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The 'Hebo Lift 9' was one of the fleet of about 40 ships, among them tugs, dredgers, and specialized vessels, which were idled in Rødbyhavn after a cyberattack paralyzed the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel construction site. Due to the IT failure at the construction consortium Femern Link Contractors (FLC), they have been unable to set sail since the evening of Oct 12, 2026. Not only the consortium's digital systems were affected, but also those of numerous subcontractors. The situation was so serious that employees have been banned from logging on to Wi-Fi, opening computers or reading emails sent by Fehmarn Link Contractors. The impact of the disruption on the already tight schedule for the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel remained unclear. The control and monitoring of all work is done digitally in order to optimise documentation and make the deployment of the fleet more efficient. If the system fails, all ships and construction vehicles must cease operations and return to port. The crews were using the time for maintenance, shore leave, and exercise. After the problem arose over the weekend, first it was said the weather was to blame. But on Oct 12,, there were no new orders, as these as well as the data on upcoming work steps are normally issued and managed digitally. For the ship owners, the problem has no financial consequences, as they have fixed charter contracts. For the FLC, however, every day of downtime costs almost one million euros in charter fees alone for all the specialized vessels. Uncertainty also prevailed among many of the more than 2,000 employees, as working hours could not be recorded digitally as usual. Therefore, employees feared that a prolonged absence could have an impact on their salary payments. The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has also been informed and stated that it intended to consult with international partners. It remained unclear how the cyberattack would affect the ongoing construction of the world's longest immersed tunnel, at 18 kilometers. The fourth of 79 standard segments, each exactly 217 meters long, was completed at the end of September. This element is only 39 meters long but has a basement level. Inside are, among other things, technical installations and lay-bys for the two road tubes. The lowering of this fifth element is crucial for the overall construction schedule. The transport ministries of Germany and Denmark agreed months ago to meet in October and announce a new timetable. Most recently, it was stated that the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel would not open before 2031, at least partially. In May, the tunnel builder Femern A/S announced that it would first open the two tubes for road traffic and later the tubes for rail traffic. The enormous delays in the completion of the German railway line were cited as the cause. On Oct 14, the reconnaissance vessel 'Kildin', belonging to the Russian Navy, was operating in the vicinity of the construction site. The ship can locate and jam radio signals. On Oct 16, the work could be resumed stepwise. Report with photos: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/baustelle-fuer-fehmarnbelttunnel-steht-still-russisches-spionageschiff-zieht-vorbei-T3UZTQFJEZC3TMZMZM35UW3BI4.html

The 'Unity Glory' was detained in Zhangjiagang on Oct 14, 2026, with five detainable defiencies: 03108 - WATER/WEATHERTIGHT CONDITIONS - Ventilators, air pipes, casings (no responsibility of RO) 07109 - FIRE SAFETY - Fixed fire extinguishing installation (no responsibility of RO) 07109 - FIRE SAFETY - Fixed fire extinguishing installation (Panama Maritime Documentation Services (PMDS)) 07101 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire prevention structural integrity (Panama Maritime Documentation Services (PMDS)) 07117 - FIRE SAFETY - Jacketed high pressure lines and oil leakage alarm (no responsibility of RO). The ship was released again on Oct 16.

The 'NYKL Vega' was detained in Shenzhen on Oct 15, 2026, with three detainable defiencies: 07106 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire detection and alarm system (no responsibility of RO) 10109 - SAFETY OF NAVIGATION - Lights, shapes, sound-signals (no responsibility of RO) 14104 - POLLUTION PREVENTION - MARPOL ANNEX I - Oil filtering equipment (no responsibility of RO). The ship was released again on Oct 16.

The unified command composed of the Coast Guard, Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, Washington State Department of Ecology and responsible party completed the cleanup of diesel fuel spilled near Pier 1 of the Port of Astoria on Oct 4, 2015, after the 'Global Gold' spilled 1,100 gallons of diesel fuel into the Columbia River in an allision with the pier on Oct 1. Incident Management Division investigators from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River demobilized the cleanup contractors on scene at Pier 1 in the morning. All hard containment boom was removed from around the ship on Oct 3 night and absorbent boom was removed on Oct 4.The "Global Gold" had a soft patch in place on the damaged section of the hull, and was not taking on water. All the diesel fuel was cleaned up or it dissipitated. The investigation phase of the response was still on-going and the "Global Gold" has not been cleared to take on a load or move from the pier. The ship has submitted a vessel repair plan to the captain of the port that included having the repairs completed at Pier 1.

