Maritime Current News

Insights, Updates, and Maritime Intelligence

Friday, April 10, 2026

Maritime Current News

Insights, Updates, and Maritime Intelligence

Friday, April 10, 2026

Author: Maritime Current News

Philippines, Japan and United States Conduct Joint Military Drills in South China Sea to Boost Maritime Security
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Philippines, Japan and United States Conduct Joint Military Drills in South China Sea to Boost Maritime Security

The navies of the Philippines, Japan and the United States conducted joint military exercises in the South China Sea this week, strengthening cooperation among the three allies, the Philippine Armed Forces said on Friday.
According to the Philippine military, the joint activity underscores the sustained commitment of partner forces to enhance interoperability, reinforce maritime security, and improve Maritime Domain Awareness across the region.

Read More
Visit Qatar to Launch Al Ruwais – Maritime Heritage Festival from March 18 to April 4, 2026
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

Visit Qatar to Launch Al Ruwais – Maritime Heritage Festival from March 18 to April 4, 2026

Visit Qatar has announced the launch of Al Ruwais – Maritime Heritage Festival, a new cultural activation scheduled to take place from March 18 to April 4, 2026, along Qatar’s northern shoreline.
The festival forms part of Qatar’s northern tourism development strategy and has been designed as a culturally authentic, community-driven, and environmentally conscious experience celebrating the nation’s rich maritime heritage and coastal traditions.

Read More
Port of Long Beach Sees 13% Drop in Imports Amid Trade War Uncertainty
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

Port of Long Beach Imports Fall 13% as Trade War and Tariff Uncertainty Impact Cargo Volumes

California Imports through the Port of Long Beach declined 13 percent in January compared with the same month last year, reflecting the ongoing turbulence caused by escalating trade tensions and tariff policies.

The drop follows a surge in shipments a year earlier, when importers rushed to move freight ahead of tariff measures introduced under former President Donald Trump.

Read More
Rotterdam Port Reports 1.7% Drop in Throughput for 2025 amid Industry Challenges
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

Rotterdam Port Reports 1.7% Drop in Throughput for 2025 amid Industry Challenges

The Dutch Port of Rotterdam reported a total throughput of 428.4 million tonnes in 2025, reflecting a 1.7 percent decline compared to 2024.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority highlighted that the dry bulk segment experienced the sharpest decrease, falling 6.5 percent, while liquid bulk throughput dropped by 1.5 percent. In contrast, container traffic grew by 3.1 percent in TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) terms, reaching 14.2 million TEU.

Read More
Saudi Arabia Achieves Record Non-Oil Exports in Fourth Quarter 2025, Boosting Trade Surplus
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

Saudi Arabia Achieves Record Non-Oil Exports in Fourth Quarter 2025, Boosting Trade Surplus

Saudi Arabia has posted its highest quarterly non-oil exports since 2017, signaling a major shift in the Kingdom’s trade structure during the fourth quarter of 2025.
According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), the merchandise trade surplus jumped 26.3% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, fueled by strong non-oil export growth, which is increasingly contributing to Saudi Arabia’s external balance.

Read More
Kongsberg Maritime Signs MoU with PT PAL to Boost Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation in Indonesia
Maritime Environment Policy and Law
Maritime Current News

Kongsberg Maritime Signs MoU with PT PAL to Boost Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation in Indonesia

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT PAL Indonesia, the country’s largest state-owned shipyard, to advance energy efficiency and decarbonisation in the maritime sector. The signing ceremony was held at PT PAL’s headquarters in Surabaya on February 26, 2026, and attended by representatives from both companies and the Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia, Rut Krüger Giverin.

Read More
Lloyd’s Register Advances Hybrid Nuclear Marine Power with Seatransport Partnership
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Lloyd’s Register Advances Hybrid Nuclear Marine Power with Seatransport Partnership

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has announced Approval in Principle (AiP) for a hybrid nuclear-ready power concept developed in collaboration with Australian ship design group Seatransport Pty Ltd, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of low-emission maritime propulsion.
The innovative design enables nuclear Micro Modular Reactors (MMRs) to operate alongside conventional diesel-electric systems for 73-metre and 90-metre amphibious stern landing vessel (SLV) platforms. The AiP follows several years of close technical cooperation between LR and Seatransport aimed at ensuring regulatory compliance, operational safety and practical feasibility.

Read More
Lloyd’s Register Hosts 2026 Hellenic Advisory Committee in Athens to Address Greek Shipping Challenges
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Lloyd’s Register Hosts 2026 Hellenic Advisory Committee in Athens to Address Greek Shipping Challenges

Lloyd’s Register (LR) convened its 2026 Hellenic Advisory Committee in Athens on 19 February, bringing together more than 30 leading Greek shipowners and senior executives to discuss the strategic priorities shaping the global maritime industry.
The high-level meeting was co-hosted by Nick Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Lloyd’s Register, and Elina Papageorgiou, Senior Vice President Greece & Cyprus. The session reinforced the Committee’s role as a senior advisory platform linking one of the world’s most influential shipping communities with LR’s global leadership team.

