posted on: Feb 19, 2026

“Existential threat”: Shipping authority warns Zim deal endangers Israel “The expected downturn in global shipping in the near future poses an existential threat to the new Zim,” warns the Administration of Shipping and Ports in its first official response to the proposed acquisition of Zim by Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and the FIMI fund, a deal first revealed by Calcalist. The Administration of Shipping and Ports Director Zadok Redker cautions in a formal position paper that the transaction could have far-reaching consequences for Israel’s maritime sector if completed. Under the reported deal, Zim’s international operations, including 99 chartered vessels, global trade routes primarily between Asia and the United States, customer agreements, and the Zim brand abroad, would be sold to Hapag-Lloyd and FIMI for more than $3.5 billion. According to the Administration, once the international operations are transferred, a significantly smaller and weaker company would remain in Israel under FIMI’s control....

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority Secures IGBC Platinum & Shunya Certifications for Sustainable Infrastructure...

posted on: Feb 19, 2026

In a major boost to India’s green infrastructure push, V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority has become the first Major Port in India to receive the prestigious IGBC Platinum Rating, the highest certification awarded by the Indian Green Building Council. The recognition has been granted to the Port’s Administration Building for its outstanding performance in sustainability, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly infrastructure. Sustainable Infrastructure and Green Measures The Administration Building operates under a structured Green Policy and waste management plan. It is equipped with rooftop solar panels and a high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) roof coating, which helps reduce the Urban Heat Island effect and improves overall energy efficiency. To enhance resource conservation, the Port has implemented: IoT-enabled water meters Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) monitoring systems Rainwater harvesting systems Water-saving plumbing fixtures These measures have resulted in a 37% reduction in potable water consumption. Additionally, all wastewater is treated through an on-site Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and fully reused within the premises. 100% Renewable Energy Operation In a significant...

U.S. Strikes Three Boats in One of Deadliest Days of Drug Campaign...

posted on: Feb 19, 2026

In what is one of the deadliest days of the Trump administration’s campaign against drug runners, SOUTHCOM is reporting three strikes in one day, the first time the U.S. has targeted boats on both the Atlantic and Pacific on the same day. Observers also note that the pace of the strikes is accelerating. Few details were provided with the posting of a new video on social media. The strikes reportedly took place late on February 16, and the announcement repeated the allegation that the boats were operated by designated terrorist organizations. “Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” wrote SOUTHCOM. The first boat struck on the Pacific was reported to have had four people and was a typical fast-go boat with five outboard motors. However, it was not moving when the strike came. Only the second boat was underway, traveling...

Report: Fuel Tanker Arrives in Cuba as Shortages Worsen...

posted on: Feb 19, 2026

Media reports indicate that a Greek-owned fuel tanker was seen arriving at one of Cuba’s fuel terminals in the west of the country. The vessel has been operated dark (i.e., without its AIS signal), meaning it is unclear if it was coming from a foreign port, but the Spanish news outlet EFE believes the vessel was partially laden. The product tanker Nicos I.V. (45,364 dwt) is Greek-owned and operated and has a history of transporting products to Cuba. Built in 2002, it is registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and it is not sanctioned by the United States. The report says it has a capacity for more than 300,000 barrels, but that would only be a few days’ supply for Cuba without an imposition of rationing. The tanker was seen at the terminal in Matanzas, where EFE reports it arrived on Monday, February 16. The vessel’s AIS signal also shows it is...

An exploration ship lost 250 years ago has just been found perfectly preserved off the coast of Australia, like a time capsule from the past...

posted on: Feb 19, 2026

After 250 years on the seafloor, a lost 18th century explorer ship has been found perfectly preserved off the coast of Western Australia. For maritime archaeologists, the discovery looks less like wreckage and more like a time capsule from another age. For the rest of us, it offers a brief glimpse of a long-vanished voyage. The wreck first appeared as a faint blur on a sonar screen, a pale, straight line where the seabed should have looked smooth. When a robot sub dropped into the dark water, its camera revealed a wooden hull standing upright, bow sharp in the gloom, a ship that had vanished from human sight for generations. What else might still be waiting in the dark on that same stretch of seafloor? A ghost ship rises from the sonar On deck, the research team watched the first images in near silence, phones out but voices low. Many had...

Vessel suffers engine room fire while sailing in the Baltic Sea...

posted on: Feb 18, 2026

A fire erupted in the engine room of the cargo vessel Diezeborg on 14 February while it was sailing in the Baltic Sea, northwest of Gotska Sandön, Sweden. The vessel, which was travelling from Setúbal, Portugal, to Kokkola, Finland, with a cargo of zinc concentrate, experienced the blaze during its voyage. The fire is reported to have originated in the engine room, triggering the vessel’s automatic fire-extinguishing system. As reported, the crew successfully managed to contain the incident. Furthermore, a rescue operation was launched later the same day, as the vessel was left adrift and at risk of running aground. Swedish Coast Guard ships and helicopters were dispatched to the scene and on 15 February, the Coast Guard vessel KBV 002 Triton took Diezeborg under tow to prevent it from drifting onto the shoals at Kopparstenarna. All people on board were reported safe, with no injuries. The situation has...

