News

After analysing a series of incidents, involving the grounding of the 'MSC Antonia', the Norwegian marine insurance company Gard has called on shipping companies to increase preparedness and technical upgrade of ships regarding GPS jamming and spoofing, to which also the 'MSC Antonia' was exposed, causing it to running onto the Eliza Shoals west of Jeddah. The analysis documents GPS disruptions in 2025 in, among others, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Israeli coast, and map data from Gard shows that an increasing number of global conflict zones have been affected this year.The recent incidents in the world's conflict zones were highlighting the very real and immediate dangers posed by compromised global navigation satellite systems. Disruptions can lead to ships arriving outside their arrival window or losing access to berths, resulting in commercial losses and potential disputes.One ship during a total GPS disruption used ECDIS's estimated position function (EP, ed.), which estimates the ship's location based on previous movements. The ship ended up grounding on a coral reef at high speed, over 40 nautical miles from its actual position. In another case from 2025, a ship was prevented from sailing from a port in the Red Sea when its GPS signal showed a location deep in the Sahara Desert. The disruption lasted for over a week, causing significant delays and a contractual dispute between the ship’s owner and charterer. Another analysis by Windward in May found that the average distance that vessels “jump” to when their AIS is blocked has increased dramatically from 600 km in Q4 2024 to 6,300 km in Q1 2025. Gard therefore encouraged operators to install secondary satellite receivers and train crews in how to handle navigation anomalies. Gard recommended that ships have clear procedures for when a voyage should be completed or aborted in the event of GPS disruption, and that shipping companies invest in technical solutions such as anti-spoofing equipment and alternative navigation systems.

The local search and rescue (SAR) agency in Manado, North Sulawesi, on July 28 confirmed that 673 passengers were rescued after the fire on the KM 'Barcelona V.A.', while three passengers were killed and two others remain missing. The two missing passengers have been identified as Leivi Alba, 19 years old, and Hamen Langinang, 59 years old. The deceased passengers were identified as Asna Lapai, 50 years old, Zakarias Tindigulangi and Yuliana Gumolung, 40 years old. The SAR agency has decided to end the search operation, which had been ongoing for the past seven days. The operation transitioned to passive monitoring, and SAR personnel would only be deployed upon receiving credible indications regarding the whereabouts of the missing victims. Local fishermen and tourism workers were praised for helping evacuate passengers during the early stages of the fire. Appreciation was expressed for the residents of Gangga and Bangka islands for their swift action in rescuing passengers and bringing them to safety. The Ministry of Transportation, through UPP Likupang, has prepared a preliminary incident report and was conducting further investigation. According to confirmation from the Radio Coastal Stations (SROP) of Manado and Bitung, no distress alert signal or EPIRB transmission was detected.The BASARNAS also confirmed that no distress signals were received from the vessel. The Marine Command Center (MCC) of the Ministry of Transportation has coordinated with relevant agencies and conducted tracking of the vessel’s last known position. The last AIS signal was recorded one day prior to the incident, with the vessel being located at Melonguane Port, and no further AIS tracking has been detected since. The Ministry of Transportation continued to coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure the ongoing safety, support, and investigation related to the incident. Report with photo: https://hubla.dephub.go.id/Indonesianmaritimesafetyinformation/page/news/read/25559/km-barcelona-va-terbakar-di-perairan-gangga-575-penumpang-selamat-3-meninggal-dunia-2-dalam-pencarian-km-barcelona-va-caught-fire-in-gangga-waters-575-passengers-rescued-3-confirmed-dead

The National Science Foundation (NSF) intends to terminate the lease of the 'Nathaniel B. Palmer' in the fiscal year 2026, according to the NSF’s budget request to Congress. The decision came as part of the agency’s efforts to prioritize support for the three year-round Antarctic stations—McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott South Pole, and Palmer—which the NSF operates on behalf of the U.S. government through the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). In response, more than 170 researchers have sent a letter to NSF leadership and Congress urging them to reconsider.

On July 29, the crew of the 'Salvamar Al Nair' has rescued 38 people aboard an inflatable boat, which had previously been located by the Sasemar 103 aircraft. The SAR boat transferred the migrants to Puerto del Rosario. The operation was coordinated from the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas.

On the night of July 28, the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted to the departure of several migrant boats off the coast of Nord and Pas-de-Calais and deployed the 'Ridens' to monitor a boat off the coast of Petit Fort Philippe. During the monitoring, several people aboard the boat requested assistance. The 'Ridens' then launched its operational drom boat (EDO). Once on site, the crew rescued all 40 people on board. The migrants were dropped off at the quay in Calais on the morning of July 29. On July 29, the patrol vessel 'Flamant' was deployed to monitor a second boat that had left the Aa Canal. Once in the area, the 'Flamant' launched its EDO and began monitoring the boat. Following requests for assistance from some migrants, the crew rescued a total of 15 people. The remaining occupants of the boat refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. The people rescued by the 'Flamant' were dropped off at the quay in Calais in the late afternoon. Thus, a total of 55 people were rescued and taken into care by government resources.