Read More
DP World Boosts India–Middle East Shipping Reliability with 5,000+ TEU Vessel Acquisition
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

DP World Boosts India–Middle East Shipping Reliability with 5,000+ TEU Vessel Acquisition

Dubai, UAE –DP World has strengthened trade connectivity between India and the Middle East following the acquisition of a 5,000+ TEU container vessel, DP World Chennai, under its Marine Services arm, Shipping Solutions.
The vessel has been integrated into the company’s Red Sea–Gulf–India service, reinforcing schedule reliability and enhancing regional supply chain performance. Its maiden call at Jebel Ali Port marks Shipping Solutions’ owned capacity exceeding 6 million TEU, further consolidating DP World’s operational footprint across key markets.

Read More
Unauthorised Salvage Operation at Gaddani: A Serious Threat to National Underwater Heritage and Marine Biodiversity
Editorial
Maritime Current News

Op-Ed:  Salvage Operation at Gaddani: A Serious Threat to National Underwater Heritage and Marine Biodiversity

Coral reef habitats in Pakistan occur at a limited number of locations. These include areas off Hawksbay (between Abdur Rehman Goth and Cape Monz), Goth Mubbarak/Bhit Khori, Churna Island, Kaio Island, Ormara (Rodrigues Shoal), off Taq/Sakoni, Astola Island, Gwadar (off Headland), and the Daran-Jiwani region. Smaller reef patches are also present along parts of the Sindh and Balochistan coastlines.
Although restricted in distribution, these reef systems support a variety of marine organisms and provide habitat for many fish species. In addition to natural reef environments, shipwrecks along Pakistan’s coastline also influence local biodiversity patterns.

Read More
Tragic Boat Sinking: At Least Three Egyptians Dead, Dozens Missing Off Greek Coast
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Tragic Boat Sinking: At Least Three Egyptians Dead, Dozens Missing Off Greek Coast

CAIRO –Egypt has confirmed the deaths of at least three of its nationals after a migrant boat carrying dozens of irregular migrants sank en route to Greece.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the vessel was carrying 50 irregular migrants, including 21 Egyptians. Three Egyptians have died, while 18 remain missing. The ministry is closely coordinating with Greek authorities to support search efforts and expedite the repatriation of the deceased.

Read More
IMO Launches Open Call for Shipping Companies to Join NextWave Alliance to Upskill Seafarers
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

IMO Launches Open Call for Shipping Companies to Join NextWave Alliance to Upskill Seafarers

The International Maritime Organization has launched an open call inviting global shipping companies to join the NextWave Alliance and support the upskilling of seafarers through expanded onboard training opportunities.

As part of its workforce development strategy, IMO will host a dedicated workshop on 9 April 2026 at its headquarters in London to explore the global expansion of the NextWave Seafarers Project. The initiative is designed to provide essential onboard training placements for cadets from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), helping to address the global shortage of qualified seafarers while building a future-ready maritime workforce.

Read More
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Global Treaty on Fishing Vessel Safety to Take Effect in 2027

The long-awaited global fishing vessel safety treaty is officially set to enter into force in February 2027 after Argentina acceded to the 2012 Cape Town Agreement, closing a major gap in the international maritime safety framework.

Argentina’s accession was confirmed on 24 February 2026 when H.E. Ms. Mariana Edith Plaza, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the United Kingdom, deposited the instrument of accession at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization in London. The move brings the total number of Member States that have consented to be bound by the treaty to 28, collectively representing 3,754 qualifying fishing vessels of 24 metres or more in length. Under the treaty’s conditions, it enters into force 12 months after at least 22 States representing no fewer than 3,600 qualifying vessels join, requirements that have now been fulfilled.

Read More
ABB Selects Corvus Energy Battery Systems for Washington State Ferries’ New Hybrid Vessels in Major US Maritime Electrification Project
Ports and Shipping
Maritime Current News

ABB Selects Corvus Energy Battery Systems for Washington State Ferries’ New Hybrid Vessels in Major US Maritime Electrification Project

ABB Marine & Ports has selected advanced battery systems from Corvus Energy for a new series of hybrid ferries being built for Washington State Ferries (WSF), marking a significant milestone in US maritime electrification.

ABB, acting as propulsion single-source vendor for WSF, will integrate Corvus’ Dolphin NxtGen Energy Storage Systems into two new ferries, with an option for a third vessel. The 1,500-passenger ships, each capable of carrying 160 vehicles, will be constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Florida, with delivery scheduled for 2030–31.

Read More