Philippine News

July 23 ------ Four tankers changed course in the Red Sea, with two signaling the Suez Canal as their new destination after Yemen's Houthi militia warned ships to avoid sailing to Saudi Arabian ports, ship-tracking data showed. The Iran-aligned Houthis on Monday declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front against the United States in its war with Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf. "The threat of H

July 23 ------ Greece has advised Greek-flagged commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea to enhance security measures following a series of attacks targeting merchant ships in the region, according to Reuters. The warning comes as tensions continue to rise in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, where Ukraine and Russia have intensified strikes against maritime and energy infrastructure as part of their ongoing conflict. Greek-operated vessels are among the world’s largest tan

July 23 ------ The hijacking of a Tanzanian-flagged chemical and oil-products tanker off Yemen’s southern coast has heightened concerns over a resurgence of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden, where dozens of attacks and attempted boardings have been reported over the past three months. The tanker, identified as the MT ASANA was seized by suspected Somali pirates on 17 July shortly after departing the Yemeni port of Mukalla in Hadramout Governorate, according to regional marit

July 23 ------ Chinese officials are confirming a small feeder ship used to transfer containers on the Yangtze River was rocked by an explosion early on Wednesday morning, July 22. One crewmember from the ship is reported to be missing, and several containers and gas tankers were propelled overboard by the explosion. The river vessel Yihang Mingyuan is an LNG-fueled hybrid used to shuttle containers along the river and to the port in Wuhan. The reports vary, with some saying

July 22 ------ Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia told shipping companies not to load or discharge cargo at Saudi Arabian ports or they may be targeted, according to an email the group sent to companies. The Houthis on Monday declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front against the United States in its war with Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf. "Vessels are banned from loading or discharging carg

July 22 ------ A fresh attack on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz has intensified concerns over maritime security in the Gulf, following a series of incidents targeting merchant vessels in recent days. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile at approximately 20:10 UTC on 20 July, about eight nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman. The crew abandoned the vessel and evacuated to a lifeboat while awaiting re

July 22 ------ Over the past week, 15-20 July two incidents of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia was reported to the ReCAAP ISC. One CAT 3 incident and one CAT 4 incident of armed robbery against ships3 in Asia were reported to ReCAAP ISC. The CAT 3 incident occurred onboard a container ship while anchored at Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Anchorage, Philippines on 19 June 2026. The CAT 4 incident occurred onboard a bulk carrier while anchored at t

July 22 ------ Oman is facing an environmental catastrophe as the Russian dark fleet Supermax, the Caroline Bezengi (IMO 9224439) begins to break up whilst aground on rocks on the southwest tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, one of the Hallaniyat Islands off the coast of Dhofar in the southwest of Oman. The tanker crew reported on June 8 an explosion on board while the tanker was off Dhofar, and as reported in The Maritime Executive, video seen by Reuters appeared to show leaks com

MANILA, Philippines, July 21 ------ Two Filipino seafarers were killed while 12 were injured in drone attacks on vessels navigating the northern Black Sea, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced. “We have monitored significant escalation of security incidents for the last two weeks affecting commercial vessels with Filipino seafarers operating within the Black Sea,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said at a press briefing. The Black Sea is an enclosed body of

July 21 ------ The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that two oil tankers had exploded and been immobilized after attempting to transit what it described as an unsafe southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, alleging they had been encouraged by the U.S. military to use the passage. Reuters could not immediately verify the incident. The statement gave no details on the vessels' names, flags, crews or any casualties. The Guards said the waterway would remain unsafe as

July 21 ------ A westbound tanker was boarded by suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden last 17 July, prompting a response from the Republic of Korea Navy. Asurge in attempted attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden in recent weeks has heightened security concerns across the region, compounding risks already facing the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. The escalating threat is raising fresh alarm over the safety of critical maritime trade routes. According to Diaplou

July 21 ------ Cruise lines are intensifying their focus on their private ports. While the beach destinations have long been popular with passengers, the lines are increasing their investments not only to expand their offerings but also to differentiate their islands as they seek to grow their earning potential. The concept of the private islands got its start in the 1970s. Then marketing executive at Norwegian Cruise Line, Bruce Nierenberg, recalls the origins as coming from

July 20 ------ Shanghai has climbed to become the world’s second-most prominent shipping hub, while Singapore remains at the top spot, according to the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI), published jointly by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency. Singapore has remained the world’s leading international shipping center for the thirteenth consecutive year, achieving a score of 99.32 out of 100, reflecting its strategic locat

July 20 ------ The Nautical Institute draws lessons learned from an incident where a pilot boat ran aground in restricted visibility after relying primarily on visual navigation instead of available electronic aids while proceeding at high speed. The incident As edited by the Nautical Institute from TAIC report MO-2024-207, a pilot boat Master was finishing his port departure checks before taking a pilot out to board an inbound cargo ship. By 0420, the predeparture checks wer

July 20 ------ Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and IBM Japan have jointly developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform designed to support decision-making in vessel operations by integrating operational, weather and geopolitical information. The platform, which went live on July 1, is centered on MOL's Safety Operation Supporting Center (SOSC), which monitors and supports the safe operation of MOL-affiliated vessels worldwide. The companies said the platform consolida

July 20 ------ The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is reporting another example of crew abandonment. In this case, the crew is working far beyond their contracts and is due $68,000. It attempted to arrange for the repatriation of the crew and now reports it is providing legal assistance to the crew to initiate the arrest of the vessel. The situation began in May 2026 when one of the crewmembers aboard the general cargo ship Lady Mina (3,400 dwt) contacted th

July 19 ------ The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has called on leaders, policymakers and senior public officials, including those outside traditional maritime portfolios, to recognize shipping and seafarers as essential to socio-economic global stability. Shipping remains a critical pillar of the global economy, underpinning trade, energy security, food supply chains and crisis resilience. Around 90% of global trade is transported by sea, relying on more than 2.5 mi

July 19 ------ The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee has advanced legislation that would extend the delay on new conservation measures aimed at protecting endangered North Atlantic right whales from fishing gear entanglements. The bill, H.R. 9436, would postpone the implementation of new regulations designed to reduce whale entanglements in lobster and Jonah crab fisheries for an additional seven years. The proposed extension follows an earlier provision included in a 20

July 18 ------ With 425 detentions and 1,752 detainable deficiencies recorded in 2025 across the ClassNK fleet, the latest Port State Control Annual Report sends a clear message to shipping: PSC readiness depends on daily maintenance, crew familiarity and a living Safety Management System, not last-minute preparation. ClassNK issued its Port State Control Annual Report in June 2026, providing an overview of PSC detention trends and detainable deficiencies identified on ClassN

July 18 ------ The U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command’s (CGCYBER) fifth annual Cyber Trends and Insights in the Marine Environment report highlights a maritime cyber landscape where threats are becoming more sophisticated, yet many successful attacks continue to rely on familiar weaknesses. Drawing on 2025 operational data and industry engagements, the report finds that reported maritime cyber incidents rose by 17% year-on-year, with phishing remaining a primary entry point, whil