Latest posts
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Panama Defends Cancelling Flag of Over 650 Ships
The Panamanian government has responded to criticism regarding its flag registry’s alleged inaction against vessels involved in transporting Iranian oil, emphasizing its efforts to deregister non-compliant ships. As the world’s largest ship registry, with around 8,500 vessels, Panama has faced scrutiny over “shadow tankers” operating under its flag to facilitate Iranian oil trade in violation
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$8.5 Million in Unpaid Seafarer Wages Recovered in 2024
The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) recovered $8.5 million in unpaid wages for seafarers in 2024, which is a 52.7% increase from the $5.59 million reclaimed the previous year. This highlights the persistent issue of wage theft in the shipping industry. The figures were disclosed during a meeting between the PMA’s General Directorate of Seafarers (DGGM)
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NTSB Probes Deadly Collision Involving Mexican Ship and Brooklyn Bridge
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into a fatal allision involving the Mexican Navy’s training vessel Cuauhtémoc and the Brooklyn Bridge that killed two people. The 90.5-meter tall ship, carrying 277 crew and trainees, was departing Pier 17 at South Street Seaport on the evening of May 17 when the incident occurred. Initial
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Denmark Launches Groundbreaking Remote Pilotage Test Program
After six years of development, the Danish Emergency Management Agency has approved a world-first remote pilotage test program led by Danish pilotage firm DanPilot and maritime technology company Danelec. The 18-month trial will involve around 50 pilotages in the Kattegat and western Baltic Sea for vessels with drafts under 13 meters. For the first time,
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Ship Captain Held in Custody Over 2023 Pipeline Incident
The captain of a Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel has been detained in connection with the October 2023 damage to the Balticconnector pipeline, a key natural gas link between Estonia and Finland. According to China’s South Morning Post, Captain Wan Wenguo, 43, appeared in Hong Kong’s Eastern Court facing charges of criminal damage and breaches of maritime regulations tied to the NewNew Polar Bear’s operations
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Pirates Board Product Tanker in Gulf of Guinea, First Nigeria Incident in Four Years
A product tanker was boarded by pirates this week more than 100 nautical miles south of Nigeria’s coast, marking the first such incident involving a commercial vessel near Nigeria in four years. While the crew followed safety protocols and avoided harm, security experts warn that piracy risks remain high across the Gulf of Guinea and
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2024 Marks Worst Year Ever for Seafarer Abandonment, ITF Reports
The abandonment of seafarers has reached unprecedented levels, with new data from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) showing an 87% surge in cases in 2024 compared to the previous year. A staggering 3,133 seafarers were abandoned last year, which is nearly double the 1,676 recorded in 2023. The number of abandoned vessels also skyrocketed by 136%, from 132 in 2023 to 312 in 2024.
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Rise in Crew Abandonment Cases
The global shipping industry continues to grapple with the escalating crisis of crew abandonment, with 54 ships and their crews deserted so far in 2025 thereby putting this year on track to become the second-worst on record. Data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that abandonment cases have soared in recent years, worsened by
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Steering Failure Triggered Ferry Sinking, Safety Panel Confirms
A new investigation into the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster has determined that the tragedy began with a steering malfunction, followed by a cargo shift that overwhelmed the unstable vessel. On April 16, 2014, the Sewol ferry capsized off South Korea’s Jindo County, killing 304 people, most of them high school students. The captain abandoned ship early, instructing passengers to
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Seafarers Secure Landmark Reforms to Global Maritime Labour Agreement
In a historic move, shipowners, governments, and labor unions have reached a consensus on major updates to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), the cornerstone international agreement safeguarding seafarers’ working and living conditions. These groundbreaking amendments come as the modern MLC approaches its 20th anniversary, having consolidated 37 previous conventions when adopted in 2006. The revisions address