The two stateless tankers 'Sierra' and 'Naxos' (IMO: 9336426) inbound to the Russian oil operations in the Baltic, were spotted sailing with the Russian Steregushchy-class corvette 'Boikiy'. following the increasing effort by the Baltic nations and the EU to crack down on the shadow fleet, and after after Estonia recemtöy jad attempted to inspect another tanker that was suspected of being stateless. The 'Bolky' had disguised itself using a fake ID signal while transiting through the English Channel with the two sanctioned tankers, a BBC. It broadcast the fake ID code as it passed through the Channel on June 21. The ship had left West Africa in June, where it had been taking part in a diplomatic mission and docked in Conakry. The corvette left the port without activating its AIS. However, a vessel travelling under the generic identification number 400000000 - a code sometimes used by vessels who want to alert others to their presence for safety reasons without identifying themselves - was seen briefly near the Canary Islands. The location was consistent with the time it could have taken the 'Boikiy' to travel the 200 kilometres from Conakry. The 'Boikiy' was later joined by the two tankers which had made their way from India through the Suez Canal and across the Mediterranean. The three vessels rendezvoused at the mouth of the Channel on June 20. Here, the Russian naval vessel appeared again in radar-based and optical satellite images. The 'Naxos' had reached the entrance to the Channel several days earlier than the other ships, and waited for the warship before proceeding into the channel. The Royal Navy shadowed the 'Boikiy' as it passed through the Channel. The vessels have since reached the Kattegat, but neither tanker was showing an accurate destination on its AIS. Both the 'Sierran' and the 'Naxos' been sanctioned by the UK, and one also by the EU. The tankers are linked to companies in Dubai and India. The 'Naxos' has been alternately using the name 'Selva ', displaying Palau as its flag, after previously showing Panama. In 2022, it reported registry first in the Marshall Islands and later in St. Kitts and Nevis. The 'Sierra' is displaying a flag of Malawi after having been registered in São Tomé & Principe in 2023 and before in Barbados and Gabon. Until 2022, the vessel was named 'Suvorovsky Prospect', managed by Russia’s Sovcomflot. The corvette appeared to be employed for various escort duties of merchant ships.In mid-May, it was spotted escorting the Russian-flagged cargo vessels 'Siyanie Severa' and 'Patria', while they headed south into the Atlantic Ocean. In March and in early May, the UK's Royal Navy tracked the warship along with merchant ships during transits of the English Channel. Last week, Denmark identified another stateless tanker inbound to Russia. The Danish Maritime Authority reported that the tanker had misled the authorities, reporting it was registered in Comoros. Denmark tracked the vessel into and out of the Baltic but did not attempt to stop it. Other countries, including Sweden, have vowed to increase their efforts if the stateless tankers enter their territories. The EU and UK have also increased the number of tankers they have listed. Report with photos: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62gq6y62d1o
News
PHOENIX 15
On June 21, 2025, the 'Phoenix 15', with 20 crew members on board, sank in the Arabian Sea, about 20 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, near Yemen (Lat. 16.7900 Lng. 54.0533), The Marshall Islands-flagged container m/v 'Gulf Barakah' (IMO: 9464314), en route from Salalah to Damman, which was navigating nearby, rescued all castaways. Oman's Maritime Security Centre (MSC) closely monitored the incident and coordinated with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all crew members. The authorities had yet to determine the cause of the sinking. The 'Phoenix 15' had sailed from Jebel Ali, destined to Jeddah, on June 8 and arrived off Salalah on June 17.
Charleston
Due to Hurricane Dorian, the South Carolina Ports Authority’s marine terminals in Charleston and Georgetown will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. All terminals are open and operating normal hours Tuesday, South Carolina Ports reported early Tuesday. Charleston and Georgetown terminals will reopen Friday at 9 am EDT. The Wando Welch Terminal (WWT) and the North Charleston Terminal (NCT) will operate normally on September 7. WWT and NCT will also be open September 8. The South Carolina Ports Authority’s inland ports will be open and operating under normal hours throughout the week.
Freeport TX
Freeport LNG on Sept. 03 announced that it has shipped the first LNG commissioning cargo for Train 1 from its liquefaction facility located on Quintana Island in Freeport, Texas. Approximately 150,000 cubic meters of LNG were loaded aboard the LNG Jurojin, which departed from the Freeport LNG terminal on September 3. “This first cargo loading is another significant step that gets us one step closer towards our start of commercial operations which is anticipated later this month,” said Michael Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Freeport LNG. “We are very pleased that it took less than 45 days to load our first cargo since gas was first introduced to our liquefaction facilities.” Freeport’s Train 2 is advancing pre-commissioning to support an in service date of January 2020. Train 3 is nearing completion to support an in service date of May 2020. Source: Freeport LNG
ARGYLL FLYER
Due to the technical issue of the 'Argyll Flyer', serving on the route Gourock-Dunoon, which was still being dealt with in Greenock as of June 24, a single vessel timetable remained in operation until further notice. During the amended timetable, a replacement shuttle bus service was operate for these sailings: Mondays - Saturday Departure Gourock – 10:15 a.m.; Departure Dunoon – 10:45 a.m. Mondays & Fridays Departure Gourock – 11:15 a.m; . Departure Dunoon – 11:45 a.m. Tuesdays up to Sep 30: In addition to the cancellations listed above, the following sailings have been cancelled due to the combination of overnight berthing and required crew hours of rest: Departure Gourock – 10:40 p.m.; Departure Dunoon – 11:10 p.m.
