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The 'Aratere' will make its final sailing from Picton on Aug 18 at 11 a.m., after 26 years of service. Major infrastructure work in Picton will then commence to prepare for the arrival of new rail-enabled ferries in 2029. The 'Kaiārahi' is returning from dry-dock in Singapore to replace the 'Aratere' after completing the scheduled maintenance. No booking changes will be required for freight customers or passengers as a new two-ship timetable is already in place. Switching from three ships to two ships, the 'Kaitaki' and the 'Kaiārahi', will have a big impact on staff, passengers and freight. The capacity of the two new ferries will be larger than the current fleet of three ships as a necessary step towards a more efficient and sustainable future. The 'Aratere' crew will send the ship off in a private event in early September.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company, as the charterer of the 'MSC Elsa 3', along with the vessel’s owners, has filed an admiralty suit in India seeking to limit their liability. The companies were citing the large number of claims already filed and the open-ended possibilities, saying that if the liability was not capped, it has the potential to disrupt insurance and freight operations and drive up the price of goods. There have already seven lawsuits been filed with the Kerala High Court, the largest being a claim for more than $1 billion from the government. Private cases were also filed on behalf of shippers who had cargo aboard the ship, as well as the fishing community and others. MSC in the filing sajd that it could be open to many claims, noting there were 643 containers aboard the vessel when it went down on May 25. The lawsuit was seeking to limit the amount of potential claims to a value calculated based on the tonnage of the vessel. It would be approximately $14.2 million, subject to current conversion rates, when the compensation fund is established. The lawsuit has been filed under India’s Maritime Shipping Act of 1958, which allows shipowners to cap liabilities, and the 2015 Merchant Shipping Rules, which reiterated the right to limit liability caused by the sinking of a ship. The suit further highlights that India is a signatory to the International Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims. The suit was including an eight-slot beyond the current cases, which would be used as a catch-all for any future claims. They are also seeking a permanent injunction from other defendants initiating other cases against the MSC Elsa 3. The filing was coming in response to the massive claim filed by the government, which was seeking damages plus the cost of the remediation. India’s Directorate General of Shipping has overseen the recovery of containers that washed ashore, debris from the wreck, and the containment of oil leaking from the ship. The suits were proceeding even as the recovery effort was continued. A salvage team was in the area and prepared to begin saturation diving to the vessel as part of an effort to siphon oil from the tanks. However, the swell and seas have been too high for the effort to begin. Sri Lanka, which is hundreds of miles away from the wreck site, has also filed suit seeking compensation. It reports that debris from the ship was washing up on its beaches. The Kerala High Court has scheduled the next hearing for the case on Aug 21. The court continued to detain the the 'MSC Akiteta II' at the Vizhinjam port in effect as collateral against the claims. It had previously also briefly detained two other MSC ships in response to individual claims from shippers. MSC responded to the case denying the extent of the damage claimed by the government and rejecting posting a bond, which would have released the 'MSC Akiteta II'.

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

Authorities were preparing to salvage the 'Sea Lady II', with the crane ship 'Hebo-Lift 2' (IMO: 9829019) having arrived in St Tropez on Aug 5, en route from Civitavecchia. The 'Sea Lady II' was badly damaged in a fire and has been partially sunk ever since. The fire began in her bow before spreading to the lower decks, alongside billows of black smoke. Authorities had difficulties boarding the yacht but did manage to bring the flames under control. Two crew members were evacuated and have been treated for minor smoke inhalation.

Beached at Alang 06.08.25

On the night of Aug 5, the sailing yacht 'Redón' with one crew member on board, ran aground on the rocks at Seiramar beach in Covas (Viveiro). The hull was breached, causing water leaking, and the boat had a broken mast. The CCS Fisterra of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Alioth' to assist. The SAR boatmanaged to free the yacht and tow it to Celeiro.

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.

