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On Aug 3, 2025, the 'Gemini' was detained in Piraeus with six deficiencies, three of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Labour conditions - Non payment of wages Non payment of wages 2) Certificate & Doc - Seafarers employment agreement Expired 3) ISM - ISM certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Aug 5 and left the port en route to Kusadasi with an ETA as of Aug 7. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

An international research team aboard the 'Nautilus' has located the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer 'Teruzuki', which was sunk in 1942 during one of the most decisive naval battles of World War II. The wreck, over 2,600 feet beneath the surface in the waters of the Solomon Islands, was located and explored using ROVs, during the Maritime Archaeology of Guadalcanal expedition aboard the research vessel. The 'Teruzuki' was a 440-foot Akizuki-class destroyer commissioned in 1942. The fate of the ship was sealed in the early morning of Dec 12, 1942, while escorting supply vessels off Cape Esperance on the north coast of Guadalcanal. In a nighttime attack, two small U.S. Navy PT boats, PT-37 and PT-40, fired torpedoes, one of which struck the 'Teruzuki' in the stern, disabling the vessel and igniting a fire. Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka was knocked unconscious by the blast. The fire eventually reached the magazines and caused an enormous explosion. The destroyer sank around 4:40 a.m., taking nine crew members with it. The majority of the crew, Tanaka included, were saved. The discovery was made possible through a collaborative effort spearheaded by Ocean Exploration Trust and supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration, the University of New Hampshire, the Solomon Islands government, and other academic and maritime heritage organizations. Researchers used sonar mapping from the University of New Hampshire’s uncrewed surface vessel DriX to determine the location where the wreck was most likely to be. The ROVs 'Hercules' and 'Atalanta' were then deployed to explore the site. When it arrived at the bottom of the ocean, the team found the 'Teruzuki' in two sections. The stern, 656 feet away from the main hull, was depth-charged, disproving the previous theory that internal explosions of these weapons caused the final explosion. Hiroshi Ishii of Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Area Studies, who was part of the expedition, helped confirm the ship’s identity. In a statement to the Ocean Exploration Trust, he discussed the poignancy of the find: “Beyond the discovery, witnessing Teruzuki shows a real sadness about war. It was very emotional to see this ship’s turrets pointed skyward. The ship was designed for an anti-aircraft purpose, but found itself facing an entirely different type of conflict.” The site is also a reminder of the brutal naval battles that took place in the surrounding Iron Bottom Sound. The location was the site of five major sea battles in late 1942 at a cost of over 20,000 casualties and the sinking of over 100 warships and 1,450 aircraft. Less than 100 of those ships have been located to date. This discovery is the 12th wreck that has been mapped during the expedition, all part of a continuing project to document sunken military vessels and aircraft in the Pacific. Teruzuki is particularly historically valuable because there were no known photos or blueprints of the ship, due to wartime secrecy. The expedition is broadcasting its dives live at NautilusLive.org Report with photos: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/08/japanese-wwii-destroyer-teruzuki-wreck-found/

On July 9, 2025, the 'Odyssey' was inspected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and received a score of 81, the lowest inspection score of the year so far. A passing grade is 86. The inspection report revealed numerous issues, with the most serious concerns centered on the ship’s potable water system. The report indicated that during water bunkering operations, chlorine levels in the drinking water were consistently below the required minimum and that no corrective action was taken. A major safety hazard was also identified: a drain line from the water purification system was hard-piped to a gray water tank, creating a risk of cross-contamination. Other issues were found throughout the ship, including: - Food Safety and Equipment: Inspectors found a greasy waffle iron stored with clean items, along with several refrigerators and other food-holding units that were out of service. One note stated that some food was held at unsafe temperatures (like cream at 56°F). - General Maintenance: Problems with poor deck conditions, dusty overhead areas, and standing water were noted. Even the swimming pools were cited for not having proper safety signs and depth markers. - Pest Control: The presence of fruit flies in a pantry pointed to a pest control problem. Villa Vie Residences purchased the ship in late 2023 with the goal of converting it into a residential cruise ship. The ship’s maiden voyage, which was supposed to start in May 2024, was delayed multiple times due to technical issues, including problems with the rudder stocks. The Odyssey is now out of U.S. waters, so a re-inspection won’t happen until it returns to a U.S. port. However, the company is required to fix all the problems found in the report. Many of the issues are a result of the ship’s age and design, as it wasn’t built to today’s U.S. public health standards. The ship has passed other health inspections since leaving Europe. The company states it is taking the feedback seriously and is confident a future inspection will result in a passing score.

The "Aurora," operated by the German aid organization Sea-Watch, has been allowed to leave the port of Lampedusa. A court in the Sicilian city of Agrigento suspended the administrative detention that had been in effect since July 14. The boat had rescued 70 people in distress and had sailed to Lampedusa, even though the authorities had assigned them the more distant port of Pozzallo in Sicily. However, due to poor weather conditions, continuing the journey would have been irresponsible. Accordingly, the authorities had been informed of the change of course, and the "Aurora" had docked in Lampedusa with their express consent. The court found that the captain had acted in compliance with international law, and the detention was a political attempt to hinder civilian sea rescue.

The 'Aya 1', carrying hundreds of military armoured vehicles en route from Jebel Ali, was detained in Astakos on July 27, 2025, before being allowed to continue its journey to the port of Misurata. On its way to Libya, it was initially stopped by a Dutch frigate operating under the European Union’s Operation IRINI. The EU’s Operation has previously intercepted similar shipments, including vessels transporting armoured vehicles and other weaponry to Libyan ports.The control of the 'Aya 1' was later transferred to the Italian navy frigate ITS 'Morosini', which escorted it to the port of Astakos, where the vessel was detained and searched. Although the cargo manifest listed cosmetics, cigarettes and electronic goods, initial inspections reportedly uncovered over 350 armoured vehicles and other military equipment on board. The ship was initially destined for territories controlled by General Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya. However, after a diplomatic intervention by Greece’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and following the personal involvement of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotaki, the vessel was eventually cleared to sail. It arrived in Misrata on Aug 3. While the exact details of the cargo remained undisclosed, the incident raised fresh concerns about ongoing violations of the arms embargo and the role of international actors in Libya’s conflict.