The 'Free Sailing' was detained in Tianjin on Oct 16, 2026, with four detainable defiencies: 07199 - FIRE SAFETY - Other (fire safety) (no responsibility of RO) 02139 - STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS - Water Level Detectors on Cargo Ships (no responsibility of RO) 11101 - LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES - Lifeboats (no responsibility of RO) 07109 - FIRE SAFETY - Fixed fire extinguishing installation (no responsibility of RO).

On Oct 16, the 'Lochnevis', serving on the route Mallaig - Small Isles, suffered a technical issue with the ramp which required further investigations. As a consequence, a number of crossings had to be cancelled. After successful repairs, the ship returned on the route on Oct 19.

An anchor, which disappeared from the berth of the 'Hansekogge' at the Sartori Quay during the Kiel Week in June 2026, has been found on the harbour bottom in nine meters depth by the Kiel branch of the Workers' Samaritan Federation (ASB), which used a training exercise with an underwater drone and divers in the Kiel Fjord to search for the anchor. The crew of the cog had observed the ASB's operation and spontaneously requested assistance in the search for the anchor. The volunteer members of the cog's association had assumed, due to the expertly cut mooring chain, that the anchor had been deliberately stolen. However, the possibility that the thieves might have sunk the anchor in the fjord because of its excessive weight had always remained in the back of their minds. A diver then attached air-filled lifting bags to the anchor, preparing it for the recovery. As a thank you for their help, the ASB diving team received an invitation to sail aboard the Hanseatic cog. The managing director of the donation-funded cog association was delighted by the rediscovery of the original anchor. The maritime eye-catcher will now be placed back at the cog's berth with a stronger mooring chain.

The US Coast Guard suspended its search on the evening of Oct 18 for an estimated 11 people missing approximately 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico, after rescuing 16 people from the water on Oct 16. The Coast Guard, alongside Mexico and the U.S. Navy, searched more than 2,441 square miles for a combined 89 hours. The search efforts began after Coast Guard Sector San Diego command center watchstanders received multiple distress broadcasts on Oct 16 at approximately 1 a.m., reporting a vessel taking on water with 27 people reported aboard. On-scene assets located vessel debris in the water, and an Air Station Ventura aircrew rescued 16 people who were transferred to various hospitals in San Diego for medical assessment and care. Multiple survivors were treated for suspected shark bites. Involved in the search: Coast Guard Southwest District; Coast Guard Sector San Diego; Coast Guard Air Station Ventura; Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento; Coast Guard Cutter 'Active (WMEC 618)'; USS 'Kingsville (LCS 36)'; U.S. Navy helicopter with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23; ARM 'Mariano Matamoros' – Armada de Mexico Uribe-class offshore patrol vessel; 'MLB-101' – Armada de Mexico 50-foot Motor Lifeboat; 'Sagittarius' – Mexico’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport 35-metre buoy tender vessel.

The 'Jing Sheng 777' was detained in Shenzhen on Oct 14, 2026, with six detainable defiencies: 11126 - LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES - Means of recovery of life saving appliances (no responsibility of RO) 07101 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire prevention structural integrity (no responsibility of RO) 07126 - FIRE SAFETY - Oil accumulation in engine room (no responsibility of RO) 03108 - WATER/WEATHERTIGHT CONDITIONS - Ventilators, air pipes, casings (no responsibility of RO) 11199 - LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES - Other (life saving) (no responsibility of RO) 07109 - FIRE SAFETY - Fixed fire extinguishing installation (no responsibility of RO).

The 'Xin Fu Yuan 16' was detained in Zhoushan on Oct 15, 2026, with three detainable defiencies:10113 - SAFETY OF NAVIGATION - Automatic Identification System (AIS) (no responsibility of RO) 14699 - POLLUTION PREVENTION - MARPOL ANNEX VI - Other MARPOL Annex VI (no responsibility of RO) 07117 - FIRE SAFETY - Jacketed high pressure lines and oil leakage alarm (no responsibility of RO).

