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Walid Gomaa, 467, a failed asylum seeker drowned on April 28, 2025, after he attempted to jump onto the ramp of the 'Tannhauser' at the Southampton docks in a bid to get to Canada, an inquest heard. The man was denied asylum status when he arrived in the UK in 2021. He told a friend that he intended to travel across the Atlantic, having lived illegally in the UK for four years. The Egyptian national was spotted by members of the crew of the 'Tannhauser', attempting to reach the ramp's articulated extensions at the end of the vessel, as it was being raised ahead of sailing, the Winchester inquest was told. The operator paused the raising and saw Gomaa walk away, but as they started lifting up the ramp again, he ran and jumped towards the ramp despite a crew member of the ship, which was due to set sail to Halifax, shouting at him to stop. Gomaa then hit his head and fell into the sea at the Empress Dock at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal, where he drowned before a rescue boat could reach him. Gomaa came to the UK in 2021 and was not given status in this country and disappeared for a period of time. He initially claimed asylum, but that was denied in 2021, and it was not until April 2025 that Gomaa was heard of again.

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 'Escanaba' offloaded approximately 11,922 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $88.2 million at Port Everglades on Aug 5. The seized contraband was the result of three separate interdictions in the eastern Pacific by the crew of the 'Escanaba', the Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team, and the embarked Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew. The following assets and crews were involved in the interdiction operations:   - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) ; - U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron; - U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team. Report with photo and video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4261124/coast-guard-offloads-more-than-88-million-in-illicit-drugs-interdicted-in-the-e/

On Aug 4, 2025, at 10.20 p.m. the 'Maersk Gironde', en route from Wilhelmshaven to Gdansk, was in collision with the vehicles carrier 'SFL Composer' (IMO: 9293583), 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://tv-kalundborg.dk/nyheder/maersk-skib-i-kollision-ved-hatter-barn/ https://fyens.dk/112/kollision-mellem-skibe-i-fynsk-farvand-vi-har-vaeret-forbi

arrived Bhavnagar Anchorage 04.08.25

A protest by Extinction Rebellion activists briefly delayed the docking of the 'Celebrity Eclipse' for the second time within a week in Amsterdam on Aug 3 at around 6 a.m. Around 30 demonstrators in kayaks and inflatables blocked access to the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, displaying banners such as “Cruise is polluting our planet.” The authorities intervened after two hours, arresting at least five protesters. The ship eventually docked and continued its itinerary. Report with photos: https://crew-center.com/protest-delays-celebrity-eclipse-docking-amsterdam

On Aug 1, 2025, at 12.40 p.m. the 'Christiane Deymann I' along with the barge 'Christiane Deymann II' (ENI.: 02323261), en route from Karlsruhe to Dordrecht, ran aground on the Rhine near Karlsruhe, while sailing downstream, after suffering a rudder failure due to a technical defect. The current then broke apart the ropes connecting the barge to the pushing ship. The 'Chrstiane Deymann I' was safely towed to the port of Wörth by another cargo vessel short time later, while the barge initally remained stuck on a groyne. Ship traffic on the Rhine was minimally restricted over the weekend. The work to refloat the barge were aborted on Aug 2, after several attempts to turn it around had failed, and rescumed on the morning of Aug 3 due to a higher water level. At 8.45 p.m. it could finally be refloated and was towed to Wörth too. The damage was estimated to be approximately €100,00 by the Waterways and Shipping Authority. Report with photos: https://www.ka-news.de/karlsruhe/technischer-defekt-rhein-havarie-bei-karlsruhe-verursacht-etwa-100-000-euro-schaden-5-8-25-110546380