Wellness Corner: Ben Tyler, London P&I Club...

posted on: Feb 18, 2026

Ben Tyler, Claims Manager, London P&I Club, explains that wellness means different things to different people, but ultimately involves prioritizing one’s health and engaging in activities that improve personal well-being. He emphasizes the importance of investing in quality sleep, noting that he feels much better since purchasing a new bed, experiencing fewer aches and pains as a result. While acknowledging the significance of technology and social media for seafarers, Ben encourages stakeholders to recognize the potential negative effects and stress associated with excessive use. He suggests promoting a balanced approach that includes fostering social interaction and building relationships among crew members of all ranks. Additionally, he advocates for the establishment of mobile-free zones or designated times in the workplace to allow individuals to disconnect and clear their minds, which is essential for overall well-being. SAFETY4SEA: What does ‘wellness’ mean to you? What do you do in your every day...

Lessons learned: Do not allow mooring lines to remain slack or close to the propeller...

posted on: Feb 18, 2026

IMCA draws lessons learned from an incident where rope became entangled with the propellor during mooring operations of a tanker causing the operator to lose balance and fall onto the lower platform. What happened? During mooring operations of a tanker, a worker ashore was securing the after-spring line on a Quick Release Mooring Hook (QRMH) located on a dolphin platform on the jetty. While performing the task, some rope slack remained near the propeller. The rope became entangled with the propellor, creating over-tension as it was already secured to the QRMH. The dolphin platform bent towards the vessel’s aft under the propeller’s force until the line parted. It then snapped back in the opposite direction, causing the operator to lose balance and fall onto the lower platform about 1.8 meters below. Although fall protection was in place, the operator was kneeling and slipped through the gap. Fortunately, the incident...

New Indian shipowner emerges

posted on: Feb 18, 2026

An Indian logistics company has become a shipowner. Ashapura Shipping Group, Kandla has bought a 14-year-old handysize bulk carrier from Wilmar. The ship, formerly called Arawana, has been renamed Imperial Varalaxmi. No price has been revealed for the acquisition. Ashapura Shipping, founded in the early 1990s, has tippers, excavators, cranes, and grabs, supporting large-scale bulk and breakbulk cargo handling, stevedoring, and project logistics across key industrial sectors, predominantly on India’s west coast. It has also chartered in vessels in the past. Raja Gunti, the company’s CEO, said: “Owning is not about holding steel. It is about managing a revenue-generating asset with long-term earning potential. Every day at sea strengthens cash flow; every idle day erodes value. Our focus is maximising time-at-sea and protecting margins across market cycles.” The company said it has plans to add more owned vessels.  source :...

Technical failures behind most ballast water detentions...

posted on: Feb 17, 2026

Results from last year’s Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on ballast water management revealed a marked change in regulatory compliance failures, which now include the actual performance, operation and maintenance of installed ballast water treatment systems. As explained by Charlène Ceresola, BWT Project Manager and Regulatory expert at BIO-UV Group, Port State Control (PSC) data show that while documentation and record-keeping issues remain widespread, the most serious non-compliances are technical in nature. When you look at the total number of compliance failures, documentation still ranks high. But once you focus specifically on deficiencies serious enough to result in a ship being detained, the majority are associated with the ballast water treatment system itself.  …Charlène Ceresola highlighted.  To remind, the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU launched a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management (BWM) on 1 September, running until 30 November 2025. RISK4SEA also presented final insights from the total period of 90 days...

Russia Sends Nuclear Icebreaker From Arctic to Baltic Sea as Severe Ice Chokes Shipping...

posted on: Feb 17, 2026

Russia has dispatched two powerful icebreakers, including a nuclear-powered vessel, from Arctic waters to the Baltic Sea to help keep shipping lanes open as one of the harshest ice seasons in more than a decade disrupts maritime traffic across northern Europe. Russia’s Transport Ministry said on Feb. 10 that nuclear icebreaker Sibir and conventional diesel-powered Murmansk would reach the Baltic by the end of February to reinforce four icebreakers already working near Russian ports. Information release from Russia’s Ministry of Transport on February 10 confirming the dispatching of Sibir and Murmansk. (Source: Ministry of Transport) The moves come as severe ice conditions grip the Baltic region, echoing a notorious winter in 2011 when hundreds of ships were trapped in ice approaching St. Petersburg. At that time nuclear icebreaker Vaigach had also been called from Arctic duties to assist in the Baltic Sea. Sibir, one of Russia’s newest Arktika-class nuclear icebreakers, entered into service in 2022. It spent much...

Wellness Corner: Capt. Akshat Arora, UK P&I Club...

posted on: Feb 17, 2026

Capt. Akshat Arora, Senior Risk Assessor at UK P&I Club, enjoys spending time in nature with his children, traveling with his family, and immersing himself in diverse cultures. In response to the challenges posed by COVID-19, he has embraced a daily gratitude practice, deepening his appreciation for life’s blessings and finding joy in each experience. Within the maritime sector, Akshat is a strong advocate for prioritizing the mental well-being of seafarers. He emphasizes the importance of providing access to counseling services and urges an end to the blame culture. Instead of attributing incidents and accidents solely to human error, industry should highlight success stories where human intervention prevented potential disasters and underscore the vital role of seafarers in facilitating global trade, he argues. SAFETY4SEA: What does ‘wellness’ mean to you? What do you do in your everyday life to embrace wellness? Akshat Arora: Wellness, to me, is about maintaining a...