The 'Manannan's sailings have resumed July 29, after two days of cancellations due to a generator fault.vSpecialist engineers travelled to the island on July 28 to work on the issue, which impacted the ferry, overnight. Journeys between Douglas and Dublin set sail shortly before 07:00 a.m. BST, with sailings to Liverpool due resume later. However, that crossing and its evening return have both been pushed back by an hour. The ferry was due to set sail from Douglas to Liverpool at 4:00 p-m-, with its return scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

On July 28, 2025, the fire damaged "Cuyahoga" started its final voyage. The McKeil Marine tugs "Molly M1" (IMO: 5118838) and "Wyatt M" (IMO: 897178) left Ashtabula, Ohio, on and towed the self-unloader to the Marine Recycling Corporation in Port Colborne. On July 29 at 9 a.m. LT the tow has reached its destination.

The ' Tahoma (WMEC 908) ’ offloaded approximately 9,970 pounds of cocaine worth $73.7 million, on July 29, 2025, at Port Everglades. The seized contraband was the result of an interdiction on June 24, 2025, approximately 120 miles northwest of Ecuador by the crew of the patrol vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team and the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety & Security Team Houston were also involved in the interdiction operations. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4258314/coast-guard-offloads-more-than-74-million-in-illicit-drugs-interdicted-in-the-e/

The Royal Navy appears to withdraw the HMS 'Lancaster', which has been permanently deployed frigate in the Gulf region, which is approaching the end to its working life, which is based at the UK’s Naval Support Facility in Bahrain. When HMS 'Lancaster' returns home within the next few months to be decommissioned, the only Royal Navy operational ship remaining in Bahrain will be the Hunt-class minesweeper HMS 'Middleton (M34)', with the Sandown Class minesweeper HMS 'Bangor (M109)' dry-docked locally for repair after a collision with USS 'Gladiator (MCM-11)'. The withdrawal of HMS 'Lancaster' has been necessitated primarily by the withdrawal of Type 23 frigates from service before their replacements - the Type 26 Global Combat Ship and the Type 31 frigate - start coming into service in 2028. The HMS 'Lancaster' has been tasked with anti-smuggling duties and committed to keeping the Straits of Hormuz open, having made two major drug seizures in recent months. She has also been trialling the use of Peregrine remote-controlled mini-helicopters for broadening the swathe of its surveillance sweep out to 100 miles while at sea.

Due to the ongoing repair of the technical issue of the 'Argyll Flyer', normally serving on the route Gourock.Dunoon, in Greenock, the single vessel timetable remained in operation for the time being. .During the amended timetable, a shuttle bus operatde for these Mon - Sat sailings: Departure Gourock: 10:15 a.m. Departure Dunoon: 10.45 a.m.

The crew of the 'Salvamar Navia' was notified on the nightof July 29 by the CCS of Salvamento MArítimo in Tenerife, following an alert from the Guardia Civil about a cayuco, which had been located four nautical miles off La Restinga. The SAR boat located it and escorted the migrants to the dock in La Restinga, where the Health Services and State Security Forces were attending. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1950453457938186288

The "Sky Light" was detained on July 16, 2025, in Iskenderun with 26 deficiencies, nine of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Safety of navigation - Voyage or passage plan Missing 2) Emergency systems - Emergency fire pump and its pipes Inoperative 3) Structural conditions - Hull - Cracking Cracked 4) Structural conditions - Beams, frames, floors-construction Not as required 5) Structural conditions - Decks - Corrosion Not as required 6) Water/Weathertight - Covers (Hatchway,- portable,- tarpaulin etc Not properly maintained 7) Life saving Appliances - Lifeboats Not properly maintained 8) Living and working - Ventilation (Working spaced) Not as required 9) Fire safety - Fire prevention structural integrity Not as required The vessel was released again on July 19 and permitted a single voyage to go Tartus for permanent repairs, where it arrived on July 26. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On July 28, 2025, the "Cuyahoga" started its final voyage. The McKeil Marine tugs "Molly M1" and "Wyatt M" left Ashtabula, Ohio, on and towed the self-unloader to the Marine Recycling Corporation in Port Colborne. On July 29 at 9 a.m. LT the tow has reached its destination.

The 'Isle of Arran', serving on the route Kennacraig-Islay, suffered a technical issue impacting the sewage system on July 28, As a consequence, the scheduled departures from Kennacraig at 10:00 a.m. and03:30 p.m. and from Port Ellen at 12:45 p.m. and 06:00 p.m. have been cancelled to carry out repairs. Due to the ongoing issue with the sewage system, more sailings had to be cancelled on July 29: Departure Port Askaig – 07:00 a.m.; Departure Kennacraig – 10:00 a.m.; Departure Port Ellen – 12:45 p.m. The ferry 'Finlaggan' continued as a replacement ship and operated the following sailings: Departure Kennacraig – 07:00 a.m. Departure Port Ellen – 09:45 a.m. After the 'Isle of Arran’s sewage system was repaired. the ferry resumed service on Juily 29 at 1:00 p.m., departing from the port of Kennacraig.