A 29-year-old man has been convicted of attempted sabotage after starting a fire aboard the 'Viking Glory' in Dec 2024, when the ferry was at sea with over 1000 people on board. The man set fire to a garbage can inside a closed restaurant. The incident was caught on surveillance video and discovered by staff after it began to smell burnt. The fire went out on its own before it could spread, but the Åland District Courtcourt found that the act was likely to cause a general danger to life and health. “It was more likely a coincidence that there was not so much flammable material in the garbage can that the fire went out on its own. Despite the fact that fire surveillance rounds are carried out on a regular basis, a fire could have taken hold between rounds,” thecourt wrote in the verdict. The man was arrested later that night by staff on board. During the trial, he admitted the crime but said he did not remember the incident because he was heavily intoxicated. He was on board the ship for a Christmas party. The Åland District Court sentenced the man to six months of suspended imprisonment. He must also pay a victim surcharge and reimburse the state for the costs of a witness examination.

More than three years after the "Amadea," was seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch, the yacht, valued at over $300 million (around €260 million), was put on auction on Aug 5. Bidders can submit offers until Sep 10. Bidders must make a deposit of $10 million. The Florida-based company National Maritime Services is in charge of the auction. The "Amadea" was seized in Fiji in April 2022 and is currently moored in San Diego, California. A US judge dismissed a claim for ownership by former head of the oil and gas company Rosneft, Eduard Khudainatov, in March. According to prosecutors, Khudainatov acted merely as a "front man," while the true owner is Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov. Sanctions were imposed on the close ally of Vladimir Putin because of the war in Ukraine.

On Aug 5, 2025, the medical evacuation of a crew member was requested from 'MSC Ines', en route from Antwerp to Valencia, while the ship was sailing 70 nautical miles westnorthwest of the Sisargas Islands. The CCS Fisterra of Salvamento Marítimo deployed the SAR helicopter Helimer 402 for this purpose. The patient was transported to Alvedro for the further transfer to the hospital,

On Aug 4, 2025, at around 10:40 p.m. the 'Excellence Baroness', enroute from Lelystad to Basel, allided with the Oude IJssel Bridge in Zutphen. The impact of damaged railings on the upper deck of the river cruise ship. Due to possible damage to the railway bridge. train traffic between Apeldoorn, Arnhem, and Zutphen was halted. The fire department responded with several vehicles. About 1,5 hours later, train traffic could be resumed. The police was also present and advised the crew of the river cruise ship to assess the damage, before it could continue its voyage at around 11:00 p.m., crossing the border to Germany on the Rhine on Aug 5 at 2.30 a.m. and berthed in Duisburg later the day, before proceeding to Düsseldorf. Report swith photos and video: https://www.gelrenieuws.nl/2025/08/passagiersschip-botst-op-oude-ijsselbrug.html https://www.destentor.nl/zutphen/cruiseschip-botst-op-spoorbrug-bij-zutphen-schade-aan-het-dek~af6463ef/

There was a standoff between the government of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland and the federal government of Somalia over the 'Sea World', which was loaded with Turkish weaponry and detained on Juyly 18, 2025 The government of Puntland insisted it was investigating the true ownership of the military hardware on the vessel, rejecting the calls by both the federal government of Somalia and Turkey to release the vessel and its cargo. The federal government in Mogadishu issued a public statement on July 23, saying it “categorically denounces the "hijacking and aggression against the Sea World, demanding the “immediate and unconditional release of the vessel,” while calling the actions of Puntland an “unlawful operation.” Puntland contended that the 'Sea World' was “loitering for two days” off the coast, raising suspicions. It apprehended the vessel, acting on intelligence and fears after a group of young fishermen had already boarded it. After being contacted by Somali traders who claimed ownership of the cargo, it moved the ship to the port of Bossaso for an investigation. Photos: https://x.com/radiodaljir/status/1946442478594224334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1946442478594224334%7Ctwgr%5E6921898b09f30f45a34d9fd1bcd96b2d400ce6be%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmaritime-executive.com%2Farticle%2Fpuntland-refuses-somalia-and-turkey-s-demands-to-release-weaponry-on-ship

