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On May 16, the Norwegian tug 'Sea1 Ruby' finally took the 'Maersk Sana' in tow following an extended period during which the laden vessel was ‘safely adrift at sea’ in the western Atlantic, en route to a port of refuge in the Bahamas, with an expected arrival in the last week of May. it was thought that the container ship will be towed to Freeport, a tow of approximately 900 nautical miles, which at five knots would take seven days. One crew member ‘who was transported to a hospital in the US remained in stable but critical condition and was receiving the best possible care. Maersk remained in communication with its customers about mitigating impacts to their supply chains” The weather conditions have remained favourable siunce the explosion and fire on April 29. The Atlantic hurricane season begins in a few days’ time, and then getting a towline on the 'Maersk Sana' could have been very different. Miami’s National Hurricane Weather Center reported that tropical cyclone formation is not expected within the next seven days.

Initially three ferry services to and from Macau had to be cancelled after the 'Universal MK 2005' with 289 passengers on board allided witht the pier at the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan on May 17, 2025, shortly after 3.30 p.m., r when it was just about to set sail to Macau. The TurboJet catamaran returned to the dock. No injuries were reported. The bow of the ship was slightly damaged and had been covered with a large cloth. The Macau Marine and Water Bureau was notified of the incident at around 5.30 p.m. It was told by the ferry operator that the vessel had suffered a mechanical failure and turned back in Hong Kong waters, before it lost control and hit the Hong Kong pier while berthing. The Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department deployed three ambulances to stand by. The cause of the accident is being investigated. The ferry terminal maintained normal operations despite the incident. The operator arranged for the passengers to transfer to another ferry. Affected passengers could apply for rescheduling or refunds at its ticket counters or via email. A number of services was adjusted through to May 19, as authorities needed to check the damaged vessel, approve it to set sail for repairs at another location and arrange vessels to substitute affected services in the meantime. The operator also had cancelled three ferry services between Hong Kong and Macau on May 18, the 10.15 a.m. departure from Hong Kong to Taipa; the 10.45 a.m. departure from Hong Kong to Outer Harbour; and the 3 p.m. departure from Outer Harbour to Hong Kong. Report with photo: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3310828/hong-kong-macau-ferry-services-be-disrupted-again-monday-after-accident

The 'Leeuwin II' is finally being repaired after being smashed by the container vessel 'Maersk Shekou' at Fremantle Port during a storm nine months ago. The diesel engine and steering gear were functional, and that the ship was seaworthy. On May 19, 2025, the ship was escorted by a tug from its B Shed quayside home to the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson, where the 3vessel was drydocked to be repaired and refitted. The hull was in pretty good shape, but the point where the mast was attached would be a critical focal point when she’s inspected in the dry dock. 3000 lineal metres of Douglas Fir have been ordered from Canada and kilometres of wires and rope from around Australia, with the goal is to have the ship back in the water for the start of the summer sailing season. The discussions with insurers were in the final stages and the total price of the damage was yet to be determined. The 'Leeuwin II' is expected to return to the water in December. Report with photos: https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/fremantle/sts-leeuwin-ii-iconic-tall-ship-smashed-in-container-ship-catastrophe-leaves-fremantle-to-begin-repairs-c-18740833

The "Filikci 3" was detained in Burgas on April 24, 2025, with 12 deficiencies, eight of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Enodorsement by flagstate Missing 2) Certificate & Doc - Manning specified by the minimum safe manning doc Missing 3) Certificate & Doc - Minimum safe manning doc Not as required 4) Dangerous goods - Stowage/Segregation.... Not properly stowed 5) Pollution Prevention - Oil filtering equipment Not as required 6) Cargo operations - Other (Cargo) Other 7) Safety of navigation - Charts Missing 8)) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Missing The vessel was released again on May 15 and left the port en route to Izmit, where it arrived on May 17. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

The 'Vida Loca' with four German crew members on board got in distress off the coast of Magaluf on May 16, at around 1 p.m. It suffered water ingress in the stern while sailing off the coast of southwest Mallorca. The lifeguards ashore raised the alarm. and proceeded to the "Vida Loca" using a rescue board. Two other boats that happened to be nearby also reacted quickly and sailed to the yacht in dinghies. Just a few minutes after the alarm was raised, the SAR boat "Salvamar Libertas", which was mobilized by the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Palma de Mallorca, arrived at the scene and took the four castaways on board. Only the bow of the yacht protruded from the sea. A short time later, it sank completely. The "Vida Loca" presumably ran aground on a rock, which may have caused a leak in the bottom. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1923370721100677356