The skipper of the water taxi 'Stormloper' cannot remember the collision with the Tiger. He suffers from a form of amnesia. This became clear on Aug 5 at the start of the criminal case into the accident on the Wadden Sea on Oct 21, 2022, which claimed the lives of four people on board. He told the court in Leeuwarden that he only remembers leaving Harlingen and contacting the speedboat via the radio near Terschelling. The next moment he was hanging from the bow of the boat, said the 35-year-old Kornelis P. from Harlingen. He was injured. The speedboat was sailing at a speed of 55 kilometers per hour just before the accident, the water taxi almost 30 kilometers per hour. In the Schuitengat, the shipping channel near Terschelling where the accident occurred, a speed limit of 20 kilometers per hour applies. An audio recording of the radio conversation prior to the collision was played in court. The captain of the 'Tiger' warned the oncoming 'Stormloper' that it would be better to pass the speedboat on the unusual starboard side. "I picked up the radio to find out what his intentions were. He was already on the red side before me," said Z. During the radio conversation, the men couldn't reach an agreement because the water taxi skipper was unresponsive. According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), the skipper made an "incomprehensible and unsafe steering movement" at the last moment, leaving the ferry captain no choice but to run over the water taxi. In court, the relatives called on the skipper and captain to acknowledge their mistakes. "How difficult can it be to take responsibility for your mistakes," said the woman who lost both her 46-year-old husband and her 12-year-old son in the collision. "In the police report, you state that you believe you demonstrated good seamanship, but you don't know that you're not allowed to sail faster than 20 kilometers per hour in the Schuitengat. Does not knowing the rules qualify as good seamanship?" she asked the suspects, who are on trial for manslaughter. The woman from Sexbierum, Friesland, expects her missing son will never return. The wife and son of the 49-year-old victim from Tjalleberd also exercised their right to speak. He was found 16 days later on the Groene Strand beach on Terschelling. The woman called the collision a disaster resulting from a series of mistakes: "Your actions and reflection show that you are incompetent, incapable, and incompetent as skipper and captain. In my view, you are guilty of the deaths of three men and a child. You are not fit to perform this skill and good seamanship. I would never entrust human lives to these individuals again." The Public Prosecution Service demanded 180 hours of community service for both suspects. The prosecutor also requested three-month suspended prison sentences. Because they were sailing too fast, they are both accused of manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm. "If both suspects had followed the rules, this accident would not have happened," the prosecutors said regarding the behaviour of skipper Kees P. and Arco Z. "Both could have prevented the collision." They sailed "carelessly and negligently." The lawyer for the captain of the speedboat argued for his client's acquittal. According to the defense, the speed limit in the Schuitengat is not posted anywhere, and the captain could not have been aware of it. Moreover, he tried to contact the skipper of the approaching water taxi in time via the radio.

The 'Coruisk' (IMO: 9274836), serving on the route Mallaig-Lochboisdale, suffered a technical issue with the aft engine on Aug 7, which required the use of the berth at Mallaig. As a consequence, the scheduled 09:15 a.m. arrival at Mallaig and the 10:05 a.m. departure from Mallaig and the 10:15 a.m. sailing from Armadale, operated by the ferry 'Lochnevis' were cancelled.

In the port of Büsum, about 500 liters of marine diesel spilled into the water while refueling the "Funny Girl" on the morning of Aug 6. Emergency personnel from the volunteer fire departments in Büsum and Hennstedt deployed oil booms and began removing the oil film. A total of more than 35 firefighters were involved in the operation, which continued into the early evening. Crews were rotated once. The neighbouring Warwerort fire department also helped with a drone. The scheduled departure to Heligoland island had to be cancelled. The port was closed. Those who were originally planning to travel from Heligoland back to Büsum were taken to Cuxhaven on the ferry "Helgoland" and then transported by coach. Services from Büsum were scheduled to resume on Aug 7.

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.

On Aug 4, 2025, at 10.20 p.m. the container m/v 'Maersk Gironde' (IMO: 9235555), en route from Wilhelmshaven to Gdansk, was in collision with the 'SFL Composer', which was coming from Emden, at the entrance to the deep-water route at Hatter Barn. Both ships sustained damage above the waterline. Diving investigations were carried out to determine whether there was also damage below the waterline. Both ships have been detained by the Danish Maritime Authority. The 'SFL Composer' was anchored just northwest of Sejerø, close to the position where the collision occurred, while the 'Maersk Gironde' dropped anchor north of Fyns Hoved in pos. 55° 42' N 010° 45' E, where it remained stationary as of Aug 6 . The Danish Maritime Authority has inspected the damage during the night and again on the morning of Aug 5. The 'SFL Composer' was taken in tow by the two Svitzer tugs 'Svitzer Edda' (IMO: 9898929) and 'Trym' (IMO: 9342724) to the Fayard Shipyard (the former Lindø Skibsværft) in the Odense Fjord for an inspections. On the foremidday of Aug 6, it dropped anchor in pos. 55° 35' N 010° 33' E. Reports with photos: https://fyens.dk/112/kollision-mellem-skibe-i-fynsk-farvand-vi-har-vaeret-forbi https://tv-kalundborg.dk/nyheder/maersk-skib-i-kollision-ved-hatter-barn/