On July 31, the Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and the Synergy Marine Private Ltd, the owner and operator of the 'Dali', have filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the builder of the container ship. The lawsuit alleged that the ship's allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge was caused by HHI's negligence, stating that a "defective design" is what led to the loss of power on the ship. In the complaint filedin the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Grace Ocean (the registered owner of Dali) and Synergy Marine (its technical manager) alleged that Hyundai improperly engineered and installed a key component of the ship’s electrical distribution system. The claim centred around an under-voltage release (UVR) mechanism tied to one of the ship’s main circuit breakers. The lawsuit stated that a loose wire at node 381 on the ship's electrical switchboard caused a power outage, which led to the engine shutting down and a loss of steering. According to court documents, two minutes after the power went out, a complete electrical blackout occurred. At 1:28 a.m., the ship allided with the Francis Key Bridge. The plaintiffs contended that the wiring connection, which was designed to carry control signals, was compromised due to the incorrect placement of a labelling band, preventing secure contact within the terminal block. This flaw disrupted the power supply and ultimately led to a full-scale electrical shutdown. U.S. federal authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard, had earlier identified issues within the vessel’s electrical infrastructure as pivotal in their investigation. A report released in June had confirmed a break in continuity within the control circuit. Additional technical assessments documented loosely secured cabling, which engineers from Hyundai reportedly acknowledged could lead to system failure—a conclusion later substantiated during controlled simulations. The 'Dali' had suffererd prior electrical anomalies, including a blackout while docked in Baltimore shortly before its final voyage. These prior events, combined with reports of degraded maintenance conditions and makeshift onboard repairs, have raised serious concerns over the vessel’s operational integrity and its compliance with maritime safety standards. Apart from the lawsuit, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine are also facing significant legal challenges. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a separate $100 million action in Sep 2024, accusing the companies of knowingly operating an unseaworthy ship and failing to disclose mechanical and electrical deficiencies. The State of Maryland has also launched litigation, seeking financial recovery for damages related to the bridge’s destruction, emergency response costs, and infrastructure restoration. As a defense strategy, the ship’s owner and operator have been seeking to limit their liability through maritime law provisions while redirecting part of the responsibility toward the original equipment manufacturer. Their suit against HD Hyundai includes claims for the cost of vessel repairs and potential compensation across dozens of civil cases involving economic loss, property damage, cargo disruption, personal injuries, and environmental impacts. The construction of the 'Dali' had started in 2014, with the delivery in 2015. The current product liability action accused Hyundai of failing to ensure that all electrical connections on the switchboard were properly secured during fabrication and assembly, and that the system was unsafe from the point of delivery. HD Hyundai has been formally notified of the suit and is expected to respond through legal channels in the coming weeks. This litigation adds a new layer of complexity to an already expansive network of legal proceedings stemming from one of the most consequential maritime incidents in recent U.S. history. A report released by the National Transportation Safety Board in 2024 stated that a cable that was supposed to connect with a control for blackout detection was loose. If not properly connected, the switchboard can lose power without ever being recorded on the ship's sensor, per the NTSB report. The lawsuit stated that HHI knew about the possibility of loose wires in the switchboard and knew, or should have been aware the vessel was at risk of power outages. Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine PTE have since denied any wrongdoing since April 1, 2024. 45 claims are currently pending for property damage, economic damages, clean-up costs, personal injury, wrongful death, survival, workers' compensation reimbursement, and cargo and general average.

The 'Beautemps-Beaupré' located an overcrowded migrant boat on Aug 3, 2025, at 6:50 p.m. approximately 185 kilometers off the Moroccan coast near Dakhla. The crew notified Salvamento Marítimo, which deployed the SAR boat 'Guardamar Polimnia'. It reached the area after about 11 hours. The research ship remained nearby at the request of Salvamento Marítimo, until the SAR vessel had arrived on scene and rescued the more than 100 migrants south of Gran Canaria. The 'Guardamar Polimnia' then set course for the port of Arguineguín, Gran Canaria. One seriously injured person was flown to Gran Canaria Airport by the SAR helicopter Helimer 202 and dropped off at 3:55 p.m., An ambulance transported the patient further to a hospital. The rescued migrants arrived at the port of Arguineguín at 8:40 p.m.

