News

On April 8, at around 10:45 p.m., a burst pipe aboard the 'Sky Princess' caused massive flooding in several public areas of the upped deck. The leak triggered emergency measures and temporarily led to the evacuation of passengers from central sections of the cruise ship, which was completing its seven-day round trip from Southampton to Spain and France. Water from the burst pipe, which was connected to the Sky Pool, poured across several decks and flooded the popular Piazza atrium on decks five and six. The scene was described as being initially chaotic, but was quickly brought under control. passengers were reported to their muster stations while the crew attempted to contain the major water issue. Teams immediately shut off the water and began cleaning the areas. Evening entertainment in other areas was uninterrupted, and guests were able to resume use of the piazza on the morning of April 9.

On April 8, 2025, the 'St. Maria' was detained in Tulcea with 17 deficiencies, five of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Emergency systems - Fire drills Lack of training 2) Radio communications - Performance standards for radio equipment Not as required 3) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Expired 4) Safety of navigation - Monotoiring of voyage or passage plan Not as required 5) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on April 11. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the City of Dubrovnik have partnered to introduce sustainable tourism management practices that will preserve the Croatian city’s cultural heritage. CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead and Dubrovnik’s Mayor Mato Franković signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which outlines plans to make Dubrovnik a model of sustainable tourism for the Adriatic region. All plans focus on investment, collaboration and best practices that will benefit both Dubrovnik’s residents and visitors. “Today’s agreement validates the work we have already done with Mayor Franković and formalises the cruise industry’s continued commitment to the City of Dubrovnik and its people,” said Craighead.

Congestion at Cambodia’s top port is creating supply chain disruptions. In a note to clients German containerline Hapag-Lloyd noted that terminal productivity at Sihanoukville port has deteriorated due to port and yard congestion. Feeder services and turnaround times are affected and feeder space is tight. In an effort for medium term improvement of this situation, the port is building an extended yard for additional storage space. “Before the new container yard is completed, port congestion may persist,” Hapag-Lloyd warned.

On the morning of April 13, the 'Z.63-Thalassa' was disabled off the Belgian coast, after the net had fouled the propulsion of the trawler. After the crew requested assistance, the tug 'Multratug 11' (IMO: 7232626) took the ship in tow and safely pulled it into the port of Oostende, to remove the oobstruction from the propulsion system. Photos: https://www.tugspotters.com/app/content/2025/04/multratug-11-met-z-63-thalassa/

On April 3, 2025, the 'Senata' was detained in Brunsbüttel with 19 deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Fire safety - Fire dampers Inoperative 2) Water/Weathertight - Scuppers, inlets and discharges Cracked 3) Emergency systems - Water level indicator Not as required 4) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion main engine Not as required 5) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Not as required 6) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on April 11 and left the port en route to the Germand Bight for order, where it dropped anchor in pos. 54° 17' N 007° 23' E and remained stationary as of April 14. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

The Tanger Med port has emerged as the biggest port in Africa in terms of container capacity, surpassing Africa’s bigger ports like Durban (South Africa) and Mombasa (Kenya). The Tanger Med port now connects Morocco to 77 countries and 186 ports around the world. The Tanger Med II has two new container terminals – TC3 and TC4 – with an additional 6 million container capacity. The TC3, which is operated by Morocco’s main port operator Marsa Maroc, has a capacity of 1 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units). The TC4, which is operated by the Netherlands-based APM Terminals, has a capacity of 5 million TEUs. According to the Tanger Med Port Authority, with its new terminals, Tanger Med port will have a capacity of processing 9 million containers, 7 million passengers, 1 million vehicles and 700,000 trucks. Thanks to its extensions, Tanger Med port has now become the largest port in the Mediterranean region, surpassing some of the region’s top ports like Algeciras (Spain), Valencia (Spain) and Gioia (Italy). The port is located 40 kilometers east of the Moroccan town of Tangier, which is a gateway to both Europe and Africa. “Our aim is to develop an effective port platform integrated with transshipment activities, imports and exports,” Tanger Med Port Authority said on its website. The Tanger Med port has become vital for Morocco’s economy as it handled 317 billion Moroccan dirhams (US$33.14 billion) worth of exports and imports in 2018. It processed an overall tonnage of 52.24 tonnes last year.

French oil and gas giant Total SA has taken a 50 per cent stake in Dhamra LNG Terminal Pvt Ltd (DLTPL), a unit of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), which is constructing a 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) LNG regasification terminal at its port located at Dhamra in Odisha’s Bhadrak district.

The 'Joseph Gerczak' was among the units of the US Coast Guard, which were searching for the 23-foot recreational fishing vessel 'Makalapua Ona Lani'. with one person aboard off he Island of Hawaii, on April 10, 2025. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders received a report at 2:17 p.m. from Hawaii County Fire Department dispatchers regarding the overdue vessel, which has a white hull, blue trim and twin outboard engines. Missing was Earl Hind, a 42-year old man who was scheduled to return from a fishing trip in the vicinity of South Point on the morning of April 9. Hind’s family members confirmed that his truck and trailer were still located at the boat ramp. Sector Honolulu watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and diverted the 'Joseph Gerczak' to aid in the search. Also involved in the search were the Hawaii County Fire Department and the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Anyone with information that may assist in search efforts should contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600.

On the morning o April 11, the departure of a migrant boat was reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez from the Portel beach area. hortly after its departure, the boat suffered engine failure, prompting all occupants to request assistance. The 'Minck' was deployed to assist and rescued the 34 people on board the boat and took them to Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken into care by the shore-based rescue services.

Phase one of the new Jurong Port Tank Terminals (JPTT) was officially opened on Monday (July 29), with Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat saying it will allow Singapore to strengthen its position as one of the world’s top bunkering ports for low-sulphur fuels. The $200 million, 16ha petrochemical terminal is a joint venture between port operator Jurong Port and German firm Oiltanking with 252,000 cubic m of clean petroleum storage capacity. From January next year, the International Maritime Organisation will prohibit ships from using fuels containing more than 0.5 per cent sulphur.

Moves are afoot for a new multi-billion-rand liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification terminal to be established at the port of Richards Bay by 2024, but state-owned Transnet wants the private sector to be the main investor and operator of the facility. The plan was revealed on Tuesday as Transnet announced the signing of a cost-sharing agreement with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to jointly fund a feasibility study into the terminal project. The IFC has committed $2 million (around R28 million) as part of the cost-sharing agreement. The move comes as Transnet looks to bolster South Africa’s LNG infrastructure, both at the country’s ports and within its pipelines business.