Attack reported in Red Sea on Vietnamese tanker

On Friday March 15th Ambrey and UKMTO said that a tanker in Red Sea had been attacked, with two explosions reported. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a ship had reported being “struck by a missile” early on Friday. “The vessel has sustained some damage,” the UKMTO added. It described the crew as being…

Houthis extend target area

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Houthis, said on Thursday March 14th that the group would extend the range of its shipping targets to include Israel-linked ships passing through the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope. “Our main battle is to prevent ships linked to the Israeli enemy from passing through not…

American Club reports stability at 2024 P&I renewal

American Club has reported “relatively moderate drops” from the year-on-year renewal results, which it said reflected overall stability within the context of recent challenges added to the Club’s de-risking strategy. Gross tonnage for mutual P&I entries now stands at 22.5m, down by approximately 2.5m compared to inception one year earlier, with a relative premium income…

West African internet hit by damage to subsea communication cables

Marine industry service provider and P&I correspondent Budd Group has reported that, beginning Thursday March 14th, large swathes of West Africa had been experiencing a major internet outage. Damage was reported to four out of five critical submarine cables. The disruption hit Ivory Coast, Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso and elsewhere. It began on Thursday March…

Sanctioned tanker NS Century reaches China port to discharge Russian oil

Crude oil tanker NS Century (IMO 9306782) arrived at Qingdao Port, China, late on Thursday March 14th to discharge a cargo of Russian crude oil, LSEG shipping data showed. The vessel is subject to US sanctions, being operated by Russian shipping group Sovcomflot’s (SCF) Dubai-based subsidiary SCF MGMT. The vessel was carrying about 700,000 barrels…

Indian Navy frees the Ruen

Hi-jacked Navibulgar bulk carrier Ruen (IMO 9754903), seized by Somalis in December in the Indian Ocean and sailed back to Somalia, has been freed by the Indian Navy. Indian naval forces, including special commandos, said that 17 crew members were released as a result of th emilitary action, and that all 35 pirates on board the vessel…

Gaza relief vessel Open Arms gets GPS jammed

Ex migrant-rescue vessel-turned aid relief ship Open Arms (IMO 7325887) appeared to take a very strange route to its eventual destination of the Gaza beach, apparently turning up near Beirut, Lebanon, on March 14th. It was never really there. Its GPS was jammed / spoofed by an unknown party or parties. Jamming could have prevented…

RCI suspends Haitian stops

Royal Caribbean International has suspending calls at its private destination in Haiti. It said that this was a precautionary step in response to the recent escalation of violence in country. Royal Caribbean International is the only cruise line to call in Haiti. It limits its calls to a private port – Labadee – which is…