Philippine News

October 29 ------ Salvage efforts are continuing eight months after the containership MSC Baltic III went aground in a remote cove on the west shore of Newfoundland, Canada. While the majority of the fuel and cargo have been removed from the vessel, they are focusing on additional cleanup as the vessel is prepared for the onset of winter weather in the region. The 207-meter (679-foot) vessel (33,767 dwt) was driven ashore in a fierce winter storm in February 2025 with a darin

October 29 ------ Dry bulk cargo carrier ESL Shipping has received approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its near and long-term emission reduction targets. ESL Shipping was granted approval as the first company in the general cargo segment, meaning that its targets align with the latest climate science to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris Agreement. The company has committed to reducing its well-to-wake GHG emissions by

October 28 ------ Singapore and China have agreed to collaborate on establishing a green and digital shipping corridor, with the aim of fostering innovation, enhancing maritime connectivity, and supporting the global transition towards a more sustainable maritime sector. To formalize the collaboration on the Singapore-China Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC), the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Singapore and the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic

October 28 ------ The Port of Seattle announced today the completion of the 2025 cruise season. The record cruise season delivered an estimated $1.2 billion in regional economic benefit, while providing more than 5,120 individuals direct and indirect jobs throughout the season. The season also saw a record number of passengers and sailings, plus significant shore power use by ships in berth: • 298 total ship calls across 8 home port cruise brands operating 14 different ships

October 28 ------ A car carrier transiting the English Channel reported a fire and subsequently requested a tow. Unlike other recent incidents, however, the fire appears to have been limited to the engine room and not involving the cargo aboard the vessel. Grimaldi Euromed’s car carrier Grande Roma (14,483 dwt) departed Antwerp, Belgium, on October 24, reporting a destination of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates. The following day, October 25, the captain reported a fire

October 28 ------ The British press and maritime authorities are reporting that a crewmember was killed yesterday aboard the P&O cruise ship Arvia. The ship was two days into a two-week cruise to the Caribbean from the UK. The Arvia, which is 185,581 gross tons, is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and with her sister ship Iona, is the largest operating from the UK. The Arvia was introduced by the UK’s P&O Cruises in 2022 and is 344 meters (1,128 feet) in length w

October 27 ------ The IMO’s International Maritime Organization’s Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships wrapped up a week of closed-door meetings with observers agreeing there had been progress and a promising outlook for the future. Observers said the working group had been able to rise above the rancor of the prior week’s special session of MEPC (Marine Environment Protection Committee) and get back to work on the Net-Zero Framewor

October 27 ------ Japan is prepared to sign a memorandum with the United States providing additional details on the investment in shipbuilding that was continued in the countries trade talks. The Yomiuri Shimbun news outlet reports the signing is likely to happen on Monday, October 27, time to Donald Trump’s visit to Japan, which will also see the two countries’ leaders sign a memorandum for greater cooperation. Japan committed to an investment of $550 billion in the United S

October 27 ------ Sweden’s Minister of Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, and the Swedish Coast Guard are reporting that surveillance efforts detected a crewmember dumping trash into the Baltic. While a fairly minor offense, officials said it demonstrates the level of monitoring now underway and, after all, “the sea should be free of trash.” A Coast Guard aircraft on a routine patrol detected the offense. When asked how much, a spokesperson said it was enough that they could s

October 27 ------ Japanese classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (better known as ClassNK) has given a technology qualification (TQ) certificate for a component of South Korean shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries’ (SHI) autonomous navigation solution. As disclosed, the TQ—which is issued for solutions based on new concepts and designs that existing rules and standards cannot address—validated SHI’s “SAS-IBS,” which is a component of the company’s “Samsung Autonom

October 26 ------ Energy efficiency measures can reduce the total cost of the maritime energy transition by up to $220 billion per year, according to a new report released by the World Bank. As explained, improving the energy efficiency of the global merchant fleet is insufficient to meet the IMO’s policy objectives alone. Therefore, green fuels, such as methanol and ammonia, will be indispensable in 2040 and 2050, but are more expensive than conventional fuels. A cost-effici

October 26 ------ In the past two years, India has announced massive investments in its nuclear energy capacity. The focus currently is to design small modular reactors (SMRs) intended for use in off-grid sites in remote areas. However, local media reports this week indicate that the government wants to extend deployment of the SMRs to commercial shipping. India’s Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), run by the government, is developing two SMR designs of 55 MWe (megawatt el

October 25 ------ The United States has always been a leader—innovative, resilient, and unmatched in maritime capability. Our domestic maritime industry, with more than 40,000 vessels and 650,000 American jobs supported, remains the envy of the world. The secret behind this enduring success is simple: strong cabotage laws that protect and promote our national interests, laws that more and more nations are now choosing to adopt. At the heart of America’s domestic maritime stre

October 25 ------ A partnership consisting of GTT and Bloom Energy is working together with France’s Ponant Explorations Group to combine fuel cells and marine carbon capture as part of a project to achieve the first net-zero cruise ship. The project, which was first revealed last year, reports that GTT, known for its containment systems and Bloom Energy will lead a joint innovation project to develop an integrated energy system to cover the vessel’s energy needs related to o

October 24 ------ The cruise industry has roared back since the pandemic, as almost everyone in the travel industry is well aware. AAA and Tourism Economics, however, published new numbers to show just how strong the industry is, and specifically the significance of the U.S. market to the industry. In a new report, they highlight that the industry is expected to mark the fourth consecutive year of record cruise passenger volume in 2026. They note as well that 2025 is turning

October 24 ------ European, Chinese, and South Korean financiers have over half of their portfolio tied to oil and gas carriers that are most at risk of becoming stranded assets in the global rush to shift to a low-carbon energy system, a new report by UCL’s Energy Institute Shipping and Oceans Research Group suggests. As the global economy moves toward decarbonization, the maritime transport industry is staring at the abyss of stranded assets, i.e., vessels that lose value b

October 24 ------ A growing trend to ship combustible cargoes such as lithium batteries in refrigerated containers has prompted VIKING Life-Saving Equipment to develop HydroPen Reefer – a new version of its widely adopted ‘drill and spray’ solution for fighting container fires inside the box. In contrast to conventional exterior firefighting methods, HydroPen’s unique drill and nozzle attaches to a ship’s hose and uses water pressure to drill through the container shell and f

October 24 ------ Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 has yet again demonstrated its determination to fight illicit activities in the waters of the Middle East. The international task force, which is under the command of Saudi Arabia, seized drugs worth a staggering $972.4 million during two operations in the Arabian Sea in the span of 48 hours. During an operation code named Al Masmak, Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Yarmook conducted boarding operations of two dhows that led to the seiz

October 23 ------ The Embassy of the Philippines located in Washington, D.C., issued a statement on October 21, reporting that it has been in contact with the U.S. authorities over the reports of denial of entry encountered by Filipino seafarers at U.S. ports. There have been multiple reports of incidents involving seafarers with work visas since the Trump administration began its crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States. The embassy says it has been in touch with

October 23 ------ There had been reports that companies were considering restructuring steps in the face of the uncertainties created by the special port fee programs introduced by the U.S. and China. Several companies, based on recent stock exchange filings, have quietly taken several steps targeting their ownership profile and composition of their boards to reduce the risk of being deemed a “U.S.-controlled” company by the Chinese authorities. Lawyers pointed to the ambigui