The captain of the 'Rainbow Warrior' and four Greenpeace activists, namely Sam Rodrigues (Mexico), Alex Wilson (UK), Ash (Taiwan), and Jens (Germany) made their first appearance in a South Korean court on May 16, 2025, on charges related to an incident on Nov 30, 2024, where they boarded the Japanese-owned LPG tanker 'Buena Alba', which was anchored off South Korea. They have been detained in the country since after the protest in which they used the ship to call for a strong international plastics treaty ban. The protest was coordinated to the fifth round of negotiations for a UN Global Plastic Treaty that was taking place in Busan, South Korea. The 'Rainbow Warrior' was conducting a “Sailing for Change” tour in Eastern Asia and coordinated a visit to the scheduled negotiations. They were all being charged with obstruction of business and unlawful intrusion onto a vessel according to the Korean Yonhap news agency. They report that the court continues to prohibit the five from leaving the country. The group staged a protest outside the court as part of a campaign calling for the release of its members so that they can return home to their families. They also called for a quick conclusion to the trial, and at the same time, repeated their calls for the Plastics Treaty. The four protestors had set off from the 'Rainbow Warrior' for one of the group's typical protests that involve banners to draw attention to their cause. The protestors displayed banners calling for the treaty and painted the words “Plastics Kill” on the side of the tanker and also boarded the ship and climbed its mast to unfurl their banners. Greenpeace contended it was a peaceful protest and put no one in danger, while the tanker was waiting to load chemicals at the Hyundai Daesan Refinery. The South Korean police took the four into custody along with the captain of the 'Rainbow Warrior' and held them for nearly two days during the investigation. While they were released, they were ordered to remain in South Korea for the outcome of the investigation.

The Guardia Civil alerted the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas after having located a precarious boat about 22 nautucal miles from Maspalomas. The 'alvamar Macondo' was mobilized to relocate the boat, and found it after an intense search. in the face of strong winds, the boat was escorted to a more leeward area where the 11 people on board were rescued and disembarked at the port of Arguineguín. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1924041080737075558

On May 17, a fire broke out aboard the 'Breezy Point', which was moored at the Vieques pier in Puerto Rico, after arriving from Ceiba with passengers onboard. At 9:15 p.m., Sector San Juan watchstanders received an initial notification of the incident reporting a port engine room fire aboard the vessel and that all passengers onboard were safely disembarked from the vessel. The crew used a portable fire extinguisher that was deemed ineffective and proceeded to activate the vessel's installed system, which successfully extinguished the fire. Fire Department crews arrived on scene to assess the safety of all spaces. The 'Breezy Point' conducts routine round-trip voyages between the municipalities of Ceiba and Vieques, Puerto Rico. The US Coast Guard Sector San Juan marine investigators and vessel inspection teams were investigating the fire. There were currently no reports of marine pollution or reported injuries.

The 'Atlântida’ was fired upon offshore of Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, in an area where terrorist groups are still active, an official source from the Russian Embassy in Maputo confirmed on May 16, 2025. The ship, which was carrying out marine research work, was returning to the port of Maputo when it came under attack on May 10 at around 3 p.m.LT, more than three miles off the coast of the island of Tambuzi, at the Quirimbas archipelago, by two unknown vessels, which did not come into contact with the ship, and opened fire. The ship then headed for more distant waters, escaping the vessels.

The 'Conscience' is to be towed to another port in the Mediterranean for repairs, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg said on May 18. The shipowner provided a tug which arrived alongside the 'Conscience' on May 16., with the purpose of towing it. This operation could commence on May 18, as weather conditions become favourable, On the morning, preparations were underway for the vessel to be towed from Hurd’s Bank The Government of Malta, through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment, and the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Malta, the Police, Transport Malta and the Harbour Master, has been working to seek solutions for the vessel, which has been anchored outside Malta’s territorial waters, while ensuring that national security is safeguarded. A surveyor dispatched by the Maltese government described the damage as minor, and the government offered to pay for repairs just as long as they were done at sea. The 12 individuals on board will be repatriated by first being granted entry into Malta, from where they will board outbound flights. Six other individuals had been onboard the vessel at the time of the incident: they were brought to Malta and flown out of the country on May 5. The 'Conscience' is operated by aid group Freedom Flotilla and it was planning to make a run into Palestine to deliver food aid to Gaza, breaking an Israeli blockade. It was to make a stop in Malta to pick up several activists, aming them the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, before proceeding to Gaza.

