Philippine News

January 15 ------ Filipino seafarers, numbering over 400,000, are facing an uncertain future due to an audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), which revealed significant noncompliance by the Philippines with international maritime safety standards. The EMSA aims to mitigate maritime risks, including accidents and pollution, and its findings are critical for the employability of Filipino seafarers on European Union (EU) vessels. In 2022, EMSA highlighted deficienc

January 15 ------ Three Greek-managed oil tankers were hit by unidentified drones in the Black Sea on Tuesday as they were on their way to load crude at a terminal on Russia's coast, sources told Reuters. The attacks come as Kazakhstan's oil production, most of which is exported via the terminal, cratered in early January. It was not immediately clear who was behind Tuesday's strikes. Ukraine did not immediately comment. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which operates the ter

January 15 ------ Egyptian authorities are reporting that they were able to rescue a dozen crewmembers from a small cargo ship that was in danger of sinking in the anchorage near Port Said. The rescue was the successful conclusion after a series of calamities. The Turkish-owned cargo ship Fener (4,500 dwt) had come from Turkey to load a cargo of salt at Port Said. Built in 1982, the ship is 138 meters (453 feet) in length and registered in St. Kitts and Nevis. The Suez Canal

January 15 ------ Two of the leaders in the dry bulk space, Genco Shipping & Trading and Diana Shipping, are trading public jabs in the brewing takeover battle that calls for consolidating the dry bulk sector. Both companies issued public statements six weeks after Diana first went public with its rumored efforts to buy Genco. Both companies emphasize the opportunities they see emerging in the dry bulk sector. Combined, they would have a fleet of approximately 80 vessels with

January 14 ------ A Greek-owned tanker that was caught in a series of back-and-forth maneuvers between the United States and Iran in 2023 and 2024 has quietly been released two years after the Iranians seized the ship and said they were taking its oil cargo. The move comes as Iran appears to be making moves to ease tensions with the West, as the regime is also facing widespread unrest inside the country. The tracking service TankerTrackers.com broke the news reporting on X.co

January 14 ------ Thailand is proposing an ambitious multibillion-dollar project, titled the “Landbridge,” aimed at significantly reducing shipping times between the Indian and Pacific Oceans while alleviating pressure on the busy Malacca Strait, one of the world’s key maritime routes. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled this initiative to investors in San Francisco, highlighting that the project could reduce shipping times by an average of four days and lower shipping c

January 14 ------ China does not allow the use of Starlink internet connectivity in its waters, and prefers to route all traffic through networks that are subject to its own licensing process. The restriction is unpopular with seafarers, who like Starlink's high speeds and low latency for video calls and general-purpose browsing - but Chinese authorities are beginning to enforce their rules more rigorously. P&I correspondent Oasis reports that the first known Chinese investig

January 14 ------ Somalia's government said on Monday it is annulling all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including port deals and defense and security cooperation, accusing the UAE of undermining its national sovereignty. "This decision is based on credible reports and compelling evidence concerning hostile actions undermining national sovereignty, territorial unity, and the political independence of the country," Somalia's Council of Ministers said. The decision "

January 13 ------ The Philippines holds the title of the world’s largest supplier of seafarers to international shipping, a designation that President Marcos Jr. emphasized during the ‘Shaping the Future of Shipping: Seafarer 2050’ event in Manila. He expressed pride in the country’s status as the seafaring capital of the world and highlighted the economic opportunities it generates. The President committed to enhancing maritime-related policies and protecting the welfare of

January 13 ------ President Donald Trump announced that the White House will impose a 25 percent tariff on all countries that transact with the Islamic Republic of Iran. China is Iran's biggest trading partner by a wide margin, and if the administration follows through in full, Trump's announcement would require a new 25 percent tariff on all Chinese goods - across the board. "Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tarif

January 13 ------ The inaugural meet and greet of Seatrade Maritime, conducted in partnership with Tommy Olofsen, conference chair of Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global, and Carl King, founder of Seafarer Social, showcased a significant gathering of aspiring and established maritime professionals. Notably, 15 cadets from the Philippines’ prestigious Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) attended, alongside 10 emerging seafarers, some of whom are influential socia

January 13 ------ A small container ship arrived in Camden, New Jersey last week with a dead fin whale on the bulbous bow, and an investigation into the cause of death is under way. Late Sunday night, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay reported a deceased whale on the bow of a reefer boxship at the north end of the Gloucester City Marine Terminal, next to the Walt Whitman Bridge. NOAA and the nonprofit Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) were alerted, and MMSC tentatively iden

January 12 ------ The European Commission is deliberating a potential ban on Filipino seafarers working on EU-flagged vessels, according to a report by Deutsche Welle. This consideration stems from longstanding concerns regarding the maritime training standards provided to Filipino seafarers, which are reportedly inadequate in meeting international safety criteria. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has highlighted deficiencies in the training offered by Philippine ma

January 12 ------ After multiple warnings throughout the year about the dramatic increase in piracy around Singapore, the monitoring operation ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre, in its year-end report, highlights that the surge peaked at mid-year with the arrest of some perpetrators. It cautions that the rate remains high, however, while it is mostly low-level thefts. Overall, there was a 74 percent increase in reports of piracy and robbery in the area around the Singapore St

January 12 ------ Recent US boardings of oil tankers linked to Venezuela have prompted claims of piracy and illegality under international law. In reality, many of these boardings rest on a sound legal basis. Boarding vessels at sea is a routine naval activity permitted in limited circumstances under international law. This explainer outlines the international law governing maritime boardings and how it applies to the Venezuela cases. Boarding operations on the high seas, bey

January 12 ------ The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency is reporting a busy night and efforts on Friday, January 9, to track containers after a severe winter storm crossed the region around the English Channel overnight. Warnings were posted for shipping as containers went overboard near the Isle of Wight. In meteorological terms, the storm became what is known as a bomb cyclone, where the storm rapidly intensifies. It, however, left local areas surprised by the ferocity. The

January 11 ------ The Gulf of Guinea, stretching from Liberia to Gabon, is a crucial yet increasingly unstable region in West Africa. This area is pivotal due to its natural resources, rich biodiversity, and strategic maritime routes that facilitate trade and drug trafficking. However, the Gulf faces significant challenges, including rampant piracy, illegal fishing, and a lack of effective governance. Economic Importance The Gulf of Guinea’s waters are home to significant sea

January 11 ------ The past 12 months have been worrying for researchers who study the chemistry of the ocean. More and more evidence has been published showing that human activities are fundamentally altering this chemistry in an acidic direction. At the end of 2025, it seems clear ocean acidification is pushing the largest habitat on Earth into a risky zone. Ocean acidification is part of the global carbon cycle. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid

January 10 ------ Researchers at Texas A&M University have made significant progress in the development of a computerized system that has the ability to combat collisions by giving seafarers real-time maneuvering advice. The ultimate goal is to save the shipping industry massive losses, including loss of lives, that are brought about by collisions. Dubbed "Smart-Sea," the system combines raw radar imaging data with advanced machine learning is designed to give seafarers real-

January 10 ------ Russia said that the U.S. seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic was a violation of maritime law, and a senior lawmaker described it as "outright piracy". Russia's Transport Ministry said contact with the vessel, the Marinera, had been lost after U.S. naval forces boarded it near Iceland as part of efforts to block oil exports from Venezuela. "In accordance with the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in