On July 29, the 'Fredrikke T. Olsen' suffered a technical fault and proceeded from Træna to Sandnessjøen for repairs. Onward transportation from Træna on July 30 at 01:05 p.m. has been cancelled as a consequence. Travellers who were going on from Træna were asked to check alternative travel options.

The 'Kapitan Sokolov' is among the sanctioned fishing vessels of the Russian commercial fleet, being suspected of involvement in subsea surveillance activity in the Barents and Norwegian Seas, a continuation of a long tradition of spy trawlers dating back to Soviet days. Given current tensions over the ongoing war in Ukraine, European and Scandinavian leaders now are treating these vessels with suspicion. In May 2025, the European Union sanctioned two Russian fishery companies, the Norebo JSC and Murman Seafood, alleging that they were playing a role in a state-sponsored surveillance and intelligence campaign aimed at Europe's critical underwater infrastructure, including "activities that can facilitate future sabotage operations. Two months later, Norway's government has decided to follow the EU's lead, and it listed both companies, stating on Juily 2025, that such activity may facilitate future sabotage operations and threaten important Norwegian security policy interests The listing denies port access to vessels operated by Norebo and Murman, which together account for most of the Russian fishing fleet in the region. It also prohibits them from holding fishing licenses in the Norwegian EEZ. Norebo, which is owned by a Russian oligarch who has personal and political ties to Vladimir Putin, has protested the decision, saying that the EU and Norwegian allegations were false. On July 29, Russia's foreign ministry summoned the Norwegian ambassador and formally protested the "illegal restrictive measures" imposed. The letter of protest noted that Norway have a bilateral fishery treaty, active since 1976, that guarantees joint management of fish stocks in the Barents and Norwegian Seas. It warns that sanctions on Norebo and Murman could scuttle that longstanding deal.

The 'Isle of Mull', serving on the route Oban-Craignure, suffered a technical issue withthe port side main engine on the morning of July 30. The issue required further investigation at the quay in Oman, and as a consequence, the scheduled departure from the port at 07:25 was delayed. After repairs were successfully completed, the vessel started loading operations, but there may be a knock on delay to the sailings for the remainder of the day. Customers were advised, however, to check in as normal.

On the night of July 28, the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted to the departure of several migrant boats off the coast of Nord and Pas-de-Calais and deployed the 'Ridens' to monitor a boat off the coast of Petit Fort Philippe. During the monitoring, several people aboard the boat requested assistance. The 'Ridens' then launched its operational drom boat (EDO). Once on site, the crew rescued all 40 people on board. The migrants were dropped off at the quay in Calais on the morning of July 29. On July 29, the patrol vessel 'Flamant' was deployed to monitor a second boat that had left the Aa Canal. Once in the area, the 'Flamant' launched its EDO and began monitoring the boat. Following requests for assistance from some migrants, the crew rescued a total of 15 people. The remaining occupants of the boat refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. The people rescued by the 'Flamant' were dropped off at the quay in Calais in the late afternoon. Thus, a total of 55 people were rescued and taken into care by government resources.

On July 29, the 'Salvamar Altair' rescued 38 migrants of North African and sub-Saharan origin, including seven women and two teenagers, from a boat that Salvamento Marítimo had been searching for since the afternoon of July 28, and which was located 40 kilometers east of Lanzarote. The migrants were in apparent good health and have been disembarked in Puerto Naos,

Following the release of a video by the Houthis parading and interviewing crew members from the 'Eternity C' in front of cameras, government officials in the Philippines immediately called for support from other countries to gain the release of them. The Cosmoship Management, which was managing the vessel when it was attacked, also issued a statement calling on all parties to assist in the repatriation of the crewmembers held in Yemen. At the same time, the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers confirmed that nine of the individuals seen in the video were Filipino seafarers from the 'Eternity C'. They said, according to family members who had received calls, the men were in good health and have received medical treatment. The department said that it was working in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and international partners for the safe release of the crew members. The shipping company also released a statement saying it was “deeply relieved” to see the images of the crew. It, too, said it was calling on “all parties to assist in reuniting” the crew currently in Yemen. Cosmoship Management said it will continue to work through “every available channel to support their continued care and to facilitate their safe and swift return.” The company said there were a total of 10 crewmembers and one of the vessel’s security guards, a total of 11 people, in Yemen. The Houthis, through their news channels, also confirmed they “rescued” 11 people from the sea in what they described as a two-day search and rescue operation. Their report said two individuals were injured and received medical care. In the video, a Russian electrician is in bed, with reports that he lost his leg during the attack, and one of the Filipinos was seen in bandages. The Houthis only showed 10 people, although they also said they had 11 from the ship in Yemen. The Houthi report said that they boarded the ship before it sank and found a body which was transferred to the hospital morgue. Cosmoship Management confirmed that two seafarers died during the attack. It says two others remained missing and were “now sadly feared dead.” During the video, the Houthis showed crew members saying they had been told the vessel was going to go to Eilat to load fertilizer. The Houthis then made threats against other ships that might go to Israel and used the crewmembers as a warning.