The 'Prosperity 102' was detained in Taizhou, Jiangsu, on Oct 15, 2026, with two detainable defiencies: 07105 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions (no responsibility of RO) 03104 - WATER/WEATHERTIGHT CONDITIONS - Cargo & other hatchways (no responsibility of RO).

The 'Lord of the Isles', serving on the route Mallaig - Lochboisdale, encountered a medical emergency on its way to Lochboisdale on Oct 16. Due to the emergency, the ferry returned to Mallaig. As a consequence, the scheduled 5:35 p.m. arrival to Lochboisdale was delayed until 06:45 p.m.

On Oct 19 at 3:40 a.m. LT, the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Tenerife Coeceived an alert from the Civil Guard regarding a SIVE (Integrated External Surveillance System) echo detected south of La Restinga. The 'Salvamar Diphda' was deployed to investigate. The SAR boat located a cayuco and escorted it to La Restinga. At 6:25 a.m., the disembarkation began, and a total of 145 people of sub-Saharan origin were confirmed, among them 132 men, five women, and eight minors. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/2112090520579158048

On Oct 15, 2026, Romanian Defense Minister Radu Mîrțuța announced that the 'Sea Destiny', enroute from Cat Laiu too Zonguldak with an ETA as of Oct 18, reported an explosion in its vicinity while sailing in the Black Sea, after having been targeted by a Russian drone. The vessel sustained no damage from the explosion, and there have been no reports of injuries among the crew.

The 'Polar' was detained in Ulsan on Oct 14, 2026, with tow detainable defiencies: 14610 - POLLUTION PREVENTION - MARPOL ANNEX VI - Operational procedures for engines or equipment (no responsibility of RO) 07101 - FIRE SAFETY - Fire prevention structural integrity (no responsibility of RO). The tanker was released again on Oct 15 and left the port enroute to Lianyungang on Oct 16 with an ETA as of Oct 17.

The 'Sheng Wei' was detained in Shanghai on Oct 15, 2026, with four detainable defiencies: 07109 - FIRE SAFETY - Fixed fire extinguishing installation (no responsibility of RO) 11124 - LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES - Embarkation arrangement survival craft (no responsibility of RO) 03105 - WATER/WEATHERTIGHT CONDITIONS - Covers (hatchway-, portable-, tarpaulins, etc.) (no responsibility of RO) 08101 - ALARMS - General alarm (no responsibility of RO).

The 'Global Gold' was detained in Townsville, Queensland, on Oct 15, 2026, with one defiency: 11129 - LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES - Operational readiness of lifesaving appliances (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK)). The ship was released again on Oct 16.

The 'Hua Xing' was detained in Lianyungang on Oct 15, 2026, with three detainable defiencies: 14104 - POLLUTION PREVENTION - MARPOL ANNEX I - Oil filtering equipment (no responsibility of RO) 07117 - FIRE SAFETY - Jacketed high pressure lines and oil leakage alarm (no responsibility of RO) 04102 - EMERGENCY SYSTEMS - Emergency fire pump and its pipes (no responsibility of RO).

The 'Loch Riddon', serving on the route Colintraive - Rhubodach, suffered an issue with the generator on the morning of Oct 18. As a consequence, the departures from Colintraive at 08:30 a.m. and 09:00 a.m. and from Rhubodach at 08:40 a.m. and 09:10 a.m. had to be cancelled. After the issue was resolved, the service re-commenced from Rhubodach at 10:40 a.m. and shuttled to clear any traffic.

The KM 'Prima Sentosa' caught fire off Bengkulu province on the western coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island on the night of Oct 16, 2026. The fire broke out in the engine room of at about 7 p.m. LT, while the vessel was sailing from Muara Jawa in East Kalimantan to Nagan Raya in thr Aceh province. The resue agency Basarnas received a distress report from the ship's agent at 8 p.m. and dispatched a rescue team 15 minutes later to the incident site, about 30 nautical miles from Pulau Baai Port, with support from the Indonesian Navy, maritime police, port operator Pelindo and local fishermen. 13 crew members managed to escape on a life raft and were rescued by the passing tanker 'Seroja 20' (IMO: 9922859). The remaining 13 crewmembers were found near the 'Prima Sentosa' and rescued by SAR forces. All castaways, comprising of 23 Indonesians and three other nationals, were taken to Pulau Baai Port in Bengkulu for medical examinations.