Maritime News

October 21 ------ The IMO’s Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships convened as scheduled today, October 20, as the shipping industry remains confused over last week’s decision to adjourn for one year the discussions on the Net-Zero Framework. Some participants are feeling relief while many were disappointed and pointed to the near-term uncertainties that everyone hoped would have been resolved. The working group, however, is going

October 21 ------ Cruise Iceland, which was set up to promote the country for cruise tourism, is warning that a government head tax imposed in 2025 is driving away the cruise lines. The group highlights that bookings for cruise ship port calls are down in 2026 and will further decline in 2027 unless the government reconsiders its position. Iceland saw a strong growth in its tourism business based on its successful promotion campaign. The Icelandic Tourism Board reports a tota

October 21 ------ U.S. and Chinese officials are reporting that good progress has been made in the early phases for the launch of the first green shipping corridor on the Pacific. The sponsors of the project highlighted the progress during a conference in Shanghai while China’s Ministry of Transport also outlined steps it will be taking to expand green shipping. The concept for the corridor followed an agreement at the UN’s global climate conference in Scotland (COP26 in 2021

October 21 ------ French shipping colossal CMA CGM has marked the delivery of its newest container vessel powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) as complete. As disclosed in a social media post, the CMA CGM Syracuse’s formal entrance to the Marseille-based maritime transport company’s fleet was officiated in South Korea on October 16. The ceremony was reportedly held at an HD Hyundai Samho yard. The vessel, which will be sailing under the French flag, boasts an overall length

October 20 ------ The explosion on October 18, aboard an LPG tanker Falcon continues to be under investigation, with the authorities discounting the media speculation of an attack by the Houthis. The Houthis also took the unusual step of quickly issuing a denial, saying that they had not been involved in the incident.   Initial reports coming from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a company security officer had informed them that the vessel was struck by an “unkno

October 20 ------ Maritime officials in Ecuador have reached an agreement concerning a national information network aimed at connecting ports, vessel operators and environmental authorities to help address the rising issue(s) of biofouling.   The development is reportedly one of a set of ‘vital’ outcomes that stemmed from a recent workshop delivered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and held together with the Maritime Technology Cooperation Center Caribbean (MT

October 20 ------ South Korea’s Jeju Port celebrated the opening of a new trade route to China, which also marked the first arrival in 57 years of a containership to Jeju. The semi-autonomous island, which lies to the south of the Korean peninsula, highlights that the new service with China will be an economic boost to the region.   The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries approved the route in late July and completed the operational plan in October. The plan calls for weekly ser

October 20 ------ A medical transport vessel has gone missing in the Makassar Strait, leaving three people mysteriously unaccounted-for. In an era of ubiquitous AIS, VHF and EPIRB access, the wholesale disappearance of an official vessel - without a distress call - is an uncommon occurrence.   The vessel went missing while transiting between two tiny islands in the center of the Indonesian archipelago. It departed Pulau Tinggalungang - on the western edge of the Flores Sea -