International classification society RINA Services has been authorised by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation as a Recognized Organisation to perform surveys of vessels flying the flag of the Russian Federation and registered in the Russian International Registry of Ships. The authorisation also covers the issuance of relevant certificates. Michele Francioni, CEO of […]

The European Council has endorsed an EU maritime security strategy as a framework for effectively and comprehensively addressing the EU’s maritime security challenges. The objective is to secure the EU’s maritime security interests against risks and threats in the global maritime domain, such as cross-border and organised crime, threats to freedom of navigation, the proliferation of […]

When MS Amsterdam departs Fort Lauderdale, Fla., January 5, 2015, the cruise will span 114 days and calls at 45 ports in 25 countries on six continents. MS Amsterdam in Sydney Following Amsterdam’s departure from Fort Lauderdale, the ship will take a westerly course from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean via a daylight transit of […]

Capacity-building efforts being advanced by U.S. Africa Command are helping African nations confront maritime crime, including piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and events currently unfolding off the Nigerian coast, the Africom commander reported. U.S. Marines and Senegalese Marine commandos conduct Marine Corps martial arts training during Africa Partner Station 13, Sept. 19, 2013. U.S. […]

China is sending four oil rigs into the South China Sea in a sign that Beijing its stepping up its exploration for oil and gas in the tense region, less than two months after it positioned a giant drilling platform in waters claimed by Vietnam. Coordinates posted on the website of China’s Maritime Safety Administration showed the Nanhai number 2 and 5 […]

Crimes follow a pattern, says security company. The latest report of a tanker hijack in Southeast Asia has prompted Dryad Maritime to issue an advisory to its shipping clients, on the basis that the crime follows a pattern, which has seen up to six such attacks, over the last nine months. The industry leading maritime […]

Fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) stand guard at a checkpoint in the northern Iraq city of Mosul, June 11, 2014. CREDIT: REUTERS/STRINGER  (Reuters) – Sunni Islamist militants gained more ground in Iraq overnight, moving into two towns in the eastern province of Diyala, while U.S. President Barack Obama considered military strikes […]

(Reuters) – A Liberia-flagged oil tanker has gone missing off the coast of Ghana and a senior port official told Reuters on Saturday the captain sent a distress call to say the vessel was attacked by pirates. The Liberia-flagged MT Fair Artemis last made contact with its manager, Fairdeal Group S.A., at 6 p.m. (1800 […]

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has delivered the cargo-passenger ship “Tachibana-Maru” to Tokai Kisen Co., Ltd. at its Shimonoseki Shipyard and Machinery Works. The vessel is a “super eco-ship” with a high-efficiency propulsion system that achieves outstanding energy savings, environmental load reduction, and enhanced passenger comfort and safety. Tachibana-Maru measures 118.0 meters in length overall (LOA), […]

As the Greek fleet expansion programme continues unabated, the world’s vessel registries are vying for the attention of the Greek owners and a slice of the 370 vessel deliveries they expect by 2016. A total of 28 vessel registries participated at Posidonia 2014, hoping to attract the attention of Greek maritime decision-makers by showcasing their […]