The 'Ocean Viking', chartered by SOS Méditerranée, rescued 273 migrants on the morning of May 17 off the Tunisian and Maltese coasts, among them seven children, during three rescue operations from three boats in distress. The migrants, who were suffering from exhaustion and seasickness, received medical care from the NGO's teams. On the early morning, the 'Ocean Viking' received an AlarmPhone alert reporting an overloaded wooden boat in the Tunisian SAR zone. 65 people were recovered, and shortly after, following a new Alarmphone alert, the 'Ocean Viking' reached a second boat in distress. The SAR boat 'Aurora' of Sea Watch was already on site and conducted an initial assessment of ther 77 people, including two children, on board. All were brought to safety aboard the 'Ocean Viking'. Later, the crew spotted another wooden boat in distress in the Maltese SAR zone, from which 131 people, including a baby and four children, were rescued.

The 'Myrtle Hazard' safely towed the 47-foot f/v 'Lucky Harvest' to Hagåtña boat basin on May 17, arriving shortly after 8 p.m., after it was located on May 16 with the two mariners aboard 125 nautical miles west of Apra Harbor, The ship had been disabled due to an electrical failure. The Coast Guard Cutter transferred the tow to a Station Apra Harbor 45-foot Response Boat after a roughly 28 hour transit from the scene for the final 2.5-hour transit leg, arriving at Hagåtña and met by the vessel owner from Saipan, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, and other partners. The mariners’ activation of their EPIRB on May 16 at 6:30 a.m. had allowed the Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam watch to pinpoint the vessel’s location almost instantly. A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane and crew from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawai’i, arrived on scene first using a line of bearing from the EPIRB to fly directly to the vessel, then vectoring in the U.S. Navy MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter crew from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, who hoisted one mariner to safety by 9:30 a.m. The Hercules crew remined overhead of the 'Lucky Harvest' until the 'Myrtle Hazard' had arrived, retrieved the second mariner, and took the vessel safely in tow to Guam. The Sector Boarding Team conducted a routine post-search-and-rescue boarding on the 'Lucky Harvest' once in port with no negative findings. The SAR operation, further supported by the CNMI Department of Public Safety, a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon airplane and a crew from Kadena Air Force Base as well as the m/v 'Mama Loling’' occurred amid east winds of 15 knots and seas of up to 6 feet becoming 2 to 3 feet. The cause of the electrical failure and delay in activating the beacon was under review. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4189517/update-4-and-final-us-coast-guard-safely-tows-lucky-harvest-to-guam/

A Rotterdam judge has lifted the seizure of the 'Esra C' through summary proceedings in Rotterdam. The seizure was imposed in Amsterdam by a fuel supplier. According to the judge, the measure proved untenable in a tangle of international laws and regulations.

On May18, 2025, the SAR helicopter Helimer 222 medevaced a sick passenger from the 'GNV Cristal', en route from Sète to Tanger Med, about 43 nautical miles from Dragonera. The patient was hoisted from the ship and taken to the hospital Son Espases for further treatment on a higher medical level.

On the morning of May 18, 2025, a fire broke out aboard the 'Scot Stuttgart', which was moored at Puerto Nuevo Channel’s N Wharf. in Puerto Rico. At 3:43 a.m., Sector San Juan watchstanders received an initial notification of the incident reporting a port generator fire in the vessel’s engine room. The crew used the ship’s installed fire suppression system to extinguish the fire. At approximately 5:55 a.m., dense black smoke was reportedly observed in the same engine room. Suspecting the fire had reignited and as a precaution, the crew isolated the space, and the vessel’s installed fire suppression system was used for a second time. Following the second attempt, responding local firefighters confirmed the fire was successfully extinguished. The US Coast Guard Sector San Juan marine investigators and vessel inspection teams were investigating the fire. There were currently no reports of marine pollution or reported injuries.