Harbour Cruises, the owner of a long-running Vancouver cruise company doesn’t know why the 'Harbour Princess' ran aground on a dining cruise and sightseeing tour east of the Point Atkinson lighthouse near the Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver on Aug 3 at around 11:30 a.m. Transport Canada will to look into the reason why the ship struck a charted rock,.The officer in charge of the vessel was highly experienced. The ship was to be lifted out of the water tod make sure that the damage is repaired if there is any. The vessel will be out of service for up to 10 days, and undergo inspection by a third party. The Transportation Safety Board continued to investigate.All passengers had their fares refunded.

From Aug 6, the Ukraine officially has restored trhe passage through the Bystre Canal for vessels with a draft of up to 4.5 m., about two weeks after the 'Ingulskyj', with 11 people on board, exploded on the evening of July 23, during scheduled work at the mouth of the Danube. Three employees of the Sea Ports Administration of Ukraine died as a result of the explosion. Other crew members were injured and hospitalized. This decision opens up new opportunities for shipowners who previously faced restrictions due to the temporary closure of the canal. During the closure of the Bystre Canal, many shipowners were forced to increase their freight rates to compensate for the additional costs. However, the prices offered by the carriers turned out to be unacceptable to charterers. After the resumption of the Bystre Canal, market participants predict a partial revival of freight traffic on the Danube due to more balanced conditions for negotiations between sellers and buyers.

After two months, the fire aboard the 'Wan Hai 503' has been finally extinguished as of Aug 6. This came after several weeks, when the fire - according to the shipping company - has been under control, but where there have still been flames and smoke from the ship. The current status was that the firefighting authorities were monitoring the temperature on board to ensure that the fire did not flare up again. In addition, there was still some firefighting water on board that will be handled so that the ship does not risk capsizing. The shipping company has not yet announced the cause of the fire.The four missing crew members have not been found. The Wai Hai Lines had contracted the salvage company T&T Salvage to coordinate the efforts to extinguish the fire on board.

On the afternoon of Agu 5, the Port Authority of Argosaronic Gulf was informed by the Captain of the 'Flying Dolphin XIX', that an obstruction had got suck in the vessel's fins, during its scheduled route from the port of Aegina to Piraeus. The ship sailed to the port of Piraeus at a reduced speed, where it safely disembarked its 117 passengers. The 1st Port Guard of Argosaronic Gulf of the Central Port Authority of Piraeus banned the hydrofoil from sailing until the damage was repaired and a certificate of class maintenance was presented by the classification society monitoring the ship.

The Wai Hai Lines, the owners of the 'Wan Hai 503', have failed in a bid to secure port of refuge in Hambantota in Sri Lanka. While the China Merchant’s run port had agreed to take the 'Wan Hai 503', sources indicated that agreement with government authorities over conditions to bring the vessel into the country’s waters for salvage operations could not be reached. The Sri Lankan authorities did not outright reject the application for the 'Wan Hai 503', however, asked for a Letter of Undertaking (LoU) on the salvage operation to the value of $3.25 billion, a figure which massively exceeded normal limits of liability. As a result, the application for port of refuge has not proceeded. With the failure to agree port of refuge in Hambantota it leaves the 'Wan Hai 503' with the salvors onboard offshore India and Sri Lanka and adrift on the high seas. Other potential options for a port of refuge in Southeast Asia and the Middle East continued to be explored, with Penang ibeing the most promising at present. With Hambantota in Sri Lanka the port operator in Penang has agreed to take the vessel, but again approval from government authorities will be required. There are concerns over the safety of the damaged vessel in a lengthy towage operation across the Indian Ocean that would coincide with the monsoon season.

