oct 22, 2026. The incident occurred during the vessel’s approach to its berth within the Darsena Toscana turning basin. No injuries were reported. The vessel was maneuvering with the assistance of two tugs, when its bridge structure struck the boom of a crane that was stationed on the quay for maintenance. The impact pushed the crane off its rails. The impact left the crane visibly damaged and leaning towards the water, raising concerns about the safety of port equipment and terminal operations. The affected area was reportedly cordoned off, while port authorities and technicians assessed the structure and worked to secure it. The damaged crane was one of six Paceco units operated by TDT; in the immediate aftermath of the incident, only two remained operational. This issue was affecting the handling capacity of the terminal, which serves as the primary container hub for the Port of Livorno. Following the allision, the Port Authority has cordoned off the stretch of water in front of Quay 14—between bollards 15 and 29—extending 80 meters from the edge of the quay. This measure was implemented to ensure navigational safety and to allow for the stabilisation and securing of the structure. The terminal operator has engaged technicians from the crane manufacturer and submitted a report on the equipment’s stability to the Port Authority. According to Marco Mignogna, General Manager of TDT, the crane’s positioning during maintenance had been coordinated with the harbour pilots and the maritime authority. The cause of the impact remains to be determined. The crane is scheduled to be removed next week, while full restoration was expected to take several months. Investigations by the Port Authority aimed to clarify the sequence of events during the maneuver and establish responsibility for the incident. The ship suffered only minor damage. It has been placed under detention by the safety department, pending the necessary inspections required to authorise its departure. The ship’s captain has been summoned to provide clarification. Report with photos and video: https://www.shippingitaly.it/2026/10/22/nave-portacontainer-danneggia-una-gru-del-terminal-darsena-toscana-di-livorno/?fbclid=Iwb21leAVHMZBjbGNrBUcxcmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YFc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEekfMCLzS0_XikfsVrQXsXYqUgCmDRGpnP6agogyq6D-IEnzVSHI_MdsX-FL4_aem_e0Yz9E5Wsi_5BIoUId-VAw

The burnt out 'Batumandi' started to list to port side, still emitting smoke, on Oct 21, while the stern was sinking further, until it finally capsized at 8.54 p.m. WIB and floated bottom up in the Sunda Strait near the ASDP Merak Port in Cilegon City, Banten Province, in pos. 5° 56' 620" S 105° 59' 548" E. The police patrol boat 'KP. XXIII-2013' was securing the area. The investigative team had not yet had time to conduct a crime scene investigation (TKP) before the capsize. The ferry company ASDP was coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure that the location of the sunken vessel did not compromise the safety or flow of maritime traffic. Safety measures included the installation of a buoy to mark the vessel's location, serving as a guide for passing ships and minimizing potential risks in the area. An oil boom was laid out around the wreck by the PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental (PTK). Since the afternoon of Oct 20, the team had remained on standby near the location with maritime Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) equipment, which included 11 permanent oil booms totaling 265 meters, four sea booms, Oil Spill Response personnel, and one tug with crew and other support personnel. Furthermore, the ASDP coordinated with the competent authorities and relevant parties to prepare for the recovery of the vessel through a salvage operation, ensuring that the operation is conducted in a planned manner and in accordance with established procedures. A salvage team scheduled to arrive in Merak on Oct 22 at around 10.00 a.m. to assess the position and condition of the 'Batumandi' in order to determine further action. Meanwhile the Banten Regional Police have interrogated passengers and the captain of the ferry during its investigations into the incident. As of Oct 22, police have questioned 18 witnesses to uncover the cause of the fire. Reports with photos: https://kabar6.com/kapal-ferry-batumandi-yang-kemarin-terbakar-malam-ini-tenggelam/ https://m.kumparan.com/amp/kumparannews/usai-terbakar-kmp-batumandi-akhirnya-terbalik-lalu-tenggelam-28Q7tuTn96E https://afu.id/nusantara/polda-banten-usut-kasus-tenggelamnya-kmp-batumandi-sejumlah-saksi-diperiksa https://wartakota.tribunnews.com/news/905257/seperti-dejavu-penampakan-kmp-batumandi-terbalik-usai-terbakar-di-selat-sunda# https://babebanten.com/peristiwa/buoy-dipasang-di-lokasi-tenggelamnya-kmp-batumandi-untuk-kelancaran-lalu-lintas-pelayaran

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stepped up enforcement of Nigeria’s coastal shipping regulations, arresting the tankers 'Holmes', 'Fujairah Energy', 'JS Gratitude' and 'Bora' in Lagos over alleged violations of the Cabotage Act and other maritime rules, on Oct 21, 2026. The agency said that some of the vessels had been released after regularising their alleged infractions, while enforcement measures were aimed at ensuring compliance with indigenous participation requirements in coastal and inland shipping. The arrests were carried out under Operation Sea Guardian, an intelligence-led initiative designed to identify vessels suspected of defaulting on their Cabotage obligations, including applicable surcharges and levies. The operation involved Deep Blue assets and collaboration among its enforcement personnel, the Nigerian Navy, the Maritime Guard Command and C4i intelligence personnel. The exercise relied on intelligence reports, surveillance and compliance assessments to identify high-risk vessels for inspection and further scrutiny. The agency had issued a marine notice on Aug 26, outlining the requirements for participation in Cabotage trade and warning vessel owners, companies, operators and charterers against violations. The renewed enforcement drive was part of efforts to strengthen indigenous capacity in coastal and inland shipping and ensure compliance with applicable maritime regulations.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stepped up enforcement of Nigeria’s coastal shipping regulations, arresting the tankers 'Holmes', 'Fujairah Energy', 'JS Gratitude' and 'Bora' in Lagos over alleged violations of the Cabotage Act and other maritime rules, on Oct 21, 2026. The agency said that some of the vessels had been released after regularising their alleged infractions, while enforcement measures were aimed at ensuring compliance with indigenous participation requirements in coastal and inland shipping. The arrests were carried out under Operation Sea Guardian, an intelligence-led initiative designed to identify vessels suspected of defaulting on their Cabotage obligations, including applicable surcharges and levies. The operation involved Deep Blue assets and collaboration among its enforcement personnel, the Nigerian Navy, the Maritime Guard Command and C4i intelligence personnel. The exercise relied on intelligence reports, surveillance and compliance assessments to identify high-risk vessels for inspection and further scrutiny. The agency had issued a marine notice on Aug 26, outlining the requirements for participation in Cabotage trade and warning vessel owners, companies, operators and charterers against violations. The renewed enforcement drive was part of efforts to strengthen indigenous capacity in coastal and inland shipping and ensure compliance with applicable maritime regulations.

On Oct 4, the 'Maersk Lanco' left the port of Salvador again after repairs. During the recent weeks, the Boskalis subsidiary SMIT Salvage had provided assistance to the vessel, after it suffered a fire in the Atlantic Ocean, and towed it to the port of Salvador for emergency repairs, after the fire was extinguished. After the repairs have successfully been completed, the vessel left the port enroute to Tanger Med and Europe, where the containers will be discharged, sail under its own power again. However, SMIT Salvage and Boskalis accompanied the ship with the tug 'BOKA Keeper' (IMO: 9737266) as an escort, with an ETA at Tanger-Med as of Oct 28.

For the first time in over a month a tanker, the 'Soyia', was hit off the coast of Iraq in the Strait of Hormuz on Oct 20, 2026. The ship was struck about 30 nautical miles southeast of Al Faw, enroute from Khor Al Zubair Offshore. All crew members on board were reported to be safe. The tanker berthed in Umm Qasr on Oct 21.