The STS 'Leeuwin II' is finally being repaired after being smashed by the 'Maersk Shekou' at Fremantle Port during a storm nine months ago. The diesel engine and steering gear were functional, and that the ship was seaworthy. On May 19, 2025, the ship was escorted by a tug from its B Shed quayside home to the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson, where the 3vessel was drydocked to be repaired and refitted. The hull was in pretty good shape, but the point where the mast was attached would be a critical focal point when she’s inspected in the dry dock. 3000 lineal metres of Douglas Fir have been ordered from Canada and kilometres of wires and rope from around Australia, with the goal is to have the ship back in the water for the start of the summer sailing season. The discussions with insurers were in the final stages and the total price of the damage was yet to be determined. The 'Leeuwin II' is expected to return to the water in December. Report with photos: https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/fremantle/sts-leeuwin-ii-iconic-tall-ship-smashed-in-container-ship-catastrophe-leaves-fremantle-to-begin-repairs-c-18740833

The 'Pon' was detained on April 29, 2025, in Pozzallo with 19 deficiencies, nine of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Structural conditions - Asbestos containing materials Not properly maintained 2) Fire safety - Fire doors/openings in fire resisting divisions Not as required 3) Fire safety - Division - decks, bulkheads and penetrations Not as required 4) Fire safety - Fire prevention structural integrity Not as required 5) Emergency system - Emergency lighting, batteries and switches Inoperative 6) Emergency system - Fire drills Lack of training 7) Water/Weathertight - Ventilators, air pipes and casings Not as required 8)) Labour conditions - Provisions quantity Insufficient 9) Labour conditions - Water, pipes and tanks Damaged The vessel was released again on May 16 and permitted a single voyage to the Tuzla shipyard area for permanent repairs with an ETA as of May 20. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

The Philippine Coast Guard rescued four Norwegian nationals from the 'Nora Simrad', which was found drifting in waters off Cabugao Bay, Virac, Catanduanes, on May 17, 2025., after the Coast Guard Station Catanduanes had received a distress call and launched an SAR operation. Initial attempts to establish radio communication with the yacht were unsuccessful, which prompted Coast Guard District Bicol to coordinate with the Philippine Air Force's Tactical Operations Group 5 for aerial surveillance of the area. A joint operation, involving the Special Operations Unit Bicol, Maritime Safety Services Unit Bicol, Coast Guard Medical Station Bicol, Coast Guard Nursing Service Sub-unit Bicol and Civil Relations Group Bicol. was necessary due to the sailboat's intermittent communication and limited visibility conditions. After locating the vessel through direct communication and aerial surveillance, the Coast Guard dispatched the tug 'Iriga' from Legazpi Port to conduct a towing operation. The crew members received medical evaluation upon arrival at the port of Catanduanes and were reported to be in good health. Reports with photos: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/05/18/2444002/pcg-rescues-4-norwegians-yacht-drifting-catanduanes https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/946523/4-norwegians-rescued-after-yacht-drifts-in-catanduanes-waters/story/#goog_rewarded

The 'Kriti I' was prepared to leave the dock of Eleusis for its final voyage, bound for the scrapyard in Turkey, following the'Kriti II', which already headed to the breakers in March. On May 18, the ship was taken in tow by the tug 'Protug 85-1' (IMO: 9995935) with an ETA at Aliaga as of May 21. The ship was sold for scrap along with the sister ship on March 7, 2025, thus ending a 28-year career in Greek coastal shipping. The 'Kriti I' had been decommissioned in the Gulf of Elefsina since October 7, 2024. It had purchased en bloc with the 'Kriti II' by the ANEK LINES in May 1996 and launched on the Patras - Igoumenitsa - Ancona route in June 1997. At that time, they were the largest RoPax ferries in the Adriatic. Report with photos and video: https://www.chaniaships.com/post/%CF%83%CE%B1%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B5%CE%B9-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B9-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B7-%CE%B9?fbclid=IwY2xjawKX2LJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHidM-S3_HUrPzzl8t2hWMMmG2Lj8ElO7_0EVvXJbmUnNWK2W50Ux1C3eDMAD_aem_W47kwuKDpupqNItGO1ZlPQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xNQbjxWAm0

The 'Isle of Cumbrae', serving on the route Largs-umbrae, suffered a technical issue on May 17. As a consequence, the scheduled departures from Largs at 09:30 a.m. and from Cumbrae at 09:45 a.m. had to be cancelled. The sailings of the 'Loch Shira' were unaffected by the mishap.