The motor boat 'Jeff One', with 12 people on board, went adrift on Aug 5 ar the port of Ibiza. The 'Guardamar Concepción Arenal', mobilized by the Coordination Center of Salvamento Marítimo in Palma, took the boat in tow and pulled it to the port. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1953167091881689136

The Tallink Grupp's subsidiary, Tallink–Helsinki Line Limited, has sold the 'Regal Star' to the Turkish shipping company Ams Line Shipping Co. The ship was officially handed over to its new owner on Aug 6, 2025. The 'Regal Star' had previously operated the Paldiski–Kapellskär route. In Febr 2025, the m/v 'Star I' commenced operations on the route, and was later replaced by the 'Superfast IX', which provides transport services for both freight and car passengers. The sale of the 'Regal Star' was part of the work to adapt the size of the fleet to current market conditions, according to Paavo Nõgene, CEO of Tallink Grupp. The 'Regal Star' has remained docked in Tallinn since June 25.

On Aug 5, 2025, at 6.50 p.m., the 'Panaghia Paravouniotissa' ran aground in Nea Stira, Evia, in the Euboean Gulf off Mikro Kouneli Island, en route from Styra to Agia Marina with 105 passengers and nine crew members on board. The ferry remained firmly stuck on the reef in pos. 38° 11.10' N 024° 10.50' E and developed a slight list to port side, The Greek Coast Guard deployed two ships to the scene. The local emergency plan was activated at 6:58 p.m., and the transfer of passengers began at 7:10 p.m., using private boats, as well as the tender of the patrol boat 'Gavdos' (IMO: 9768356), which arrived at 8 p.m., and the ferry 'Kanaris' (IMO: 7824493). A total of five private boat were mobilized. All passengers were safely transferred back to Nea Stira. There were no reports of injuries. Due to a lack of accommodation in the Nea Stiri area, the authorities organized the transport of 47 passengers by coach to Marmari and Karystos, where they spent the night with the care of the ferry company. Four passengers chose to spend the night in the lounge of the ferry "Apostolis", which had a scheduled morning itinerary, while others chose alternative ways of returning by boat or taxi. The 'Panaghia Paravouniotissa' suffered a small leak with ensuing water ingress, which could be controlled by pumps. A diver was called to inspect the hull. The Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy informed the competent Prosecutor about the non-response of the ship-owning company regarding salvage operations more than 14 hours after the incident. The Captain did not inform the competent authorities about the grounding either. The Unified SAR Coordination Center (EKSED), which was notified at 6.51 p.m., only managed to contact him after repeated attempts by phone, Passengers complained that there was no information from the ship's loudspeakers after the grounding. The captain has been brought to the port department that has undertaken the investigation of the case and was expected to be brought to the competent prosecutor. Reports with photos and video: https://www.hcg.gr/el/drasthriothtes/anakoinwsh-ypoyrgeioy-naytilias-kai-nhsiwtikhs-politikhs-gia-peristatiko-prosara3hs-eg-dr-ploioy-sta-nea-styra/ https://www.tanea.gr/2025/08/06/greece/prosaraksi-feri-mpot-sta-nea-styra-to-yp-naytilias-stelnei-ston-eisaggelea-tin-ploioktitria-etaireia/ https://www.tanea.gr/2025/08/05/greece/to-ypourgeio-naytilias-kaiei-ton-ploiarxo-gia-tin-prosaraksi-sta-nea-styra-den-enimerose-os-ofeile-tis-arxes/ https://www.skai.gr/news/greece/eyvoia-ploio-pou-ektelouse-dromologio-nea-styra-agia-marina-epese-se-ksera https://www.koutipandoras.gr/article/nea-styra-paramenei-kollimeno-to-feri-bot-panagia-paravouniotissa-ti-katangelloun-epivates/ https://govnews.gr/ellada/296588/ston-eisangelea-i-ploioktitria-tou-feri-pou-prosaraxe-sta-nea-styra-kamia-energeia-gia-apokollisi-14-ores-meta/ https://en.protothema.gr/2025/08/06/the-ferry-that-ran-aground-on-a-reef-in-styra-remains-stuck-questions-about-the-captain-that-demand-answers/