All articles tagged with #maritime
More than 25 Western-sanctioned Russian ships reportedly passed through UK waters following a boarding threat, underscoring ongoing pressure on Moscow’s maritime fleet amid Ukraine-related sanctions.
A 12th‑century Crusader sword was spotted protruding from the seabed off Israel by a graduate student in maritime archaeology. A hospital CT scan confirmed its one‑handed design and Crusader origin, and the Israel Antiquities Authority approved its excavation, a finding that adds rare insight into Crusader presence and medieval maritime warfare along the Mediterranean coast.
A Russian captain, Vladimir Motin, was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after his cargo ship Solong collided with the U.S.-bound Stena Immaculate in the North Sea in March 2025, killing Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia; a fire burned for eight days, 36 people were rescued, and Motin faces sentencing.
Sweden has boarded a Russian vessel off its coast that is under sanctions, highlighting ongoing tensions and enforcement of international sanctions regimes.
The White House and Finland have signed an agreement for Finland to build four icebreakers for the US Coast Guard, with plans to construct seven in total, costing $6.1 billion, to enhance US capabilities in the Arctic and counter Russia and China.
The European Union is considering establishing a Black Sea maritime security hub to counter Russian threats and protect critical infrastructure, as part of a broader strategy to enhance regional cooperation and security, involving countries like Turkey, Ukraine, and Moldova, with a focus on maritime monitoring, energy security, and regional stability.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry reports that China has deployed its largest maritime force in decades around Taiwan and the Western Pacific, following unofficial visits by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te to the US. This deployment, which includes numerous naval and coast guard vessels, is seen as a response to perceived violations of China's sovereignty and could potentially block external forces in the event of a conflict. The move comes amid heightened tensions over Taiwan's sovereignty and recent US arms sales to the island.
E.U. vessels have surrounded a Chinese ship anchored in the Baltic Sea after undersea cables were severed, raising tensions and prompting diplomatic discussions between the involved parties.
Abdul Nasser Saleh's near-decade ordeal on an abandoned cargo ship in the Red Sea highlights a growing global issue of shipowner abandonment. Over 2,000 seafarers on 150 ships were left stranded last year, the highest number since the UN began tracking such cases. Rising costs and logistical challenges have exacerbated the problem, with many shipowners abandoning crews without pay or basic supplies. Despite international regulations, enforcement is weak, leaving many sailors in dire situations. Saleh's case, resolved after significant delays, underscores the systemic failures in maritime oversight.
The U.S. Coast Guard is creating a temporary channel for essential vessels near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, following a freighter collision. Crews are working to remove debris, and a temporary channel with specific dimensions is being prepared. Meanwhile, a Small Business Administration center is opening to assist businesses affected by the bridge collapse. The bridge collapse resulted in fatalities and has disrupted maritime traffic, prompting efforts to reopen the port and consider aid packages for those impacted.
The US and its allies are considering a commercial maritime option to deliver aid to Gaza, as the United Nations warns of an impending famine in the region. The plan, spearheaded by a private advisory firm, could bring large amounts of aid ashore in a matter of weeks, potentially faster than a larger US military effort. The US government is not expected to fund the project and may seek support from international partners. The commercial option aims to complement the military's plan by providing onshore support in Gaza, with an anticipated cost of around $200 million for six months.
The Coast Guard rescued a 64-year-old Bahamian national who was stranded on an uninhabited island in the Bahamas for three days after his sailboat broke down. The man was located by the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark, who dropped supplies to him before picking him up and taking him to safety. The successful rescue highlights the importance of having proper safety equipment on board vessels.
A "debris field" has been discovered by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) while searching for a sub that went missing while carrying five people to the wreckage of the Titanic. The US Coast Guard is evaluating the discovery, and search planes and ships have been deployed to the northern Atlantic Ocean in the hopes of finding the lost 21-foot sub Titan. The sub launched into the Atlantic from a Canadian research vessel on Sunday morning, and the vessel lost contact with the Titan an hour and 45 minutes into the dive.
A former passenger of the OceanGate submersible, Aaron Newman, described the interior of the sub as "comfortable, but not luxurious" and emphasized the safety protocols that were in place during his trip. Newman, who is also an investor in OceanGate Expeditions, expressed hope that the missing sub and its five passengers would be found, and praised the skills of the crew. The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing its search for the sub, which lost contact with a research vessel during a dive to the wreckage of the Titanic.
The US Coast Guard reported hearing sounds and banging noises from the search area for the Titanic submersible. The search is being conducted to investigate the wreckage and debris field of the Titanic, which sank in 1912. The Coast Guard is using advanced technology to locate and explore the area, and hopes to gain new insights into the disaster.