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/

The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) has released its Report of Investigation (ROI) on Aug 5 on the loss of the submersible 'Titan', which imploded during a June 2023 dive to the wreck of the 'Titanic', killing five people, after having been deployed from the 'Polar Prince' on June 18, 2023. The more than 300-page ROI outlines key findings and contributing factors in the casualty and includes 17 safety recommendations aimed at strengthening oversight of submersible operations, improving coordination among federal agencies and closing gaps in international maritime policy. The two-year investigation has identified multiple contributing factors that led to this tragedy, providing valuable lessons learned to prevent a future occurrence. There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework. The board determined the primary contributing factors were OceanGate’s inadequate design, certification, maintenance and inspection process for the Titan. Other factors cited in the report include a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate, an inadequate domestic and international regulatory framework for submersible operations and vessels of novel design, and an ineffective whistleblower process under the Seaman’s Protection Act. The board also found OceanGate failed to properly investigate and address known hull anomalies following its 2022 Titanic expedition. Investigators determined the Titan’s real-time monitoring system generated data that should have been analyzed and acted on during the 2022 'Titanic' expedition. However, OceanGate did not take any action related to the data, conduct any preventative maintenance or properly store the Titan during the extended off season before its 2023 'Titanic' expedition. The MBI recommendations included restricting the Oceanographic Research Vessel designations for submersibles, expanding federal and international requirements to all submersibles conducting scientific or commercial dives and requiring Coast Guard documentation for all U.S. submersibles. The board also recommended adding Coast Guard personnel capacity at Coast Guard Headquarters to support new construction oversight and field inspections involving submersibles and vessels of novel design. Further recommendations included requiring operators to submit dive and emergency response plans to the local Coast Guard officer in charge, marine inspection; evaluating the Coast Guard’s subsea search and rescue capabilities; and working with the International Maritime Organization to define passenger submersibles and expand international safety requirements for submersibles operating on the high seas. The board also called for a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Coast Guard agreement to clarify whistleblower investigative protocols and improve interagency coordination. The Marine Board's report is now under review by the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Upon completion of the review, the Commandant will issue a Final Action Memorandum confirming the U.S. Coast Guard's position on the recommendations and any actions to be pursued. Report with link to ROI: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4265651/coast-guard-marine-board-of-investigation-releases-report-on-titan-submersible/

On the morning of Aug 5, upon the arrival of the 'Blue Star Chios' at the port of Pigadia, Karpathos, a 36-year-old Greek passenger jumped into the water from the deck of the ship. Immediately, Port Authority officials as well as crew members of theferry proceeded to rescue the man,, using life jackets. He was pulled from the water and then taken to the General Hospital of Karpathos for precautionary reasons, where he remained hospitalized. A preliminary investigation was onducted by the Karpathos Port Authority.

Sold to Breakers as is Manila

The "Sea World", which had beenn seized on July 19 near the coastal town of Bareeda on the Gulf of Aden, after having been observed loitering" off the coast for several days, has been released after lengthy discussions and the dispatch of a Turkish delegation to Puntland on Aug 4. The Turkish government has provided the Puntland government with proof that the cargo was belonging to it. After the investigations conducted by the Puntland government into the cargo were completed, the Puntland government has decided to transfer responsibility for the vessel and its cargo to the Turkish government The accusations of prracy were rejected by the Puntland authorities.

The Brodosplit shipyard said on Aug 4 that an authorised professional service had conducted air testing aboard the 'Moby Drea' as part of preparatory works for the reconstruction of areas containing asbestos materials. The results showed there were no asbestos fibres present in the air.