KEREMCAN
On June 19, 2025, the 'Keremcan' was detained in Tekirdag with 48 deficiencies, 19 of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - SOPEP Missing 2) Certificate & Doc - International Oil Pollution Prevention Invalid 3) Certificate & Doc - Ballast Water Management Cert Invalid 4) Certificate & Doc - Energy efficiency Design Index File Invalid 5) Certificate & Doc - Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Invalid 6) Certificate & Doc - Fire control plan -all Missing 7) Certificate & Doc - Load Lines Invalid 8))Emergency systems - Emergency fire pump and its pipes Insifficient predssure 9) Safety of navigation - Voyage data recorder Not as required 10) Safety of navigation - BNWAS Inadequate 12) Pollution Prevention - Sewage treatment plan Not as required 13) Pollution Prevention - Ballast Water Management Plan Missing 14)Pollution Prevention - Sulphur mission Missing 15) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm system Not as required 16) Fire safety - Fire fighting and equipment Expired 17) Fire safety - Remote Means of control (Mach spaces) Not as required 18)Life saving Appliances - Launching arrangements for survival craft Not as required 19) Alarm - Fire alarm Inoperative 20) Alarm - General alarm Inoperative The vessel was released again on June 21 and left the port en route to the port of Sulina, which it approached on June 24. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
Zeebrugge
Affiliates of Qatar Petroleum and the Belgian independent natural gas transport company Fluxys Belgium signed a long-term agreement for LNG unloading services at the Zeebrugge LNG Terminal. Under the agreement, Qatar Terminal Limited (QTL) -a subsidiary of Qatar Petroleum- will subscribe to the full capacity at the terminal from the expiry of the existing long-term unloading contracts and up to 2044. The transaction follows a competitive evaluation process as well as the approval of the Belgian regulators. QTL is already a party to an existing agreement under which approximately 50% of the terminal’s capacity is utilized for delivery of Qatari LNG into Belgium under long-term LNG agreements.
Mombasa
The first berth of the Lamu Port is now 98 per cent complete and is set to be unveiled next month. The construction has been ongoing for three years. Stakeholders are optimistic that it will have a socio-economic transformation of the region through trade. It will open up the corridor counties to the rest of the country and neighbouring states. At least 33 shipping companies have shown interest and their representatives have either toured the site or will do so before the opening date. Lamu Port will be actively involved in the transhipment business as its depth can accommodate big ships from which cargo can be loaded to smaller ships bound for Mombasa, according to Abdullahi Samatar, Kenya Ports Authority general manager in charge of Infrastructure development.
SALVAMAR FENIX
On June 23, at 9 p.m. Salvamento Marítimo was notified, after the Spanish registered pleasure boat 'Cariño', which had been moored in Portichol with two crew members on board. had problems heaving the anchor, which had become stuck to the bottom. The CCS Valencia mobilized the 'Salvamar Fénix', which successfully assisted in heaving the anchor.
INDUSTRIALCHALLENGER
On June 16, 2025, a fire broke out in the engine room of the 'Industrial Challenger' off Kumkale in the Çanakkale Strait, en route from Marmara to Yalova. The ship suffered an engine failure and went adrift. The tugs 'Kurtarma 13' (IMO: 9913573) and 'Türkeli' (IMO: 9816256,) as well as the lifeboat 'Kiyem 1' (MMSI: 271042656) assisted the disabled ship under the coordination of the Çanakkale VTS Center; On the afternoon, it was moored at the Karanlık Liman Anchorage in pos. 40° 01' N 026° 15' E, where it remained stationary as of June 24. The ship traffic in the Çanakkale Strait had been timewise suspended after the incident, but was opened again in both directions once the ship was safely anchored. Video: https://x.com/i/status/1934687810553860358
Benghazi
The commercial port in Libya’s second city Benghazi is working round the clock three years after reopening, attempting to raise revenues for its restoration and expansion. The port was caught in the crossfire as rival factions battled for control of Benghazi from 2014 in a conflict that left parts of the eastern Libyan city in ruins. It suspended operations as the main gate and some buildings were destroyed and the roads strewn with shells. Forces led by Khalifa Haftar eventually declared victory in Benghazi in 2017. Repairs and reconstruction have been limited — two out of three damaged tug boats are still out of service. But the port is now doing brisk business and trucks loaded with cars and containers carrying foodstuffs, motor oils and other goods can be seen streaming out of the main gate near the city center. Port manager Yzaid Bozraida said monthly revenues stood at more than seven million Libyan dinars ($4.9 million) before the war, though the income had not been used to develop the port.
Sydney
NSW Ports and Patrick Terminals have commenced work on a A$190 million project to double on-dock rail infrastructure capacity at Port Botany’s Patrick Terminals - Sydney AutoStrad in Australia. The project includes investment of A$120 million from NSW Ports to deliver on-dock rail infrastructure and A$70 million from Patrick Terminals to deliver automated rail operating equipment at the container terminal. The project will deliver capacity to handle one million TEUs on rail and improve train turn-around times by 33 percent. It will be opened in stages to allow existing rail operations at the terminal to continue throughout the construction period. Once fully operational in 2023, the project will increase rail capacity of the Patrick Terminals – Sydney AutoStrad from 250,000 to one million TEU. It is anticipated to reduce the truck kilometers travelled in Sydney by at least 10 million per year, saving over two million liters of diesel per year – the equivalent of a net reduction of more than 5,400 in CO2 emissions tonnes per year.